Tonight, I don't like this as much as the last two bottles (see November 23, 2014). Opaque purple with a garnet rim. Nose of plum, prune, cassis, licorice, and vanilla. Medium palate of ripe plum, blackberry, and vanilla with licorice on the finish. Nice silky texture. Good length. Pleasant acidity. Mild tannins. Excessive alcohol interferes with the fruit.
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Still young and delicious. Dark garnet. Nose of plum, black cherry, blackberry, and cedar. Ripe palate of bright, juicy fruit. Excellent length. Nice acidity. Sweet tannins.
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it just is an awkward phase or there isn't much there ... wanted a bit more velvet fruit i love in Merlot ... this one just wasn't quite there. don't get me wrong, this is a good drinkable merlot ... i am just very picky (some would say a bit of a right bank snob)
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This is frustrating because I feel like it is really close to being a really good wine but the alcohol gets in the way. If it were just 0.5%-1.0% lower I think this baby would really sing. It has a great mouthfeel with extremely smooth tannins on a medium body wine. The flavor profile isn't overly complex but it has layers of plum, dark berry and vanilla with a full mid-palate and long finish. The only thing I don't like is the heat on the back of my throat on the finish.
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Ready to drink. Light tannins. Flavors of plum and light vanilla. The alcohol seemed a little elevated but wasn't noticeable when we served it with a slight chill (~60-64 degrees).
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drank with penne chicken sausage light tomato sauce (tuscan-like) ... very smooth and balanced wine that complimented the dinner. not boring not so interesting that you got distracted from the food. had with an Ecole 41 Merlot of same vintage; the Chappellet was clearly the better wine
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P&P. Dark but not extracted look. Kinda like Jd-ski's description of rubber bands, menthol herb. I would add in that possibly heavy handed oak? Lots of descriptors here on the palate. Liquid chocolate, a bit sloppy, baby fat, more chocolate, heat, blue fruit river, blueberries, overipe boysenberry, then a finish of dryish oak, tannin, licorice, black tea, maybe some earth qualities, more alch. What is this? 15.3% You probably want to make sure this is cool when you serve it w a good hour decant at this point. This is young, I think this extra dollap of oak integrate nicely, although I dislike the trend if Chappellet is moving this direction.
Last sips of first big glass, very nice liquid chocolate cake. Fat, sloppy in a good way with some structure to back her up, although very low acids.
DAy II. Same chemical nose. Not nice, too much menthol, dry oak, herbaceous. This is a really dried fruit palate now, some tannins and acid coming in, more balance than Day I. Lost some good parts and gained a few. I woud say this is good to drink w a short decant up too several hours. Plenty of life ahead as well as development.
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Nose of rubber bands (???), with some mint/herbal qualities. Cranberry, plums, with a chocolate coating and some ash. Some green peppers, but not distracting, and definitely ripe enough. A bit oaky and hot right now, but not overwhelmingly so. Decent but not great.
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chappellet wine dinner. price forgotten. supposedly a winery only availability. i get a kick out of every "cabernet" producer extolling how their stand alone merlot "will change your mind about this grape." uh...no. most napa merlot is over extracted and clunky, and this is no exception. you don't have to hit me over the head to get my attention. craft a wine with a more lightly toasted oak, rachet back the ripeness, and give me some supple tannin to compliment the fruit. jeez, is it really that difficult?
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1/24/2020 - dlcass Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice wine with good balance and interest, particularly at price point! Was not as good the second day due to some oxidation.
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2/9/2018 - Mikejd1966 wrote:
Very nice bouquet- strawberry nose. Nice notes of cranberry and pepper in the mouth, light finish. Decent.
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2/9/2018 - Mikejd1966 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice fresh bouquet- strawberries. Mouth and finish a bit lackluster. Nice pepper and cranberry notes.
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7/13/2015 - Wink wrote: 88 Points
Tonight, I don't like this as much as the last two bottles (see November 23, 2014). Opaque purple with a garnet rim. Nose of plum, prune, cassis, licorice, and vanilla. Medium palate of ripe plum, blackberry, and vanilla with licorice on the finish. Nice silky texture. Good length. Pleasant acidity. Mild tannins. Excessive alcohol interferes with the fruit.
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11/23/2014 - Wink Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still young and delicious. Dark garnet. Nose of plum, black cherry, blackberry, and cedar. Ripe palate of bright, juicy fruit. Excellent length. Nice acidity. Sweet tannins.
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9/27/2013 - mdfuller wrote: 88 Points
it just is an awkward phase or there isn't much there ... wanted a bit more velvet fruit i love in Merlot ... this one just wasn't quite there. don't get me wrong, this is a good drinkable merlot ... i am just very picky (some would say a bit of a right bank snob)
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1/2/2013 - Wine Gopher wrote: 88 Points
This is frustrating because I feel like it is really close to being a really good wine but the alcohol gets in the way. If it were just 0.5%-1.0% lower I think this baby would really sing. It has a great mouthfeel with extremely smooth tannins on a medium body wine. The flavor profile isn't overly complex but it has layers of plum, dark berry and vanilla with a full mid-palate and long finish. The only thing I don't like is the heat on the back of my throat on the finish.
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12/24/2012 - JSolo Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Not to my taste. Too much alcohol evident. Did not get much better
later in the evening.
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11/25/2012 - Wine Gopher wrote: 88 Points
Ready to drink. Light tannins. Flavors of plum and light vanilla. The alcohol seemed a little elevated but wasn't noticeable when we served it with a slight chill (~60-64 degrees).
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11/4/2012 - mdfuller wrote: 88 Points
My wife tasted the first night the bottle was opened (she typically likes a merlot) but didn't really like this one ... it was 'ho-hum' in her terms.
i tasted the second night and wasn't impressed either ... we had a bottle of same wine a few weeks ago that made a much more positive impression
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9/30/2012 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 90 Points
drank with penne chicken sausage light tomato sauce (tuscan-like) ... very smooth and balanced wine that complimented the dinner. not boring not so interesting that you got distracted from the food. had with an Ecole 41 Merlot of same vintage; the Chappellet was clearly the better wine
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3/28/2012 - GA_Seattle Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really opened up after about 2hrs.
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2/13/2012 - rougeamore wrote: 90 Points
Aroma sof cherry, brown sugar, leather. Nice rich fruit, full body, oaky almost cab like.
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1/30/2012 - VinoJestes wrote:
So good!
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9/24/2011 - ivsimler wrote: 88 Points
Good tasty merlot.... Went very well with grilled sirloin and fingerling potatoes.
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8/23/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 90 Points
P&P. Dark but not extracted look. Kinda like Jd-ski's description of rubber bands, menthol herb. I would add in that possibly heavy handed oak? Lots of descriptors here on the palate. Liquid chocolate, a bit sloppy, baby fat, more chocolate, heat, blue fruit river, blueberries, overipe boysenberry, then a finish of dryish oak, tannin, licorice, black tea, maybe some earth qualities, more alch. What is this? 15.3% You probably want to make sure this is cool when you serve it w a good hour decant at this point. This is young, I think this extra dollap of oak integrate nicely, although I dislike the trend if Chappellet is moving this direction.
Last sips of first big glass, very nice liquid chocolate cake. Fat, sloppy in a good way with some structure to back her up, although very low acids.
DAy II. Same chemical nose. Not nice, too much menthol, dry oak, herbaceous. This is a really dried fruit palate now, some tannins and acid coming in, more balance than Day I. Lost some good parts and gained a few. I woud say this is good to drink w a short decant up too several hours. Plenty of life ahead as well as development.
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5/27/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 89 Points
Nose of rubber bands (???), with some mint/herbal qualities. Cranberry, plums, with a chocolate coating and some ash. Some green peppers, but not distracting, and definitely ripe enough. A bit oaky and hot right now, but not overwhelmingly so. Decent but not great.
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4/14/2011 - jeff nowak wrote: 86 Points
chappellet wine dinner. price forgotten. supposedly a winery only availability. i get a kick out of every "cabernet" producer extolling how their stand alone merlot "will change your mind about this grape." uh...no. most napa merlot is over extracted and clunky, and this is no exception. you don't have to hit me over the head to get my attention. craft a wine with a more lightly toasted oak, rachet back the ripeness, and give me some supple tannin to compliment the fruit. jeez, is it really that difficult?
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1/30/2011 - Wink wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at the winery. No notes. Elegant, flavorful, juicy Merlot. Bought a six pack.
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12/1/2010 - J-Sho wrote: 88 Points
Posting after the fact. Drank over Thanksgiving. Overall pretty yummy though nothing compared to the Pride Merlot.
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10/8/2010 - VinoJestes wrote:
Bigger than we remember, but it is a merlot. Still good, especially considering it is a merlot.
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