Pop and pour with easily the best showing of this bottling that I can remember. Dark chocolate and loads of dark red fruits on the nose and palate. Throwing a lot of sediment.
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PnP. In a good spot, but improved slightly over the hour or so it was consumed. Has some life left in it to be sure. Strongly recommend a decant or pass through a screen filter - significant amount of gelatin-like sediment present in every bottle I’ve opened.
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Really hitting its stride. Big and lush with black cherry, blackberry and a lovely hint of menthol. Should hold at this high level for several years. What a delight. Note that there is significant sediment, so a careful decant is highly recommended.
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My last one of this vintage. Almost 3 years since the last. CellarTracker says drink by 2024 but this one is JUST starting to get rolling IMO. Pours a light violet color to the glass. Nose is beautiful black cherry cola and herbs. The tiniest bit of age on the nose that carries over to the palate. On the front, a ROBUST amount of black cherry, oregano, complex, acidic front yet well integrated, brambly middle and finishes with a cola and cherry twizzler note. Went very well with herbed lean grass fed beef burger with goat cheese and arugula with lemon mayo. Herbal brambly burger, red fruit cola Merlot with a bit of age showing....what a nice combo. Wish I had a couple more of these!
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The wine is amazing , just pure expression of the grape. The Paloma 12's i have both cab and merlot come with what you can describe Pulp. So I have to stand bottle upright for about 24h before decanting. This way you get 3/4 of a bottle without sediment. If you shake, turn or flip the bottle before decanting you will get unfilterable mixture. So this bottle does come with some work attached to it but it so worth it . I would say I prefer 12 to 13 or 14 which are amazing as well.
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A nice full bodied Merlot. Tannins are medium soft and fully integrated. Good acidity. Surprised that there was little browning. One of the best producers of Merlot in Napa and a good value given the high quality of the wine.
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Ok this one is a mystery. The good is the wine is outstanding, best of 2012 to 2017 that I have tried. I would rate it 95 but ... sediment ... its like a Georgian unfiltered wine with 1/3 bottle of floaty some solidified some jelly like sediment. I have used a filter before putting into decanter, and didn't let it stand upright before pouring. It got clogged right away then I used double filter trying to strain some of the wine out . After 15 cleaning attempts I have decanted about half a bottle. This is where mystery comes in .. the sediment doesn't change wine in any way at all except a bit of texture. I tried both filtered and unfiltered and both were excellent. I'm pretty good on picking up on all sort of faults in wine and here there was none. Honestly no clue what is happening here. 2013 to 2017 vintage had zero sediment and excellent wines and this one is even better by a point. Have 11 bottles left and will have them stand upright for a few days before opening next one. I can see the sediment in all other bottles and hope to get more then half a bottle of wine out of every bottle. Final thought even if I get half a bottle of wine out of the bottle its still worth it for the wine is amazing !
The best showing of this wine in memory, similar profile to my note in October 2020. Still lots of gelatin in the bottle, which is a shame, but a fine mesh sieve worked reasonably well to get rid of it.
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Beautiful, plush Merlot. Medium garnet in the glass. Deep and rich on the nose, with layers of fruit and earth mingling. On the palate, red and blue fruit in perfect balance with light fine tannin. Nice long finish. No longer improving probably, but this is at its peak and has enough stuffing to stay here for several years longer. One of the best Merlots coming out of Napa Valley, a downright historic winery and winemaker.
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As a wine, it was very nice, and reflective of some of the notes earlier this year. Slightly translucent red/purple, medium mouthfeel, and a nice lingering finish of mostly red fruits, with a streak of mocha. But…the sediment, or gelatinous sludge, or whatever you want to call it. This time it didn’t show up until the last glass or so, but goodness, just unpleasant. So, be sure to filter when you decant.
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Unexpectedly outstanding. I love Paloma merlot and this is my favorite yet. I feel like it is in it's perfect drinking window right now. Silky, elegant, and sexy texture with everything from tobacco and leather notes to bing cherry. Some vanilla, black licorice. It did have a bit of gelatin sediment as others have mentioned but it wasn't bothersome to us. We both absolutely loved it and intend on buying more at the winery soon. This wasn't one of the higher rated vintages but it sure is singing with some age!
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4th Saturday Group (R&D's): Double blind. Sappy red fruit and licorice notes. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of red fruit on the palate. A touch prickly. Chocolate and red fruit finish. In a good place right now. (MM)
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PNP and paired with grilled burgers. Dark red/black color. Throwing a fair amount of sediment. On nose, sweet cherry, vanilla, and chocolate. On palate, cherry, red currants, chocolate and hint of tobacco. Full body, medium acidity and soft tannins with a very long finish. This has aged very well and is very tasty. 92-93 range.
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Decant for 4+ hours. Yes, there is this weird gelatinous sediment but use a porous gauze pad over your regular strainer and all is well. Worth the extra effort!
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I had the same issue with the gelatinous substance when I tried to decant the bottle, which I've never encountered in another wine, and which clogged up the strainer I was using creating some spillage. The wine had good fruit and soft tannins and was enjoyable with dinner (home-cooked wagyu bohemian steak and mushrooms).
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Juicy, ripe black fruit. Make sure to stand this upright for several hours before serving to get the gelatin down to the bottom of the bottle. Great pairing with bison burgers.
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Performed we'll again tonight. Needs an hour or so decant to blossom and come into balance. Everything about it screams Cali merlot. Very nice but not complex enough to be amazing.
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Showing more depth right out of the bottle than past bottles, with red and black fruit and hints of underbrush. A really nice bottle of wine. Gelatin still present - stand these up for a while before serving and watch out for that last pour.
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Really nice. Full bodied dark chocolate black cherry cordial. A little deeper and darker than the 10 and the 14. More in line with the 13. Herbal notes here as well from front to back. For merlot, IMO this is close to full bodied but Paloma has never tried to deviate and try to force a variety to wear a certain dress that didn't belong to it (*cough** PahlmeyerMerlot** cough*). This has quite a bit of upside still, but don't be afraid to drink now as it is really in a nice spot.
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Still showing young. Will sit on the remaining bottles for awhile, or be mindful to decant a couple hours in advance of consumption. Always delightful to drink, though.
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Just a wonderful and flavorful wine. Who said Merlot can't be great. This Paloma is a fantastic Merlot with a great nose full of deep fruit. Tasted over 2 hours and although the tannins we light at the start, they became smooth as decanting time went by. The taste was great and only got better till the last drop.
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Red fruit dominant, mainly cherry and some background cranberry, nice dried earth and milk chocolate on the finish. Tannins are still there but softer and approachable. Very good, but throws some serious sediment, to the point you would need a coffee filter or cheese cloth.
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I really like Paloma Merlot but it takes a lot of effort to drink the 2012. There is so much gelatin like (no idea what it is but it isn't normal sediment) substances in everyone of my bottles that it clogs the mesh funnel I use to decant it. I have to clean the funnel at least three times to decant a single bottle. Once it is decanted for an hour or two, it is fine but the effort to get it decanted certainly takes away from the experience.
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Very well made merlot that stills needs a couple of hours of air to hit its stride. Excellent dark red fruit with nice body and good supporting backbone of fine tannins and acidity. By 3rd hour shows balance, softness and fragrant nose. Coming after a boring 2004 Ch. Jean-Faure St Emilion, this was a breathe of fresh air.
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Delicious! Beautiful wine tasting exceptional right now. Doesn't get much better than this. Spring Mountain fruit with a core of approachable tannin. I've visited Paloma and can attest to the meticulous care that the vineyards and wine receive. The end result is heavenly Merlot in a glass.
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I’ve opened two bottle of the 2012 Paloma Merlot and have 10 left to open. Both bottles have contained noticeable chunks of gelatinous content. The first bottle left a gelatinous film all over the glass. I filtered the second bottle and had to clear the filter several times to remove the clogs created by the gelatinous residue. Does anyone know what is the source of the gelatinous residue? Was it fined but not filtered? Another explanation?
Sheldon said to filter this wine before drinking and he was right. He was also right that the wine is drinking great right now. Beautiful Spring Mtn fruit, cherry, cassis and velvety tannins. Paloma had a big sale on this wine. I highly recommend picking some up!!
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Once the gelatinous sediment is removed, and it gets sufficient time to open, a really tasty wine emerges. Not as concentrated & rich as other vintages of this, but that’s not a knock. Red cherry, black cherry, vanilla, and wood spice on the nose. In the mouth there’s good interplay between the tannin & acid, which fit well with the lighter body. I think structurally this has the ability to go years longer and evolve nicely along the way.
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This is delicious California Merlot. Rich but not over-ripe red and dark fruits (black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, mocha, cedar, and well-integrated tannins. Serious wine that always consistently redeems California Merlot (well 85% Merlot and 15% Cab). A great value. Drink now - 2022.
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Deep and rich red cherry, plum, and red raspberry with subtle cedar and vanilla. Full bodied and intense but with balance. Long and luscious finish with lively acidity. Drinking great right now and for at least another five years.
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Paloma Merlots...lots of fond memories of tastings in the Richards living room. The winery warned us years ago that the 2012 vintage would need to be filtered and that is still true. But whatever that glob is that is filtered out, does not affect the taste. Nose is a bit softer and more muted than other vintages. Light boysenberries and some honeysuckle or floral. We filtered into a decanter after about 30min of open. Careful slow poor helps keep the filter from clogging quickly. Lots of weight in the sediment glob so support the filter well or you have to start over. Don’t ask.
More standard Merlot character to me than other Paloma vintage, which for sure seemed to have a more Cabernet tongue feel. The black fruit is still solid and slides off Into the silky smoothness, but with just a tiny hint of the chocolate cream silk that I always get with Paloma.
Maybe more will come over time. May try a flight of several vintages next party and see what we get.
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7 months and hasn't changed a bit. If anything, the chocolate covered cherry cordial notes are even stronger and more pronounced. Tempted to update my rating to 95.
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Blackberries, bramble and earth on the nose. Mostly ripe blackberries and some dried herbs on the palate. Opened up notably after two hours in the decanter. There was some sort of gelatinous looking material in the wine, which I could see in the glass, but didn't notice as I drank it. 91.
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Not decanted, used Gabriel Glas Gold stems. Threw gobs of sediment. The nose was nice: a touch floral with ripe plum and blackberry fruit. Nice, tasty fruit, but the palate was a little more dilute than I'd like and came across as lacking concentration. Drink now...I don't think this will improve.
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Pop and pour and tasted over two days. Dark purple. Nose offers some floral notes and ripe plum. Ripe fruit, somewhat soft in the mouthfeel, with plum and cherry together with a light chocolate note. Sufficient acidity but there is more round fruit notes here than bright acidity. Good and enjoyable.
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Second Sunday Group: 2006 vs 2007 Napa Cabs/Blends (R&D's): Courtesy of Doc and Ruth, popped and poured with dinner. Notes of dark fruit, chocolate and red plum liqueur. Shows a bit of heat on the palate, with black cherry, plum and chocolate along with a good bit of oak spice and vanilla. Needs time, but I like the potential. Hold until 2023+.
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This wine has seemed to do a little bit of growing in the last 6 months. Was a bit muted on the last bottle, but this bottle was definitely not like that. Nose of dark fruit, fig, reductive black cherry. Entry was black cherry cordial, turning darker in the middle. The finish is acidic and grippy, good fruit notes. Some tannin still definitely here. I'm amazed at these wines and based on my limited experience I have a huge feeling that these can go 20 years. I know I won't have the willpower to keep any of them that long...but why wait if they're drinking that well?!?
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Nose seemed much older than 2012, and the color was more transparent than past bottles. But, the odd part was that there was a gelatinous sludge in the wine that was nearly impossible to filter out/through. Winery said it was ok. Interesting to say the least.
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This wine has a lot of things going on. Immediately after cork pop, this bottle seems to be a little flat with a muted nose, modest (at best) acidity, and next to no tannin. Well, 30 minutes later and this Merlot is completely different. This wine is a little more weighted than the 2011. Not calling the 2011 'thin' by any means, but this one has some torque no doubt. Pours a dusty violet to the glass. The nose is baked cherries and some darker milk chocolate. The entry of this wine has sharp acidity, dark chocolate cherry cordials with some pretty damn good liqueur here. For a split second, a little bit sweet in the middle. Finish is acidic. Tannin seems to be there, but not significantly. Allows for a beautiful finish.
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Really good but still young merlot. Needs a multi-hour decant as it really opens up and integrates with air. At its best displayed a fragrant nose with vanilla spice, red fruit and flowers. Big but balances out nicely with typical merlot fruit, ample structure and dark chocolate and spice notes on a strong finish.
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Q2 2017 Tasting - The Anti-Sideways (aka Merlot) (The Apt): Wine #13: Cranberry and boysenberry and almost this umami character that was interesting. It's a young wine and I think prob needed more time, but could see potential there. For one person at the tasting this was her favorite. (1 penny)
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Did not taste good upon opening. Got slightly better over time but not tremendously so. It might've just been an off bottle or it's gone downhill really quickly.
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Dark and black berry fruit and more Cab like than most Merlots. Not a bad wine, but not very exciting at this point. I have some left and it will be interesting to see what happens to this one overnight/ day 2. 90.5 Points for now.
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For fans of big Napa merlot -- rich, boisterous, dark fruited wine with lots of viscosity and oak spice in the mouth. Splash decanted so drank without too much air but was getting more complex over time after initially being very primary. Very young
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Dark red violet color; aromatic, plum, black cherry, light cedar nose; velvety textured, plum, black cherry, light cedar palate with refined tannins; medium-plus finish (85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon)
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Decanted for about two hours in the cellar then this revealed to be a terrific Paloma...I think one of the best if not the the best I've ever had! The nose hits you with bing cherry, plum and a hint of nutmeg. Flavors of plum, cherry, strawberry, and cinnamon sitting very plush on the palate. The finish lasts and lasts. Liquid velvet with a toast to Barbara Richards...may she rest in peace!
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I have to say, this is by far the best Paloma I've had in many years. The nose is deep plum, blackberry and cassis with underlying licorice and damp earth. So intriguing. The midpalate is medium weight but the flood of complex flavors overwhelm at the moment it hits the tongue. Begins with rich vanilla, followed by cocoa laced rich red and black fruits. It's been a while (perhaps the Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard) that I've just been overwhelmed by the complexities and nuances that cascade on the finish.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Decanted for 30 minutes and paired with grilled NY strips. Dark reddish / purple color. On nose, vanilla, cocoa, black cherry, sweet cherry. Similar palate - very fruit primary today. Medium body, medium acidity & tannins with a long finish. Would not pair with steaks again as this was better on it's own. 91-92 range.
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big, plush, and lovely. Great rich red and blue fruit. Excellent secondary top notes already. Lacks the backbone of a great cab, but makes up for it in generosity, flavor, and power. PDQ93+
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What a beauty! Decanted for 30 minutes and poured over 2 hours. Dark and beautifully balanced. Black fruit, some graphite or tar intertwined with beautifully tannins that gave way nicely. Really wanted another bottle right then!
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Opening this now was the worst wine-based mistake I've made in many months. Decanted two hours, and it was a hot mess, astringent and not pleasant to drink, even grading on a curve. Two hours later, it came around (sort of) and resolved itself, but obviously whatever complexities it has (and both prior vintages' tasting notes and Acme's recommendation suggest great depths t/k) aren't here yet. Night two: smoother, but then with a finish as acid-based as any Thievery Corporation light show. But THEN after another few hours open, it's really good. Bury this for a while.
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3/14/2024 - Mneumeier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well. Took a few minutes to open up a fair amount of sediment.
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2/17/2024 - thelostverse wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour with easily the best showing of this bottling that I can remember. Dark chocolate and loads of dark red fruits on the nose and palate. Throwing a lot of sediment.
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12/23/2023 - kvls08@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bold with plenty of dark black fruit. Plenty of tanin to last 5 more years. I am waiting 2 years for the next one.
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11/10/2023 - MinnesotaNice Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. In a good spot, but improved slightly over the hour or so it was consumed. Has some life left in it to be sure. Strongly recommend a decant or pass through a screen filter - significant amount of gelatin-like sediment present in every bottle I’ve opened.
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10/10/2023 - Hamersly wrote: 94 Points
Really hitting its stride. Big and lush with black cherry, blackberry and a lovely hint of menthol. Should hold at this high level for several years. What a delight. Note that there is significant sediment, so a careful decant is highly recommended.
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7/13/2023 - Insane Diego Likes this wine:
Still tasting great
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7/4/2023 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
My last one of this vintage. Almost 3 years since the last. CellarTracker says drink by 2024 but this one is JUST starting to get rolling IMO. Pours a light violet color to the glass. Nose is beautiful black cherry cola and herbs. The tiniest bit of age on the nose that carries over to the palate. On the front, a ROBUST amount of black cherry, oregano, complex, acidic front yet well integrated, brambly middle and finishes with a cola and cherry twizzler note. Went very well with herbed lean grass fed beef burger with goat cheese and arugula with lemon mayo. Herbal brambly burger, red fruit cola Merlot with a bit of age showing....what a nice combo. Wish I had a couple more of these!
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6/12/2023 - Kozakofthewest Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine is amazing , just pure expression of the grape. The Paloma 12's i have both cab and merlot come with what you can describe Pulp. So I have to stand bottle upright for about 24h before decanting. This way you get 3/4 of a bottle without sediment. If you shake, turn or flip the bottle before decanting you will get unfilterable mixture. So this bottle does come with some work attached to it but it so worth it . I would say I prefer 12 to 13 or 14 which are amazing as well.
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5/29/2023 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
A nice full bodied Merlot. Tannins are medium soft and fully integrated. Good acidity. Surprised that there was little browning. One of the best producers of Merlot in Napa and a good value given the high quality of the wine.
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5/20/2023 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Super delicious!
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3/30/2023 - Kozakofthewest Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ok this one is a mystery. The good is the wine is outstanding, best of 2012 to 2017 that I have tried. I would rate it 95 but ... sediment ... its like a Georgian unfiltered wine with 1/3 bottle of floaty some solidified some jelly like sediment. I have used a filter before putting into decanter, and didn't let it stand upright before pouring. It got clogged right away then I used double filter trying to strain some of the wine out . After 15 cleaning attempts I have decanted about half a bottle. This is where mystery comes in .. the sediment doesn't change wine in any way at all except a bit of texture. I tried both filtered and unfiltered and both were excellent. I'm pretty good on picking up on all sort of faults in wine and here there was none. Honestly no clue what is happening here. 2013 to 2017 vintage had zero sediment and excellent wines and this one is even better by a point. Have 11 bottles left and will have them stand upright for a few days before opening next one. I can see the sediment in all other bottles and hope to get more then half a bottle of wine out of every bottle. Final thought even if I get half a bottle of wine out of the bottle its still worth it for the wine is amazing !
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2/17/2023 - johnnyo wrote: 91 Points
Very nice
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1/12/2023 - Dine&Vine wrote: 90 Points
Seems to be on the way down. Could be bottle variation, but seemed a bit flat and one dimensional (and the gelatin).
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9/30/2022 - JCGuthrie wrote: 92 Points
Very fragrant on the nose - mostly savory black fruit with dried herbs and tomato leaf. This is really drinking well now, even with minimal air.
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8/23/2022 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Similar to my previous bottles, wow that’s a lot of sediment…
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7/27/2022 - Mneumeier Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking great. Best merlot of the night. Beat out the cabs of the night.
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3/27/2022 - tiggerevnstn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank a non-inventory bottle.
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3/19/2022 - JCGuthrie wrote:
The best showing of this wine in memory, similar profile to my note in October 2020. Still lots of gelatin in the bottle, which is a shame, but a fine mesh sieve worked reasonably well to get rid of it.
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2/26/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant; delicious, drink or hold
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2/5/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note except that this bottle was ready to drink after the 2 hour double decant; delicious, drink or hold
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1/12/2022 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Similar to previous bottles, make sure you have a coffee filter…
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12/25/2021 - WineGold Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful, plush Merlot. Medium garnet in the glass. Deep and rich on the nose, with layers of fruit and earth mingling. On the palate, red and blue fruit in perfect balance with light fine tannin. Nice long finish. No longer improving probably, but this is at its peak and has enough stuffing to stay here for several years longer. One of the best Merlots coming out of Napa Valley, a downright historic winery and winemaker.
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12/21/2021 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double decanted for 2 hrs, ruby/purple, dark fruit with some vanilla, med. tannins, med, finish; very good, but still young, hold for another year
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10/9/2021 - Mneumeier wrote: 90 Points
Still strong. A lot of sediment.
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9/21/2021 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 91 Points
As a wine, it was very nice, and reflective of some of the notes earlier this year. Slightly translucent red/purple, medium mouthfeel, and a nice lingering finish of mostly red fruits, with a streak of mocha. But…the sediment, or gelatinous sludge, or whatever you want to call it. This time it didn’t show up until the last glass or so, but goodness, just unpleasant. So, be sure to filter when you decant.
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9/21/2021 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Similar to previous bottles , still don’t get how there is SO much sediment…
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9/11/2021 - Michael_D Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely rounded tannins, great balance of acid and fruit. Drinking nicely now.
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9/3/2021 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Similar experience to my last notes.
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8/23/2021 - CornDoggyDogg Likes this wine: 96 Points
Unexpectedly outstanding. I love Paloma merlot and this is my favorite yet. I feel like it is in it's perfect drinking window right now. Silky, elegant, and sexy texture with everything from tobacco and leather notes to bing cherry. Some vanilla, black licorice. It did have a bit of gelatin sediment as others have mentioned but it wasn't bothersome to us. We both absolutely loved it and intend on buying more at the winery soon. This wasn't one of the higher rated vintages but it sure is singing with some age!
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7/24/2021 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
4th Saturday Group (R&D's): Double blind. Sappy red fruit and licorice notes. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of red fruit on the palate. A touch prickly. Chocolate and red fruit finish. In a good place right now. (MM)
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5/17/2021 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
PNP and paired with grilled burgers. Dark red/black color. Throwing a fair amount of sediment. On nose, sweet cherry, vanilla, and chocolate. On palate, cherry, red currants, chocolate and hint of tobacco. Full body, medium acidity and soft tannins with a very long finish. This has aged very well and is very tasty. 92-93 range.
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3/28/2021 - Kent Cooper wrote: 96 Points
Decant for 4+ hours. Yes, there is this weird gelatinous sediment but use a porous gauze pad over your regular strainer and all is well. Worth the extra effort!
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3/14/2021 - R Z Likes this wine: 92 Points
I had the same issue with the gelatinous substance when I tried to decant the bottle, which I've never encountered in another wine, and which clogged up the strainer I was using creating some spillage.
The wine had good fruit and soft tannins and was enjoyable with dinner (home-cooked wagyu bohemian steak and mushrooms).
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3/7/2021 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Juicy, ripe black fruit. Make sure to stand this upright for several hours before serving to get the gelatin down to the bottom of the bottle. Great pairing with bison burgers.
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12/24/2020 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Kim's Merlot!
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12/7/2020 - millerarner wrote: 94 Points
Keeps getting better. Filtering out the gelatinous sediment is a minor inconvenience for such an expressive wine.
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11/24/2020 - JeffNy1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is drinking really well right now but be sure to filter the wine first. Lots of sediment.
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11/20/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Consistent to my previous notes
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10/7/2020 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Performed we'll again tonight. Needs an hour or so decant to blossom and come into balance. Everything about it screams Cali merlot. Very nice but not complex enough to be amazing.
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10/1/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote: 92 Points
Showing more depth right out of the bottle than past bottles, with red and black fruit and hints of underbrush. A really nice bottle of wine. Gelatin still present - stand these up for a while before serving and watch out for that last pour.
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9/6/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine: flawed
Massively corked.
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7/2/2020 - soyhead wrote:
tasted blind
nose - watermelon rind
mouth - jammy. lush. to me surprisingly delicious though certainly confected. Tasted blind. Everyone guessed CA.
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6/18/2020 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
Really nice. Full bodied dark chocolate black cherry cordial. A little deeper and darker than the 10 and the 14. More in line with the 13. Herbal notes here as well from front to back. For merlot, IMO this is close to full bodied but Paloma has never tried to deviate and try to force a variety to wear a certain dress that didn't belong to it (*cough** PahlmeyerMerlot** cough*). This has quite a bit of upside still, but don't be afraid to drink now as it is really in a nice spot.
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6/10/2020 - millerarner wrote:
Still showing young. Will sit on the remaining bottles for awhile, or be mindful to decant a couple hours in advance of consumption. Always delightful to drink, though.
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6/1/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine:
Consistent to previous note
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5/29/2020 - srkool wrote: 94 Points
Just a wonderful and flavorful wine. Who said Merlot can't be great. This Paloma is a fantastic Merlot with a great nose full of deep fruit. Tasted over 2 hours and although the tannins we light at the start, they became smooth as decanting time went by. The taste was great and only got better till the last drop.
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4/27/2020 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolutely fantastic. Decant before drinking. Throwing a lot of sediment.
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4/12/2020 - tjb12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red fruit, but becomes increasingly floral (violet?) as it opens up.
Have to pour through a tea strainer, especially last glass or two
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4/7/2020 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red fruit dominant, mainly cherry and some background cranberry, nice dried earth and milk chocolate on the finish. Tannins are still there but softer and approachable. Very good, but throws some serious sediment, to the point you would need a coffee filter or cheese cloth.
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4/1/2020 - PlanoWino wrote: 88 Points
I really like Paloma Merlot but it takes a lot of effort to drink the 2012. There is so much gelatin like (no idea what it is but it isn't normal sediment) substances in everyone of my bottles that it clogs the mesh funnel I use to decant it. I have to clean the funnel at least three times to decant a single bottle. Once it is decanted for an hour or two, it is fine but the effort to get it decanted certainly takes away from the experience.
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3/28/2020 - johnnyo wrote: 95 Points
Possibly my favorite new world Merlot.
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3/17/2020 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very well made merlot that stills needs a couple of hours of air to hit its stride. Excellent dark red fruit with nice body and good supporting backbone of fine tannins and acidity. By 3rd hour shows balance, softness and fragrant nose. Coming after a boring 2004 Ch. Jean-Faure St Emilion, this was a breathe of fresh air.
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1/1/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Very good, but no detailed notes. Same gelatin materials noted prior, didn’t impact the drinking experience, other than looking a bit weird.
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12/18/2019 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
Opened by LostVerse. Underbrush aromas. Notes of chocolate and berries. 91 points.
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12/17/2019 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Courtesy of M/M tlv. Cherry cordial and red plum aromas. Medium-bodied. Plum, black cherry and chocolate on the palate with a good finish. Excellent.
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11/19/2019 - SageyPoo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Soft, nice fruit and balance with good Acid.
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11/1/2019 - der Schmecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious! Beautiful wine tasting exceptional right now. Doesn't get much better than this. Spring Mountain fruit with a core of approachable tannin. I've visited Paloma and can attest to the meticulous care that the vineyards and wine receive. The end result is heavenly Merlot in a glass.
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10/27/2019 - The_Oracle wrote:
I’ve opened two bottle of the 2012 Paloma Merlot and have 10 left to open. Both bottles have contained noticeable chunks of gelatinous content. The first bottle left a gelatinous film all over the glass. I filtered the second bottle and had to clear the filter several times to remove the clogs created by the gelatinous residue. Does anyone know what is the source of the gelatinous residue? Was it fined but not filtered? Another explanation?
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10/26/2019 - JeffNy1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sheldon said to filter this wine before drinking and he was right. He was also right that the wine is drinking great right now. Beautiful Spring Mtn fruit, cherry, cassis and velvety tannins. Paloma had a big sale on this wine. I highly recommend picking some up!!
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10/22/2019 - cpdwines Likes this wine: 87 Points
The wine was young and good, however, a lot of sediment that couldn't be filtered out.
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10/19/2019 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely delicious!
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9/28/2019 - millerarner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Once the gelatinous sediment is removed, and it gets sufficient time to open, a really tasty wine emerges. Not as concentrated & rich as other vintages of this, but that’s not a knock. Red cherry, black cherry, vanilla, and wood spice on the nose. In the mouth there’s good interplay between the tannin & acid, which fit well with the lighter body. I think structurally this has the ability to go years longer and evolve nicely along the way.
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7/5/2019 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is delicious California Merlot. Rich but not over-ripe red and dark fruits (black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, mocha, cedar, and well-integrated tannins. Serious wine that always consistently redeems California Merlot (well 85% Merlot and 15% Cab). A great value. Drink now - 2022.
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6/23/2019 - ecola Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep and rich red cherry, plum, and red raspberry with subtle cedar and vanilla. Full bodied and intense but with balance. Long and luscious finish with lively acidity. Drinking great right now and for at least another five years.
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5/9/2019 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Off the list at TFL. Black cherry, plum, spice and chocolate. Full-bodied. Chalky tannins with flavors of plummy dark fruit.
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5/1/2019 - Insane Diego Likes this wine: 91 Points
Paloma Merlots...lots of fond memories of tastings in the Richards living room.
The winery warned us years ago that the 2012 vintage would need to be filtered and that is still true. But whatever that glob is that is filtered out, does not affect the taste.
Nose is a bit softer and more muted than other vintages.
Light boysenberries and some honeysuckle or floral.
We filtered into a decanter after about 30min of open.
Careful slow poor helps keep the filter from clogging quickly. Lots of weight in the sediment glob so support the filter well or you have to start over. Don’t ask.
More standard Merlot character to me than other Paloma vintage, which for sure seemed to have a more Cabernet tongue feel. The black fruit is still solid and slides off
Into the silky smoothness, but with just a tiny hint of the chocolate cream silk that I always get with Paloma.
Maybe more will come over time.
May try a flight of several vintages next party and see what we get.
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4/5/2019 - mflesh wrote:
7 months and hasn't changed a bit. If anything, the chocolate covered cherry cordial notes are even stronger and more pronounced. Tempted to update my rating to 95.
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3/29/2019 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Blackberries, bramble and earth on the nose. Mostly ripe blackberries and some dried herbs on the palate. Opened up notably after two hours in the decanter. There was some sort of gelatinous looking material in the wine, which I could see in the glass, but didn't notice as I drank it. 91.
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2/23/2019 - BRR wrote: 88 Points
Not decanted, used Gabriel Glas Gold stems. Threw gobs of sediment. The nose was nice: a touch floral with ripe plum and blackberry fruit. Nice, tasty fruit, but the palate was a little more dilute than I'd like and came across as lacking concentration. Drink now...I don't think this will improve.
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12/26/2018 - t_moderne wrote: 87 Points
Pop and pour and tasted over two days.
Dark purple.
Nose offers some floral notes and ripe plum.
Ripe fruit, somewhat soft in the mouthfeel, with plum and cherry together with a light chocolate note. Sufficient acidity but there is more round fruit notes here than bright acidity.
Good and enjoyable.
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11/24/2018 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking great. Hold
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10/24/2018 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful balanced inky dark CA merlot - loads of mineral and cassis/black cherry
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10/14/2018 - AllRed wrote:
Second Sunday Group: 2006 vs 2007 Napa Cabs/Blends (R&D's): Courtesy of Doc and Ruth, popped and poured with dinner. Notes of dark fruit, chocolate and red plum liqueur. Shows a bit of heat on the palate, with black cherry, plum and chocolate along with a good bit of oak spice and vanilla. Needs time, but I like the potential. Hold until 2023+.
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9/28/2018 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
This wine has seemed to do a little bit of growing in the last 6 months. Was a bit muted on the last bottle, but this bottle was definitely not like that. Nose of dark fruit, fig, reductive black cherry. Entry was black cherry cordial, turning darker in the middle. The finish is acidic and grippy, good fruit notes. Some tannin still definitely here. I'm amazed at these wines and based on my limited experience I have a huge feeling that these can go 20 years. I know I won't have the willpower to keep any of them that long...but why wait if they're drinking that well?!?
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8/22/2018 - Dalton_Noble Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic. Decant. Hold if possible.
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8/18/2018 - hhyder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Overpowering smoke on opening that gave way to a hedonistic style merlot. May want to to let this mellow for another 1-2 years.
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8/10/2018 - Cow Town wrote:
Nose seemed much older than 2012, and the color was more transparent than past bottles. But, the odd part was that there was a gelatinous sludge in the wine that was nearly impossible to filter out/through. Winery said it was ok. Interesting to say the least.
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4/22/2018 - Vinobc wrote: 94 Points
Plum nose. Mouth-filling velvety wine with lots of plum, hints of chocolate and butter on the finish. Superb. No hint of smoke. Perfect acidity.
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3/17/2018 - mflesh wrote:
This wine has a lot of things going on. Immediately after cork pop, this bottle seems to be a little flat with a muted nose, modest (at best) acidity, and next to no tannin. Well, 30 minutes later and this Merlot is completely different. This wine is a little more weighted than the 2011. Not calling the 2011 'thin' by any means, but this one has some torque no doubt. Pours a dusty violet to the glass. The nose is baked cherries and some darker milk chocolate. The entry of this wine has sharp acidity, dark chocolate cherry cordials with some pretty damn good liqueur here. For a split second, a little bit sweet in the middle. Finish is acidic. Tannin seems to be there, but not significantly. Allows for a beautiful finish.
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3/1/2018 - Marsman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really like this wine. Smooth, savory and wonderful fruit. Popped and poured, no decant, though did use an aerator.
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1/20/2018 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
Generous with red and black fruits. Pleasant pepper and cinnamon notes give character and depth.
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12/7/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding. Smooth and luscious with nice smoky finish. Almost too easy to drink.
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11/13/2017 - Dalton_Noble Likes this wine: 93 Points
Young. Only has upside. Glad I have 17 more of them!
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10/23/2017 - LisaG wrote: 91 Points
Deep color. Smells woody, tobacco, plum, baked goods, high alcohol. Tastes of plum, caramel, strawberries. Complex and delicious.
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9/30/2017 - Venezia wrote: 90 Points
weird sediment in the bottle. taste was fine
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8/19/2017 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Way too young. 90 now, 92+ in a few years.
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7/21/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good but still young merlot. Needs a multi-hour decant as it really opens up and integrates with air. At its best displayed a fragrant nose with vanilla spice, red fruit and flowers. Big but balances out nicely with typical merlot fruit, ample structure and dark chocolate and spice notes on a strong finish.
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6/24/2017 - Hercules Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great merlot
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4/15/2017 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Q2 2017 Tasting - The Anti-Sideways (aka Merlot) (The Apt): Wine #13: Cranberry and boysenberry and almost this umami character that was interesting. It's a young wine and I think prob needed more time, but could see potential there. For one person at the tasting this was her favorite.
(1 penny)
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2/10/2017 - Mneumeier wrote: 73 Points
Did not taste good upon opening. Got slightly better over time but not tremendously so. It might've just been an off bottle or it's gone downhill really quickly.
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12/10/2016 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice wine and so supple like most 2012's.
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9/30/2016 - Mneumeier wrote: 90 Points
Tasting good. Solid drink.
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9/25/2016 - Yack Man wrote: 91 Points
Dark and black berry fruit and more Cab like than most Merlots. Not a bad wine, but not very exciting at this point. I have some left and it will be interesting to see what happens to this one overnight/ day 2.
90.5 Points for now.
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9/6/2016 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
For fans of big Napa merlot -- rich, boisterous, dark fruited wine with lots of viscosity and oak spice in the mouth. Splash decanted so drank without too much air but was getting more complex over time after initially being very primary. Very young
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9/2/2016 - Mneumeier wrote: 91 Points
Slight jelly sedimentation in the bottle upon decanting. Decanted for two hours. Tasted fine.
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8/21/2016 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Dark red violet color; aromatic, plum, black cherry, light cedar nose; velvety textured, plum, black cherry, light cedar palate with refined tannins; medium-plus finish (85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon)
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7/31/2016 - T.O.Wineaux Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for about two hours in the cellar then this revealed to be a terrific Paloma...I think one of the best if not the the best I've ever had! The nose hits you with bing cherry, plum and a hint of nutmeg. Flavors of plum, cherry, strawberry, and cinnamon sitting very plush on the palate. The finish lasts and lasts. Liquid velvet with a toast to Barbara Richards...may she rest in peace!
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7/15/2016 - Gestalted Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have to say, this is by far the best Paloma I've had in many years. The nose is deep plum, blackberry and cassis with underlying licorice and damp earth. So intriguing. The midpalate is medium weight but the flood of complex flavors overwhelm at the moment it hits the tongue. Begins with rich vanilla, followed by cocoa laced rich red and black fruits. It's been a while (perhaps the Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard) that I've just been overwhelmed by the complexities and nuances that cascade on the finish.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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6/16/2016 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good. Great depth and long finish. Always my favorite merlot.
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6/2/2016 - Frijole wrote:
dark inky plum red, little clarity, brickish hue
Nose: blueberries, plum, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, silver, thyme, wet earth, dirt, black pepper, oak
Pal: blueberries, ripe plum, dark chocolate, coffee, tobacco, wet earth, dirt, silver, thyme, vanilla, black pepper, juniper berries, touch vegetal, alcohol, toasted oak
Feel: full, savory
Finish: long
TC9
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4/4/2016 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes and paired with grilled NY strips. Dark reddish / purple color. On nose, vanilla, cocoa, black cherry, sweet cherry. Similar palate - very fruit primary today. Medium body, medium acidity & tannins with a long finish. Would not pair with steaks again as this was better on it's own. 91-92 range.
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3/28/2016 - pdemaio Likes this wine: 94 Points
big, plush, and lovely. Great rich red and blue fruit. Excellent secondary top notes already. Lacks the backbone of a great cab, but makes up for it in generosity, flavor, and power.
PDQ93+
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1/25/2016 - mactheknife Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a beauty! Decanted for 30 minutes and poured over 2 hours. Dark and beautifully balanced. Black fruit, some graphite or tar intertwined with beautifully tannins that gave way nicely. Really wanted another bottle right then!
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11/1/2015 - ledocq Likes this wine:
Opening this now was the worst wine-based mistake I've made in many months. Decanted two hours, and it was a hot mess, astringent and not pleasant to drink, even grading on a curve. Two hours later, it came around (sort of) and resolved itself, but obviously whatever complexities it has (and both prior vintages' tasting notes and Acme's recommendation suggest great depths t/k) aren't here yet. Night two: smoother, but then with a finish as acid-based as any Thievery Corporation light show. But THEN after another few hours open, it's really good. Bury this for a while.
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10/5/2015 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Still a little young, but already rich and balanced with a solid fruit forward palate and good acid and light tannins.
PDQ93
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