This wine was purchased to go with a manicotti dish I had prepared this week. I have seen wines from Toasted Head before and thought that they deserved a try.

This particular 2011 Merlot from Toasted Head is barrel-aged for about 20 months before being bottled and sold to the public.

toasted head wines

Toasted Head Merlot Review

Scent: A rich, nutty scent combined with cherries and a slight sweetness. I also get the slightest hint of a coffee smell.

Taste: The flavors are intense with this wine right away. There is a combination of cherry and ripe plum notes that are mixed with some sweet vanilla. The amount of tannins in this wine is high, so you get that tingling sensation that you can sense into your nostrils almost right away. I wouldn’t put this in the “dry” or “sweet” category, as it is a pretty even mix between both. It finishes with an oak/coffee flavor that lingers on the palate.

I am not a huge fan of the intensity of this wine. I prefer my reds to be more about the flavor and less about the level of tannins, because I really don’t like the sensation they give on the palate. It may have been a little bit too heavy in terms of flavor and level of tannins to pair with a cheese and pasta dish, but I think it would go perfectly with a pasta meal that was heavier on the protein. Overall, I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

*Cheers to going with the flow and a great glass of Merlot*

joanna at motherhood and merlot