Opened along with a 2007. Decanted and tasted- drinkable right away. Lots of sediment. Delicious, but the 2007 surpassed it after it had a chance to open up.
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Red cherry and dusty earth on the nose. Quick rush of red cherry, raspberry, leather, and earth. Soft, resolved tannins with lots of character: wet stones, dark black cherry, sun-baked earth, smoky notes, and a touch of oak. It's all the finish on this one - drink now.
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Beautiful floral nose. Bright and lively. Hint of eucalyptus. Medium red in the glass with tremendous purity. Tannins are smooth, rounded and integrated. Flavors of dark fruit, blackberry, cassis, dark morelli cherry, and mocha. Finish is long and memorable. Wonderful.
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Ninety-minute decant through an aerating funnel. No sediment. Wine was clear; deep garnet from bowl to rim, but not opaque. No bricking whatsoever. Nose of blackberry jam during decant. In the glass, blueberry-blackberry conserve, cocoa and toast. In the mouth, deep fruit: blueberries, coffee and vanilla creme on the medium-long finish. Wine was smooth and silky from start to finish. This wine would not be out of place in a Pomerol tasting from a warmer vintage. Very nice!
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This rich and dense Merot is more lively and deep than when I tasted it three years ago (7/17 - 88 points). Maybe this wine - or that bottle - were in an awkward phase then, since this seems to be in a different league now: full, ripe, and intense, this is California Merlot at its juicy best (that is, even if it's not terribly complex, it's delicious).
Dark red in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of mocha, peppercorn, and gravel. Juicy flavors of blueberry pie, dark chocolate, graphite, and vanillin, with a grainy and integrated finish (enough acidity now, but not a lot). 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 89% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. Still going strong on second day. 93+ for now, though I would drink in next few years.
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Nose of ripe blackberry, cocoa, spice box, and vanilla. Rich and silky palate of blackberry cobbler and mocha. ABV is med plus and in balance, acidity is medium and so are the polished tannins. Finish is long, complex, and oh so enjoyable!
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Definitely one of my favorite Merlot’s I’ve tasted... rich, full, creamy mouthfeel with black and red fruit notes with balanced oak flavors...loved it.
This ripe and thick Merlot offers a lot of fruit without much nuance or uniqueness, and it should be drink now. Inky red in color, full in body, nose of plum and cedar. Tastes of blackberry, milk chocolate, licorice, and pine needles, with a finish that lacks in tannin - and also lacks in acidity. 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 89% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Perhaps I should respect the history of the vineyard, but it didn't taste like anything special: a little better than Duckhorn's main Merlot, but it still seems over-ripe and over-oaked. I love CA Merlot, but I think you can save $30 and buy a Shafer or Plumpjack, which offer similar power but far more grace. This just seems too generic to justify the price.
Great California Merlot. Maybe my favorite from California to date. Great fruit balanced by appropriate tannins and plenty of nuance if you are paying attention like some Malabar pepper on the palette, all with a long finish.
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Our Christmas Eve wine! Decanted for 1.5 hours. Medium purplish red with nice translucent legs. Nose of flowers (peonies and carnations), milk chocolate and smoke. Flavors of green bell pepper, raspberry and black cherry with notes of spice and chocolate. Medium to high chalky tannins and acidity. Nice mouthfeel. Really good wine but not great at this price point. The regular Duckhorn Merlot has a much better QPR and I score only a one point difference between the two.
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Smoke and oak on the nose Pepper and classic merlot flavors Elegant and smooth. Good smoothness with spicy peppers three quarters of the way through the palate Easy tannin structure that is just wonderful
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Decanted Beautiful scents of medium-plus intensity show off this vineyard specific Merlot. Aromas lead with scents of warm gravel that meld with notes of cigar smoke and tobacco, mocha, suede, dark cherry, forrest floor, dark berry, cocoa nib, vanilla, dried then crushed florals and hints of pencil shavings, herbs and underbrush. On the palate well developed showing notes of warm rock and gravel with an unyielding juicy dark cherry and mocha component upfront. Dark berry, plum, wild raspberry, bramble, sage, suede, cigar tobacco, spice, espresso, earth and wood come into play on the palate as well. Exceptionally well integrated flavors with medium-plus velvety tannins and acidity showing the wines structure and ability to age. The finish is long showing off impeccable balance between the sweet and savory, the tannins and acidity of the wine. 93+
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Opened, decanted, and let sit for an hour and a half. Enjoyed one glass while opening. 1st glass was hot and tight on the nose, almost no fruit, with lots of tobacco, chocolate, and slight burnt wood. Upon tasting, a big bold tannic Merlot monster with tight red fruit. 2nd glass after standing for mentioned time; nose of tobacco, dark red fruit, little cherry and strawberry, odd rhubarb, a little menthol and chocolate and slight burnt wood repeating. The taste confirmed and wowed. Copious red fruit with firm dusty tannins nice structure and can taste the Three Palma dirt. It's an ingénue that needs time to sing. The tannins will subdue slightly and allow the fruit to shine, but it's beautiful now. Give it 3 years and could withstand up to 15. Lovely! Almost Pomerol in style... almost!
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At Duckhorn Vineyards today, nose of dark fruit, plum, cigar box, allspice and dusty forest floor, more of the same on the palate, big body, elegant taste, complex, and delicious today but probably merit a higher score in three years and last fifteen years, wonderful finish and aftertaste.
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Pnp this against the Napa Valley sibling in a blind taste test to see if the single vineyard bottling was worth the $40 up charge. In my opinion, it was no contest. 3 Palms was noticeably more inky in the glass with a bouquet noticeably in a different league. Both were similar in body and notable tannins, but that's where the similarities ended. The 3P showed much more black fruit while the Napa was a lot more red fruit driven. As you may expect, the Napa was more singular in profile without much of a finish, while the 3P was much more complex and a lasting finish that showed the 75% new oak vs its 25% counterpart. After the wine was consumed, you could still clearly smell the oak influence in the empty glass on the 3P. The 3P is certainly a contender against some Napa cabs in the > $100 price range and I would take one of these over two of the other.
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Tasted at Duckhorn, lots of nose with plum, fig, cigar box, forest floor and all spice, more of the same on the palate, very smooth, big body, almost elegant, lots of complexity here, needs 3 years to peak, long, long flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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Bright ruby color turning violet at the rim. Still very tannic at this point, but the aromas more than make up to describe the potential of this wine - cigar box, mushroom, earth, with hints of cough syryp. The palate is medium-to-full-bodied. Compared to the mainstream Napa Valley version, this has less of the prominent flavors of plum, cherry, licorice, and blueberry. Instead, this displays more oak, graphite and smoke. Finishes long with hints of earth, stone slate, and tobacco. This will, no doubt, develop into something beautiful over the next few years. Drink from 2017 to 2032.
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Phenomenal merlot. Not your "typical" merlot, but like most Duckhorns, can be mistaken for a cab. Has quite a long life ahead of it but is almost irresistible to drink now; very smooth. Going to have to get at least one more. Has the potential to add a point or 2 with some more time. 93-96
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2/15/2023 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a magnum, younger and more powerful version of the wine profiled on my note of 5-28-2021. Sometimes magnums are just better.
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1/6/2023 - jroc66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened along with a 2007. Decanted and tasted- drinkable right away. Lots of sediment. Delicious, but the 2007 surpassed it after it had a chance to open up.
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8/15/2022 - VAGenius wrote: 90 Points
Red cherry and dusty earth on the nose. Quick rush of red cherry, raspberry, leather, and earth. Soft, resolved tannins with lots of character: wet stones, dark black cherry, sun-baked earth, smoky notes, and a touch of oak. It's all the finish on this one - drink now.
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6/18/2022 - VAGenius wrote: flawed
No detailed notes. It's soft and ready to roll. Quite nice, but the cork on this bottle did break in half in opening so I won't score.
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3/18/2022 - Tym4wine wrote:
Corked
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3/5/2022 - Blue Jay Likes this wine:
Very smooth with silky tannins and complex flavors of blackberries, cherries and leather with a long finish.
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1/23/2022 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful floral nose. Bright and lively. Hint of eucalyptus. Medium red in the glass with tremendous purity. Tannins are smooth, rounded and integrated. Flavors of dark fruit, blackberry, cassis, dark morelli cherry, and mocha. Finish is long and memorable. Wonderful.
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7/27/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ninety-minute decant. Similar to my note of 5/28/2021, but less black fruit on the nose and a lot more cocoa. Wonderful wine.
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5/28/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ninety-minute decant through an aerating funnel. No sediment. Wine was clear; deep garnet from bowl to rim, but not opaque. No bricking whatsoever. Nose of blackberry jam during decant. In the glass, blueberry-blackberry conserve, cocoa and toast. In the mouth, deep fruit: blueberries, coffee and vanilla creme on the medium-long finish. Wine was smooth and silky from start to finish. This wine would not be out of place in a Pomerol tasting from a warmer vintage. Very nice!
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8/31/2020 - msuwine wrote: 93 Points
This rich and dense Merot is more lively and deep than when I tasted it three years ago (7/17 - 88 points). Maybe this wine - or that bottle - were in an awkward phase then, since this seems to be in a different league now: full, ripe, and intense, this is California Merlot at its juicy best (that is, even if it's not terribly complex, it's delicious).
Dark red in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of mocha, peppercorn, and gravel. Juicy flavors of blueberry pie, dark chocolate, graphite, and vanillin, with a grainy and integrated finish (enough acidity now, but not a lot). 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 89% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. Still going strong on second day. 93+ for now, though I would drink in next few years.
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8/27/2020 - Bozekt wrote: 93 Points
Nose of ripe blackberry, cocoa, spice box, and vanilla. Rich and silky palate of blackberry cobbler and mocha. ABV is med plus and in balance, acidity is medium and so are the polished tannins. Finish is long, complex, and oh so enjoyable!
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2/3/2019 - Graniwinkle wrote: 90 Points
Understated, crisp, pencil lead, allspice, dusty tannin, slight blackberry in background, a little vanilla. Complex and balanced.
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8/5/2018 - Indywinefan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Always a quality Merlot
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12/30/2017 - Joce88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Definitely one of my favorite Merlot’s I’ve tasted... rich, full, creamy mouthfeel with black and red fruit notes with balanced oak flavors...loved it.
Blend: 89% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot.
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7/16/2017 - msuwine wrote: 88 Points
This ripe and thick Merlot offers a lot of fruit without much nuance or uniqueness, and it should be drink now. Inky red in color, full in body, nose of plum and cedar. Tastes of blackberry, milk chocolate, licorice, and pine needles, with a finish that lacks in tannin - and also lacks in acidity. 14.5% alcohol. Blend of 89% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Perhaps I should respect the history of the vineyard, but it didn't taste like anything special: a little better than Duckhorn's main Merlot, but it still seems over-ripe and over-oaked. I love CA Merlot, but I think you can save $30 and buy a Shafer or Plumpjack, which offer similar power but far more grace. This just seems too generic to justify the price.
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6/17/2017 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great California Merlot. Maybe my favorite from California to date. Great fruit balanced by appropriate tannins and plenty of nuance if you are paying attention like some Malabar pepper on the palette, all with a long finish.
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12/24/2016 - RockyII Likes this wine: 92 Points
Our Christmas Eve wine! Decanted for 1.5 hours. Medium purplish red with nice translucent legs. Nose of flowers (peonies and carnations), milk chocolate and smoke. Flavors of green bell pepper, raspberry and black cherry with notes of spice and chocolate. Medium to high chalky tannins and acidity. Nice mouthfeel. Really good wine but not great at this price point. The regular Duckhorn Merlot has a much better QPR and I score only a one point difference between the two.
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11/23/2016 - Gjagai Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aroma Bouquet: vanilla, berries, chocolate
Color Hue Clarity: clear, deep garnett
Taste Texture Finish Balance: Smooth velvety finish, medium body, juicy, mouth filling, fruity, no spice, no tannins
Overall: 4.5/5 - not your typical tannic merlot. Fruit forward, easy drinking, great with or without food.
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9/14/2016 - Glenn92 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Smoke and oak on the nose
Pepper and classic merlot flavors
Elegant and smooth. Good smoothness with spicy peppers three quarters of the way through the palate
Easy tannin structure that is just wonderful
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5/1/2016 - bjamesclark wrote: 93 Points
Decanted
Beautiful scents of medium-plus intensity show off this vineyard specific Merlot. Aromas lead with scents of warm gravel that meld with notes of cigar smoke and tobacco, mocha, suede, dark cherry, forrest floor, dark berry, cocoa nib, vanilla, dried then crushed florals and hints of pencil shavings, herbs and underbrush.
On the palate well developed showing notes of warm rock and gravel with an unyielding juicy dark cherry and mocha component upfront. Dark berry, plum, wild raspberry, bramble, sage, suede, cigar tobacco, spice, espresso, earth and wood come into play on the palate as well. Exceptionally well integrated flavors with medium-plus velvety tannins and acidity showing the wines structure and ability to age. The finish is long showing off impeccable balance between the sweet and savory, the tannins and acidity of the wine.
93+
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4/18/2016 - lvepicure Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened, decanted, and let sit for an hour and a half. Enjoyed one glass while opening.
1st glass was hot and tight on the nose, almost no fruit, with lots of tobacco, chocolate, and slight burnt wood. Upon tasting, a big bold tannic Merlot monster with tight red fruit.
2nd glass after standing for mentioned time; nose of tobacco, dark red fruit, little cherry and strawberry, odd rhubarb, a little menthol and chocolate and slight burnt wood repeating. The taste confirmed and wowed. Copious red fruit with firm dusty tannins nice structure and can taste the Three Palma dirt.
It's an ingénue that needs time to sing. The tannins will subdue slightly and allow the fruit to shine, but it's beautiful now. Give it 3 years and could withstand up to 15.
Lovely! Almost Pomerol in style... almost!
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2/6/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
At Duckhorn Vineyards today, nose of dark fruit, plum, cigar box, allspice and dusty forest floor, more of the same on the palate, big body, elegant taste, complex, and delicious today but probably merit a higher score in three years and last fifteen years, wonderful finish and aftertaste.
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2/3/2016 - City Squirrel wrote: 95 Points
Pnp this against the Napa Valley sibling in a blind taste test to see if the single vineyard bottling was worth the $40 up charge. In my opinion, it was no contest. 3 Palms was noticeably more inky in the glass with a bouquet noticeably in a different league. Both were similar in body and notable tannins, but that's where the similarities ended. The 3P showed much more black fruit while the Napa was a lot more red fruit driven. As you may expect, the Napa was more singular in profile without much of a finish, while the 3P was much more complex and a lasting finish that showed the 75% new oak vs its 25% counterpart. After the wine was consumed, you could still clearly smell the oak influence in the empty glass on the 3P. The 3P is certainly a contender against some Napa cabs in the > $100 price range and I would take one of these over two of the other.
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1/25/2016 - Ryan.Vento Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing Merlot. Really got me thinking what New World Merlot was capable of! Bold and complex that closely resembles a Napa Cab.
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12/31/2015 - Bobby J wrote:
At the lake.
It has a hint of spice.
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6/12/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at Duckhorn, lots of nose with plum, fig, cigar box, forest floor and all spice, more of the same on the palate, very smooth, big body, almost elegant, lots of complexity here, needs 3 years to peak, long, long flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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6/2/2015 - eoinhharkins wrote:
Very expressive nose of plum, fig, earth, vanilla, despite the tannin it's quite smooth feeling in the mouth with a generous finish, wish I had more
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5/20/2015 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 94 Points
Bright ruby color turning violet at the rim. Still very tannic at this point, but the aromas more than make up to describe the potential of this wine - cigar box, mushroom, earth, with hints of cough syryp. The palate is medium-to-full-bodied. Compared to the mainstream Napa Valley version, this has less of the prominent flavors of plum, cherry, licorice, and blueberry. Instead, this displays more oak, graphite and smoke. Finishes long with hints of earth, stone slate, and tobacco. This will, no doubt, develop into something beautiful over the next few years. Drink from 2017 to 2032.
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5/5/2015 - JL177 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Phenomenal merlot. Not your "typical" merlot, but like most Duckhorns, can be mistaken for a cab. Has quite a long life ahead of it but is almost irresistible to drink now; very smooth. Going to have to get at least one more. Has the potential to add a point or 2 with some more time. 93-96
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