2005 Carter Cellars Merlot Truchard Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 92.4 points

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  12/19/2015 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points

  Enjoyed tonight at Del Frisco's Fort Worth for our 11th anniversary. I knew that I had enjoyed a Carter Merlot before, but I didn't realize that it was the same vintage! I was impressed with this wine although at first I wasn't entirely sure. This was popped with tartrate on the cork. The wine was decanted, dark purple and sat in the decanter with some mild evidence of bricking. The first taste was very earthy with soot and mushroom...hmmmm.....but this disappeared quickly. This wine needed a LOOOOOT of decanting to show its true colors. There was plenty of berry fruit, but it wasn't until about 90 minutes after the wine opened that these notes started to come out. When it did, this wine was earthy boysenberry in the front. No acidity. The wine then turned a little lighter to more of a raspberry and a hint of figs. The wine finished with more of a youthful spirit but was ever the slightest bit tart. Not nearly as peppery as it was in 2013. No tannin. This wine is fully integrated, and due to the presence of tannin that was still present the last time I consumed this wine, it should start the decline next year, and done in 3 years or so. Awesome bottle of Merlot. I thought it had 5-7 years when I had it back in 2013, and I guess I got lucky with that window, because I think it's got 3-5 years left now :) This wine is in a good place right now, so I'd drink with a one-hour decant. Drink by 2020.

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  8/15/2013 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points

  Best Merlot I've had in a while. Bottled in a huge, tinted, heavy bottle and now I know why - to keep this beautiful juice protected! This wine poured almost inky purple into the decanter. Was a rather beautiful earthy nose with some pungent notes but mainly seemed to be softer and well balanced. On the front was all chocolate, fig, leather, and earth. The mid-palate is where something kind of integrated like an earth note. The wine was very elegant in the finish, which is why I gave it only a 93 - it is not true merlot to form as it is still a little tannic, dry, but earth doesn't really follow into the rear. There is plenty of slate and chalk in the finish, white pepper spice. Drink by date says 2015 but I feel that this will be a good one to keep for another 5-7 years if cellared properly, but this one is definitely done by 2020.

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  7/31/2011 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points

  Merlot in a big, muscular cabernet-style body. Big, ripe, hot nose of black berries, oak and menthol. Highly extracted, concentrated and structured on the palate. Medium plus, slightly harsh, drying, hot finish. Texture and finish reminded me of an Australian shiraz with flavors of a Howell Mtn. cabernet. Very tasty, but also just a bit awkward and disjointed. Pairs well with a steak.

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  6/11/2010 - EyeDoc wrote: 93 Points

  Really luscious full throttle merlot - opens up over an hour or so. Drink now.

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