2014 14 Hands Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 87.3 points

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  1/4/2020 - srh wrote:

  Sat, 01/04/20, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 90% Merlot + 10% other red varieties including C.S., C.F. & Petit Verdot; 13.5%, 0.51g/100ml, & 3.74 pH.
  
  N: SMOKE atop RIPE berries with notes of pyrazines; Intensity lurking?
  
  P: Med, poss MF, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by just a smidgin of astringent pucker as it evolves into a LONG, balanced, OCCASIONALLY very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/SWTNESS (45:55) to the firming, unoffensively dusty tannins. For now & through '20, POSS '21? My VG+/EXC-, the higher for QPR/approachability? 87 pts ea WS & WE @ $30?!?, and 3.5/5* ("Good") from Michael Pinkus. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
  
  Note: My 6th TN of this vintage, the 8/24/19 iteration being the outlier.

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  8/24/2019 - srh wrote:

  Sat, 08/24/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 90% Merlot + 10% other red varieties including C.S., C.F. & Petit Verdot; 13.5%, 0.51g/100ml, & 3.74 pH.
  
  N: RIPE berries, poss plums, with notes of pyrazines
  
  P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (suspect threshold R.S.) met by a BIT of astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with hints of tangy/swtness to the few, firming, dusty tannins. Better a ways back, I suspect, & that's NOT going to change. :( My G+/VG- (82-85/100 using that metric). 87 pts ea WS & WE @ $30?!?, and 3.5/5* ("Good") from Michael Pinkus. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
  
  Note: Also tasted on 9/2/17, and 4/28, 6/9, & 12/15/18, this being FAR & away the *worst* showing. :(

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  12/15/2018 - srh Likes this wine:

  Sat, 12/15/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 90% Merlot + 10% other red varieties including C.S., C.F. & Petit Verdot; 13.5%, 0.51g/100ml, & 3.74 pH.
  
  N: RIPE berries with a smoky overlay; Pyrazines WAY underneath? Intensity lurking?
  
  P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by a BIT of astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. For now & into '20, I'd guess. My VG+/EXC-, the higher poss for QPR? 87 pts ea WS & WE @ $30?!?, and 3.5/5* ("Good") from Michael Pinkus. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
  
  Note: Also tasted 9/2/2017, 4/28/2018, & 6/9/2018, the TNs being consistent.

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  6/9/2018 - srh Likes this wine:

  Sat, 06/09/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 90% Merlot + 10% other red varieties including C.S., C.F. & Petit Verdot; 13.5%, 0.51g/100ml, & 3.74 pH.
  
  N: Vanilla & smoke atop ripe berries; Intensity lurking?
  
  P: Med, poss LM, body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt balanced by a bit of structure which holds things together into & through the LONG finish with glimpses of bitterSWTNESS to the scant, almost dusty tannins. For now & through '19, + MAY still "smooth out" a bit for those who'd prefer it thus. My VG+, more IF QPR a factor. 87 pts ea WS & WE, and 3.5/5* ("Good") from Michael Pinkus. [This vendor's $8.95 is $1 < than anyone else in wine-searcher's field!]

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  4/28/2018 - srh Likes this wine:

  Sat, 4/28/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 90% Merlot + 10% other red varieties including C.S., C.F. & Petit Verdot; 13.5%, 0.51g/100ml, & 3.74 pH.
  
  N: Closed; Pyrazines, cherries, & notes of smoke?
  
  P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by SOME astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG, ULT swtish overtures to the VERY slight astringency. VERY nicely done in the style for now & poss through '20. My VG+/EXC- given this vendor's $8.95 being @ the top of the wine-searcher field. 87 pts ea WS & WE, and 3.5/5* ("Good") from Michael Pinkus.

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View all 11 Community Tasting Notes

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