Mojon's Bench

As a taster who confesses to having a clear tasting disposition for Old World, traditional wine styles, I found many elements in this wine appealing to my Old World proclivity, despite the overall nature of the wine being firmly planted with both feet on the “modern” side of the style fence.

Typical of its Alexander Valley origin, this is a wine with big proportions that manages to stay in balance with all it components amplified. Staying true to what appears to be a consistent house style (this is the third vintage release from Mojon’s Bench), the 2004 Merlot is inky blue black in color with concentrated aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum and cherry fruit, licorice and menthol spice, and notes of cinnamon and subtle oak vanilla with bitter sweet chocolate lingering on the finish. The 14.6 percent alcohol does register with warmth on the nose and palate, but it is certainly not “hot”. Still a relatively young wine, the tannins are assertive and grippy, and there’s a pleasant earthy minerality that adds that Old World dimension that I so like. Most important, there’s sufficient acidity to keep all of the wine’s opulence in check.

I think this wine will steadily improve over the next 5-8 years as the tannins mellow and the abundant fruit of youth is complemented with additional bottle age characteristics.

Reviewed May 23, 2008 by Adam Dial.

Other Awards & Accolades

Silver Medal - 2007 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver Medal - 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Fair