It is not frequently we encounter Italian Merlot as a single varietal in Canada. So we have a chance now with a somewhat unique Terre Magre Merlot from Friuli.
Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry and cola with some intensity.
Palate: A robust aroma for a wine does not always equate with a robust wine! Not much in the way of tannins at first but they do move up a notch once the wine has aerated a bit. Rather light. The fruit is light with some notes of blueberry, cherry and mocha. A bit of sweetness on the short finish which is attributable to a small portion of the grapes being dried and crushed 60 days later. The lack of oak gives the wine a lighter and cleaner profile than an oaked Merlot.
Personality: Perhaps you love full bodied wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or a Carmenére and good on you but it is a welcome change to lighten up your glass with a Merlot like me. I am easy going and rather light bodied and don’t they say that a change is as good as a rest?
Food match: Spanish octopus for sure https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259483/spanish-octopus/?utm_source=emailshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mobilesharebutton2
Cellarbility: You could happily rest this for a couple of years but there is certainly no harm in consuming now. I do not believe ageing will improve the wine.
Price: $22.95 (Ontario).
RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 91/100. Jamessuckling.com 90.
(Terre Magre 2021 D.O.C. Friuli, Piera Martellozzo San Quirino, Italy, 750 mL, 14%, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 29821).
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