November 28, 2022 - Velvety and well integrated
December 6, 2018 - Tonight's tasting was fairly consistent with my last tasting note for this wine which was six years ago back in 2012, when I wrote:
"This 2008 is a bit tight and closed, not as smooth, polished and fruit filled as some earlier vintages of this wine that I remember - perhaps due to its age or period in its aging profile. This is medium to full bodied, with dark inky color, this is a bright, balanced wine with notes of black cherry, tobacco, spice box and nut leading to a long, smoky moderate tannin finish."
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/12/northstar-merlot-2008-for-casual-wine.html
September 27, 2017 - Still good, but it appears to have lost a bit of the "edge" that it had a couple of years ago.
September 1, 2017 - It was time to open my last two bottles of this delicious Merlot. I still struggle to understand why my North American friends shy away from the Merlot grape - it is a great wine grape and really undervalued in Nappa. One of the best Bordeaux is a 100% Merlot.
The Northstar is a very good Merlot - still lagging some delicious wines from Tuscany or Bordeaux but on a good route of a great Merlot for the New Worlds. Worth to keep a couple of bottles at home.
It tastes like black currant (cassis), grapefruit, raisin, vanilla and chocolate. The body is medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
August 31, 2017 - Night 2 showing black currant and cedar with a hint of graphite on the nose. Palate is well balanced but tannins are still present developing acid in the mouth. Finish holds for a good length. Will evolve a few more years.
July 2, 2017 - Perfectly balanced. Plumb, cherry, vanilla and berry. Wonderfully full and deep, smooth finish.
December 29, 2016 - I cant understand this type of wines, baked fruit with 15% ABV, this level of alcohol offsets the balance -sad cause there is potential...
September 16, 2016 - Still kicking. In a good place - integrated with a bit of tension.
July 19, 2016 - Deep inky garnet color. Cassis and blackberries nose with a touch of baking spice. Baking spices and berries on the middle palate. Interesting finish - almost thirst quenching.
July 4, 2016 - Served with a porches ta and spicy shrimp. Fruit forward, dark and full bodied