Wine Review - 2010 Tabali Reserva Merlot: Spicy Chilean Merlot...Delish!
We picked up this number from our local wine store Bishop's Cellar after a recommendation for a nice value Chilean Red. We were leaning towards having the Syrah but the Merlot was the recommendation, so we grabbed it. At $18 locally we like the price point and the knowledgeable staff did not lead us astray. Tabali Wines are from the Limari Valley in Chile.
This is a big wine from the get go and makes for a nice tasting experience which is especially when paired with a nice grilled organic beef short rib. We think this is a really great wine.
The colour of this wine is very dark and prune juice coloured which is to say it is almost black. The fringe of the wine in the glass is a grape juice colour of deep and dark purple. The 'legs' on this wine go on for days. It sticks to the glass like glue which is not necessarily surprise considering it is 14.5%. We counted and it is a solid 10 count to see the legs hit the wine in the glass.
The nose is not that hot, however, bold yes, but not hot. It is a very savory nose with notes of tobacco and leather mixed in with oak and very ripe blackberries. Very nice nose with a lot of body when you are swirling the wine in the glass.
This a tart wine which has a lot of structure but it makes for big taste. As we said, there is a savory note which translates into a little fruit but more tobacco and pepper. There is a lot of good oak in here but it balances out with the tannins and the alcohol. It is definitely a tannic wine that finishes fairly dry and fills the mouth. We have said it before and we will say it again, we love big red wines.
This is a big wine from the get go and makes for a nice tasting experience which is especially when paired with a nice grilled organic beef short rib. We think this is a really great wine.
The colour of this wine is very dark and prune juice coloured which is to say it is almost black. The fringe of the wine in the glass is a grape juice colour of deep and dark purple. The 'legs' on this wine go on for days. It sticks to the glass like glue which is not necessarily surprise considering it is 14.5%. We counted and it is a solid 10 count to see the legs hit the wine in the glass.
The nose is not that hot, however, bold yes, but not hot. It is a very savory nose with notes of tobacco and leather mixed in with oak and very ripe blackberries. Very nice nose with a lot of body when you are swirling the wine in the glass.
This a tart wine which has a lot of structure but it makes for big taste. As we said, there is a savory note which translates into a little fruit but more tobacco and pepper. There is a lot of good oak in here but it balances out with the tannins and the alcohol. It is definitely a tannic wine that finishes fairly dry and fills the mouth. We have said it before and we will say it again, we love big red wines.
| Tasting Notes: | Score: | |
| Sight (0-5) | Prune juice coloured wine with purple edges. | 4.25 |
| Smell (0-5) | Bold nose with a savory undertone of tobacco, leather, oak, and blackberries. | 4.5 |
| Taste (0-10) | Fairly well balanced big wine with oak and pepper in harmony with the tannins and a dry finish. | 8.25 |
| Total: | 17 / 20 (85%) |
If you like full bodied red wine that pairs well with food (especially beef) then you will like this wine. We are thinking we might want to check out the Syrah now.
Keep on tasting!
Chris & Shannon
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