A few months ago, I tried this wine at Rosewood in the presence of winemaker Natalie Spytkowsky. I tried it alongside the 5-star Merlot Reserve Wild Ferment and I could see where the reserve got it’s pedigree, the “basic” Merlot was delicious too. She informed me at that time that sales of the Merlot were going gangbusters and that only 35 cases remained and they should be sold out of it very shortly. So I took my notes, gave the wine a score and moved on, realizing that by the time I got a chance to post the review the wine would be gone. Fast forward to last weekend and I find myself once again at Rosewood, this time no Natalie, and they ask if I’ve tried the 2007 Merlot, the same 2007 Merlot that was destined to be gone by now. It seems that an accounting error had occurred, and one that finally favours the wine lover in all of us. Someone had tucked a palette or two away in a corner, thus making it seem like there was less in the warehouse than there actually was … now uncovered, I can dust off my own notes and tell you to make your way to Rosewood to buy some of this Merlot at a steal of a price. Twelve months in a mix of seasoned and new oak barrels brings out the black cherry, blackberry and chocolate smells in the wine; the mouth finds similar joy with ripe and juicy blackberry along with cinnamon and spices – a touch gritty with tannins but those will smooth out with a couple of years in the cellar. The good news is that this wonderful wine still holds the price tag of $18 (the pre-finding amount) … The accountant must have made an error here too, so best you take advantage of it “toute suite” as the French might say. Price: $18.00 – Rating: ****½ ~~~Note from the winemaker: "Just to mention the Mead Noir is Pinot Noir sweetened with honey and fermented together. It is not mead and pinot noir together."