Community Tasting Note

RajivAyyangar wrote:

Monday, February 1, 2016 - Monday Night Blinds (Home (Noe st)): Opulent style with lots of oak and diminished acid. The fruit is too raisinated for me, though - the varietal Merlot character (chocolate-covered plum and cassis) is obscured.

100% Merlot (in 2009 they blended in Cab, and 2011 they added Cab and Petit Sirah).
Made by Bob Foley.
14.8% alcohol
16 months in 100% new French oak
Harvested October 2.
---------
(blind)

Visual:
-Clear, bright
-medium ruby to a ruby rim
-no gas or sediment
-moderate tears
Nose:
-Clean
-earth with intense fruit as well
-ripe blackberry - ripe red fruit. The fruit stops short of cassis. Slight raisination.
-sweet and sour character to the fruit
-smoked meat
-Sweet vanilla toast with baking spices and sawdust - 100% new oak (correct!)
-There's development here.
Palate:
-Dry with a ripe attack - some perceptible RS here, maybe 3-5g
-Full-bodied
-High alcohol - 14.5% (close! 14.8%).
-Medium plus acid
-Moderate tannins, fine-textured.
-More ripe fruit on the palate - intensely fruited.
-Balanced in an opulent way.
-Complexity is moderate.
-Finish is moderate plus.
Initial:
-Raisination/possible millerandage
-Fruit-driven, high alcohol, moderate tannins:
-New World wine from a hot climate.
-Development: Maybe 5-10 years old.
-Zinfandel - I'd expect higher acid, not so much smoked meat.
-Malbec - I'd expect higher tannins.
-Shiraz - could fit.
-GSM blend from Australia. Could also fit.
Final Conclusion:
-Based on the elevated color, I think this isn't a GSM blend.
-Zin or Shiraz.
-Zin - lighter color, wouldn't put this much oak on a zin. But the millerandage and RS is consistent with that.
-Australia > Shiraz > Barossa Valley (heftier style) high quality producer, 2010.

-Amarone should have been on there.

Actually:
2006 Switchback Ridge Merlot Napa Valley, peterson family vineyard, 100% new French oak, 18 months.

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