Pnp from a 375. After 25 mins slo ox the nose is tight but shows graphite, crushed stone and flowers when I really get my nose into it.
Plush and rich across the palate, the flavors arent as intense as id expect from the nose but this is still a great wine that's drinking really well. Lots of dark fruit. Confirms that my prior bottle was off, one could really confuse this for a cab.
75 mins after opening the flavors are a but more diluted; still excellent But confirms that even in a standard size bottle I wouldn't decant. in the heart of its window now, should be good through 2027 or longer
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Well we had 11 adults and some kids at our final brunch of the season at the club. So I opened a magnum. Dark plums, some fig, berries and chocolate flavors. The finish was moderate to long.
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Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass, the wine is a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with some significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of plums, dark brambles, cocoa, cedar box, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The alcohol is medium++. This is big and fancy and tastes, expensive.
Initial conclusions: this could be Merlot, Malbec, or Syrah from the USA, Argentina or France. However, the wine wasn’t purple enough for Malbec and I didn’t get any rotundune to make me chose Syrah. The tannins were silky smooth and the fruit was generous, plush and slightly tart which gave me a clue about the vintage.
Since I felt like this wine leaned toward its fruit, my final conclusion is that this is Merlot, from the USA, from California, from Napa Valley, 2018 vintage. Boom! I think this is drinking really well right now and it hides its alcohol (15.6%!) remarkably well. Drink now and through 2028.
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My wife and I decided to have a glass of wine while watching some Netflix show that she found. Dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums and chocolate leading to a moderately long finish. I always enjoy SR merlots.
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4th Saturday Brown Bagger (R&D’s): Double blind. Deep inky color with notes of black and blue fruit, oak spice and chocolate. Full-bodied. Abundant black fruit and spice on the palate. Medium+ finish. (R&D)
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Pop and pour from 375. A bit hot on the nose and a bit restrained on the front palate, this isn't as rich, lush or a steak-worthy as many other vintages, or recent bottles from larger formats. May just be an off-bottle; not rated.
That being said this should go extraordinarily well with tonights copper river salmon with a Thai/soy/honey glaze.
Love that Kelly makes this format available!
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This is easy (I have actually consumed 3 bottles this year - not good, supply getting low) - see previous notes. However, this wine just very nice and drinking well now. We pair this with prime rib and it works perfect.
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The wife wanted a white SB and I wanted red so I opened this half bottle an hour and a half before dinner. Dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums and chocolate leading to a moderately long finish.
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Ok consumed another! My previous notes are still valid, so nothing much to add. I really am going to try to stretch my remaining bottles out a few more years. But, like I mentioned this wine is drinking very well now.
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Opened for ~30 minutes then poured...in a great spot...dark red fruit bursting from the glass and smooth finish...good tannins structure paired well with food...definitely has a few more years to run.
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Aromas of red and black fruit (yes, a combination of aroma); flavors of more black cherry with a nice minerality. As in previous note (not quite a year ago), this wine is a nice mild body wine with balanced tannins and acidity. I have read some other reviews stating maybe 10 more years in the bottle, however, I disagree (ok, I'm ready to be called out), but this wine is drinking very well now and probably will be for the next 5 years...10, I don't think is there. Closing with....if it is good now, why wait?
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Still strong and full bodied, with a hint of vanilla/oak, this is a dynamite fruit-concentrated red that will be even better in 5-10 years after it’s had some time to soften and unwind.
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My daughter had a show in Ct to showcase some of her art and I took a bunch of people out to dinner along with 2 bottles of the Merlot and 2 of the cabernet. I drank the Merlot so that is what I am writing up. The nose is all fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is mixed berries, plums, a little tobacco and some chocolate which led to a long smooth finish. I think a few hours in a decanter would have improved the rating.
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As much as I enjoyed the movie, Sideways truly did a disservice to Merlot. And at the end of the movie, Miles is drinking a Right Bank Merlot/Cab Franc wine he has treasured.
This is a treasured wine from the Switchback folks. No flabbiness at all. Great structure and great fruit. I hope I can hold off a few more years to taste this fully mature. Probably not!
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Well, this is just huge today — superb ripe fruit and full bodied but with a serious tannic grip overlay. (I decided to open this ahead of contemplating additional S-R merlot purchases.). Even on day two, the wine showed little change. Yes, I’ll be buying more! A wine that’ll be drinking well for many, many years to come.
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$60+ Blind Bordeaux Varietals Tasting (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Chocolate core with maroon violet rim; plush on the nose, opulent mix of red and dark fruit; velvety tannins, full bodied, nutty, lots of baking spice, lower acid, hedonistic, chocolate filled finish.
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While I frequently drink these out of half bottles on a weeknight, this Sunday we popped a 750. Decanted half for 2.5 hours while following the balance from the bottle.
Claret coloring but a great grip on the stems. Nose isn’t giving much up (or mine is overpowered by wood burning in the pizza oven and fireplace). Lighter on the palate indicates I may not want to decant future bottles as long; wine poured directly from the bottle proves the point.
Classic Peterson merlot with dark fruit, lush mouthfeel and a tinge of vanilla and coffee. What a nice merlot on a pleasantly cool North Dallas eve.
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This is the best wine I have had so far this year. Absolutely blossoming into a excellent wine. Actually better than the previous tasting. Floral, well balanced, and long finish. Definitely my kind of wine.
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Pop and pour from a 375. A half hour after pulling the cork the nose is dark and deep, showing some wood, space and vanilla. Typical for a Foley, this is a cab lovers Merlot and while it’s improved from my last tasting, this still needs another year or so to come of its own.
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Tasted at the Heron House in Yountville. Last vintage made by Bob Foley. 91% Merlot, 9% Cab Sauv, Calistoga fruit. Affable, plummy, and cherry-driven profile with a really great structure. Excellent 91.
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coming out the bottle with aromas of dark rich red and black fruit. A fine balance between acidity and tannins to make for a mellow long finish. Long legs on the glass along with the dark ruby color. I also agree there is more life in the wine so drank a bottle a year.
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Tasted at a Vine Vault tasting in Austin.......sweet red/black berry fruited nose.....palate is similar. Some milk chocolate, spicy ending with very good acidity backing it all up. A pretty nice little wine for my tastes......
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Poured through an aerator. Very deep ruby color. Raspberry, anise, and milk chocolate on the nose. Smooth, dry palate, with good acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
This needs time, but has terrific potential. Tasted at a multi-winery roadshow in Austin, TX a few days ago.
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Poppin poor from a 375. There are some faint green notes on the nose which blew off 30-45 mins after opening. This has the lush approach and dark flavoring I expect from switchback and Foley, and should provide enjoyable drinking for several years.
The wine is nonetheless softer at this early date than I recall from other vintages, and I’m curious to see if it’s associated with the vintage or changes to the house style.
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From a 375 with 30 minutes of bottle air. Right off the bat there were some raisins on the nose, but those blew off within a few minutes. While I catch some toasted wood on the palate, this bottle / format is much softer than I expect from SR.
Will re-sample in the near future to gauge if there’s bottle variation, as tonites experience is fine but lacks the cab-like mouthfeel and finish typical of the property.
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This powerhouse Merlot draws you in with striking aromas of ripe raspberry, red currant, and a hint of vanilla. The palate offers a rich sweetness of fruit, pleasantly viscous with an array of ripe fruit flavors. The tannins are refined and gentle, perfectly balanced out with bright acidity, and lead to an incredibly long finish that rivals any Cabernet Sauvignon. Bob Foley is the winemaker. 1071 cases of 750.
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2/1/2024 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp from a 375. After 25 mins slo ox the nose is tight but shows graphite, crushed stone and flowers when I really get my nose into it.
Plush and rich across the palate, the flavors arent as intense as id expect from the nose but this is still a great wine that's drinking really well. Lots of dark fruit. Confirms that my prior bottle was off, one could really confuse this for a cab.
75 mins after opening the flavors are a but more diluted; still excellent But confirms that even in a standard size bottle I wouldn't decant. in the heart of its window now, should be good through 2027 or longer
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12/10/2023 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well we had 11 adults and some kids at our final brunch of the season at the club. So I opened a magnum. Dark plums, some fig, berries and chocolate flavors. The finish was moderate to long.
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12/4/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 92 Points
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass, the wine is a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with some significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of plums, dark brambles, cocoa, cedar box, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The alcohol is medium++. This is big and fancy and tastes, expensive.
Initial conclusions: this could be Merlot, Malbec, or Syrah from the USA, Argentina or France. However, the wine wasn’t purple enough for Malbec and I didn’t get any rotundune to make me chose Syrah. The tannins were silky smooth and the fruit was generous, plush and slightly tart which gave me a clue about the vintage.
Since I felt like this wine leaned toward its fruit, my final conclusion is that this is Merlot, from the USA, from California, from Napa Valley, 2018 vintage. Boom! I think this is drinking really well right now and it hides its alcohol (15.6%!) remarkably well. Drink now and through 2028.
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9/20/2023 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
My wife and I decided to have a glass of wine while watching some Netflix show that she found. Dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums and chocolate leading to a moderately long finish. I always enjoy SR merlots.
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8/26/2023 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (R&D’s): Double blind. Deep inky color with notes of black and blue fruit, oak spice and chocolate. Full-bodied. Abundant black fruit and spice on the palate. Medium+ finish. (R&D)
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8/20/2023 - davidandrose Likes this wine:
Pop and pour from 375. A bit hot on the nose and a bit restrained on the front palate, this isn't as rich, lush or a steak-worthy as many other vintages, or recent bottles from larger formats. May just be an off-bottle; not rated.
That being said this should go extraordinarily well with tonights copper river salmon with a Thai/soy/honey glaze.
Love that Kelly makes this format available!
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6/19/2023 - Mortgage92 wrote: 92 Points
This is easy (I have actually consumed 3 bottles this year - not good, supply getting low) - see previous notes. However, this wine just very nice and drinking well now. We pair this with prime rib and it works perfect.
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5/24/2023 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wife wanted a white SB and I wanted red so I opened this half bottle an hour and a half before dinner. Dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. The palate was dark berries, plums and chocolate leading to a moderately long finish.
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4/23/2023 - brigcampbell wrote:
Dark and concentrated. Dark cherry flavored and light dry cocoa.
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4/15/2023 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ok consumed another! My previous notes are still valid, so nothing much to add. I really am going to try to stretch my remaining bottles out a few more years. But, like I mentioned this wine is drinking very well now.
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3/30/2023 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Opened for ~30 minutes then poured...in a great spot...dark red fruit bursting from the glass and smooth finish...good tannins structure paired well with food...definitely has a few more years to run.
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3/30/2023 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas of red and black fruit (yes, a combination of aroma); flavors of more black cherry with a nice minerality. As in previous note (not quite a year ago), this wine is a nice mild body wine with balanced tannins and acidity. I have read some other reviews stating maybe 10 more years in the bottle, however, I disagree (ok, I'm ready to be called out), but this wine is drinking very well now and probably will be for the next 5 years...10, I don't think is there. Closing with....if it is good now, why wait?
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2/12/2023 - kabert Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still strong and full bodied, with a hint of vanilla/oak, this is a dynamite fruit-concentrated red that will be even better in 5-10 years after it’s had some time to soften and unwind.
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2/8/2023 - markcic wrote: 92 Points
My daughter had a show in Ct to showcase some of her art and I took a bunch of people out to dinner along with 2 bottles of the Merlot and 2 of the cabernet. I drank the Merlot so that is what I am writing up. The nose is all fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is mixed berries, plums, a little tobacco and some chocolate which led to a long smooth finish. I think a few hours in a decanter would have improved the rating.
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12/28/2022 - mactheknife Likes this wine: 94 Points
As much as I enjoyed the movie, Sideways truly did a disservice to Merlot. And at the end of the movie, Miles is drinking a Right Bank Merlot/Cab Franc wine he has treasured.
This is a treasured wine from the Switchback folks. No flabbiness at all. Great structure and great fruit. I hope I can hold off a few more years to taste this fully mature. Probably not!
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11/19/2022 - kabert Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well, this is just huge today — superb ripe fruit and full bodied but with a serious tannic grip overlay. (I decided to open this ahead of contemplating additional S-R merlot purchases.). Even on day two, the wine showed little change. Yes, I’ll be buying more! A wine that’ll be drinking well for many, many years to come.
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9/23/2022 - Rezy13 wrote:
$60+ Blind Bordeaux Varietals Tasting (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Chocolate core with maroon violet rim; plush on the nose, opulent mix of red and dark fruit; velvety tannins, full bodied, nutty, lots of baking spice, lower acid, hedonistic, chocolate filled finish.
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5/22/2022 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
While I frequently drink these out of half bottles on a weeknight, this Sunday we popped a 750. Decanted half for 2.5 hours while following the balance from the bottle.
Claret coloring but a great grip on the stems.
Nose isn’t giving much up (or mine is overpowered by wood burning in the pizza oven and fireplace). Lighter on the palate indicates I may not want to decant future bottles as long; wine poured directly from the bottle proves the point.
Classic Peterson merlot with dark fruit, lush mouthfeel and a tinge of vanilla and coffee. What a nice merlot on a pleasantly cool North Dallas eve.
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3/19/2022 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is the best wine I have had so far this year. Absolutely blossoming into a excellent wine. Actually better than the previous tasting. Floral, well balanced, and long finish. Definitely my kind of wine.
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3/13/2022 - Mattie1040 wrote: 94 Points
Chocolate
Spicy
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2/20/2022 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour from a 375. A half hour after pulling the cork the nose is dark and deep, showing some wood, space and vanilla. Typical for a Foley, this is a cab lovers Merlot and while it’s improved from my last tasting, this still needs another year or so to come of its own.
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10/4/2021 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful merlot that can sit in cellar for few years.
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9/29/2021 - pkbowen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted at the Heron House in Yountville. Last vintage made by Bob Foley. 91% Merlot, 9% Cab Sauv, Calistoga fruit. Affable, plummy, and cherry-driven profile with a really great structure. Excellent 91.
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8/15/2021 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 91 Points
coming out the bottle with aromas of dark rich red and black fruit. A fine balance between acidity and tannins to make for a mellow long finish. Long legs on the glass along with the dark ruby color. I also agree there is more life in the wine so drank a bottle a year.
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8/14/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted at a Vine Vault tasting in Austin.......sweet red/black berry fruited nose.....palate is similar. Some milk chocolate, spicy ending with very good acidity backing it all up. A pretty nice little wine for my tastes......
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8/12/2021 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Poured through an aerator. Very deep ruby color. Raspberry, anise, and milk chocolate on the nose. Smooth, dry palate, with good acidity. Firm tannins on the longish finish.
This needs time, but has terrific potential. Tasted at a multi-winery roadshow in Austin, TX a few days ago.
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7/12/2021 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 91 Points
Poppin poor from a 375. There are some faint green notes on the nose which blew off 30-45 mins after opening. This has the lush approach and dark flavoring I expect from switchback and Foley, and should provide enjoyable drinking for several years.
The wine is nonetheless softer at this early date than I recall from other vintages, and I’m curious to see if it’s associated with the vintage or changes to the house style.
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4/16/2021 - davidandrose wrote: 89 Points
From a 375 with 30 minutes of bottle air. Right off the bat there were some raisins on the nose, but those blew off within a few minutes. While I catch some toasted wood on the palate, this bottle / format is much softer than I expect from SR.
Will re-sample in the near future to gauge if there’s bottle variation, as tonites experience is fine but lacks the cab-like mouthfeel and finish typical of the property.
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1/30/2021 - hanasowner wrote:
Opened an hour before with a small pour...medium red with light red fruit...very tight and tannic...hoping for better on night two.
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11/3/2020 - DBSingleton Likes this wine:
This powerhouse Merlot draws you in with striking aromas of ripe raspberry, red currant, and a hint of vanilla. The palate offers a rich sweetness of fruit, pleasantly viscous with an array of ripe fruit flavors. The tannins are refined and gentle, perfectly balanced out with bright acidity, and lead to an incredibly long finish that rivals any Cabernet Sauvignon. Bob Foley is the winemaker. 1071 cases of 750.
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