This bottle was aging acceptably. The wine grape flavors melded together nicely but the wine lost some character in that monolithic flavor profile but gained a bit back with the nice aged character. But it was a net loss.
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This bottle did not hold up well. The oak finish had given way to a comparably dry tannin and a bit of cherry sweetness. The front was tired but still showed the blue berries. If this bottle is representative drink the wine in the first few years after purchasing. They are now using a composite cork which may contribute to lack of staying power.
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This bottle was quite a disappointment. Fruit just tasted tired and old and the oak finish was not clean like it usually end. I expect this to be just a bad bottle
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This bottle needs at least one hour of decanting minimum. First out of the bottle, mostly oak, and a hint of leather. After a couple hours, plum, cherry, leather, tobacco, and bright cherry. On the palate, mostly the same, with the addition of some baking spice. Fairly well balanced, not overly ripe, decent acidity, mild to barely present tannins at this point.
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Wine with neighbors (Barton, Bevan, Dampt ++) (Next Door): My neighbor had been given this as a gift. The interesting thing was that it had been covered with chocolate. It was two layers of milk chocolate with some caramel in between. The idea was to remove the chocolate (there were strings to pull in the chocolate) and drink with the wine. It had a consume on date by the end of April, so she shared it with us last night. I am not sure, but I would think putting hot or warm chocolate on the bottle can't be good for the wine. As it is not a proper bottle, it didn't seem fair to me to score it officially, but I was not a fan. Others liked it more. Otoh, the chocalate was nice and the thin caramel layer was a nice touch. Nevertheless, the wine is purple. The nose is still all about oak and hints of cherries and chocolate. On the palate, i found this to be most saw dust with some cherries and pretty hot especially on the finish. Others may have enjoyed it more but I moved on. I am sure it was a nice gift, and it was a lovely gesture having it shared with us, but not something I would recommend.
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A big ripe juicy merlot. Medium ruby purple color, nose of cherries chocolate and blackberries, full-bodied and fleshy with medium acidity and a medium finish. I'll drink this f#*%ing merlot any day, especially at $20 a bottle.
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Consistently a great QPR merlot, vintage after vintage. This one's no exception. Lots of notes about aroma and taste profiles below, most of which I second (with exception of the person who rated it a 75 even though all of the other 58 ratings to date were above 85 pts and majority were at 90+).
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Underwhelming example of the style when compared side by side with the late Thomas Coyne's Merlot. A couple at the tasting liked it the best for its undemanding approachability. Not much interest for me.
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The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis) and cedar. It tastes like blackberry, plum, oak, medium toast and stoniness. The body is medium/full. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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Wine & Whiskers 2016, nose of red nd black cherry fruit, touch of dry forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, mouth filling fruit, touch simple, has improved since tasted last year with rounder fruit and more floral nose, very tasty, my red wine of the night, medium/long finish. QPR is great on this wine.
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Finally all coming together on day 3. Dark red to medium purple on the eye. Blue berries, blackberries, espresso, sweet toasty oak on the nose and palate with medium finish. Medium acidity and slightly tannins still which suggest some longevity potential. Very beautiful nose and tasty ripe fruits, good for sipping and with food. Served with a plate of Japanese stir fried noodles with bbq pork... excellent pairing. Will buy some more due to QPR. 90 - 91 points.
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Deep red and still slightly purple color, lots of dark berries and fruits, cocoa, little bit of licorice, simple and not very complex but pleasant. Tasty palate with good amount of acidity and nice tannin. Good entry level Napa Merlot, especially for around $15 at Costco...
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Translucent dark ruby red with a violet hue. Tart cherry, red raspberry, plum, sweet herbs, vanilla, toasty oak. Medium-plus acidity and tannins. Medium-full bodied. Medium-long finish. Went well with pork chops and by itself. Good now and I sense it's likely to get better. Would like to get more if it's still available.
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Always enjoyable and consistently very good vintage after vintage. Complex wine with a little heat up front that mellows nicely after 45 minutes. Could use more bottle age but very drinkable now.
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This wine is nothing if not consistent--consistently very good. Very dark ruby, quite opaque, with nice red legs. Saturated. Excellent, lovely red fruit in the nose, accompanied by pretty spice and herb aromas. This is lush and very fragrant. Smooth, soft and rich on the palate, with lots of cocoa and red and black fruit flavors (even a hint of anise) that meld together quite nicely. This is drinking beautifully at the moment, and probably for years to come. Some might say there is a lack of acid but this wine is certainly not flabby, just tends toward the voluptuous side. Great from start to finish, with a hint of heat and wood showing up on the finish, but not detracting at all. Maybe the best red wine bargain around at the moment, and certainly the best merlot for the under $17 Costco price. 5-13-16-9: 93/100.
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To young! Lots of potential for this wine, it wasn't even until day two that the beautiful fruit present in the wine started to overcome the natural tartness & the overt bitter finish began to mellow. The potential was shown but I would not waste my time with another bottle of this for at least a few years.
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This was absolutely phenomenal on the nose. Reminded me of the 2006 Caymus we had at Joe O'Toole's last week. Powerful and complex aromas of ripe fruit, spice box, earth and vanilla explode from the glass. On the palate, this is medium-to-full bodied and very fruity. Loaded with an attractive combination of ripe, sweet plum, raspberry and cherry fruit. Shows decent depth and good length on the finish. Lingering hints of spice and dried herbs provide a bit of complexity. Easy to drink and just about all you can ask for in a $15 Napa Merlot. 50+5+13+15+7=90
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Open one day. Dark ruby with good legs. A lovely fragrance. Nice sandalwood and spice. Tends toward red fruits. Gentle on the palate but still rich, full and round. Feminine. Lovely, elegant finish. One of the best bargains around at less than $17 at Costco, this is very impressive. Some cocoa notes are coming on. Be sure to air this out, you will be rewarded when it blossoms. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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Dark ruby though not quite opaque. Good legs too. Nose is lovely, with a nice display of ripe blackberry fruit. Absolutely jumps from the glass. How ripe grapes should present! Medium body and filled with fruit. This is an extremely impressive wine, especially for the money. I need to get more of this. They are right about the excellence of the '13 vintage-it's stellar. Give this plenty of air to show its best. 5-14-17-9: 95/100
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Pop n pour. Color: Dark Red/Purple. Nose: Dark And Red Fruit, Creamy Oaky Notes Mouth: Blueberry and Raspberry. Vanilla. Loads of fruit and oaky vanilla notes. Softer, round, medium to full body. Solid wine. Would Drink Again. Liked the price.
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A christmas gift from a relative who saw me drinking this wine more than 20 years ago. I'm a little embarrassed to only give this wine a 90. It has all the exquisite flavors and aromas we have become to love from Markham, but not quite the concentration. Let's discuss the the good stuff. Perfect Merlot magenta color that is not quite opaque. Lead pencil, raspberry and cranberry nose with a hint of menthol. More medium bodied than typical, this wine's signature is a balanced, delicate elegance. Superb plum, grape, cherry and blackberry fruit. Really impressive touch with just enough oak. Secondary flavors of tobacco, wet leather, gun metal and graphite. The finish could last for hours, leaving a big French oak meets graphite and pure blackberry and black cherry fruit.
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Deep dark red in glass, some nose of herbs, wood and spices, mellow flavors of red fruit and dry finish, very nice drinking wine with dinner of roast beef.
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This is a solid merlot for this pricepoint - it really is a great $20-cab-killer. Great acidity, good-enough backbone (for this price), fun fruit without the needless plush, and a moderate length. Nicely done, for sure.
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This is a solid Merlot with complexity and nuance throughout the taste. lots of fruit (dark) and a black cherry with that smoke and oak finish. One of the best Merlots for the money out there.
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Decanted for a couple hours, but I decant everything for at least a couple hours. Pleasant bouquet, from which I derive strawberries, a bit of licorice, and a hint of a piny forrest-type scent ... quite nice actually. Nice red fruit on the palate. Not a ton of depth here, but still quite pleasant. It's definitely improved from opening with time in the decanter. Great QPR for under $20.
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This is very well made. Classic Merlot characteristics show nicely in this perfectly ripened example. Satisfying density and depth of flavor with toasty oak notes throughout, but it's not overdone. A satisfying daily drinker if you can find it south of $20.
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Despite having a head cold, this seems impressive. Medium-dark ruby with fair legs. Nose shows vanilla, spice, cocoa. Sleek entry, medium body, good varietal fruit. A tad harsh on the finish, though that could just be my cold. Soft, rich. This is an easy-drinking Merlot that has a lot to like. 4-12-15-8: 89/100.6
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Red fruit, raspberries & cherry. Lot of oak at first, but it settles in after a half hour or so and gives it a nice toasty hint. There's a little chocolate and spice. I think it'll come together in a year or two, may even improve. It's good right now if allowed to breathe a little.
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Gosh, I really wanted to like this. Tried three times. I love merlot and thank Sideways for keeping some great wines less expensive. WS gave this a glowing 91. Purple color. Every time I tried it I kept giving it more time, but my notes were consistent. Reticent, earthy nose. Smooth entry. No edges, but no focus of the flavors. A black fruited melange and a dash of tomato leaf. Clean finish. 85
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ARF Wine & Whiskers with Tony La Russa. Big nose of black cherry fruit, currants, opened slowly in the glass, more of the same on the palate, best Merlot of the night and third best wine of the night, tasty, young, vibrant, needs two years to peak, long finish.
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1/9/2023 - Mumpsimus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really liked this wine
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4/29/2021 - wtianseter wrote: 87 Points
This bottle was aging acceptably. The wine grape flavors melded together nicely but the wine lost some character in that monolithic flavor profile but gained a bit back with the nice aged character. But it was a net loss.
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1/10/2021 - wtianseter wrote: 87 Points
This bottle did not hold up well. The oak finish had given way to a comparably dry tannin and a bit of cherry sweetness. The front was tired but still showed the blue berries. If this bottle is representative drink the wine in the first few years after purchasing. They are now using a composite cork which may contribute to lack of staying power.
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4/23/2020 - guzmana Likes this wine: 91 Points
Smooth and balanced. Very nice Merlot with good round notes.
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6/29/2019 - Taajo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Would age another couple of years perfectly.
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5/27/2019 - pdoug68 wrote: 88 Points
still very good...
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3/27/2019 - wtianseter wrote: 86 Points
This bottle was quite a disappointment. Fruit just tasted tired and old and the oak finish was not clean like it usually end. I expect this to be just a bad bottle
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11/22/2018 - sam_rosato@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
Smooth with very soft tannins, a nice Merlot
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9/15/2018 - guzmana Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good Merlot, with smooth tannins.
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4/30/2018 - Winiac wrote: 86 Points
Fruity and oakey, lacks minerality and acidity. At the end of the day, okay wine.
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4/21/2018 - mattboney Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle needs at least one hour of decanting minimum. First out of the bottle, mostly oak, and a hint of leather. After a couple hours, plum, cherry, leather, tobacco, and bright cherry. On the palate, mostly the same, with the addition of some baking spice. Fairly well balanced, not overly ripe, decent acidity, mild to barely present tannins at this point.
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3/25/2018 - OHWINEGUY wrote:
Very good with age. Spicy and Vanilla Oak greatbotlle for the price. I light expression on the finish
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3/6/2018 - ecola Likes this wine: 89 Points
Smooth and very easy to drink. Great value.
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12/22/2017 - Frank-H wrote: 89 Points
A good wine that is pleasing to the nose and pallet. 89
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11/29/2017 - Seville Wines Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep red, lovely fruit, a bit sweet.
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10/16/2017 - Frank-H wrote: 88 Points
Very good tasting wine. Medium tannins says it's drinkable or hold for a few more years. 88+
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8/29/2017 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Consistently great wine. Cherry flavor. Smooth finish.
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6/24/2017 - jeginmt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby color, full body, rich fruit, medium tannins. Several hours of air allowed it to open up. Fully mature at this point.
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6/7/2017 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Hint of tobacco up front; cherry; then spice on the finish. Consistently excellent.
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4/29/2017 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 90 Points
Classic Napa Merlot. Wine has improved over the last year. Always a pleasure vintage after vintage.
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4/25/2017 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Purple color with thick legs. Cherry on the nose. Flavors of cedar and spice with some pepper on the finish.
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3/26/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
Wine with neighbors (Barton, Bevan, Dampt ++) (Next Door): My neighbor had been given this as a gift. The interesting thing was that it had been covered with chocolate. It was two layers of milk chocolate with some caramel in between. The idea was to remove the chocolate (there were strings to pull in the chocolate) and drink with the wine. It had a consume on date by the end of April, so she shared it with us last night. I am not sure, but I would think putting hot or warm chocolate on the bottle can't be good for the wine. As it is not a proper bottle, it didn't seem fair to me to score it officially, but I was not a fan. Others liked it more. Otoh, the chocalate was nice and the thin caramel layer was a nice touch. Nevertheless, the wine is purple. The nose is still all about oak and hints of cherries and chocolate. On the palate, i found this to be most saw dust with some cherries and pretty hot especially on the finish. Others may have enjoyed it more but I moved on. I am sure it was a nice gift, and it was a lovely gesture having it shared with us, but not something I would recommend.
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2/18/2017 - Zuperdaave wrote: 95 Points
Delicious!
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1/31/2017 - wino121 wrote: 90 Points
All in all a decent wine, well rounded-balanced I guess is the word.
Would re buy.
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1/22/2017 - ryanvans wrote: 88 Points
Smooth, everyday drinker
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1/15/2017 - maderay wrote: 88 Points
WAS STILL DRINKABLE 3 DAYS LATER
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1/12/2017 - BostonWino Likes this wine: 91 Points
A big ripe juicy merlot. Medium ruby purple color, nose of cherries chocolate and blackberries, full-bodied and fleshy with medium acidity and a medium finish. I'll drink this f#*%ing merlot any day, especially at $20 a bottle.
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1/3/2017 - sbiller1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
The 2013 is a very likable Merlot at $17 QPR (Costco). It appears that Costco is running out of stock on the 2013.
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12/26/2016 - jviz wrote: 87 Points
Agree, nothing special. I think the structure is better than most merlot at the price, but no wow here
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12/6/2016 - Albysilk wrote: 80 Points
Very average nothing special.
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11/29/2016 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Consistent high quality...smooth, fresh cherry.
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11/25/2016 - Rktekt3 wrote: 90 Points
Good Qpr at $17. Drank well with turkey.
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11/23/2016 - myforrsuns wrote:
I like it at $16, basic every day drinker
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10/26/2016 - Chip Merlot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistently a great QPR merlot, vintage after vintage. This one's no exception. Lots of notes about aroma and taste profiles below, most of which I second (with exception of the person who rated it a 75 even though all of the other 58 ratings to date were above 85 pts and majority were at 90+).
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10/22/2016 - JPlay wrote: 90 Points
Thick for a Merlot, nice mouthfeel and finishes welll. A Better Markham than recent years, did not try the 2012 though.
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10/15/2016 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Smooth cherry flavor. Lush and easy to drink
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10/15/2016 - nebre8 wrote: 75 Points
Underwhelming example of the style when compared side by side with the late Thomas Coyne's Merlot. A couple at the tasting liked it the best for its undemanding approachability. Not much interest for me.
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10/15/2016 - cmr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Must have had a couple of slightly off bottles as this one was just like my first.
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10/8/2016 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis) and cedar. It tastes like blackberry, plum, oak, medium toast and stoniness. The body is medium/full. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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9/24/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine & Whiskers 2016, nose of red nd black cherry fruit, touch of dry forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, mouth filling fruit, touch simple, has improved since tasted last year with rounder fruit and more floral nose, very tasty, my red wine of the night, medium/long finish. QPR is great on this wine.
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9/3/2016 - big.cactus34 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Finally all coming together on day 3. Dark red to medium purple on the eye. Blue berries, blackberries, espresso, sweet toasty oak on the nose and palate with medium finish. Medium acidity and slightly tannins still which suggest some longevity potential. Very beautiful nose and tasty ripe fruits, good for sipping and with food. Served with a plate of Japanese stir fried noodles with bbq pork... excellent pairing. Will buy some more due to QPR. 90 - 91 points.
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8/29/2016 - greidy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep red and still slightly purple color, lots of dark berries and fruits, cocoa, little bit of licorice, simple and not very complex but pleasant. Tasty palate with good amount of acidity and nice tannin.
Good entry level Napa Merlot, especially for around $15 at Costco...
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8/26/2016 - EFrohmader Likes this wine: 89 Points
Translucent dark ruby red with a violet hue. Tart cherry, red raspberry, plum, sweet herbs, vanilla, toasty oak. Medium-plus acidity and tannins. Medium-full bodied. Medium-long finish. Went well with pork chops and by itself. Good now and I sense it's likely to get better. Would like to get more if it's still available.
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8/22/2016 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 90 Points
Always enjoyable and consistently very good vintage after vintage. Complex wine with a little heat up front that mellows nicely after 45 minutes. Could use more bottle age but very drinkable now.
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8/20/2016 - Zuperdaave wrote: 95 Points
Delicious!
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8/9/2016 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is nothing if not consistent--consistently very good. Very dark ruby, quite opaque, with nice red legs. Saturated. Excellent, lovely red fruit in the nose, accompanied by pretty spice and herb aromas. This is lush and very fragrant. Smooth, soft and rich on the palate, with lots of cocoa and red and black fruit flavors (even a hint of anise) that meld together quite nicely. This is drinking beautifully at the moment, and probably for years to come. Some might say there is a lack of acid but this wine is certainly not flabby, just tends toward the voluptuous side. Great from start to finish, with a hint of heat and wood showing up on the finish, but not detracting at all. Maybe the best red wine bargain around at the moment, and certainly the best merlot for the under $17 Costco price. 5-13-16-9: 93/100.
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7/28/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
90% Merlot, Cab Franc, Verdot and Cabernet filling in the back.
Spicy and dry Merlot, structured, that is rather darn good Merlot.
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5/30/2016 - ScottMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid 90, love this wine
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4/30/2016 - Vino&Whiskey wrote: 85 Points
To young! Lots of potential for this wine, it wasn't even until day two that the beautiful fruit present in the wine started to overcome the natural tartness & the overt bitter finish began to mellow. The potential was shown but I would not waste my time with another bottle of this for at least a few years.
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4/30/2016 - Gibbman Likes this wine: 90 Points
One of the best Merlot's out there for the price.
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4/16/2016 - Iceman611 wrote: 89 Points
Nice overall, but a bit sweet and fairly straight forward. Good as a cocktail party wine.
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4/9/2016 - Bam_Man wrote: 90 Points
This was absolutely phenomenal on the nose. Reminded me of the 2006 Caymus we had at Joe O'Toole's last week. Powerful and complex aromas of ripe fruit, spice box, earth and vanilla explode from the glass. On the palate, this is medium-to-full bodied and very fruity. Loaded with an attractive combination of ripe, sweet plum, raspberry and cherry fruit. Shows decent depth and good length on the finish. Lingering hints of spice and dried herbs provide a bit of complexity. Easy to drink and just about all you can ask for in a $15 Napa Merlot.
50+5+13+15+7=90
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3/1/2016 - rama wrote:
oak, spice, ripeness on the nose. sweet, black fruit on the palate with medium acidity and fine tannin. slightly bitter finish.
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2/29/2016 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Open one day. Dark ruby with good legs. A lovely fragrance. Nice sandalwood and spice. Tends toward red fruits. Gentle on the palate but still rich, full and round. Feminine. Lovely, elegant finish. One of the best bargains around at less than $17 at Costco, this is very impressive. Some cocoa notes are coming on. Be sure to air this out, you will be rewarded when it blossoms. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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2/21/2016 - MicklethePickle wrote: 95 Points
Dark ruby though not quite opaque. Good legs too. Nose is lovely, with a nice display of ripe blackberry fruit. Absolutely jumps from the glass. How ripe grapes should present! Medium body and filled with fruit. This is an extremely impressive wine, especially for the money. I need to get more of this. They are right about the excellence of the '13 vintage-it's stellar. Give this plenty of air to show its best. 5-14-17-9: 95/100
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2/16/2016 - BostonWino wrote:
Wine spec 92
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1/8/2016 - NJ BIG CHRIS Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pop n pour.
Color: Dark Red/Purple.
Nose: Dark And Red Fruit, Creamy Oaky Notes
Mouth: Blueberry and Raspberry. Vanilla. Loads of fruit and oaky vanilla notes. Softer, round, medium to full body.
Solid wine. Would Drink Again. Liked the price.
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1/5/2016 - straw18 wrote: 86 Points
Too sweet for my taste.
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1/5/2016 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 90 Points
A christmas gift from a relative who saw me drinking this wine more than 20 years ago. I'm a little embarrassed to only give this wine a 90. It has all the exquisite flavors and aromas we have become to love from Markham, but not quite the concentration. Let's discuss the the good stuff. Perfect Merlot magenta color that is not quite opaque. Lead pencil, raspberry and cranberry nose with a hint of menthol. More medium bodied than typical, this wine's signature is a balanced, delicate elegance. Superb plum, grape, cherry and blackberry fruit. Really impressive touch with just enough oak. Secondary flavors of tobacco, wet leather, gun metal and graphite. The finish could last for hours, leaving a big French oak meets graphite and pure blackberry and black cherry fruit.
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1/2/2016 - Birged Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep dark red in glass, some nose of herbs, wood and spices, mellow flavors of red fruit and dry finish, very nice drinking wine with dinner of roast beef.
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1/2/2016 - amygeo Likes this wine: 86 Points
Mild wine with faint hints of cherry and black raspberry. A little acidity at first taste that diminishes with lots of layering.
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1/1/2016 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Deep purple color. Licorice and cherry.
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11/30/2015 - BadOyster wrote: 90 Points
This is a solid merlot for this pricepoint - it really is a great $20-cab-killer. Great acidity, good-enough backbone (for this price), fun fruit without the needless plush, and a moderate length. Nicely done, for sure.
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11/27/2015 - wtianseter wrote: 89 Points
This is a solid Merlot with complexity and nuance throughout the taste. lots of fruit (dark) and a black cherry with that smoke and oak finish. One of the best Merlots for the money out there.
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11/18/2015 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted for a couple hours, but I decant everything for at least a couple hours. Pleasant bouquet, from which I derive strawberries, a bit of licorice, and a hint of a piny forrest-type scent ... quite nice actually. Nice red fruit on the palate. Not a ton of depth here, but still quite pleasant. It's definitely improved from opening with time in the decanter. Great QPR for under $20.
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11/16/2015 - paul7176 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very nice
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11/9/2015 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is very well made. Classic Merlot characteristics show nicely in this perfectly ripened example. Satisfying density and depth of flavor with toasty oak notes throughout, but it's not overdone. A satisfying daily drinker if you can find it south of $20.
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10/31/2015 - MicklethePickle wrote: 89 Points
Despite having a head cold, this seems impressive. Medium-dark ruby with fair legs. Nose shows vanilla, spice, cocoa. Sleek entry, medium body, good varietal fruit. A tad harsh on the finish, though that could just be my cold. Soft, rich. This is an easy-drinking Merlot that has a lot to like. 4-12-15-8: 89/100.6
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10/2/2015 - Jobu wrote: 90 Points
Red fruit, raspberries & cherry. Lot of oak at first, but it settles in after a half hour or so and gives it a nice toasty hint. There's a little chocolate and spice. I think it'll come together in a year or two, may even improve. It's good right now if allowed to breathe a little.
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9/23/2015 - swade wrote: 85 Points
Gosh, I really wanted to like this. Tried three times. I love merlot and thank Sideways for keeping some great wines less expensive. WS gave this a glowing 91. Purple color. Every time I tried it I kept giving it more time, but my notes were consistent. Reticent, earthy nose. Smooth entry. No edges, but no focus of the flavors. A black fruited melange and a dash of tomato leaf. Clean finish. 85
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9/19/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
ARF Wine & Whiskers with Tony La Russa. Big nose of black cherry fruit, currants, opened slowly in the glass, more of the same on the palate, best Merlot of the night and third best wine of the night, tasty, young, vibrant, needs two years to peak, long finish.
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9/1/2015 - Evanmory wrote: 93 Points
Hint of current. Full bodied.
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