1997 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (62) Avg Score: 91.5 points

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  3/22/2024 - kabert Likes this wine: 92 Points

  I’ve been enjoying the ‘97 Pride merlot since visiting the winery in the summer of 1999, and buying a case. It has gone through many stages since then! Now, perhaps embellishing because I’ve known its past, it’s a distinguished, fine St Emilion-like sip - still dark ruby, sweet dark cherry and leather nose, and delicious - but entirely tertiary - flavors. Still very enjoyable but more of a wine for wine geeks than to share with typical neighbors or family. A contrasting note - @5-6 years ago I picked up @ 8-10 bottles of the 1999 merlot from WineBid. That wine was called more tannic than usual for Pride merlots by reviewers, but those bottles I bought (sadly, gone now) still had amazing primary fruit, as recently as a couple years ago. If I had the purchase opportunity, I’d definitely pick the 1999 over the 1997 merlot today.

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  1/10/2022 - short and confused wrote:

  Reminiscent of its early days when first open. Initially elegant merlot with some back bone- but was pretty stewed on day 2. Not bad for quarter century old Cali merlot but getting tired now.

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  9/26/2021 - short and confused wrote:

  pruny dead and gone. Ah well

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  6/11/2021 - aerosol wrote: 93 Points

  Got a glass here now and the nose is musty, dried fruit, and woodsy. It’s gone a little opaque and bricking. The wine swirls on the palate and the fruit is still intact with with dark tart cherry, dark cranberry, a little cola and some earth. It’s a great wine from a great producer and drink it now! It’s a little past it’s prime but still delicious

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  1/31/2021 - Stephen Rash Likes this wine:

  Dark garnet in color with slight bricking around the edge.
  
  Nose:
  Glass 1 (30 min decant) - cherry, dusty plum(prune), milk chocolate
  Glass 2 (2 hr decant) - cherry, prune, baking spice, potpourri
  
  Palate:
  Glass 1 - dusty cherry, plum, bakers chocolate
  Glass 2 - Tart cherry, cedar, dried flower petals
  
  Medium body, Medium acidity, Medium tannins
  
  Long, tart cherry and cedar finish
  
  Our first anniversary wine and we couldn't have opened a better bottle at the right time. This is drinking wonderfully right now

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