2014 Rodney Strong Merlot Sonoma County

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 86 points

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  12/7/2019 - srh Likes this wine:

  Sat, 12/07/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): "Harvested 9/9-10/6/14; Aged 20 mos in 100% small, FR oak barrels; 14.5% ABV, 0.59g/100 mL T.A., & 3.63 pH;" 57,375 cases made.
  
  N: Pyrazines SLIGHTLY atop RIPE berries; Intensity lurking?
  
  P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat works itself out by the LONG, balanced, TANGY/swt (60:40) finish to the fairly innocuous, yet still firming, dusty tannins. Surprising structure (at least with respect to acidity) still showing on this, making it a poss steal for acidophiles. Regardless, for now & likely through '22. My EXC-/EXC, the higher arguably for QPR, but with the proviso re acidity. 91 pts '18 Ult Bev Challenge, 89 WS, 87 & 88 winealign.com , 88 WE (9/1/18) @ $20, Silver @ '16 Int'l Wine & Spirits Comp, and the ff'ing '18 Contest results: Golds @ the Denver Int'l & West Coast Wine Comps, 7 Silvers, & 6 Bronzes! [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
  
  Note; 1st tasted on 9/7/19, when I didn’t sense the level of acidity that I did today.

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  9/7/2019 - srh Likes this wine:

  Sat, 09/07/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): "Harvested 9/9-10/6/14; Aged 20 mos in 100% small, FR oak barrels; 14.5% ABV, 0.59g/100 mL T.A., & 3.63 pH;" 57,375 cases made.
  
  N: RIPE, poss JAMMY berries with vanilla & undertones of pyrazines; Intensity lurking
  
  P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which quite resolves by the LONG, BALANCED, very, VERY slightly spicy finish with a delectable tangy/swtness to the FEW, unoffensive, dusty tannins. Drink NOW & into, poss through, '20. VERY nicely done in a now ready, MATURE style! My EXC-/EXC, & *I'd* CERTAINLY listen to pleas for the higher based upon QPR! 91 pts '18 Ult Bev Challenge, 89 WS, 87 & 88 winealign.com , Silver @ '16 Int'l Wine & Spirits Comp, and the ff'ing '18 Contest results: Golds @ the Denver Int'l & West Coast Wine Comps, 7 Silvers, & 6 Bronzes! [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

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  4/29/2018 - wmccone54 wrote: 86 Points

  Austin Food & Wine Festival: Very basic with red and black fruit. Drying finish

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  10/31/2017 - TonyPrintezis wrote: flawed

  We had tried this Merlot on a cruise and we had really liked it. So when we found it at a good price at Costco we got two bottles. I opened the first one and poured it in the decanter. It tasted harsh (had that unpleasant bitter, slightly metallic taste) like some reds do immediately after they are opened. I thought it'd open up and mellow out after some decanting. It didn't. Two hours later, it was still unpleasant. Next day it was undrinkable. Out of curiosity I opened the second bottle in case there was an issue with the first one (and didn't decant it in case the decanter was somehow contaminated). Same story. I'm pretty sure that batch was somehow spoiled. It was definitely not the same smooth wine we had experienced on the cruise. Anyone had a similar experience by any chance?

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