This bottle has been in the cellar for a while. I think originally purchased from Costco about $10. The other notes didn’t set expectations high, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Pop and pour from 750mL, cellar stored. On opening, smelled intense sweet ripe blueberry, almost like a sweet blueberry ice cream. The cork had the same intense blueberry scent.
The wine has taken an early tawny color, slight browning starting.
On the front, a smoky sweet blueberry/blackberry. Normally wines of this sweetness are the jammy crowd pleasures. And while this may not be the most complex wine ever, it stands up. On the back, a little menthol, fading to saline with a bit of cedar and ferrous notes.
Nice.
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Dark brick color. Still a little heat, a little plum on the nose. This has really mellowed out. Soft fruit, slight tannins, short finish. 87 pts. Aloha!
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If by some odd chance you have any of this wine left, it’s time. My next to last bottle had gone bad so I checked my last bottle and it is still very good. Color is changing a little from deep purple to less deep purple. Still give this an 87, but its ready.
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Agree with Jayrod this is really holding up well with nice fruit mellow tannins and like him sadly MY last bottle too. Make not to self buy more of these good QPR wines from Horse Heaven Hills and SAVE SOME!
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Nice bottle of wine, paired well with chicken in a walnut sauce. The wine held up through the meal and even for that after dinner glass, I feel that this has a few more years left.
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Very Good and in a great spot. I have not been a fan of the Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon H3 series but this is a darn good bottle of Merlot. Lovely harmony and balance, fresh and evolved fruit, good acidity, cocoa, spice, ample round palate, not long but a decent finish. Paired well with roasted chicken and sauteed shiitake. 88-90.
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Nice, but medium everything (tannins, acid, alcohol, nose, complexity, concentration). Surprised to find out that it was Wine Spectator's #43 of 2010. Wouldn't have thought.
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I've been trying to stop buying cheap bottles of wine as my cellar seems to get gummed up with a bunch of junk. That being said it is hard to stop when the wine can be this good. I paid $9.99 at Costco for a bunch of these and laid them down. They are STELLAR right now. It is like finding gold in a treasure hunt. Drink 'em up. It can't get any better. Hopefully no bottle variation.
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Popped and poured. 15 minutes of air time and this was singing. Great purity of fruit and nice finish for the price. Great QPR. This is very ready to drink right now.
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Dark blue plum color. Nose was typical merlot with lots of dark fruit and a bit of oak and slight alcohol. Taste was smooth and supple with dark berries and a bit of cherry, nice oak and silky tannin. Finish was smooth and light tannin with a touch of alcohol. I was going to rate this a couple points higher until I tasted my last glass about 2 hours after opening. The wine had fallen apart with out of balance fruit, alcohol and acidity and no finish – I was amazed at how it had lost so much…. I judge this wine will not cellar well any longer… Drink soon and enjoy a nice wine, cellar it a year or so and enjoy your disappointment.
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Hmm. A decent Merlot for the price, but not as pleased with it as we were back in November of 2010. Either it's a bit past its prime, or our tastes have gotten more refined. Still very drinkable for the price, just not as refined as we'd thought back then. Came in 3rd or 4th (depending on who you ask) on the evening, against five other Merlots that our eight person tasting panel tried.
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Popped and poured at a dinner party honoring some friends from the UK. It pared well with dinner, with blackberry and currant undertones. Very smooth. I poured it with a bottle temp of 63 degrees which tempered the alcohol heat. If I hadn't have bought this one myself I would have never have believed what it costs!
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Popped and vinturi'd tonight watching Sunday night football. Last of the '07's in the cellar. This bottle seemed over oaked, with assorted wooden aromas, cedar and vanilla stadning out. Dark fruit flavors, but not as refined or delicious as last bottle or two. Still quite good, and solid QPR.
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This is one killer wine for $10.99! Like most CC wines nothing special on the nose/aroma. This full bodied merlot, defines why great merlot is often referred to as the softer or gentler cabernet. This is by far the best of the last several bottles we've enjoyed, delicious flavors of dark fruit, casis, deep dark chocolate and a dash of tobacco. Ridiculous value at this price point, drinking at it's peak today! Stellar wine and incredible value.
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P & P'd through the trusty vinturi tonight on the deck, sad summer here in Oregon, when the evening is the best part of the day. A wet summer, but could be much worse, like other parts of the country. Not a lot on the nose, assorted dark fruit, raspberry and blackberry along w/some dark chocolate. Doesn't seem to be quite as flavorful as bottle consumed in Feb. Still quite good, but no reason to hold, drink up.
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Strange nose on this bottle, and definitely over-oaked for my taste. Also, in the first hour open, the finish wass a little bitter. For the price, I can't really complain, but agree with others where I am not sure I see the high score given by WS.
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PnP thru vinturi. Nose of cedar, blackberry and black cherry. Medium in color. Very nice balance with the acids carrying the fruit to a juicy finish. Very fine tannins. Blackberry and dark chocolate flavors. Medium body with a fairly short finish. I like this wine for the $.
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Deep purple. Nose has an odd fruit note, almost candied blueberries. I've gotten this from Aussie Shiraz before, but not Merlot. Thankfully it blows off. Palate is (possibly over) loaded with cassis, dark fruits, cocoa, some vanilla and cedar. With air the cedar notes start to show more, which is the best note in the wine. Lots of oak on this one. Finish is nice, if a bit tart. I have yet to have a CC Merlot (Grand Estates or H3) post 2003 or so that compares to its predecessors. Great for the price, but no longer compelling standing alone.
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PnP through Nuance Wine Finer. Dark purple color. Plummy nose, with spice and a little heat. On the palate, blackberries and oak (mostly wood not vanilla), with an acidic and tart finish. Silky yes, but feels a little thin to me. Can't put it all together -- somewhat disjointed and too much oak for my palate. 86-87 points. Fine everyday drinker, esp. from Costco, but I don't get the raves from the critics on this one. Aloha!
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Popped and poured. Blackberry, chocolate and spice. Little too much oak for me. Fruit was not the predominant flavor or aroma. Drying tannins. A bit thin at mid-palate and short finish. But for the price, very good.
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Louis' tasting group FW&C Showed surprisingly well when poured blind with some much more expensive wines. Certainly didn't taste inexpensive...very good expression of Merlot fruit.
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Would have to agree with some of the reviews, this does not warrant a 91 by any stretch - Dark, full bodied with a nose of stewed plum, raisin, cherry and vanilla oak, tasty, but almost cooked, Port-like in it's character, smooth, creamy on the palate with medium length (83 Points).
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Popped and poured, after drinking a very nice Adelsheim '06 pinot noir. This is a full bodied wine, w/not a lot on the nose...nice flavors of chocolate and dark fruits, along w/a casis backbone. Consistently one of the better efforts at this price point. Well done.
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Took a few points off from my first rating. Just wasn't the same depth and sharpness to the flavor profile as compared to the first bottle I had. Hopefully, my remaining two bottles are more comparable to my initial experience.
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Deep-to-opaque ruby. Clean nose, opening over one hour to show moderately intense aromas of black raspberries, vanilla and currants. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and big dry tannins. The flavors are black fruit-dominated. The middle palate is full, albeit mouth-puckering as a result of the tannins. Medium, dusty finish. Although enjoyable, this wine is definitely "rustic" with respect to the tannins. I doubt that the tannins will ever fully simmer down prior to the fruit dropping off. That said, a year or two in the cellar will likely be beneficial. Drink 1/12-12/17.
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Solid Washington merlot with nose of oak and raspberry fruit. Currants of vanilla, oak, and cinnamon spice on the palate. Seamless soft palate of cherries and and redcurrants. Solid wine, but not complex.
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The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry, Cherry, Dust, and Coffee. It tastes like Blackberry, Cherry, Dust, and Coffee.
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Very generic. Not seeing the WS review at all. Their reviews are random and suck. This has cherry and a bit of earthiness in a medium bodied package, but is quite generic. Not seeing anything near 90 for this.
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Very well made with nice dark fruit aromas on the nose along with hints of sweet baking spices. Medium bodied, smooth, with an excellent integration of blackberries and dark cherries with the vanilla and mocha from the oak treatment that makes this very easy to enjoy. Best after being open for a few hours and I would recommend.
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Popped and poured at wife's HS Reunion, in Los Gatos CA. Being northwesterners, now, had to bring something from our neck of the woods, finding at Safeway for $7 on clearance, didn't hurt. Aromas of casis, raspeberries and chocolate, along w/vanilla...full bodied and smooth. Respectable finish, w/length and continued flavor. Very well done, solid value at the everyday price. Buy this wine.
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A solid, well balanced merlot. Darker fruit on the nose and palate which went well with the grilled pork in a Costco chimichurra sauce. I want to try it with a grilled steak.
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A very nice velvety mouthfeel with slight cherry and coffee notes. It has a closed nose in my opinion due to its young age for a Merlot with such depth. The wine has a decent length on its finish as well considering its price point.
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Opened 5 nights ago, vacu-sealed and stored in frig. After warming up, no discernible difference tonight relative to when opened. Abundant dark fruit on the nose, stiff tannins, and a very ripe expression. More age might round out the tannic onslaught and offer a more complex flavor profile. However, this is a solid wine that is well made and really exhibits the hot climate for western WA. Great QPR, it's a recommend.
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Still the full and lush-bodied wine I remember - trying hard to be a right bank wine, but falling short on authenticity - but a bit too much heat made it come off as alcoholic and slightly out of balance, even with all of the' in your face' dark fruits to offset the fire.
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I gave it a 2 hour decant to start. The taste was near perfect for a wine pitched at the flavor of rare steak. The flavor profile was bordeaux with low key fruit, big mouth feel. Structure was there, but not as complicated as Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval 2003, nor as interesting as Basel Cellars Claret 2006. This is a wine where you walk around the cenote at a distance: the air is full of nearby depth but one does not peer down into the depths. But the taste! Unbelievable for an $11 wine.
This wine is one where the question of what you want out of a wine comes to the fore. If fruit flavors, candy flavors, flowers is what you are looking for, this wine is not it. A lean, highly structured wine, this is not. The flavor of summer, no. But if the taste of rare steak and bordeaux ground is what you are looking for, this is a pitch perfect performance.
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Opened at cellar temp. Pop-n-poured and a sample Vinturi'd. Both glasses tasted blind. Glass A: Deep aromas of currant and sweet cream with some oak spice. In the mouth there is a burst of acid with some slightly astringent tannins and stalks, which are chunky but recede quickly. Feels sloppy and disjointed in the mouth. There is some warmth on the finish. Glass B: Slightly more astringent aromas compared to A, with the mouth much more tannic and stalkiness with a bit of bitterness on the finish. Not a surprise, Glass A was p-n-p and B was Vinturi. Regarding the wine itself...eh. The 07 cab was a better wine at $1 less even. The elements in the mouth just don't mesh together well. Quite disjointed. Nothing that air, Vinturi, or bottle age could really ever fix.
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Key to this wine is a lot of breathing room. It starts off very tarlike, but overnight with a vacuum pump, it all disappears and tannins soften. Fruit is nice...no acidity to speak of.
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A smooth, full-mouthed red with good legs in the class, nicely balanced tannins and a bit of spice on first taste. Good dark berry flavor and very light oak. Nice complexity for a Merlot, though still a bit understated and minimum finish. Notes of earth and minerality.
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Second bottle of this and I remain impressed by the value here. Popped and poured the first night and loads of plmmu fruit and quite a bit of vanilla oak, one a pretty taut frame with not inconsiderable tannin. After two nights under vacuvin, this is much softer, almost pillowy, with more red fruit complementing the plums and vanilla. Really drinking nicely. Clearly a well balanced effort that will drink well for a few years. Hard to do better domestically for $10. 89.
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has good nose of fruit, spice and minerality. palate has nice acidity with blackberry and barrell spice. good tannins which should allow it to improve with several years in cellar.
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A bit comical at first - all vanilla and oak - but give it time. It's youthful with tannin and the extraction is the real deal...it just needs an hour or two to open up. Hedonistic to the core and a great QPR.
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What a great wine for 10 bones. Nice nose and mid-palate. Drank directly after opening...next bottle I will give it a chance to open up and decanter it.
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Fruitful smell. Very smooth merlot, with light tannins and a long finish. Not incredibly complex, and seems a bit young, but still good now. I'll try again in 2012 and I bet it'll be better.
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Compared to the '07 H3 Cab consumed the prior night, this wine was clearly superior. The same lush and rich mouthfeel with velvety tannin...without the annoyingly over the top oak and vanilla. Much more balanced than the cab and an amazing QPR.
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Pop and pour. Cloudy, purple appearance. Tons of cedar and a bit of tar on the nose. Unfortunately, all I can taste is the oak. The tannins are nice and light, but there isn't much fruit. It starts with oak and finishes long with oak. Really nice, soft mouth feel. Maybe some air will help.
With some breathing time, some nice dark fruit comes out on the nose. The oak really calms down and some dark fruit comes out. Still trying to decide how much I like this. For now, it is pretty average.
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Dark clear purple in color. Nice legs. Nose of burnt earth. Perhaps someone tarring an asphalt roof from a 1/2 mile away. Also some cedar. Tastes of vanilla, strawberries and burnt cherry cobbler. Some smoke. A little young. Some cloying that will settle out with time. Nice mouthcoating but not a complex finish. It kind of hits you square in the nose with the alcohol and keeps on pushing. For $9.99 at Costco this is a great buy. I'm going to buy a few bottles to cellar and see what comes out in 5 years. For the price of admission it is worth a gamble. I wish I knew the answer so I could pass or buy a case. Day 3 this wine was even better. It became deeper and took on a more merlot flavor. Score bumped +1 to 89.
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No detailed notes - for under $15.00 (and if this is at Costco for $10.00 I would buy a case ) - very aromatic (raspberry, cassis); medium body with a little cedar, raspberry and cherry. Was even better on day 2 (under vacu-vin) and was not dead on day 4! For $12.00 or under this is a steal - excellent QPR.
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90+ Rated Wines (Farpointe Cellar): The nose was overloaded with blackberry liqueur. It also had black currant and mocha, leather, and a huge shot of vanilla at the end. the palate was very smooth, and had the same flavors as the nose. The finish was a light hot and bitter.
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After letting it open for 15 minutes in the glass the nose was still very subtle, but if I had to be pressed to comment it would be dark berries. The mouth feel on this wine is nice, especially considering the price point. The tasting notes of earthiness with coca are dead on, the coca finish is not overwhelming and it stretches out nicely. Simple a buy; curious how this will taste in 5 years as it is drinking nicely right now.
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Deep purple color, nose is very subtle red fruit that adds some pepper undertones and vanilla as the wine opens up. The palate is also similar mild red fruit/berry with peppery syrah character. Black cherry starts to come in to the palate as the wine breathes. This is a medium bodied wine that is dominated by the syrah in the blend, which is interesting because the syrah is only 4% of the blend.
Second day the vanilla and pepper is more pronounced and the palate is moving toward dark ripe fruit.
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Pop and pour and my girlfriends first impression was 'dirty diapers'. How VERY Bordeaux like this merlot was both on the nose and palate. Needed to allow to breath for at minimum 60 minutes. Initally there was allot of minerality almost metallic taste on the palate and fruit was very subdued. We left and came back 4 hours later and it was very nice with dark fruit and a almost buttery like taste and feel. It was late so we will drink this again today and add to the notes. Again, very good Bordeaux style Merlot and at the price a great QPR.
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For $12 this is great - is it 91 points - not in my book, but it is deep and distinctive with lots of character - not sure I would have picked this as a merlot - structure is more like a cab - but this is tasty and well balanced. Went great with food - I'm sure it could last 2-3 years easy.
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Savyfan and I are on the same page except for the smokiness - i did not get that. overall I was dissappointed - woody, and a slight funk with underwhelming fruit - BUT integrated from standpoint that you feel like it all works out to be an ok glass of wine. the $10 price tag saves it. ok. but nothing more.
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Uncanny smokiness on the nose over blackberries and plums. The palate reveals a medium bodied effort of mediocre fruit integrated with oak. The tannins are remarkably smooth for this price point but the fruit underperforms. Is it a 91 as Spectator says? I disagree. However the QPR is pretty sweet.
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J & I both liked this. Very good QPR. Can see WS' recommendation to let it cellar for a year. Still very nice, smooth with vanilla/oak, nice fruit and long, smooth finish. Bought more.
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Hello, QPR! Blue and black fruits, earthy tannins, nice structure. Not at all flabby like so much cheap, domestic Merlot can be. $10 at Costco and I'll be back for more. 89.
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Very solid merlot (which is not my favorite grape type) - definite notes of berry, with tannins that are well integrated for a young wine, ends with a nice balanced finish. If your a merlot fan this is probably worth grabbing a few bottles.
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Tasty merlot, dark fruits with a hint of spice and some tannins on the finish. Improved with 2 hours breathing, may improve with age, but not enough character to be really interesting yet.
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Decanted about an hour before drinking. Nose of dark fruits, blueberry, blackberry and a little pepper on the end. The pallet starts out with some good fruit and transitions pretty rapidly to some good mouth puckering tannins. This shows some good dark chocolate elements and there's a decent finish too. Would buy again.
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I personally have a hard time finding a merlot I enjoy, but this fit the bill. Oaky on the nose, but the palate was loaded with red cherry & blueberry (almost Gusher-like to use a Garyveeism) and chocolate; the oak did not come through there nearly as much. Soft but good tannins with a lengthy finish.
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5/1/2021 - novocane Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle has been in the cellar for a while. I think originally purchased from Costco about $10. The other notes didn’t set expectations high, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Pop and pour from 750mL, cellar stored. On opening, smelled intense sweet ripe blueberry, almost like a sweet blueberry ice cream. The cork had the same intense blueberry scent.
The wine has taken an early tawny color, slight browning starting.
On the front, a smoky sweet blueberry/blackberry. Normally wines of this sweetness are the jammy crowd pleasures. And while this may not be the most complex wine ever, it stands up. On the back, a little menthol, fading to saline with a bit of cedar and ferrous notes.
Nice.
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4/3/2020 - bg3034 wrote: 87 Points
Dark brick color. Still a little heat, a little plum on the nose. This has really mellowed out. Soft fruit, slight tannins, short finish. 87 pts. Aloha!
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4/4/2018 - Prariecellar wrote:
If by some odd chance you have any of this wine left, it’s time. My next to last bottle had gone bad so I checked my last bottle and it is still very good. Color is changing a little from deep purple to less deep purple. Still give this an 87, but its ready.
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10/1/2016 - redmancge Likes this wine: 89 Points
Agree with Jayrod this is really holding up well with nice fruit mellow tannins and like him sadly MY last bottle too. Make not to self buy more of these good QPR wines from Horse Heaven Hills and SAVE SOME!
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1/16/2016 - AustinDRC wrote:
Really good. Very soft and mellow.
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2/11/2015 - jayrod wrote: 91 Points
Best bottle yet, ready to drink and hitting on all cylinders. Had with a ribeye, roasted potatoes and mushrooms.
Sad to say this is the last bottle.
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1/9/2015 - foobarski Likes this wine: 87 Points
Very soft,
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8/30/2014 - jayrod wrote: 90 Points
This wine has evolved into a very pleasant Merlot. Dark, smooth and fruit forward. Great with a meal or also on its own.
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12/17/2013 - Bluecollar wrote: 89 Points
Soft and generous. Solid fruit but a little flabby and finish was shorter than I remember.
Small glass at a party.
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11/20/2013 - Zed57 wrote: 87 Points
This may have had a storage issue. Bordering overdone. Still good.
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11/13/2013 - Zed57 wrote: 92 Points
It has evolved into a spectacular wine. Amazing mouthfeel with complex flavours that make u want to come back for more. Way better than previous.
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10/31/2013 - jayrod wrote: 88 Points
Nice bottle of wine, paired well with chicken in a walnut sauce. The wine held up through the meal and even for that after dinner glass, I feel that this has a few more years left.
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8/6/2013 - johnny1206 Likes this wine: 89 Points
After decanting the aromas and flavors opened up. Very good flavors.
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5/5/2013 - wilypod Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very Good and in a great spot. I have not been a fan of the Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon H3 series but this is a darn good bottle of Merlot. Lovely harmony and balance, fresh and evolved fruit, good acidity, cocoa, spice, ample round palate, not long but a decent finish. Paired well with roasted chicken and sauteed shiitake. 88-90.
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5/3/2013 - Pfleonard Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nice, but medium everything (tannins, acid, alcohol, nose, complexity, concentration). Surprised to find out that it was Wine Spectator's #43 of 2010. Wouldn't have thought.
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4/26/2013 - JoshA wrote: 86 Points
A bit of stewed fruit and plums. Pleasant.
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2/26/2013 - cobystilp wrote: 91 Points
I've been trying to stop buying cheap bottles of wine as my cellar seems to get gummed up with a bunch of junk. That being said it is hard to stop when the wine can be this good. I paid $9.99 at Costco for a bunch of these and laid them down. They are STELLAR right now. It is like finding gold in a treasure hunt. Drink 'em up. It can't get any better. Hopefully no bottle variation.
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2/25/2013 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 89 Points
nice full body; good balance fruit and acidity; gets away from cherry fruit of typical merlot.
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2/3/2013 - flwinos Likes this wine: 89 Points
Popped and poured. 15 minutes of air time and this was singing. Great purity of fruit and nice finish for the price. Great QPR. This is very ready to drink right now.
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11/21/2012 - quanmeister wrote: 89 Points
Basic tasting merlot. Nothing fabulous but decent everyday wine.
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10/3/2012 - pdoug68 wrote: 87 Points
very tasty.....yes, very tasty!!
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8/26/2012 - wtianseter wrote: 88 Points
Dark blue plum color. Nose was typical merlot with lots of dark fruit and a bit of oak and slight alcohol. Taste was smooth and supple with dark berries and a bit of cherry, nice oak and silky tannin. Finish was smooth and light tannin with a touch of alcohol.
I was going to rate this a couple points higher until I tasted my last glass about 2 hours after opening. The wine had fallen apart with out of balance fruit, alcohol and acidity and no finish – I was amazed at how it had lost so much…. I judge this wine will not cellar well any longer… Drink soon and enjoy a nice wine, cellar it a year or so and enjoy your disappointment.
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8/2/2012 - bg3034 wrote:
Plummy, oaky, a bit more balanced and nuanced than my last bottle. Still silky, a little smokey. Nice bottle. 89pts.
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4/17/2012 - Zed57 wrote: 91 Points
Perfume and berries on the nose. Bright fresh with very fine tannins and nice lack cherry finish. Will evolve over 5 years but why wait.
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2/11/2012 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 87 Points
Hmm. A decent Merlot for the price, but not as pleased with it as we were back in November of 2010. Either it's a bit past its prime, or our tastes have gotten more refined. Still very drinkable for the price, just not as refined as we'd thought back then. Came in 3rd or 4th (depending on who you ask) on the evening, against five other Merlots that our eight person tasting panel tried.
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10/23/2011 - bradc2112 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured at a dinner party honoring some friends from the UK. It pared well with dinner, with blackberry and currant undertones. Very smooth. I poured it with a bottle temp of 63 degrees which tempered the alcohol heat. If I hadn't have bought this one myself I would have never have believed what it costs!
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10/15/2011 - sdwineguru wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple; chocolate, ceder, berry nose, slightly herbaceous; mid-body, balanced, a little hot on the finish. w/ribs.
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10/9/2011 - wineaboutit wrote: 86 Points
Popped and vinturi'd tonight watching Sunday night football. Last of the '07's in the cellar. This bottle seemed over oaked, with assorted wooden aromas, cedar and vanilla stadning out. Dark fruit flavors, but not as refined or delicious as last bottle or two. Still quite good, and solid QPR.
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9/24/2011 - wineaboutit wrote: 91 Points
This is one killer wine for $10.99! Like most CC wines nothing special on the nose/aroma. This full bodied merlot, defines why great merlot is often referred to as the softer or gentler cabernet. This is by far the best of the last several bottles we've enjoyed, delicious flavors of dark fruit, casis, deep dark chocolate and a dash of tobacco. Ridiculous value at this price point, drinking at it's peak today! Stellar wine and incredible value.
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7/18/2011 - wineaboutit wrote: 86 Points
P & P'd through the trusty vinturi tonight on the deck, sad summer here in Oregon, when the evening is the best part of the day. A wet summer, but could be much worse, like other parts of the country. Not a lot on the nose, assorted dark fruit, raspberry and blackberry along w/some dark chocolate. Doesn't seem to be quite as flavorful as bottle consumed in Feb. Still quite good, but no reason to hold, drink up.
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7/16/2011 - hiker_guy wrote:
No time for formal notes.
This bottle showed well and paired nicely with dinner.
Would buy again.
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7/9/2011 - flwinos wrote: 85 Points
Strange nose on this bottle, and definitely over-oaked for my taste. Also, in the first hour open, the finish wass a little bitter. For the price, I can't really complain, but agree with others where I am not sure I see the high score given by WS.
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7/2/2011 - hende14 wrote: 89 Points
PnP thru vinturi. Nose of cedar, blackberry and black cherry. Medium in color. Very nice balance with the acids carrying the fruit to a juicy finish. Very fine tannins. Blackberry and dark chocolate flavors. Medium body with a fairly short finish. I like this wine for the $.
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6/23/2011 - cobystilp wrote: 87 Points
I abused this bottle and it showed some age.
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6/16/2011 - T.J.Burn wrote: 86 Points
Deep purple. Nose has an odd fruit note, almost candied blueberries. I've gotten this from Aussie Shiraz before, but not Merlot. Thankfully it blows off. Palate is (possibly over) loaded with cassis, dark fruits, cocoa, some vanilla and cedar. With air the cedar notes start to show more, which is the best note in the wine. Lots of oak on this one. Finish is nice, if a bit tart. I have yet to have a CC Merlot (Grand Estates or H3) post 2003 or so that compares to its predecessors. Great for the price, but no longer compelling standing alone.
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6/13/2011 - bg3034 wrote: 87 Points
PnP through Nuance Wine Finer. Dark purple color. Plummy nose, with spice and a little heat. On the palate, blackberries and oak (mostly wood not vanilla), with an acidic and tart finish. Silky yes, but feels a little thin to me. Can't put it all together -- somewhat disjointed and too much oak for my palate. 86-87 points. Fine everyday drinker, esp. from Costco, but I don't get the raves from the critics on this one. Aloha!
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5/14/2011 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 86 Points
Popped and poured. Blackberry, chocolate and spice. Little too much oak for me. Fruit was not the predominant flavor or aroma. Drying tannins. A bit thin at mid-palate and short finish. But for the price, very good.
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4/30/2011 - twain wrote: 89 Points
Spicy, racy black raspberry fruit, a little mocha. Medium to full body. A great value at this price point.
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4/27/2011 - JRMEAD wrote: 84 Points
Good now but allow more bottle time, wait till later part of Drinking Window 2010-2015.
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4/20/2011 - DTWOB wrote: 88 Points
Gaining heat
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4/12/2011 - hiker_guy wrote:
Louis' tasting group FW&C
Showed surprisingly well when poured blind with some much more expensive wines. Certainly didn't taste inexpensive...very good expression of Merlot fruit.
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3/31/2011 - Leejgreen wrote: 85 Points
Decent. Good value. Big for merlot, but not overly exciting.
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3/28/2011 - bothellwineguy wrote:
A little oaky and acidic on day one, much better on day 2
Huge value, but doesn't live up to hype - lots of competition out there for a few dollars more...
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3/26/2011 - cknibb wrote: 90 Points
Good, but the '08 is better.
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3/25/2011 - maxmanx wrote:
My tastes are changing. This seems over-oaked to me now. But a crowd pleaser still. Will serve to the wine non-geeks.
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2/23/2011 - chanote44 wrote: 89 Points
Big strong Washington merlot with abundant dark berries and oak. Almost overripe, but a nice wine none the less.
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2/22/2011 - DTWOB wrote: 90 Points
Same score - same dau
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2/22/2011 - DTWOB wrote: 90 Points
Same score
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2/18/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 83 Points
Would have to agree with some of the reviews, this does not warrant a 91 by any stretch - Dark, full bodied with a nose of stewed plum, raisin, cherry and vanilla oak, tasty, but almost cooked, Port-like in it's character, smooth, creamy on the palate with medium length (83 Points).
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2/5/2011 - wineaboutit wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured, after drinking a very nice Adelsheim '06 pinot noir. This is a full bodied wine, w/not a lot on the nose...nice flavors of chocolate and dark fruits, along w/a casis backbone. Consistently one of the better efforts at this price point. Well done.
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1/7/2011 - BSpdx wrote: 86 Points
Took a few points off from my first rating. Just wasn't the same depth and sharpness to the flavor profile as compared to the first bottle I had. Hopefully, my remaining two bottles are more comparable to my initial experience.
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12/14/2010 - neurovino wrote: 88 Points
Day 1: heavy oak and tastes very manipulated. Day 2: Actually a little more balanced and less oak.
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12/9/2010 - djreme wrote: 90 Points
Not a big merlot drinker, but this would change my mind. Very smooth and drinkable right from the bottle with no air time. Glad to have 5 more bottles
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12/4/2010 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 84 Points
Deep-to-opaque ruby. Clean nose, opening over one hour to show moderately intense aromas of black raspberries, vanilla and currants. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and big dry tannins. The flavors are black fruit-dominated. The middle palate is full, albeit mouth-puckering as a result of the tannins. Medium, dusty finish. Although enjoyable, this wine is definitely "rustic" with respect to the tannins. I doubt that the tannins will ever fully simmer down prior to the fruit dropping off. That said, a year or two in the cellar will likely be beneficial. Drink 1/12-12/17.
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11/30/2010 - juneau bob wrote: 87 Points
Nice mild pepper flavor wine spectator top 100 selection for 2010
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11/22/2010 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Aroma of black berry, black current, pepper, and oak; flavors of berries and chocolate. Smooth for the price. The wine looks Garnet colored.
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10/28/2010 - flwinos wrote: 89 Points
Solid Merlot and held up well on 2nd day with vacu-vin pump. No detailed notes as I drank this a few weeks ago.
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10/26/2010 - ocperu wrote: 90 Points
Solid merlot. Great QPR.
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10/18/2010 - Parnelli wrote: 88 Points
This is a great merlot for the price!
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10/17/2010 - Patton wrote: 89 Points
Loved this merlot! Medium body with aromas of spice and blackberry. Cheers!
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10/9/2010 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good now, full bodied, nice balance, long finish, likely improve. I put a marker to try the next bottle in 9 months.
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10/9/2010 - jkramer65 wrote: 85 Points
Juice
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9/26/2010 - macker100 wrote: 88 Points
Solid Washington merlot with nose of oak and raspberry fruit. Currants of vanilla, oak, and cinnamon spice on the palate. Seamless soft palate of cherries and and redcurrants. Solid wine, but not complex.
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9/21/2010 - dirtyharry wrote: 84 Points
Not as good as 1st bottle. Unimpressive. i remember now why I don't drink Merlot.
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9/16/2010 - jnmcdonald@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
The wine looks Purple colored.
The legs are Slow.
It smells like Blackberry, Cherry, Dust, and Coffee.
It tastes like Blackberry, Cherry, Dust, and Coffee.
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9/13/2010 - winegr wrote: 86 Points
Very generic. Not seeing the WS review at all. Their reviews are random and suck. This has cherry and a bit of earthiness in a medium bodied package, but is quite generic. Not seeing anything near 90 for this.
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9/10/2010 - BSpdx wrote: 89 Points
Very well made with nice dark fruit aromas on the nose along with hints of sweet baking spices. Medium bodied, smooth, with an excellent integration of blackberries and dark cherries with the vanilla and mocha from the oak treatment that makes this very easy to enjoy. Best after being open for a few hours and I would recommend.
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9/5/2010 - cobystilp wrote: 87 Points
Good QPR
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9/5/2010 - dirtyharry wrote: 88 Points
1st merlot for some time, very soft w/some oak..good qpr
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8/23/2010 - Dwey wrote: 89 Points
solid merlot for everyday, good color, flavorful but not a long finish
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8/16/2010 - wineaboutit wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured at wife's HS Reunion, in Los Gatos CA. Being northwesterners, now, had to bring something from our neck of the woods, finding at Safeway for $7 on clearance, didn't hurt. Aromas of casis, raspeberries and chocolate, along w/vanilla...full bodied and smooth. Respectable finish, w/length and continued flavor.
Very well done, solid value at the everyday price. Buy this wine.
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8/4/2010 - The Wine Write wrote: 86 Points
Red fruit, earth & some bell pepper on the nose. Tasty, not overly complex. A bit tart on the finish.
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8/1/2010 - The Wine Write wrote: 88 Points
A bit muted on the nose. Dark fruit on the palate with a bit of tobacco on the back end. Solid value.
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7/31/2010 - Gonzorg wrote: 88 Points
A nice merlot for the price. Some nice fruits. Enjoyed a few minutes of time to open.
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7/22/2010 - Borgeswp wrote: 71 Points
A little harsh.
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7/8/2010 - joerazore wrote: 82 Points
very bitter to start. got better with time. not very exciting.
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6/27/2010 - vinole Likes this wine: 89 Points
Definitely a step above their regular merlot as it is fuller body and has a better finish.
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6/25/2010 - Parnelli wrote: 89 Points
A solid, well balanced merlot. Darker fruit on the nose and palate which went well with the grilled pork in a Costco chimichurra sauce. I want to try it with a grilled steak.
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6/22/2010 - welch's wrote:
A very nice velvety mouthfeel with slight cherry and coffee notes. It has a closed nose in my opinion due to its young age for a Merlot with such depth. The wine has a decent length on its finish as well considering its price point.
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6/15/2010 - RDaneel wrote: 89 Points
A very solid merlot. Nice color, full bodied for the price, and a pleasing flavor.
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6/14/2010 - redknife wrote: 88 Points
Needs some air.
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6/14/2010 - winetennis wrote:
Opened 5 nights ago, vacu-sealed and stored in frig. After warming up, no discernible difference tonight relative to when opened. Abundant dark fruit on the nose, stiff tannins, and a very ripe expression. More age might round out the tannic onslaught and offer a more complex flavor profile. However, this is a solid wine that is well made and really exhibits the hot climate for western WA. Great QPR, it's a recommend.
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6/11/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 88 Points
Still the full and lush-bodied wine I remember - trying hard to be a right bank wine, but falling short on authenticity - but a bit too much heat made it come off as alcoholic and slightly out of balance, even with all of the' in your face' dark fruits to offset the fire.
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6/10/2010 - james_timothy wrote: 89 Points
I gave it a 2 hour decant to start. The taste was near perfect for a wine pitched at the flavor of rare steak. The flavor profile was bordeaux with low key fruit, big mouth feel. Structure was there, but not as complicated as Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval 2003, nor as interesting as Basel Cellars Claret 2006. This is a wine where you walk around the cenote at a distance: the air is full of nearby depth but one does not peer down into the depths. But the taste! Unbelievable for an $11 wine.
This wine is one where the question of what you want out of a wine comes to the fore. If fruit flavors, candy flavors, flowers is what you are looking for, this wine is not it. A lean, highly structured wine, this is not. The flavor of summer, no. But if the taste of rare steak and bordeaux ground is what you are looking for, this is a pitch perfect performance.
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6/5/2010 - cheersthanks wrote: 87 Points
Full of fruit and tobacco, medium to full body. A lovely wine to start the evening with.
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6/4/2010 - cummingstom1 wrote: 88 Points
blackberry, fruity but balanced and not too sweet
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6/4/2010 - PamRussell wrote: 80 Points
Kind of harsh at first
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5/28/2010 - ABM wrote: 89 Points
Very good overall impression. Smooth texture, good finish. Excellent value!
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5/26/2010 - castle2 Likes this wine: 89 Points
It was a little rough the first night but the next day it was very nice.
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5/22/2010 - JoshA wrote: 88 Points
Dark fruit competes with tobacco, pencil lead and mild oak. Simple but nicely balanced. Requires some air for more fruit to shine through.
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5/16/2010 - jakuda wrote:
Opened at cellar temp. Pop-n-poured and a sample Vinturi'd. Both glasses tasted blind.
Glass A: Deep aromas of currant and sweet cream with some oak spice. In the mouth there is a burst of acid with some slightly astringent tannins and stalks, which are chunky but recede quickly. Feels sloppy and disjointed in the mouth. There is some warmth on the finish.
Glass B: Slightly more astringent aromas compared to A, with the mouth much more tannic and stalkiness with a bit of bitterness on the finish.
Not a surprise, Glass A was p-n-p and B was Vinturi.
Regarding the wine itself...eh. The 07 cab was a better wine at $1 less even. The elements in the mouth just don't mesh together well. Quite disjointed. Nothing that air, Vinturi, or bottle age could really ever fix.
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5/15/2010 - joerazore wrote: 85 Points
good drinking wine for the price. had with a burger the first night. Second and third night was still decent.
not a bad everyday drinking wine.
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5/11/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 91 Points
Key to this wine is a lot of breathing room. It starts off very tarlike, but overnight with a vacuum pump, it all disappears and tannins soften. Fruit is nice...no acidity to speak of.
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5/3/2010 - dratwood wrote: 88 Points
A smooth, full-mouthed red with good legs in the class, nicely balanced tannins and a bit of spice on first taste. Good dark berry flavor and very light oak. Nice complexity for a Merlot, though still a bit understated and minimum finish. Notes of earth and minerality.
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5/1/2010 - jahesse wrote:
needs to breathe, but once it does, it is excellent
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4/28/2010 - nadia79 Likes this wine: 89 Points
it's rare i find a merlot that makes me pause. this is a decent one. $11 at costco.
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4/24/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 90 Points
Nice QPR...needs 30 mins of air to integrate.
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4/15/2010 - jmull wrote:
Second bottle of this and I remain impressed by the value here. Popped and poured the first night and loads of plmmu fruit and quite a bit of vanilla oak, one a pretty taut frame with not inconsiderable tannin. After two nights under vacuvin, this is much softer, almost pillowy, with more red fruit complementing the plums and vanilla. Really drinking nicely. Clearly a well balanced effort that will drink well for a few years. Hard to do better domestically for $10. 89.
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4/12/2010 - Gargamel wrote: 91 Points
has good nose of fruit, spice and minerality. palate has nice acidity with blackberry and barrell spice. good tannins which should allow it to improve with several years in cellar.
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4/11/2010 - Zinlady wrote: 88 Points
Had tonight with hamburgers - dark - rich flavors. Good body. Tannic. Great hamburger wine.
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4/11/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 88 Points
Seemed to lack the complexity that last night's bottle delivered. The flavors are still hedonistic though...solid QPR
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4/10/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 90 Points
A bit comical at first - all vanilla and oak - but give it time. It's youthful with tannin and the extraction is the real deal...it just needs an hour or two to open up. Hedonistic to the core and a great QPR.
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4/10/2010 - dbanker wrote: 91 Points
Just buy it, it's good.
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4/10/2010 - Hoze wrote: 90 Points
What a great wine for 10 bones. Nice nose and mid-palate. Drank directly after opening...next bottle I will give it a chance to open up and decanter it.
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4/8/2010 - BGDavid wrote: 86 Points
Good Merlot not too heavy with a good balance. Some oak and vanilla and definitely some good fruit and good finish - excellent for $9.99
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4/3/2010 - buddy22 wrote: 87 Points
Prevalent oak and vanilla. Caramel undertones with heavy brambly fruit. Heavy tannins. Nice for a change and an easy quaff.
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3/27/2010 - DTWOB wrote: 89 Points
Drank with Joe at his home on 1-15-10
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3/25/2010 - devman wrote: 88 Points
Fruitful smell. Very smooth merlot, with light tannins and a long finish. Not incredibly complex, and seems a bit young, but still good now. I'll try again in 2012 and I bet it'll be better.
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3/23/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 89 Points
Compared to the '07 H3 Cab consumed the prior night, this wine was clearly superior. The same lush and rich mouthfeel with velvety tannin...without the annoyingly over the top oak and vanilla. Much more balanced than the cab and an amazing QPR.
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3/17/2010 - shank wrote: 85 Points
Dark fruit, light tannins, and a bit of body mid palate. Not bad but I don't see the 91 WS gave it.
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3/17/2010 - mreinitz wrote: 87 Points
Earthy dark fruit and plenty of sweet oak vanilla. It was better than I expected -- simple but enjoyable.
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3/17/2010 - Rubanyi wrote: 80 Points
Not too much to it. Fruity nose, bit thin on the palate. Decent for the price, probably would not buy again.
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3/11/2010 - awinejourney wrote: 87 Points
Pop and pour. Cloudy, purple appearance. Tons of cedar and a bit of tar on the nose. Unfortunately, all I can taste is the oak. The tannins are nice and light, but there isn't much fruit. It starts with oak and finishes long with oak. Really nice, soft mouth feel. Maybe some air will help.
With some breathing time, some nice dark fruit comes out on the nose. The oak really calms down and some dark fruit comes out. Still trying to decide how much I like this. For now, it is pretty average.
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3/10/2010 - cobystilp wrote: 89 Points
Dark clear purple in color. Nice legs. Nose of burnt earth. Perhaps someone tarring an asphalt roof from a 1/2 mile away. Also some cedar. Tastes of vanilla, strawberries and burnt cherry cobbler. Some smoke. A little young. Some cloying that will settle out with time. Nice mouthcoating but not a complex finish. It kind of hits you square in the nose with the alcohol and keeps on pushing. For $9.99 at Costco this is a great buy. I'm going to buy a few bottles to cellar and see what comes out in 5 years. For the price of admission it is worth a gamble. I wish I knew the answer so I could pass or buy a case. Day 3 this wine was even better. It became deeper and took on a more merlot flavor. Score bumped +1 to 89.
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3/9/2010 - CWilliam wrote: 89 Points
No detailed notes - for under $15.00 (and if this is at Costco for $10.00 I would buy a case ) - very aromatic (raspberry, cassis); medium body with a little cedar, raspberry and cherry. Was even better on day 2 (under vacu-vin) and was not dead on day 4! For $12.00 or under this is a steal - excellent QPR.
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3/6/2010 - mmurry wrote: 89 Points
90+ Rated Wines (Farpointe Cellar): The nose was overloaded with blackberry liqueur. It also had black currant and mocha, leather, and a huge shot of vanilla at the end. the palate was very smooth, and had the same flavors as the nose. The finish was a light hot and bitter.
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2/26/2010 - chanote44 wrote: 90 Points
great Merlot at any price. It will probobly benifit from a little more bottle time.
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2/24/2010 - llSandersll Likes this wine: 90 Points
After letting it open for 15 minutes in the glass the nose was still very subtle, but if I had to be pressed to comment it would be dark berries. The mouth feel on this wine is nice, especially considering the price point. The tasting notes of earthiness with coca are dead on, the coca finish is not overwhelming and it stretches out nicely. Simple a buy; curious how this will taste in 5 years as it is drinking nicely right now.
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2/23/2010 - Zonk wrote: 87 Points
Over the last 2 years I've actually preferred the grand estates. I don't think the fruit stands up to the amount of oak in this one.
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2/21/2010 - luchavino wrote: 85 Points
Deep purple color, nose is very subtle red fruit that adds some pepper undertones and vanilla as the wine opens up. The palate is also similar mild red fruit/berry with peppery syrah character. Black cherry starts to come in to the palate as the wine breathes. This is a medium bodied wine that is dominated by the syrah in the blend, which is interesting because the syrah is only 4% of the blend.
Second day the vanilla and pepper is more pronounced and the palate is moving toward dark ripe fruit.
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2/7/2010 - whynblog wrote: 88 Points
Jammy black fruit. Easy drinking style. Lacking in acidity but a good overall effort. Good value.
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2/4/2010 - BillyT wrote: 88 Points
Pop and pour and my girlfriends first impression was 'dirty diapers'. How VERY Bordeaux like this merlot was both on the nose and palate. Needed to allow to breath for at minimum 60 minutes. Initally there was allot of minerality almost metallic taste on the palate and fruit was very subdued. We left and came back 4 hours later and it was very nice with dark fruit and a almost buttery like taste and feel. It was late so we will drink this again today and add to the notes. Again, very good Bordeaux style Merlot and at the price a great QPR.
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1/31/2010 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
For $12 this is great - is it 91 points - not in my book, but it is deep and distinctive with lots of character - not sure I would have picked this as a merlot - structure is more like a cab - but this is tasty and well balanced. Went great with food - I'm sure it could last 2-3 years easy.
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1/31/2010 - Normones wrote: 86 Points
Savyfan and I are on the same page except for the smokiness - i did not get that. overall I was dissappointed - woody, and a slight funk with underwhelming fruit - BUT integrated from standpoint that you feel like it all works out to be an ok glass of wine. the $10 price tag saves it. ok. but nothing more.
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1/26/2010 - Sauvyfan wrote: 87 Points
Uncanny smokiness on the nose over blackberries and plums. The palate reveals a medium bodied effort of mediocre fruit integrated with oak. The tannins are remarkably smooth for this price point but the fruit underperforms. Is it a 91 as Spectator says? I disagree. However the QPR is pretty sweet.
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1/19/2010 - maxmanx wrote: 91 Points
J & I both liked this. Very good QPR. Can see WS' recommendation to let it cellar for a year. Still very nice, smooth with vanilla/oak, nice fruit and long, smooth finish. Bought more.
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1/15/2010 - DTWOB wrote: 90 Points
A little young and tight but quickly opened up. Nice deep dark color, ave. nose, fruit forward with silky tannins and good structure. Nice finish.
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1/11/2010 - nick_pivonka wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple. Well balanced wine. The merlot hater in the house ended up finishing the bottle solo.
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1/10/2010 - jmull wrote: 89 Points
Hello, QPR! Blue and black fruits, earthy tannins, nice structure. Not at all flabby like so much cheap, domestic Merlot can be. $10 at Costco and I'll be back for more. 89.
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1/9/2010 - haldolugr wrote: 88 Points
Very solid merlot (which is not my favorite grape type) - definite notes of berry, with tannins that are well integrated for a young wine, ends with a nice balanced finish. If your a merlot fan this is probably worth grabbing a few bottles.
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12/4/2009 - BrooksT wrote: 88 Points
Tasty merlot, dark fruits with a hint of spice and some tannins on the finish. Improved with 2 hours breathing, may improve with age, but not enough character to be really interesting yet.
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10/19/2009 - hiker_guy wrote:
Decanted about an hour before drinking. Nose of dark fruits, blueberry, blackberry and a little pepper on the end. The pallet starts out with some good fruit and transitions pretty rapidly to some good mouth puckering tannins. This shows some good dark chocolate elements and there's a decent finish too. Would buy again.
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10/6/2009 - David_T wrote: 90 Points
I personally have a hard time finding a merlot I enjoy, but this fit the bill. Oaky on the nose, but the palate was loaded with red cherry & blueberry (almost Gusher-like to use a Garyveeism) and chocolate; the oak did not come through there nearly as much. Soft but good tannins with a lengthy finish.
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