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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.5 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 58 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by AllRed on 2/24/2024 & rated 92 points: 4th Saturday Brown Bagger (EBCC): Blind. Faded garnet color with some bricking. Tobacco, earth, currants and licorice notes. Medium-bodied and fully-integrated, showing black fruit and spice flavors. Picks up a molasses quality as it breathes in the glass. WOTF for a few of the group. I did not pick this out as our Paloma. 92-93 pts.
A terrific showing, having been gently double decanted off its sediment and placed back under cork 2.25 hours before the flight was poured. This took another 10-15 minutes in the glass to really hit its stride. (211 views) | | | Tasted by Charlie C on 5/5/2023 & rated 91 points: Opaque cherry red. Cherries and blueberries on the nose. Plush but still well defined on the palate, cherries, plums, bit of tobacco, anise. Fine tannins, nice acidity and balance. A slight hard edge on the mid-palate softens beautifully with a bit of air. Some warm spice as it crosses the palate. Finishes long with plums and black pepper. Becomes more red-fruited with air. Has held up remarkably and should still drink well for a couple of years, but I wouldn't wait. (346 views) | | | Tasted by Birorganic on 1/23/2022 & rated 93 points: Delicious. Many years of life ahead of it if stored properly from release. Wish I had bought cases of it. Tons of sediment.
Tannins fully resolved. Beautiful back end that sneaks up on you and says hey pay attention, I’m really good. Very nice wine. (747 views) | | | Tasted by ipp on 1/4/2019 & rated 91 points: aged well. but on the back end of the slope. good time to finish last bottle. Thanks Mrs. Richards. (1747 views) | | | Tasted by rmh66 on 11/18/2018 & rated 92 points: Black cherry, cassis, plum, forest floor, loam, and a nice beam of raspberry on the nose. Tart cherry, black cherry, plum, earth, herbs, and some barrel notes on the palate. Tart, stirring acidity, integrated tannin, longish finish, med-full body. This is big and fruity, but the acidity really keeps it in check. It almost resembles a big Cali pinot as much as a merlot. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable. (1649 views) | | | Tasted by Frijole on 6/7/2018: deep dark burgundy red, cloudy, little clarity, amber hue
Nose: plum, raspberry, silver, wet earth, cigar, tobacco, dirt, chocolate, clove, oak
Pal: plum, raspberry, cases, silver, wet earth, cigar, tobacco, dirt, dark chocolate, clove, green pepper, minerals, oak, touch complexity
Feel: full, medium, savory, acidic
Finish: long
T9 (1961 views) | | | Tasted by Schwarzer Hund on 2/3/2017: The Empire Strikes Back! I take back everything said in our last bottle notes in Sep/2016. This bottle was in beautiful condition in the best Paloma style. Dark red color, black fruit aromas immediately upon opening. Dense ripe black cherry, black current, fruit, a hint of chocolate all in perfect balance with a very long finish. Hope our next (and last bottle of 1999) is as good as this one. (2494 views) | | | Tasted by AllRed on 11/13/2016 & rated 90 points: Second Sunday Group: Paloma Merlot Vertical (Our house): Cherry and chocolate notes. Flavors of cherry, currants and plum with a long finish. Takes on a somewhat greenish Cab Franc-like quality as it sits, which I rather enjoy.
My #3, Domino's #7
Group #6, 47 pts (2771 views) | | | Tasted by ikkaariainen on 10/29/2016 & rated 88 points: Agree with Schwarzer Hund down below - not techically off in any way and still quite drinkable but almost all the fruit is gone leaving acid and some interesting secondary and tertiary flavors - pretty far over the hill and given how really good the Paloma merlots generally are at this point of maturation this wine is a mere shadow of it's former self. Still paired pretty reasonably with steak but lacked the anticipated punch - the food actually improved the wine some. Hard to recommend this wine at this point - probably rated 90 - 91 even 2-3 years ago. Do not wait to drink up further holdings - rapidly becoming more of a cooking then drinking wine. (2071 views) | | | Tasted by Schwarzer Hund on 9/8/2016: The 1999 is still a decent wine. Dark red color, dark berry fruit aromas, medium weight but the fruit seems to be fading out now. It may be just this bottle since it is unusual for a Paloma merlot. The 1996 vintage is great shape still. (2225 views) | | | Tasted by Dgames on 8/8/2014 & rated 91 points: Very good. Sad it was my last one. (3112 views) | | | Tasted by BklynNeophyte on 1/15/2013 & rated 79 points: Mind blowing bouquet; filled the kitchen with black fruit, dark plums. Very exciting
Miles would have held this up as an example of the worst of merlot. Crazily rich, heavy, and a fruit bomb, not to my liking, at all. You could drink this stuff with a fork.
Quick story: I had this wine in my backpack along with a pinot noir, and walked by Paul Giamatti in Brooklyn Heights. The thought crossed my mind to have him sign the pinot noir and warn against the merlot. It would have been perfect, given the pinot was the 2005 St. Innocent. I respected Giamatti's privacy, this time.
2 on the AF scale. (3727 views) | | | Tasted by thelostverse on 10/3/2012 & rated 93 points: Opened by Allred at Anvil Club. I thought this wine morphed during the evening. Initially loads of chocolate and very fruit forward. During the evening, it developed the herbal qualities that Allred referenced in his note, also becoming more Bordeaux like. No surprise, I preferred it upon initial opening. (3946 views) | | | Tasted by AllRed on 10/3/2012 & rated 93 points: A well-stored bottle, opened just before dinner. Not decanted though could have used it. Inky crimson color, opaque nearly to the meniscus. Aromas of cherry, chocolate, plum, blackberries and mint. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of mint, grilled herbs, chocolate-covered cherries and dark fruit. Still youthful, with some tannin to resolve. Developed an old world earthy quality as well. An excellent showing for this wine and should last a good while yet. 93 pts for me, 93-94 for Domino. (3845 views) | | | Tasted by S. Lorin on 7/29/2011 & rated 93 points: Similar to previous tasting note - well stored and it showed! (3748 views) | | | Tasted by cpdwines on 3/25/2011 & rated 90 points: Paloma is one of my favorites. However, start drinking the older bottles, as their time seems to be hitting their peak. (3321 views) | | | Tasted by GR8PNUT on 1/2/2011 & rated 90 points: Excellent (2556 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 9/15/2010 & rated 93 points: Huet, Paloma, Guiraud: Opened for air for a few hours. Once we started drinking, it still got better all night long. OMG, what a nose. Deep, earthy, complex layered earth, dark cherries, burnt wood. On the palate, this took a bit longer to get going, but then it was fantastic. Layered with dark cherries and earthiness. Actually, very right bank like. Ever so slightly on the thin side, if I had to nit pick. Really went well with food though. (3166 views) | | | Tasted by 1800kidney on 8/2/2010 & rated 92 points: Wonderful merlot, round with terrific balance. Deep purple, cherries, blackberries ..wonderful fruit up front, but good backbone and long finish. At its prime but no hurry..this will last for another 5 yrs easily (2812 views) | | | Tasted by S. Lorin on 5/1/2010 & rated 94 points: drinking perfectly, still concentrated with refined tannins and a youthful vibrant feel of rich raspberries, cherries, black pepper but revealing that distinctive paloma touch of dark chocolate powder on the finish with a nice tinge of acid to compliment dinner of softshell crab, squab, and lamb - fantastic! (2930 views) | | | Tasted by bambam on 8/29/2009 & rated 91 points: This bottle was better than the last. Soft cherries and chocolate. Smooth texture. Enjoyed. (3117 views) | | | Tasted by beezer6 on 5/25/2009 & rated 93 points: Gorgeous deep maroon with slight hints of brown in the glass. Showing some nice signs of age around the rim.
Nose is bursting of dark cherries, laether, barnyard and some awesome dark chocolate on the back end.
Palate shows more of the above. Tastes like a horse saddle was taken from a barn and covered in ripe cherries and dark cocoa powder...now lick it! That's what I am getting on the palate.
Finish shows very nice balance with lively acidity and extremely well integrated tannin structure. Drink this now. Singing beautifully. (3145 views) | | | Tasted by bambam on 2/19/2009 & rated 90 points: Chocolate and cherries on the nose, slight vegetable quality. Palate is smooth with integrated tannins. Not my favorite vintage of Paloma but still good. (3327 views) | | | Tasted by Ekoostik on 12/27/2008 & rated 90 points: Some initial off or funk on the wine when first opened but after abotu 2 hrs this really came around. Classic fruit concentration and Paloma chocolate notes, but it what seems a slightly more structured style. This is still holding up pretty well. (3236 views) | | | Tasted by dtirsell on 2/16/2008 & rated 92 points: Did not decant but the second glass opened up considerably, would decant if I had another bottle. Currant, raspberry fruit, almost Zin-like with a very tangy pepper nose and finish. Lovely wine, has not lost anything with age. Fully integrated, Tannins still present but not overpowering.
I would think this Merlot is at it's peak but I did not detect any downside. (3503 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2001, IWC Issue #99
(Paloma Vineyard Merlot) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (2/21/2004)
(Paloma Merlot) Deep dark red color; oaky vanilla nose; concentrated coffee palate, sweet tannins; medium finish 90 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Paloma Producer websiteMerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Spring Mountain DistrictWikipedia article on the Spring Mountain Distric AVA. |
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