El Galgo Merlot 2005
Bodega
Range
Wine
Vintage
Origin
Price
Appearance
Light, clear scarlet red.
Nose
Lots of berry fruit - rapsberries, strawberries - and ripe plums. Fresh minerality.
Palate
Light-bodied. Berry fruit on the palate reflects the aromas, but is fairly thin-tasting. Fairly tannic, but not overly aggressive. Some liquorice and coffee notes.
Overall
This Merlot has had a reasonable stint in second use French oak, and has picked up some interesting tertiary compelxities as a result. However, the fruit (sourced from the cooler, higher-altitude La Consulta region in Valle de Uco) is fairly austere, lacking the mid-palate presence and roundness you might look for from a Merlot. Perfectly drinkable, but there are plenty of better choices in this price bracket.
***
(November 06)