Deep purple/blue color. Nose and palate of black and blue fruit; some floral notes on entry; hints of earth on finish. Full bodied but not overdone. I do not drink a lot of CA merlot (often tastes over-ripe and candied to me), but this was an excellent bottle. Ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened it warily, afraid of finding a too-old, simple red. Instead, a blockbuster, a high-alcohol monster that might have escaped from a Port house (leaving behind the residual sugar). Decant, let it rest for 2-3 hours, minimum. Ours was better the next day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour, followed over three hours. Raspberry on the nose, overtime begins to show crushed stone and aged leather as well. While the flavor profile is largely fruit-driven, two hours after opening the tannins show well front to mid-palate, and provide a silk/leather coating that offers a 20 second finish. The well-integrated tannins largely fade into the background 2+ hours after opening.
This was our last bottle of the 07 Merlot and IMHO was consumed in the far end of its ideal window. This is precisely why we buy wines in quantity and age on our own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs some decanting to deepen and blow off some funk on the nose. Mature wine that is strawberry red with a touch of cloudiness that follows thru on the palate. Completely balanced but finish is short as acid and tannins don't add any verve on the finish. Some milk chocolate carmel candy bar taste going on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still fresh, vibrant with considerable depth. Plenty of time left. Deep fruit, just a hint of mocha. Tannins are smooth and barely discernable. Glad I have three more bottles. You will love it now and will definitely age gracefully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and followed over 2 hours. Firm legs grip the stems nicely; prune/raisin on the nose give way to earthy aromas expected from a Bordeaux. Air quickly resolves the tannins from rough to a fine/silky coating of the palate. Mature black fruit, plums. dark chocolate, coffee and earth. With an hour of air this is ideal, and indicates this'll be a perfect pop'n pour shortly. Will drink remaining bottles by 2017 for ideal enjoyment. Still a powerful gentleman meaning business and showing what he's made of, but graying gracefully at the temples.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bold nose of dark fruits and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to fully bodied red, with currant, black cherry, chocolate and coffee with a very long spiced finish. Hands down one of the best Merlot’s I have ever tasted, a fantastic wine that handles the whopping 16.2% Alcohol level. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great Merlot. Has a beautiful coffee/espresso/plumb complexity to it that elivates this wine to the next level. A slight touch of stewed fruit but not enough to be intrusive. Bright redfruits with a firm acidic backbone. Just another reason why Mr Foley is my favorite winemaker. Bravo!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Followed over two days; wine opens up very nicely within an hour and grows from there. Good, predictable mountain fruit that reveals itself in layers that linger on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On a pnp this was an alc mess. Threw into a decanter and three hours later this was in a good place big big wine that's loaded with big cab like flavors in a bottle of merlot. Turned out nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose of deep blackberry and dark chocolate on the palate big dark fruit, dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco very rich, light in tannins and acidity with a medium finish over the top delicious, hits you with everything up front, not overly complex, made to drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for air, and immediately consumed. Green notes on the nose with an hint of minerality. Wine is fruit-based with a soft and approachable structure. Modest cedar/oak, fine-grained tannins, dark berry fruit. This has really softened-up and become a better wine today than a year ago. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated into decanter and let open for approx. 2 hours ... Big, bold and beautiful, I would have NEVER pegged this for a pure Merlot. I echo another reviewer's call that this one is "Christmas morning in a glass"--poetic, and aptly descriptive.
Big, blueberry pie-like fruit with melted chocolate and cinnamon spice overtones. Rich, lush and mouth-coating. This is bordering on cocktail wine, but very well done. We liked it enough we just ordered a few of the '09s. ... Valentine's 2012 (CT Secret Santa 2011 bottle)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like Christmas morning in a glass...delicious, but surreal and somewhat artificial. How does Bob get a completely dry wine to taste like chocolate cake and holiday spices? Furthermore, how does he conceal 16.2% alcohol (not a misprint) so completely?!?!?! You've got to be in the mood for something this over-the-top, but it's a blast to drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
8th bottle over past two years. Always a crowd pleaser! Reviews are spot on. Long finish, cocoa and spice. Excellent merlot that fools you into thinking its a high end Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistently outstanding: enormous fruit, great mouthfeel, extremely long finish, with nuances of cocoa. Only complaint is the alcohol is too high, although well hidden (until the second glass).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great big Napa Merlot. Wonderful chocolate and mocha. Huge hedonistic and fun wine. Long finish. A real crowd pleaser that will suprise folks with such interesting flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big rich round fruit. Alcohol is a mind boggling 16.2%. The nose is rich and creamy. Blueberries, baked goods, rich all spice, sweet candied grape jolly ranchers, some sweet cinnamon and vanilla also going on. A lot of vanilla but the minerality that lies beneath the surface balances out all the gobs of blockbuster fruit. The palate isn't nearly as weighty as the nose would let on yet it still has as much complexity as the aromatics. The finish is long and has multiple layers of light yet rich mocha, blue and black fruit, sweet tobacco and licorice menthol. There is very low acidity but the back end is clean and has nice focus. A really well made wine that is up my alley as far as style goes for New World Merlot. One of the better Merlots I've had in a while. And as a whole it's up there with Pahlmeyer, Switchback Ridge and Paloma.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
July 4th at Kelly's (Mattatuck): Opened and decanted for 2 hours. This had a conflicting nose and was different from the last bottle. A certain "greeness" showed up (like unripe tomato or pepper) and then evolved into a more traditional nose of cherry, dark pitted fruit and a hint of wild strawberries. Everyone noticed a prickling of high alcohol on the nose. The body was definitely better than the nose -- black currants, blackberry jam, and cream soda. The finish showed the alcohol again. We enjoyed this wine, but it was simply overwhelmed by the Hundred Acre.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shut down a bit now on day 1, much better on day 2. Consistent flavors with past notes. More emphasis on New World hedonism than varietal correctness. Not that that's a bad thing. Just adjust your expectations. It's more like an Australian fruit bomb than a Pride merlot from the late 1990's - early 2000's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Allowed 90 mins in a decanter before drinking out of Somm stems. There were some green and sour notes early on, but these blew off with time to reveal dark fruit, eucalyptus, pepper and spices. Well-balanced for such a young wine, though still strong and brash. Oak and alcohol are evident but not overpowering; oak is more like burnt cedar. This should improve even further with some time to soften up, as today its more like a Spring Mtn Cab than any merlot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great gramcracker and fruit on the nose. Oak delivers vanilla and some backing spice. Along with teh fruite, below there is lots to think about in this complex wine. Wish it weres slightly more integrated, but thats like complaining angelina Jolie is too tan as the bold flavors are very californian. Big wine on the palate as well. Easy to drink with cherry, licorice and plum. Maybe some blueberry. long finish. A real crowd pleaser and calming down, so I don't see any reason to hold off drinking other than as a science experiment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ok, is this a massive hedonistic wine? Is this nothing like most other Merlots? Could this be called a fruit bomb? Yes to al the above. Who cares! This was nice with Xmas dinner. Nose of crushed fruit and some cotton candy. More fruits on the palate, and it's big, but nothing syrupy. It's definitely a little hot, but not offensive. Very delicious overall, and I would buy again at this tariff. Enjoyable, and I don't fife many 94s...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Simply an outstanding bottle of wine. Went head to head in a blind 20 bottle tasting and blew the field away.
Palates were as diverse as can be possibly gathered... And as frequently the case, the best bottle was the best bottle when all of the scores were tallied.
Beat the likes of heavy hitting Lewis, Chappelet Pritchard Hill, Silver Oak, Jaquelynn (Oakville), Hartwell, etc. Clearly the best of the night and tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really went back and forth on this rating. Straight out of the bottle this wine is nearly undrinkable at room temperature. The 16.2% alc and very strong tanin profile completely overwhelm all other aspects of the wine. However, we left this and decanted for 24 hours. My notes are from the following evening.
Nose: Chocolate, Cherry, Black Currant and Plum. Leaps from the glass. Varietal does not stand out, but it smells good. Palate: HEAVY palate weight and showing nice dark chocolate, berries, sweet woodsmoke and blueberries on the close. Expansive and mouthfilling. Finish: Long finish that leaves blueberry/cherry along with the nuances of licorice and fig.
Served at 55 degrees it is great ... do not serve at room temp.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Remarkably bold and flavorful. No way I'd identify this as a Merlot blind. Shiraz maybe. Napa Cab probably. Very big and serious with tons of delicious fruit and a bit of anise. The alcohol was occasionally slightly-searing, but overall the stunningly-high 16.2% alcohol is well concealed. Don't operate a motor vehicle after tasting this one, but quite nice in moderation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love Foley's wines. This is as big of a merlot as I've ever had. Full bodied, but not over-powering. Decant 1+ hours. Could actually use a little time in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted on May 29th, 2010. Enjoyed this wine over a wonderful Italian dinner. No decant, just pull the plug and go. Entire group was pleased. As of this writing, this is the second highest rating given 07 Merlots by RP, and I agree. A massive California Merlot, with all the best attributes of the spectacular 2007 vintage. Opaque purple color, ripe fruit and tannins, somewhat high in alcohol but not out of balance. Very approachable now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted. Immediately upon the 2xdecant, this was tight with fine-grained tanins that coated the mouth but wasn't all that smooth. 3+ hours of air helped turn this iinto a magnificent wine. Blue and black fruits on the nose with alcohol evident (16.2%). Very approachable - if still young and tight - wine, that shows dark fruits, lots of cedar, some vanilla and fig. This will really develop into something special if you can stay away from it for awhile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and decanted for 3 hours. Beautiful aromas of dark cherries, black currant, raspberries. A hint of heat prickles the nose. The body was definitely a "wow" for us -- vanilla, tobacco, plums, black currant. Not everything was together though. Finish was long with a battle between sweet and somewhat harsher tannins. The alcohol was nearly over the top, but just pulled back from the brink. I think this bottle has a lot of potential, but we are going to let the others rest for at least ther next 2 - 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Splash decanted then replaced into a corked bottle for 2 hours. Served with locally-raised, bone-in leg of lamb and mushrooms. Better integrated than the first bottle. Definitely give this some air, don't pop & pour!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Parker pretty much nailed the flavor profile: chocolate, coffee, cherry, currants and plum. I'm not sure I would have noticed the fig, but now that he mentions it, it is there. It's not up to his 95 points for my taste, though. Heavily extracted, and a bit disjoint on day 1. That puts it in the "Very Good to Excellent" category for me, not flirting with Extraordinary at 95 pts. Better knit together on day 3. I'll hold a couple years before trying another. It reminds me of a Mollydooker plus chocolate sauce, which could be delicious or dreadful depending on your taste. Served with leftover chicken roasted with tarragon & garlic on day one, then pulled pork sandwiches on day three.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK, first off I am huge Foley fan but this wine just did not work for me. It had an overripe stewed fruit flavor that I found strange. Everything else is typical Foley with Vanilla, low acid, etc but I could just not get past the over ripe flavors. Cooked?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still early as lots of vanilla up front but great depth and fruit for a massive Foley-esque merlot. Lots of fruit with coffee and chocolate. Glad that we have more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Out of the gate a little hot but over the next few hours the alcohol simmered down. Very thick mouthfeel with oodles of mocha and chocolate flavors. Some plum as well. Nice 20 second finish. Pleasant wine to drink will let it sit for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious, but very young. took about and hour to open up, and probably would have been better 2 hours later. Wonderful balance. Complimented steak perfectly. This is why merlot is still a great wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An incredibly good nose with black cherry, blackberry, licorice, earth and some alcohol. Thick and dense texture with a great mouthfeel and lots of smooth, fine grained tannins. Very good right now but this Merlot is built to improve with time. One of the best California merlots that I've had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/17/2020 - stoneb wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple/blue color. Nose and palate of black and blue fruit; some floral notes on entry; hints of earth on finish. Full bodied but not overdone. I do not drink a lot of CA merlot (often tastes over-ripe and candied to me), but this was an excellent bottle. Ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2020 - Winiac wrote: 91 Points
Powerful wine with solid structure, but too much oak , and fruit is somewhat overbearing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2020 - nywine68 wrote: 92 Points
Dark chocolate with rhubarb, dark plums, earth and spices. Still young and full of fruit. Some heat on the long big finish. A big wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2019 - SophieR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened it warily, afraid of finding a too-old, simple red. Instead, a blockbuster, a high-alcohol monster that might have escaped from a Port house (leaving behind the residual sugar). Decant, let it rest for 2-3 hours, minimum. Ours was better the next day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2018 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour, followed over three hours. Raspberry on the nose, overtime begins to show crushed stone and aged leather as well. While the flavor profile is largely fruit-driven, two hours after opening the tannins show well front to mid-palate, and provide a silk/leather coating that offers a 20 second finish. The well-integrated tannins largely fade into the background 2+ hours after opening.
This was our last bottle of the 07 Merlot and IMHO was consumed in the far end of its ideal window. This is precisely why we buy wines in quantity and age on our own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2017 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and pour, followed over two days. Still very full bodied and really easy to drink. No rush, still 2 to 4 years ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2017 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Realizing I have been reaching for these wines... hard to keep hands off of them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needs some decanting to deepen and blow off some funk on the nose. Mature wine that is strawberry red with a touch of cloudiness that follows thru on the palate. Completely balanced but finish is short as acid and tannins don't add any verve on the finish. Some milk chocolate carmel candy bar taste going on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2016 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the very best merlots that we drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2015 - davidandrose wrote:
Previously coravin'd bottle tasted off. Had a glass that tasted more like port than wine, tossed it out. No rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2015 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark rich merlot that drinks like a cab with lots of dark fruit, chocolate and cassis on the long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2015 - skinut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still fresh, vibrant with considerable depth. Plenty of time left. Deep fruit, just a hint of mocha. Tannins are smooth and barely discernable. Glad I have three more bottles. You will love it now and will definitely age gracefully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2015 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and followed over 2 hours. Firm legs grip the stems nicely; prune/raisin on the nose give way to earthy aromas expected from a Bordeaux. Air quickly resolves the tannins from rough to a fine/silky coating of the palate. Mature black fruit, plums. dark chocolate, coffee and earth. With an hour of air this is ideal, and indicates this'll be a perfect pop'n pour shortly. Will drink remaining bottles by 2017 for ideal enjoyment. Still a powerful gentleman meaning business and showing what he's made of, but graying gracefully at the temples.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2015 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 95 Points
A bold nose of dark fruits and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to fully bodied red, with currant, black cherry, chocolate and coffee with a very long spiced finish. Hands down one of the best Merlot’s I have ever tasted, a fantastic wine that handles the whopping 16.2% Alcohol level. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2014 - brian przyzycki Likes this wine: 93 Points
A great Merlot. Has a beautiful coffee/espresso/plumb complexity to it that elivates this wine to the next level. A slight touch of stewed fruit but not enough to be intrusive. Bright redfruits with a firm acidic backbone. Just another reason why Mr Foley is my favorite winemaker. Bravo!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - moskowic wrote: 91 Points
fruit forward at opening but after 90 minutes had an iodine taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2013 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Followed over two days; wine opens up very nicely within an hour and grows from there. Good, predictable mountain fruit that reveals itself in layers that linger on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2013 - 1964vintage wrote: 93 Points
Excellent from start to finish. From magnum. Drank over 4 hours. Continued to blossom and provide new pleasures with every glass. Very nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2013 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely superb! Luscious deep red fruit. Bushels full. Great balance. Still a few great years left in this bottle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2013 - krmcgrath wrote: 91 Points
Still delicious but it's lost the power and unctuous texture it used to have.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2012 - deltacop wrote: 92 Points
On a pnp this was an alc mess. Threw into a decanter and three hours later this was in a good place big big wine that's loaded with big cab like flavors in a bottle of merlot. Turned out nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2012 - ihavezinned wrote: 86 Points
nose of deep blackberry and dark chocolate
on the palate big dark fruit, dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco
very rich, light in tannins and acidity with a medium finish
over the top delicious, hits you with everything up front, not overly complex, made to drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2012 - navybrat wrote: 92 Points
This tastes like it is peaking right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2012 - Fishboy wrote:
Raisins, prunes and alcohol. May have just been this bottle but poured out the rest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2012 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for air, and immediately consumed. Green notes on the nose with an hint of minerality. Wine is fruit-based with a soft and approachable structure. Modest cedar/oak, fine-grained tannins, dark berry fruit. This has really softened-up and become a better wine today than a year ago. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful, one of the better wines in their lineup
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Another great bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2012 - navybrat wrote: 93 Points
hitting its tride
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2012 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful blackberry and black cherry aromas and flavors with chocolate and oaky notes. A cab lovers merlot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Very good merlot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2012 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aerated into decanter and let open for approx. 2 hours ... Big, bold and beautiful, I would have NEVER pegged this for a pure Merlot. I echo another reviewer's call that this one is "Christmas morning in a glass"--poetic, and aptly descriptive.
Big, blueberry pie-like fruit with melted chocolate and cinnamon spice overtones. Rich, lush and mouth-coating. This is bordering on cocktail wine, but very well done. We liked it enough we just ordered a few of the '09s. ... Valentine's 2012 (CT Secret Santa 2011 bottle)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - Philly NQ King wrote: 93 Points
Like Christmas morning in a glass...delicious, but surreal and somewhat artificial. How does Bob get a completely dry wine to taste like chocolate cake and holiday spices? Furthermore, how does he conceal 16.2% alcohol (not a misprint) so completely?!?!?! You've got to be in the mood for something this over-the-top, but it's a blast to drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - gullsnest wrote: 94 Points
8th bottle over past two years. Always a crowd pleaser! Reviews are spot on. Long finish, cocoa and spice. Excellent merlot that fools you into thinking its a high end Cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Chocolate mocha happiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2011 - wino31 wrote: 95 Points
Consistently outstanding: enormous fruit, great mouthfeel, extremely long finish, with nuances of cocoa. Only complaint is the alcohol is too high, although well hidden (until the second glass).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Great big Napa Merlot. Wonderful chocolate and mocha. Huge hedonistic and fun wine. Long finish. A real crowd pleaser that will suprise folks with such interesting flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2011 - mccrest wrote: 94 Points
Deep and fruity. Excellent nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Big rich round fruit. Alcohol is a mind boggling 16.2%. The nose is rich and creamy. Blueberries, baked goods, rich all spice, sweet candied grape jolly ranchers, some sweet cinnamon and vanilla also going on. A lot of vanilla but the minerality that lies beneath the surface balances out all the gobs of blockbuster fruit.
The palate isn't nearly as weighty as the nose would let on yet it still has as much complexity as the aromatics. The finish is long and has multiple layers of light yet rich mocha, blue and black fruit, sweet tobacco and licorice menthol. There is very low acidity but the back end is clean and has nice focus. A really well made wine that is up my alley as far as style goes for New World Merlot. One of the better Merlots I've had in a while. And as a whole it's up there with Pahlmeyer, Switchback Ridge and Paloma.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2011 - wino31 wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. Enormous fruit, great texture, long finish. Fantastic merlot. Needs decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2011 - TMacpherson wrote: 91 Points
July 4th at Kelly's (Mattatuck): Opened and decanted for 2 hours. This had a conflicting nose and was different from the last bottle. A certain "greeness" showed up (like unripe tomato or pepper) and then evolved into a more traditional nose of cherry, dark pitted fruit and a hint of wild strawberries. Everyone noticed a prickling of high alcohol on the nose. The body was definitely better than the nose -- black currants, blackberry jam, and cream soda. The finish showed the alcohol again. We enjoyed this wine, but it was simply overwhelmed by the Hundred Acre.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2011 - hgoodyear wrote: 80 Points
Very disappointing. Grotesquely fruit-bombed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2011 - tp096255 wrote: 92 Points
---
COLOR: Opaque purple w/med purple-garnet rim
NOTE: Deep ripe mulberry reduction. Limited note.
DECANT: 2 hr
GLASS USED: Bordeaux
TASTE: 92
COST: 60
VALUE: 6.0
PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a
TRY AGAIN: n/a
PAIRING:
Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
---
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2011 - WineScoundrel wrote: 94 Points
Best Aussie shiraz I've ever had. ;)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2011 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Blackberry, blueberry, and plum jam. Raisin, espresso and cocoa powder.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2011 - suttonri wrote: 89 Points
Shut down a bit now on day 1, much better on day 2. Consistent flavors with past notes. More emphasis on New World hedonism than varietal correctness. Not that that's a bad thing. Just adjust your expectations. It's more like an Australian fruit bomb than a Pride merlot from the late 1990's - early 2000's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 93 Points
Allowed 90 mins in a decanter before drinking out of Somm stems. There were some green and sour notes early on, but these blew off with time to reveal dark fruit, eucalyptus, pepper and spices. Well-balanced for such a young wine, though still strong and brash. Oak and alcohol are evident but not overpowering; oak is more like burnt cedar. This should improve even further with some time to soften up, as today its more like a Spring Mtn Cab than any merlot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Great gramcracker and fruit on the nose. Oak delivers vanilla and some backing spice. Along with teh fruite, below there is lots to think about in this complex wine. Wish it weres slightly more integrated, but thats like complaining angelina Jolie is too tan as the bold flavors are very californian. Big wine on the palate as well. Easy to drink with cherry, licorice and plum. Maybe some blueberry. long finish. A real crowd pleaser and calming down, so I don't see any reason to hold off drinking other than as a science experiment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2011 - Dasher wrote: 95 Points
Fruit bomb, great merlot! WOW
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 94 Points
Ok, is this a massive hedonistic wine? Is this nothing like most other Merlots? Could this be called a fruit bomb? Yes to al the above. Who cares! This was nice with Xmas dinner. Nose of crushed fruit and some cotton candy. More fruits on the palate, and it's big, but nothing syrupy. It's definitely a little hot, but not offensive. Very delicious overall, and I would buy again at this tariff. Enjoyable, and I don't fife many 94s...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - jjtoups wrote: 98 Points
Simply an outstanding bottle of wine. Went head to head in a blind 20 bottle tasting and blew the field away.
Palates were as diverse as can be possibly gathered... And as frequently the case, the best bottle was the best bottle when all of the scores were tallied.
Beat the likes of heavy hitting Lewis, Chappelet Pritchard Hill, Silver Oak, Jaquelynn (Oakville), Hartwell, etc. Clearly the best of the night and tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2010 - Joelene wrote: 89 Points
hot hot hot, others liked it, i was not so impressed, if you want a monster like this just get a $17 Klinker Brick
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2010 - bamhome wrote: 91 Points
Fruit Bomb
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2010 - RockinCabs wrote: 90 Points
I really went back and forth on this rating. Straight out of the bottle this wine is nearly undrinkable at room temperature. The 16.2% alc and very strong tanin profile completely overwhelm all other aspects of the wine. However, we left this and decanted for 24 hours. My notes are from the following evening.
Nose: Chocolate, Cherry, Black Currant and Plum. Leaps from the glass. Varietal does not stand out, but it smells good. Palate: HEAVY palate weight and showing nice dark chocolate, berries, sweet woodsmoke and blueberries on the close. Expansive and mouthfilling. Finish: Long finish that leaves blueberry/cherry along with the nuances of licorice and fig.
Served at 55 degrees it is great ... do not serve at room temp.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote: 92 Points
Remarkably bold and flavorful. No way I'd identify this as a Merlot blind. Shiraz maybe. Napa Cab probably. Very big and serious with tons of delicious fruit and a bit of anise. The alcohol was occasionally slightly-searing, but overall the stunningly-high 16.2% alcohol is well concealed. Don't operate a motor vehicle after tasting this one, but quite nice in moderation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2010 - Tri Wine wrote: 94 Points
I love Foley's wines. This is as big of a merlot as I've ever had. Full bodied, but not over-powering. Decant 1+ hours. Could actually use a little time in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2010 - MarloCat wrote: 95 Points
Tasted on May 29th, 2010. Enjoyed this wine over a wonderful Italian dinner. No decant, just pull the plug and go. Entire group was pleased. As of this writing, this is the second highest rating given 07 Merlots by RP, and I agree. A massive California Merlot, with all the best attributes of the spectacular 2007 vintage. Opaque purple color, ripe fruit and tannins, somewhat high in alcohol but not out of balance. Very approachable now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2010 - davidandrose wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted. Immediately upon the 2xdecant, this was tight with fine-grained tanins that coated the mouth but wasn't all that smooth. 3+ hours of air helped turn this iinto a magnificent wine. Blue and black fruits on the nose with alcohol evident (16.2%). Very approachable - if still young and tight - wine, that shows dark fruits, lots of cedar, some vanilla and fig. This will really develop into something special if you can stay away from it for awhile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2010 - Acohen wrote: 92 Points
Huge and lush with lots of vanilla and oak upfront but loads of currant and espresso with a long finish... still integrating and will get better
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2010 - TMacpherson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened and decanted for 3 hours. Beautiful aromas of dark cherries, black currant, raspberries. A hint of heat prickles the nose. The body was definitely a "wow" for us -- vanilla, tobacco, plums, black currant. Not everything was together though. Finish was long with a battle between sweet and somewhat harsher tannins. The alcohol was nearly over the top, but just pulled back from the brink. I think this bottle has a lot of potential, but we are going to let the others rest for at least ther next 2 - 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2010 - suttonri wrote: 90 Points
Splash decanted then replaced into a corked bottle for 2 hours. Served with locally-raised, bone-in leg of lamb and mushrooms. Better integrated than the first bottle. Definitely give this some air, don't pop & pour!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2010 - suttonri wrote: 87 Points
Parker pretty much nailed the flavor profile: chocolate, coffee, cherry, currants and plum. I'm not sure I would have noticed the fig, but now that he mentions it, it is there. It's not up to his 95 points for my taste, though. Heavily extracted, and a bit disjoint on day 1. That puts it in the "Very Good to Excellent" category for me, not flirting with Extraordinary at 95 pts. Better knit together on day 3. I'll hold a couple years before trying another. It reminds me of a Mollydooker plus chocolate sauce, which could be delicious or dreadful depending on your taste. Served with leftover chicken roasted with tarragon & garlic on day one, then pulled pork sandwiches on day three.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2010 - bambam wrote: 88 Points
OK, first off I am huge Foley fan but this wine just did not work for me. It had an overripe stewed fruit flavor that I found strange. Everything else is typical Foley with Vanilla, low acid, etc but I could just not get past the over ripe flavors. Cooked?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2010 - Acohen wrote: 91 Points
Still early as lots of vanilla up front but great depth and fruit for a massive Foley-esque merlot. Lots of fruit with coffee and chocolate. Glad that we have more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2010 - redno5 wrote: 94 Points
Out of the gate a little hot but over the next few hours the alcohol simmered down. Very thick mouthfeel with oodles of mocha and chocolate flavors. Some plum as well. Nice 20 second finish. Pleasant wine to drink will let it sit for a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2010 - Phin wrote: 95 Points
Chocolate and full bodied dark fruit. Good structure as it was a little tight even overnight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, but very young. took about and hour to open up, and probably would have been better 2 hours later.
Wonderful balance. Complimented steak perfectly. This is why merlot is still a great wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2009 - krmcgrath wrote: 93 Points
An incredibly good nose with black cherry, blackberry, licorice, earth and some alcohol. Thick and dense texture with a great mouthfeel and lots of smooth, fine grained tannins. Very good right now but this Merlot is built to improve with time. One of the best California merlots that I've had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment