Tasting-Columbia Merlot

Columbia Winery Merlot 
-Merlot
-Columbia Valley, Washington State
-US OF A
-2013
-$30...on sale for $15.99

At the Gormet Pantry, this wine was recommended because it was a solid wine that was massively on sale. It was a good wine that was not worth $30 but for $15 was still a steal. He said it would be a solid merlot that would go over well with just hanging out with snacks.
From http://www.columbiawinery.com/our-wines/merlot : 
After harvest, the grapes for our Merlot were destemmed and cold soaked for 48 hours. Fermentation occurred in 7-ton, open-top stainless steel tanks for up to 11 days at a maximum temperature of 90°F. Throughout fermentation, we performed several rack and returns for optimal extraction of color and flavor. A specialized oak strategy lent this Merlot its distinct notes of brown spice and toasty oak.

TASTING NOTES

Columbia Winery Merlot opens with a dark color that has a distinct purple edge. Enticing aromas of cherry and plum with a hint of violet float from the glass and continue to the palate, where they are joined by pronounced notes of toasty oak, vanilla and hints of mocha. Rich and plush in the mouth, this Merlot has firm tannins and a lingering finish. Enjoy with tenderloin medallions drizzled with a wild huckleberry glaze, roast chicken, or a tomato-based red sauce with Italian sausage and fennel over your favorite pasta.

Varietal Content:  85% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Other

My notes: 

This was a great find. I bought it because it was an orignal $30 wine on sale for $15. I was looking for something to bring over to a friend's house to just relax and snack with. We ended up buying some Chinese food and making brownies with the wine. It definitely had a lot more depth than most red wines and was a solid merlot. It was not that dry but also not that sweet. We joked that it was honestly a great lunch wine. The cherry taste was light and only added to the flavor without adding sweetness. It paired really well with Chinese food, so it's a great table wine that goes with a lot of foods. As I continued to  drink it I noticed the fruit became more apparent and noticeable. We made Salted Caramel Brownies with it and that actually soldified this wine. The label says there was mocha in the wine and I did not notice it until I drank it with the brownies. The brownies intensified the wine in a fantastic way. 

Overall I really enjoyed this wine because it was just a solid merlot that was a good relaxing, do not need super fancy wine but honestly delicious and got better as the meal went on.