2009 Irvine Grand Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 92.7 points

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  1/17/2022 - rmarkey wrote:

  Past its best. Dark red berries in colour, with some browning. Nose has dark berries and herbs and twigs but is a bit rank as well. Palate is better - twigs and dried herbs with developed berries. Some rankness.
  Quite disappointing.
  January 2022

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  9/17/2019 - Psdycp wrote: 91 Points

  Nose is very shy, just some hints of dried plums, toasted spices of star anise and cinnamon, cola and leather. This is so even after 1 hr in the decanter. The palate is similarly closed but filled with gentle mineral, spice box and plummy notes. Very likely in the shut down phase now. Quite velvety texture though. Not opening up as of now. To taste again in 3 years’ time. 89-92 pts.
  
  Retasted in Apr 2020, 6 months from the previous tasting, the nose opened up more and faster than before. A touch deeper with secondary aroma with stewed ripe plums at the background right out of the bottle. Palate is spicy, some hints of smoked meats, eucalyptus and powerful with some acidity to support the structure. Lacks some freshness since this is just 11 yrs old. Overall still quite dark. Finish is dense and lingering with aftertastes of spiced oak, dried chilli and plums. Certainly doesn’t have the elegance of a Pomerol but it is smooth and rounded texture after 2 hours in the decanter. Suggest to keep it for another 3 years. This will not have the longevity of the 2004 and 2005 vintage. Increase the score by 1 pt from 89 now that it is more open now.
  
  Re-tasted in Mar 2024. Open bouquet with depth of ripe blue fruits and preserved plums, with overtones of earthy herbs and sweet spices. Very smooth with just a touch of structure towards the long and lingering finish. At its peak now, drink up soon. To increase score by 1 pt to 91.

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  10/20/2018 - Cikgoo Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Juicy merlot from Eden Valley, not your usual barossa chocolate from this region

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  3/22/2018 - TheManFromIronbark Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Gorgeous full body, with lots of fruit and soft supporting tannin.

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  3/4/2018 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points

  Put in blender for 1 minute and then poured back into bottle to be served by Davyd at R&J Housewarming Party.
  Almost same tasting note as before. Just with velvety high tannins this time. And toasty vanilla coconut oak less integrated.
  This hyper-decanting with a blender really makes this young Grand Merlot approachable.

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View all 9 Community Tasting Notes

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