Robert Mondavi Private Selection Rum Barrel Aged Merlot 2018

From the stellar California-based Robert Mondavi winery comes the curiously labelled vinous offering. Rum Barrel Aged merlot you say? You know what? It works quite nicely thank you very much! There is something that just works here, with the plushness of the merlot meshing seamlessly with the vanilin-edged oak elements that is certainly pleasing to the palate. Sourced from Californian Monterey Coast grapes, the wine boasts a deep red/purple hue and opulent aromas of ripe, juicy plum and berry fruits, studded with Christmas Cake spice, roasting coffee, mocha, some higher toned , red-fruited flashes and a distinct, oak-driven trail of coconut and perhaps something akin to Maple or Golden Syrup. Rich and plushly formed, the aromas transpose neatly over to the palate which is beautifully weighted with a bright line, fine tannin profile and a lingering finish. Not a wine for chin-stroking and contemplation but it’s certainly quite a crowd pleaser.