Tasting 7: Yellow Tail Merlot

Name: Yellow Tail Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: Yenda, Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $18.99 per bottle
Location: My apartment!

Critics' Review:
"The rich fruity nose of the blackberry combines with dark chocolate aromas with underlying nuances of sweet oak. The palate boasts layers of black cherry, vanilla and mocha which come together to produce a soft, velvety mouth feel. This seamless and well structured wine has good texture and well balanced tannins finishing with length and a touch of spice.

An excellent wine to enjoy with your favorite pasta sauces or try with full flavored offerings such as lamb shanks, stroganoff and classic roast beef."
https://www.wine.com/product/yellow-tail-the-reserve-merlot-2009/113791

My Review:
To me this wine tasted of hints of plum while also containing a spicy chocolate taste, much like a hot chocolate, specifically a rich, dark Ghirardelli chocolate. The wine itself was a deeper shade of red that also had a smooth texture like silk. The warmth of the wine at room temperature, however, was not particularly my favorite. This wine felt like it contains higher tannins as compared to Pinot Noirs that I have had in the past, and even other Merlots. Per "traditional" Australian wines this wine contained the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. I would recommend enjoying this wine paired with a nice smoked Gouda and blackberry jam on a late fall or winter evening by a warm crackling fire.