The nose is precise, sophisticated, and deep-focused. Finesse is found within the montage of black cherries and dark chocolate espresso with dry sage, black olive, pencil shavings, and sandalwood keeping it savory. The mouthfeel has a vivid vitality, lusciousness, and seduces with savory notes, dark berries, and elegant tannins. This dark-red beauty rounds out with a fierce, compelling enthusiasm and a long, lingering finish. This is a graceful, eloquent, and charismatic Merlot.
Y. Rousseau Wines is a dream that began long ago in the South-West of France and continues to grow and evolve today. Yannick Rousseau, French native, founder, and winemaker, followed his heart and passion for winemaking all the way to Napa Valley where he met his Texan-born wife, Susan. The two of them bring their combined entrepreneurial savvy to embrace the ebbs and flows of running a family winery with the legacy of their racines, hospitable style, and discriminating artisanship.
Yannickâs reputation has been made not by following in anyoneâs particular footsteps but rather by taking what he has learned from great mavericks and integrating it into what he discovers to be true. His history of working with grape varietals from the Southwest of France is well known. Now, he carries forward his winemaking mission still embracing Colombard, Tannat, and other favored varietals and blending them to create revived, and even edge-bending wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2022 Y. Rousseau Merlot - $90 = 23.07%
On day one, my wife and I entertained a fellow wine enthusiast and Sommify competitor to see what this wine had to offer. Directly out of the bottle, it was ruby colored, and we had aromas of red currant and violet. It was not as opaque as we expected for a Merlot, and it had a watery edge and thin but slow-falling legs. The fruity nose predominated with some whiffs of alcohol.
The wine was silky with a light body, not a combination I would normally make. The tannins were well managed, and the Bing-cherry flavor was able to predominate. Our friend sensed hints of blue fruits mixed in, possibly plum. The finish was short, with an impression of cherry Kool-Aid.
To our surprise, the second glass of the night was thicker and darker, and there was a whiff of graphite. While the finish remained the same, the core was mid palate.
On day two, the wine was more muted in aromas. But it was spicier with a bit of pepper, less silky, and sharper. And, yet again, the wine continued to morph as we sipped.
Iâm not sure how a wine becomes thicker with time, but I swear it had more body on day two. The fruits were darker, more like black cherry â richer. The core had moved yet again to the back of the palate, still with a tingle of alcohol but with slightly less tannic cloy. I felt like I tasted some cranberry in the fruit and less of a flat finish.
What fun! How cool to have a wine that changes slightly every time you swirl and sip. This was a delight to sample, and it seemed to hold to the mix of âold world eleganceâ that is âbold and racy,â as advertised on the back label.
Thank you for this opportunity to sample such a delightfully complex wine!
Yannick makes some wonderful wines. I have yet to drink something that they make, that I havenât loved. Got to get a couple bottles, just because I need them in my cellar. Yes, need. There is an empty space next to his Tannat that needs to be filled.
Iâm considering it and I appreciate the Rat. Iâve been wanting get my hands on some good merlots, but I still have a lot of wine yet to arrive including a case of the Cab/Merlot from recent.
Pepe - 2022 Y Rousseau Merlot - Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County
Iâll admit myself typically more familiar with old world Merlot from France, so I was quite delighted by this expression from California! Instead of bold, gripping tannins, here we have soft velvety balance and rich juicy lusciousness that one typically finds from the usual suspects.
The wine is bottled in a substantial bit of glass, stopped with a lovely cork. A very nice impression if one were to intend this wine as a gift. The wine pours a beautiful ruby red, more lively than most Merlot Iâve seen, and then the rich red fades to a tiny bit of orange on the rim; classic Merlot indeed. First aromas are faint and subtle, but soon evolve into wafts of ripe red fruit. Strawberry, cherry, and perhaps tart red apple. There is a lovely balance between slightly under-ripe fruit and rich vanilla oak. The wine is young, but you can tell has had quite a bit of time in the barrel. The initial flavors of fresh fruit compliment the barrel aging well, are well structured, and provide a complex and balanced experience that is very delicious now. Over the next few hours, paired with savory meats and pastas, the fresh fruit slowly faded to a spicier, more earthy experience, just as lovely as the beginning but well-evolved.
This was a really lovely bottle of wine that would be a treat for any meal with family and friends. I would be very excited to save a few for 2032 or so and see how it ages.
2022 Y. Rousseau Pépé Merlot, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Specs
Whatâs Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$780.00/Case for 12x 2022 Y. Rousseau Pépé Merlot, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County at Y Rousseau Wines
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Feb 20 - Monday, Feb 24
2022 Y. Rousseau Merlot
2 bottles for $64.99 $32.50/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Whereâs Paul Giamatti when you need him?!?!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2022 Y. Rousseau Merlot - $90 = 23.07%
2022 Y Rousseau Merlot Pépé
This classy, clear, but complex wine is one of those bottles you will want to mull on and ponder. We thoroughly enjoyed tasting this wine as it changed over two days of sampling.
On day one, my wife and I entertained a fellow wine enthusiast and Sommify competitor to see what this wine had to offer. Directly out of the bottle, it was ruby colored, and we had aromas of red currant and violet. It was not as opaque as we expected for a Merlot, and it had a watery edge and thin but slow-falling legs. The fruity nose predominated with some whiffs of alcohol.
The wine was silky with a light body, not a combination I would normally make. The tannins were well managed, and the Bing-cherry flavor was able to predominate. Our friend sensed hints of blue fruits mixed in, possibly plum. The finish was short, with an impression of cherry Kool-Aid.
To our surprise, the second glass of the night was thicker and darker, and there was a whiff of graphite. While the finish remained the same, the core was mid palate.
On day two, the wine was more muted in aromas. But it was spicier with a bit of pepper, less silky, and sharper. And, yet again, the wine continued to morph as we sipped.
Iâm not sure how a wine becomes thicker with time, but I swear it had more body on day two. The fruits were darker, more like black cherry â richer. The core had moved yet again to the back of the palate, still with a tingle of alcohol but with slightly less tannic cloy. I felt like I tasted some cranberry in the fruit and less of a flat finish.
What fun! How cool to have a wine that changes slightly every time you swirl and sip. This was a delight to sample, and it seemed to hold to the mix of âold world eleganceâ that is âbold and racy,â as advertised on the back label.
Thank you for this opportunity to sample such a delightfully complex wine!
@ejrunion
Excellent description of the wine and the « two days » experience! Thank you
UghâŠCasemates breaking the bank here.
Anyone in the NE Atlanta region want to split a case? Maybe from Decatur to Doraville.
Maybe if Iâm that specific, no one will take it and I can keep my money.
Yannick makes some wonderful wines. I have yet to drink something that they make, that I havenât loved. Got to get a couple bottles, just because I need them in my cellar. Yes, need. There is an empty space next to his Tannat that needs to be filled.
@WkdPanda
Thank you for the kind words and support. Always appreciated. Yannick
Anyone in upstate SC want to split?
Iâm considering it and I appreciate the Rat. Iâve been wanting get my hands on some good merlots, but I still have a lot of wine yet to arrive including a case of the Cab/Merlot from recent.
Apologies for the late night ratage!
Pepe - 2022 Y Rousseau Merlot - Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County
Iâll admit myself typically more familiar with old world Merlot from France, so I was quite delighted by this expression from California! Instead of bold, gripping tannins, here we have soft velvety balance and rich juicy lusciousness that one typically finds from the usual suspects.
The wine is bottled in a substantial bit of glass, stopped with a lovely cork. A very nice impression if one were to intend this wine as a gift. The wine pours a beautiful ruby red, more lively than most Merlot Iâve seen, and then the rich red fades to a tiny bit of orange on the rim; classic Merlot indeed. First aromas are faint and subtle, but soon evolve into wafts of ripe red fruit. Strawberry, cherry, and perhaps tart red apple. There is a lovely balance between slightly under-ripe fruit and rich vanilla oak. The wine is young, but you can tell has had quite a bit of time in the barrel. The initial flavors of fresh fruit compliment the barrel aging well, are well structured, and provide a complex and balanced experience that is very delicious now. Over the next few hours, paired with savory meats and pastas, the fresh fruit slowly faded to a spicier, more earthy experience, just as lovely as the beginning but well-evolved.
This was a really lovely bottle of wine that would be a treat for any meal with family and friends. I would be very excited to save a few for 2032 or so and see how it ages.
Thanks to the Vintner and Casemates!!
@emribecky thank you for your great feedback ! Yannick Rousseau
Anyone want to share a case? So. NH/Boston Area.
@netcommsyn Iâm Portsmouth and will split.
/giphy joyful-thundering-ivy
@mrn1 @xena67 @scott0210 @mehnyblooms @croutonollie @Boatman72 @docjavadude @pjmartin @KCountry @HopHeadB @North316 @bunnymasseuse @chipgreen
Any NEO folks interested in a split(s)?