at Twenty-One on a Monday: drinking fabulously well; wine with a big presence but soft contours that still has lots of life ahead, even if likely fully developed already.
very dense purple colour and substantial body in the glass. the nose is rich with black currant, black cherries, and dark plums tinged with an earthy smokiness of cocoa beans, herbal whiffs of bay leaf and sage, and a soft hint of lavender. very full, rich, and sensuous in the mouth with everything in balance. there is a young vibrancy in the tongue that mellows and lets the dark fruit and gamey flavours parade onto a long finish with a slightly saline twist.
there is still much concentration; tannins are very fine-grained and fully integrated by now; and a lifting acidity remains. the wine checks in at 15.5% AbV, but wears it very well.
elegant Merlot; the kind that makes you think Victoria had a point!
(four-hour double decant, lots of sediment in the bottle, very soft cork, and noticeable alcoholic fumes during the decanting).
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As expected the drinking window on this was off (said 2013). Wine was opened prob a hour before consuming. Drinking excellently - great fruit, decent complexity, very rich and deep. While it has a few more years, it's drinking very well now so no need to wait.
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1st experiment with our new Coravin. Drank over two nights and 2nd night was indistinguishable from 1st night. Great bottle and still in prime drinking form. Lots of dark fruit with enough structure to balance. Drinking great.
Beautiful bottle that was a bit tight. Drank the remainder the next day, but it really wasn't holding together. Based on other notes, probably needs an hour or so, after opening, but don't wait too long.
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Had at Caneel. No decant, a bit tight. A chalky minerality on the palate. Long finish. The remains fell apart the second day, which struck me as a bit odd given its tightness the day before.
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A lovely Merlot overall. Deep purple color almost black at the core. The nose was enormous. We only let it breathe for about an hour, but I think it was ready to drink. The notes of blueberry, plum, minerals, laced with TONS of vanilla and oak were screaming out of the glass from across the table. The palate was smooth and coating the entire palate alike to the Turley Zinfandel enjoyed earlier in the meal. Flavors of blueberries and dried dark fruit were dominant. Awesome wine with a 30+ second finish. Maybe a bit overpriced though at over 75 bucks a bottle.
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Napa Valley Vintner's Big Nightlife Napa Valley Magnum Tasting Party (San Francisco, CA): Blockbuster Merlot. Intense and concentrated wine, with dark puple color. Aromas/flavors of blackberry, plum, blueberry, spice, mocha and oak. Huge, muscular tannin structure balances the highly extracted fruit. This wine has a 35+ second finish that few cabs (let alone merlots) can match. If only it didn't cost $90 alot more people could enjoy this fine wine.
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4/13/2023 - dkwins Likes this wine: 94 Points
My style of wine. Grape jelly nose, bursts of raspberry, grape, licorice and pleasong, long finish.
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2/21/2023 - kenthecpa Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Corked
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1/9/2023 - WindFlyer Likes this wine: 95 Points
at Twenty-One on a Monday: drinking fabulously well; wine with a big presence but soft contours that still has lots of life ahead, even if likely fully developed already.
very dense purple colour and substantial body in the glass. the nose is rich with black currant, black cherries, and dark plums tinged with an earthy smokiness of cocoa beans, herbal whiffs of bay leaf and sage, and a soft hint of lavender. very full, rich, and sensuous in the mouth with everything in balance. there is a young vibrancy in the tongue that mellows and lets the dark fruit and gamey flavours parade onto a long finish with a slightly saline twist.
there is still much concentration; tannins are very fine-grained and fully integrated by now; and a lifting acidity remains. the wine checks in at 15.5% AbV, but wears it very well.
elegant Merlot; the kind that makes you think Victoria had a point!
(four-hour double decant, lots of sediment in the bottle, very soft cork, and noticeable alcoholic fumes during the decanting).
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5/20/2021 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 98 Points
Stunning. Super bold, amazing body and balance and intense flavors. Comes across as completely fresh, still young.
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4/19/2021 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Nose: 92, Palate: 91. Tasted blind and felt younger than expected.
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2/2/2019 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purple with cloudy Violet at the edges. It much of a nose. Notes of sweet violets and black raspberries. Really good.
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7/4/2017 - Hamersly wrote: 95 Points
What a superb wine, voluptuous and complex with years to go.
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2/26/2016 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 94 Points
Elegant. Classic feminine Merlot with lots of complexity. Perfect age. Rich nose, a touch earthy and sage. A touch of acid body. Long finish.
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5/1/2015 - MC2 Wines wrote:
As expected the drinking window on this was off (said 2013). Wine was opened prob a hour before consuming. Drinking excellently - great fruit, decent complexity, very rich and deep. While it has a few more years, it's drinking very well now so no need to wait.
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2/7/2015 - samalexis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Exceptional depth for a Merlot. Outstanding wine, can't see it improving drink up if you have any left.
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1/3/2014 - H*3 wrote: 91 Points
1st experiment with our new Coravin. Drank over two nights and 2nd night was indistinguishable from 1st night. Great bottle and still in prime drinking form. Lots of dark fruit with enough structure to balance. Drinking great.
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10/27/2013 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 93 Points
No decant. A bit tight at first, but improved quite a bit over the course of an hour.
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3/4/2013 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Odd nose - can't place it but not good; More transparent that the '01; Palatte really shapes up; Definitely suffers from the nose but taste good
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12/2/2012 - njvin wrote: 93 Points
Still big nose at opening. Holding up strong and delicious.
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11/19/2011 - BernieMSY wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful once again
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9/9/2011 - ctjared wrote:
Excellent. Gorgeous nose.
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9/8/2011 - BernieMSY wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully
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12/6/2009 - BernieMSY wrote: 94 Points
Delicious! Concentrated blackberry tones. Intense, intergrated and incredibel
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7/12/2009 - JimN wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful bottle that was a bit tight. Drank the remainder the next day, but it really wasn't holding together. Based on other notes, probably needs an hour or so, after opening, but don't wait too long.
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3/18/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Had at Caneel. No decant, a bit tight. A chalky minerality on the palate. Long finish. The remains fell apart the second day, which struck me as a bit odd given its tightness the day before.
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12/29/2007 - Phin wrote: 95 Points
2 hour decant. Full, concentrated wine. Great depth, complexity and finish. Nice spice.
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12/10/2007 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
A lovely Merlot overall.
Deep purple color almost black at the core. The nose was enormous. We only let it breathe for about an hour, but I think it was ready to drink. The notes of blueberry, plum, minerals, laced with TONS of vanilla and oak were screaming out of the glass from across the table.
The palate was smooth and coating the entire palate alike to the Turley Zinfandel enjoyed earlier in the meal.
Flavors of blueberries and dried dark fruit were dominant. Awesome wine with a 30+ second finish.
Maybe a bit overpriced though at over 75 bucks a bottle.
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11/24/2007 - sbeeks wrote: 88 Points
Disappointing. A bit "dead". Drank at Alisal with Messinas. Perhaps a few years will add something.
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10/18/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 93 Points
Napa Valley Vintner's Big Nightlife Napa Valley Magnum Tasting Party (San Francisco, CA): Blockbuster Merlot. Intense and concentrated wine, with dark puple color. Aromas/flavors of blackberry, plum, blueberry, spice, mocha and oak. Huge, muscular tannin structure balances the highly extracted fruit. This wine has a 35+ second finish that few cabs (let alone merlots) can match. If only it didn't cost $90 alot more people could enjoy this fine wine.
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