Slo-oxed for 15 minutes which unleashed dark red fruits on the nose. The medium bodied palate showed some blackberry along with black and red cherry, and some spice. The acidity was nicely balancing and any tannins were integrated. A very flavorful Merlot with a great QPR at $18. Could continue to hold for a few years.
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Opaque black cherry color with lovely and vibrantly unmistakable fruit aromas of pleasantly dusty graphite laced Merlot grapes (try to smell and taste pressed Merlot juice prior to fermentation) and vanilla. The bouquet is reticent due to the wine’s recent liberation from a 50 degree Fahrenheit Maine natural basement cellar. The sweet, silky and sophisticated mouthfeel is provided by this heavily extracted wine. It has complementary acidity and a dauntingly present tannin structure that will allow this wine to interestingly evolve over the next five to eight years, without loss of the integrity of the fruit component. The wine is at once unidimensional in terms of dense flavor at this point, and the inherently implied complexity will allow this relatively affordable Merlot to show transposed California right bank Bordeaux attributes, all be they modest in comparison, with a relatively short to medium period of cellaring.
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Cherry, smoke and that characteristic tomato leaf aftertaste you get too often in merlot. I love merlot. I’ve had some good iterations of this wine. I found this a bit flat and short on the finish. 84
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Dusty aromas of red plums, cherries, and smoke. Plump yet tightly wound, with a serious Old World vibe. Ample structure and textural complexity to warm, spicy, and steely flavors. Lovely with a long decant but I'd like to revisit in 3 years.
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Robust red and black fruit flavors with good acidity and moderate tannins. Nicely balanced medium bodied wine with a good QPR at $15. Consistently good vintage after vintage.
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Poured and waited 30 mins before tasting. First impression: Notes of Dove and Irish Spring soap bars, followed by a finish of freshly used wash cloth. Second impression: This isn't close to being worth $25.
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Very nice wine, full flavor, cherry and some spices. Nice body, no after taste, no headache ! Was good first and second day. Pretty special at the price of around $17. Had couple more bottles and not as good. Still decent and fairly enjoyable but lowering to 90 from 91. There is more of aftertaste associated with the wine, more than I noticed before. So at this point I'd prefer other wines at this price level.
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1/16/2024 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slo-oxed for 15 minutes which unleashed dark red fruits on the nose. The medium bodied palate showed some blackberry along with black and red cherry, and some spice. The acidity was nicely balancing and any tannins were integrated. A very flavorful Merlot with a great QPR at $18. Could continue to hold for a few years.
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3/14/2022 - Josch48 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opaque black cherry color with lovely and vibrantly unmistakable fruit aromas of pleasantly dusty graphite laced Merlot grapes (try to smell and taste pressed Merlot juice prior to fermentation) and vanilla. The bouquet is reticent due to the wine’s recent liberation from a 50 degree Fahrenheit Maine natural basement cellar.
The sweet, silky and sophisticated mouthfeel is provided by this heavily extracted wine. It has complementary acidity and a dauntingly present tannin structure that will allow this wine to interestingly evolve over the next five to eight years, without loss of the integrity of the fruit component.
The wine is at once unidimensional in terms of dense flavor at this point, and the inherently implied complexity will allow this relatively affordable Merlot to show transposed California right bank Bordeaux attributes, all be they modest in comparison, with a relatively short to medium period of cellaring.
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2/10/2022 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very enjoyable for the price. Nice fruit and some spice. Satisfies expectations for a solid Merlot.
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9/28/2021 - swade wrote: 84 Points
Cherry, smoke and that characteristic tomato leaf aftertaste you get too often in merlot. I love merlot. I’ve had some good iterations of this wine. I found this a bit flat and short on the finish. 84
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4/22/2021 - Baron Slick wrote: 90 Points
Dusty aromas of red plums, cherries, and smoke. Plump yet tightly wound, with a serious Old World vibe. Ample structure and textural complexity to warm, spicy, and steely flavors. Lovely with a long decant but I'd like to revisit in 3 years.
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4/4/2021 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 90 Points
Smooth medium bodied wine with ample fruit flavors. Nicely balanced with all parts blending nicely.
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3/3/2021 - Daheet wrote:
Gift to new homeowner
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3/2/2021 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 90 Points
Robust red and black fruit flavors with good acidity and moderate tannins. Nicely balanced medium bodied wine with a good QPR at $15. Consistently good vintage after vintage.
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2/17/2021 - Krbnsol Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very smooth. Enjoyable.
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2/15/2021 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium body. Smoke, plum, Bing cherry, cinnamon, clove, and dark chocolate. Firm tannins.
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12/21/2020 - gmac10 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light nose, fantastic flavor up front, medium body and pleasant aftertaste.
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12/1/2020 - ecola Likes this wine: 87 Points
Fruity and unbalanced on day one. Softer, richer, and better on day two.
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11/23/2020 - ArturoG Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Poured and waited 30 mins before tasting. First impression: Notes of Dove and Irish Spring soap bars, followed by a finish of freshly used wash cloth. Second impression: This isn't close to being worth $25.
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11/18/2020 - Henryd31 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice wine, full flavor, cherry and some spices. Nice body, no after taste, no headache ! Was good first and second day. Pretty special at the price of around $17.
Had couple more bottles and not as good. Still decent and fairly enjoyable but lowering to 90 from 91. There is more of aftertaste associated with the wine, more than I noticed before. So at this point I'd prefer other wines at this price level.
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8/29/2020 - michelle.gray@family-gray.net wrote: 78 Points
Fruity but bitter, tannic. Doesn’t linger. Drinkable but not great
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