A gorgeous wine. our last ones from that era enjoying tastings with Barbara on her deck. Watching the hummingbirds. She was a very proud lady with her wines and beautiful estate.
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This was in nice shape. Mid weight, precise and nice length to the finish. Opened along side grilled rack of lamb. A fine companion. Light plum, light blackberry, balck pepper. Fine tannins. Well made and drank well at this stage.
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Loved MFLESH notes below. Only variation is my bottle had no sediment that he observed and the cork was absolutely perfect (like it was bottled yesterday). I had it rates just a point lower but maybe it was the stiff competition we had with some amazing wines tonight (Saxum, Corison,Realm, etc). It was excellent from start to finish over about a two hour meal. Sadly this was my last bottle of this vintage. I have been on a little Merlot testing spree and have been enjoying what I have been drinking. As a result, I think I only have a bottle or two of the 16 left. Might have to look to get some more of these. They truly are one of the best Merlot producers. A first class wine that held its own with some big boy Cabernets. Was in the running for wine of the night.
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I rated this a 94 almost 3 years ago. I would really keep the same rating today. This wine has definitely changed. I don't get as much chocolate here. I do get much more brambly type red and black berries however, but this wine has definitely not started to slide down the back of the hill. The middle of this wine still has a sweetness to it, but it has definitely started to integrate and sort of morphs into a darker wine as you get to the finish. The finish has a little bit of red plum and acidity. I would say this is as ripe for drinking as it possibly gets. Cork popped with a dark stain. This one did leave a little bit of sediment in the bottle, but I have definitely had other 2010 varieties that left a lot more. Overall, this is the last bottle of this wine that I have. Would not be opposed to obtaining a few more as I feel this one can be healed and other 5 years easily with proper cellaring.
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Black red color, tons of dark berry and plum fruit, dense fruit on palate, perfect balance, very smooth into a long fruit laden finish. Am excellent wine with veal scallopini with mushrooms.
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Much more fruit-forward than I expected. A veritable explosion of wild raspberries and blackberries. I like this producer, if I had more of this I would hold onto these a couple more years to see how they evolve. I thought this tasted younger than the '12.
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Black red color, earthy black plum & cherry nose, dense fruit on palate, very smooth, perfect balance, med-long finish, Kept in 55 degree cellar since release.
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This was fun to revisit. Served alongside grilled lamb chops. Classy in its balance. A richer purple color and silky plum notes. Has aged nicely, not really showing any secondary notes, just continues to glide gracefully. Will look forward to my remaining two bottles.
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Deep inky color. Nose of peaches, blackberries with a floral note. Silky smooth mouthfeel with flavors of violets, dark chocolate, pepper, blackberry and blueberry and a nice hint of minerals. Well integrated. Delicious.
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Relatively dark purple with slightly brownish edges. Deep, slightly alcoholic nose. Very smooth. Very good for overripe/overextracted style. Very pleasant. Relatively short finish and lack of complexity and nuance diminish the impact.
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My buddy Dave provided the wine. Every time I drink this wine I like it. It brings me right to Spring Mountain and tasting the wine with Sheldon or his mom. Velvety in the moth with nice cherry fruit. This wine is drinking great right now - have at it!
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Has been drinking wonderful the last several years with a healthy decant. It's finally arrived to pop n pour happiness. Tannins resolved and silky with plenty of fruit left. Glad I held onto four more. Go time!!!
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Cherry nose Silky smooth chocolate cherry cream .....my favorite vintage to date! Remember tasting this with Barbara. Can’t get over the silky smooth goodness. Drinking excellent now...should hold up for a few more years. Opened 2 hours early but chose not to decant as first sip was solid.
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Chocolate covered black cherry cordial. Went really well with our dinner, but when drinking this wine with Blue Bell cherry vanilla ice cream, it was otherworldly. The wind starts off with more black cherry and cola, picks up the chocolate notes in the middle. Finishes medium-plus body and just sits there on the tongue. 30 to 40 second finish. Compared to the 2011, this one has a little more structure, definitely more polished. Per the last email, this one was held back a year, and now I understand why. Crazy thing is, it doesn't score as well as the 2012 or 2013. If that is the case, I can't wait to get to those!
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Pop and pour and served with food and then on its own. Followed for about 4 hours. Poured 1/2 into a 375 ml bottle and re-corked and refrigerated. Dark purple color. Slightly reductive nose with dark cherries and ripe plums. Some chocolate too. Sweet cherry profile, with a bit of prune along with ripe plum. Perhaps a bit too ripe as there is some prune flavors on the back end.
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A very nice wine. Nice nose, nice fruit. Every bottle of Paloma brings back great memories of tasting with Barbara Richards in her dining room and looking at the hummingbirds
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Tremendous wine. I have actually fallen out of love with Paloma in the last couple of years. I'm not sure why, as I do feel it's a great price for the value you get, but I just haven't been drinking as much of it. I open this bottle, and I may have fell back in love. Great flavors, great nose and drinking very well. My hat is off to Sheldon!
Ruby red in color. Open and expressive on the nose with black plum, cedar, fresh mint, crushed rocks, forest moss and violets. Rich and full but with fresh acidity and flavors of black cherry liqueur, clove dark chocolate and exotic spice.
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I forgot that I had commented on this wine several years ago. Though I remembered that I disliked it, I didn't remember how much. While clearly of good pedigree, it is so brash and in your face -even after 8 years- with enough planky oak to build a barn. There are gobs of flavors, some of which may even be interesting, but I can't get past the wood. There are definitely lots of folks who will love this wine, but I can't even put my nose in the glass, let alone drink it.
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Not decanted and didn't really need it. Very aromatic. Peppery, floral and bright. Lots of berry fruit and a berry sauce note. Really nice merlot and unashamedly Napa.
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Opened 2 hrs before serving. Drank as part of a blind. Most though it was a syrah. Really lovely merlot from Spring Mtn. Drinking beautifully now and but lots of time to go as well
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Super bowl wine with cheese, sliders, wings and all kings of bad food. This and all of the other wines we opened were allowed 6 plus hours of decant. Ok now to the wine:
CT member EMF absolutely nailed the notes I would be posting here. I will add the term "velvety" to his.
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Another silky, elegant Paloma Merlot. This has some years of life in it. Full bodied with dark fruit, tea and some oak. The mouth feel is beautiful and this should age well for a few more years.
1st of 4 bottles purchased from winery visit a couple years back. Served with grilled lamb chops. Wine impressed. Nice composition, silky mouthfeel. It's mountain fruit but brighter than expected. Mouthwatering acidity, more red fruit than purple fruit as lead story. Great food wine. Enjoyed this very much. Good now, but could see this holding for a while.
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The 2010 is another solid vintage for Palomo's Merlot. Medium dark cherry red, with black and red fruits and a nice cocoa note. Unlike some Merlots, there is enough tannins ands structure to give it some backbone (that and 15% Cabernet). Drinking well now.
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A dark and intriguing Merlot that should be drunk now. Ruby red in color, medium in body, nose of blackberry, cocoa, and straw. Tastes of dark chocolate, plum, cedar, and licorice, with a well-integrated finish. 14.8% alcohol. Seems like a Pahlmeyer Merlot with the volume turned down a tad: it has richness and fruit, but a little less ripeness. This is quite compelling.
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up with the favorites in a flight of Paloma. Bright acidity with deep cherry fruit and cassis along with very good acidity for a CA merlot. Secondary notes of greener tobacco and some leather. Not a classic Arab or Tuscan merlot but quite good with some collaring upside.
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End of the year friends tasting: Medium to dark ruby. Nose dominated by tobacco. On the palate, medium weight, black cherry and tobacco and vanilla. Medium length finish. This was tasted blind and i did not guess Merlot because 1. I'm a lousy taster, and 2. The contibution from the oak was hard for me to get past.
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A really well crafted wine. Rich, round and nicely balanced. The hints of oak, smoke, licorice, vanilla, violets and chocolate complement the backbone of blackberrie and currant flavors. Lengthy finish.
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This excessively over oaked vanilla bomb undoubtedly appeals to many, but not to me. The broad plank across the tongue style overwhelms all the other elements. It may be a superstar wine but it isn't any fun to drink.
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Popped and poured. The wine is garnet with a ruby halo in the glass. It offers aromas of cherry and vanilla. On the palate the wine is medium to full-bodied with the same cherry and vanilla as well as oak, cedar, mocha and cinnamon. It suffers from a medium-length finish, and is sufficiently integrated now that I question its cellaring potential. This is an excellent wine, but cannot compare to the much better 2009 or the absolutely stellar 2001 vintages. At prices that exceed $60 per bottle, the wine has a so-so QPR.
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Get Together at the Crib with the Farmhouse Crew (Chez Moi, Talman Avenue): Paloma delivers every time. Classic ripe Napa fruit. Plummy, chocolatey, dark cherries, black and purple flowers and some really nice oak integration. This is so young. The palate is bursting with more cherry pie, vanilla and milk chocolate. Long finish. This could use a solid two hour decant if opening in the next few years. I say again that this is absolutely one of the finest Merlot coming out of Napa year to year. Thanks Johnny.
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This is not a wine to drink in 2013. They held this back a year, and it is still way too big. Bright red in color. Tons of big bright fruit, and massive tannins. Consumed over two days from a decanter. As with bigger years, like the '07, this will be a great wine in 4-5 years. Probably better than 93.
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5/5/2022 - Tarpon222 wrote: 92 Points
A gorgeous wine. our last ones from that era enjoying tastings with Barbara on her deck. Watching the hummingbirds. She was a very proud lady with her wines and beautiful estate.
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4/9/2022 - Martnmac wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding. 12 years and that fruit is still strong But smooth like velvet. Fantastic. And great value. Drinks like a $200 bottle
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3/19/2022 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was in nice shape. Mid weight, precise and nice length to the finish. Opened along side grilled rack of lamb. A fine companion. Light plum, light blackberry, balck pepper. Fine tannins. Well made and drank well at this stage.
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9/10/2021 - travelme wrote: 93 Points
Loved MFLESH notes below. Only variation is my bottle had no sediment that he observed and the cork was absolutely perfect (like it was bottled yesterday). I had it rates just a point lower but maybe it was the stiff competition we had with some amazing wines tonight (Saxum, Corison,Realm, etc). It was excellent from start to finish over about a two hour meal. Sadly this was my last bottle of this vintage. I have been on a little Merlot testing spree and have been enjoying what I have been drinking. As a result, I think I only have a bottle or two of the 16 left. Might have to look to get some more of these. They truly are one of the best Merlot producers. A first class wine that held its own with some big boy Cabernets. Was in the running for wine of the night.
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7/13/2021 - mflesh wrote:
I rated this a 94 almost 3 years ago. I would really keep the same rating today. This wine has definitely changed. I don't get as much chocolate here. I do get much more brambly type red and black berries however, but this wine has definitely not started to slide down the back of the hill. The middle of this wine still has a sweetness to it, but it has definitely started to integrate and sort of morphs into a darker wine as you get to the finish. The finish has a little bit of red plum and acidity. I would say this is as ripe for drinking as it possibly gets. Cork popped with a dark stain. This one did leave a little bit of sediment in the bottle, but I have definitely had other 2010 varieties that left a lot more. Overall, this is the last bottle of this wine that I have. Would not be opposed to obtaining a few more as I feel this one can be healed and other 5 years easily with proper cellaring.
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7/9/2021 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Showing great - lovely sleek black fruit and tarry earth, some pine resin / creosote herbal notes, really cool
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6/11/2021 - Mneumeier Likes this wine: 90 Points
HHI Gary, Karen, Randi and us.
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5/17/2021 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 92 Points
Really nice and well balanced.
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2/14/2021 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
Black red color, tons of dark berry and plum fruit, dense fruit on palate, perfect balance, very smooth into a long fruit laden finish. Am excellent wine with veal scallopini with mushrooms.
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1/18/2021 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful developing merlot -great at a decade - nice plum dusty fruit, silky mouthfeel, great balance
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11/6/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Much more fruit-forward than I expected. A veritable explosion of wild raspberries and blackberries. I like this producer, if I had more of this I would hold onto these a couple more years to see how they evolve. I thought this tasted younger than the '12.
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8/30/2020 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
Black red color, earthy black plum & cherry nose, dense fruit on palate, very smooth, perfect balance, med-long finish, Kept in 55 degree cellar since release.
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7/29/2020 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle held up great - inky dark, nice earthy asphalt and tar notes, good fruit and earth on the palate, nice!
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7/18/2020 - btock wrote: 92 Points
This was fun to revisit. Served alongside grilled lamb chops. Classy in its balance. A richer purple color and silky plum notes. Has aged nicely, not really showing any secondary notes, just continues to glide gracefully. Will look forward to my remaining two bottles.
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6/26/2020 - MJMorris55 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep inky color. Nose of peaches, blackberries with a floral note. Silky smooth mouthfeel with flavors of violets, dark chocolate, pepper, blackberry and blueberry and a nice hint of minerals. Well integrated. Delicious.
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12/9/2019 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 88 Points
It feels like one of those Napa wines where the fruit does not match the structure. Maybe past its prime
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9/25/2019 - wiscgrad wrote: 87 Points
Not as impressed as others on CT. a bit thin on the palate with strong acidity. Fruit is definitely fading. Solid aromatics.
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9/24/2019 - Sourdough Likes this wine: 89 Points
Relatively dark purple with slightly brownish edges. Deep, slightly alcoholic nose. Very smooth. Very good for overripe/overextracted style. Very pleasant. Relatively short finish and lack of complexity and nuance diminish the impact.
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9/1/2019 - JeffNy1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
My buddy Dave provided the wine. Every time I drink this wine I like it. It brings me right to Spring Mountain and tasting the wine with Sheldon or his mom. Velvety in the moth with nice cherry fruit. This wine is drinking great right now - have at it!
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8/30/2019 - bomba503 wrote: 94 Points
Has been drinking wonderful the last several years with a healthy decant. It's finally arrived to pop n pour happiness. Tannins resolved and silky with plenty of fruit left. Glad I held onto four more. Go time!!!
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7/19/2019 - WMVINO606 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A classic Merlot with a wonderful mouth feel and a long silky finish! 1 more in the cellar
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2/23/2019 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 92 Points
Still an amazing wine
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2/17/2019 - winelover1808 Likes this wine: 93 Points
this was very pretty. lots of bright cherry notes; very soft finish but good length; a few hints of some secondary notes in the nose. excellent
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12/9/2018 - Insane Diego wrote: 93 Points
Cherry nose
Silky smooth chocolate cherry cream .....my favorite vintage to date! Remember tasting this with Barbara.
Can’t get over the silky smooth goodness.
Drinking excellent now...should hold up for a few more years.
Opened 2 hours early but chose not to decant as first sip was solid.
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10/10/2018 - kcp Likes this wine: 92 Points
Holding up nicely. A nicely balanced complexly-derived merlot.
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9/20/2018 - greg@newsomehh.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up nicely, really enjoyed
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8/26/2018 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
Chocolate covered black cherry cordial. Went really well with our dinner, but when drinking this wine with Blue Bell cherry vanilla ice cream, it was otherworldly. The wind starts off with more black cherry and cola, picks up the chocolate notes in the middle. Finishes medium-plus body and just sits there on the tongue. 30 to 40 second finish. Compared to the 2011, this one has a little more structure, definitely more polished. Per the last email, this one was held back a year, and now I understand why. Crazy thing is, it doesn't score as well as the 2012 or 2013. If that is the case, I can't wait to get to those!
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6/24/2018 - t_moderne wrote: 86 Points
Pop and pour and served with food and then on its own. Followed for about 4 hours. Poured 1/2 into a 375 ml bottle and re-corked and refrigerated.
Dark purple color.
Slightly reductive nose with dark cherries and ripe plums. Some chocolate too.
Sweet cherry profile, with a bit of prune along with ripe plum. Perhaps a bit too ripe as there is some prune flavors on the back end.
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6/16/2018 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very nice wine. Nice nose, nice fruit. Every bottle of Paloma brings back great memories of tasting with Barbara Richards in her dining room and looking at the hummingbirds
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5/20/2018 - Pgreenbe702 wrote: 95 Points
Tremendous wine. I have actually fallen out of love with Paloma in the last couple of years. I'm not sure why, as I do feel it's a great price for the value you get, but I just haven't been drinking as much of it. I open this bottle, and I may have fell back in love. Great flavors, great nose and drinking very well. My hat is off to Sheldon!
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4/28/2018 - rockingD wrote:
Ruby red in color. Open and expressive on the nose with black plum, cedar, fresh mint, crushed rocks, forest moss and violets. Rich and full but with fresh acidity and flavors of black cherry liqueur, clove dark chocolate and exotic spice.
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2/12/2018 - Decanting fool Does not like this wine:
I forgot that I had commented on this wine several years ago. Though I remembered that I disliked it, I didn't remember how much. While clearly of good pedigree, it is so brash and in your face -even after 8 years- with enough planky oak to build a barn. There are gobs of flavors, some of which may even be interesting, but I can't get past the wood. There are definitely lots of folks who will love this wine, but I can't even put my nose in the glass, let alone drink it.
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12/29/2017 - sommwines Likes this wine:
Good. End of its prime drinking window. Get after it.
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12/11/2017 - Leon Mizrahi wrote: 91 Points
Delicious
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12/10/2017 - Dalton_Noble Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loves air. Slow ox for 6 hours and it was dialed in.
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11/11/2017 - Mneumeier wrote: 92 Points
Drinking great. Bold and big.
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10/22/2017 - kcp Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely fruit, balanced, complex and very Merlot (and that's not a bad thing).
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7/30/2017 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
very good. nice and rich with lots of dark fruit flavor
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6/4/2017 - emf Likes this wine:
Beautiful deep red color, full bodied merlot with softened tannins. Wonderful.
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5/26/2017 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted and didn't really need it. Very aromatic. Peppery, floral and bright. Lots of berry fruit and a berry sauce note. Really nice merlot and unashamedly Napa.
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5/2/2017 - E&S Hart Likes this wine: 81 Points
Went well with the herb crusted salmon. Good mid-week merlot.
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2/18/2017 - Jmb4263 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened 2 hrs before serving. Drank as part of a blind. Most though it was a syrah. Really lovely merlot from Spring Mtn. Drinking beautifully now and but lots of time to go as well
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2/5/2017 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
Super bowl wine with cheese, sliders, wings and all kings of bad food. This and all of the other wines we opened were allowed 6 plus hours of decant. Ok now to the wine:
CT member EMF absolutely nailed the notes I would be posting here. I will add the term "velvety" to his.
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2/4/2017 - emf Likes this wine:
Another silky, elegant Paloma Merlot. This has some years of life in it. Full bodied with dark fruit, tea and some oak. The mouth feel is beautiful and this should age well for a few more years.
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12/31/2016 - maderay wrote:
The wine was flawed, flat, but we drank it anyway
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12/22/2016 - J-Sho Likes this wine: 92 Points
red fruit with notes of dark cherry, black tea, and maybe some cola. nice medium bodied palate and soft tannins
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11/4/2016 - btock Likes this wine: 92 Points
1st of 4 bottles purchased from winery visit a couple years back. Served with grilled lamb chops. Wine impressed. Nice composition, silky mouthfeel. It's mountain fruit but brighter than expected. Mouthwatering acidity, more red fruit than purple fruit as lead story. Great food wine. Enjoyed this very much. Good now, but could see this holding for a while.
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9/25/2016 - dietermm wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful wine
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8/14/2016 - StainedGlass wrote: 92 Points
The 2010 is another solid vintage for Palomo's Merlot. Medium dark cherry red, with black and red fruits and a nice cocoa note. Unlike some Merlots, there is enough tannins ands structure to give it some backbone (that and 15% Cabernet). Drinking well now.
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6/9/2016 - msuwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
A dark and intriguing Merlot that should be drunk now. Ruby red in color, medium in body, nose of blackberry, cocoa, and straw. Tastes of dark chocolate, plum, cedar, and licorice, with a well-integrated finish. 14.8% alcohol. Seems like a Pahlmeyer Merlot with the volume turned down a tad: it has richness and fruit, but a little less ripeness. This is quite compelling.
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4/23/2016 - cpdwines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank at a brewery (BBB). Drinking nicely now.
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12/21/2015 - Y.L. Wino wrote: flawed
Flawed.
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10/20/2015 - cadamson Likes this wine: 88 Points
Black fruit, some cocoa/coffee flavors. Reasonably tasty but pretty monolithic.
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9/13/2015 - tb76 wrote: 91 Points
See previous notes, more chocolate/mocha after 2 hrs open.
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6/25/2015 - millerarner wrote: 91 Points
Quite tasty. Well structured.
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4/30/2015 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 93 Points
up with the favorites in a flight of Paloma. Bright acidity with deep cherry fruit and cassis along with very good acidity for a CA merlot. Secondary notes of greener tobacco and some leather. Not a classic Arab or Tuscan merlot but quite good with some collaring upside.
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4/10/2015 - tb76 wrote: 92 Points
Structure, depth, body...not what one would expect from today's middle of the road CA Merlot's.
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3/9/2015 - sw92130 wrote: 91 Points
This turned out to be really good. Very tight, but I saved half for the second night and was well rewarded!
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12/19/2014 - winopops3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
End of the year friends tasting: Medium to dark ruby. Nose dominated by tobacco. On the palate, medium weight, black cherry and tobacco and vanilla. Medium length finish. This was tasted blind and i did not guess Merlot because 1. I'm a lousy taster, and 2. The contibution from the oak was hard for me to get past.
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12/14/2014 - yowser Likes this wine: 92 Points
I never would have taken this for a Merlot in a blind tasting as it is really big, forward, with tons of fruit concentrate and very nice balance.
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11/13/2014 - Castle Peak wrote: 93 Points
A really well crafted wine. Rich, round and nicely balanced. The hints of oak, smoke, licorice, vanilla, violets and chocolate complement the backbone of blackberrie and currant flavors. Lengthy finish.
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10/31/2014 - MOCGator wrote: 94 Points
A quintessential nap Merlot just about as good as it gets on Pride Mountain
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8/31/2014 - Decanting fool Does not like this wine:
This excessively over oaked vanilla bomb undoubtedly appeals to many, but not to me. The broad plank across the tongue style overwhelms all the other elements. It may be a superstar wine but it isn't any fun to drink.
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7/9/2014 - Dagalaifus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. The wine is garnet with a ruby halo in the glass. It offers aromas of cherry and vanilla. On the palate the wine is medium to full-bodied with the same cherry and vanilla as well as oak, cedar, mocha and cinnamon. It suffers from a medium-length finish, and is sufficiently integrated now that I question its cellaring potential. This is an excellent wine, but cannot compare to the much better 2009 or the absolutely stellar 2001 vintages. At prices that exceed $60 per bottle, the wine has a so-so QPR.
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5/25/2014 - MOCGator wrote: 95 Points
Another brilliant effort from Barbara Richards.
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3/21/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Get Together at the Crib with the Farmhouse Crew (Chez Moi, Talman Avenue): Paloma delivers every time. Classic ripe Napa fruit. Plummy, chocolatey, dark cherries, black and purple flowers and some really nice oak integration. This is so young. The palate is bursting with more cherry pie, vanilla and milk chocolate. Long finish. This could use a solid two hour decant if opening in the next few years. I say again that this is absolutely one of the finest Merlot coming out of Napa year to year. Thanks Johnny.
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12/27/2013 - Frijole wrote:
plum red, lots of clarity, slight ruby hue
Nose: chocolate, smoke, oak, black pepper, thyme, hint licorice, cola, aniseed
Pal: blackberries, cola, black pepper, fennel, chocolate, orange rind, tamarind, smoke, oak, tobacco, clove, some complexity
Feel: full, savory, round, decently acidic
Finish: long
TC9
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9/29/2013 - jhieb Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is not a wine to drink in 2013. They held this back a year, and it is still way too big. Bright red in color. Tons of big bright fruit, and massive tannins. Consumed over two days from a decanter. As with bigger years, like the '07, this will be a great wine in 4-5 years. Probably better than 93.
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