Savory, gravelly, and tightly wound, this needed a lot of air for its true personality to come into focus. Black cherry, thyme, and sage aromas are punctuated by notes of espresso and ash. The fruit becomes more prevalent and concentrated the longer it sits. Crushed rocks linger on the finish.
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After a one hour decant - the palette is disjointed, with a weird astringent/bitter aftertaste that I haven't come across in a very long time. This has to be one of the worst bottles of wine I've had in the past two years (and no it wasn't flawed!) Purchased from a reputable merchant, this bottle may have been "off" but it surely wasn't even worth the $35 paid. To be honest, I would have been disappointed if this wine was $20.
Lighter in color for a merlot, Spice, bramble, black fruit, dried red fruit. Plush texture, with good length and a touch of acidity on the finish. Smooth
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Great merlot, one of our favorites. Smooth, medium body. Dark fruits. Very drinkable. Continue drinking this vintage (2022). Absolutely fantastic and continues to age well
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Guildsomm Blind Tasting Seminar at Pappas Brothers. Medium ruby-red with a light garnet hue, showing a little age. The nose is clean, with bright ripe red fruit (cranberry), orange rind, black plum, violets, and slight new oak aromas, including coffee, vanilla and bitter chocolate. The palate is consistent with the nose, with medium acidity, medium (+) alcohol and medium (+) resolved tannins. It is nicely balanced with a moderate finish. Although it is not too hard to spot this as a Merlot-centric blend, I actually guessed it was from the Right Bank, like a St. Emilion. This one had quite a few people fooled, though some thinking that it was more Cabernet Sauvignon-centric and calling it a Pomerol. Blend is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Its Francophile profile is not surprising, considering the contribution of French consulting winemaker and the extensive use of new and used French Oak. It is beginning to enter its optimal drinking window and should show well for at least another decade.Overall, excellent quality, especially considering Merlot is not normally one of my favorite reds.
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Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, nose of black cherry, sage, and black berry, same on the palate, medium/big body, the easiest to enjoy today compared to the cabernets, tasty, almost fruit forward, almost mouth filling fruit, medium/long finish, should continue to improve the next three years.
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Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, fresh bottle opened in front of me, nose of briar, herbs, rich black cherry fruit, and forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, Kathy liked it, needs 2 years cellar time to peak drinking window, has improved these last six months and has lots of potential to continue to improve, and a long finish.
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High opacity and deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry, lead, fall plants, and cocoa. Medium+ body with a firm texture and graphite edge. Medium acidity. Long leaded finish with some tea bag notes.
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At Silver Oak this morning, fresh bottle opened in front of me, nose of briar, herbs, rich black fruit, and forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, Kathy liked it, needs 2 years cellar time to peak drinking window, showing well but the 2013 SOA was the star today.
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Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, fresh bottle opened in front of me, nose of briar, forest floor, blackberry, boysenberry, and forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, Kathy liked it also, needs 2 years cellar time to peak drinking window, better than lasted tasted, almost elegant, medium finish hurt it's score.
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Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, nose of black cherry, forest floor, same on the palate, medium body, lovely, rich fruit hurt by a bitter taste on the mid palate and finish, needs 2 years to peak, medium/long finish.
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Tasted at Silver Oak today, nose of rich black cherry, earth, and spring flowers, same on the palate, medium/big body, slightly subdued tasting on the palate, needs 2 years to peak, already showing much better than the 2012, lacks the concentration and tannins of many wines from the 2013 vintage, tasty, medium/long finish. Blend is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.
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2/9/2024 - rossermi wrote: 94 Points
For friends
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9/23/2023 - Nfmds Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose with dark fruits: blackberry and plums, tobacco
Moderate tannins and acidity make it a great food wine, esp with smoked pork chops
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3/24/2023 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Needed a 30-60 min decant.
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12/25/2022 - lovemycab Does not like this wine:
Maybe an off bottle, but this just wasn’t good. Day 1 or day 2 the same. Stored in cellar since release. Probably past it’s prime.
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6/23/2021 - jsevans Does not like this wine: 94 Points
Didn’t enjoy this wine. Probably not it’s fault - it was very much a merlot.
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5/31/2020 - Baron Slick wrote: 90 Points
Savory, gravelly, and tightly wound, this needed a lot of air for its true personality to come into focus. Black cherry, thyme, and sage aromas are punctuated by notes of espresso and ash. The fruit becomes more prevalent and concentrated the longer it sits. Crushed rocks linger on the finish.
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5/28/2020 - vincemcd61 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with Red Wagon Carl the Cuban pizza
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5/22/2020 - junetoaugust Does not like this wine:
Night 1 after opening the alcohol was so ridiculously hot on the palate we immediately stored the bottle for the next night.
Night 2 the alcohol was a bit more relaxed, but wine was no more pleasant.
Wine didn't appear to be flawed, but has just fallen apart.
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3/25/2020 - vincemcd61 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious Merlot. Had with Instantpot French onion dip pot roast
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1/13/2020 - danielphall26@gmail Does not like this wine: 84 Points
After a one hour decant - the palette is disjointed, with a weird astringent/bitter aftertaste that I haven't come across in a very long time. This has to be one of the worst bottles of wine I've had in the past two years (and no it wasn't flawed!) Purchased from a reputable merchant, this bottle may have been "off" but it surely wasn't even worth the $35 paid. To be honest, I would have been disappointed if this wine was $20.
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1/11/2020 - zylmanj Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not really for my palate
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11/28/2019 - Zebediah Likes this wine: 90 Points
I don’t drink a lot of Merlot wines but I like this. Fruity and smooth.
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10/13/2019 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lighter in color for a merlot,
Spice, bramble, black fruit, dried red fruit. Plush texture, with good length and a touch of acidity on the finish. Smooth
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5/18/2019 - RustyI Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great merlot, one of our favorites. Smooth, medium body. Dark fruits. Very drinkable.
Continue drinking this vintage (2022). Absolutely fantastic and continues to age well
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1/21/2019 - Flossboss Likes this wine:
Great nose....needs to open for a couple of hours....full flavor.....still young.......
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9/23/2018 - vincemcd61 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious. Had with grilled strip steak with rosemary.
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7/16/2018 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Easy plush merlot, easy to like restaurant style with pleasant balance
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6/1/2018 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 92 Points
Guildsomm Blind Tasting Seminar at Pappas Brothers. Medium ruby-red with a light garnet hue, showing a little age. The nose is clean, with bright ripe red fruit (cranberry), orange rind, black plum, violets, and slight new oak aromas, including coffee, vanilla and bitter chocolate. The palate is consistent with the nose, with medium acidity, medium (+) alcohol and medium (+) resolved tannins. It is nicely balanced with a moderate finish. Although it is not too hard to spot this as a Merlot-centric blend, I actually guessed it was from the Right Bank, like a St. Emilion. This one had quite a few people fooled, though some thinking that it was more Cabernet Sauvignon-centric and calling it a Pomerol. Blend is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Its Francophile profile is not surprising, considering the contribution of French consulting winemaker and the extensive use of new and used French Oak. It is beginning to enter its optimal drinking window and should show well for at least another decade.Overall, excellent quality, especially considering Merlot is not normally one of my favorite reds.
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4/18/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, nose of black cherry, sage, and black berry, same on the palate, medium/big body, the easiest to enjoy today compared to the cabernets, tasty, almost fruit forward, almost mouth filling fruit, medium/long finish, should continue to improve the next three years.
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4/4/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, fresh bottle opened in front of me, nose of briar, herbs, rich black cherry fruit, and forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, Kathy liked it, needs 2 years cellar time to peak drinking window, has improved these last six months and has lots of potential to continue to improve, and a long finish.
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3/30/2018 - nzinkgraf wrote:
80% Merlot, 15% Cab Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Berry fruit palate with a coriander/cilantro note on the finish.
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2/20/2018 - Nfmds Likes this wine: 91 Points
Plums, mineral, chocolate. Smooth mouthfeel. Great with salty meat
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1/7/2018 - jcschmutzer wrote: 89 Points
High opacity and deep ruby color. Nose of blackberry, lead, fall plants, and cocoa. Medium+ body with a firm texture and graphite edge. Medium acidity. Long leaded finish with some tea bag notes.
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11/21/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
At Silver Oak this morning, fresh bottle opened in front of me, nose of briar, herbs, rich black fruit, and forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, Kathy liked it, needs 2 years cellar time to peak drinking window, showing well but the 2013 SOA was the star today.
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10/6/2017 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Dark red and black fruit aromas. Some savory (cheesy) aromas. Medium/- tannin. Not gobs of fruit on the palate.
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9/16/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, fresh bottle opened in front of me, nose of briar, forest floor, blackberry, boysenberry, and forest floor, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, Kathy liked it also, needs 2 years cellar time to peak drinking window, better than lasted tasted, almost elegant, medium finish hurt it's score.
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6/30/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at Silver Oak this morning, nose of black cherry, forest floor, same on the palate, medium body, lovely, rich fruit hurt by a bitter taste on the mid palate and finish, needs 2 years to peak, medium/long finish.
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5/12/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at Silver Oak today, nose of rich black cherry, earth, and spring flowers, same on the palate, medium/big body, slightly subdued tasting on the palate, needs 2 years to peak, already showing much better than the 2012, lacks the concentration and tannins of many wines from the 2013 vintage, tasty, medium/long finish. Blend is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.
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