A well-balanced Merlot where boldness and softness form an elegant bond. Malleable tannins and medium acidity cruise throughout the palate. Layers of plum, blueberries, coca, pepper, cherry, and tobacco. Our Merlot pairs well with barbeque chicken, roasted vegetable risotto, and a pastrami sandwich on rye.
Winemaking Notes
The Merlot clusters were hand-picked in the dawn hours on September 23rd. The clusters were sorted by hand, and de-stemmed, where they were cold-soaked in a stainless steel tank for 3 days to extract the colors and flavors naturally. We then raised the tankās temperature to activate the fermentation process using BDX yeast. Pump-overs were done 3x/day over a 12-day period until the sugars were dry and stable. Free run juice and press juice aged separately in marked French barrels. After 8 months, the lots were racked and blended, aging in 30% New French Oak and 70% Neutral French Oak barrels until we bottled in December 2017.
Specs
Varietal Blend: 94% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Barrel Regime: 35% New French Oak, 65% Neutral French Oak
Alcohol: 15.4%
pH: 3.69
Brix: 26.6
Production: 195 cases
2016 Idle Cellars Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
This Merlot has moderate acidity, medium fruit body, and gentle tannins. Flavors of black cherry, plums, Moroccan herbs, and cocoa.
Specs
Varietal Blend: 100% Merlot
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Barrel Regime: 30% New French Oak, 70% Neutral French Oak.
Idle Cellars is a boutique winery located in Sonoma County, California. We are Ben Larks, a teacher and explorer from a far-off land, and Ari Heavner, an entrepreneur from Berkeley. Our shared affinity for world travel and adventure led us to connect in 2006 while working crush in Sonoma. Idle Cellars was born with our first batch of Cabernet Sauvignon reflecting, as in most harmonious relationships, a balanced yin, and yang between city-dwelling Heavner and country-living Larks. We strive to produce an elegantly balanced wine through our grace of art. Our belief is that the essence of winemaking is getting dirty in the vineyard, ensuring the best of Sonoma makes it from the vine to the bottle through hands-on craftsmanship. Our knowledge and deep understanding of our agricultural surroundings allows us to choose what we believe are the best processes for each varietal of wine. Working together for 13 years now, Ben and Ariās winemaking bond is stronger than ever, escalating the Idle movement one glass at a time.
We hope our wine brings people together, be it at a lively dinner party or a lazy BBQ, and that it gives all who drink it the same joy we had creating the luscious ambrosia
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI
Greetings. We pick the grapes at a higher sugar to get the proper acid we are looking for, then age it in barrel for a couple years to create a balance with the fruit, tannins, acidity. Thus you donāt feel the burn from the alc. Cheers.
@klezman Tasting the grapes from the vine, felt like the flavors were not quite there, we let hit hang longer to get the fruit and acid we liked. We aged it for 22 months in oak.
Greetings. We have been making wine since 2006. Everything we craft is hands on, from the vineyard to the winery to bottling. All our wines are small lot, vineyard designate, low sulfites. Hope that helps. Cheers.
@IdleCellars Are these wines offered today vineyard designate? They donāt appear to be given the information provided above. If they are what vineyard? Thanks for checking in!
@kaolis The vineyard is a small, family owned vineyard. They donāt have a name for the vineyard. The mountain blocks the morning sun, rest of the day loads of sunshine.
Once again, the time has come to drink wine for your benefit and I couldnāt be happier!
I chilled the bottle slightly ahead of pouring a glass as the heat has been stifling and āroom tempā is higher than normal! Tasting temp is not chilled but slightly cooler than room temp. I used my Coravin for this glass as I canāt finish this bottle for a few days.
The nose is of red fruit, slightly dessicated, and ripe black fruit. Raspberry, strawberry, and cherry can all be detected. The nose has a nice complex fruit aroma with a candy sweetness.
First sip is dry with pronounced fruit flavors and some earthiness. It is light-bodied in the mouth, with some tannin structure and acidity. Alcohol is balanced and it is not hot.
I drank this late in the evening without food but I suspect that it would do well paired with the right munchies. Itās a bit light on its own but I feel that would allow it to pair well with rich creamy cheese.
This deal is not yet live at the time of this review so I have no idea what the price point is. At under $20/bottle I think this would be a good option for Merlot drinkers.
Thanks for the opportunity to rat for you all once again. Cheers!
This sounds like a nice wine and would love to be a Northern Va. splitter but the last person I split with has never gotten in touch (JDUSI wine). If the wine has arrived would love to come retrieve mine. Any takers on this one?
Hi everyone, happy to be able to try the 2015 Idle Cellars Merlot
and share with you.
This wine smells hot and sweet. What a nose! Cherry cola, acetone, very volatile. Thankfully it doesnāt taste that way. Air is a definite must for this, after a while it settled down and tasted like black plum, berries, soft tannins and decent acidity, light-medium bodied. It seemed a little thinner that I would have expected for a Merlot, almost like a Zin. But nice and light and refreshing for summer was welcome.
It went better with food than by itself and paired nicely with Italian food. I could see having this with burgers, lighter grilled meats or vegetables, chicken or maybe even salmon. Going to have the rest of it tonight so weāll see how it changes.
I would pay about $20-25, up to $30 if not on sale. A nice different little wine. For those that think they donāt like Merlot try this!
2015 Idle Cellars Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
2016 Idle Cellars Merlot, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
Whatās Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$482.85/Case for 6x 2015 Idle Cellars Merlot, Sonoma Valley + 2016 Idle Cellars Merlot, Sonoma Valley at Idle Cellars
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 15 - Wednesday, Aug 17
Idle Cellars Merlots
2 bottles for $52.99 $26.50/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $239.99 $20/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2015
2016
Thatās some high alcohol for Merlot
@klezman
Greetings. We pick the grapes at a higher sugar to get the proper acid we are looking for, then age it in barrel for a couple years to create a balance with the fruit, tannins, acidity. Thus you donāt feel the burn from the alc. Cheers.
@IdleCellars So youāre trying to get lower acid? Speaking of which, what are the TA numbers on these?
@klezman More of a medium acidity. '15 Merlot is 3.69 PH, 5.42 TA; '16 Merlot is 3.78 PH, 5.54 TA.
@IdleCellars @klezman so itās too acidic at 25 brix? Or are there other factors involved?
@klezman Tasting the grapes from the vine, felt like the flavors were not quite there, we let hit hang longer to get the fruit and acid we liked. We aged it for 22 months in oak.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations.)
Idle Cellars Merlots - $78 = 24.52%
A little background on the producer. From 2015 so a bit datedā¦
@kaolis On the flip side, the wines are from 2015/16. So itās probably the most useful info!
@kaolis
Greetings. We have been making wine since 2006. Everything we craft is hands on, from the vineyard to the winery to bottling. All our wines are small lot, vineyard designate, low sulfites. Hope that helps. Cheers.
@IdleCellars Are these wines offered today vineyard designate? They donāt appear to be given the information provided above. If they are what vineyard? Thanks for checking in!
@kaolis The vineyard is a small, family owned vineyard. They donāt have a name for the vineyard. The mountain blocks the morning sun, rest of the day loads of sunshine.
2016 Idle Cellars Merlot
Hello fellow Casemates!
Once again, the time has come to drink wine for your benefit and I couldnāt be happier!
I chilled the bottle slightly ahead of pouring a glass as the heat has been stifling and āroom tempā is higher than normal! Tasting temp is not chilled but slightly cooler than room temp. I used my Coravin for this glass as I canāt finish this bottle for a few days.
The nose is of red fruit, slightly dessicated, and ripe black fruit. Raspberry, strawberry, and cherry can all be detected. The nose has a nice complex fruit aroma with a candy sweetness.
First sip is dry with pronounced fruit flavors and some earthiness. It is light-bodied in the mouth, with some tannin structure and acidity. Alcohol is balanced and it is not hot.
I drank this late in the evening without food but I suspect that it would do well paired with the right munchies. Itās a bit light on its own but I feel that would allow it to pair well with rich creamy cheese.
This deal is not yet live at the time of this review so I have no idea what the price point is. At under $20/bottle I think this would be a good option for Merlot drinkers.
Thanks for the opportunity to rat for you all once again. Cheers!
@timnath Did you get the 2015 or 2016?
@ctmariner Sorry, I got the 2016!
This sounds like a nice wine and would love to be a Northern Va. splitter but the last person I split with has never gotten in touch (JDUSI wine). If the wine has arrived would love to come retrieve mine. Any takers on this one?
Hi everyone, happy to be able to try the
2015 Idle Cellars Merlot
and share with you.
This wine smells hot and sweet. What a nose! Cherry cola, acetone, very volatile. Thankfully it doesnāt taste that way. Air is a definite must for this, after a while it settled down and tasted like black plum, berries, soft tannins and decent acidity, light-medium bodied. It seemed a little thinner that I would have expected for a Merlot, almost like a Zin. But nice and light and refreshing for summer was welcome.
It went better with food than by itself and paired nicely with Italian food. I could see having this with burgers, lighter grilled meats or vegetables, chicken or maybe even salmon. Going to have the rest of it tonight so weāll see how it changes.
I would pay about $20-25, up to $30 if not on sale. A nice different little wine. For those that think they donāt like Merlot try this!
@ilCesare with a 3.69 pH, did you find the acidity to be prominent?
@ilCesare @PaleMongo
3.69 pH and 5.4-5.5 TA is moderate acidity based on what Iāve seen and consumed.
@klezman @PaleMongo Yes, good acidity, not overwhelming. It wasnāt flabby or soft like Merlot can sometimes be. Solid well made wine.
Idle Cellarsā¦.more like idle country
(With the exception of NC of course)
Sure hope you meant cocoa, not coca in the tasting notes for the 2015!
@davidaplace IDKā¦ I find the taste of coca somewhat mellowing.
@davidaplace When we do a typo, we make it entertaining. Definitely more of the chocolate variety than a club in NY in the late '80ās.