December 8, 2023 - Classic mountain merlot with a lot of plum fruit. Sweet and silky. Still few year more of life.
September 8, 2020 - Pop and pour, followed over 2 hrs. Sadly my last bottle, this is as good as Merlot gets. In a great place but no rush if you don’t decant. Enough said.
August 6, 2020 - just a gem from the recesses of the cellar
May 12, 2019 - Opened and allowed to breathe, undecanted, for an hour. Slightly pruny and high in alcohol upon opening and for the first hour.
Dark, watery blackberry and black cherry fruit dominates. This packs a great punch for a 10-year-old Merlot but I’ll drink remaining bottles during the course of this year to minimize risks noted from the pruny opening. My wife who normally rates wines 2 point below me pushed this to 93-4.
March 4, 2019 - Consistent with previous bottles; notes of mocha, cherry cola, and plums. More precision and grip on the palate compared to the 09 switchback ridge merlot which we had earlier in the evening.
February 10, 2019 - The fill was into the neck and the cork was sound; popped, poured and consumed over the course of dinner (duck). A black-purple core with no bricking. On the nose, scents of black cherry, ripe plums, and chocolate. Medium to full bodied, with a lush texture, good concentration and a long finish. Unabashedly hedonistic, with loads of fruit and well integrated alcohol.
November 10, 2018 - A great medium to full bodied merlot. Nice bouquet, ripe mouth coating textured blackberry and black cherry. It all comes together with well integrated fine tannins and a nice finish. It’s drinking really well now.
October 13, 2018 - Pop and pour, followed over 3 hours. Opened up w a classic and fruity Foley nose, Sweet nose, very nicely balanced. This is in a great place 90 minutes after opening, with currants as a dominant flavor with soft blackberry in the background.
I’ve got two more bottles and will drink with in the next 12 to 18 months as I think this is presently at peak.
August 4, 2018 - Tasty blackberry and black cherry aromas and flavors with mocha, cassis, and oak notes on the moderate finish, let down by a bit too much heat.
December 14, 2017 - Pop and poor. Certainly fine but I think this particular bottle has overly aged and is past its peak; purchased at auction, while most of my bottles were purchased directly from the winery. Just a little too sweet in every regard with a shallow structure and finish.Again, I think this is more related to the bottle then to the vintage overall. Still have three more to try.