Cannonball Sonoma County Merlot 2019

Built to be simple and cheery, at a solid price point, this wine is simple and soft, perfect for wine virgins.
This bottle of Cannonball Merlot has a medium ruby colour and eludes a bouquet of cherry and black tea. Subtle sweet vanilla French oak and a blueberry compote note accent the taste. The palate is generous and soft on approach, leading with supple cherry fruit and transitions to richer boysenberry flavours on the mid-palate. It has medium-firm tannins, caramel and notes of pepper. The vintage’s fresh acidity lends structure to this silky Merlot, leaving a lingering, savoury finish.

We find that Merlot expresses its most appealing varietal character when grown in regions that experience warm afternoon temperatures balanced by cool nights and mornings. California’s Mendocino County has a rugged coastline and highlands that offer a generous range of soils and exposures in which to cultivate Merlot.

The structure and framework of this wine was constructed from the Mendocino components while the lush, full-body is attributable to our fruit sourced from a bit further inland, almost directly to the east in Clarksburg in Yolo County. Clarksburg boasts young clay soils, warm afternoons, and cool delta breezes that ripen berries to decadent richness.
Since this is the Olympics season, the Cannonball logo reminds me of amazing (and really hot) athletes like Tom Daley - may you be as amazing as him after this bottle.

(Tom is obviously the hotter on on the left)
 
13.5%
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AWARDS & ACCOLADES
 - 91 PTS
Cannonball 2016 Merlot is a mocha and dark chocolate nose. This Californian deep-red wine red is juicy with dark fruit, savoury spice and mocha. So balanced and versatile, this creamy Merlot will pair with just about anything including chocolate."
  - 89 PTS
 - 84 PTS
 
Deep purple color. Confected aromas of vanilla bean ice cream, custard, raspberry cheesecake, and sweet and sour glazed peppers with a satiny, crisp, fruity sweet light-to-medium body and a seamless, brisk chocolate milk finish with moderate oak flavor. A very confected merlot with cake-like qualities; pair with spicy foods."