STONE CELLARS MERLOT - 2004

Stone Cellars wines by Beringer are made from California grapes and intended to be fruit-forward wines. Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley. On the mass-market level, Beringer is best known for its wildy popular White Zinfandel but collectors are probably more familiar with its high end Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

TASTING NOTES:

Creamy nose with nice plum/blackberry flavors. Strong creamy vanilla oak on the mid-palate with a soft mouthfeel and smooth finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86 PTS
This is what I love about wine. This bottle retails for around $6 or $7 and you'd never know it. It is an amazing bargain. It doesn't have tremendous fruit or complexity, but it is well-made with no harsh tannins or out of balance alcohol flavors. Don't expect Swanson Merlot kind of quality, but really impressive for this price point. I like this wine for its QPR (Quality Price Ratio).