Reviews & Ratings

2011 Swanson Vineyards Merlot "Cygnet"

Winery: Swanson Vineyards

Vintage: 2011

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Cygnet"

Wine Category: Merlot

Grape blend: 78% Merlot & 22% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $24

Cases produced: 2,000

KWG Score: 90 (based on 1 review)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: March 1, 2015

Wine Review: This bright red colored Merlot from Swanson is very nice. I found it to be very well structured for the vintage. It opens with a fragrant cedar, black cherry and blueberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and very approachable. The flavor profile is a tasty blueberry with notes of cedar plank. I also detected hints of black plum, cherry, and menthol. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins are well managed and friendly. This is an on premise offering only, so find it at your favorite restaurant and pair it with a Kobe burger or marinated steak tips. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Swanson's 2011 Cygnet Merlot is a NEW Swanson style, designed from the vineyard to bottle as a wine that is easily enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to a variety of foods. The wine has the freshness of just-crushed Merlot grape juice, yet exhibits the round ripeness, complexity, and texture that only come with aging in small barrels. Cygnet is plush and very inviting visually, aromatically, and on the palate. The color is deep ruby with a purple edge. The nose shows aromas of ultra-ripe black cherry and macerated blackberries, with notes of vanilla bean and spice cake. In the mouth, very ripe blackberry and raspberry emerge around a core of silky tannin. The finish is balanced and lingering with a touch of mocha. This Cygnet Merlot will continue to improve in the bottle, with optimum drinkability from 2014-2017. - Chris Phelps, Winemaker

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Swanson 2011 Cygnet Merlot.