The vibrancy of fruit has somewhat faded. The maturity of this wine has arrived. More like a mature medium body Bordeaux . Highly recommend, but don't let it languish too many more years.
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Good, but paled by comparison to a Robert Craig Howell Mountain Merlot and Cabernet. Popped and poured. Fruit has settled down quite a bit from my previous bottles.
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The note from MSUWRIGHT is on the money (and the reason I chose to open this now). This is smooth, mellow, imminently drinkable but ultimately unexciting. Great to serve in a social setting where there's not much attention paid to the drink in hand. Because it is Plumpjack, I was expecting more so, just like great potential, it can be difficult to live up to the expectation. But hey, the nose IS terrific. Tried on PnP with one pass through the Vinturi and with several hours of air and not much difference.
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This ripe Merlot has lost steam in the 15 months since I tasted it last (1/17 - 94 points), with a taste profile that has become more savory and juicy. It's still a solid Merlot, especially around the $50-60 price point, but it's one that should be consumed in the short term.
Cherry red in color and full in body, this wine now carries aromas more of plum and leather, as opposed to the blueberry and graphite from earlier in its life cycle. The tannins are much softer now, but so too are the flavors: plum and ripe blueberry lead the way, with secondary notes of graphite, green olives, and cedar, followed by a finish that lacks much, if any acidity. Blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Malbec. 15.2% alcohol.
Back in 2017, I thought this had 2-3 years ahead of it, but this now seems incorrect. Perhaps tonight it was the bottle, but this wine just seems tired - the fruit is there, and the structure is just hanging on by a thread to support it. I tasted it on the same night as two 2014 Merlots (from Pahlmeyer and Realm), both of which blew the Plumpjack out of the water in terms of complexity and energy. Drink in next six months or so.
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My 3rd time to try this very very good merlot. Drank behind a 2014 Howell mountain cab, which almost certainly painted it in an odd light. Having said that, the nose on this wine was really big. Aromas of dark cherry, cheese rind, with light sandalwood. A juicy palate with what felt like well integrated tannins compared to my last two bottles. This has rounded out/softened while maintaining plenty of red plum and cherry fruit. A little less “big-ness” on the finish due to tannin drop out but it’s entered the drinking window and I suspect has 2-4 years in the tank for peak enjoyment.
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The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis). The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine has low acidity.
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My WOTN. Versatile and round. Nose had bing cherry, ripe profile and dark fruit. Ample acidity and smooth tannins. Lingering finish. Showing better than last year
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On PNP, a full bodied and decidedly generous Merlot. Expressive nose of creamy cherry vanilla, some dark berries, and menthol. Exuberant on the palate with more cherry and assorted dark/red fruit. Tannin is soft and well integrated here. One of my favorite Merlot's alongside Leonetti and Buccella.
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A plush and ripe Merlot that offers complexity and fruit in an exuberant - and thoroughly enjoyable - package. Dark purple in color, full in body, nose of blueberry and graphite. Tastes of black cherry, plum, mocha, leather, and cedar, with a mouth-filling tannic finish that softens after an hour. 15.2% alcohol. This does a great job walking up to the line of over-ripeness - but not crossing it. Blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Malbec. I give this a decided edge over the 2012, which offered fruit but not as much depth, especially at the mid-palate. This has at least 2-3 years ahead of it, though it is a lot of fun to drink now. Call it a guilty pleasure if you must, but I call it a damn good Napa Merlot.
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There's a nice agreement and consistency among these reviews. It's a dark purple color, perhaps due to the 13% Malbec. Several layers to the flavor profile, which others have already pointed out well - blackberry, smoke, plum.. I also concur that this is a cab lovers merlot - it has a tannic backbone that is chewier than expected. Very enjoyable but overwhelmed by a spicy lamb roast. I say hold for 3 years if you can
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Outstanding Merlot. Nice dark red/purple in glass. A little oak but nothing holds back the classic Merlot flavor with some red fruit and blueberry. A little smoky also but not objectionable. Really enjoyed this wine.
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This is one of the most incredible Merlots I have had. It's got a very complex oak flavor that is very tasty and resembles more of a Cabernet than the stereotypically boring Merlot. Drinking very well now and I can see this aging gracefully over the next 10-20 years.
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10/9/2022 - MarkRichards Likes this wine: 90 Points
The vibrancy of fruit has somewhat faded. The maturity of this wine has arrived. More like a mature medium body Bordeaux . Highly recommend, but don't let it languish too many more years.
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4/4/2020 - flwinos wrote: 91 Points
Good, but paled by comparison to a Robert Craig Howell Mountain Merlot and Cabernet. Popped and poured. Fruit has settled down quite a bit from my previous bottles.
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8/4/2019 - swade wrote: 92 Points
Super. Balanced. Ripe, but well-judged. Plums, dark chocolate truffles and oak spice. Cab lovers merlot. This wine had some authority. 92
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8/26/2018 - ozziewine Likes this wine: 90 Points
The note from MSUWRIGHT is on the money (and the reason I chose to open this now).
This is smooth, mellow, imminently drinkable but ultimately unexciting.
Great to serve in a social setting where there's not much attention paid to the drink in hand.
Because it is Plumpjack, I was expecting more so, just like great potential, it can be difficult to live up to the expectation.
But hey, the nose IS terrific.
Tried on PnP with one pass through the Vinturi and with several hours of air and not much difference.
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4/13/2018 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This ripe Merlot has lost steam in the 15 months since I tasted it last (1/17 - 94 points), with a taste profile that has become more savory and juicy. It's still a solid Merlot, especially around the $50-60 price point, but it's one that should be consumed in the short term.
Cherry red in color and full in body, this wine now carries aromas more of plum and leather, as opposed to the blueberry and graphite from earlier in its life cycle. The tannins are much softer now, but so too are the flavors: plum and ripe blueberry lead the way, with secondary notes of graphite, green olives, and cedar, followed by a finish that lacks much, if any acidity. Blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Malbec. 15.2% alcohol.
Back in 2017, I thought this had 2-3 years ahead of it, but this now seems incorrect. Perhaps tonight it was the bottle, but this wine just seems tired - the fruit is there, and the structure is just hanging on by a thread to support it. I tasted it on the same night as two 2014 Merlots (from Pahlmeyer and Realm), both of which blew the Plumpjack out of the water in terms of complexity and energy. Drink in next six months or so.
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3/18/2018 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
My 3rd time to try this very very good merlot. Drank behind a 2014 Howell mountain cab, which almost certainly painted it in an odd light. Having said that, the nose on this wine was really big. Aromas of dark cherry, cheese rind, with light sandalwood. A juicy palate with what felt like well integrated tannins compared to my last two bottles. This has rounded out/softened while maintaining plenty of red plum and cherry fruit. A little less “big-ness” on the finish due to tannin drop out but it’s entered the drinking window and I suspect has 2-4 years in the tank for peak enjoyment.
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6/23/2017 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Incredible Merlot. About as good as you can get with a juicy steak.
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6/20/2017 - Basicgym101 Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle.
It smells like black currant (cassis). The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine has low acidity.
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4/29/2017 - jviz wrote: 94 Points
My WOTN. Versatile and round. Nose had bing cherry, ripe profile and dark fruit. Ample acidity and smooth tannins. Lingering finish. Showing better than last year
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3/31/2017 - flwinos wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well pop and pour, but gets better with some air. Drank last week, so no detailed notes.
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3/7/2017 - drdan8 Likes this wine: 93 Points
On PNP, a full bodied and decidedly generous Merlot. Expressive nose of creamy cherry vanilla, some dark berries, and menthol. Exuberant on the palate with more cherry and assorted dark/red fruit. Tannin is soft and well integrated here. One of my favorite Merlot's alongside Leonetti and Buccella.
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1/3/2017 - msuwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
A plush and ripe Merlot that offers complexity and fruit in an exuberant - and thoroughly enjoyable - package. Dark purple in color, full in body, nose of blueberry and graphite. Tastes of black cherry, plum, mocha, leather, and cedar, with a mouth-filling tannic finish that softens after an hour. 15.2% alcohol. This does a great job walking up to the line of over-ripeness - but not crossing it. Blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Malbec. I give this a decided edge over the 2012, which offered fruit but not as much depth, especially at the mid-palate. This has at least 2-3 years ahead of it, though it is a lot of fun to drink now. Call it a guilty pleasure if you must, but I call it a damn good Napa Merlot.
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12/24/2016 - bzell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent merlot, big fat juicy wine but very soft. Incredibly easy to drink matched well with our Christmas eve roasted filet.
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10/28/2016 - jviz Likes this wine: 93 Points
There's a nice agreement and consistency among these reviews. It's a dark purple color, perhaps due to the 13% Malbec. Several layers to the flavor profile, which others have already pointed out well - blackberry, smoke, plum.. I also concur that this is a cab lovers merlot - it has a tannic backbone that is chewier than expected. Very enjoyable but overwhelmed by a spicy lamb roast. I say hold for 3 years if you can
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9/18/2016 - whudock wrote: 90 Points
solid, no rough edges.
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9/9/2016 - Markie_Sharkie wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding Merlot. Nice dark red/purple in glass. A little oak but nothing holds back the classic Merlot flavor with some red fruit and blueberry. A little smoky also but not objectionable. Really enjoyed this wine.
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7/9/2016 - trevor.gillespie Likes this wine:
Gavin Newson and friends done made some great Merlot!
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5/25/2016 - danielolson06 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is one of the most incredible Merlots I have had. It's got a very complex oak flavor that is very tasty and resembles more of a Cabernet than the stereotypically boring Merlot. Drinking very well now and I can see this aging gracefully over the next 10-20 years.
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2/21/2016 - flwinos wrote: 94 Points
Really good Merlot. Needs a little air time to be at peak drinking, but pretty good right after popping if you can't wait.
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2/18/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Smokey and rich fruit, really powerful, drinks more like a Cabernet. Powerful stuff.
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2/7/2016 - jkndogwine wrote: 97 Points
Truly the best Merlot on the planet
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1/3/2016 - KendraPM wrote: 95 Points
Amazing wine!
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