The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blueberry. It tastes like strawberry jam and plum. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Soft textures are balanced by fresh acidity on this deep ruby Merlot. Black raspberries, cocoa, cinnamon and orange peel are found on the nose and palate, in a medium-bodied, softly tannic frame. The wine's alcohol (listed as 13.8%) is nicely integrated, but the flavors struggle to hang on in the middle. Although the finish is a bit truncated, this is an easy-drinker for newbies to red wine (the context in which it was tasted). It should be at its best over the next five years. Drink now-2019.
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Light nose, the first flavors to hit are green pepper, red raspberry, oak and a finish that reminds me of pomegranate. I've much preferred the 09/10 vintages. Still very drinkable, just not as engaging.
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Third disappointing wine of the evening, but sometimes it is that kindof a night. Well, and this one was better than I'd originally suspected even if not a wonderful wine. Very basic flavors. Had a decent structure, a touch of fruit, some oak. No real tannic backbone and the kind of wine that falls apart in a few years, but drinkable. And oddly paired reasonably well with a chicken with a vanilla almost foam sauce.
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I didn't have any of this wine at Easter dinner. Those that had it liked it and Markham's merlot seldom disappoints. Poured a beautiful dark ruby color with dark fruit on the nose and palate. Very nicely balanced.
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A Markham Merlot in the '90s -- maybe the 1994, I'm not sure -- was the wine that turned this former beer drinker into a wine drinker. It's been reliable over the years, so I was very interested in trying the 2011, which was supposed to be a difficult vintage.
I opened it last night and gave it ~30 minutes of air. Strong strawberry notes, visibly light in color, and a pleasant drink but almost more like a Cali pinot than a merlot. Oh well, not too surprised with everything I've read on '11. Transferred the remaining ~8 ounces into an old half bottle, corked it and left it on the kitchen counter.
But. On night 2, this is a different wine. Even the color is different, darker by several shades. I held the glass up to the light to make sure. In the nose, a heavier tone. Alcohol more noticeable but not disagreeably so. In the mouth, more viscous, more tannic, more interesting. Not profound, and a short finish, but really enjoyable.
With some age, this could break into the 90s. Right now I'm comfortable with an 89.
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Very enjoyable. A beautiful dark ruby color with dark fruit on the nose and palate. Very nicely balanced and went well with the burgers and fresh sweet corn.
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I didn't think this was a good as previous years ... it was rather tight with little nose or much on the palate. Maybe we had a bad bottle (not corked) or it was in its 'dumb phase' ... it happens. I'll sit on the other bottles for awhile and see what happens.
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2/22/2020 - H. Eugene Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blueberry. It tastes like strawberry jam and plum. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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1/31/2016 - flinntl wrote: 85 Points
Moderate tannins, avg finish.
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7/21/2015 - StageOneRacing wrote:
This bottle was average and lacking fruit, I think it has peaked. If you have a few in the cellar, you might try a bottle soon.
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11/16/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 84 Points
Soft textures are balanced by fresh acidity on this deep ruby Merlot. Black raspberries, cocoa, cinnamon and orange peel are found on the nose and palate, in a medium-bodied, softly tannic frame. The wine's alcohol (listed as 13.8%) is nicely integrated, but the flavors struggle to hang on in the middle. Although the finish is a bit truncated, this is an easy-drinker for newbies to red wine (the context in which it was tasted). It should be at its best over the next five years. Drink now-2019.
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8/14/2014 - StageOneRacing wrote: 85 Points
Light nose, the first flavors to hit are green pepper, red raspberry, oak and a finish that reminds me of pomegranate. I've much preferred the 09/10 vintages. Still very drinkable, just not as engaging.
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5/21/2014 - MC2 Wines wrote: 87 Points
Third disappointing wine of the evening, but sometimes it is that kindof a night. Well, and this one was better than I'd originally suspected even if not a wonderful wine. Very basic flavors. Had a decent structure, a touch of fruit, some oak. No real tannic backbone and the kind of wine that falls apart in a few years, but drinkable. And oddly paired reasonably well with a chicken with a vanilla almost foam sauce.
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5/15/2014 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Thin legs. Chocolate on the nose. Cherry flavors. Very nice.
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4/20/2014 - Parnelli Likes this wine: 89 Points
I didn't have any of this wine at Easter dinner. Those that had it liked it and Markham's merlot seldom disappoints. Poured a beautiful dark ruby color with dark fruit on the nose and palate. Very nicely balanced.
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2/15/2014 - Chip Merlot Likes this wine: 89 Points
A Markham Merlot in the '90s -- maybe the 1994, I'm not sure -- was the wine that turned this former beer drinker into a wine drinker. It's been reliable over the years, so I was very interested in trying the 2011, which was supposed to be a difficult vintage.
I opened it last night and gave it ~30 minutes of air. Strong strawberry notes, visibly light in color, and a pleasant drink but almost more like a Cali pinot than a merlot. Oh well, not too surprised with everything I've read on '11. Transferred the remaining ~8 ounces into an old half bottle, corked it and left it on the kitchen counter.
But. On night 2, this is a different wine. Even the color is different, darker by several shades. I held the glass up to the light to make sure. In the nose, a heavier tone. Alcohol more noticeable but not disagreeably so. In the mouth, more viscous, more tannic, more interesting. Not profound, and a short finish, but really enjoyable.
With some age, this could break into the 90s. Right now I'm comfortable with an 89.
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12/13/2013 - DeltaForceSnuggles Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy and dark fruit nose. Light-medium bodied. Flavors of dark cherry, cayenne, black plum.
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12/2/2013 - ecola Likes this wine: 87 Points
Soft and plump with plum and dark cherry. Vanilla oak on the finish. Would make a good food wine.
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8/8/2013 - Parnelli Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very enjoyable. A beautiful dark ruby color with dark fruit on the nose and palate. Very nicely balanced and went well with the burgers and fresh sweet corn.
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6/20/2013 - Parnelli Likes this wine: 86 Points
I didn't think this was a good as previous years ... it was rather tight with little nose or much on the palate. Maybe we had a bad bottle (not corked) or it was in its 'dumb phase' ... it happens. I'll sit on the other bottles for awhile and see what happens.
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