NV Barefoot Merlot

Founded in 1986 by Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, Barefoot Cellars produces wines that claims to be "affordable, varietally correct, soft and approachable and are immediately ready to drink off the shelf." Introduced to the public in 1997, Barefoot wines are sold in supermarkets and wine shops across the nation.

Tasting Notes:

Color: light ruby.

Nose: Initially very closed. After short air time, it shows candied fruit and notes of Chinese 'five-flower-tea'.

Palate: One dimensional. Weak berry with streaks of green notes. Light tannins exhibited with more air.

Body: Light.

Finish: almost non-existent.

Comments:
For those who doesn't know Chinese five-flower-tea, it is a herbal beverage usually based on these ingredients: Chrysanthemum morifolii, Lonicera japonica, Bombax malabaricum, Sophora japonica, and Plumeria rubra.
This tea is used to treat mild symptoms of "Hot Qi" : eye discharge, sore throat, halitosis and constipation.

This wine is what it is, a quaffable plonk. Bought at Costco for $4. Consumed over 2 days. Actually on day 2, the five-flower-tea aroma has blown off quite a bit. On the palate, there is even a hint of mocha and leather.