| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2017 Merryvale Cabernet FrancNapa Valley more |
1/15/2024 - BourbonAndBourdeaux Likes this wine: 93 pointsHad it decanted for 3 hours prior to trying it. Even now it’s opening up nicely. I’m getting a bit of blackberry and chocolate, the latter on the nose. |
| Red |
2018 Merryvale Chairman's SelectionNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/13/2024 - Wedge wrote: 89 pointsDifferent than my other 2018 Chairman’s…but not corked. Did a side by side and definitely not up to par. |
| Red |
2014 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helenamore |
1/7/2024 - ilcor wrote: 94 pointsDrinking really well right now. |
| Red |
2001 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/5/2024 - kzkpt Likes this wine: 92 pointsLovely. Years left. |
| Red |
2006 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/1/2024 - Jshire Likes this wine: 91 pointsDark, almost black. Still with a big fruit palate of plum, fig, black cherry, tobacco. Full mouth feel. |
| Red |
1999 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon ReserveNapa Valley more |
12/31/2023 - Winokdub wrote: 92 pointsProbably a hair past it prime but still fantastic. |
| Red |
2007 Merryvale Oakville GradeNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/29/2023 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 95 pointsOne off from a mixed Merryvale auction lot (‘07, ‘09 and ‘10 Profiles and this for $262 total) a couple of months ago. On the nose and palate, medium notes of black cherry, black currants, dark earth, mixed herbality, and espresso. Deep purple with an ever so slight brown tinge, medium to full bodied, very thick legs. Potent, mostly integrated and not inhospitable tannins and acidity, no heat. VG complexity, VG++ persistence and intensity. As mentioned in a few TNs for vintages of Profiles, I’ve been a fan and intermittent buyer from this producer for 30+ years but confess to never having heard of this bottling prior to this purchase (but with the great overall price, VG CT notes and an appealing LB blend, it was a no brainer). An LB blend like the Profile (that one, all five of the main BDX varietals, CS-dominant, this a bit less CS dominant with 25% CF and 15% merlot), it wasn’t clear to me what niche this similar (although at the winery, one third the price ($115 vs. the bat sh*t crazy $350 for the Profile) wine was filling, but it became clear quickly that this is a completely different animal. The ‘07 Profile is a pretty buoyant specimen, not a cult cab to be sure, but with apparent oak, vanilla and a touch of sweetness; I’d have put most of my chips in the pot betting this taut, lithe wine came from across the pond. Not unlike wines from that continent, this came out pretty tight, and I worried it was past its prime, but it opened beautifully, revealing a subtle, elegant and immaculate frame, with the CF adding a nice herbal backbone, the merlot some roundness. After filling out with an hour or so of air, this held steadily over 2 nights. My food choices, burritos one night, a chicken vegetable soup, weren’t ideal matches, but this was lovely on its own, and I think it would pair well with red meat. The scoring disparity of the last 2 writers many moons ago of 9 points is almost as great as I’ve seen on CT, and while I can’t get to CT friend Epoch’s 97 and can see why 1961 (a year close to sfwl’s heart) would find this muted, I’m much closer to the former, with my preference for balanced, complex cabs over fruit bombs coloring my score. I suspect that this is at or around peak now, but that’s what Epoch said 6 years ago, so this could easily go on for another 5 years, at least for well-stored bottles, but I’d pop sooner than later. Really nice upside surprise here, and while I liked the Profile of this vintage a lot, if forced to choose between the two, I’d pick this, even without taking price into consideration. Despite this winery’s location on bachelorette alley (aka CA Hwy 29), I encourage others to check out their wares, which have often delighted me over the years. And as I looked up this bottling, I learned that Micheal Rolland and David Abreu were involved in the planting and managing of the CS vines. One could do worse, especially at my price point. 94-95+ 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2014 Merryvale Petite Sirah Juliana VineyardNapa Valley more |
12/25/2023 - racerchris Likes this wine: 92 pointsDecanted & consumed over the next 6 hours. |
| Red |
2004 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/25/2023 - team-blackburn wrote: 93 pointsPNP, right out of the bottle this was flat and lifeless. After an hour decant it came to life. Drink up! |
| Red |
2012 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/25/2023 - ColoradoAg wrote: 91 pointsDid not decant, opened and poured 1 glass out about 30 minutes before dinner to give a little air. Served remainder with Christmas Dinner (prime rib) - drank very well. We think it is likely about at plateau - won't keep improving, but also don't think we need to finish off the rest quickly. Drink window through 2026 seems accurate. Good fruit, especially blueberry and nice tannin structure. Mostly CabS comes through. |
| Red |
2016 Merryvale Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
12/19/2023 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 92 pointsFunky nose. Don’t let it fool you. Great wine. |
| Red |
2012 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valleymore |
12/15/2023 - skip13 Likes this wine: NRCork broke when opened. Smells and drinks wonderfully. |
| Red |
2004 Merryvale Syrah Napa Valleymore |
4/16/2019 - Mossrose wrote: 93 pointsA superb example of why the Wine Spectator forecast that Syrah would be the year's best new wine from California was not outrageously stupid even though it proved to be badly wrong. The distinctive things about Syrah in California is how dark, fruity, rich, lush, and upfront delicious the wines proved to be. And this 15 year Syrah made by Merryvale from grapes grown in Yountville in Napa nailed how impressively good California Syrah could be, as well as make a fine ageworthy wine. What limited Syrah in California was not lack of quality, but the inability to compete in price with equally great Syrahs from Australia, South Africa, and even the Rhone River Valley. The high price of vineyard land in Napa and other places could be recovered only with growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and certainly not with Syrah. But still, this old Merryvale Syrah stands out for being impressively delightful. |
| Red |
2007 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/3/2023 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 94 pointsRecent one off auction purchase as part of a Merryvale lot (this, ‘09 and ‘10 Profiles and a ‘07 Oakville Grade; total of $264, so just over $65@). On the nose and palate, sweet blueberries, blackberries, tobacco, anise, chocolate, wet earth, oak, vanilla and just a touch of heat. Deep purple, full bodied, thick legs. Medium/+ tannins and acidity, well integrated. VG+ complexity, VG++ intensity and persistence. More positive experience here than recent tasters. This came out of the bottle singing, so much so I kept it corked when drinking as I was afraid it would do a quick fade, but it didn’t, holding well and consistently over 2 nights. For me, this wine fell just a bit short of the ‘09, which I recently completed a half case of, having consumed over about 3 years, primarily because the balance isn’t quite as good, with classic Napa traits like oak and vanilla sticking out a bit more than I’d prefer, giving this light notes of sweetness and booziness. But these are generally held in check well, far better than in most cult cabs displaying these traits, by the intact acidity and tannins, and the fruit still shines opulently and deliciously. The structure keeps this wine likewise excelling as a food wine with mixed grill but also great as a cocktail wine. The half case had more bottle variation than I’d have expected, and I do wonder, based on reading notes here, if that’s also occurring, but this bottle was in really good shape, later rather than earlier in its drinking window, and I wouldn’t fall asleep on it, but based on this bottle, you at least don’t need to worry about drinking it yesterday. If not the greatest qpr viz full boat retail, pretty larcenous at what I paid. Highly enjoyable. 94+ 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Rosé |
2022 Merryvale Rosé Stanly Ranch EstateCarneros Syrah Blend, Syrah more |
11/23/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine: NRA great wine consumed with good friends for a get away at the beach. It works with a wide variety of food. |
| Red |
2018 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
11/22/2023 - gilbo5 Likes this wine: 94 pointsFull bodied, rich and intense. Drinking well now. Perfect with steak and garlic spinach. |
| Red |
2014 Merryvale Chairman's SelectionNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
11/17/2023 - El Gato Likes this wine: 91 pointsRack of Lamb. Yummy. |
| Red |
2016 Merryvale Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
11/14/2023 - Slater70 Likes this wine: 94 pointsPepper, red fruit, baking spices. Tart cherry. Nice finish. |
| Red |
2007 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
11/11/2023 - Celo626 Likes this wine: 86 pointsA bit past prime, but still delicious. Served with sausage and peppers. Dry, fruit/berry forward with medium finish. |
| Red |
2013 Merryvale Profile 30th AnniversaryNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
11/4/2023 - Grinner wrote: 95 points25th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective (Lyon Down Inn): 95+ in this tasting, it just took everything up a notch from the Behrens before it. My notes are getting cryptic: "Lovely" "smooth" "integrated" "blend?" "now and later!" "Merryvale?" 94 on day 2. |
| Red |
2019 Merryvale Pinot Noir Brown RanchCarneros more |
11/10/2023 - Slater70 Likes this wine: 93 pointsPepper on the nose, cherry cola, smooth. Subtle tannins. Very drinkable. |
| Red |
2009 Merryvale ProfileNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/28/2023 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: NRLast of 6 and sorry to hog the TNs here, but the experiences have been varied, so short note. While I said after the last bottle that the rush was off and I was going to hold this until at least 2024, I just bought a new lot of MVs (‘07, ‘09 and ‘10 Profiles and a ‘07 Oakville Cross, which I’d never heard of, let alone had), I had the luxury of knowing another was on the way. This was very much a return to form of the first 2 (and more less, 5th) bottles, showing lots of life over 3 nights, wonderful on its own and as a compliment to lamb chops especially. Started as I was finishing a ‘07 Vine Cliff 16 Rows, both wines wonderful and of (relatively) similar age and quality vintages, but compositionally pretty distinct, with the VC showing greater intensity, the MV the greater balance, depth and elegance, being the incremental, though clear winner, although each, at solidly under $100/btl, absolutely qpr screamers. I put this wine right there with other mostly more expensive (except for the Hartwell, another qpr screamer), recent Napa Cabs/BDX blends of the ‘13 Hartwell ER, the ‘12 Morlet Estate and the ‘06 Ovid as excellent, if just below great, bottles. Drink now-next few years. 95-96 if scoring |
| Red |
2013 Merryvale Profile 30th AnniversaryNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/21/2023 - mdlwines Likes this wine: 92 pointsExcellent fruit. Deep purple color with almost no rim variance. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
1999 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 BeckstofferRutherford more |
10/17/2023 - HandmadeHomemade Likes this wine: NRDeep garnet in color. Took a bit to open up, about 2hrs. Aromas of dried red and black fruits (cherry, blackberry, fig, currant, plum) as well as some cherry kirsch, menthol/eucalyptus/mint, smoke, leather, farmyard-y but not bretty, very rustic smelling- as it should, I guess, it's old, med+ intensity of the nose, past prime, but a pleasure. Dry wine, body is med +, acid is med, tannin is med+, alcohol is high (14.5%), med+ flavor intensity, finish is long. Palate matches the nose, but adds more of a earthy element which is a nice touch to the farmyard aroma. Very good/outsanding wine, not suitable for further aging. Went well with the hangar steak and potatoes we had it with. A real treat to see some Beckstoffer fruit that isn't $250/bottle and with a chunk of age on it. |
| Red |
2017 Merryvale Pinot Noir Carnerosmore |
9/30/2023 - gilbo5 Likes this wine: 93 pointsFuller bodied Pinot from Merryvale as you would expect. Enjoyed the pairing with a strong potatoes and onions with crispy skin red snapper |
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- Tasting notes: 2,757 notes on 374 wines
