Was expecting more based on other reviews, but this was still a very good bottle of wine. The group tasting this noticed a pleasant cherry nose followed by some blueberry and eucalyptus. Aftertaste had hints of cocoa. Wish that I would've either tried this a couple of years ago or would've given it 30 minutes of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still an impressive nose of spice, cedar, cassis and some hints of bell pepper. Nice in the mouth with a grilled steak. Finishes medium length with a bit of grip. This really is an excellent 10 year old California Merlot. Bravo John, Doug, & Elias
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After finding this case due to CellarVU, this wine is beginning to fad. Still drinkable, better than most restaurant wines by the glass, but definitely a bit on the back foot. Time to drink up and finish...but I have 11 bottles to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark rich purple and with a quick decant the nose showed dark berries with ripe blueberry notes. Good grip and framework that had a medium to full fruit texture, and a little edge of spice and pepper that I do not remember from before. Shared with family at home after a high school production of McBeth...not quite the bloody merlot we were looking for, but enjoyable non the less! Better with food...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not exceptionally aromatic, even with sufficient air time. However, the flavor profile is excellent with very sturdy tones of black currant, blackberry, mineral, smoke and a pleasant trace of vanillin and oak. Finishes well and long with a nice balance of fruit, acid and tannin. This full-bodied wine is definitely young, but starting to drink well at this stage. Had I tasted this blind, I would have guessed Cabernet for sure. Impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Iovino's, with Donna (she had a delicious Barrimundi; I had phenomenal ravioli with goat cheese, lemon and leeks). Very good, and just the right size; lots of power, and less of the sweetness that one sometimes gets with Merlot. Nice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best showing of this wine since last year, I guess the 1.5L was to thank. Fruit, which was dark and surrounded by mocha was very forward with perfect tannins......wonderful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A disappointing, monolithic merlot from a great producer. expected more, but really didn't hold its weight compared to a very good, but not outstanding cali cab (2001 Pine Ridge -SLD)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened not decanted. Terrific dark and bright purple color. Bright, clean grape smell with a trifle nose of alcohol. Nice full palate immersed with a slight tannic bite. Good. Overpriced, but good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed with pasta pie for Sunday dinner. A very nice Merlot; lots of sweet fruit, but not cloying. An undeniable "grapiness" that was not off-putting. A notch under the Pride Mountain Merlot, but not a big notch. This was the bottle the California partners gave me in 2004; a lovely gift, as it turns out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly bretty nose, similar to the 2003, but more blackcurrent than cherry fruits, opened to show some tar and liquorice . Quite tannic finish, also some heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have been following this wine for a number of years and this is their best so far It has a wonderful fruit-driven nose where the depth, not the complexity, draws you back. On the palate there is terrific bright red cherry and plum that coats the mouth. Grainy tannins are well integrated and the finish is medium length (seems short because the structure and fruit promises more). I agree that it is a bit hot, but this was not a distractor for me or my wife, who is really sensitive to this issue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has a few flaws that leave it just short of stunning. It's both precocious and flashy -- soft and approachable, but ripe and concentrated, too. The nose is strong on cocoa and brown sugar, and it shows a touch of herb as well. It's plummy in the mouth, where the few tannins are well-integrated. The flaws are a short finish and persistent heat from front to back. Still, flawed or no, it's definitely worth the trip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple with at first pour a strong astringent nose that was a surprise, but mellowed with time, as did the wine. Good grip and pleasing fruit that went well with old fashioned pot roast, a good food wine. Not spectacular, but with enough body to no doubt age well, and will be much better with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with a nice rack of lamb. Almost black in color, lack the complexity of Cab, but solid drinking wine. Very traditional Merlot from Napa. Nice blackberry fruit and maybe a touch of leather
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/9/2015 - jwebtx wrote:
Nose of cocoa and maybe some cherry. Mid-body. Cocoa and dusty cherry in the mouth, but dominated by alcohol. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2015 - ScottS wrote: 90 Points
Consumed on my 50th and still alive and kicking. Drink up if you have them, I'm sure this benefitted lasting this long by being in a 6 L format.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2014 - woofy Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a very nice simple wine to enjoy. No issues, nothing over the top, just a solid wine for lunch or dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2012 - RR47 wrote: 90 Points
Similar to Jan 2012 notes. Still alive and doing well, but give it 30+ minutes of open time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2012 - woofy wrote: 89 Points
This wine is still nice to drink, but fading.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2012 - woofy wrote: 90 Points
This wine is still drinking great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2012 - dallasboiler wrote: 87 Points
Was expecting more based on other reviews, but this was still a very good bottle of wine. The group tasting this noticed a pleasant cherry nose followed by some blueberry and eucalyptus. Aftertaste had hints of cocoa. Wish that I would've either tried this a couple of years ago or would've given it 30 minutes of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - RR47 wrote: 90 Points
Still an impressive nose of spice, cedar, cassis and some hints of bell pepper. Nice in the mouth with a grilled steak. Finishes medium length with a bit of grip. This really is an excellent 10 year old California Merlot. Bravo John, Doug, & Elias
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2011 - woofy wrote: 91 Points
And we had another bottle with friends this evening, along with Sushi, smoked salmon and other "zakuska", and "nosh", which was very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2011 - woofy wrote: 91 Points
This is a nice, easy drinking wine. Enjoy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2011 - woofy wrote: 88 Points
After finding this case due to CellarVU, this wine is beginning to fad. Still drinkable, better than most restaurant wines by the glass, but definitely a bit on the back foot. Time to drink up and finish...but I have 11 bottles to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - RR47 wrote: 89 Points
Still a nice Merlot, alive with dark fruit and some complexity of cedar and spice. Went quickly with grilled steaks at dinner party.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2009 - RR47 wrote: 89 Points
A dark, dense merlot. Blackberry and blueberry dominate with smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2009 - jameswm13 wrote: 89 Points
Nice, simple, enjoyable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2008 - Cheryl wrote: flawed
Reconsidering Merlot, a Barolo and a Mystery White (Il Corso, NYC): corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2008 - lpk22 wrote: 90 Points
Nice balance, tannins were nicely integrated. Oaky mocha, hint of olive at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2007 - Tejano wrote:
Dark rich purple and with a quick decant the nose showed dark berries with ripe blueberry notes. Good grip and framework that had a medium to full fruit texture, and a little edge of spice and pepper that I do not remember from before. Shared with family at home after a high school production of McBeth...not quite the bloody merlot we were looking for, but enjoyable non the less! Better with food...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2007 - 6831 wrote: 92 Points
Not exceptionally aromatic, even with sufficient air time. However, the flavor profile is excellent with very sturdy tones of black currant, blackberry, mineral, smoke and a pleasant trace of vanillin and oak. Finishes well and long with a nice balance of fruit, acid and tannin. This full-bodied wine is definitely young, but starting to drink well at this stage. Had I tasted this blind, I would have guessed Cabernet for sure. Impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2006 - Mike Bates wrote: flawed
Wine was corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2006 - Quequeg wrote: 89 Points
At Iovino's, with Donna (she had a delicious Barrimundi; I had phenomenal ravioli with goat cheese, lemon and leeks). Very good, and just the right size; lots of power, and less of the sweetness that one sometimes gets with Merlot. Nice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2006 - JLL wrote: 91 Points
Best showing of this wine since last year, I guess the 1.5L was to thank. Fruit, which was dark and surrounded by mocha was very forward with perfect tannins......wonderful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2006 - JLL wrote: 88 Points
still very good, see my earlier notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2006 - shine wrote: 90 Points
Well integrated . Subtle nose of fruit and greens. Complex flavors with nice mouthfeel. Good food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2006 - JLL wrote: 87 Points
was far better 6 months ago, the fruit is still there, but there is now some harsh heat to be found on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2006 - NeuroDoc wrote: 87 Points
A disappointing, monolithic merlot from a great producer. expected more, but really didn't hold its weight compared to a very good, but not outstanding cali cab (2001 Pine Ridge -SLD)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Terrific dark and bright purple color. Bright, clean grape smell with a trifle nose of alcohol. Nice full palate immersed with a slight tannic bite. Good. Overpriced, but good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2006 - psmith wrote: 87 Points
Lush and youthful. Chocolaty Merlot notes and coarse tannins. Medium weight. Not totally in sync now, may benefit from a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2005 - Quequeg wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyed with pasta pie for Sunday dinner. A very nice Merlot; lots of sweet fruit, but not cloying. An undeniable "grapiness" that was not off-putting. A notch under the Pride Mountain Merlot, but not a big notch. This was the bottle the California partners gave me in 2004; a lovely gift, as it turns out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2005 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Some notes of sweet fig and raisin with a touch of dill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2005 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2005 - Russell Faulkner wrote: 90 Points
Slightly bretty nose, similar to the 2003, but more blackcurrent than cherry fruits, opened to show some tar and liquorice . Quite tannic finish, also some heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2005 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
I have been following this wine for a number of years and this is their best so far It has a wonderful fruit-driven nose where the depth, not the complexity, draws you back. On the palate there is terrific bright red cherry and plum that coats the mouth. Grainy tannins are well integrated and the finish is medium length (seems short because the structure and fruit promises more). I agree that it is a bit hot, but this was not a distractor for me or my wife, who is really sensitive to this issue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2005 - Stephan O wrote: 91 Points
This has a few flaws that leave it just short of stunning. It's both precocious and flashy -- soft and approachable, but ripe and concentrated, too. The nose is strong on cocoa and brown sugar, and it shows a touch of herb as well. It's plummy in the mouth, where the few tannins are well-integrated. The flaws are a short finish and persistent heat from front to back. Still, flawed or no, it's definitely worth the trip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2005 - Tejano wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple with at first pour a strong astringent nose that was a surprise, but mellowed with time, as did the wine. Good grip and pleasing fruit that went well with old fashioned pot roast, a good food wine. Not spectacular, but with enough body to no doubt age well, and will be much better with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2005 - Bunski wrote: 90 Points
Had with a nice rack of lamb. Almost black in color, lack the complexity of Cab, but solid drinking wine. Very traditional Merlot from Napa. Nice blackberry fruit and maybe a touch of leather
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment