Still good, in balance, maybe a bit softened. Good red and prune fruit, controlled. Low medium acidity, not much minerality, moderate tannins. Pleasant tasty merlot.
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I consumed all but one bottle from a case of this some years ago and enjoyed it, and saved one to see how it goes… opened it tonight concerned it may be past its prime, but it is showing just beautifully, if anything I like this even more with fourteen years on it. The blueberries and boysenberries have dried and show a delicious withered fruit character, the vanilla has faded letting the fruit shine through, and the tannins are still there and quite firm, reminding me of cocoa for their pure astringency and roasted character but integrated nicely with the fruit. Bay leaf still shines as does a dusty dried mint character. Wonderful complexity, this wine was a steal I’ll miss it.
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full body dense merlot, hasn't lost a step at 13 yrs. nice restrained red and black fruit, hint of anise, a little wet stone. Softened tannins, and delicious. More power and better balance than the Napa cab we had at the same meal...
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Still drinking great. Dark ruby to purple in color. Vanillas have burned off, blackberry still front and center, although a bit less jammy than before. But thankfully the body and taste is still full gas. Bold, full bodied, smooth. Zing towards end with waves of dark fruit, chocolate, mild oak, satisfying and complex. Drinking perfect.
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Deep garnet color, blackberry, violet, a little earth on the nose. Dark fruit, great balance, full-body, and mocca on the finish that lasts a real long time. Served with grilled pork chop, polenta, hunter sauce, and a salad. This was outstanding; nobody does Merlot like Washington State, and Northstar may be the best in Washington.
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Medium dark garnet in color, with mild aromas of black pepper and forest floor, not much for nose... but the flavor delivers, medium bodied with blackberry and raspberry, with dark chocolate mousse and a little baking spice on the medium long finish. Delicious drink, lacks complexity and nose, for all that I find myself swishing this in my mouth and really being happy. Had the front part of this bottle with grilled steak, and it was perfect, waited a little and had the rest, and it was still solid, but the steak definitely worked well with it.
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Took some time to open up. More fruit on the nose than the palate, this seemed to be in decline compared to the last bottle consumed 10 months ago -- just not enough fruit left and structure for evolution. Still a nice wine though. Went ok with food. Meh.
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Nice smooth Merlot with a hint of spice on the back end. My only bottle purchased through auction. Highly recommended and if I had any more I would likely drink them now.
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I love the color of this wine! Nice extraction, Dry plum, leather, black cherry on the nose. On the palate anise, black cherry, long rising hold and finish. A nicely balanced wine that could be aged for 2-3 more years. Cheers!
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A nose of dark fruits and spices, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied red, with black cherry, currants, cassis, light pepper and spices on long finish, very good. www.winelx.com
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Northstar and L'ecole were my gateway merlots into the wine drug world some decade ago. While I don't partake in them much anymore, it's good to see they're still putting out solid releases. A happy throwback for me, classic WA grape structure ... although at near $30, only an average QPR.
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Once it opens up there isn't many flaws in this $22 bottle of wine, really smooths out after an hour or two decant. I often lean on this as my standard house wine
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Certainly varietally correct and good balance of fruit/savory characteristics, but quite hot and far from elegant. Better on the first night. Preserved bottle 2 nights later showed more apparent oak and bitter, overextracted tannins rather than further integrating/harmonizing which is somewhat unusual and isn't a good sign. Big Merlot clearly going for points.
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nose: blackberries, currants, slight bell pepper and dirty flowers
palate: still a bit tight and slightly stalky. intense cinnamon spice, sweet berries, black olive. the ripeness of the fruit is balanced nicely by the drying, oaky tannins with a licorice edge, tho acidity is very hidden. very full dark chocolate finish reflects everything else too and lasts a while.
on the soft side but with great structure. very new world, very enjoyable and definitely will get better with age
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Enjoyed this bottle. In fact, we used some for a pear-red wine-rosemary pie for Thanksgiving (a big hit). All around nice merlot-- Northstar is consistent year in and year out!
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Popped and poured. Very aromatic nose, but quite subdued on the palate - probably needs time to open up. Will set aside and go to dinner, re-taste in a few hours.
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PnVnD let air for 4+ hours. Very tight initially opened up over several hours. Complex and refined. Would buy again at the Costco price. Needs more time or a long decant.
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Very stasifying wine, with a lot of merlot typicity. Aromas of violet, black cherry and spice with flavors of currant, black plum, and hints of olive, toast, and bell pepper. Rich and concentrated with a pleasant finish.
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While not a fruit bomb, this was rich and concentrated black berry, black cherry and plum fruits with a layer of vanilla, mocha and hint of maple flavors on the finish for pleasant easy drinking with artisan cheese, fruit and chocolate.
3/12/2024 - Tomportwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still good, in balance, maybe a bit softened. Good red and prune fruit, controlled. Low medium acidity, not much minerality, moderate tannins. Pleasant tasty merlot.
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3/7/2023 - puffinscellar wrote: 91 Points
I consumed all but one bottle from a case of this some years ago and enjoyed it, and saved one to see how it goes… opened it tonight concerned it may be past its prime, but it is showing just beautifully, if anything I like this even more with fourteen years on it. The blueberries and boysenberries have dried and show a delicious withered fruit character, the vanilla has faded letting the fruit shine through, and the tannins are still there and quite firm, reminding me of cocoa for their pure astringency and roasted character but integrated nicely with the fruit. Bay leaf still shines as does a dusty dried mint character. Wonderful complexity, this wine was a steal I’ll miss it.
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12/19/2022 - Tomportwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
full body dense merlot, hasn't lost a step at 13 yrs. nice restrained red and black fruit, hint of anise, a little wet stone. Softened tannins, and delicious. More power and better balance than the Napa cab we had at the same meal...
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5/2/2022 - aruddy Likes this wine:
Drinking well, some secondary development
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10/26/2021 - Tomportwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Robust, full flavored merlot. Dark berry, fig, chocolate, earth. nice velvet tannins, medium acidity.
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11/29/2020 - JasonG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still drinking great. Dark ruby to purple in color. Vanillas have burned off, blackberry still front and center, although a bit less jammy than before. But thankfully the body and taste is still full gas. Bold, full bodied, smooth. Zing towards end with waves of dark fruit, chocolate, mild oak, satisfying and complex. Drinking perfect.
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4/27/2020 - gtm Likes this wine: 92 Points
nice aged Merlot
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3/17/2020 - MarkEngel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet color, blackberry, violet, a little earth on the nose. Dark fruit, great balance, full-body, and mocca on the finish that lasts a real long time. Served with grilled pork chop, polenta, hunter sauce, and a salad. This was outstanding; nobody does Merlot like Washington State, and Northstar may be the best in Washington.
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9/5/2019 - Alaskawino wrote: 79 Points
Not all there. Over the hills.
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7/6/2019 - Woody18 Does not like this wine: 83 Points
This bottle is done. Not brutal but certainly past its prime.
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4/10/2019 - gwarnken Likes this wine: 88 Points
A merlot that had aged gracefully with soft tannins and berry notes.
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2/3/2019 - xorgnz wrote: 90 Points
Aged very well. Relatively gentle but full of fruit. Moderate tannins
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10/28/2018 - gtm Likes this wine: 92 Points
aging quite well, nice WA Merlot with great QPR
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4/15/2018 - kmadamskkz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium dark garnet in color, with mild aromas of black pepper and forest floor, not much for nose... but the flavor delivers, medium bodied with blackberry and raspberry, with dark chocolate mousse and a little baking spice on the medium long finish. Delicious drink, lacks complexity and nose, for all that I find myself swishing this in my mouth and really being happy. Had the front part of this bottle with grilled steak, and it was perfect, waited a little and had the rest, and it was still solid, but the steak definitely worked well with it.
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11/10/2017 - Alaskawino wrote: 85 Points
Great dark purple with a strong rim. Cassis and blackberry to black cherry. Cedar and oak notes slightly spice. Enough there to last another year.
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10/13/2017 - Time Bandit wrote:
Probably would have been better last year.
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9/22/2017 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Round and ripe, with an initial whiff of oak that blows off with some time. High end stuff, easy to love.
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3/19/2017 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Took some time to open up.
More fruit on the nose than the palate, this seemed to be in decline compared to the last bottle consumed 10 months ago -- just not enough fruit left and structure for evolution. Still a nice wine though.
Went ok with food. Meh.
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12/12/2016 - zack.wygant wrote:
Ugh, I love this wine but a dead bottle! Very disappointing....
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5/14/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great merlot / bordeaux blend. This has an interesting spice component.
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4/23/2016 - travelme wrote: 90 Points
Nice smooth Merlot with a hint of spice on the back end. My only bottle purchased through auction. Highly recommended and if I had any more I would likely drink them now.
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4/8/2016 - Rogermtx wrote: 90 Points
Nice crystalization on the cork. Hint of cocoa. Bit of spice. Dark berries. Nice finish.
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12/7/2015 - binko21 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I love the color of this wine! Nice extraction, Dry plum, leather, black cherry on the nose. On the palate anise, black cherry, long rising hold and finish. A nicely balanced wine that could be aged for 2-3 more years. Cheers!
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11/13/2015 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nose of dark fruits and spices, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied red, with black cherry, currants, cassis, light pepper and spices on long finish, very good. www.winelx.com
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10/28/2015 - Ralehman wrote:
Good.
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4/30/2015 - binko21 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Overall it was nice but it was a little hot and brash. Decanted for an hour before drinking.
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12/22/2014 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
Ripe soft nose. Juicy balanced fruit and soft tannins. delightful
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6/26/2014 - MIRick wrote: 90 Points
Easy drinking - nice fruit, opened up as time went on. Good Northstar, but have had others that were a favorite Merlot.
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6/20/2014 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 91 Points
Northstar and L'ecole were my gateway merlots into the wine drug world some decade ago. While I don't partake in them much anymore, it's good to see they're still putting out solid releases. A happy throwback for me, classic WA grape structure ... although at near $30, only an average QPR.
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6/3/2014 - KPieper wrote:
give an hour in the decanter
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4/19/2014 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine. Decent balance. Typical WA Merlot.
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3/20/2014 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 90 Points
judgement of sweden - wines from oregon and washington state (Operaterassen, Stockholm): Extremely serious merlot. Powerful. Structured, perhaps extracted but very fine. Will need much more time.
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3/15/2014 - snowingfun wrote: 90 Points
Better when decanted for an hour +. Great default everyday wine.
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3/8/2014 - gtm Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 hour decant and aerated. young and restrained. opened in the second hour. nice Merlot, great QPR.
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3/7/2014 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Always good with spice, blueberries, cherry, pepper and earth. Medium plus finish and smooth.
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1/30/2014 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 87 Points
A lot of oak and noticeable heat on this. Not bad, but tasted a bit tarted up.
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1/13/2014 - snowingfun wrote: 90 Points
Once it opens up there isn't many flaws in this $22 bottle of wine, really smooths out after an hour or two decant. I often lean on this as my standard house wine
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1/5/2014 - DollarMenunaire wrote: 87 Points
Certainly varietally correct and good balance of fruit/savory characteristics, but quite hot and far from elegant. Better on the first night. Preserved bottle 2 nights later showed more apparent oak and bitter, overextracted tannins rather than further integrating/harmonizing which is somewhat unusual and isn't a good sign. Big Merlot clearly going for points.
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12/22/2013 - wintergreen Likes this wine: 91 Points
nose: blackberries, currants, slight bell pepper and dirty flowers
palate: still a bit tight and slightly stalky. intense cinnamon spice, sweet berries, black olive. the ripeness of the fruit is balanced nicely by the drying, oaky tannins with a licorice edge, tho acidity is very hidden. very full dark chocolate finish reflects everything else too and lasts a while.
on the soft side but with great structure. very new world, very enjoyable and definitely will get better with age
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12/11/2013 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyed this bottle. In fact, we used some for a pear-red wine-rosemary pie for Thanksgiving (a big hit). All around nice merlot-- Northstar is consistent year in and year out!
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11/26/2013 - garetjax_kison wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured. Needs more time in the bottle or just more time open up. Enjoyable.
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9/28/2013 - GA_Seattle Likes this wine: 88 Points
Popped and poured. Very aromatic nose, but quite subdued on the palate - probably needs time to open up. Will set aside and go to dinner, re-taste in a few hours.
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8/12/2013 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnVnD let air for 4+ hours. Very tight initially opened up over several hours. Complex and refined. Would buy again at the Costco price. Needs more time or a long decant.
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7/16/2013 - pgb67 wrote: 90 Points
Very stasifying wine, with a lot of merlot typicity. Aromas of violet, black cherry and spice with flavors of currant, black plum, and hints of olive, toast, and bell pepper. Rich and concentrated with a pleasant finish.
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6/19/2013 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 89 Points
While not a fruit bomb, this was rich and concentrated black berry, black cherry and plum fruits with a layer of vanilla, mocha and hint of maple flavors on the finish for pleasant easy drinking with artisan cheese, fruit and chocolate.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2013/06/northstar-columbia-valley-merlot-2009.html
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