1996 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 91.7 points

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  12/29/2021 - Margaux Bro wrote:

  Not sure if there is some bottle variation, but this particular bottle was just super tired. I figured it would be in a nice spot because I've had plenty of mid 90s napa merlots that are absolutely beautiful. Sadly, this was not one. NR

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  12/24/2021 - sung251 wrote: 89 Points

  A bit disappointing. All the pieces were there but the whole experience came off as one dimensional. Simple plush fruit with tons of cedar and oak notes. Very smooth tannins with enough acidity to balance out the fruit. As you let it sit the oak notes dominate the experience and a bitter dark chocolate note emerges. Personally, I think the wine would've had better balance if the oak usage wasn't so heavy handed. Some of the people at the tasting seems to have enjoyed it but this bottle just didn't do it for me. Too oaky, too boring.

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  1/9/2019 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Great showing last night at my wine group's dinner. When I bought the 1996, I was stunned that the fill was still mid-neck. When I double-decanted about 3 hours before the dinner, it threw very little sediment. This wine went up against a 1978 Ducru, a 1990 Ferraton Ermitage Les Miaux and 1998 Giacosa Rabaja barbaresco, and more than held its own. A favorite among several members of the group. The Pride still tasted young, especially for a 22-year-old Cali merlot. It is 96% merlot and 4% cab - and to my taste, was more like a older cab. Go figure. A couple guys guessed correctly it was from the mid-90s (double blind format), but thought too it was a cab. I can say definitively that the community drink dates on CT are way off on this wine. Will try another bottle maybe around the end of this year and see what that's like. All in all, though, a delightful surprise due mainly to its age. The late Jim Pride wrote: "The length of the ripening season contributed to the extraordinary character of the 1996 wines. The Merlot was harvested in mid-October at full fruit development and the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest extended into mid-November. Full ripe rich aromas and textures are married with the sweet spice of the finest French oak barrels. The fine balance and extraordinarily dark ruby hue assure that our Merlot will continue to develop in the bottle for years to come." He must be thinking now, "I told you so."

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  6/23/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points

  Pride Dinner (Fire Food and Drink, Cleveland Ohio): I wondered if this would be too old. This came from my cellars as an extra. I don't think I would go too much longer with the wine but it was not over the hill. There is still cherry fruit although not as vibrant as the 07. Some forest floor type notes and also some dried fruit qualities. A lot of layering. Nice balance. I am sure on its own at dinner, it would show better as this was a tough place to drink it. Still, I found it very nice and another glimpse that these wines (at least as made in 96) can age. Sixteen years from vintage and just starting it path down IMO.

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  9/23/2006 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points

  Taken to dinner with friends at the Anvil Club. Decanted only for sediment, which was a mistake because it needed some time in the glass to open up. Notes of smoke, herbs, leather and roasted meat. Sweet chocolate and berries on the palate, beautifully balanced. Paired well with the veal chop.

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View all 7 Community Tasting Notes

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