Opened and decanted 1/2 bottle. Heavy and brooding in the glass, dark inky color, long legs. Aroma of ripe cherries, plum and spice. Earthiness and forrest floor. Long in the palate, silky with well incorporated tannins. Juicy but not overly sweet; refined, but not spectacular
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This exceeded my expectations. One of those where you wished you had bought more bottle. I think I paid $18 at Costco. Small amount of leather on the nose and just dry enough finish that satisfies.
Harsh tannins. Seems to have a great finish hidden beneath the tannins. I would give this a couple more years in order for the tannins to settle a little, so you can see more of the fruit and complexity. Unlike many merlot, this has some nice depth, probably due to the fact it is only 80% merlot, complemented by several other, bigger varietals. Will improve with time.
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Needs to breathe for about an hour. Nice finish. Tannins are harsh before the first hour but settle into a very smooth merlot. A good value for the price.
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Not much stuffing. Decanted for several hours and never developed much nuance. Dark fruit. Mouth coating tannin. Not as supple as some merlot. Ok. Moderate length. Fairly easy drinking, but not much above the richness. Not acidic enough to completely trust in the long term and would be surprised if it blossoms with age, but who knows.
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Great value! One of the best merlot I have had. Wonderful tannins accompanied by hints of blackberry, cherry, cola, and a touch of spice. Drink now or age or both! Will be goos for some time.
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Nose is dark plum, cassias, dark cherry, leather, floral, and forest floor. Flavors are plum, dark currants, dark cherry, and leather... with the addition of vanilla and coco on the finish. Medium bodied, very soft mouth feel, and well balanced. A nice wine all in all.
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Sweet, ripe, upfront fruit, red currants, smoke notes and vanilla but not overdone at all. Pretty much in balance except lacking some acidity but overall this is drinking great albeit ripe fruits and a tad sweet. Given these characteristics, it paired awesome with barbecue chicken and lyonnaise bacon fat fried potatoes. Went well as well with tapa style olive oil garlic chorizo and shrimp. 89.
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Interesting. Drinking well now - tear off the label and I would have described it as a well balanced, easy drinking cabernet. Dark fruits and touch of pepper.
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Good merlot...you can look around and find better for the cost but all in all a good california merlot. Traditional chocolate, jammy dark spicy fruit flavors with a nice finish.
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This is a Cabernet-lover's Merlot and is unmistakeably New World in style. The nose is medium plus in intensity, and redolent of black fruit and new oak. The acidity is medium minus. The alcohol is medium plus at 14.4%. The tannins are medium to medium minus. The body and flavor intensity are medium plus, resulting in a smooth but somewhat flabby finish. Drink now. Although the oak and alcohol might become more integrated with another year or two of ageing, it doesn't really have the acidity or tannic structure to improve with age. This is a nice cocktail or steak wine, but is otherwise difficult to pair with foods.
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Very dark. Spicy, oaky and alcholic nose. And some mustiness from this winery that was famous for brett-infected wines in the 90's. Dark berry fruit flavour, along with vanilla and alcohol and sugar. Unbalanced.
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Always an outstanding wine. Enough body and complexity to stand up to steak or hearty beef stew. Nose with blackberries and tobacco; finish has some herbs and deeper fruit.
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No notes to contribute, but this was very tasty. Like another reviewer commented, this has a bit more depth than other merlots. Would gladly purchase again.
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Very nice, we have always loved this winery, and this quality Merlot was no exception - Dark, medium/full bodied with a nose of plum, mocha, blackfruit, cedar and vanilla, nice structure and balance, interesting, sweet, smooth on the palate with excellent length, overall a very nice package (90 Points).
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Very good - this is not a complex wine, but it has a big "delicious factor" that makes me wish I had more in my cellar. This wine will appeal to many palates. Currants and plum notes on the nose and palate, with a touch of spice; smooth, with a nice integration of fruit and oak. Medium-plus body, with good length on the finish. Drinking very well now.
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Deep ruby red color, medium legs. Appearance seems more like sonoma pinot than a napa merlot but the nose quickly addresses that. Ripe blackberries, vanilla and restrained oak on the nose, a bit of heat perceived and it still shows on the palate as it is a bit off balance. However, its fruity upfront, with a touch of all spice and beautiful to drink now, supple tannins that coat the mouth and a finish that lingers longer than expected. Excellent merlot and fantastic QPR. Paired well with pan seared top sirloin and simple onion and shitake blend topping.
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bottle had been opened for 24 hours. nose of oak and berry. palate of chocolate, berry, oak. medium-long finish. this wine would be a real crowd pleaser and for $20, a good value.
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4/28/2018 - Cholera Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened and decanted 1/2 bottle. Heavy and brooding in the glass, dark inky color, long legs.
Aroma of ripe cherries, plum and spice. Earthiness and forrest floor. Long in the palate, silky with well incorporated tannins. Juicy but not overly sweet; refined, but not spectacular
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1/31/2015 - chekraze Likes this wine: 89 Points
This exceeded my expectations. One of those where you wished you had bought more bottle. I think I paid $18 at Costco.
Small amount of leather on the nose and just dry enough finish that satisfies.
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12/24/2014 - TNose wrote:
Very nice merlot. Not too fruity. Reasonably complex. Soft finish. Buy.
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11/27/2014 - FlyPig Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Luscious, fruit and mineral, really enjoyable. Seems to be in a great spot now.
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6/12/2013 - hosscrow wrote:
notes to follow
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6/9/2013 - fournet Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Harsh tannins. Seems to have a great finish hidden beneath the tannins. I would give this a couple more years in order for the tannins to settle a little, so you can see more of the fruit and complexity. Unlike many merlot, this has some nice depth, probably due to the fact it is only 80% merlot, complemented by several other, bigger varietals. Will improve with time.
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4/26/2013 - ppcwino wrote: 90 Points
Needs to breathe for about an hour. Nice finish. Tannins are harsh before the first hour but settle into a very smooth merlot. A good value for the price.
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4/22/2013 - ATK wrote: 86 Points
I think it could have used more time in the bottle. Not well balanced and the tannins were a bit overpowering.
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4/13/2013 - BentonWine wrote: 85 Points
Easy drinking. Very pleasant.
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4/12/2013 - gmbdds wrote: 88 Points
Soft and ready to drink with red fruit and subtle spice. The best part is the finish which lingers richly.
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4/12/2013 - yossarian.livez wrote: 85 Points
Not much stuffing. Decanted for several hours and never developed much nuance. Dark fruit. Mouth coating tannin. Not as supple as some merlot. Ok. Moderate length. Fairly easy drinking, but not much above the richness. Not acidic enough to completely trust in the long term and would be surprised if it blossoms with age, but who knows.
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3/2/2013 - Varnerhome wrote: 90 Points
Great Merlot...great price
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1/27/2013 - tabachus wrote: 94 Points
Great value! One of the best merlot I have had. Wonderful tannins accompanied by hints of blackberry, cherry, cola, and a touch of spice. Drink now or age or both! Will be goos for some time.
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1/8/2013 - Kltejas wrote: 89 Points
My fav merlot of all time at this price point
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11/19/2012 - The13thGryphon wrote: 89 Points
Nose is dark plum, cassias, dark cherry, leather, floral, and forest floor. Flavors are plum, dark currants, dark cherry, and leather... with the addition of vanilla and coco on the finish. Medium bodied, very soft mouth feel, and well balanced. A nice wine all in all.
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9/23/2012 - Merengue wrote: 89 Points
Sweet, ripe, upfront fruit, red currants, smoke notes and vanilla but not overdone at all. Pretty much in balance except lacking some acidity but overall this is drinking great albeit ripe fruits and a tad sweet. Given these characteristics, it paired awesome with barbecue chicken and lyonnaise bacon fat fried potatoes. Went well as well with tapa style olive oil garlic chorizo and shrimp. 89.
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7/21/2012 - Flyguy8650 wrote: 69 Points
Cork wet, could have been my fault. Down the drain
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7/12/2012 - FlyinI wrote: 91 Points
Interesting. Drinking well now - tear off the label and I would have described it as a well balanced, easy drinking cabernet. Dark fruits and touch of pepper.
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7/12/2012 - 10izguy wrote:
really enjoyed this, definitely not a wimpy Merlot; wish I had more.
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4/27/2012 - Tri Wine wrote: 89 Points
Good merlot...you can look around and find better for the cost but all in all a good california merlot. Traditional chocolate, jammy dark spicy fruit flavors with a nice finish.
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4/8/2012 - TannicBeast wrote: 88 Points
This is a Cabernet-lover's Merlot and is unmistakeably New World in style. The nose is medium plus in intensity, and redolent of black fruit and new oak. The acidity is medium minus. The alcohol is medium plus at 14.4%. The tannins are medium to medium minus. The body and flavor intensity are medium plus, resulting in a smooth but somewhat flabby finish. Drink now. Although the oak and alcohol might become more integrated with another year or two of ageing, it doesn't really have the acidity or tannic structure to improve with age. This is a nice cocktail or steak wine, but is otherwise difficult to pair with foods.
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4/2/2012 - CabIsKing wrote: 88 Points
Dark fruit, cedar and hints of vanilla on the nose. Ok balance and medium finish. Nothing special.
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1/28/2012 - Canphan wrote:
Bin end from the LCBO. Wonderful wine, full bodied and jammy. I'm no wine expert (really just getting started) but I definitely enjoyed this.
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1/27/2012 - KVM wrote: 85 Points
Very dark. Spicy, oaky and alcholic nose. And some mustiness from this winery that was famous for brett-infected wines in the 90's. Dark berry fruit flavour, along with vanilla and alcohol and sugar. Unbalanced.
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1/6/2012 - TPB wrote: 91 Points
Always an outstanding wine. Enough body and complexity to stand up to steak or hearty beef stew. Nose with blackberries and tobacco; finish has some herbs and deeper fruit.
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12/27/2011 - aldo137 Likes this wine: 90 Points
No notes to contribute, but this was very tasty. Like another reviewer commented, this has a bit more depth than other merlots. Would gladly purchase again.
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12/22/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, we have always loved this winery, and this quality Merlot was no exception - Dark, medium/full bodied with a nose of plum, mocha, blackfruit, cedar and vanilla, nice structure and balance, interesting, sweet, smooth on the palate with excellent length, overall a very nice package (90 Points).
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12/16/2011 - Maznoc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good - this is not a complex wine, but it has a big "delicious factor" that makes me wish I had more in my cellar. This wine will appeal to many palates. Currants and plum notes on the nose and palate, with a touch of spice; smooth, with a nice integration of fruit and oak. Medium-plus body, with good length on the finish. Drinking very well now.
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10/7/2011 - jmdenz wrote: 92 Points
This was a very good bottle of Merlot - drank very large for a merlot - robust - more like a cabernet.. Truly great wine
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10/4/2011 - Empirate wrote: 90 Points
Moderate dark fruit nose and pleasing balanced palate. soft finish. I think this is the real deal.
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9/24/2011 - Empirate wrote:
No notes, wife liked it too and we're going back for more.
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8/28/2011 - Merengue wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby red color, medium legs. Appearance seems more like sonoma pinot than a napa merlot but the nose quickly addresses that. Ripe blackberries, vanilla and restrained oak on the nose, a bit of heat perceived and it still shows on the palate as it is a bit off balance. However, its fruity upfront, with a touch of all spice and beautiful to drink now, supple tannins that coat the mouth and a finish that lingers longer than expected. Excellent merlot and fantastic QPR. Paired well with pan seared top sirloin and simple onion and shitake blend topping.
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5/7/2011 - ihavezinned wrote: 88 Points
bottle had been opened for 24 hours. nose of oak and berry. palate of chocolate, berry, oak. medium-long finish. this wine would be a real crowd pleaser and for $20, a good value.
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