The color is still quite youthful, slightly purple but mostly brick. Medium body in the glass. Smooth entry with silky tannin and dense but not astringent mouthfeel. Develops beautifully in the mouth with a long but mild finish. If I could get more, this would be fine for another couple of years.
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Much better than the previous bottle. Showing classic aged Washington Merlot with balanced fruit and acid and well integrated tannins. Was the hit of the night.
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In an odd place now. Really tight at opening but started to show more fruit on the second night. Not sure if it was a flawed bottle or just needs more time. Will have to revisit later this year.
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Elegant wine with firm but balanced structure after an hour decant. Firm tannins balance by fruit forwardness and 14.4% alcohol-slightly hot. Blackberry, blueberry, and plum with notes of vanilla, forest floor, and hint of cocoa. Finish is long but uncomplicated. Drinking well now but will likely last another year or two.
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Delicious, lush Washington State merlot. I was pleasantly surprised by this bottle. Concerned that it may have been compromised (purchased on significant discount at the local HyVee grocery store) it turned out to be outstanding. Excellent bouquet of cedar, tobacco and a hint of cloves. Velvety texture, loads of blackberry fruit, spices and the tell-tale cocoa. Mouthfilling with smooth tannins and a nice lingering finish. Probably not going to get any better, but at least this bottle was drinking beautifully now.
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Time to drink this bottle-- feel as though it has peaked. Nice dark purple hue, dark berry, oak nose, getting a little pruney, nicely structured. Wish I had this one year ago. Regardless, always enjoy Northstar. They've got reliable wines year in an year out.
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I have gone to Walla Walla Merlot Heaven. Very muscular yet refined. Cocoa, dark berries, a bit of tobacco. The only thing I downgraded this on was the finish was a bit fleeting.
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The wine looks Brick colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Black currant (cassis), Cherry, and Forest floor. It tastes like Cranberry, Cherry, and Chocolate. The body is Full. The wine has Coarse texture. The wine finishes Medium. DEcanted one hour before serving. Very big wine to start, after 4 hours had lost much of its original body and flavor. Still young but a delightful wine.
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Second bottle this week this time paired with a petite filet off the grill. This wine is everyting you should love about Merot, Miles from Sideways would even be smiling. Enjoy.
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Awesome bottle of wine as others have noted. Decanted at Alba in Des Moines for about an hour for dinner. In glass the dark purple of the wine in the decanter gave way to a wonderful garnet color. Nose of dark fruits, toast, baking spices... nothing of of proportion, great balance. In the mouth this wine is really in stride, smooth with the flavors of the nose coming through and the tanins smooth as silk. I would say easy drinking with no heat what so ever present. Finish was short but left you wanting more. Great bottle, enjoy.
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Awesome nose and wonderful color. Thought the nose was powerful with major fruit. Black raspberry, little vanilla. Didn't think the wine had a very long finish. Regardless, terrific Merlot. Can't go wrong with this selection.
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This wine helped me decide that merlot is still worth drinking. Good muscularity and depth; nice finish. Did not make notes of nose and flavor profiles.
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I am not a big Merlot fan so my reviews can be somewhat jaded. Very smooth bottle and for a Merlot lover, probably would be rated very high. THis gave me what I expect from a premium Merlot, smooth and consistent flavors and finish but no character. This is a nice afternoon sipping wine but if you expect something big and bold, this won't get you there.
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Awesome nose and wonderful color. Thought the nose was powerful with major fruit. Black raspberry, little vanilla. Didn't think the wine had a very long finish. Regardless, terrific Merlot. Can't go wrong with this selection.
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This is lovely, tastes of tobacco, black raspberry and cocoa. Flavor lingers after each taste, this is denser than we expected from a merlot. Wish we had more!
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Notes from day 2. Dark red to purple in color. Nose was strong with black raspberry, tobacco, a little caramel and spice. Palate of mixed raspberry, cocoa, tobacco, toast and tannin on the back end. The finish was long in length and the wine balance was good for a new world wine. Serve at proper temps as heat starts to show slightly when up to room temps. Really nice merlot for the price and happy this doesn't show the bitterness that some merlot shows. Needs a few years to really integrate and show its stuff. Hold. 50+5+13+17+7
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one of the best bottles of wine i have ever tasted. tastes like a pomerol and the best of merlot flavors comes through. buy as much as they will sell you
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Spectacular wine! Couldn't believe it was a Merlot. Inky-purple in color, deep, full-bodied, berry, vanilla-- oh so good! This puts Side Ways to shame. Everyone should try this bottle.
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Pacific Northwest Tasting Trip (Walla Walla Day 2): Really dense wine. Really nice expressive nose of black raspberry, vanilla, smoke. On the palate was raspberry, cherry, strawberry, really good mouthfeel, a good dose of chocolate and toast. Nice finish that is very long.
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7/14/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Walla Walla Syrah Festival "Vintage Pour" (Cavu Cellars, Walla Walla): I had to try all of the wines at this tasting which mission accomplished. Not excited with NorthStar but this showed well with some age. Cherry, plum, earth and minerals. Still life left in this.
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12/21/2020 - JMFWC wrote: 92 Points
Pretty dense on night 1, rounded on night 2. Still good structure and decent fruit for its age. Will continue to evolve.
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3/22/2019 - cbrachfeld Likes this wine: 93 Points
The color is still quite youthful, slightly purple but mostly brick. Medium body in the glass. Smooth entry with silky tannin and dense but not astringent mouthfeel. Develops beautifully in the mouth with a long but mild finish. If I could get more, this would be fine for another couple of years.
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4/11/2017 - JMFWC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than the previous bottle. Showing classic aged Washington Merlot with balanced fruit and acid and well integrated tannins. Was the hit of the night.
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2/25/2017 - jmcmchi wrote: 90 Points
Starting to show some brick/brown round the rim
Lovely fruit, soft acidity, lingering dusty tannin
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2/17/2017 - JMFWC wrote: 88 Points
In an odd place now. Really tight at opening but started to show more fruit on the second night. Not sure if it was a flawed bottle or just needs more time. Will have to revisit later this year.
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5/21/2015 - 8count Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Dead
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10/18/2014 - gejohnston Likes this wine: 91 Points
Amazing representation of a WA Merlot. People in the group that claimed to not like Merlot loved this.
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6/22/2014 - knorthrip Likes this wine: 91 Points
Elegant wine with firm but balanced structure after an hour decant. Firm tannins balance by fruit forwardness and 14.4% alcohol-slightly hot. Blackberry, blueberry, and plum with notes of vanilla, forest floor, and hint of cocoa. Finish is long but uncomplicated. Drinking well now but will likely last another year or two.
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4/19/2014 - mojotojo wrote: 91 Points
Delicious, lush Washington State merlot. I was pleasantly surprised by this bottle. Concerned that it may have been compromised (purchased on significant discount at the local HyVee grocery store) it turned out to be outstanding. Excellent bouquet of cedar, tobacco and a hint of cloves. Velvety texture, loads of blackberry fruit, spices and the tell-tale cocoa. Mouthfilling with smooth tannins and a nice lingering finish. Probably not going to get any better, but at least this bottle was drinking beautifully now.
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4/6/2014 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Time to drink this bottle-- feel as though it has peaked. Nice dark purple hue, dark berry, oak nose, getting a little pruney, nicely structured. Wish I had this one year ago. Regardless, always enjoy Northstar. They've got reliable wines year in an year out.
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6/11/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have gone to Walla Walla Merlot Heaven. Very muscular yet refined. Cocoa, dark berries, a bit of tobacco. The only thing I downgraded this on was the finish was a bit fleeting.
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12/25/2012 - mhaugen Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine looks Brick colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Black currant (cassis), Cherry, and Forest floor. It tastes like Cranberry, Cherry, and Chocolate. The body is Full. The wine has Coarse texture. The wine finishes Medium. DEcanted one hour before serving. Very big wine to start, after 4 hours had lost much of its original body and flavor. Still young but a delightful wine.
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8/26/2012 - Madkat wrote: 93 Points
Second bottle this week this time paired with a petite filet off the grill. This wine is everyting you should love about Merot, Miles from Sideways would even be smiling. Enjoy.
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8/22/2012 - Madkat wrote: 93 Points
Awesome bottle of wine as others have noted. Decanted at Alba in Des Moines for about an hour for dinner. In glass the dark purple of the wine in the decanter gave way to a wonderful garnet color. Nose of dark fruits, toast, baking spices... nothing of of proportion, great balance. In the mouth this wine is really in stride, smooth with the flavors of the nose coming through and the tanins smooth as silk. I would say easy drinking with no heat what so ever present. Finish was short but left you wanting more. Great bottle, enjoy.
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8/5/2012 - williamswhine wrote: 92 Points
Awesome nose and wonderful color. Thought the nose was powerful with major fruit. Black raspberry, little vanilla. Didn't think the wine had a very long finish. Regardless, terrific Merlot. Can't go wrong with this selection.
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6/12/2012 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine helped me decide that merlot is still worth drinking. Good muscularity and depth; nice finish. Did not make notes of nose and flavor profiles.
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5/12/2012 - Seventy wrote: 90 Points
Splendid, very full-bodied, Merlot. Loses points on not having a long finish.
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12/23/2011 - krhaugh wrote: 90 Points
I am not a big Merlot fan so my reviews can be somewhat jaded. Very smooth bottle and for a Merlot lover, probably would be rated very high. THis gave me what I expect from a premium Merlot, smooth and consistent flavors and finish but no character. This is a nice afternoon sipping wine but if you expect something big and bold, this won't get you there.
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4/24/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
Dinner at Holly and Tony's (Wilmington, Delaware): Late in the night and my notes were pretty brief. I wrote "Chocolate, faint bell pepper, dark fruits, mellow, slightly hot".
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4/24/2011 - williamswhine wrote: 92 Points
Awesome nose and wonderful color. Thought the nose was powerful with major fruit. Black raspberry, little vanilla. Didn't think the wine had a very long finish. Regardless, terrific Merlot. Can't go wrong with this selection.
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3/28/2011 - blabbott wrote: 92 Points
This is lovely, tastes of tobacco, black raspberry and cocoa. Flavor lingers after each taste, this is denser than we expected from a merlot. Wish we had more!
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3/19/2011 - manonthemoon wrote: 92 Points
Notes from day 2.
Dark red to purple in color.
Nose was strong with black raspberry, tobacco, a little caramel and spice.
Palate of mixed raspberry, cocoa, tobacco, toast and tannin on the back end.
The finish was long in length and the wine balance was good for a new world wine.
Serve at proper temps as heat starts to show slightly when up to room temps.
Really nice merlot for the price and happy this doesn't show the bitterness that some merlot shows.
Needs a few years to really integrate and show its stuff.
Hold. 50+5+13+17+7
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3/1/2011 - sjdcellar wrote: 96 Points
one of the best bottles of wine i have ever tasted. tastes like a pomerol and the best of merlot flavors comes through. buy as much as they will sell you
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1/23/2011 - williamswhine wrote: 94 Points
Spectacular wine! Couldn't believe it was a Merlot. Inky-purple in color, deep, full-bodied, berry, vanilla-- oh so good! This puts Side Ways to shame. Everyone should try this bottle.
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12/17/2010 - DrX wrote: 87 Points
Decent wine, good body, nice fruit but has nowhere to go. Drink now.
May have rated it higher but it followed a nice tasting at Ft Walla Walla Cellars.
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11/25/2010 - rkelly wrote:
Thanksgiving 2010
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10/29/2010 - manonthemoon wrote: 92 Points
Pacific Northwest Tasting Trip (Walla Walla Day 2): Really dense wine.
Really nice expressive nose of black raspberry, vanilla, smoke.
On the palate was raspberry, cherry, strawberry, really good mouthfeel, a good dose of chocolate and toast.
Nice finish that is very long.
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