2005 Switchback Ridge Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard |
| Vintage | 2005 |  | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Switchback Ridge (web) | ||
| Variety | Merlot | ||
| Designation | n/a | ||
| Vineyard | Peterson Family Vineyard | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | California | ||
| SubRegion | Napa Valley | ||
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2017 (based on 14 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Switchback Ridge Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 92 pts. in 180 notes) | |
| Tasted by Ikesmith on 10/27/2022 flawed bottle: Corked (691 views) | |
| Tasted by mxpbuy on 6/23/2022 & rated 92 points: From Magnum. Big and lush as expected. Plenty of overripe blueberry with some dark chocolate notes; touch of vanilla an blackberries on backend. Very smooth. (964 views) | |
| Tasted by BHRH on 5/7/2022 & rated 93 points: Decanted 45 minutes - lots of sludge. Remarkably sweet fruit. No hints of age other than a slight brownish edge. I'll grant you that this is not classic Merlot mocha, etc, but what a delicious, delectable treat this is!! After two hours it started a very slight, slow decline - so don't hesitate if you're fortunate enough to have this wine in your cellar! (1077 views) | |
| Tasted by BHRH on 12/30/2021 & rated 91 points: Decanted 30 min. Dark with some browning edges. Dark cherries with cedar and some chocolate notes. Dense currants, a little vanilla and some mocha long, smooth finish with well-integrated tannins. I thought it was a wonderful more mature Right Bank BDX on a long plateau. Wife thought it was on the downhill side... but i get to vote :) 91+ (1291 views) | |
| Tasted by wineismylife on 9/15/2019 & rated 93 points: WIML93 Tasted non blind. Tasted from Magnum. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of violets, cassis, plum and a hint of smoke. Flavors of Kirsch, cassis, plum and boysenberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold. (2324 views) | |
| Tasted by norsktorsk on 2/13/2019 & rated 93 points: This wine is drinking quite well. Wish I had more. If you don't like this then I wonder what it takes. (1984 views) | |
| Tasted by hanasowner on 2/9/2019 & rated 88 points: Opened about an hour before consuming...still dark in color, though missing a lot of the richness of a bottle three months ago...flavors were more lacking, though the finish was silky smooth...time to drink up in my opinion. (1825 views) | |
| Tasted by hanasowner on 10/27/2018 & rated 94 points: Decanted at the restaurant...pungent dark cherries with some chocolate notes...long, smooth finish with tannins well integrated...in a great place. (1953 views) | |
| Tasted by Mscruggs on 9/1/2018 & rated 92 points: Wine continues to show and drink well, still plenty of dark fruit with mocha on the finish. (1920 views) | |
| Tasted by markcic on 7/20/2017 & rated 91 points: This wine is still in a very good place. Fruit and a touch of chocolate on the nose, the palate is dark cherry, mushroom, tobacco and mocha. A nice long finish makes it most enjoyable. Also there was very little sediment in the bottle as opposed to the 2006 which definitely requires a filter. (2592 views) | |
| Tasted by galewskj on 3/12/2017 & rated 92 points: Thirsty Games (Jason's House): Decanted about 15 minutes, mostly for sediment, although there wsan't much. There is a lot going on in this merlot, and it is very accessible. The red fruit is soft and sweet. Strawberry and velvety smooth. (2871 views) | |
| Tasted by williamswhine on 1/14/2017 & rated 91 points: Dark burnt garnet hue. Eucalyptus, grassy/Bordeaux-like nose, oak. Sour cherry, smooth, spice, oak, leather. Better second day. (2667 views) | |
| Tasted by WineGold on 1/6/2017 & rated 92 points: Lush, plush, red fruit. Strawberries, cherries, bit of oak integrated nicely. Still fruit-forward but much of the structural balance has dissipated over time. There isn't much backbone here in terms of tannin and oak, but it still works because the fruit is still singing. It's an interesting wine. Kind of feminine at this point. Has some Napa Valley dust on the palate too. Drink in the next year or so. (2587 views) | |
| Tasted by markcic on 10/14/2016 & rated 91 points: We opened let sit for and hour or so and then poured slowly through a vintorio. The nose was fruit, the palate was plum, dark cherry, mushroom and mocha. Long finish. (2677 views) | |
| Tasted by wine maestro on 9/24/2016 & rated 91 points: Switchback Merlot Vertical - Dana's Wedding (351 views) | |
| Tasted by williamswhine on 6/26/2016 & rated 93 points: Dark inky hue. Floral, eucalyptus nose with sweetness at end. Fuller bodied merlot. Sweet cherry, blueberry, velvet, smooth, drinking great. Drank even better second day. Time to drink. (2241 views) | |
| Tasted by Barakahn on 6/12/2016 & rated 91 points: Biggest surprise of this wine...wonderful Bordeaux nose. Second biggest surprise, tasty bright sour cherry overwhelmed all else on palate. Over 1.5hrs in, cherry still dominant, though minerality, leather, and dark chocolate notes began to emerge. Oh, and did I mention the powerful sour cherry... (1833 views) | |
| Tasted by zinnut on 5/12/2016 & rated 88 points: I agree with others that this one is losing it. Drink soon. Still enjoyable but in a spiral. (1819 views) | |
| Tasted by Hamersly on 5/11/2016 & rated 90 points: Much better than the bottle I had a few months ago, bordering on a 91. Drink up and expect some bottle variation. (1813 views) | |
| Tasted by travelme on 5/8/2016 & rated 92 points: My last bottle. Just as good as my previous bottles. Drink them soon if you have them. Highly recommended. Drank this for Mother's Day in honor of the great Barbara Richards of Paloma who unfortunately passed away last month. Their is another angel in heaven. Thanks Barbara for being a wine mother to so many who you invited into your home. You will always be remembered by those who met you. (1613 views) | |
| Tasted by Hamersly on 2/2/2016 & rated 88 points: Beginning to come apart, tastes a bit tart and harsh although the nose is still lush and full. Hasn't held up nearly as well as the Merlots from the same era that Bob Foley made for Pride; the Pride fruit was presumably just more age worthy. (1531 views) | |
| Tasted by Purple Tooth on 11/8/2015 & rated 92 points: Still has lots of power with lots of red, tart fruit for a Merlot. As I was drinking this, it was obvious that this would have been better with more initial sweetness from youth. Still a very complex and powerful wine with a long, dry finish. A bit disjunct....Drink, don't hold (2082 views) | |
| Tasted by galewskj on 6/21/2015 & rated 92 points: Slow o'd for an hour, this seems to be at peak right now. Plush, lots of fruit, well-integrated tannins. It is definitely new world and fruit forward, yet it has a nice balance. (2170 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 4/29/2015 & rated 90 points: Plush and round. Plums, cherry and toast. Decent grip but time to drink up. (2114 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 4/12/2015 & rated 92 points: Final bottle, followed over two nights. Needed about 40 mins for some off notes to blow off but was otherwise a nice wine in a very nice place. Final bottle, would drink remaining bottles within the year if I had more. (2186 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 2/7/2015 & rated 94 points: Best bottle was the last one!!! (2159 views) | |
| Tasted by hjrwine on 12/7/2014 & rated 92 points: The 2002 was the women you marry, the 2005 was the women you left your wife for before she takes all your money. The 2011 is the one you spend the rest of your life with. (2190 views) | |
| Tasted by travelme on 9/22/2014 & rated 92 points: Deep purple with chocolate and blueberry notes as many others comments indicated. An excellent cab lovers Merlot. Sadly my last bottle. (2277 views) | |
| Tasted by mxpbuy on 9/6/2014 & rated 92 points: Chocolate blueberries. Nice acidity. Tannins long, thick and smooth. (2140 views) | |
| Tasted by buckeye76 on 7/27/2014 & rated 93 points: RED BROWN ON THE EDGE. BLACKBERRIES, BLACK CHERRIES, AND COFFEE IN THE NOSE AND A FLAVOR TO MATCH. NICE LEGS AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH. (974 views) | |
| Tasted by sastewart on 5/11/2014 & rated 92 points: Great bottle - far superior to the 2006. Nice plum, a little chocolate and cedar on the nose. Full bodied but balanced. Chocolate, cedar and black cherry along with dark fruits. Fully mature. 92 points (2582 views) | |
| Tasted by maitredgreg2 on 5/9/2014 & rated 98 points: Massive!!! What a finish!!! Everything in place, for total enjoyment!!! I've hardly ever leaned towards a merlot, even though it was the other red grape, but this has totally changed my wine world around. 98+ (2545 views) | |
| Tasted by travelme on 12/25/2013 & rated 93 points: Deep purple or black in color. Deep nose with forest floor, cherry, and smoke. On the palate, it was a plush fully mature Merlot that was extremely well balanced. On the palate, extremely nice notes of dark fruit - plum, blackberry, and some hint of black cherry and raspberry. Highly recommended and an excellent Merlot. I would drink soon since it is likely in the prime drinking window. (2743 views) | |
| Tasted by tomlee on 12/19/2013 & rated 94 points: Opaque purple in color. 14.8% ABV. Aromas of cherry, lavender, leather, kirsch and evergreen soar from the glass. Full bodied and plush on the palate. Unmistakably a Bob Foley wine. Currants, cassis, blueberry liqueur, chocolate ganache and raspberry on the palate. Consider blending the chocolates from a Whitman Sampler and you are on the right track. Over the top but that is what I both wanted and expected. The finish is long and supple. Great now but will surely continue to develop for 2-4 years. (2660 views) | |
| Tasted by hanasowner on 11/24/2013 & rated 90 points: From 375ml...slow 'o for an hour...unmistakable cherry pie filling...full in the mouth...lush and silky...a little lite on the finish. Drinking well now and still a few years left in my opinion. (2597 views) | |
| Tasted by Ex-Ray on 9/1/2013 & rated 95 points: This has evolved beautifully and is now fully mature. Still garnet and mostly opaque. Excellent complex cassis, dark berries, anise and oak nicely blended. Medium-full body but smooth and well integrated, with excellent lingering aftertaste. No need to age this any longer...enjoy! Ric (3015 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 8/9/2013 & rated 92 points: Showed some brickish coloring when pouring. herbacious nose, sweetness that carries onto the palate. Well-integrated, silky approach with plenty of dark fruit but in a smooth, defined package. Black plums, ripe blackberry, tar, cassis. (2784 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 7/11/2013 & rated 82 points: Mountain Sky Ranch with grilled Bison. Big disappointment. Color was fine, dark purple. Nose was there but the wine tasted thin, vegetal, and clipped. I would swear it was cooked by the trip except the 2000 Bordeaux mag that travled alongside was delish. (2466 views) | |
| Tasted by wineismylife on 6/24/2013 & rated 92 points: WIML92 Tasted non blind with dinner. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of berries, plums, flowers and currants. Flavors of berries, currants and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next 4-5 years. NOTE: blowing some sediment at this point. (2753 views) | |
| Tasted by wine maestro on 4/6/2013 & rated 92 points: 3-4-5 Napa Merlot Vertical (473 views) | |
| Tasted by 2loyal on 3/10/2013 & rated 91 points: No signs of fading, but why wait? Really drinking well now, though it's so rich that you might not think it's a merlot, if you drink it blind. (2777 views) | |
| Tasted by AccaDacca on 2/21/2013 & rated 90 points: Oak comes across strongly, overwhelming the cherry evident. A more modern merlot, with time ahead to be better. (2375 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 1/20/2013 & rated 93 points: Decanted and followed over 2.5 hours. Pours jet black and slightly cloudy; blueberries scream out as I'm emptying the bottle into the decanter, along with lavender and other floral notes. With some time I"m picking up braised meat and cherry on the nose. Cherry and oak are lead flavors on a palate thats also earthy and velvety smooth. This still has some life left in it. (2536 views) | |
| Tasted by garambler on 1/13/2013 & rated 92 points: I had this with a cheese plate on 1/13/13. It had a gorgeous, deep, soft, elegant and harmonious bouquet of floral, blueberry, plum, cherry, cocoa and spice aromas. The palate was soft, round and beautifully balanced with flavors of blueberry, plum, cherry, cocoa, anise and spice. The finish was just a bit short. (2422 views) | |
| Tasted by EMTAME on 12/26/2012 & rated 88 points: I loved this wine when I first had it over a year ago, rating it 93 points that day. This time around, I was much less fond of it - perhaps because it seemed so sweet, straightforward, and overly-oaked relative to the other wines in this blind tasting. Ruby colored in the glass, with creamy vanilla and strawberry lollipop on the bouquet. Medium-bodied, with a palate that echoes the nose - rich, sweet vanilla and cherry Lifesaver, with a smooth mouthfeel. The finish seems a bit short. I'd imagine this should be drunk in the next 2-3 years, as it doesn't have the structure that the other wines in the tasting possess. (2458 views) | |
| Tasted by galewskj on 12/9/2012 & rated 92 points: Earth and blueberry. New world and complex in an oak / herb / savory green pepper way. The spicy finish is not balanced, and there is some noticeable alcohol. This seemed to be improving. (2321 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 12/8/2012 & rated 91 points: Holiday Party (Gail and Steph's, Mpls, MN): Very dark red-purple color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. Love this nose, very earthy with lovely blueberry notes, vanilla, blackberry liqueur. the palate is well concentrated, full bodied, earth, blueberry, blackberry liqueur, oak, followed by a very spicy finish. The palate had a bit of alcohol showing and the spice/oak profile on the finish dominates a bit too much. This drinks pretty young, and some cellar time may improve further. 91+ pts. (2660 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 10/14/2012 & rated 93 points: Trendous!!!! (2695 views) | |
| Tasted by BrianMc on 9/30/2012 & rated 93 points: Great representation of a Merlot done well. (2761 views) | |
| Tasted by corkscrews on 9/16/2012 & rated 93 points: A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark black garnet in color. A full bodied Merlot, with blackberry, black cherry, cocoa, and Asian spices on finish, decanted for a couple hours and was still a baby since this was a Magnum. Wine evolved as it opened, was delicious, had it for my son’s college graduation. (2822 views) | |
| Tasted by kanab ram on 6/26/2012: Deep, dark and structured. Excellent finish. One of the best Cali Merlots I've had. (3316 views) | |
| Tasted by wineismylife on 6/4/2012 & rated 92 points: WIML92 Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cassis, black berries and plums. Flavors of currants, black berries and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with a little air time or continue to hold. (3582 views) | |
| Tasted by Nanda on 4/20/2012 & rated 90 points: As advertised - bombastic, delicious cocktail wine. Nose jumps with mochachino, red fruit and toasty vanilla. Palate is richly fruited with a kiss of tobacco and earth. Lush fruit from start to finish. Fun stuff. (3504 views) | |
| Tasted by Jason on 3/15/2012 & rated 84 points: Decanted for one hour. Intense. Nose of green pepper with a touch of smoke. This is a classic example of a California merlot green pepper nose. Palate continues the greenness. Finish is long with a smoky with tannic bite. Not sure what happened to the fruit but it's not there now. We had this wine with a steak and was fine, but it was not impressive alone. If you have bottles , I would not hold much longer. (3607 views) | |
| Tasted by vegasoenophile on 1/21/2012 & rated 88 points: Luscious red berry nose laced with some mint and eucalyptus nuances. Some wet stone as well. It has some strong acid that comes on a bit astringent. Flavors of black cherry, chocolate fudge and espresso. Good fruit, but has some tartness. (3646 views) | |
| Tasted by EMTAME on 11/27/2011 & rated 93 points: I was going to write a note and then realized I'd basically be repeating the 9/11/11 note made by another taster. Probably the most enjoyable CA merlot I've had and, at $45, still a good buy. Stylistically, it reminded me of the '02 Larkmead merlot, which I also loved in its prime. A definite repeat buy. (4045 views) | |
| Tasted by RockinCabs on 10/31/2011 & rated 91 points: Full ripe Cherry and Blackberry Jam with Chocolate, Espresso Bean and a touch of smoke. This was another great 05 SBR Merlot, but not as outstanding as the last bottle. (4257 views) | |
| Tasted by wineismylife on 9/11/2011 & rated 92 points: Saturdays at One - Volume 58 - Double Blind! (Dave's Place, Bedford, TX): WIML92+/- Tasted double blind. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, fairly clear looking. Nose of rich berries, plums, vanilla, white pepper and a hint of dried herbs. Flavors of plums, berries and cherries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold. (4508 views) | |
| Tasted by 2loyal on 9/1/2011 & rated 90 points: Better the 2nd night, actually. Lots of fun, but not certainly not spectacular. (4078 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 8/26/2011 & rated 93 points: Decanted and drunk over 2.5 hours. Tight at first, but within 45 mins this softened enough to be very enjoyable. Dark plum in color, sweet nose with hint of cedar. Medium+ weight but interestingly a lighter mouthfeel- more like a cab franc. Still slightly green on the palate, forest floor, and heavy blueberry with some allspice. This still has 5+ years ahead of it, not yet near its peak, but is nonetheless very enjoyable. (4024 views) | |
| Tasted by beezer6 on 8/23/2011 & rated 93 points: Yes. This is what Napa Merlot is all about. Every year Foley makes one of the best three Merlots from Cali on the market. Blueberry pie, sweet heady nose of milk chocolate, licorice and beautiful rich elegant lilacs. Silky smooth, creamy palate. Long concentrated finish. Finesse and power. The essence of balance. This vintage was a bit more tame at "only" 14.4% abv. Highly recommended. (4147 views) | |
| Tasted by spotfin on 8/1/2011 & rated 94 points: Great, one of the best Cali Merlots I've had. (4301 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 5/8/2011 & rated 93 points: Decanted 3 hours and served with grilled fillet steaks with truffle butter. Great bottle. Has integrated oak much better over the past couple of years. Rich blue fruit well balanced with mocha and vanilla from the wood. Lenghty finish and grip. Cab ringer. (4406 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 3/6/2011 & rated 94 points: WOTN, by a landslide. (4817 views) | |
| Tasted by windypinot on 2/28/2011 & rated 86 points: Three Blind Mice -- Merlot Tasting (Schuler): Tasted blind with Sanctus '05 bordeaux and Quilceda Creek '04 merlot; perfume smell; cherry and mid-finish; very strong cola flavor; finished a close third; don't see the value in the bottle (5639 views) | |
| Tasted by Plunge the Worm on 2/27/2011 & rated 90 points: this wine delivered on demand but should have been decanted. Popped the cork at a restaurant and drank right away, by the end of the second glass (+1hr) the aroma and flavor became more generous....or was that just the atmosphere that warmed up to the wine? This wine is drinking well and probably getting better with age, loads of ripe juicy fruit and integrated oak, light mature tannin, pleasant texture and mouthfeel. (4746 views) | |
| Tasted by zoeldar on 2/26/2011 & rated 93 points: WOTN without a doubt, rich and sweet fruit yet dry and elegant. Layer and layers of fruit on the initial palate. Obviously way too early for these vines, but the quality is there... (4731 views) | |
| Tasted by hanasowner on 12/31/2010 & rated 94 points: First one of these I've had since October 2007 when we opened with Kelly Peterson in Napa. This is really strutting its stuff. Decanted for about an hour. (4947 views) | |
| Tasted by RockinCabs on 11/20/2010 & rated 94 points: Nose: Black Cherry, Blueberry, Plum, Evergreen, Herbs and Chocolate. Palate: Very ripe but not overripe fruit shows first with Black Cherry and Plum, but as the palate gains weight the plum and dark chocolate elements show more. Sage and other herbs show and the tanins still have nice grip. Finish: Moderate length, but quite complex and nicely balanced with blueberry, cedar, tobacco and some herbal notes. Unsweetened chocolate shows nicely as the oak settles. Fruit/Acid balance was near perfect on this wine. Best Bob Foley Merlot I have had ... and those are huge kudos. (5321 views) | |
| Tasted by garambler on 11/1/2010 & rated 92 points: We drank this with grilled Ribeye steaks on 11/1/10. It had a very ripe, expressive bouquet of cassis, plum, mocha, spice, toast, anise and herbal aromas. The palate is full bodied, smooth, ripe and balanced with flavors of black cherry, plum, chocolate, toast, spice and herbs. My wife also liked it quite well. 91+ (5269 views) | |
| Tasted by Screameagle on 10/7/2010 & rated 92 points: Switchback makes my favorite merlot and this is no exception. What makes it so great is that it doesn't taste like a merlot but rather a cabernet. In it's prime now there is no reason to wait on this one. Kudos Kelly and Bob Foley (5507 views) | |
| Tasted by jc510 on 10/7/2010 & rated 92 points: Wonderful, Cab like Merlot. Brought to a tasting and no one guessed it as Merlot. Good dark fruit, surprisingly mild oak, and a medium to long finish. (5619 views) | |
| Tasted by vegasoenophile on 6/20/2010: Some espresso on the nose. Sour nose and a tad plummy, with sou cherry. It's a full bodied, succulent, fleshy merlot. Rich and dense. Super rich on the palate like some of the best California merlots are. Very nice. - Tasted at Marché Bacchus 6/19/10 (5674 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 5/9/2010 & rated 93 points: Decanted, with some drunk immediately and the balance consumed 2 hours after decanting. Drunk alongside a 2005 Foley Merlot. The SR was more elegant and rich than the Foley, with many of the same blue and black fruit notes, but more mellow. Interestingly, there was an alcohol burn that I didn't pick up in the Foley, but it was still smoother and seemed less in-your-face. This is drinking quite well today, but another 2-3 years should make this more approachable. upfront. (5693 views) | |
| Tasted by Mike V on 3/21/2010 & rated 92 points: Dark Sweet super ripe. Really nice with Pizza and March madness. (5891 views) | |
| Tasted by Rob MacKay on 1/3/2010 & rated 93 points: Much the same as the previous bottle (see note from 4/24/09). Decant this for at least an hour or two for best results. Same rating as before. (6219 views) | |
| Tasted by golfwine on 12/31/2009 & rated 92 points: Initially over-ripe in the nose and pretty closed-down on the palate. After decanting and allowing some time, the aromatics were amazing! Sage, anise, earth. Palate was rich and creamy and although the over-ripe-ness was present in the finish, it didn't detract from the total experience. (6089 views) | |
| Tasted by bubbachumps on 12/13/2009 & rated 92 points: I probably should have decanted this wine, not a open and lush as the prior version. Needs at least a three hour decant. The last glass was the best. (6099 views) | |
| Tasted by wineismylife on 11/13/2009 & rated 90 points: WIML90+?. Tasted November 13, 2009. Opened and served immediately. Followed over 2 hours. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Fairly big nose of Kirsch, black berries, black cherries and a dash of dark chocolate that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with air or continue to hold. (5986 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 10/11/2009 & rated 90 points: Slightly off at first- excessive woodiness and a touch of green masking core fruit/mocha profile. Improved considerably on day 2, consistent with previous bottles. (5908 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 10/3/2009: The OC Bagged Crew--October 2009 (Sun Dried Tomato Cafe, San Juan Capistrano, CA): In looking back at my previous 2 TNs on this wine, the bottle tasted last night is very much like I remember in April 2008. And to Steve Nordhoff's comment during last night's meal and the 'greeness', this is also similar to my April note. I, though, don't think of it as greeness but much more Bdx-like, a tobacco note. Ripe and pure and aromatically distinctive. (6367 views) | |
| Tasted by WetRock on 10/3/2009: The Blind Crew at Sundried Tomatoe Cafe (Sundried Tomatoe Cafe, San Juan Capistrano): Initially the nose was all coffee and mocha but some wood, cedar and bell pepper came alive showing me some Bordeaux variety qualities. Came off as a big styled oaky Cab on the palate but not too thick. Guessed a Pride Cab though I enjoyed it more than I usually do wines from that or the actual producer. (6194 views) | |
| Tasted by chilepepper on 8/5/2009 & rated 91 points: Nicely balanced wine, plenty of mocha and dark fruits...although could stand a bit more fruit and a bit less mocha. Not really getting too much on the nose, but no doubt this wine has a lovely mouthfeel. I'm giving it the rating since its well made, is pretty good, but I'm continuing to think I'm just not wow'd by New World Merlot. I'm enjoying it and its its hard to think there are those that will absolutely love this, but if this had a bit less oak and more structure it would be alot better. (5791 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 6/26/2009 & rated 93 points: Consensus WOTN (5527 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 6/22/2009 & rated 89 points: Smith River trip. Maybe it was too much campfire smoke in the palate but this didn't rate any accolades from the crew despite my recco from previous bottles. Dominated by oak and tobacco without the hedonistic blue fruit core. (5540 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 6/7/2009: I was on the fence with this bottle, the sole dude at the table thinking there was something off in this wine. Even inside myself, I tasted and tasted this wine and sat with it, going from OK to off, OK to off. High toned bright cherry, medium weight and mocha but the nose just seemed off to me....some barnyard? (5472 views) | |
| Tasted by FakeAccount on 5/12/2009 & rated 94 points: Wow! This wine has really come together! Absolutely delicious and primary... oak is integrating well. (5603 views) | |
| Tasted by Rob MacKay on 4/24/2009 & rated 93 points: I've been wow'd by a Merlot. Rare is the utterance of such statements. The nose exploded out of the bottle when I poured this into the decanter a few hours ago and I'm just starting the final glass now. Awesome tobacco and cocoa notes dominated while decanting and have faded a bit to let the lush ripe fruit join in the mix. On the palate this wine is velvety, luxurious, and rich with ripe blackberry fruits framed by cocoa, spice, and fine tannins. Awesome now and will be a great wine to drink at this stage while waiting on the Cab. My wife tasted this completely blind and guessed it to be a high end CA cab or very young Bordeaux. Considering how this wine shows, that's not too bad of a guess. (5109 views) | |
| Tasted by etherscreen on 4/23/2009: buy! no note, but this was quite good. (4705 views) | |
| Tasted by Nanda on 4/18/2009 & rated 93 points: A rich, delicious beauty over two days. Classic Foley rich, forward, concentrated style. Big time aromatics of currant, herbs, oak spices and mocha. Palate is round and full bodied. Packs a lot of punch and concentration for a Merlot. Thoroughly enjoyable. (4510 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 4/17/2009 & rated 94 points: Holy Moly Robert Foley. Decanted 2 hours. You could smell this wine from 5 feet away. Powerful fruit nose, and an explosive palate of dark berries and cocoa powder. Yum. A real treat. (4321 views) | |
| Tasted by winestem on 4/9/2009 & rated 92 points: Fantastic chocolate cocoa! Medium weight, velvety. (4524 views) | |
| Tasted by vintage72 on 4/7/2009 & rated 87 points: Crummy QPR. Was expecting a lot more from this based off of the previous reviews and the $70 price tag.. Decanted two hours and was surprised at he lack of bouquet and fruit. Will stick with their cab moving forward. (4257 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 3/29/2009 & rated 93 points: 2 hours in the decanter really added to this, though it was outstanding - if slightly subdued - right out of the bottle. Extremely fiine tanins, mocha, licorice. At about 4 hours this was thinnerthan I'd expect but still excellent. (3956 views) | |
| Tasted by zoeldar on 2/21/2009 & rated 93 points: Wonderful bottle, rich with an intense finish, almost sweet fruit...better with 2 hrs airtime... (3928 views) | |
| Tasted by Schudog on 1/24/2009 & rated 92 points: Very nicely done. Cinnamon and spice on the nose, followed by a full-bodied and classy wine with noticeable but unobtrusive tannins. I could drink this every day (3545 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 11/15/2008 & rated 92 points: More monolthic and shut down than last time despite decanting. Still has all the Foley stuffing you'd expect but less powerful and complex. (3471 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 10/26/2008 & rated 93 points: Dark mocha, chocolate, and deep dark fruit. Massive. (3349 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 9/26/2008 & rated 93 points: Really opened up after an hour to express an explosive nose of blue fruit, mocha and toasty oak. Very concentrated and powerful with a long spicy finsh. (3326 views) | |
| Tasted by Gregory Dal Piaz on 9/3/2008 & rated 88 points: Jemrose in New York City: At first offers up a very precise and clean nose but turns just a touch hot as the intense, spicy red fruits begin to assert themselves. Soft in the mouth with very fine wild berry/currant fruit up front then a mid-palate which is just a bit woody and bitter but powerful and full of chewy, dense fruit. Finishes with good length but not much complexity to the bittersweet cocoa notes that dominate the end. (5046 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 8/9/2008 & rated 94 points: Ditto!!! (3071 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 7/30/2008 & rated 93 points: Decanted and consumed over 4 hours. Just and outstanding merlot. Was a bit hot for the first 30 mins, then just a fruity, silky, tannic and way enjoyable bottle of merlot. (3108 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 7/19/2008 & rated 95 points: Possibly the best bottle of merlot I've ever had. Close to over the top, but not quite. Classic Foley. There's cinnamon, chocolate, and a load of black fruit. (3141 views) | |
| Tasted by SUN-J on 6/24/2008 & rated 93 points: Nice merlot. Nose was a little reticent with some vanilla and dark fruit. After coaxing, it revealed notes of cocoa, black cherry, blueberries and milk chocolate. Palate was quite lush with firm tannins and moderate acidity. Enjoyable to drink but probably even better in 1-2 years. More lush than the Pride Merlot and roughly the same price. Both are probably a bit overpriced but I enjoyed this tonight and will look forward to trying other Switchback wines. (3177 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul Lin on 6/14/2008 & rated 92 points: Falltacular 2008 (San Juan Capistrano, CA): Hard to have just one taste of this wine. Notes of cherries flambé, smoke, wet soil, and melted chocolate. Delicious! (4569 views) | |
| Tasted by Jason on 4/20/2008: My first taste of Switchback Merlot. The nose shows some green. As I swirl it, the green is overpowered by a coffee bean, smoke, earth melange. The palate is lush with more elements from the oak. I also get a strong whack of very dark fruit. The fruit builds in the mouth until the tannic finish overcomes it. This is not an easy drinking Merlot. I expect this to be better with more bottle time. Unrated for now. (4076 views) | |
| Tasted by kanab ram on 4/19/2008: No formal notes but this was my first SB merlot. Very big (but not over the top) with mouth stripping tannins yet very smooth and well balanced. Very consistent with Foley's own merlot. Outstanding. (3379 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 4/6/2008: There is a green thing on the nose, what I would normall say would be 'underripe' but knowing who the winemaker is here, not likely. Thus, would call it kind of herbal, almost cabernet/bdx like. The wine is polished with cedar and some chocolate and supple tannin. Dark cherry and smoke, too. If tasted blind, I would have leaned toawards this being a cabernet with some merlot mixed in due to the tobacco leaf and sleek feel but overall, very nice with a smooth finish and lots of cool complexity. (3465 views) | |
| Tasted by RScholl on 3/17/2008: In a word....amazing! We just loved this bottle. My first Switchback wine and it was very impressionable. The best merlot I've had in a very long time..since 2001 Paloma. (3814 views) | |
| Tasted by jameswm13 on 3/15/2008 & rated 94 points: Popped and poured. Exquisite for so young. (3695 views) | |
| Tasted by Jay A on 3/14/2008 & rated 89 points: This is a well made Merlot. Good textutre = very smooth. Nice fruit. Very interesting for the first couple sips. It lost my attention and started becoming one dimensional half way through dinner. I guess my complaint is it failed to keep me interested through a whole meal. Otherwise a good wine. (3604 views) | |
| Tasted by Hammer on 3/10/2008 & rated 95 points: What a great bottle of merlot. great concentration but not heavy. (4246 views) | |
| Tasted by TFAH on 2/25/2008 & rated 97 points: This is the best wine I've had in a while. I can't imagine merlot being much better. The nose is incredible with loads of milk chocolate and vanilla. It smells like melted milk duds in the glass. The flavors of chocolate and vanilla continue on the palate along with a nice core of ripe fruit. Simply fantastic and ready to drink! (3793 views) | |
| Tasted by mreinitz on 2/15/2008 & rated 92 points: To me this wine has the same basic flavor profile as some good inexpensive merlots (e.g., Columbia Crest Grand Estates) -- dark fruit, vanilla, oak, a little chocolate -- though this wine is much bigger, fuller, and richer. I liked it, but I was looking for something a little more distinctive in a highly rated high-end merlot. (3638 views) | |
| Tasted by FakeAccount on 2/10/2008 & rated 93 points: Again, with consistent notes. (3755 views) | |
| Tasted by davidandrose on 2/7/2008 & rated 94 points: Uncorked but not decanted and consumed over 2 hours; outstanding bottle of merlot, with a mouthfeel thats very lush and rich. (3654 views) | |
| Tasted by thenapalist on 1/22/2008 & rated 94 points: Absolutely a killer bottle of merlot. If one didn't know....they might think this a cabernet. Very complex, rich, lush and velvet on the palate. Dark fruit with a touch of vanilla. Long smooth finish. Very nice botte and well worth the money. (4081 views) | |
| Tasted by FakeAccount on 1/16/2008 & rated 93 points: Again, with consistent notes. (3810 views) | |
| Tasted by winestem on 1/14/2008 & rated 93 points: Medium bodied, ruby-colored, lovely floral and red fruit aromas give way to a cocoa-infused drink that's hard to resist! (3609 views) | |
| Tasted by FakeAccount on 1/4/2008 & rated 93 points: 3rd time with consistent notes. (3467 views) | |
| Tasted by bubbachumps on 12/26/2007 & rated 93 points: Agree with the prior post, this wine is ready to go. Lush, upfront style. Notes of of chocolate and black cherry. A touch of oak. A really packed wine. First experience with a Foley wine and I was impressed. Can't wait to try more. (3371 views) | |
| Tasted by MJTed on 12/24/2007 & rated 95 points: Definitely open for business and one of the best New World Merlots I've had. Firmly structured with a plush mouthfeel and offerng all of the SBR/Foley delights includiong dark fruit, toast oak, mocha and spice. (3353 views) | |
| Tasted by FakeAccount on 12/23/2007 & rated 94 points: Dark ruby color. Great aromatics of cocoa, candied cherries, and dark-roasted coffee beans. The wine has a rich, plush, velvety mouthfeel and is drinking extremely well right out of the bottle. No need for more time in the bottle at this stage as it is showing so well right now. Tannin is extremely fine and serves to provide mouthfeel. This bottling rivals the 2001 in terms of pure pleasure. (3352 views) | |
| Tasted by gotapex on 11/14/2007 & rated 91 points: Full bodied and rich, with nose of black cherries. Nice caramel notes from the toasted oak. (3686 views) |
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Switchback RidgeProducer websiteSwitchback Ridge Wines are sourced exclusively from the Peterson Family Vineyard in Calistoga. The property has been in the Peterson family since 1914 and encompasses nearly 100 acres located at the mouth of Dutch Henry Canyon. For over 75 years the property was primarily maintained as a farm and plum orchard, with vines intermingled amongst the trees. In 1990, the orchards were replanted to vineyard, where there are currently 18 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah vines, in addition to a three acre 50+ year old Petite Sirah block that John Peterson helped plant as a child. MerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-PetersonNapa ValleyNapa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |