Juicy yet elegant. Black cherry, vanilla, and a touch of barbecue sauce. Long, velvety finish. Drinking at or just past its peak, with fully integrated tannins.
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Double decanted; but was still a little closed; near the last glass we caught some of the complexity and character we expected; this bottle was mute compared to our other samples.
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The usual cherry laden with more cherry, like only L'ecole can do. 375 with dinner at Sun Mtn Lodge, paired nicely with both my scallops & her lamb. Sure, nothing groundbreaking - but has been 'old faithful' for us over the last half dozen years.
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There is a lot of minerality to this, too much for me. There is some red fruit fruit but that is overshadowed by a flinty taste. Acidity is too high also. Really off balance the whole way around. ($18)
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Nice deep dark color. Nose of blueberries and menthol. Initial attack of dark fruit with a nice roundness. Wine still seems it has some time to grow. Sour cherries on the back with some firm tannins. Good wine, but nothing memorable.
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On opening this bottle had a strong nose of a young fruity wine. Solid dark fruit flavors with a tannic backbone. Dense dark color. I really enjoyed this although others may not appreciate the tannins. Purchased as a PLCB Chairman's Selection for $18 plus tax.
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Nice WA Merlot. Huge blueberries, vanilla, smoke, raspberrries, and spice on the nose. Nice mouthfeel with some tannins kickin' on the finish. Blueberries, cherries, chocolate, tobacco, and leather on the palate. Drinking well now but has a good 3-5 yrs of life left.
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Maybe it was shocked from the travel (assuming that even exists) but I thought the merlot was totally flat. It was a fine quality wine that I wouldn't have problems opening for guests, but the nose was flat, as was the taste. It's a decent merlot with nothing exceptional otherwise
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Perfumed blackberries attack the nose when first poured. Fades to cocoa and elegant dark berry notes. Finishes with a long dry finish with fine tannins.
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taste: excellent medium body with polished tannins and tones of red berries, red cherries, red currants along with a touch of spice all round out well together
overall: an excellent merlot that shows off what merlot can do. Well balanced with good aromas and flavors, this is perfect to drink right now, and can go great with a lot of food
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10/13/2017 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
Still a nice wine, probably fading a bit, complex notes, fading tannin.
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8/13/2017 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
plush, dark fruit, nice wine for steak, aging well, not past its prime
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3/4/2016 - tkowal23 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Flavors have settled nicely this is the time to drink it.
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9/26/2015 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
Very good, bold nose, red plum fruit, resolving tannins, elegant wine.
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2/9/2014 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
Nice wine, seems like it can stand more time, throwing a good bit of sediment.
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10/13/2013 - WAWINEFAN wrote: 90 Points
Very smooth. Exceeded expectations - great wine at a great value
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8/16/2013 - tenor12bucks Likes this wine: 90 Points
Juicy yet elegant. Black cherry, vanilla, and a touch of barbecue sauce. Long, velvety finish. Drinking at or just past its peak, with fully integrated tannins.
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9/7/2012 - dleaf wrote: 90 Points
Let this wine open up a bit and you will be rewarded with a very good merlot.
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7/14/2012 - RichardZula wrote:
Slightly muted, red plum, beautiful nose, perhaps I needed to le it have more air, full bodied.
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2/15/2012 - PennQuinn wrote: 88 Points
Nice. No surprises, just a good WA Merlot.
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7/23/2011 - RichardZula wrote:
Double decanted; but was still a little closed; near the last glass we caught some of the complexity and character we expected; this bottle was mute compared to our other samples.
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7/2/2011 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 90 Points
The usual cherry laden with more cherry, like only L'ecole can do. 375 with dinner at Sun Mtn Lodge, paired nicely with both my scallops & her lamb. Sure, nothing groundbreaking - but has been 'old faithful' for us over the last half dozen years.
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4/14/2011 - StuckinPA wrote: 86 Points
fine for the price, needs some air, nice subtle fruit, a bit too much acidity at first, nice mouth feel.
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3/20/2011 - Hazeo wrote: 86 Points
A nice dark simple merlot. Fruity without being candied, and a straightforward palette of chocolate and plums. Not a bad party wine but nothing more.
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3/11/2011 - jeffal66 wrote: 74 Points
Not good. Bitter, broken down. Just plain pass.
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2/25/2011 - RichardZula wrote:
Great merlot,as good as the wine gets IMHO, complex, deep, a delight.
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2/4/2011 - ecola wrote: 80 Points
There is a lot of minerality to this, too much for me. There is some red fruit fruit but that is overshadowed by a flinty taste. Acidity is too high also. Really off balance the whole way around. ($18)
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10/17/2010 - ocattorney wrote: 87 Points
Nice deep dark color. Nose of blueberries and menthol. Initial attack of dark fruit with a nice roundness. Wine still seems it has some time to grow. Sour cherries on the back with some firm tannins. Good wine, but nothing memorable.
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10/15/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 86 Points
Drank over several nights - good QPR, but not as good as 1st bottle I tried - a bit weak and thin with a metallic aftertaste
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9/27/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 89 Points
VG merlot - although has good quantity of Franc, Sauv & Verdot - nice blend and excellent QPR; dark ruby color with good fruit & nice tannins
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9/11/2010 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
On opening this bottle had a strong nose of a young fruity wine. Solid dark fruit flavors with a tannic backbone. Dense dark color. I really enjoyed this although others may not appreciate the tannins. Purchased as a PLCB Chairman's Selection for $18 plus tax.
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4/30/2010 - Acohen wrote: 85 Points
Overly dry for my taste and while lots of structure, i couldn't get enough fruit
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1/26/2010 - Shelbi & Kirk wrote: 88 Points
Decent but not memorable.
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12/4/2009 - bkarney wrote: 89 Points
still a monster. needs a couple of hours to open, min. big tannins, ripe dark fruit. very enjoyable, even more so the following day. 89
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10/24/2009 - Vinsant wrote: 87 Points
Nice WA Merlot. Huge blueberries, vanilla, smoke, raspberrries, and spice on the nose. Nice mouthfeel with some tannins kickin' on the finish. Blueberries, cherries, chocolate, tobacco, and leather on the palate. Drinking well now but has a good 3-5 yrs of life left.
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10/13/2009 - rmm wrote: 82 Points
Maybe it was shocked from the travel (assuming that even exists) but I thought the merlot was totally flat. It was a fine quality wine that I wouldn't have problems opening for guests, but the nose was flat, as was the taste. It's a decent merlot with nothing exceptional otherwise
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10/7/2009 - csu.viticulture wrote: 89 Points
Perfumed blackberries attack the nose when first poured. Fades to cocoa and elegant dark berry notes. Finishes with a long dry finish with fine tannins.
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9/14/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 88 Points
Washington Wine Commision tasting (Rooftop Terrace, Millenium Park, Chicago IL): nose: nice and silky nose with pretty tones of red berries, blueberries, red currants and red cherries. Good depth and is exactly what one would expect from a solid merlot
taste: excellent medium body with polished tannins and tones of red berries, red cherries, red currants along with a touch of spice all round out well together
overall: an excellent merlot that shows off what merlot can do. Well balanced with good aromas and flavors, this is perfect to drink right now, and can go great with a lot of food
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