2007 Merryvale Oakville Grade

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 94.5 points

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  12/29/2023 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  One off from a mixed Merryvale auction lot (‘07, ‘09 and ‘10 Profiles and this for $262 total) a couple of months ago. On the nose and palate, medium notes of black cherry, black currants, dark earth, mixed herbality, and espresso. Deep purple with an ever so slight brown tinge, medium to full bodied, very thick legs. Potent, mostly integrated and not inhospitable tannins and acidity, no heat. VG complexity, VG++ persistence and intensity. As mentioned in a few TNs for vintages of Profiles, I’ve been a fan and intermittent buyer from this producer for 30+ years but confess to never having heard of this bottling prior to this purchase (but with the great overall price, VG CT notes and an appealing LB blend, it was a no brainer). An LB blend like the Profile (that one, all five of the main BDX varietals, CS-dominant, this a bit less CS dominant with 25% CF and 15% merlot), it wasn’t clear to me what niche this similar (although at the winery, one third the price ($115 vs. the bat sh*t crazy $350 for the Profile) wine was filling, but it became clear quickly that this is a completely different animal. The ‘07 Profile is a pretty buoyant specimen, not a cult cab to be sure, but with apparent oak, vanilla and a touch of sweetness; I’d have put most of my chips in the pot betting this taut, lithe wine came from across the pond. Not unlike wines from that continent, this came out pretty tight, and I worried it was past its prime, but it opened beautifully, revealing a subtle, elegant and immaculate frame, with the CF adding a nice herbal backbone, the merlot some roundness. After filling out with an hour or so of air, this held steadily over 2 nights. My food choices, burritos one night, a chicken vegetable soup, weren’t ideal matches, but this was lovely on its own, and I think it would pair well with red meat. The scoring disparity of the last 2 writers many moons ago of 9 points is almost as great as I’ve seen on CT, and while I can’t get to CT friend Epoch’s 97 and can see why 1961 (a year close to sfwl’s heart) would find this muted, I’m much closer to the former, with my preference for balanced, complex cabs over fruit bombs coloring my score. I suspect that this is at or around peak now, but that’s what Epoch said 6 years ago, so this could easily go on for another 5 years, at least for well-stored bottles, but I’d pop sooner than later. Really nice upside surprise here, and while I liked the Profile of this vintage a lot, if forced to choose between the two, I’d pick this, even without taking price into consideration. Despite this winery’s location on bachelorette alley (aka CA Hwy 29), I encourage others to check out their wares, which have often delighted me over the years. And as I looked up this bottling, I learned that Micheal Rolland and David Abreu were involved in the planting and managing of the CS vines. One could do worse, especially at my price point. 94-95+

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  2/18/2018 - 1961Vintage wrote: 88 Points

  From magnum. Was very excited to open this after reading most recent reviews. However, seemed flat and never fully developed or sparkled over 3 hours.

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  8/27/2017 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 97 Points

  So I brought this as part of a To Kalon battle royale . . . The contenders were a 2012 Macdonald, a 2013 Schrader CCS To Kalon, and a 2013 Realm Beckstoffer To Kalon, and my "lowly" 2007 Oakville Grade. Granted my Merryvale was a Bordeaux blend and had 5 years on the next youngest competitor - it came out on top of this blind tasting. What a tremendous effort - this is stunningly balanced and well integrated although I feel there is still a bit more time in it, it is definitely in its prime at the moment. Lots of ripe cherry - and undercurrents of darker cassis and raspberry, finish is long and perfect, tannins are fully integrated. Drink it now - maybe another few years left in it before it starts its senescence.

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  6/27/2015 - Jim Bole wrote: 95 Points

  Wow. Big cherry nose and really opened up nicely. Wow.

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  3/30/2013 - gmglass Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Drank well, perfect time to enjoy. Decant for 45-60 minutes and prepare for an awesome experience. Drank as good as Profile.

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