Van Ruiten Family Winery Reserve Merlot

Tasting notes & discussion 14

Typically $34.99/bottle from Van Ruiten
Vintage 2015 from Lodi
AbV 13.6%, pH 3.68, TA 5.67 g/L, RS 0.8 g/L
Sold by Van Ruiten Family Winery, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Van Ruiten Family Winery
Since the 1950’s, the Van Ruitens have been farming wine grapes of the Lodi appellation in California. With over 800 acres of wine grapes currently, they operate out of the Van Ruiten Family Winery, built in 2000. The winery is still manned by two generations of the Van Ruiten family. Though the Lodi appellation is primarily known for its Zinfandel, and the Van Ruiten family has its roots in the variety, they’ve since branched out, such as with today’s Merlot.

Lodi/ReLodi

TASTING NOTES:
“…aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and chocolate with flavors of cherry, spice and vanilla. The tannins are well-integrated giving this wine balanced structure, and the spice note lingers through the long finish.”

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help make conversation over this wine:
Originally planned as a double-album/double-release, Metallica’s Load and Reload had to be separated due to the amount of songs they wanted to cram in. With so much music, it’d be easy for some songs to just get passed over or lost when listening through.

DRINK IT FROM/WITH (conventional option):
Standard red glass, paired with soft blue-veined cheeses, braised beef, and roasted chicken dishes.

OR (really-going-with-the-theme option):
An empty gas can after you quench your thirst with gasoline.

Van Ruiten Family Winery Reserve Merlot

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