# Trader T Joe's Merlot (2023)

- **Producer:** Familia Nueva Vineyards
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €9
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, vanilla, toast, chocolate

## About this wine

Trader Joe's collaborates with winemaking entities in California's Paso Robles region under trade names like Familia Nueva Vineyards to offer single-appellation wines. Sourced from vineyards across Paso Robles on California's Central Coast, this wine represents the region's warm climate, which features significant day-to-night temperature drops influenced by marine air from the Templeton Gap. The 2023 growing season experienced cooler conditions and steady rainfall, allowing for an extended hang time on the vines.

## Interesting facts

- Bottled under the trade name Familia Nueva Vineyards specifically as a Trader Joe's private label release.
- Paso Robles features one of the largest diurnal temperature swings in California due to ocean breezes.
- The cooler 2023 vintage allowed grapes extended hang-time for balanced ripening and natural acidity.

## Food pairing

Medium tannins and balanced acidity allow this Merlot to cut through rich fats in beef and pork without overwhelming the food. The savory tomato and roasted meat components harmonize smoothly with the fruit-forward profile of the wine.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process begins with temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve fresh fruit character and varietal typicity. Following primary fermentation, the wine undergoes aging and conditioning using a combination of French and American oak to integrate structure and wood influence before bottling.