Beyond its "drink by" point but still enjoyable. I confess I'm not a Merlot lover and am saddened to see this ordinarily mediocre grape take over in Saint-Émilion from cabernet franc and to a lesser extent in the Médoc from cabernet sauvignon. It has been too widely planted in Washington and California. The reason: disease resistant, early ripening, yields better than cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Of course, there are great Merlots, but they are few and far between. The movie "Sideways" was mostly right.
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Nose of raspberry, cassis & pencil. Deep garnet color. Black cherry fruit surrounded by cedar and pencil notes with rich young tannins for a long finish.
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This was really nice, and raspberry chocolate sums up the taste really well. Was more full-bodied than most merlot, with some well-integrated tannic support, and a pleasingly long finish.
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Liked this better than I thought I would, lush, plush, a ltitle oaky and alcoholic. No brett, don't know what 'last chance' is referring to. Notes in line with 'mariaMA's.
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Color was a lightly clouded ruby red. Fair amount of tannins still present. The taste reminded me of salt pork and tobacco initially--thought this before I read the review by mkparker. As the wine warmed a little, I jotted down that it seemed to take on more of a raspberry chocolate character. I will probably age my remaining bottles at least another year before testing another.
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This wine was amazing. The nose was the most floral I have ever noted in any wine, much less a merlot. Once poured, the glass smells of lilac and other spring flowers. On the palate the wine offered notes of leather, berry, curant and tabacco. The wine offered a smooth long finish for a merlot. This is the best release from CSM since the 1999 reserve syrah.
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Washington Wine Highway (Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, WA): The nose of this wine had brett, cherry, plum, and mocha aromas. The palate had flavors of cherry, blackberry, earth, and some herbs. Medium bodied wine with a medium long finish that was consistent with the palate. This was one of the best wines I have ever had from Chateau Ste. Michelle. It was very much like a nice Right Bank Merlot, though for the price, you might as well get a real Right Bank Merlot.
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2/4/2024 - oakville72 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Beyond its "drink by" point but still enjoyable. I confess I'm not a Merlot lover and am saddened to see this ordinarily mediocre grape take over in Saint-Émilion from cabernet franc and to a lesser extent in the Médoc from cabernet sauvignon. It has been too widely planted in Washington and California. The reason: disease resistant, early ripening, yields better than cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Of course, there are great Merlots, but they are few and far between. The movie "Sideways" was mostly right.
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6/12/2014 - tfesmgk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Even better than the last bottle. Great value.
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9/15/2011 - tfesmgk wrote: 90 Points
Not a big merlot fan but this was very good. Dark fruit, some oak, long finish good nose. Looking forward to the next bottle.
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12/21/2010 - team-blackburn wrote: 88 Points
Lots of cedar and oak, the frruit was muted almost shut down.
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10/14/2010 - Wino Joe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of raspberry, cassis & pencil. Deep garnet color. Black cherry fruit surrounded by cedar and pencil notes with rich young tannins for a long finish.
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6/1/2010 - wicozani wrote: 89 Points
This was really nice, and raspberry chocolate sums up the taste really well. Was more full-bodied than most merlot, with some well-integrated tannic support, and a pleasingly long finish.
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4/26/2009 - Chuck Miller wrote: 88 Points
Liked this better than I thought I would, lush, plush, a ltitle oaky and alcoholic. No brett, don't know what 'last chance' is referring to. Notes in line with 'mariaMA's.
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1/14/2009 - UBernier wrote: 91 Points
Color was a lightly clouded ruby red. Fair amount of tannins still present. The taste reminded me of salt pork and tobacco initially--thought this before I read the review by mkparker. As the wine warmed a little, I jotted down that it seemed to take on more of a raspberry chocolate character. I will probably age my remaining bottles at least another year before testing another.
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9/20/2008 - KimberlyDo wrote: 90 Points
Dark red and clear. Boquet of ripe fruit and oak. Medium to long taste with even fruit intensity throughout and good oak structure.
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4/20/2008 - mkparker wrote: 90 Points
This wine was amazing. The nose was the most floral I have ever noted in any wine, much less a merlot. Once poured, the glass smells of lilac and other spring flowers. On the palate the wine offered notes of leather, berry, curant and tabacco. The wine offered a smooth long finish for a merlot. This is the best release from CSM since the 1999 reserve syrah.
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5/26/2007 - last chance wrote: 92 Points
Washington Wine Highway (Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, WA): The nose of this wine had brett, cherry, plum, and mocha aromas. The palate had flavors of cherry, blackberry, earth, and some herbs. Medium bodied wine with a medium long finish that was consistent with the palate. This was one of the best wines I have ever had from Chateau Ste. Michelle. It was very much like a nice Right Bank Merlot, though for the price, you might as well get a real Right Bank Merlot.
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