Charles Smith, Velvet Devil Merlot, 2007, Columbia Valley

Okay, I kinda fell for the marketing and I know Robert Parker has wet dreams about Charles Smith. Still after going to Walla Walla and K being closed, I wanted to try some of this stuff out. On my trip, I was overall way more impressed with the merlots and right bank bordeaux style blends than the cabs. This 12 dollar bottle didn't dissapoint me. The wine was really opaque and purpley crimson in color. The aroma was dominated by mollasses with a bit of the heat of the alcohol also coming through. There was a definite sweetness to the flavor profile, but unlike most wines in this price range the sweetness was balanced by other interesting flavors. I got a nice big dose of coffee with hints of milk chocolate, cranberry, and sweet tobacco. This is a medium bodied wine with a roundness one would expect from an entry level merlot. The finish is definitely pretty short but I appreciate how the alcohol is kept in check and your pallate is left feeling clean. The Velvet Devil is pretty rad to drink on its own but I bet it would be great with a black bean burger from Burgerville or some chocolate sorbet with rasberries