2003 Lewis Cellars Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (26) Avg Score: 92.8 points

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  1/1/2016 - wino121 wrote: 88 Points

  This btl never gelled, while appealing on the nose, it was closed down on the finish.
  Decanted 2 hrs, consumed over 4.
  Drink now, hold 2-3yrs.

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  12/1/2013 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  For kicks and giggles I opened this alongside a 2007 Schrader Cab To-Kalon and besides a little knock on the nose this thing would have been a dead ringer for it! Almost unbelievable, but not for me. I've been espousing the greatness of this wine since I first had it and it didn't disappoint tonight. Had all the brown sugar, baking spice, blackberry liqueur, cocoa, tar and leather that it's ever had. Hitting on all cylinders and did so over the course of several hours. So glad I had another swing at this warrior Merlot.

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  11/1/2013 - tp096255 wrote: flawed

  Bound to happen. VA all over the place.

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  10/1/2013 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 94 Points

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  COLOR: Same deep ruby-purple with red velvet rim, dark.
  NOTE: I've been enjoying this wine since 2006/2007, several bottles, and it's always been my benchmark for Merlot. Only Buccella has ever come close (very close with their 2006). I snagged some more bottles of this but was wary since I hadn't had a bottle of this since May 2008. Back then I scored it 9.4. Today I honestly scored it 9.4+ and was even thinking about a 9.5.
  Yikes, this wine is now 10 years old and has hardly changed. We were just at Ch. Boswell in Napa and tasted some freshly-pressed Merlot juice and this smells just like it, albeit with some extra caramelized brown sugar notes due to the barrel char. Even at a pop-n-pour evaluation the nose just sings with sweet blackberry and mulberry fruit, with 60% dark cocoa and that heavenly deep brown sugar note I always found in it before. Secondary notes of Saigon cinnamon and freshly-grated nutmeg appear with just a hint of black pepper.
  About 2 hours in and a warm up to about 65 degrees, the mouth's sweetness matches the nose. Super thick but ripe tannins coat the mouth as the lovely black fruit extract explodes on the buds. The finish is at first dominated by the fruit but after 30 seconds it becomes more about the vanilla, tobacco, dark cocoa and baking spices.
  It's amazing that I've had another swipe at this bad boy. I played Taps when I drank my last bottle, figuring I'd never see another of this limited production wine (80 cases?). If you have any and you have some friends who snub Merlot then you just need to open a can of this whoop-the-donkey on them until they cry.
  
  DECANT: 1-4 hours
  GLASS USED: Bordeaux
  TASTE: 9.4+
  OTHER: Still best Merlot ever
  COST: 70
  VALUE: 9.0 (yep, I'd buy it up to $100 bottle)
  PREVIOUSLY TASTED: 05/2008
  TRY AGAIN: now - 2015
  PAIRING: In-n-Out Cheeseburger - what!?! Num-nums!
  Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
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  7/14/2013 - spectrumphoto wrote: 96 Points

  At the epicenter of its prime...Such a great silky lush wine. Lewis has always been a great wine and this is a prime example....

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