Hacienda Merlot

The Hacienda wine brand has a history dating back to 1973, when Hacienda Wine Cellars was founded by Frank Bartholomew in Sonoma Valley, California.  However, in 1992 the Franzia family purchased the rights to the Hacienda brand and it is now part of the Bronco Wine Company portfolio.  The original Hacienda building was turned into the Bartholomew Park Winery.  Therefore, it’s not clear to me if the current Hacienda brand has any connection with the original winery and vineyard, but my assumption is that it does not.  It’s now just the name of a wine.

But what is clear to me is that this Merlot is a good bargain.  It comes in at under $10 a bottle and the 2009 vintage got a double gold in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  This, however, is the 2010 vintage and it’s also tasty.

There’s a really nice cedar/nutmeg/leather layer of spices on the nose of this wine and plenty of fruit beneath that, such as plum and blackberry.  The palate is brimming with juicy, ripe fruit flavors, such as plum, blackberry and strawberry. It’s a bit tangy and there’s a touch of black tea flavor on the palate too, particularly toward the finish.  The acidity is good.  The tannins are sufficient.  It’s not the most exciting merlot I’ve tasted, but it’s solid and a great bargain.

Wine: Hacienda Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $9.00

Find Hacienda Merlot with Snooth

Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.