Important Update From the Founder

Dueling Napa Valley Wineries

Lincoln Squre Steaks, Amsterdam Ave, New York City

Tasted March 29, 2017 by SMHalps with 262 views

Introduction

A tasting of 3 Napa Valley Wineries, each of whom produces multiple Cabernet Sauvignons, and Merlot. The wines were tasted in 2 blind flights. The wineries were Shafer, Larkmead and O'Shaughnessy. The first flight will be the Merlots, and the second flight will be the Cabernet Sauvignons. Technically, the Larkmead Firebelle, at 55% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Malbec, is not a Merlot, merely a Merlot based wine.

All the wines were opened, but not decanted for at least 45 minutes before we started tasting. They were kept in their original bottles, but covered in paper bags so that we couldn't identify the bottles. We had 2 glasses at all times, so we always had 2 wines to compare. As we were 10 people we poured (using pre measured pourers) 1.5 oz of each wine.

Flight 1 - Merlot Flight (3 notes)

Red

2008 Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle USA, California, Napa Valley

93 points

My last bottle. At a Cab and Merlot wine tasting, this was the favorite Merlot. A blend of 55% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Malbec, it was a big hit. A little better balanced than the 100% Merlots that we drank alongside it.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2013 Shafer Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley

89 points

I liked it, but it was somewhat disappointing, considering the producer and the vintage. In a blind tasting vs. Larkmead Firebelle and O'Shaughnessy's Merlot, with my wine group, this came in 3rd.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2012 O'Shaughnessy Merlot Howell Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

93 points

My favorite Merlot in a blind tasting. It was my first O'Shaughnessy Merlot and I really enjoyed it. Notes of coffee on the nose.

2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 2 - Cabernet Sauvignon Flight (3 notes)

Red

2008 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley

94 points

The WOTN at a blind tasting. A full bodied mouthfeel with a long finish.

2 people found this helpful Comment

Red

2007 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

92 points

Part of a blind tasting. My scores for this wine have bounced around. I'm not sure why, but in a blind tasting, the 2008 Larkmead was clearly better.

Comment

Red

2010 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

94 points

Had it blind with my wine group. Full bodied and a long finish. Drinking very well right now.

3 people found this helpful Comment

Closing

The Larkmead was the favorite of both the Merlots and the Cabernet Sauvignons, with the Cabernet being the WOTN. The Shafer Merlot was a disappointment, not a bad wine, just not as good as the other two Merlots. I wonder if the Firebelle's blend gave it an advantage over the other 2 Merlots?