Cafe Zoetrope Merlot 2018
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Wine Details
- Red - Full Bodied
United States- Merlot
- 13.5% ABV
- 750 ml
- 31 December 2026
Smooth, plummy Merlot makes some of the world’s most expensive, sought-after wines. Merlot-dominant Château Pétrus, for example, is one of Bordeaux’s aristocratic reds and sells for $1,000+ a bottle. For much better value, we sought out Hollywood royalty: Academy Award winner, ‘Godfather’ director and long-time wine buff Francis Ford Coppola. His Sonoma estate is famed for world-class selections that offer plenty of crowd-pleasing personality.
From acclaimed Coppola winemaker Corey Beck and California’s excellent 2018 vintage (another in a string of terrific harvests), this charmer is an homage to Coppola’s Italian-inspired San Francisco eatery. It also calls to mind Café Trieste, a nearby Italian espresso house where Coppola penned much of the screenplay for The Godfather. The premium Merlot grapes were sourced from top-sited vineyards across Paso Robles and beyond, with a dash of Petite Sirah added for deep color and rich structure. Aging in fine French oak imparts added spice. Of his goal for this wine, Corey says:
“We really wanted to create a wine with balance – lots of intensity of flavor with a velvety mouthfeel. And of course, it had to go well with classic Italian dishes.”
Mission accomplished. At the actual Café Zoetrope, Corey’s tribute red may be served with Pizza Funghi e Salsicce (pizza topped with Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella and grated Parmigiano) or the Asado de Tira (Argentine-style beef short ribs). At home, you could pair it with pasta and a meaty ragù, Italian-seasoned pork tenderloin or roast beef with fresh rosemary.
But before you can enjoy it, you have to secure your share.
Smooth, plummy Merlot makes some of the world’s most expensive, sought-after wines. Merlot-dominant Château Pétrus, for example, is one of Bordeaux’s aristocratic reds and sells for $1,000+ a bottle. For much better value, we sought out Hollywood royalty: Academy Award winner, ‘Godfather’ director and long-time wine buff Francis Ford Coppola. His Sonoma estate is famed for world-class selections that offer plenty of crowd-pleasing personality.
From acclaimed Coppola winemaker Corey Beck and California’s excellent 2018 vintage (another in a string of terrific harvests), this charmer is an homage to Coppola’s Italian-inspired San Francisco eatery. It also calls to mind Café Trieste, a nearby Italian espresso house where Coppola penned much of the screenplay for The Godfather. The premium Merlot grapes were sourced from top-sited vineyards across Paso Robles and beyond, with a dash of Petite Sirah added for deep color and rich structure. Aging in fine French oak imparts added spice. Of his goal for this wine, Corey says:
“We really wanted to create a wine with balance – lots of intensity of flavor with a velvety mouthfeel. And of course, it had to go well with classic Italian dishes.”
Mission accomplished. At the actual Café Zoetrope, Corey’s tribute red may be served with Pizza Funghi e Salsicce (pizza topped with Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella and grated Parmigiano) or the Asado de Tira (Argentine-style beef short ribs). At home, you could pair it with pasta and a meaty ragù, Italian-seasoned pork tenderloin or roast beef with fresh rosemary.
But before you can enjoy it, you have to secure your share.
