The wine is brick red with some browning and lightening at the rim. One the nose, it is plummy with some obvious oak influence. The palate shows blood plum, redcurrant, a touch of mocha and charry oak but it is neither intense nor complex. The oak is too much for the moderate fruit. It improved a bit in the decanter but overall, it is a rather simple, straightforward red and next time, I'll open a St Emilion instead.
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Delicious nose, sweet vanilla oak, red plums, clove and dark chocolate with a hint of dried bay leave and fresh fennel. Everything is revealed within 10 mins of opening. The palate is filled with dark chocolate and ripe plums. Very tasty and balanced already. Right amount of sweet fruit with lifted acidity and soft tannins at the finish. You can enjoy the wine on its own. Ready to drink now and it will continue to offer good drinking pleasure for the next 3-5 years.
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Delicious. Light to mid red color with slow thin legs. Some alcohol on the nose. Tightly wound, even after an hour of air. But nice, structured flavor. A rare merlot that I like. Good value.
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Canyon Lodge, Old Faithful WY. Limited notes. Hint of truffle in spite of lack of age. Plum and blackcurrant core with a mature feel and acidity that balanced the whole. A little lean. Just OK but needs drinking up ASAP
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This is my second, independent review of the 2013 Franciscan Estate merlot. I had written down 12.5% alcohol (can this be right?). Against most people's advice, my tasting was at a cool 15 degrees C, vinturied and tasted immediately afterwards; the inviting nose was of fruit, flavor, citrus & alcohol and the tasting detected notes of strawberries, lychee, prunes, citrus, blackberries, even coconut & caramel; this wine appeals to all portions of the tongue, sweet in the front, sour on the sides, and dry-dry towards the back, the tannins and 'dryness' being a bit strong; appealing finish; pair with rare filet mignon, hard cheeses; well worth its price
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13.5% alcohol, medium to heavy foil, real cork, fast legs, dark red/brown; rather weak nose of wood & fruit; taste is oaky, woody, in a good way; nice balance of wood & fruit, notes of black cherries & other stone fruit; little or no trace of vanilla, just a presence of wood; improves in the fridge overnight, vinturi is insufficient, needs more oxygenation; pair with hard cheese or drink solo; finish is the highlight of this wine -- sour/tannic/fruity, a cool balance, long-lasting finish
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Solid QPR for a Napa grocery store wine. Grabbed it looking for something i hoped wouldn't suck. It didn't. Grilled steaks with it and it held up nicely.
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Altogether, a slighter, simpler Merlot that lacks Napa Valley richness and fruit forward. Slightly greenish tannins and not showing algorithm of wood aging. Seems like a corporate wine that got dumbed down a bit to save money. You can get better Bordeaux,s and Washington Merlots at this price
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9/22/2019 - drlester1987 wrote: 91 Points
Nice, balanced Merlot. A winner.
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3/17/2019 - Mark Dignam Does not like this wine: 82 Points
The wine is brick red with some browning and lightening at the rim. One the nose, it is plummy with some obvious oak influence. The palate shows blood plum, redcurrant, a touch of mocha and charry oak but it is neither intense nor complex. The oak is too much for the moderate fruit. It improved a bit in the decanter but overall, it is a rather simple, straightforward red and next time, I'll open a St Emilion instead.
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3/1/2019 - Psdycp wrote: 90 Points
Delicious nose, sweet vanilla oak, red plums, clove and dark chocolate with a hint of dried bay leave and fresh fennel. Everything is revealed within 10 mins of opening. The palate is filled with dark chocolate and ripe plums. Very tasty and balanced already. Right amount of sweet fruit with lifted acidity and soft tannins at the finish. You can enjoy the wine on its own. Ready to drink now and it will continue to offer good drinking pleasure for the next 3-5 years.
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1/10/2019 - SV_botrytis Likes this wine: 92 Points
I'm a fan. Not too much heat, good ripe berries, slightly muted and blended... Would be good to continue drinking much later on.
Tasted over 3 days
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7/13/2018 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Light to mid red color with slow thin legs. Some alcohol on the nose. Tightly wound, even after an hour of air. But nice, structured flavor. A rare merlot that I like. Good value.
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6/6/2018 - NickBurwood wrote: 86 Points
Canyon Lodge, Old Faithful WY. Limited notes.
Hint of truffle in spite of lack of age. Plum and blackcurrant core with a mature feel and acidity that balanced the whole. A little lean.
Just OK but needs drinking up ASAP
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3/6/2018 - Glenn Gilbert Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is my second, independent review of the 2013 Franciscan Estate merlot. I had written down 12.5% alcohol (can this be right?). Against most people's advice, my tasting was at a cool 15 degrees C, vinturied and tasted immediately afterwards; the inviting nose was of fruit, flavor, citrus & alcohol and the tasting detected notes of strawberries, lychee, prunes, citrus, blackberries, even coconut & caramel; this wine appeals to all portions of the tongue, sweet in the front, sour on the sides, and dry-dry towards the back, the tannins and 'dryness' being a bit strong; appealing finish; pair with rare filet mignon, hard cheeses; well worth its price
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1/20/2018 - Cellar2016 wrote:
Excellent wine for the price. Worth trying again
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10/25/2017 - Glenn Gilbert Likes this wine: 87 Points
13.5% alcohol, medium to heavy foil, real cork, fast legs, dark red/brown; rather weak nose of wood & fruit; taste is oaky, woody, in a good way; nice balance of wood & fruit, notes of black cherries & other stone fruit; little or no trace of vanilla, just a presence of wood; improves in the fridge overnight, vinturi is insufficient, needs more oxygenation; pair with hard cheese or drink solo; finish is the highlight of this wine -- sour/tannic/fruity, a cool balance, long-lasting finish
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3/24/2017 - packinmn Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid QPR for a Napa grocery store wine. Grabbed it looking for something i hoped wouldn't suck. It didn't. Grilled steaks with it and it held up nicely.
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11/14/2016 - Bannonb Does not like this wine:
Harsh, tannic maybe needs another year of aging.
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7/28/2016 - Winemaker51 wrote: 84 Points
Altogether, a slighter, simpler Merlot that lacks Napa Valley richness and fruit forward. Slightly greenish tannins and not showing algorithm of wood aging. Seems like a corporate wine that got dumbed down a bit to save money. You can get better Bordeaux,s and Washington Merlots at this price
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