Mirassou Review - Tasting Notes for Bargain Red Wines

Mirassou is very much a value-priced brand. In the case of Mirassou Pinot Noir, you may even say I am taking one for the team. Low-cost pinot noirs are always a challenge; very low cost pinot noirs even moreso. But let's see what we've got...

In the glass, Mirassou Pinot Noir is light/medium red with touches of pink and brick, quite pale at the edges. As you swirl the glass, however, bold, bright cherry aromas do flood the room. They are fairly candy-like. On deeper sniffing, though, they bear a bit more weight and darkness. There's a touch of helium balloon in the aroma too.

On the palate, this pinot noir is juicy, sweet, round and quite palate-filling. A hint of darkness (oak?) touches the bright cherries. The sweet, tangy flavor lingers. Not a lot of depth or complexity, but almost no offensive notes either.

Gosh, I will award this three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale - that means I would come back to it again someday. Please be advised, though, that this rating is for its pleasantness as a light-bodied, solid, easy-drinking red wine - NOT as a quintessential pinot noir.

At its low-end price point, a rating of three stars makes Mirassou Pinot Noir an outstanding value. One of the very few values you'll find in this range of pinot noirs. Enjoy.

The 2003 Mirassou Merlot has more years of age on it than you would typically find in a value-priced red wine.

In the glass the sample is deep ruby red with purple highlights. It gives off a prominent aroma of ripe plums coupled with oak and even sweaty socks. It suggests a deep experience for such a relatively inexpensive wine.

However, the palate is brighter with more fruit than expected, not unpleasant, but it hints of blueberry and blackberry and licorice, with an alcoholic bang in the middle. Fairly quick finish, but hey, what do you want for this price?!

Decent sipping wine, I'd have it once more, but I wouldn't sacrifice an evening to it. So let's call it three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale.

Here's an even older specimen: Let's see how this slightly longer-aged 2002 version holds up.

In the glass, the 2002 Mirassou Merlot is transparent - mid-red with an orange sheen. The nose is sweaty fruit - not an interesting sweatiness... just sweaty.

On the palate, this is ripe fruit right in the middle of the taste zone, with oak and acids on the modest finish. Wants to be finished right now, not stored any longer. Ok for this evening. But I wouldn't look for it again. So two stars out of five.