Walnut Crest Merlot
Winery: B.V.S.E, Chile
Style: Dry Red
Year: 2002
Price Range: 1.75 L- $6.99 and up.
Rating: 6.5/10

Let's get away from Australia (which is not an easy thing to do because the Australians have really earned themselves a reputation in the realm of good jug wines) for our last review of the year with a bargain priced merlot from Chile's Rapel Valley.

Walnut Crest wines have been around for quite a few years now. My first sampling was their chardonnay, which back then I would have rated a 9. It was in fact my house wine for two years. Originally priced at $5.99 a mag, it was a steal. Unfortunately although the price increased only slightly, the quality slipped over time. So how would their merlot hold up today?

The placard above the Walnut Crest merlot display quoted a wine reviewer who bestowed a rave review. Kind of like Roger Ebert who highly rates all those turkey videos you spend 5 bucks on at Block Buster. So in spite of fond memories of the Walnut chard, I was skeptical. But it seems this is a fairly decent jug, especially considering the cost. Not quite as fruity and slightly lighter bodied than the average Australian merlots, this entry from Chile can best be described as "peppery" and a bit more tannic. Personally I prefer the Australian variety, but if you lean toward a spicier, drier merlot then add another point to my rating. And at $6.99 a mag you really can't go wrong.

Bubba- 12/28/03