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Manage Subscriptions1996 Beringer Vineyards Merlot Bancroft Ranch
Merlot
- USA
- California
- Napa Valley
- Howell Mountain
Community Tasting Notes 50
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DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 92 points
March 10, 2024 - Consistent notes. But this time it's even better. Contrary to what I thought then, time may have done good to this. It's so Bordeaux-like. 91+1.
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RTP Likes this wine: 88 points
January 10, 2024 - Opened over the afternoon for evening dinner. We all drank it down. Lost a little on the nose upon opening but the mouth feel and berry, mint, graphite, tobacco and old raisin flavors. Long lingering and flavorful and great with NYS steaks. Also of such good quality we drank it down almost immediately upon opening.
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JRockEsq wrote: flawed
October 2, 2022 - Method: pop and pour; out of fridge and warming up; Cab glass
Nose:muted with slight cardboard, maybe a faintest hint of cherry
Palate: very muted; cherry, cedar, herbs, cardboard; unpleasant finish cherry cough syrup; dry; med- body; fairly lovely structure, but the wine is too bad to keep sipping to take more notes
Corked. Shame. -
RED AND BLACK wrote: 92 points
April 13, 2022 - This is still in great shape. I think 3/5 yrs before maybe dropping. Mature stage. All nicely integrated. Nose was not superb, a bit light. Mouth was great, fruit was there still so not just tertiary. Really nice Merlot. Superb QPR for Napa. 92 for the nose
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WetRock wrote:
March 7, 2022 - Shows a strong whiff of primary maturity immediately upon opening. That fades fairly quickly leaving a win fading from the secondary to the tertiary. Musty and dusty around the edges. Plum, cedar and oak on the nose. Strong tannin still. Still showing some richness on the palate. Notes of tea bely the maturity. Lots of acidity. Less complexity on the palate than you would expect. A nicely mature wine from a property that was criminally overlooked in its day. This was likely at it best five to ten years ago. The structure is clearly stronger than the fruit here. I wish I could parse most of the Napa wines from the last two decades the same way.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Pro Reviews 5
Add a Pro ReviewWineAlign
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By John Szabo, MS
7/7/2009 (link)(Beringer Howell Mountain Bancroft Ranch Merlot, Napa Valley red) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
11/7/2003 (link)(Beringer, Howell Mountain Merlot Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
3/12/2002 (link)(Beringer, Bancroft Ranch Merlot Howell Mountain Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1996
- Type Red
- Producer Beringer Vineyards
- Varietal Merlot
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard Bancroft Ranch
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Napa Valley
- Appellation Howell Mountain
- UPC Code 877497002028
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 1 (0%)
- In Cellars 467 (52%)
- Consumed 428 (48%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Pea Soup w/Andouille SausageWho Likes This Wine
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerBeringer Vineyards
- VarietyMerlot
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationHowell Mountain
Add Articles
- Wine1996 Beringer Vineyards Merlot Bancroft Ranch (add)
- FamilyBeringer Vineyards Merlot Bancroft Ranch (add)
- ProducerBeringer Vineyards
- VarietalMerlot
- VineyardBancroft Ranch (add)
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationHowell Mountain