Ahhh, complexity.....Nice change in a sea of CA monolithic powerhouse wines. While the 91 is profound (best Merlot ever made in CA), this 99 is no slouch. A joy to drink and interesting to taste all night.
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Interesting wine from my cellar since release, but probably too long. Strange funkiness on the nose, horseshit, on each sip that then disappeared when held further on the nose. Dark purple. Not a lot of fruit with a bitter quality. Some chocolate and crushed stones and oak. Not a bad wine, but not up to my standards.
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Was really looking forward to this wine since I have had other fntastic Newton Merlot's but was disappointed with this bottle. The wine stil had nice acidity but fruit seemed to turn, tasted like burned over ripe dark fruit mixed with some old oranges or citrus. This wine was kept in excellent storage so not sure if this is just how it ages or somehow went bad.
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decanted for (modest) sediment; clean earth nose; moderate bricking; just right mix of darker slightly tart raspberry, dark cranberry, currant, tobacco, earth; background cedar notes; timed this one just right and thinking that some 10 yr old cali merlots have really performed with nice meals; oddly, while i thought this was sublime, marilyn didn't like it.....all the more for me; day 2 has faded somewhat--drink up!!
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Spectacular wine. Complex, dense aromatics, Blackberries, black cherries, plums and orange rind, toffee, with an herbal note. Chewy and dense but lush texture. Enough structure and tannins to last for the long haul. Right up there with the best California
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This really isn't the style of wine I like - too much alcohol and overextracted, not enough acidity for refreshing and keeping the balance with the level of alcohol.
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Deep ruby color turning to red at the rim. A nose of cassis and plum jam out of the bottle, but a little time shows brilliant integration of cedar. Behind it all is a wonderful presence of dark chocolate and licorice. Tasting shows a silky mouth texture, low tannins, and a little spicy oak. Fruit dissipates quickly in the finish leaving cherry liquor and chocolate. A dark, fruity, but very beautiful Merlot. Drink now, but a year or two might give the licorice and chocolate an opportunity to better integrate.
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On the nose I get blackberries and spicy oak. Upon tasting, initially I get muted red fruit, followed by spicy fruit and oak, ending with a long, smooth, dry tannic finnish. I really loved this wine and wish I had more of it. It was fantastic with steak tonight.
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8/26/2019 - Wwinowillie wrote:
Had this at the winery dinner and it was one of the best wines I’ve ever tried...strawberry notes really stood out
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11/22/2017 - PatrickH1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprisingly wonderful, complex and fruity.
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3/3/2017 - tewino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ahhh, complexity.....Nice change in a sea of CA monolithic powerhouse wines. While the 91 is profound (best Merlot ever made in CA), this 99 is no slouch. A joy to drink and interesting to taste all night.
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2/9/2013 - cos82 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Interesting wine from my cellar since release, but probably too long. Strange funkiness on the nose, horseshit, on each sip that then disappeared when held further on the nose. Dark purple. Not a lot of fruit with a bitter quality. Some chocolate and crushed stones and oak. Not a bad wine, but not up to my standards.
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11/21/2011 - J2K wrote:
Was really looking forward to this wine since I have had other fntastic Newton Merlot's but was disappointed with this bottle. The wine stil had nice acidity but fruit seemed to turn, tasted like burned over ripe dark fruit mixed with some old oranges or citrus. This wine was kept in excellent storage so not sure if this is just how it ages or somehow went bad.
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3/15/2011 - peterk wrote: 91 Points
Tannins still lurking, dark fruit, mellow.
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9/6/2010 - wabi47 wrote: 93 Points
decanted for (modest) sediment; clean earth nose; moderate bricking; just right mix of darker slightly tart raspberry, dark cranberry, currant, tobacco, earth; background cedar notes; timed this one just right and thinking that some 10 yr old cali merlots have really performed with nice meals; oddly, while i thought this was sublime, marilyn didn't like it.....all the more for me; day 2 has faded somewhat--drink up!!
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5/1/2010 - cybergod wrote: 95 Points
Spectacular wine. Complex, dense aromatics, Blackberries, black cherries, plums and orange rind, toffee, with an herbal note. Chewy and dense but lush texture. Enough structure and tannins to last for the long haul. Right up there with the best California
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4/11/2007 - achim_m wrote: 86 Points
This really isn't the style of wine I like - too much alcohol and overextracted, not enough acidity for refreshing and keeping the balance with the level of alcohol.
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5/15/2006 - Chadwick wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby color turning to red at the rim. A nose of cassis and plum jam out of the bottle, but a little time shows brilliant integration of cedar. Behind it all is a wonderful presence of dark chocolate and licorice. Tasting shows a silky mouth texture, low tannins, and a little spicy oak. Fruit dissipates quickly in the finish leaving cherry liquor and chocolate. A dark, fruity, but very beautiful Merlot. Drink now, but a year or two might give the licorice and chocolate an opportunity to better integrate.
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3/11/2006 - MWes wrote: 90 Points
On the nose I get blackberries and spicy oak. Upon tasting, initially I get muted red fruit, followed by spicy fruit and oak, ending with a long, smooth, dry tannic finnish. I really loved this wine and wish I had more of it. It was fantastic with steak tonight.
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