Pristine cork shows no age at all, and beautiful garnet color shows little bricking. Plenty of bottle sediment where it’s been stored unmoved in cellar on its side since 2009 or so.
Opens with very Aromatic nose of Green pepper which makes you think you’re going to get a more green taste initially than you do. Instead you get nice round tart fruit, like rhubarb and raspberry, hitting just before you do get the green pepper (pronounced but not as pronounced as it smells) and a bit of spicy black pepper which really sticks around. Plenty of acid and the tannins have softened (but linger), and you get the traditional Washington wood treatment, though not overwhelming. If fruit could have held up more into the finish it would have made this spectacular. I would have guessed there was more cab franc in this as it wasn’t as fruity or luscious as I would think the Merlot would’ve added from 2007. I would say this is still in its prime drinking window, though at the end as the fruit is starting to trail off.
Second day: Merlot has appeared more pronounced.
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NIce little wine which is aging well. Nothing to not like, but also nothing to make me want to rush out to buy a bunch at ~$50 a bottle. Very typical WA Merlot and CF blend.
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6/29/2022 - WallingfordHome Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pristine cork shows no age at all, and beautiful garnet color shows little bricking. Plenty of bottle sediment where it’s been stored unmoved in cellar on its side since 2009 or so.
Opens with very Aromatic nose of Green pepper which makes you think you’re going to get a more green taste initially than you do. Instead you get nice round tart fruit, like rhubarb and raspberry, hitting just before you do get the green pepper (pronounced but not as pronounced as it smells) and a bit of spicy black pepper which really sticks around. Plenty of acid and the tannins have softened (but linger), and you get the traditional Washington wood treatment, though not overwhelming. If fruit could have held up more into the finish it would have made this spectacular.
I would have guessed there was more cab franc in this as it wasn’t as fruity or luscious as I would think the Merlot would’ve added from 2007.
I would say this is still in its prime drinking window, though at the end as the fruit is starting to trail off.
Second day: Merlot has appeared more pronounced.
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2/28/2014 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
this was a distant 2nd place tonight.
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11/29/2013 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
This was gorgeous. Wonderful array of flavors. Still has lots of vibrant life ahead.
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7/15/2012 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
Age is helping this wine a ton.Integration is starting to smooth it out and some secondary notes (spice) are starting to show through.
PDQ92+
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1/30/2012 - pdemaio wrote: 91 Points
NIce little wine which is aging well. Nothing to not like, but also nothing to make me want to rush out to buy a bunch at ~$50 a bottle. Very typical WA Merlot and CF blend.
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6/12/2009 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
This is my new favorite wine. Wonderful body. Great nose. Increasinly smooth finish. Not incredibly profound, but incredibly good!
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