Home » Wine Profiles » First Label Merlot 2001

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Winemakers Notes

This wine's winery: Learn more about Raphael

This wine's region: Learn more about North Fork of Long Island

This wine's varietal: Learn about Merlot wines

Tasting Notes: The 2001 Merlot is our best ever from Raphael exhibiting the strength and ripeness from a great vintage. Dark fruit flavors like blackberry and cassis prevail with mint, chocolate, leather and tobacco nuances. Sumptuous and dense yet at the same time tender and harmonious with layers of floral freshness. Our consulting enologist, Paul Pontallier from Chateau Margaux, has estimated the flavor development of 2001 First Label Merlot will last many years. Voted "Best Long Island Red Wine of 2005" by the New York Times. Vintage Notes: In the 2001 vintage, all the reds- read more...

What to Expect

Merlot has gotten a bad rap as of late but there is no denying the wine's appeal. Packed with deep, dark berry fruit and nuanced hints of cocoa, herb and earth with a soft structure. Its velvety texture makes Merlot instantly appealing and an obvious alternative to similar, more tannic Bordeaux varieties.

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fruit, faded, chocolate, caramel, dessert, rich, hefty, austere, disappointing, promising, balance, softAdd more »

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