I wound up in a better position than the earlier reviewer -- my bottle was still drinking very well. Opened for an hour and then decanted for a couple of hours before drinking. Held up well over the next few hours. One bottle left; hopefully it is as good as this one!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sadly, past its prime. There is still very intense fruit, but oxidized just enough to make it hard to drink. Not fair to rate it at this point in its life. Another bottle might be better, but I'd drink these up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second Sunday Group: Paloma Merlot Vertical (Our house): Opens with a tomatoey, stewy note- typical '97 it would seem. The palate redeems the bouquet though, with nice cherry and red plum qualities. Better as it sits- red fruit and toasted spice qualities. Decent finish; heightened acidity.
My #6, Domino's #5 Group #5, 46 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
RED BROWN ON THE EDGE. BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACK CURRENTS IN THE NOSE WITH BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. ELEGANT WINE WITH A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Auction purchase, ? Provenance. Popped n decanted table side. Too dark to appreciated color. Some sed. Nose muted. Some light red fruits n earth. Plate very secondary, soft fine grained well integrated tannins. Enjoyable in own and with food. Drink now, don't think this bottle had long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still drinking beautiful. Its developed some delicate potpourri and flower shop scents and flavors. Fantastic grip and vigor. Good for at least another 3 years, then sum... All you merlot haters need this in your life!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Who says Merlot can't age? Opened after some stunning 07 cab's were shared with dinner, and this might have stolen the show. Grace in a glass, still showing dark fruits, tannins are mellowed, but still present. best Merlot in Napa?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened before dinner, decanted. Opaque crimson core, just a little bricking at the edge. Aromas of chocolate, meat, plum, mushroom and black cherry; a hint of saddle leather with additional air. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and nice acidity- needs to be consumed with a meal. Flavors of chocolate, plum and dark fruit with a nice lingering finish. 92-93 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somewhat dissapointing. You could tell that the fruit used to be there...just a little past its prime. Nose of musty blueberries, forest floor kinda old vanilla bean and mocha. Palate still showed some blue fruit but it was covered by a little cardboard and moth ball. Not unenjoyable, just not what I would expect from a Paloma Merlot. Showed a moderate complex finish yielding moderate tannins, acidity and moderate high alcohol. Either "Drink Now" or this bottle was slightly flawed?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still deep and dark. Lots of aromas of mocha, red fruit and wood smoke. Full on the palate. Maybe a bit of heat on the palate but a really delicious wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Flock - Global Merlot Introspective (My Place): Penetrating nose has black fruit, berries, smoke and toast. Big, richly fruited wine has fine tannins to match. Bright and rich with layers of fruit and tannin. Intense long finish has spices and smoke. Tasty. My #5, Group #6.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wineflock - Merlot around the world (Rich's): Gropu #6, My #8 - Opaque full red color. Big warm acidic black fruit with some earth notes and a hint of mint. Nice big rich black fruit with a hint of fruitsweet on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Battle of 1997 (Down's Lake): Top of the flight, with excellent deep aroma. Palate is balanced, if a bit tannic at this point. Still rather young, but has sufficient cherry fruit to wait out the remaining tannins. With one bottle left, will probably wait a bit to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK, so I'm a moron. I intially trashed this wine, finding it out of balance and acidic on opening. Didn't think I'd need to air out a '97 Merlot. Wrong I was. Considerably more attractive after some time in the decanter. Recommend 60-90 minutes. Very elegant nose, with a palate that gains weight and dignity with some air. Its balance is profoundly impacted, in a positive way, with a bit of patience. Drinking well now, with the aforementioned caveats.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Allred bottle. I really like this wine and it was my favorite red wine of the night. Not an over the top style. Medium bodied. Notes of crushed grape skins and cherry. Dry texture that left me wanting more. 92-93 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted briefly for sediment. Garnet color. Notes of menthol, espresso and dark fruit. DArk fruit flavors mingle with sweet tannin and abundant acidity. A better wine with dinner than the '99.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/30/2021 - Nothung Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with prior note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2021 - Nothung Likes this wine: 92 Points
I wound up in a better position than the earlier reviewer -- my bottle was still drinking very well. Opened for an hour and then decanted for a couple of hours before drinking. Held up well over the next few hours. One bottle left; hopefully it is as good as this one!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2018 - Charlie C wrote:
Sadly, past its prime. There is still very intense fruit, but oxidized just enough to make it hard to drink. Not fair to rate it at this point in its life. Another bottle might be better, but I'd drink these up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2017 - Purple Tooth wrote: 90 Points
RIP Lady Paloma...1997 is now DRINK
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2016 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
Second Sunday Group: Paloma Merlot Vertical (Our house): Opens with a tomatoey, stewy note- typical '97 it would seem. The palate redeems the bouquet though, with nice cherry and red plum qualities. Better as it sits- red fruit and toasted spice qualities. Decent finish; heightened acidity.
My #6, Domino's #5
Group #5, 46 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2016 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
RED BROWN ON THE EDGE. BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACK CURRENTS IN THE NOSE WITH BLACK CHERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. ELEGANT WINE WITH A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2015 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 90 Points
Auction purchase, ? Provenance. Popped n decanted table side. Too dark to appreciated color. Some sed. Nose muted. Some light red fruits n earth. Plate very secondary, soft fine grained well integrated tannins. Enjoyable in own and with food. Drink now, don't think this bottle had long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2014 - Purple Tooth wrote: 94 Points
Still drinking beautiful. Its developed some delicate potpourri and flower shop scents and flavors. Fantastic grip and vigor. Good for at least another 3 years, then sum... All you merlot haters need this in your life!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2012 - psoals wrote: 94 Points
Who says Merlot can't age? Opened after some stunning 07 cab's were shared with dinner, and this might have stolen the show. Grace in a glass, still showing dark fruits, tannins are mellowed, but still present. best Merlot in Napa?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Opened before dinner, decanted. Opaque crimson core, just a little bricking at the edge. Aromas of chocolate, meat, plum, mushroom and black cherry; a hint of saddle leather with additional air. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and nice acidity- needs to be consumed with a meal. Flavors of chocolate, plum and dark fruit with a nice lingering finish. 92-93 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2010 - Nanda Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Bristol with Russell Bevan (The Bristol - Chicago, IL): Pretty herb, smoke and red fruit nose. Palate is smooth and shows plenty of life for a 13 year old merlot. Flavors on the palate echo the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2010 - IAMVLAD wrote: 86 Points
i probably waited a bit long to drink this. still fruit but very subdued. drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2010 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 89 Points
I sort of agree with Beezer 6. Its still a pertty wine but its lost some of what made it great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 87 Points
Somewhat dissapointing. You could tell that the fruit used to be there...just a little past its prime.
Nose of musty blueberries, forest floor kinda old vanilla bean and mocha.
Palate still showed some blue fruit but it was covered by a little cardboard and moth ball.
Not unenjoyable, just not what I would expect from a Paloma Merlot.
Showed a moderate complex finish yielding moderate tannins, acidity and moderate high alcohol.
Either "Drink Now" or this bottle was slightly flawed?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2008 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 91 Points
Still deep and dark. Lots of aromas of mocha, red fruit and wood smoke. Full on the palate. Maybe a bit of heat on the palate but a really delicious wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2008 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Wine Flock - Global Merlot Introspective (My Place): Penetrating nose has black fruit, berries, smoke and toast. Big, richly fruited wine has fine tannins to match. Bright and rich with layers of fruit and tannin. Intense long finish has spices and smoke. Tasty. My #5, Group #6.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2008 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
Wineflock - Merlot around the world (Rich's): Gropu #6, My #8 - Opaque full red color. Big warm acidic black fruit with some earth notes and a hint of mint. Nice big rich black fruit with a hint of fruitsweet on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Battle of 1997 (Down's Lake): Top of the flight, with excellent deep aroma. Palate is balanced, if a bit tannic at this point. Still rather young, but has sufficient cherry fruit to wait out the remaining tannins. With one bottle left, will probably wait a bit to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
OK, so I'm a moron. I intially trashed this wine, finding it out of balance and acidic on opening. Didn't think I'd need to air out a '97 Merlot. Wrong I was. Considerably more attractive after some time in the decanter. Recommend 60-90 minutes. Very elegant nose, with a palate that gains weight and dignity with some air. Its balance is profoundly impacted, in a positive way, with a bit of patience. Drinking well now, with the aforementioned caveats.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2007 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Another Allred bottle. I really like this wine and it was my favorite red wine of the night. Not an over the top style. Medium bodied. Notes of crushed grape skins and cherry. Dry texture that left me wanting more. 92-93 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2006 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Decanted briefly for sediment. Garnet color. Notes of menthol, espresso and dark fruit. DArk fruit flavors mingle with sweet tannin and abundant acidity. A better wine with dinner than the '99.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
Medium red. Rich ripe red fruit aroma. A bit acidic. Not as good as the 02. 1/05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment