Reviews & Ratings

2021 Robert Foley Merlot "Howell Mountain"

Winery: Robert Foley

Vintage: 2021

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Howell Mountain"

Wine Category: Merlot

Grape blend: 100% Merlot

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Howell Mountain

State or country: CA

Price: $75

Cases produced: 72

KWG Score: 94.5 (based on 1 review)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (94.5)

Review date: September 3, 2025

Wine Review: This purple ink colored Merlot from Robert Foley opens with a fragrant black currant and mild shoe polish bouquet with hints of fruitcake, black licorice, and old leather. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is nicely balanced, very smooth, rich, and dense. The flavor profile is an extracted blackberry and graphite blend with notes of oak, black licorice, and black currant. We also detected hints of oak, tobacco, and black tea. The finish is dry, and its flavors, acidity, and dusty tannins stick around for a very long time. We would pair this big and bold Merlot with a well-marbled ribeye with blue cheese butter or with braised short ribs. Enjoy - KWGTP

Winemaker Notes: The volcanic terroir and high-elevation exposure really concentrate the fruit, producing extremely dark color, with an almost Cabernet-like intensity. Just three barrels are bottled of this mountain Merlot, grown on our winery property in a small single-vineyard block adjacent to our wine-production facility. Opaque in appearance, black currant, black cherry, and cassis characterize the aromatic expression. The black fruit flavors flood the palate in a seductive mouth coating texture which dances with well-balanced natural acidity. The finish goes on and on with gently gripping tannin which completes the delightful experience of this classic mountain-grown Merlot from 2000’ elevation atop Howell Mountain.

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