Confessions of a Wine Shop Girl

So maybe it's not fashionable to be in love with a Merlot, but this 2007 Markaham Merlot is 

is truly striking.

This lush cherry treat has plenty of backbone and tannin to keep it interesting.

After cherry, the nose is  cola, root beer, vanilla all very balanced and silky smooth 

The wine is a deep garnet color, good body with a velvety 

smoothness. 

On tasting, the cherry is immediate, but balanced with a nice acidic clarity. It  immediately smoothes itself out and rolls around the palate, fruity and tasting of berries, with a smoky lingering mouthfeel that leaves you eager for another sip.

After a few minutes of breathing, the nose is  is reminiscent of old leather and blackberries.

Really nice wine, and a great example of what Merlot can be 

with a little backbone and structure.

I've wanted to try Markham Merlot ever since I read a stellar review in of the 1994  Markham Merlot in a 1995 Wine Spectator but could never find it at any of my local wine merchants or even when I went to Napa in 2004.

I finally got a chance to see what Markham has been up to tonight, and am thrilled with the 2007.

All those people who saw the movie Sideways and gave up on Merlot are missing out.
This is a delicious and truly enjoyable wine.