Wine of the Week!

Coppola Diamond Series Merlot   $16               

Our wine of the week this week comes from one of the most historic wineries in Napa… restored again to prominence. The wine is Coppola Diamond Series 2004 Merlot. 

Owner Francis Ford Coppola has gathered the vineyards of the famed Niebaum and Inglenook estates and he produces outstanding wines. 

Our Merlot choice is from his value priced Diamond Series.  It’s an ready to go, flavor packed wine priced around sixteen dollars.  We taste the fruitiness of ripe blackberries with a hint of mocha – and there’s a pleasant softness making it ideal for lots of occasions… 

From roasted chicken to a cheeseburger right off the grill; from simply sipping just for the heck of it to a party gathering, the Coppola Merlot is a great choice. 

It’s a friendly wine… made for laughter and good times.  And that’s what wine really should be about.   

The Coppola Diamond Series 2004 Merlot is also easy to find, another reason why its our choice as wine of the week. 

Pick some up and let us know what you think. 

Pop the Cork™.

Winemaker’s notes and comments:

Blueberry aromas and flavors, good structure, and a smoky quality in the mid-palate. Good tannins, can stand up to most hearty meals.

This Merlot boasts a deep purple color and enticing aromas of ripe blueberry, currant, and spice. The palate offers succulent flavors of dark juicy plums, crushed blackberry, and eucalyptus, while the small addition of Syrah adds just a hint of warm spice. Careful aging in small French oak barrels provides a back drop of sweet vanilla, followed by round, luxurious tannins.

From our new Francis Coppola winery, Accolades and Statistics

• “Best Merlot under $20” (for the 2003 Vintage) — The Wall Street Journal
• Five Stars—“A top seller with consistent quality.”— Cheers
• “Medium to full-bodied with good structure and balance expressing plum, black cherry, raspberry and a hint of earth; long, lush finish.”— Santé Magazine
• Francis Coppola Diamond Merlot named Top 10 “Wines by the Glass” and ranked in Top 30 “Most Popular Merlots”— Wine & Spirits

Food Pairings
• Grilled salmon
• Jalapeño corn fritters
• Caramelized onion pizza

In 1879, Finnish explorer and adventurer Gustave Niebaum searched the Napa Valley with the goal of establishing a wine estate to rival the finest chateau of France. For decades his wines won acclaim and remain some of the most admired in American wine history's classic period. By the mid-1960s, his property was divided, and estate-wine production ceased. A decade later, Francis Ford Coppola purchased 1,500 acres of this historic property and revived Captain Niebaum's fine winemaking tradition. In 1995, Niebaum-Coppola acquired the remainder of the property and restored the Inglenook Estate to its original dimensions.

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently.  A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list.  Well, don't stop buying it because of that.  In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts . . . first, prices are approximate.  They'll vary.  Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly!  Now, all that said, here is a summary of  links to our suggestions.  Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

Read the fine print . . .

Wine consumption can have positive physical benefits or cause possible physical harm . . . the medical community is divided in some areas.  If you have any doubt, check with your doctor before consuming wine or any other alcoholic drink. 

Our information is well researched.  Recommendations are based on our opinions at the time of publication.  At the same time, recommendations change.  Also, there may be significant variance in taste depending on storage, shipping, and other factors.

The Wine Experience is not liable or responsible for any consequences arising from the use of the information obtained from winexperience.com, wineexp.com or The Wine Experience radio show.

The Wine Experience is intended for adults (over 21 years old).  Drink responsibly and don't drink and drive!