The quality and character of Materra wine is determined long before its shared at your table. The perfect Napa Valley climate. The best Oak Knoll soils. Traditional winemaking style.
2010 Materra Merlot, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
This is a very approachable merlot that expresses ripe plum, cocoa-dusted raspberries and sage. Additional aromas include pie cherries, tobacco and Darjeeling tea. An abundance of soft grain tannins provide a well-structured youthful wine with bright acidity.
Vintage
Rainfall and cooler temperatures dominated the beginning of the 2010 season, but with no frost, flowering and fruit-set occurred about 2 weeks later than several previous vintages. Temperatures remained mild until the first heat spike of the season which occurred just as harvest was underway. The later bud break combined with the cooler temperatures pushed harvest well into October for most red varietals, leaving the harvest season short and ensuring busy weeks for the winemakers and their teams. For the red Bordeaux grape varietals, this longer and cooler season produced more balanced wines with lower alcohol levels and a more integrated palate and mouthfeel.
2011 Materra Right Bank Reserve Merlot, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
This classic Bordeaux blend combines all of the standard varietals of the region. Our estate grown Merlot acts as the backbone of this smooth fruit-forward wine with expressive notes of dark cherry, black licorice, cinnamon and chocolate. This vintage commences the official proprietary name for our flagship Merlot. Flavors and complexity will continue to develop for up to 10 years in the cellar.
Vintage
The 2011 growing season was certainly exciting. Unseasonably late rains into mid-June delayed bloom and resulted in shatter in many parts of the Valley. The cooler-than-average growing season combined with a later-than-average harvest occurring during late August and September rain storms. Fewer heat spikes than normal combined with well above average rainfall contributed to the lower yields. Due to diligent and adjusting farming practices, the erratic weather and lower yields did not result in compromises to the quality of the fruit.
Specifications
Varietal: 96% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc
At Cunat Family Vineyards we are cultivating our life’s dream – one vine at a time, with patience for each growing season, pleasure in greeting each new customer, the enjoyment of working with family and tasting the results of our efforts in every bottle. Winemaking is our passion and we invite you to come share our Napa Valley Materra wines with us.
Roughly translated, Materra means ‘Mother Earth.’ The Cunat Family Vineyards, where Materra wines are grown, combine terroir, hand-selected and planted vines, a cooler climate and the extraordinary talents of a dedicated team to produce wines that are both tempting and complex. We take our environmental stewardship responsibilities seriously and work with the gifts of nature to consistently grow the best grapes. The Cunat Family Vineyards are located in the Oak Knoll district of the Napa Valley, a region well known for its deep, rich alluvial soil and excellent microclimates, producing high quality Chardonnay and Merlot for over sixty years.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2010/2011 Materra Napa Valley Merlots - $50 = 17.53%
@CorTot Don’t get that way often but yeahhhhh I hear you on the traffic. 20 minutes? The FedEx office must be across the street then! Anxious for report. 2010 or 2011?
@Materra Two questions: 1. What can you tell us about the aging of these wines? Do they have any oak in the aroma or flavor?
2. Do you have any response to the pretty negative Wine Enthusiast review cited above?
@DickL 1. Approximately 18 months in 65% new French oak - at this point in their lifespan I wouldn’t describe the oak aromas or flavors as overt by any means. I know it’s a cliche, but the oak is “well-integrated”, but present. 2. I can say that the 2011 has improved greatly since it was first released, for what it’s worth. One of those 2011’s for which the acidity needed time to “knit”. Hope this helps.
I’m conflicted now. At first blush seems like a great deal. But upon further inspection there seems to be a huge discrepancy between the merlot and the rbr. Is the latter a throw in?
Lab rat report
2010 Materra Merlot
Napa valley oak knoll district estate grown
Cork pulled, quite a bit of sediment in the neck and bottom of the cork. Strained it out before consuming.
Color is a medium depth, deep ruby. As noted earlier there is a bit of sediment in the neck but not in the bottom. The bottle is also tannin stained on the shoulder.
Aroma: medium, not a huge young nose but a bit more restrained. If you bury your nose in the glass you get a bot of alcohol. Pull it up a little and you get eucalyptus, blackberry and slightly green note. Not much oak is showing at this point. Really just mild fruit and some leafy ancillary notes. Pretty restrained nose.
Taste: dry, medium bodied, balanced acidity(went great with dinner), medium soft tannins. I got eucalyptus, some cranberry, which is really coming across as slightly tart red fruit. Very smooth, nicely aged merlot. It Is soft with some depth, tannins are mostly resolved. I thought it really did well with dinner but was fine by itself. This might be a nice alternative for thanksgiving instead of some of the lighter reds that usually are on the table with a turkey dinner. I like buying bottles with a little age on them, don’t have to worry about whether it’s ready or not, this was ready to go when the bottle was opened. It’s a solid bottle, recommended and enjoyed by myself and two others that tried it tonight.
There’s a difference between dumping and moving in my opinion. I’ve found many great deals on moved wine (due to lack of storage, sales, or other). Think McLean, RMerlo, White Oak. I have also been burned by dumps (think Renteria PN)
@losthighwayz@ScottW58 A “dump” is clearly in the eye of the beholder. If you didn’t like the wine, it was a “dump” of shitty juice you couldn’t sell. If you liked it, it was a steal of a deal that you lucked out getting because they needed to reduce inventory or needed a large cash inflow.
What’s that they say? YMMV?
The quality and character of Materra wine is determined long before its shared at your table. The perfect Napa Valley climate. The best Oak Knoll soils. Traditional winemaking style.
2010 Materra Merlot, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
This is a very approachable merlot that expresses ripe plum, cocoa-dusted raspberries and sage. Additional aromas include pie cherries, tobacco and Darjeeling tea. An abundance of soft grain tannins provide a well-structured youthful wine with bright acidity.
Vintage
Rainfall and cooler temperatures dominated the beginning of the 2010 season, but with no frost, flowering and fruit-set occurred about 2 weeks later than several previous vintages. Temperatures remained mild until the first heat spike of the season which occurred just as harvest was underway. The later bud break combined with the cooler temperatures pushed harvest well into October for most red varietals, leaving the harvest season short and ensuring busy weeks for the winemakers and their teams. For the red Bordeaux grape varietals, this longer and cooler season produced more balanced wines with lower alcohol levels and a more integrated palate and mouthfeel.
Specifications
2011 Materra Right Bank Reserve Merlot, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
This classic Bordeaux blend combines all of the standard varietals of the region. Our estate grown Merlot acts as the backbone of this smooth fruit-forward wine with expressive notes of dark cherry, black licorice, cinnamon and chocolate. This vintage commences the official proprietary name for our flagship Merlot. Flavors and complexity will continue to develop for up to 10 years in the cellar.
Vintage
The 2011 growing season was certainly exciting. Unseasonably late rains into mid-June delayed bloom and resulted in shatter in many parts of the Valley. The cooler-than-average growing season combined with a later-than-average harvest occurring during late August and September rain storms. Fewer heat spikes than normal combined with well above average rainfall contributed to the lower yields. Due to diligent and adjusting farming practices, the erratic weather and lower yields did not result in compromises to the quality of the fruit.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$612/case at Materra Wines (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards
Owners: The Cunat Family
Founded: 2007
Location: Napa Valley, CA
At Cunat Family Vineyards we are cultivating our life’s dream – one vine at a time, with patience for each growing season, pleasure in greeting each new customer, the enjoyment of working with family and tasting the results of our efforts in every bottle. Winemaking is our passion and we invite you to come share our Napa Valley Materra wines with us.
Roughly translated, Materra means ‘Mother Earth.’ The Cunat Family Vineyards, where Materra wines are grown, combine terroir, hand-selected and planted vines, a cooler climate and the extraordinary talents of a dedicated team to produce wines that are both tempting and complex. We take our environmental stewardship responsibilities seriously and work with the gifts of nature to consistently grow the best grapes. The Cunat Family Vineyards are located in the Oak Knoll district of the Napa Valley, a region well known for its deep, rich alluvial soil and excellent microclimates, producing high quality Chardonnay and Merlot for over sixty years.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, November 2nd - Tuesday, November 6th
Materra Napa Valley Merlot
4 bottles for $94.99 $23.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $234.99 $19.58/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2010 Materra Merlot
2011 Materra Merlot Right Bank Reserve
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2010/2011 Materra Napa Valley Merlots - $50 = 17.53%
This looks great! But no CT again
@winer I’ve noticed a pattern!
And from Wine Enthusiast:
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/materra-2010-estate-grown-merlot-napa-oak-knoll-district/
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/materra-2011-right-bank-reserve-merlot-napa-oak-knoll-district/
fwiw
@kaolis not a very good review
/youtube
I actually do love a good Merlot though…
@MSUMike
I have a rat bottle on its way. Will report back tonight or early tomorrow.
Nevermind, Fedex screwed this up and wants me to drive 20+ minutes to pick up. Don’t hold your breath here…
@CorTot 20 minutes? Just 20 minutes? Only 20 minutes? For potential rat stardom? That’s nothing! Come on man!
@CorTot Lucky you! Enjoy - I hope!
@kaolis how much do enjoy LA traffic. I’ll try for it on Saturday when things are a bit a calmer.
@CorTot 20 minutes in LA traffic? You could probably walk it in 10.
@kaolis bottle recovered. Will open tonight with some friends to get multiple notes. Will report back.
@CorTot Don’t get that way often but yeahhhhh I hear you on the traffic. 20 minutes? The FedEx office must be across the street then! Anxious for report. 2010 or 2011?
An enjoyable producer podcast today. i’d compare these wines to the Swanson Vineyards merlots out there.
Hi all, Harry from Materra here. Hope you enjoy this offer of lovingly aged Merlot. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
@Materra Welcome, Harry and Materra Winery - we are thrilled to have you!
@Materra Two questions: 1. What can you tell us about the aging of these wines? Do they have any oak in the aroma or flavor?
2. Do you have any response to the pretty negative Wine Enthusiast review cited above?
@DickL 1. Approximately 18 months in 65% new French oak - at this point in their lifespan I wouldn’t describe the oak aromas or flavors as overt by any means. I know it’s a cliche, but the oak is “well-integrated”, but present. 2. I can say that the 2011 has improved greatly since it was first released, for what it’s worth. One of those 2011’s for which the acidity needed time to “knit”. Hope this helps.
I’m conflicted now. At first blush seems like a great deal. But upon further inspection there seems to be a huge discrepancy between the merlot and the rbr. Is the latter a throw in?
@losthighwayz The merlot was good. cant speak to the 2011 though.
Equal number of the two wines in an order (2 and 2 or 6 and 6 of each)?
@DickL Presumably equal split. That has been pretty standard whenever there has been an offering of two different wines.
Lab rat report
2010 Materra Merlot
Napa valley oak knoll district estate grown
Cork pulled, quite a bit of sediment in the neck and bottom of the cork. Strained it out before consuming.
Color is a medium depth, deep ruby. As noted earlier there is a bit of sediment in the neck but not in the bottom. The bottle is also tannin stained on the shoulder.
Aroma: medium, not a huge young nose but a bit more restrained. If you bury your nose in the glass you get a bot of alcohol. Pull it up a little and you get eucalyptus, blackberry and slightly green note. Not much oak is showing at this point. Really just mild fruit and some leafy ancillary notes. Pretty restrained nose.
Taste: dry, medium bodied, balanced acidity(went great with dinner), medium soft tannins. I got eucalyptus, some cranberry, which is really coming across as slightly tart red fruit. Very smooth, nicely aged merlot. It Is soft with some depth, tannins are mostly resolved. I thought it really did well with dinner but was fine by itself. This might be a nice alternative for thanksgiving instead of some of the lighter reds that usually are on the table with a turkey dinner. I like buying bottles with a little age on them, don’t have to worry about whether it’s ready or not, this was ready to go when the bottle was opened. It’s a solid bottle, recommended and enjoyed by myself and two others that tried it tonight.
@CorTot I’ve opened up two, and they were both corked…I don’t know where you get all these tasting notes…mine were a waste of money…
@dkralston my bottle was solid. Get a refund from casemates.
@CorTot @dkralston yea, please do. some bottles go bad. most age beautifully.
Curious why a 2011 was not ratted. My gut tells me they’re dumping
@losthighwayz the winery rep is here. Go ahead and ask?
@Materra
@losthighwayz A 2011 was sent out to Rat too! Hopefully they will chime in before tonight.
@losthighwayz
Every wine on any flash site is a dump of some kind or inventory reduction so why worry?
@losthighwayz @ScottW58 I like the sound of inventory reduction better. But honestly I just thought it would make an interesting little vertical.
@losthighwayz @Materra
See that’s what you get for trying to be nice
There’s a difference between dumping and moving in my opinion. I’ve found many great deals on moved wine (due to lack of storage, sales, or other). Think McLean, RMerlo, White Oak. I have also been burned by dumps (think Renteria PN)
@losthighwayz what makes you think rmerlo, white oak etc were not dumps?
@losthighwayz @ScottW58 A “dump” is clearly in the eye of the beholder. If you didn’t like the wine, it was a “dump” of shitty juice you couldn’t sell. If you liked it, it was a steal of a deal that you lucked out getting because they needed to reduce inventory or needed a large cash inflow.
What’s that they say? YMMV?
Aarrrgh! Forgot to order!
The 2010 Merlot’s are all corked…bleccchh
@dkralston ask for a refund.