2006 Saddleback Cellars Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 90.1 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View jlhkiss's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/30/2018 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Consistent with previous notes. On the backside. Drink up. Technical score: 89. Enjoyment score: 90.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View jlhkiss's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/24/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Seemed a little longer in the tooth compared to previous tasting back in the spring (2017). Probably heading down the back slope now from peak. Still, this brings a phenomenal nose of candied blackberries, molasses, rich milk chocolate, herbs, and cherry spices. The palate is smooth as silk and the finish is rustic and crunchy. Drink now. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 92.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View jlhkiss's profile
  • Report Issue

  5/11/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Consistent with previous notes but I noticed a more pronounced bret/savory soy sauce component this time. Probably at peak. Superb, mature Merlot from Oakville. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View jlhkiss's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/3/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Consistent with previous notes back in May. Very similar to a southern Rhone on the nose: candied red fruit, licorice, menthol-lavender, and even a slight garrigue-like note. However, on this tasting, the dark plum notes dominated the palate, with blackberries, dried cranberries, wild herbs, old horse saddle, soy sauce, and sweet tobacco notes. The finish is near perfect, with firm tannins that carry candied raspberry/strawberry notes into a 30-second tail.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View jlhkiss's profile
  • Report Issue

  5/25/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Took about 20-min to calibrate off the pop-and-pour. Dark, deep, cloudy garnet color. The floral nose brings an intense bouquet of purple violets and cherry blossoms, along with candied cherries, sweet molasses, and whiffs of savory herbs. The palate is round, full, and voluptuous, delivering waves of blackberries, plums, blackcurrant, dried leather, sweet tobacco, and ripe raspberries into the finish, which is impeccably smooth with refined tannins and acidity. This is a perfectly aged Oakville Merlot in a peak window, so drink before 2017-18.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 11 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.