The wine had forward fruit nose, but was a little overripe. The tannins are soft, so I don't see aging this any longer. I'll have the other bottle this year.
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Half bottle received last week from winery. A well balanced wine with nice up front fruit. Nice finish and likely near its prime. Very Phillipe Melka. Reminded me of a Zakin wine where he’s also winemaker. This will hold for another decade.
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Mostly consistent with prior notes: Rich ruby/purple color, no separation. Nose of dark fruits, blackberry and anise. Polished and fined palate, showing dark berries, cassis, licorice(?), spice. Fruit through the mid palate. Medium weight and finish."
Tannins nicely integrated and softened at this point, finish a bit longer than I recall, nice depth. In prior notes I thought it might not evolve much...I was wrong...:) Really good showing on this evening
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At home with Val, first bottle of a batch bought direct. Served with braised oxtail over pappardelle...Splash decanted, drank over 2 hours.
Rich ruby/purple color, no separation. Nose of dark fruits, blackberry and anise. Polished and fined palate, showing dark berries, cassis, licorice(?), spice. Fruit through the mid palate. Medium weight and finish.
A while since last tasting, surprised to the upside. Showed really well, nicely aged and polished texture. In a really good spot, should hold at this level for a while but I don't think it improves - may be at its best over the next 3 years
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Last of two bottles I had found in TW for sub $100. The first bottle (consumed on NYE 2018) was sputtering, not much fruit, disappointing for the price (even discounted). Wondered if I just had some bad provenance or if bottles were not stored properly. That's why you buy 2 folks!
This one was better, very nice aroma on the nose. Blueberries, bit of cassis, blackberry. Fruit starting to fade, got some sediment by end of the bottle. I would drink up on these, not going to see any more improvement. Maybe 1-2 years left if that.
Overall, not worth the $150+ that I see this is the secondary market. I understand later vintages have crept up in price significantly. While vintages could differ, I would have trouble spending more money on this one.
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Disappointing. Probably should have drunk these younger, which is not typical in my experience with a Philip Melka wine. Have 3 more left. Lets see how they age. Two vintages in a row 2009 and 2010. I think I will pop the 12s and 13s alot sooner. Not a good QPR. But it is valley floor fruit, so should have drunk it not later than 7 years of age.
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3/10/2022 - cblinstrub Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. Nose is dark fruits and cogsr box. Palette is overly spiced dark berries. Still powerful. Good wine but not good qpr.
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1/12/2021 - cfulbright wrote: 88 Points
The wine had forward fruit nose, but was a little overripe. The tannins are soft, so I don't see aging this any longer. I'll have the other bottle this year.
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12/29/2020 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
Half bottle received last week from winery. A well balanced wine with nice up front fruit. Nice finish and likely near its prime. Very Phillipe Melka. Reminded me of a Zakin wine where he’s also winemaker. This will hold for another decade.
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11/6/2020 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent Napa Cabernet that tasted restrained in fruit and magnificent harmony between fruit, oak and tannins. Full body and beautiful, long finish!
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5/30/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
Socially Distanced Wine Joe,Wendy,David,Andrea,Bill,Ashley,Harry,Anne (Casa Vasquez - Princeton NJ): Bill and Ashley brought this one, we purchased when visiting Shirley at the property in 2014...nice to check in on it
Mostly consistent with prior notes: Rich ruby/purple color, no separation. Nose of dark fruits, blackberry and anise. Polished and fined palate, showing dark berries, cassis, licorice(?), spice. Fruit through the mid palate. Medium weight and finish."
Tannins nicely integrated and softened at this point, finish a bit longer than I recall, nice depth. In prior notes I thought it might not evolve much...I was wrong...:) Really good showing on this evening
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3/22/2020 - walkerjfw wrote:
At home with Val, first bottle of a batch bought direct. Served with braised oxtail over pappardelle...Splash decanted, drank over 2 hours.
Rich ruby/purple color, no separation. Nose of dark fruits, blackberry and anise. Polished and fined palate, showing dark berries, cassis, licorice(?), spice. Fruit through the mid palate. Medium weight and finish.
A while since last tasting, surprised to the upside. Showed really well, nicely aged and polished texture. In a really good spot, should hold at this level for a while but I don't think it improves - may be at its best over the next 3 years
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11/17/2019 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last of two bottles I had found in TW for sub $100. The first bottle (consumed on NYE 2018) was sputtering, not much fruit, disappointing for the price (even discounted). Wondered if I just had some bad provenance or if bottles were not stored properly. That's why you buy 2 folks!
This one was better, very nice aroma on the nose. Blueberries, bit of cassis, blackberry. Fruit starting to fade, got some sediment by end of the bottle. I would drink up on these, not going to see any more improvement. Maybe 1-2 years left if that.
Overall, not worth the $150+ that I see this is the secondary market.
I understand later vintages have crept up in price significantly. While vintages could differ, I would have trouble spending more money on this one.
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6/27/2019 - cblinstrub Likes this wine: 89 Points
Disappointing. Probably should have drunk these younger, which is not typical in my experience with a Philip Melka wine. Have 3 more left. Lets see how they age. Two vintages in a row 2009 and 2010. I think I will pop the 12s and 13s alot sooner. Not a good QPR. But it is valley floor fruit, so should have drunk it not later than 7 years of age.
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