nose - blackberry, sweet and roasty ripe fruit mouth-surripe, lush, fig and rum raisin. Napa full fruited, fruity bomby while still not being totally over the top. High EtOH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, good fruit, very pleasing though while it was bagged it wasn’t garnering too much attention, though I remember liking it and thinking it was one of the better wines of the night. However we all agreed that it didn’t have any of the funk and earthy complexity of the 96 or 95. We surmised that it didn’t get much/any cab franc but it’s total supposition. Good but next year they step it up a notch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red with browning. Juicy red fruit, fish sauce, earth, and dry cherry gummy bear. Earthy soy and dark cherry flavours and a tight tannic finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bill's. This is what a perfectly stored 94 Pahlmeyer tastes like, in it's owner's words: "superb condition, juicy red fruit nose with hints of pepper, rich ripeness in the mouth and an exceptionally long finish". Drinks more like cabernet than merlot (as we know it).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle of the 1994 Pahlmeyer Merlot was at the peak of its powers, and I have to speculate that some of the critical notes here reflect bottles which have seen less than ideal storage conditions. An extravagant nose of fruitcake, cassis, spice, espresso and tar which has nicely integrated what was clearly a very generous serving of new oak leads in to an opulent, ample wine with quite a textural attack, decent depth and intensity and a seamless, melted finish. This is definitely flashy and stylized, but it is one of the most successful older wines from Helen Turley that I've encountered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa 1994 (@ JK): Very mature bouquet with celery, rose hips and oxidized impressions. On the palate chocolate, celery, ok acidity and some sweetness. Past its peak, but still drinkable. No score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very nice with lots of cherry and raspberry fruit and some talc, all delivered in a silky smooth texture; very good now and perhaps even better down the line.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
tasted blind. nose- per brian, motor oil, per cindy brackish mouth - well balanced complex red fruit with fine tannins. per alex 'so much going on' leading him to guess it as Bdx.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Reddish purple color; aromas of minerals, cherries and spice; medium body; firm tannins dominate the restrained fruit; finishes a little hot; with more age this wine may get out of balance if the fruit fades and the tannins don't soften; I don't think this wine will improve with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Flock Tasting - Delicious Wines (My Place - Chicago, IL): Ruby red with some lightening of color at the rim. Nose is soft and smooth featuring blueberries, toast and smoke. Cocentrated fruits provide a velvety and smooth texture. Balanced and seamless with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice bottle and holding well. I would guess it won't improve from here but may have at least 5 years at this level. Still has a strong berry flavor with a little mocha.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beringer Vertical @ Surf Village (Milford): Closed nose. A bit of oak and tobacco. The sweet cherry fruit that this wine exhibited on release is gone. But with some air (24 hours worth), it did peek out a bit. Still overall a dissappointment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still dark purple in color. The nose was a bit restrained from the last time I tasted. It seemed a bit shut down, but still very concentrated, with a nice mineral, herb component. This must have gone to sleep?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pre Auction Wine Tasting w/ 1994 Harlan (NYC): Great, as always. Packed with fruit and herbs. Complex, wonderful finish. A remarkably balanced wine. Only got a small taste, so it was difficult to evaluate in detail.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red to plum rim. Blackberry, dried cherry, earth, green olives. Tannic on the first day, but smoothed out on the second and third day. By the third day, it was glorious. Lots of herbs, but plenty of ripe plums to balance. Oh so complex... great mouth feel, and a spicy, slightly oaky finish that lasts forever. This is the third time I tried this wine, and it certainly is showing its best. It's beginning to pick up secondary flavors of earth and leather and it's also beginning to drop a little sediment. It's evolving quite nicely, but still way too young! Wait another two years before trying again. This is going to be great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seems to have closed down quite a bit. The mouthfeel was full, but not as explosive... The fruit semms to have toned down. It was more forward after two days. It might need more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Young, plummy color. Smells of black fruits with some slight oakiness and spice to it. Tannins are noticeable, but fairly managable. Very persistent finish. Very young, very extracted fruit finish. Rich and thick, very nice! Tons of extract, but needs time to mellow and gain complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/15/2023 - beerwineben Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over two days, really opened up nicely by the second day. Wonderful old merlot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2022 - beerwineben Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really great, flavors of blackberry prominent, earthiness on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2022 - soyhead wrote:
nose - blackberry, sweet and roasty ripe fruit
mouth-surripe, lush, fig and rum raisin. Napa full fruited, fruity bomby while still not being totally over the top. High EtOH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2022 - soyhead wrote:
Tasted blind, good fruit, very pleasing though while it was bagged it wasn’t garnering too much attention, though I remember liking it and thinking it was one of the better wines of the night. However we all agreed that it didn’t have any of the funk and earthy complexity of the 96 or 95. We surmised that it didn’t get much/any cab franc but it’s total supposition. Good but next year they step it up a notch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 88 Points
Medium red with browning. Juicy red fruit, fish sauce, earth, and dry cherry gummy bear. Earthy soy and dark cherry flavours and a tight tannic finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bill's. This is what a perfectly stored 94 Pahlmeyer tastes like, in it's owner's words: "superb condition, juicy red fruit nose with hints of pepper, rich ripeness in the mouth and an exceptionally long finish". Drinks more like cabernet than merlot (as we know it).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2017 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle of the 1994 Pahlmeyer Merlot was at the peak of its powers, and I have to speculate that some of the critical notes here reflect bottles which have seen less than ideal storage conditions. An extravagant nose of fruitcake, cassis, spice, espresso and tar which has nicely integrated what was clearly a very generous serving of new oak leads in to an opulent, ample wine with quite a textural attack, decent depth and intensity and a seamless, melted finish. This is definitely flashy and stylized, but it is one of the most successful older wines from Helen Turley that I've encountered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2016 - Doctor Wax Does not like this wine:
No good!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/20/2014 - Peter Z. wrote:
evolved too far
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2014 - Zweder wrote:
Napa 1994 (@ JK): Very mature bouquet with celery, rose hips and oxidized impressions. On the palate chocolate, celery, ok acidity and some sweetness. Past its peak, but still drinkable. No score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2014 - jkoenen wrote: 88 Points
94 Napa: a 20-year retrospective @ my place (Netherlands): Old wine. Rosehip, lavas, autumnal forestfloor, decay. Still palatable, but clearly past its best. 88/100 (group scores 87-90)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2013 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 87 Points
very nice with lots of cherry and raspberry fruit and some talc, all delivered in a silky smooth texture; very good now and perhaps even better down the line.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2012 - soyhead wrote: 91 Points
tasted blind.
nose- per brian, motor oil, per cindy brackish
mouth - well balanced complex red fruit with fine tannins. per alex 'so much going on' leading him to guess it as Bdx.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2011 - Pacalet wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking v well with decent fruit left, resolved tannins, slightly chalky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2011 - soyhead wrote: 88 Points
Mid 90's Pahlmeyer Merlot Vertical (Chateau Stephens): nose - strawberry
mouth - lush red fruit and good structure. my fist instinct was to say 'yummy'.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2008 - knelsfk wrote: 91 Points
Reddish purple color; aromas of minerals, cherries and spice; medium body; firm tannins dominate the restrained fruit; finishes a little hot; with more age this wine may get out of balance if the fruit fades and the tannins don't soften; I don't think this wine will improve with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2006 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Flock Tasting - Delicious Wines (My Place - Chicago, IL): Ruby red with some lightening of color at the rim. Nose is soft and smooth featuring blueberries, toast and smoke. Cocentrated fruits provide a velvety and smooth texture. Balanced and seamless with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2006 - burgcamel wrote: 94 Points
Very nice bottle and holding well. I would guess it won't improve from here but may have at least 5 years at this level. Still has a strong berry flavor with a little mocha.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 88 Points
Beringer Vertical @ Surf Village (Milford): Closed nose. A bit of oak and tobacco. The sweet cherry fruit that this wine exhibited on release is gone. But with some air (24 hours worth), it did peek out a bit. Still overall a dissappointment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Still dark purple in color. The nose was a bit restrained from the last time I tasted. It seemed a bit shut down, but still very concentrated, with a nice mineral, herb component. This must have gone to sleep?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 95 Points
Pre Auction Wine Tasting w/ 1994 Harlan (NYC): Great, as always. Packed with fruit and herbs. Complex, wonderful finish. A remarkably balanced wine. Only got a small taste, so it was difficult to evaluate in detail.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 96 Points
Dark red to plum rim. Blackberry, dried cherry, earth, green olives. Tannic on the first day, but smoothed out on the second and third day. By the third day, it was glorious. Lots of herbs, but plenty of ripe plums to balance. Oh so complex... great mouth feel, and a spicy, slightly oaky finish that lasts forever. This is the third time I tried this wine, and it certainly is showing its best. It's beginning to pick up secondary flavors of earth and leather and it's also beginning to drop a little sediment. It's evolving quite nicely, but still way too young! Wait another two years before trying again. This is going to be great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/1997 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
Seems to have closed down quite a bit. The mouthfeel was full, but not as explosive... The fruit semms to have toned down. It was more forward after two days. It might need more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/1996 - mdefreitas wrote: 98 Points
Young, plummy color. Smells of black fruits with some slight oakiness and spice to it. Tannins are noticeable, but fairly managable. Very persistent finish. Very young, very extracted fruit finish. Rich and thick, very nice! Tons of extract, but needs time to mellow and gain complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment