PALOMA MERLOT 2006 = better than “Wine of the Year”!

INSIDER SCOOP: The owners of this tiny winery are old friends of Porthos.  We’ve been tracking their wine for 7 years now and the 2005 if their BEST YET featuring bold fruit and an ultra smooth texture! Ever since Wine Spectator rated this wine a “Classic” 95 points” and awarded it “#1 Wine of the Year” Paloma has soared to the top of the highly-sought-after Collector “must have” list! Funny ‘insider’ story is I’ll never forget when proprietor Jim Richards contacted me to enquire if I thought he should change the name of his wine to help boost sales since it was still undiscovered at that time. I gave him my advice and he ultimately agreed he already had a ‘winner’….and then Wine Spectator named Paloma “Wine of the Year” later that same (!) year. Just in case you’re wondering, the folks at Paloma haven’t asked for any marketing advice since then.

THE WINE INSIDERS “Classic 95” rating: “Dark and smoky, this velvety smooth wine has beautifully integrated flavors of bold ripe blueberry, black cherry, raisins and the trademark Paloma hint of cocoa on the finish. Reminiscent of the famed 2001 vintage, this new 2005 promises to age gracefully 5 – 7 years, peaking around 2012 in our estimate. 95 points”

Currently this wine is available for $59 (click here)