Tasted this at Pride Mountain about a year ago (2023) and it was really good. So, I took advantage and picked up a couple of bottles. One remaining in my cellar. In my estimation, it probably has another few years to be enjoyed.
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Typical Pride Merlot - round, plush, rich, and flat out delicious. Seems to be fading, with secondary flavors much stronger than the remaining fruit. IMHO, it's time to drink up.
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Coravin'd two glasses day one, popped the cork on the remaining 2/3 bottle day two. Aged toasted oak and vanilla on the nose; modest bricking on the edges. Very smooth, charred wood and leather - closer to a bordeaux than a cali merlot. Early on there was a brief sour aftertaste back-palate, but that faded with an hour of bottle air. Fine but I'd drink up.
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Smooth, rich and powerful -- virtually indistinguishable from a high quality cabernet, which is what I like about Pride's wines. Plenty of tread left on the tires at 10 years old. Tremendous value at around $50.
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At 10 years old, it was still holding on - structurally anyways - with firm tannins and a perceptive level of acidity. That said, it was a tad disjointed; the Pride-typical, Cali fruit notably faded. Aromatically, it was phenomenal with distinct notes of cocoa-dusted dark chocolate truffles. Another fault being a prominent whiff of alcohol. A vintage of this wine from the prior decade which one critic described as "liquified Viagra" :), was my intro to Bob Foley's work at Pride. This bottle was far from that but moderately enjoyable nonetheless.
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45 mins of undecanted air, followed over 2 hours. Light dark fruit on the nose; watery black cherry w strawberry notes on the palate. Very easy to drink with or without food, this paired nicely w sautéed salmon over spinach and bacon. Solid merlot in the heart of its window, I'll extend the drinking period to 2017 but will drink remaining bottles in '16.
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My first bottle of the 2006. I wish my car was as reliable as Pride Merlots. Looked, smelled, and tasted exactly like what I had expected. Round, plush, rich, with a nice finish. Took to a party and two or three people declared it WOTN. Although I wouldn't go that far (the 1996 Dominus wasn't half bad), it was/is a terrific wine. Holding up just fine.
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Gread pop n pour. Blackberry, white pepper are dominant on the nose. Tannins are medium and coat the palate nicely, dissipating fairly quickly allowing the finish to linger for 15+ seconds. All the components really get along well in the glass, with red cherry, spicebox, watery blackberry and a hint of vanilla. In a very good place today, I'll drink my remaining bottles by 1Q16
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The color is deepest opaque red with noticible fine solids suspended throughout. There was only 1/4 tsp of sediment in the bottle and none on the filter. Nose gives briny and peppery black fruit liqueur. The legs are slow to form and slower sliding down the glass. Blackberry olive oil and chocolate coat the palate like a milkshake with a fat juicy finish. After some airtime hints of cinnamon mint and bubblegum appear. Lucky for me that's what I'm into.
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Just like the other night we drank the Pride right next to the Chateau St. Jean Reserve Merlot and the St. Jean came up just a bit bigger and more complex. Really a great merlot!!
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{1,5L} Its best days seem to be behind it - to my palate, anyway, though others felt it was just fine and very much in their wheelhouse. I was surprised by the underlying structure of the tannins and acids - both of which will outlive the fruit; drink now. 14,8% abv.
Served non-blind; aerated to decanter for 2 hours, removed a good amount of sediment and return to bottle for service 4 hours later.
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Perfectly balanced, no need to decant. Delicious, not sure I will wait long to drink my last bottle. Enjoyed with a dinner of salmon, filet mignon and salad with a light dressing.
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pretty consistent with notes of 1/21/2011 - but really singing now...in balance and with resonating notes on the front, mid and back palate. WOTN for me.
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Kat's notes- We enjoyed the wine. Nose was not aggressive, oaky, earthy like a stroll through the forest after a fall rain. The taste has initial hints of cherry and plum. Medium tannins and a non-assertive, clean finish. It is a medium body which pairs well with a lighter meal like poultry and fish.
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Came across as rather bordeaux like as seems the fruit is fading a bit and has this cigar-box and tobacco thing going on. Can definitely sense the alcohol but in a rather non-objectional way - just sort of a warmth that comes through. Better with food than on its own. I'd say drink now.
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With 191 tasting notes to date and scores all over the place, I have to weigh in on the lower end of the spectrum. Perhaps I should have opened it sooner but at this point this bottle leans towards a more austere style with very little fruit but at least fairly soft tannins. I don't see this improving at all with more time and if I had any left, they'd be on my drink sooner than later list.
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I really was looking forward to enjoying this wine based on the fantastic bottle I had from a previous vintage. That bottle tasted like a chocolate malt with a bit of red fruit. This bottle was a bit astringent and lacked the malted milkshake taste and most of the red fruit. Overall, not a bad bottle for $15 - $20, but it that was nice price.....
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This wine (a blend of 58% Sonoma County fruit and 42% Napa County fruit) was assessed in single-blind fashion at our group's Right Bank vs. New World Merlot/Cabernet Franc tasting. It was easily spotted as "New World" by virtue of its delicious ripe fruit. The wine is opaque ruby/red and shows beautiful aromatics of ripe plum, tar, cherry and spice. It is full-bodied, round and viscous on the palate, with big sweet tannins to frame the fruit and spice. Despite being listed as 14.8%, there is no excessive heat from the alcohol. The solid middle palate leads to a long, smooth finish. At age seven, this wine is drinking very nicely and should continue to do so for another 5-7 years (or more). Drink now-12/19.
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It was OK. I wanted to try this because I'm just starting my collection and Pride does a really great Merlot. I think I am done with Merlot and will stick with Cabs and Bordeaux's for my collection moving forward. Pride Cabernet is much better than their Merlot in my opinion which is not much. Much love Pride.
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Recall that this vintage was somewhat better tan it turned out. First glass was not decanted and left a bit to be desired. After another 30 minutes, and the start of Thanksgiving dinner, it had begun to open up nicely. Rest of bottle was finished with more than 90 minutes of decanting...markedly better.
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Deep garnet, decanted quickly, aromas not prevalent. Rich sweet cherries, leather, a little sappy. Great depth and loads of pleasure with enough acidity to finish beautifully. Wonderful fall wine.
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OK, I waited another two years to retaste this wine...and I can't say I feel any better about it. Rather than improving over time, it tastes rather pruney. Still tannic, but without the fruit to compensate. One of the poorer efforts from Pride, I'm afraid.
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60 minute decant. From magnum. No formal notes, brought to dinner @ Brix. Absolutely delicious. Black fruit, rhubarb, and baking spices. Tannins were sweet and beautifully integrated. A superb expression of mountain Merlot. Outstanding.
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The tannins seemed to have softened a little bit. Fruit is still fresh. Blueberries and black cherries. There is a savory element in here as well. Some herbs. Fully bodied but not ponderous. Stil some lively acidity.
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Extremely dark as noted by a previous poster, purple/deep ruby hue to the color. The nose was extremely pleasant had a nice hint of spices and mocha or chocolate smells. The palate impression is all about extremely rich fruit that just exploded in the mouth. Extremely smooth texture and taste but with explosive flavors of chocolate, mocha, and some dark fruit. As noted earlier by others, it had a great balance of acidity and tannins. Extremely nice finish which made this a great Cab lovers Merlot. A highly recommended bottle of wine for sure!!!!! Drink by 2016-2017 but definitely a winner.
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PnP. Dark ruby core, no sign of age. When I ventured down to the cellar as the first few bottles were making their way to empty, I wanted something I knew I could PnP and it would be ready to go right out of the gate. I was right, but what was a bit disappointing was how the wine developed holes in the mid-palate by the last glass, the finish, too, had become less satisfying. I served this double-blind to guests, after an hour, 7 people had failed to guess Merlot, or even Napa for that matter. Perhaps that was because they know I favor Italian and French (yes, in that order) wines, but as one of the guests was a winemaker and the rest ITB or spouses of ITB they'd all had their fair share of wines and should have at least been close. I think there is a commentary here, the wine fails to deliver varietal character and sense of place, just a creamy mouthfeel, rich fruits and low acids. Sigh. My 10th bottle from a case purchased on release. Drink thru 2015, 14,8% abv.
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Decided on this one for my birthday. Writing this a week later and still remembering one of the perfect Prides. Filtered and decanted and only ended up with 1/4 tsp of chunks. Drank perfectly.
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Has aged very well. Reminds me of why we have Merlots and very resentful of the swill that filled the shelves in stores given Merlot a bad name. Distinctibely Merlot with medium body and the slightest hint of vegetation. Great dark fruit flavors, very balanced and integrated
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Decanted 2 hours. Very dark, nearly opaque ruby/purple. The nose is complex and intriguing with sweet spices, some savory elements and a unique roes petal, floral note. The palate impression is all about lush, rich, ripe fruit that is very well delineated. Bakers' chocolate, espresso and dark plum flavors are smooth and silky in texture. They are lifted and by good acidity, light ripe tannins and a warm, full-bodied finish. This is a really lovely Merlot. Drink now -2015.
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The nose was expressive with dark fruit, spice and oak. The palate seems to be lacking something compared to what the nose promised. Good and enjoyable but came up short for a Pride merlot.
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Pretty good Cali Merlot these days. It has softened over the years. Nose of smoke, oak, and red fruit. In the mouth, plenty of cassis fruit, but it does need an hour+ to show off. Nice approachable tannins now...a year or 2 after release, not so nice. 10 to 15 years ago this was in my top 10 Cali cab/merlots. Tastes change and so do winemakers.
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Nose of chocolate covered cherries that finishes with some currant. Concentrated chewy fruit on the palate that finishes hot with some distinct stems. Some early tasting notes I have read suggest tannic and austere but that wasnt my impression. It must be maturing some. The alcohol though is very prevalent on the nose and palate.
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Slow-O 4 hours. Opened side-by-side with the '04 and the '05. Not surprisingly, this is the least resolved. Of the three, this was my least favorite because it was paired with grilled NY strips and twice-bakeds. On it's own, a crowd-pleasing quaffer. With food, well, not my style. My friend I opened it up for however, rated it as his WOTN. Oh well. medium+ bodied palate. This is in a terrific spot right now, I suggest giving this another 1-2 years in the cellar. Drink thru 2016, 14,8% abv, score: B/B+
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Pretty tight at this stage in its development. Displays notes of black cherries, blueberries, dark chocolate, and (still some) vanillin oak. Nice on the attack but a bit hard and angular on the midpalate. Finishes with some heat. Not bad for such a cool vintage but I have had better bottles. Decant or hold.
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Hard to believe I was this hard a few month back on this, one of the lowest scores I ever leveled a wine and bothered to write it up, I must be bitter about being stuck w 55 bones a bottle. Still a beautiful rich color. On the P&P this was yummy chocolate thing w ripe blue/purple fruit. If it stayed like this man, Merlot heaven. I noticed later after it came to warm up, it was a mess. Previous TN's seemed to be accurate. Not sure where the spice comes from still. I agree w Soyhead, it finishes like a whiskey. Our experiences are identical.
Day II. Vanilla alch chemmy nose again, real consistent. The balance is off, the wine making interfering. Shame. A reason why I have cancelled shipments, ahhh, to each his own. If you like Cali spoofified wines with a caramel vanilla topping, this is for you. Perhaps years will treat this kindly. Dumping the last glass, life's too short.
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Feared bottle may have suffered from heat-damage/leakage. Pop and pour, little thinner than I recall from last tasting or my preference, but still a competant wine. No off notes, mature dark fruits, both aromas and palate. Overpriced
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A big powerful, although not overly complex, Merlot that is drinking on the young side right now. You pick up primarily rich sweet ripe dark fruit on the nose, while the taste show more of a balance with earthen and chocolate notes that tug against the big fruit flavors and meld and linger pleasantly on a medium tannic finish.
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Consistent notes as is expected of a (young) Pride wine. Rich, and creamy with welcome accents of smoke and herbs, this proved generous on the texture and cassis-heavy perfumes. Still, for what it is, it was enjoyable. Drink thru 2016, 14,8% abv.
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Why I stopped buying these. Big alcoholic bomb, chemical notes, oaky, oaky, oaky. Did I say OAK? There was some really nice fruit on the palate there, keeps this from going to the 70's. There was a spicyness to this that I cannot explain either. Maybe day II will redeem it.
Day II. Big vanilla nose, no surprise. Nice & weighty. Oak is more charry now, vanilla. Still big beautiful fruit ruined by oak. Oh well, to each his own. same score, a good wine, very bad QPR. Tasting the dregs before tossing the bottle. Looking aged. Not smelling very nice. Rotten fruit. Remarkable well held together, just still don"t care for it. Some nice smoky fruit, alch burn, oak still... ugh.
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this revealed big fruit but shows itself currently as being way way overoaked. Almost as if someone took a dropper and added some drops of vanilla straight into the bottle. Big vanilla, and even whisky flavors on the finish are frankling upsetting. I have very much enjoyed Pride merlots in the past, so i will have to give this the benefit of the doubt and consider it in a weird stage. Retry in 5 years. Ugh.
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Big heavy merlot, that if I was blindfolded I would have said was a cab. Tons of fruit left in this bottle, along with plenty of tannin that after several hours open finally loosened their grip. I should have decanted this wine for several hours prior to serving, we popped and poured. Not typical for the varietal but still really enjoyed it.
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The nose showed blueberry and blackberry with molasses, a hint of vanilla and, with air in the glass, sweet confectionary spices. On the palate, it was warm and seductive with a full balanced body, showing black cherry, cinnamon and spice with dark chocolate and cola leading into the long finish. Pride successfully balance elegance and structure in this excellent bottle of Merlot.
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From a 375. Dark purple. Raspberry on the nose. This is a big wine with lots of raspberry, vanilla, and mocha notes. Long finish. This threw quite a bit of sediment.
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Decanted for an hour. Did not let it sit up enough, fine silt was still in wine for the last glass- ugh! The nose did not quite the pallet. Love their merlot. Better than a year ago.
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PnP. Still full of hedonism, but much more settled now vs its release. Layers of ripe blueberry and blackberry are covered in melted chocolate, sweet tobacco leaf and vanilla. Not confectionery, but nothing lean about it either. This is in a very good place right now, and has the substance to stand up to very complex dishes. Many more years of pleasurable drinking ahead, but it's so darn good (I enjoy a guilty pleasure every now and then) now, no need to wait. Approx $48, drink thru 2015, 14,8% abv.
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nose has great pepper and plum aromas. Flavors of plum, chocolate, and earthy tobacco and pepper on the tail. Big and soft, the tannins are minimal but enough to give on the belief of a few more years of life.
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So good. Now I remember why we bought so much. Smooth and easy with a great earthy fruit finish only top produced Spring mountain fruit can provide. Drinking very well now!
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Pop and pour, consumed over 3.5 hours. This wine has grown dramatically since my last tasting 16 months ago. No notes of green, has put on some weight, and shows some pleasing dark blue and black fruits in a smooth, fruit-based profile. It definately shares the Spring Mountain profile. Not picking up much tannin but some cedar is present. . Will taste again within a year to see if the lack of tanin has changed and to gauge the life of my remaining bottles. Very enjoyable
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Mom says "Oh man, I give it 5 stars, and I'm no expert. It's like spicy and hot, and the taste is totally unlike it smells." "How so?", I say. "Smoooooooth, it goes down totally smooth. It tastes beautiful. It's a gorgeous wine. You can taste the berries and it has a great aftertaste. Anytime you wanna get this again, go for it!" I guess my mom liked this a lot. My notes, this took a few hours to really get rolling, right out of the bottle it was heavily cedar, pepper with the fruit playing second fiddle to the these flavors. The palate showed the fruit but still with the heavy cedar. We left the bottle open for 4 hours then came back to it and it had opened and the acidity and tannins had finally found their place next to the big, luscious fruit flavors. Initially the tannins were limp and no where to be found, some air time did this wine well. Very smooth, no burn, just easy, delicious Napa sippin'. My mom was absolutely in love with it.
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Had the Pride Merlot in Scottsdale at Rancho Pinot. This wine opened beautifully and the intensity of a mountain merlot was evident. Black and blue fruit with a nice backbone.
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14.8% ABV. Dark garnet in the glass, somewhat translucent. Smells a bit of dry wood/oak and slightly weedy mocha. Medium full bodied with dark berry and mocha flavors, that finish on the dry side. Okay. Neutral for the price.
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Decanted for an hour. A bit hot for the first hour of drinking. Then, it became more complex and integrated. A lot of cherry at one point. A good pride merlot, not going to be a excellent one.
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From magnum. Opaque purple garnet color. Notes of black cherry and dark fruit. Full-bodied, with plenty of tannin to resolve, yet there's plenty of fruit. Ends with spicy oak tones.
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Wanted to like this more but very disjointed at this stage. The fruit is evident but the wine lacks richness and is hot on the finish. Still tannic, acidic and not coming together.
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Classic example of what Pride Merlot is supposed to be, cocoa powder and dark fruits on the nose, following through on the palate. Probably will get even better over the next two years and last for another 10.
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Still very good, very tasty, but the fruit is fading a bit. See my note from 2009 when it was best of the night. This time a 05 Duckhorn Estate was the winner. Drink these now!
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Very dark ruby red. Aromas of dark berry, menthol, and chocolate, with only the barest hint of a touch of heat on the nose. I the mouth this is rich and well balanced, with a note of slightly astringent tannins on the finish that may well vanish with a bit more bottle age. I actually found this to be a bit more structured than the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.
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14.8% ABV. Dark garnet, somewhat translucent. A bit woody and dry smelling with a mocha note. Medium full bodied with dark berry and mocha flavors and a rather dry finish. Disappointing. Based on my succession of notes, this wine is drying up prematurely or this is an off bottle. I'm thinking the former, not the latter.
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Bought Christmas tree and celebrated with this monster. Rich and concentrated with killer tannins like a velvet blanket. Big red berries and some mocha. The finish lingers. An excellent merlot.
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Upon opening: Alcoholic heat on the nose and very sour on the palate. Not very pleasant. (low 80's score) On the second day: the nose opened up considerably and the heat dissipated. I raised my score on the impression that some bottle age will be beneficial.
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A dark ruby red color in the glass that after an hour in decanter showed plum sauce, blueberry, brown sugar and vanilla on the nose. Soft and full on the palate with black cherries, cinnamon, dark chocolate and a bit of funky undergrowth that added a savory character. Long mouth coating finish.
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Very delicious. Rich black and blue fruit with hints of chocolate. Lots of fruit, delicate structure backs everything up. Hides it's near 15% alcohol well. This is a interesting wine, massively fruity but has a bunch of interesting qualities. I don't feel the oak is over the top here as others have said, in this bottle it is nicely integrated. Heavy mouthfeel with a great medium intensity. Nice finish. The J. Miller in me loves this.
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Nice, fresh, a hint of chocolate, and fruit-filled nose. The color is muted and cloudy, but with a rich plum color. On the palate, after decanting for four hours, this is very nice. Open, smooth, and with great Merlot fruit. Surprisingly open, and not as closed down as I anticipated. Yummy stuff.
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NOM NOM NOM!!! After a full bottle of Champagne on Sunday night, we were only able to drink half of this. I put a cork in it and stashed it in the car. It sat in the car until we finished unpacking on Wednesday night, the outside temperature ranged from 40-64 degrees. What a pleasant surprise when I pulled the cork out! The nose was still pleasant and very inviting and the taste was outstanding, although a little sweeter.
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This is good news for the winery! A longtime fan of Pride Mtn., I was so ingrained in the philosophy that "the winemaker makes the wine", that I had all but written them off, once Bob Foley departed. I did attend a tasting there about two years ago and was impressed enough with the '05's to at least "wonder". But, not until I had this wine (at a high-end tasting, no less), and found it more notable than the Pahlmeyer and some others in the lineup, did I willingly accept that just maybe "the fruit makes the wine". For those into seriously expressive examples of Merlot, this winery should be considered a benchmark.
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A good wine right now that will in all likelihood develop into a very good wine, but doubtful that it will ever be outstanding. Massively structured. Hard, oaky, and alcoholic now; allow 3-5 years to round out and harmonize. Sweet fruits. This was one of my favorite Merlots from a recent trip to Napa, but for some reason is not showing as well now. If you pull the cork now, allow a 2-4 hour decant.
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Very tasty merlot. Cranberry, raspberry and mocha in the nose. Full-bodied with gobs of berry, chocolate, caramel and coffee. Pretty solid acidity upheld a generous finish. Very fine.
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Deep garnet color. Initially this was all vanilla and oak. Eventually the fruit came around with plum and black cherry tones. Flavors of plum, blackberry, cherry and spicy oak. Not quite as oplulent or lush as previous vintages, but still good. 89-91 pts.
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Very nice. Needs a bit more time to develop, I'd say a least 2 more years but it drinks well know after open for a few hours. Good black fruits, currants leading to some spice on the finish.
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Je ne suis pas un fan de Merlot californien habituellement, mais ce vin est intéressant. Il possède le fruité et la richesse typique de Napa, mais avec un côté austère qui le rapproche d’un bordelais de la rive gauche. Parker émet des doutes sur sa longévité, pour ma part je trouve que c’est le vin le plus structuré du lot.
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My first trip to Napa, Ca.; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009: This was the wine that made me want to check out Pride. I had this at a tasting room and was blown away by how well it tasted. My expectations were high going in and it didn't disappoint, but didn't wow me like it did before. Smelled beautiful, on the palate fresh merlot fruits with a great weight and balanced medium acidity and medium grip tannins. Nice long but clean finish as well. They did great with the oak treatment on this wine. Delicious stuff.
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Sonoma-Napa Trip Day 4 and 5; 6/29/2009-6/30/2009 (Napa and Sonoma): Sweet caramel oak nose. Some vanilla. Touch of powdered sugar creme brulee. Somewhat more austere than the '07 barrel sample. Concentrated black fruit. Deeply colored in the glass with a hint of tawny at the edge. Nice. $56.
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A hint of green and alcohol on the nose. Fairly thin mouthfeel, no tannic notes other than oak and the alcohol on the nose and a bit of alcohol noticable when quaffing. Nice wine overall, but one-dimensional and likely to have a short life IMO.
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Oaky and over-ripe but otherwise pretty good. Way too much coffee, cocoa, plum and fig for my palate, though. There's so much oak I'm even getting a wierd buttery thing - remniscent of a Shiraz . . or even a Cali Chard!
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Yowza. This wine is full of fruit, blackberries, currants, deep dark goodness, hits of black herbs, cloves, cocoa. It was the star of the lineup which included a 97 Ch. Montelena, 02 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot, 02 Duckhorn Estate Cab. It was lovely paired with Coq au Vin and celery potato mash.
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complex mountain merlot features with plenty of dark fruit, but not at all jammy; already integrating well with the oak and tannins; background tobacco leaf; one of the better merlots that i have tasted
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This continues to improve. A full + bodied wine with rich red and black fruits and a very seductive nose. Superb with a grilled rib-eye and garlic mashers. I bought a case and every time I pull one out, it is a real crowd-pleaser. 14.8% (really well integrated, not hot), approx $55. I think I'll wait another few years before opening another (yeah, right, like I can wait that long...).
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I did not wait 6mo like wanted to. A bit tight on day one, throwing a bit of sediment now too. Cocoa, red fruits and a bit of plum. Tannin adds a nice touch. Great merlot!
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I was impressed with this specimen. High aromatics foretell a richly expressive bounty with velvet dark berries, coffee bean, cocoa, a black cherry. The finish was long and savory. This vintage is bold yet beholds finesse. Outstanding!
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Pretty tight the first day, much more enjoyable the second day at this point. I think it would benefit of 6 mo more in bottle to calm down. Otherwise, very Pride and very good.
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Notes of blackberry, dark fruit and spice. Full bodied, with dark fruit, toasty oak and spice flavors on the palate. Tannins are firm and slightly chewy. Long finish.
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A huge, round mouthful of plum jam, vanilla and chocolate. A bit of heat, with nice oak and a slight saline character on the back end. I’d like a bit more acidity, but then that would probably compromise it’s enjoyable lushness. I’d like a bit more structure as well. Come to think of it, I’d rather have a cab. A very nice merlot nonetheless.
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Plush and velvety, with deep ripe red fruit. Mouthcoating and long on the finish, which has pronounced oakiness. Behind the oak, the pitch of the fruit is incredible. Indelible, tight, and expansive, there is wildberry, black berry, red plum.
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The wine was just released at the beginning of June, so it is no surprise that it is still ever-so-slightly backwards. Don't get me wrong, this is a winner. In fact it is such a nice wine, with such a bright future, that it is one of just a handful of wines that I bought an entire case of. The winemaker, Sally Johnson, has hit a home run with this wine.
In the glass, a medium ruby colour with a watery edge. On the nose, complex perfume of red and white flowers, plum, raspberry and herbs. This is a BIG wine. Not necessarily over-extracted, but at 14.8% alcohol (which is incredibly well integrated, by the way) it makes its presence known. There is a soft, elegant bouquet of cream, blackberry liqueur and vanilla. Firm tannins and rich glycerol add to the enjoyment. I look forward to enjoying this wine over the next 7 years...if I can manage to wait that long.
A seductive, rich and deeply satisfying wine that begs for a grilled tenderloin and a rich, complex sauce on the grilled veggies. Enjoy through 2014. Approximately $59
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I love Foley merlots and this is why. Dark sweet fruit and mocha on the nose. Maybe a hint of vanilla. Full mouth feel with well integrated tannins and nicely balanced/soft. Was just a little bit hot on the finish, but nothing you can't live with.
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Rich dark fruit with Foley chunks of cocoa, vanilla and well-integrated oak. Fine but firm tannins with depth and finish that would make even most cabs proud.
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Great intensity but more interest than just simple lush fruit. Cocoa notes and some earthy and spicy nuances helps hold my interest from first sip to last. Good tannin structure suggests that this will be great for at least 3 or 4 more years. Delicious.
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Overall, this may just be a really young wine at the time. Just felt really tight overall. Some classic Merlot aromas of black sour cherry, vanilla and some really nice soy sauce elements. The palate is showing a lot of alcohol right now which causes a slightly abrasive finish. Not as round as other Pride Merlots I've sampled. We'll see how this evolves. Still a great effort, just needs some time to let the alcohol mellow out I believe.
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Lots of sweet fruit, hints of green stem. Decanted this to help it open up, which worked for about 90 mins, after which time the wine began falling apart. Became exceedingly thin and lost much of its flavor. Not very tannic, esp for a wine thats just been released. I'll assume its in shock or sleeping.
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nose - nail polish and more hollow than the 2005 which may reflect that it is just freshly in the bottle. More fruity (?volatile acidity) than the 2005 at this point as well. Mouth - vibrant fruit, good acidty. Yummy. Contains 11% CabSauv
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($56) Napa-Noma, May 2008: Reticent nose. Caramel. Sweet attack with more tannin towards the finish. A bit one dimensional at the moment, but I suspect it will have a longer life than the 2005 and ultimately be a tastier wine.
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1/22/2024 - Quinnyard11 Likes this wine:
Tasted this at Pride Mountain about a year ago (2023) and it was really good. So, I took advantage and picked up a couple of bottles. One remaining in my cellar. In my estimation, it probably has another few years to be enjoyed.
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4/6/2023 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots of fruit and energy, not overly oaky. A bit "dusty" when first opened -- developed nicely in the next 15+ minutes
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3/17/2023 - maxmanx wrote:
PnP. My friend thought the fruit was gone, but I really enjoyed the secondary characteristics and didn't miss the fruit at all.
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3/25/2022 - Working_to_retire Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needed to decant and sit for about 2 hours before drinking. Drank well and would be great with a nice seasoned steak.
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7/27/2021 - quincow2 wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful stone fruit
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12/29/2020 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine:
Lovely, elegant, delicious.
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3/3/2019 - bqvino Likes this wine: 89 Points
A classic Pride Merlot in its later years - fading but still classy.
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4/6/2018 - terry j Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good, but not great. Soft and straightforward, with nice depth on the palate. Flavor seemed a bit on the sweet side.
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11/28/2017 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice and balanced. Sage and herbs on the nose. Nice long finish.
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8/21/2016 - Redrum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aging gracefully. Lots of chocolate notes and secondary elements. Mature but not over the hill.
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6/18/2016 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Typical Pride Merlot - round, plush, rich, and flat out delicious. Seems to be fading, with secondary flavors much stronger than the remaining fruit. IMHO, it's time to drink up.
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6/9/2016 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 90 Points
Coravin'd two glasses day one, popped the cork on the remaining 2/3 bottle day two. Aged toasted oak and vanilla on the nose; modest bricking on the edges. Very smooth, charred wood and leather - closer to a bordeaux than a cali merlot. Early on there was a brief sour aftertaste back-palate, but that faded with an hour of bottle air. Fine but I'd drink up.
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5/30/2016 - Mscruggs Likes this wine: 91 Points
After re-reading Parker's review I continue to be surprised by how well this wine seems to be drinking. I score it much higher than that '08 rating.
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5/11/2016 - Redrum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, rich and powerful -- virtually indistinguishable from a high quality cabernet, which is what I like about Pride's wines. Plenty of tread left on the tires at 10 years old. Tremendous value at around $50.
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5/10/2016 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, elegant, great balance. Everything I look for in this wine.
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4/11/2016 - jerrylindstrom Likes this wine: 91 Points
I did not expect to like this wine, but it was excellent. Very smooth tannins. Drank with burgers. Nice.
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3/31/2016 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
A really nice merlot, sorry that this is my last bottle. Drinking well, enjoy!!
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2/27/2016 - golfwine wrote: 89 Points
At 10 years old, it was still holding on - structurally anyways - with firm tannins and a perceptive level of acidity. That said, it was a tad disjointed; the Pride-typical, Cali fruit notably faded. Aromatically, it was phenomenal with distinct notes of cocoa-dusted dark chocolate truffles. Another fault being a prominent whiff of alcohol.
A vintage of this wine from the prior decade which one critic described as "liquified Viagra" :), was my intro to Bob Foley's work at Pride. This bottle was far from that but moderately enjoyable nonetheless.
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1/6/2016 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
A really nice fruit forward but well structured merlot. Some nice tannin, complexity with a very solid finish. Enjoy!
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12/11/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
45 mins of undecanted air, followed over 2 hours. Light dark fruit on the nose; watery black cherry w strawberry notes on the palate. Very easy to drink with or without food, this paired nicely w sautéed salmon over spinach and bacon. Solid merlot in the heart of its window, I'll extend the drinking period to 2017 but will drink remaining bottles in '16.
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10/31/2015 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
My first bottle of the 2006. I wish my car was as reliable as Pride Merlots. Looked, smelled, and tasted exactly like what I had expected. Round, plush, rich, with a nice finish. Took to a party and two or three people declared it WOTN. Although I wouldn't go that far (the 1996 Dominus wasn't half bad), it was/is a terrific wine. Holding up just fine.
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8/10/2015 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
A really nice well structured Merlot. Good color, nose and fruit. Nice complexity and sturcture, enjoy!!!
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5/30/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gread pop n pour. Blackberry, white pepper are dominant on the nose. Tannins are medium and coat the palate nicely, dissipating fairly quickly allowing the finish to linger for 15+ seconds. All the components really get along well in the glass, with red cherry, spicebox, watery blackberry and a hint of vanilla. In a very good place today, I'll drink my remaining bottles by 1Q16
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3/15/2015 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is deepest opaque red with noticible fine solids suspended throughout. There was only 1/4 tsp of sediment in the bottle and none on the filter. Nose gives briny and peppery black fruit liqueur. The legs are slow to form and slower sliding down the glass. Blackberry olive oil and chocolate coat the palate like a milkshake with a fat juicy finish. After some airtime hints of cinnamon mint and bubblegum appear. Lucky for me that's what I'm into.
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2/8/2015 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Just the previous recent bottles, very nice with our grilled pork loin!
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2/6/2015 - danscellar wrote: 92 Points
Just like the other night we drank the Pride right next to the Chateau St. Jean Reserve Merlot and the St. Jean came up just a bit bigger and more complex. Really a great merlot!!
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2/5/2015 - Tim Heaton wrote:
{1,5L} Its best days seem to be behind it - to my palate, anyway, though others felt it was just fine and very much in their wheelhouse. I was surprised by the underlying structure of the tannins and acids - both of which will outlive the fruit; drink now. 14,8% abv.
Served non-blind; aerated to decanter for 2 hours, removed a good amount of sediment and return to bottle for service 4 hours later.
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2/3/2015 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
A Big well balanced merlot. Plenty of fruit with good structure and smooth tannins. Enjoy!!
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1/10/2015 - Bakek wrote: 91 Points
Very smooth, but just starting on the downside
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1/1/2015 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, soft tannins, full bodied, blackberry, tobacco, long finish, got better over 2 hours.
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11/18/2014 - sw92130 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfectly balanced, no need to decant. Delicious, not sure I will wait long to drink my last bottle. Enjoyed with a dinner of salmon, filet mignon and salad with a light dressing.
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11/13/2014 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
pretty consistent with notes of 1/21/2011 - but really singing now...in balance and with resonating notes on the front, mid and back palate. WOTN for me.
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9/29/2014 - AlexHop wrote:
Kat's notes- We enjoyed the wine. Nose was not aggressive, oaky, earthy like a stroll through the forest after a fall rain. The taste has initial hints of cherry and plum. Medium tannins and a non-assertive, clean finish. It is a medium body which pairs well with a lighter meal like poultry and fish.
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6/28/2014 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
No detailed notes but drinking beautifully at present.
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5/25/2014 - MOCGator wrote: 95 Points
In a perfect place now. One of prides best merlot ever.
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3/14/2014 - floating_cellar wrote: 93 Points
One of the best Merlots money can buy. Consistently excellent.
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2/2/2014 - treaganjr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted with a very select wine group and all found the wine to be fantastic. True to the entire Merlot profile.
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12/20/2013 - MOCGator wrote: 93 Points
Showing better right now than it ever has. Beautiful fruit and acidity. Really nice. The 2006's are coming to life.
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12/1/2013 - MOCGator wrote: 94 Points
A nearly flawless Napa merlot. Great acidity. Drinking as good as it ever will.
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11/26/2013 - folsomarndt wrote:
My wife says she loved this wine! Big, yet elegant and silky Merlot
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10/13/2013 - yeti575rider wrote: 90 Points
Came across as rather bordeaux like as seems the fruit is fading a bit and has this cigar-box and tobacco thing going on. Can definitely sense the alcohol but in a rather non-objectional way - just sort of a warmth that comes through. Better with food than on its own. I'd say drink now.
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9/15/2013 - Jwd12 wrote: 94 Points
One excellent wine. Berries chocolate and coffee on the nose and taste. Unfortunately this is my last of this vintage.
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9/1/2013 - johnny1206 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice aromas. nice body with fruit and spice flavors. Nice long finish
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6/30/2013 - yipen Likes this wine:
Steve's B day wine
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4/6/2013 - que syrah syrah wrote: 86 Points
With 191 tasting notes to date and scores all over the place, I have to weigh in on the lower end of the spectrum. Perhaps I should have opened it sooner but at this point this bottle leans towards a more austere style with very little fruit but at least fairly soft tannins. I don't see this improving at all with more time and if I had any left, they'd be on my drink sooner than later list.
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4/6/2013 - SoccerMark wrote: 91 Points
Not spectactular, but a solid enjoyable wine.
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2/25/2013 - MOCGator wrote: 94 Points
Drinking like heaven right now.
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2/23/2013 - moudy wrote: 89 Points
I really was looking forward to enjoying this wine based on the fantastic bottle I had from a previous vintage. That bottle tasted like a chocolate malt with a bit of red fruit. This bottle was a bit astringent and lacked the malted milkshake taste and most of the red fruit. Overall, not a bad bottle for $15 - $20, but it that was nice price.....
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2/22/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine (a blend of 58% Sonoma County fruit and 42% Napa County fruit) was assessed in single-blind fashion at our group's Right Bank vs. New World Merlot/Cabernet Franc tasting. It was easily spotted as "New World" by virtue of its delicious ripe fruit. The wine is opaque ruby/red and shows beautiful aromatics of ripe plum, tar, cherry and spice. It is full-bodied, round and viscous on the palate, with big sweet tannins to frame the fruit and spice. Despite being listed as 14.8%, there is no excessive heat from the alcohol. The solid middle palate leads to a long, smooth finish. At age seven, this wine is drinking very nicely and should continue to do so for another 5-7 years (or more). Drink now-12/19.
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11/30/2012 - ScottZuehlke wrote: 89 Points
It was OK. I wanted to try this because I'm just starting my collection and Pride does a really great Merlot. I think I am done with Merlot and will stick with Cabs and Bordeaux's for my collection moving forward. Pride Cabernet is much better than their Merlot in my opinion which is not much. Much love Pride.
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11/22/2012 - QSilver Likes this wine: 90 Points
Recall that this vintage was somewhat better tan it turned out. First glass was not decanted and left a bit to be desired. After another 30 minutes, and the start of Thanksgiving dinner, it had begun to open up nicely. Rest of bottle was finished with more than 90 minutes of decanting...markedly better.
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10/23/2012 - soyhead wrote: 88 Points
nose - violet, pain thinner
mouth - more of an acetone mouthfeel than anything more fruit specific.
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9/8/2012 - Ellenkf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet, decanted quickly, aromas not prevalent. Rich sweet cherries, leather, a little sappy. Great depth and loads of pleasure with enough acidity to finish beautifully. Wonderful fall wine.
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8/18/2012 - Deb293 wrote: 87 Points
OK, I waited another two years to retaste this wine...and I can't say I feel any better about it. Rather than improving over time, it tastes rather pruney. Still tannic, but without the fruit to compensate. One of the poorer efforts from Pride, I'm afraid.
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7/29/2012 - Grape Stuff wrote: 93 Points
60 minute decant. From magnum. No formal notes, brought to dinner @ Brix. Absolutely delicious. Black fruit, rhubarb, and baking spices. Tannins were sweet and beautifully integrated. A superb expression of mountain Merlot. Outstanding.
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7/16/2012 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine: 88 Points
The tannins seemed to have softened a little bit. Fruit is still fresh. Blueberries and black cherries. There is a savory element in here as well. Some herbs. Fully bodied but not ponderous. Stil some lively acidity.
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6/16/2012 - travelme wrote: 92 Points
Extremely dark as noted by a previous poster, purple/deep ruby hue to the color. The nose was extremely pleasant had a nice hint of spices and mocha or chocolate smells. The palate impression is all about extremely rich fruit that just exploded in the mouth. Extremely smooth texture and taste but with explosive flavors of chocolate, mocha, and some dark fruit. As noted earlier by others, it had a great balance of acidity and tannins. Extremely nice finish which made this a great Cab lovers Merlot. A highly recommended bottle of wine for sure!!!!! Drink by 2016-2017 but definitely a winner.
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5/19/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
PnP. Dark ruby core, no sign of age. When I ventured down to the cellar as the first few bottles were making their way to empty, I wanted something I knew I could PnP and it would be ready to go right out of the gate. I was right, but what was a bit disappointing was how the wine developed holes in the mid-palate by the last glass, the finish, too, had become less satisfying. I served this double-blind to guests, after an hour, 7 people had failed to guess Merlot, or even Napa for that matter. Perhaps that was because they know I favor Italian and French (yes, in that order) wines, but as one of the guests was a winemaker and the rest ITB or spouses of ITB they'd all had their fair share of wines and should have at least been close. I think there is a commentary here, the wine fails to deliver varietal character and sense of place, just a creamy mouthfeel, rich fruits and low acids. Sigh. My 10th bottle from a case purchased on release. Drink thru 2015, 14,8% abv.
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5/13/2012 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 95 Points
Decided on this one for my birthday. Writing this a week later and still remembering one of the perfect Prides. Filtered and decanted and only ended up with 1/4 tsp of chunks. Drank perfectly.
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4/28/2012 - ciesel wrote: 91 Points
Has aged very well. Reminds me of why we have Merlots and very resentful of the swill that filled the shelves in stores given Merlot a bad name. Distinctibely Merlot with medium body and the slightest hint of vegetation. Great dark fruit flavors, very balanced and integrated
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4/17/2012 - jfagan wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Very dark, nearly opaque ruby/purple. The nose is complex and intriguing with sweet spices, some savory elements and a unique roes petal, floral note. The palate impression is all about lush, rich, ripe fruit that is very well delineated. Bakers' chocolate, espresso and dark plum flavors are smooth and silky in texture. They are lifted and by good acidity, light ripe tannins and a warm, full-bodied finish. This is a really lovely Merlot. Drink now -2015.
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3/10/2012 - gmbdds wrote: 89 Points
The nose was expressive with dark fruit, spice and oak. The palate seems to be lacking something compared to what the nose promised. Good and enjoyable but came up short for a Pride merlot.
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3/4/2012 - RR47 wrote: 87 Points
Pretty good Cali Merlot these days. It has softened over the years. Nose of smoke, oak, and red fruit. In the mouth, plenty of cassis fruit, but it does need an hour+ to show off. Nice approachable tannins now...a year or 2 after release, not so nice. 10 to 15 years ago this was in my top 10 Cali cab/merlots. Tastes change and so do winemakers.
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2/11/2012 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
I guess this was one of the good ones, same as last.
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2/4/2012 - jdbcolumbus wrote: 89 Points
Nose of chocolate covered cherries that finishes with some currant. Concentrated chewy fruit on the palate that finishes hot with some distinct stems. Some early tasting notes I have read suggest tannic and austere but that wasnt my impression. It must be maturing some. The alcohol though is very prevalent on the nose and palate.
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1/18/2012 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 94 Points
Much better than the last, smelled like it should. Filtered and decanted, only about 1/8 tsp of purple stuff in the filter.
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1/13/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Great merlot
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11/28/2011 - treaganjr wrote: 90 Points
A very nice bottle in all aspects.
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10/23/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
This one threw some chunks, good thing I decanted. Wasn't as good as previous bottles, but still a treat.
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10/15/2011 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Slow-O 4 hours. Opened side-by-side with the '04 and the '05. Not surprisingly, this is the least resolved. Of the three, this was my least favorite because it was paired with grilled NY strips and twice-bakeds. On it's own, a crowd-pleasing quaffer. With food, well, not my style. My friend I opened it up for however, rated it as his WOTN. Oh well. medium+ bodied palate. This is in a terrific spot right now, I suggest giving this another 1-2 years in the cellar. Drink thru 2016, 14,8% abv, score: B/B+
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10/11/2011 - Venezia wrote: 90 Points
big and powerful merlot. blueberry and dark cherry. good tannin balance.
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10/9/2011 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Pretty tight at this stage in its development. Displays notes of black cherries, blueberries, dark chocolate, and (still some) vanillin oak. Nice on the attack but a bit hard and angular on the midpalate. Finishes with some heat. Not bad for such a cool vintage but I have had better bottles. Decant or hold.
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9/28/2011 - Grayvino wrote:
- Garnet color and aromas of blackberry and black currant and has flavours of fig.
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9/22/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 79 Points
Hard to believe I was this hard a few month back on this, one of the lowest scores I ever leveled a wine and bothered to write it up, I must be bitter about being stuck w 55 bones a bottle. Still a beautiful rich color. On the P&P this was yummy chocolate thing w ripe blue/purple fruit. If it stayed like this man, Merlot heaven. I noticed later after it came to warm up, it was a mess. Previous TN's seemed to be accurate. Not sure where the spice comes from still. I agree w Soyhead, it finishes like a whiskey. Our experiences are identical.
Day II. Vanilla alch chemmy nose again, real consistent. The balance is off, the wine making interfering. Shame. A reason why I have cancelled shipments, ahhh, to each his own. If you like Cali spoofified wines with a caramel vanilla topping, this is for you. Perhaps years will treat this kindly. Dumping the last glass, life's too short.
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9/8/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Feared bottle may have suffered from heat-damage/leakage. Pop and pour, little thinner than I recall from last tasting or my preference, but still a competant wine. No off notes, mature dark fruits, both aromas and palate. Overpriced
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8/28/2011 - dferreir wrote: 90 Points
these wines smell so much better than they taste...foley is 100 fold better than the current winemaker.
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8/2/2011 - Bob in NC wrote: 90 Points
A big powerful, although not overly complex, Merlot that is drinking on the young side right now. You pick up primarily rich sweet ripe dark fruit on the nose, while the taste show more of a balance with earthen and chocolate notes that tug against the big fruit flavors and meld and linger pleasantly on a medium tannic finish.
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8/1/2011 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Consistent notes as is expected of a (young) Pride wine. Rich, and creamy with welcome accents of smoke and herbs, this proved generous on the texture and cassis-heavy perfumes. Still, for what it is, it was enjoyable. Drink thru 2016, 14,8% abv.
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7/17/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 84 Points
Why I stopped buying these. Big alcoholic bomb, chemical notes, oaky, oaky, oaky. Did I say OAK? There was some really nice fruit on the palate there, keeps this from going to the 70's. There was a spicyness to this that I cannot explain either. Maybe day II will redeem it.
Day II. Big vanilla nose, no surprise. Nice & weighty. Oak is more charry now, vanilla. Still big beautiful fruit ruined by oak. Oh well, to each his own. same score, a good wine, very bad QPR. Tasting the dregs before tossing the bottle. Looking aged. Not smelling very nice. Rotten fruit. Remarkable well held together, just still don"t care for it. Some nice smoky fruit, alch burn, oak still... ugh.
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7/7/2011 - soyhead wrote: 82 Points
this revealed big fruit but shows itself currently as being way way overoaked. Almost as if someone took a dropper and added some drops of vanilla straight into the bottle. Big vanilla, and even whisky flavors on the finish are frankling upsetting. I have very much enjoyed Pride merlots in the past, so i will have to give this the benefit of the doubt and consider it in a weird stage. Retry in 5 years. Ugh.
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6/19/2011 - Sundesertcactus wrote: 90 Points
Big heavy merlot, that if I was blindfolded I would have said was a cab. Tons of fruit left in this bottle, along with plenty of tannin that after several hours open finally loosened their grip. I should have decanted this wine for several hours prior to serving, we popped and poured. Not typical for the varietal but still really enjoyed it.
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6/16/2011 - patwjr wrote: 91 Points
Cola, black cherry, touch of vanilla oak, along with a pop of spice and tannins. Not the best example of Pride excellence.
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5/31/2011 - wino31 wrote: 92 Points
Great nose, great mouthfeel, long finish. Drunk without decanting (probably a mistake, but within 15 minutes wine opened up nicely).
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5/24/2011 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose showed blueberry and blackberry with molasses, a hint of vanilla and, with air in the glass, sweet confectionary spices. On the palate, it was warm and seductive with a full balanced body, showing black cherry, cinnamon and spice with dark chocolate and cola leading into the long finish. Pride successfully balance elegance and structure in this excellent bottle of Merlot.
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5/11/2011 - Always4wine wrote: 99 Points
This is my favorite wine EVER. I don't even like Merlot but this is like drinking the most beautiful crimson velvet from a glass!!
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4/6/2011 - Matt T wrote: 91 Points
From a 375. Dark purple. Raspberry on the nose. This is a big wine with lots of raspberry, vanilla, and mocha notes. Long finish. This threw quite a bit of sediment.
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3/27/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
Always a treat.
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3/25/2011 - dougie wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour. Did not let it sit up enough, fine silt was still in wine for the last glass- ugh! The nose did not quite the pallet. Love their merlot. Better than a year ago.
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1/29/2011 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP. Still full of hedonism, but much more settled now vs its release. Layers of ripe blueberry and blackberry are covered in melted chocolate, sweet tobacco leaf and vanilla. Not confectionery, but nothing lean about it either. This is in a very good place right now, and has the substance to stand up to very complex dishes. Many more years of pleasurable drinking ahead, but it's so darn good (I enjoy a guilty pleasure every now and then) now, no need to wait. Approx $48, drink thru 2015, 14,8% abv.
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1/21/2011 - danielbleier wrote: 92 Points
nose has great pepper and plum aromas. Flavors of plum, chocolate, and earthy tobacco and pepper on the tail. Big and soft, the tannins are minimal but enough to give on the belief of a few more years of life.
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1/18/2011 - S Lee wrote: 89 Points
Strong fruit flavors, a bit too much oak for my taste. Good wine for the style
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1/13/2011 - Always4wine wrote: 93 Points
Yummy! Rich and full and everything mountain fruit can give!
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1/10/2011 - thomaskeil wrote: 85 Points
Rich cherry and dark berry candy fruit. Very soft. Did not compliment food well, but okay by itself.
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1/5/2011 - Always4wine wrote: 95 Points
So good. Now I remember why we bought so much. Smooth and easy with a great earthy fruit finish only top produced Spring mountain fruit can provide. Drinking very well now!
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11/28/2010 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
Blueberry and mocha on the attack with cigar box back end. Fine tannic structure. a-OK and pleasant but somewhat of alas a one-trick pony.
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10/1/2010 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour, consumed over 3.5 hours. This wine has grown dramatically since my last tasting 16 months ago. No notes of green, has put on some weight, and shows some pleasing dark blue and black fruits in a smooth, fruit-based profile. It definately shares the Spring Mountain profile. Not picking up much tannin but some cedar is present. . Will taste again within a year to see if the lack of tanin has changed and to gauge the life of my remaining bottles. Very enjoyable
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9/14/2010 - ronlite wrote: 90 Points
Good
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7/31/2010 - Wine Sparty wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured. Aromas of tobacco and allspice, with chocolate and allspice tastes. Nice wine. Not a good QPR at the $50+ price tag, though.
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7/10/2010 - patwjr wrote: 91 Points
Better than the last bottle. Still alcohol hot and tannic, but the fruit shows a little better. More time.
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7/1/2010 - gripNsip wrote:
Mom says "Oh man, I give it 5 stars, and I'm no expert. It's like spicy and hot, and the taste is totally unlike it smells." "How so?", I say. "Smoooooooth, it goes down totally smooth. It tastes beautiful. It's a gorgeous wine. You can taste the berries and it has a great aftertaste. Anytime you wanna get this again, go for it!" I guess my mom liked this a lot. My notes, this took a few hours to really get rolling, right out of the bottle it was heavily cedar, pepper with the fruit playing second fiddle to the these flavors. The palate showed the fruit but still with the heavy cedar. We left the bottle open for 4 hours then came back to it and it had opened and the acidity and tannins had finally found their place next to the big, luscious fruit flavors. Initially the tannins were limp and no where to be found, some air time did this wine well. Very smooth, no burn, just easy, delicious Napa sippin'. My mom was absolutely in love with it.
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5/13/2010 - mactheknife wrote: 92 Points
Had the Pride Merlot in Scottsdale at Rancho Pinot. This wine opened beautifully and the intensity of a mountain merlot was evident. Black and blue fruit with a nice backbone.
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5/9/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 88 Points
14.8% ABV. Dark garnet in the glass, somewhat translucent. Smells a bit of dry wood/oak and slightly weedy mocha. Medium full bodied with dark berry and mocha flavors, that finish on the dry side. Okay. Neutral for the price.
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5/9/2010 - dougie wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. A bit hot for the first hour of drinking. Then, it became more complex and integrated. A lot of cherry at one point. A good pride merlot, not going to be a excellent one.
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4/30/2010 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
Didn't really need to open tis after the Turley Earthquake, but nobody seemed to mind.
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4/23/2010 - patwjr wrote: 89 Points
Nothing special. Needs more time or it is what it is. A good, somewhat tannic, hot Merlot - no wow factor.
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4/17/2010 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
From magnum. Opaque purple garnet color. Notes of black cherry and dark fruit. Full-bodied, with plenty of tannin to resolve, yet there's plenty of fruit. Ends with spicy oak tones.
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4/11/2010 - Deb293 wrote: 87 Points
Wanted to like this more but very disjointed at this stage. The fruit is evident but the wine lacks richness and is hot on the finish. Still tannic, acidic and not coming together.
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4/3/2010 - psoals wrote: 90 Points
Classic example of what Pride Merlot is supposed to be, cocoa powder and dark fruits on the nose, following through on the palate. Probably will get even better over the next two years and last for another 10.
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3/21/2010 - Mike V wrote: 88 Points
Sweet, Pleasant, extracted. Opened and consumed at the end of the night. All six people got one glass which was plenty.
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3/12/2010 - halfred wrote: 91 Points
Still very good, very tasty, but the fruit is fading a bit. See my note from 2009 when it was best of the night. This time a 05 Duckhorn Estate was the winner. Drink these now!
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3/6/2010 - ronlite wrote:
Very good
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1/15/2010 - CSteefel wrote:
Very dark ruby red. Aromas of dark berry, menthol, and chocolate, with only the barest hint of a touch of heat on the nose. I the mouth this is rich and well balanced, with a note of slightly astringent tannins on the finish that may well vanish with a bit more bottle age. I actually found this to be a bit more structured than the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.
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1/2/2010 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 95 Points
Yes! Leaves very little to be desired.
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1/1/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 88 Points
14.8% ABV. Dark garnet, somewhat translucent. A bit woody and dry smelling with a mocha note. Medium full bodied with dark berry and mocha flavors and a rather dry finish. Disappointing. Based on my succession of notes, this wine is drying up prematurely or this is an off bottle. I'm thinking the former, not the latter.
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12/24/2009 - kdillon wrote: 92 Points
Spicy at first. Blackberry
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12/11/2009 - GreatLibations wrote: 90 Points
Bought Christmas tree and celebrated with this monster. Rich and concentrated with killer tannins like a velvet blanket. Big red berries and some mocha. The finish lingers. An excellent merlot.
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11/30/2009 - elamasters wrote: 88 Points
Upon opening: Alcoholic heat on the nose and very sour on the palate. Not very pleasant. (low 80's score)
On the second day: the nose opened up considerably and the heat dissipated. I raised my score on the impression that some bottle age will be beneficial.
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11/29/2009 - Eric Guido wrote: 91 Points
A dark ruby red color in the glass that after an hour in decanter showed plum sauce, blueberry, brown sugar and vanilla on the nose. Soft and full on the palate with black cherries, cinnamon, dark chocolate and a bit of funky undergrowth that added a savory character. Long mouth coating finish.
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11/27/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 91 Points
Very delicious. Rich black and blue fruit with hints of chocolate. Lots of fruit, delicate structure backs everything up. Hides it's near 15% alcohol well. This is a interesting wine, massively fruity but has a bunch of interesting qualities. I don't feel the oak is over the top here as others have said, in this bottle it is nicely integrated. Heavy mouthfeel with a great medium intensity. Nice finish. The J. Miller in me loves this.
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11/27/2009 - A&C wrote: 91 Points
Nice, fresh, a hint of chocolate, and fruit-filled nose. The color is muted and cloudy, but with a rich plum color. On the palate, after decanting for four hours, this is very nice. Open, smooth, and with great Merlot fruit. Surprisingly open, and not as closed down as I anticipated. Yummy stuff.
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11/16/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 95 Points
NOM NOM NOM!!! After a full bottle of Champagne on Sunday night, we were only able to drink half of this. I put a cork in it and stashed it in the car. It sat in the car until we finished unpacking on Wednesday night, the outside temperature ranged from 40-64 degrees. What a pleasant surprise when I pulled the cork out! The nose was still pleasant and very inviting and the taste was outstanding, although a little sweeter.
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11/7/2009 - golfwine wrote: 91 Points
This is good news for the winery! A longtime fan of Pride Mtn., I was so ingrained in the philosophy that "the winemaker makes the wine", that I had all but written them off, once Bob Foley departed. I did attend a tasting there about two years ago and was impressed enough with the '05's to at least "wonder". But, not until I had this wine (at a high-end tasting, no less), and found it more notable than the Pahlmeyer and some others in the lineup, did I willingly accept that just maybe "the fruit makes the wine". For those into seriously expressive examples of Merlot, this winery should be considered a benchmark.
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10/17/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 95 Points
Rich! butterscotch, cedar, vanilla, oak.
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10/15/2009 - THA wrote: 84 Points
A good wine right now that will in all likelihood develop into a very good wine, but doubtful that it will ever be outstanding. Massively structured. Hard, oaky, and alcoholic now; allow 3-5 years to round out and harmonize. Sweet fruits. This was one of my favorite Merlots from a recent trip to Napa, but for some reason is not showing as well now. If you pull the cork now, allow a 2-4 hour decant.
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10/10/2009 - Bradford wrote: 90 Points
Very tasty merlot. Cranberry, raspberry and mocha in the nose. Full-bodied with gobs of berry, chocolate, caramel and coffee. Pretty solid acidity upheld a generous finish. Very fine.
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10/8/2009 - mrfroopy wrote: 82 Points
A 60 dollar bottle of oak.
A spoofy heavy bottle of unbalanced wine.
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9/26/2009 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Deep garnet color. Initially this was all vanilla and oak. Eventually the fruit came around with plum and black cherry tones. Flavors of plum, blackberry, cherry and spicy oak. Not quite as oplulent or lush as previous vintages, but still good. 89-91 pts.
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9/22/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 95 Points
F all you Pinot drinkers!
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8/30/2009 - Pinot Evil wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful silky texture, nice balance. Plum and carmel nose, if this is going to get better it will be really good.
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8/21/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Quite good, but still a bit primary and not quite integrated. Has lots of stuffing, and I think this will be excellent in 2 to 3 years.
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7/25/2009 - JayD wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Needs a bit more time to develop, I'd say a least 2 more years but it drinks well know after open for a few hours. Good black fruits, currants leading to some spice on the finish.
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7/15/2009 - ludwigbpm wrote: 91 Points
Je ne suis pas un fan de Merlot californien habituellement, mais ce vin est intéressant. Il possède le fruité et la richesse typique de Napa, mais avec un côté austère qui le rapproche d’un bordelais de la rive gauche. Parker émet des doutes sur sa longévité, pour ma part je trouve que c’est le vin le plus structuré du lot.
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7/11/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 91 Points
My first trip to Napa, Ca.; 7/9/2009-7/11/2009: This was the wine that made me want to check out Pride. I had this at a tasting room and was blown away by how well it tasted. My expectations were high going in and it didn't disappoint, but didn't wow me like it did before. Smelled beautiful, on the palate fresh merlot fruits with a great weight and balanced medium acidity and medium grip tannins. Nice long but clean finish as well. They did great with the oak treatment on this wine. Delicious stuff.
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6/29/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Sonoma-Napa Trip Day 4 and 5; 6/29/2009-6/30/2009 (Napa and Sonoma): Sweet caramel oak nose. Some vanilla. Touch of powdered sugar creme brulee. Somewhat more austere than the '07 barrel sample. Concentrated black fruit. Deeply colored in the glass with a hint of tawny at the edge. Nice. $56.
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5/31/2009 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
A hint of green and alcohol on the nose. Fairly thin mouthfeel, no tannic notes other than oak and the alcohol on the nose and a bit of alcohol noticable when quaffing. Nice wine overall, but one-dimensional and likely to have a short life IMO.
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5/30/2009 - Zinny wrote:
Oaky and over-ripe but otherwise pretty good. Way too much coffee, cocoa, plum and fig for my palate, though. There's so much oak I'm even getting a wierd buttery thing - remniscent of a Shiraz . . or even a Cali Chard!
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5/24/2009 - halfred wrote: 93 Points
Yowza. This wine is full of fruit, blackberries, currants, deep dark goodness, hits of black herbs, cloves, cocoa. It was the star of the lineup which included a 97 Ch. Montelena, 02 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot, 02 Duckhorn Estate Cab. It was lovely paired with Coq au Vin and celery potato mash.
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5/24/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 89 Points
Not a bad Merlot - expected a little more from Pride.
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5/10/2009 - wabi47 wrote: 92 Points
complex mountain merlot features with plenty of dark fruit, but not at all jammy; already integrating well with the oak and tannins; background tobacco leaf; one of the better merlots that i have tasted
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4/24/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
consistent tn's. This is aging gracefully. Will try and wait a few years before opening another.
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4/5/2009 - EricBe wrote: 91 Points
Chewy and delightful
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3/23/2009 - godx wrote: 87 Points
Tasted at winery – no formal note taken. Good.
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3/9/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
This continues to improve. A full + bodied wine with rich red and black fruits and a very seductive nose. Superb with a grilled rib-eye and garlic mashers. I bought a case and every time I pull one out, it is a real crowd-pleaser. 14.8% (really well integrated, not hot), approx $55. I think I'll wait another few years before opening another (yeah, right, like I can wait that long...).
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3/9/2009 - J-Sho wrote: 92 Points
see previous note. as always, a lovely well built merlot. no perceived hotness on the palate as I felt with the last bottle
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2/10/2009 - fisk15 wrote: 91 Points
I did not wait 6mo like wanted to. A bit tight on day one, throwing a bit of sediment now too. Cocoa, red fruits and a bit of plum. Tannin adds a nice touch. Great merlot!
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1/25/2009 - GreatLibations wrote: 90 Points
I was impressed with this specimen. High aromatics foretell a richly expressive bounty with velvet dark berries, coffee bean, cocoa, a black cherry. The finish was long and savory. This vintage is bold yet beholds finesse. Outstanding!
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1/19/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Very lush and rich, hedonistic, chocolate.
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1/3/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
It's hard to go wrong with a Pride Merlot. Hedonistic and delicious with lush notes of ripe black cherries, mocha, and vanilla. Opulent but balanced.
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12/28/2008 - fisk15 wrote: 90 Points
Pretty tight the first day, much more enjoyable the second day at this point. I think it would benefit of 6 mo more in bottle to calm down. Otherwise, very Pride and very good.
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12/13/2008 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Notes of blackberry, dark fruit and spice. Full bodied, with dark fruit, toasty oak and spice flavors on the palate. Tannins are firm and slightly chewy. Long finish.
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11/30/2008 - Jody Smith wrote: 90 Points
A huge, round mouthful of plum jam, vanilla and chocolate. A bit of heat, with nice oak and a slight saline character on the back end. I’d like a bit more acidity, but then that would probably compromise it’s enjoyable lushness. I’d like a bit more structure as well. Come to think of it, I’d rather have a cab. A very nice merlot nonetheless.
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11/11/2008 - Hershey in CA wrote: 81 Points
Classic bordeaux-merlot fruit, black cherry, cherry cola. High acid, very high alc (listed 14.8%) and little texture to take this beyond a 1D merlot.
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10/25/2008 - FieldingYost wrote: 90 Points
Plush and velvety, with deep ripe red fruit. Mouthcoating and long on the finish, which has pronounced oakiness. Behind the oak, the pitch of the fruit is incredible. Indelible, tight, and expansive, there is wildberry, black berry, red plum.
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10/19/2008 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
The wine was just released at the beginning of June, so it is no surprise that it is still ever-so-slightly backwards. Don't get me wrong, this is a winner. In fact it is such a nice wine, with such a bright future, that it is one of just a handful of wines that I bought an entire case of. The winemaker, Sally Johnson, has hit a home run with this wine.
In the glass, a medium ruby colour with a watery edge. On the nose, complex perfume of red and white flowers, plum, raspberry and herbs. This is a BIG wine. Not necessarily over-extracted, but at 14.8% alcohol (which is incredibly well integrated, by the way) it makes its presence known. There is a soft, elegant bouquet of cream, blackberry liqueur and vanilla. Firm tannins and rich glycerol add to the enjoyment. I look forward to enjoying this wine over the next 7 years...if I can manage to wait that long.
A seductive, rich and deeply satisfying wine that begs for a grilled tenderloin and a rich, complex sauce on the grilled veggies. Enjoy through 2014. Approximately $59
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10/18/2008 - mmurry wrote: 93 Points
Sauvignon Blanc & Merlot (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had raspberry, cherry, cocoa, and tar. The palate was rich, and had raspberry, tar, cocoa, and a cherry finish.
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9/1/2008 - J-Sho wrote: 92 Points
I love Foley merlots and this is why. Dark sweet fruit and mocha on the nose. Maybe a hint of vanilla. Full mouth feel with well integrated tannins and nicely balanced/soft. Was just a little bit hot on the finish, but nothing you can't live with.
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8/26/2008 - MJTed wrote: 91 Points
Rich dark fruit with Foley chunks of cocoa, vanilla and well-integrated oak. Fine but firm tannins with depth and finish that would make even most cabs proud.
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8/24/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Family Winemakers San Francisco (Fort Mason San Francisco): Tasted at the Family Winemakers in SF. Quick notes: somewhat sweet with oak, dark fruit and a vanilla creme, dry citrus finish. Good.
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7/27/2008 - ken-yyz wrote: 91 Points
Great intensity but more interest than just simple lush fruit. Cocoa notes and some earthy and spicy nuances helps hold my interest from first sip to last. Good tannin structure suggests that this will be great for at least 3 or 4 more years. Delicious.
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7/20/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Overall, this may just be a really young wine at the time. Just felt really tight overall.
Some classic Merlot aromas of black sour cherry, vanilla and some really nice soy sauce elements.
The palate is showing a lot of alcohol right now which causes a slightly abrasive finish. Not as round as other Pride Merlots I've sampled.
We'll see how this evolves. Still a great effort, just needs some time to let the alcohol mellow out I believe.
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6/29/2008 - davidandrose wrote: 88 Points
Lots of sweet fruit, hints of green stem. Decanted this to help it open up, which worked for about 90 mins, after which time the wine began falling apart. Became exceedingly thin and lost much of its flavor. Not very tannic, esp for a wine thats just been released. I'll assume its in shock or sleeping.
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6/28/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Very similar to the 2005, but just a bit tighter. Dark chocolate and cherries.
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6/2/2008 - soyhead wrote: 91 Points
nose - nail polish and more hollow than the 2005 which may reflect that it is just freshly in the bottle. More fruity (?volatile acidity) than the 2005 at this point as well. Mouth - vibrant fruit, good acidty. Yummy. Contains 11% CabSauv
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5/25/2008 - HughB wrote: 88 Points
Decanted, sweet fruit off the bat, really chewy, cherry, ok finish.
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5/12/2008 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($56) Napa-Noma, May 2008: Reticent nose. Caramel. Sweet attack with more tannin towards the finish. A bit one dimensional at the moment, but I suspect it will have a longer life than the 2005 and ultimately be a tastier wine.
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