The fruit for this wine comes from farms using sustainable practices. Fifty percent of the production sees French oak for 7 months, while the rest is aged in stainless tanks. Yellow color. Aromas of coconut, banana and subtle pear tones. Has a nice charred, toasty frame, with pear and apple flavors. Creamy texture. 88+ pts.
Production is about 2,500 cases of this Chardonnay, sourced half from estate fruit, and the other half from the Hyde vineyards. Pale yellow color. Floral qualities over mineral, grass/hay and apple tones. Has a bit of sulphur at first, blowing off to reveal flavors of mineral, steely orchard fruit and toast.
The Merlot component (85%) of the blend is sourced from vineyards in the Napa portion of Carneros. The remainder is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (12%) and Petit Verdot (3%). Deep garnet color. Aromas of plum, minerla, chocolate and herbs. Flavors of dark fruit and minerals, finishing with an herbal quality.
Cabernet is only 79% of the blend. Bright crimson color with aromas of coffee, mint, vanilla and black cherry. Medium bodied, with flavors of blackberry and black cherry as well as vanilla. A bit thin through the midpalate, but otherwise rather nice. 87-88.
Now we're talking. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 7% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The Cab, Petit and Cab Franc are sourced from a range of vineyards which include estate, Beckstoffer ToKalon, Beckstoffer Vineyard X and Beckstoffer Georges III. The Merlot component comes from the Beckstoffer Las Amigas vineyard. Deep garnet color. Notes of cassis, blackberry and mocha, with a subtle meaty note too. Plush, with silky tannins and flavors of dark fruit, vanilla and spice. Tannins turn a bit chalky through the long finish, ending with cassis and spice. 92-93 pts.
Pale golden color. Notes of orange peel, clove and honey. The palate follows the nose, with an added nutty quality. Finishes with nice fruit and length. 86-88 pts.
2006 Starmont Chardonnay 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
The fruit for this wine comes from farms using sustainable practices. Fifty percent of the production sees French oak for 7 months, while the rest is aged in stainless tanks. Yellow color. Aromas of coconut, banana and subtle pear tones. Has a nice charred, toasty frame, with pear and apple flavors. Creamy texture. 88+ pts.
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2005 Merryvale Chardonnay 90 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Production is about 2,500 cases of this Chardonnay, sourced half from estate fruit, and the other half from the Hyde vineyards. Pale yellow color. Floral qualities over mineral, grass/hay and apple tones. Has a bit of sulphur at first, blowing off to reveal flavors of mineral, steely orchard fruit and toast.
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2003 Merryvale Merlot Reserve 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
The Merlot component (85%) of the blend is sourced from vineyards in the Napa portion of Carneros. The remainder is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (12%) and Petit Verdot (3%). Deep garnet color. Aromas of plum, minerla, chocolate and herbs. Flavors of dark fruit and minerals, finishing with an herbal quality.
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2005 Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Cabernet is only 79% of the blend. Bright crimson color with aromas of coffee, mint, vanilla and black cherry. Medium bodied, with flavors of blackberry and black cherry as well as vanilla. A bit thin through the midpalate, but otherwise rather nice. 87-88.
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2004 Merryvale Profile 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Now we're talking. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 7% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The Cab, Petit and Cab Franc are sourced from a range of vineyards which include estate, Beckstoffer ToKalon, Beckstoffer Vineyard X and Beckstoffer Georges III. The Merlot component comes from the Beckstoffer Las Amigas vineyard. Deep garnet color. Notes of cassis, blackberry and mocha, with a subtle meaty note too. Plush, with silky tannins and flavors of dark fruit, vanilla and spice. Tannins turn a bit chalky through the long finish, ending with cassis and spice. 92-93 pts.
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NV Merryvale Muscat Antigua 87 Points
USA, California
Pale golden color. Notes of orange peel, clove and honey. The palate follows the nose, with an added nutty quality. Finishes with nice fruit and length. 86-88 pts.
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