Sorry to say, but this one is over the hill. Three Palms is legendary and has produced some great wines, and I’m sure in it’s prime this bottle was excellent, but now it is almost undrinkable. Almost tastes like a corked wine. My wife says that it will be fine for her to use in her pasta sauce. A disappointment, but I should have paid more attention to it a few years ago.
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It’s good, drinking in a nice place now. I don’t think I would let it go much longer. It’s well integrated, there is fruit there, no exceptionally savory characteristics yet. I have a lot of respect for the wines 3 Palms puts out, and this is certainly a well made wine and carries the torch of the 2014 WOTY nicely.
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My second enjoyment and notes of the 2015 Three Palms.
What a difference 3 years has made on the development of this Merlot. The nose is more pronounced with Plum and Black fruits. Scents of cedar, oak and even some cigar box creates an intoxicating aroma. The palate is well developed and integrated, Full bodied but soft and lush with well balanced tannin, alcohol, and acids. The black fruits are center stage with various woods wrapping around them and a finish of milk chocolate. Short decant and enjoyed!
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Plum and black currant fruit. This is full bodied and modern in oak influence, but it is serious and deeper than the standard Duckhorn merlot. Drinking young at age 8.
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Brought to restaurant served w/ lobster ravioli, veal franchese, salad. Opened at home, 45 min before dinner. Into glasses with some swirling+ 5 mins time, and the wine began to pop. Delicious, layers of depth and flavor, easy to consume bottle between 2 of us. Glad to have more vintages stashed.
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Really nice merlot for Thanksgiving. Dark purple in glass. Blackberries and dark cherries on palate. Muted nose. Was better a couple of hours in, so decant is probably helpful. Think this may get better with a couple of more years in the cellar.
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Outstanding. Dark black fruit. Plush mouthfeel. Lengthy finish. Perfect Merlot. Will wait a couple years before I open the next one to see if it improves.
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Very deep ruby red color. On the nose; cocoa, pencil shavings, blackberries, mint and a touch or tar. On the palate; wonderful layers of black peppercorns, chocolate, black cherries, ripe figs, loam and mint. Very nice mouthfeel with a long and enjoyable finish. We popped and poured without decanting, and the tannins and acidity really softened in the glass. So a decant will enhance your enjoyment of this wine.
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Scored this based on this tasting and what lies in store.
Dark purple almost black in color. Decanted for an hour and enjoyed over two days.
Nose of dark fruits with cedar, chocolate and oak spices. On the palate this is displaying well but needs more air time or cellar time. Nice tannin structure with dark fruits and a lot of oak imparted vanilla.
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For me, this wine is still just potential. Decanted for four hours, the remaining oak shrouded the fruit profile. However, this bottle suggested it will be a sensuous wine with soft texture and an elegant stride.
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Medium purple, min meniscus. Napa on the nose. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, soil, nut and coffee with fine round tannins. Long finish. Plenty of time to go. Need to compare to other vintages.
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Great potential, nice fruit, the fragrance lasts a long time and a long finish. The heat of the alcohol and the nice tannins in combination of fine acid will do well. Have two left which I will leave for a while, this will be so good ... in a few years 👍🍷. Drink this wine to grilled whole Entrecôte with moderate salad and a bearnaise sauce
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At first it's the alcohole that hits me. That might be me. Very blackberries, plums and smooth. Drinks up really quick. 89-90 but I don't dare to go under 90. So 90. Won't buy again.
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Popped and poured thru Vagnbys aerator. On the nose dark plums and cherries, with a slight hint of vanilla. On the palate, dark fruits, but still young. Next night dark fruits more pronounced, integrated with a nice long finish (Smooth). This wine needs more cellar time or a long decant to fully appreciate its quality. 5 bottle remaining and it's going to be fun to see how they progress during the next few years.
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Decanted for about 7 hours in the Riedel Amadeo, and it's just starting to hit its stride. Aromas show off the suave side of Merlot with notes of cassis, dark cherry, and ripe plum coated in scents of framboise, chocolate ganache, fresh split vanilla bean, velvety herbs and suede with small hints of toast and oak. On the palate a symphony of fruit; dark cherry, plum as well as cassis and framboise that are incredibly deep and long on the palate, balanced perfectly with notes of vanilla, ganache, mocha, herb and violet pastilles. The density and texture are moderate-plus and the fine-sweet tannins are in harmony with the acid. Long through the finish. Absolutely lovely (and drinking better than the '14 at this point). This will age well! No doubt a young wine so yes this is the least amount of airtime at this point I would give it
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N: SMOKE dominates (rest tough to parse), but attractive & DEEP; pyrazines with air & swirling?
P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt/oak met by firing structure which slowly, somewhat seamlessly, morphs into the quite LONG, nicely balanced finish with a distinct swtness & undertones of spice. A TAD disjointed presently? But everything SEEMS "there"! DESERVES into '19, poss '20, then easily making its 10th. My EXC-, more a DISTINCT poss! :) [This vendor's $84.95 is at LEAST $10 < than anyone else currently on wine-searcher's nascent listing!]
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1/19/2024 - alanmspieg Likes this wine: 82 Points
Sorry to say, but this one is over the hill. Three Palms is legendary and has produced some great wines, and I’m sure in it’s prime this bottle was excellent, but now it is almost undrinkable. Almost tastes like a corked wine. My wife says that it will be fine for her to use in her pasta sauce. A disappointment, but I should have paid more attention to it a few years ago.
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8/26/2023 - nickducey Likes this wine: 92 Points
It’s good, drinking in a nice place now. I don’t think I would let it go much longer. It’s well integrated, there is fruit there, no exceptionally savory characteristics yet. I have a lot of respect for the wines 3 Palms puts out, and this is certainly a well made wine and carries the torch of the 2014 WOTY nicely.
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6/2/2023 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
very balanced and smooth - pleasing cherry and plum flavors - minimal tannin and touches of sweet spice on the finish...drink now.
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5/21/2023 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My second enjoyment and notes of the 2015 Three Palms.
What a difference 3 years has made on the development of this Merlot. The nose is more pronounced with Plum and Black fruits. Scents of cedar, oak and even some cigar box creates an intoxicating aroma. The palate is well developed and integrated, Full bodied but soft and lush with well balanced tannin, alcohol, and acids. The black fruits are center stage with various woods wrapping around them and a finish of milk chocolate. Short decant and enjoyed!
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4/22/2023 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Plum and black currant fruit. This is full bodied and modern in oak influence, but it is serious and deeper than the standard Duckhorn merlot. Drinking young at age 8.
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12/6/2022 - Vinomazing Likes this wine:
Brought to restaurant served w/ lobster ravioli, veal franchese, salad. Opened at home, 45 min before dinner. Into glasses with some swirling+ 5 mins time, and the wine began to pop. Delicious, layers of depth and flavor, easy to consume bottle between 2 of us. Glad to have more vintages stashed.
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9/17/2022 - Sebran wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well with a long decant.
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8/18/2022 - Lobster27 Does not like this wine:
A bit syrupy. Medium to light tannins. No acid. Blueberry flavors
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6/28/2022 - Docschro wrote: 95 Points
A fave! A little decant always helps, this is my wife's favorite of Merlots. Always a delightful pour and Duckhorn never disappoints.
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4/8/2022 - RustyI Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really fantastic wine. Needed a few minutes to open up but very smooth, dark fruit, low tannins
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3/25/2022 - ppearson9 wrote: 95 Points
wow. really good. short 20 min decant. drink now, may improve but won’t be much
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11/25/2021 - gew71walsh wrote: 92 Points
Really nice merlot for Thanksgiving. Dark purple in glass. Blackberries and dark cherries on palate. Muted nose. Was better a couple of hours in, so decant is probably helpful. Think this may get better with a couple of more years in the cellar.
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5/22/2021 - winecadence Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding. Dark black fruit. Plush mouthfeel. Lengthy finish. Perfect Merlot. Will wait a couple years before I open the next one to see if it improves.
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11/16/2020 - Snag One Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very deep ruby red color. On the nose; cocoa, pencil shavings, blackberries, mint and a touch or tar. On the palate; wonderful layers of black peppercorns, chocolate, black cherries, ripe figs, loam and mint. Very nice mouthfeel with a long and enjoyable finish. We popped and poured without decanting, and the tannins and acidity really softened in the glass. So a decant will enhance your enjoyment of this wine.
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10/15/2020 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
blackberries
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7/11/2020 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Scored this based on this tasting and what lies in store.
Dark purple almost black in color. Decanted for an hour and enjoyed over two days.
Nose of dark fruits with cedar, chocolate and oak spices. On the palate this is displaying well but needs more air time or cellar time. Nice tannin structure with dark fruits and a lot of oak imparted vanilla.
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6/25/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark purple in color and heady nose of cedar with strong mocha and chocolate notes.
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5/12/2020 - jeagle wrote:
For me, this wine is still just potential. Decanted for four hours, the remaining oak shrouded the fruit profile. However, this bottle suggested it will be a sensuous wine with soft texture and an elegant stride.
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5/8/2020 - Sparty1983 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Was good initially, but when we had the steaks with it, it paired magnificently
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5/3/2020 - caroleandjay Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium purple, min meniscus. Napa on the nose. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, soil, nut and coffee with fine round tannins. Long finish. Plenty of time to go. Need to compare to other vintages.
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4/28/2020 - yasha Likes this wine: 94 Points
great merlot, open up in 1 hour, just great finnish
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3/28/2020 - SirJ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great potential, nice fruit, the fragrance lasts a long time and a long finish. The heat of the alcohol and the nice tannins in combination of fine acid will do well. Have two left which I will leave for a while, this will be so good ... in a few years 👍🍷. Drink this wine to grilled whole Entrecôte with moderate salad and a bearnaise sauce
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9/13/2019 - adamanko wrote: 90 Points
At first it's the alcohole that hits me. That might be me. Very blackberries, plums and smooth. Drinks up really quick. 89-90 but I don't dare to go under 90. So 90. Won't buy again.
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3/11/2019 - fruitvale3067 wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured thru Vagnbys aerator. On the nose dark plums and cherries, with a slight hint of vanilla. On the palate, dark fruits, but still young. Next night dark fruits more pronounced, integrated with a nice long finish (Smooth). This wine needs more cellar time or a long decant to fully appreciate its quality. 5 bottle remaining and it's going to be fun to see how they progress during the next few years.
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3/8/2019 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lush and very smooth, with plum and black currant notes. Low acidity and tannin, so don't suspect this will last forever.
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3/3/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Raid the Braxton Cellar (Braxton Cellar - Libertyville IL): Small glass, brief note from memory. Ripe black cherry and plum with rounded edges and fat finish. Fun, but simple. I recall enjoying the 2014 considerably more.
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9/1/2018 - bjamesclark wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for about 7 hours in the Riedel Amadeo, and it's just starting to hit its stride.
Aromas show off the suave side of Merlot with notes of cassis, dark cherry, and ripe plum coated in scents of framboise, chocolate ganache, fresh split vanilla bean, velvety herbs and suede with small hints of toast and oak.
On the palate a symphony of fruit; dark cherry, plum as well as cassis and framboise that are incredibly deep and long on the palate, balanced perfectly with notes of vanilla, ganache, mocha, herb and violet pastilles. The density and texture are moderate-plus and the fine-sweet tannins are in harmony with the acid. Long through the finish.
Absolutely lovely (and drinking better than the '14 at this point). This will age well!
No doubt a young wine so yes this is the least amount of airtime at this point I would give it
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6/30/2018 - gtilley wrote:
91% M; 7% CS; 1.5% PV; .5% CF. 14.7%. My only note says "more ageworthy" - presumably compared to the Napa Valley Carneros Merlot.
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4/27/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whts & 8 Reds] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 91% Merlot, 7% C.S., 1.5% Petit Verdot, & .5% Cabernet Franc; 18 mos in 100% FR Oak (75% New, 25% Neutral); 14.7% ABV, 0.56 g/100 ml T.A., & 3.79 pH.
N: SMOKE dominates (rest tough to parse), but attractive & DEEP; pyrazines with air & swirling?
P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt/oak met by firing structure which slowly, somewhat seamlessly, morphs into the quite LONG, nicely balanced finish with a distinct swtness & undertones of spice. A TAD disjointed presently? But everything SEEMS "there"! DESERVES into '19, poss '20, then easily making its 10th. My EXC-, more a DISTINCT poss! :) [This vendor's $84.95 is at LEAST $10 < than anyone else currently on wine-searcher's nascent listing!]
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