As the label says, decant for 3 hours...which is a must. Really needed the time to open up. 3+ hours later, structurally a great merlot although prob a few years past its prime. Silky tannins, good length, fruit not that primary at this point, more barnyard, earth, brett like?, but very smooth with good palate weight.
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ABB (Anything But Burg) Dinner (Kome, Keppel Club): Only Irvine makes Merlot like that. Obviously ripe and new world, but also obviosuly well-made and pretty yummy. Nose had lots of cocoa powder along with dusty earth notes, a touch of leather and plenty of ripe, sticky plums and prunes seasoned with bits of thyme and other herbs. Palate had some aged notes in its almost dried plums and prunes, along with peppery spice and a hint of rubber, but had full on richness. High acidity kept the wine really fresh and clean in spite of its sweet ripeness, but no one on the table thought it was anything but a new world. A few of us guessed Merlot on the nose, but switched to Shiraz when we tasted it - a testament to how concentrated it was. All in all, a pretty nice wine but, as always, not in the style I prefer.
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11/20/2016 - TheThirstyYau Likes this wine: 88 Points
As the label says, decant for 3 hours...which is a must. Really needed the time to open up. 3+ hours later, structurally a great merlot although prob a few years past its prime. Silky tannins, good length, fruit not that primary at this point, more barnyard, earth, brett like?, but very smooth with good palate weight.
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11/30/2009 - Alex H wrote: 83 Points
Good roundish black currantish fruits. A bit barnyardish, a bit of spice, a bit of rounded berry fruits. Quite delicious.
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11/24/2009 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
ABB (Anything But Burg) Dinner (Kome, Keppel Club): Only Irvine makes Merlot like that. Obviously ripe and new world, but also obviosuly well-made and pretty yummy. Nose had lots of cocoa powder along with dusty earth notes, a touch of leather and plenty of ripe, sticky plums and prunes seasoned with bits of thyme and other herbs. Palate had some aged notes in its almost dried plums and prunes, along with peppery spice and a hint of rubber, but had full on richness. High acidity kept the wine really fresh and clean in spite of its sweet ripeness, but no one on the table thought it was anything but a new world. A few of us guessed Merlot on the nose, but switched to Shiraz when we tasted it - a testament to how concentrated it was. All in all, a pretty nice wine but, as always, not in the style I prefer.
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11/15/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
Wine Salon - November 2009 (Australia) (Chez Jahnke): Decent wine, but nothing to write home about. Blackberry, decent acidity, tar, but slightly raisiny and lacking excitement.
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