Second Sunday Group: Paloma Merlot Vertical

The host provides a couple of double blind warm up whites for the group, followed by 8 wines fitting a theme. The main flight of 8 is tasted double blind, and tasters are given the task of identifying the theme. Each tasters ranks the wines from 1st though 8th, and the wines are unveiled worst to first, is descending order of total points. Ties are broken by number of higher place votes. Following the tasting, we enjoy dinner and nonblind wines contributed by the tasters. The host charges for the tasting. Today we had 9 tasters and the cost was $40.

As always at our house, we begin with a nonblind Champagne starter before moving on to the double blind whites.

• NV Pehu Simonet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Noirs 89 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Apple and clay with underlying sweet notes. The palate follows the bouquet.ma bit straightforward.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Blanc 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Bright acidity and citrusy fruit with a subtle grassiness. Has a richness to it. Lemon, stone, honeyed melon and qunce. Bright underlying acidity. The group nailed this as a Bordeaux.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Apple and coconut. The palate follows the bouquet but there's also a washed out muddled dirty quality that overwhelms the fruit. The group did not pick this out as a Chardonnay- much the same as the bottle tasted double blind the week before at the Geja's competition.
  
  The first bottle of my six pack, and the second tasted within a week, and neither were good. Did Montelena screw up the 2013 Chardonnay?

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Shown in the order tasted.

• 1997 Paloma Merlot 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Opens with a tomatoey, stewy note- typical '97 it would seem. The palate redeems the bouquet though, with nice cherry and red plum qualities. Better as it sits- red fruit and toasted spice qualities. Decent finish; heightened acidity.
  
  My #6, Domino's #5
  Group #5, 46 pts

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Paloma Merlot 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  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

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Paloma Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Chocolate and red plum notes with a dominant streak of VA. Cherry cough syrup on the palate. A mess. Knowing this was the '01 added to my disappointment.
  
  My #7, Domino's #4
  Group #7, 47 pts

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Paloma Merlot 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Chocolate and cherry notes. Has some tannin to shed, with flavors of currants and cherry. Decent finish. Good, if not exciting.
  
  My #5, Domino's #6
  Group #4, 37 pts

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Paloma Merlot 83 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Reticent at first, then very dirty and muddy with red frut nuances underneath. Red fruit on the palate with a very sour edge.
  
  My #8, Domino's #8
  Group #8, 61 pts

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Paloma Merlot 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Notes of violets and florals with red berries, cherry and plum underneath. Integrated tannins. Flavors of cherries, chocolate and macerated red berries. Finishes with nice length and balance.
  
  My #1, Domino's #2
  Group #1, 28 pts

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Paloma Merlot 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Notes of chocolate, cherry and red berry fruit. Red fruit on the palate; good finish. 91+ pts.
  
  My #2, Domino's #3
  Group #3, 30 pts

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Paloma Merlot 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Opens with dark fruit, plum and chocolate notes. Perhaps also just a hint of VA, perhaps not. Good fruit on the palate but the acid is a bit sharp. Develops notes of florals and tobacco and the acidity becomes less angular.
  
  My #4, Domino's #1
  Group #2, 28 pts

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Nonblind with a dinner of pork ragu over rigatone, a green salad and fruit tart.