Merlots on a Saturday Afternoon
Tasted Sunday, January 31, 2010 by Loren Sonkin with 713 views
Introduction
A few of us got together to drink on a Saturday afternoon. The theme was simply Merlot. AFAIK, all wines were popped and poured. The wines were served blind over the course of three hours.
2001 Château Rocher Bellevue Figeac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
This took some time to open up. Once it did, the quiet nose shoed raspberries, dust and some leather. Strong acidity on the palate with tart cherries. Slightly bitter and some menthol on the finish. Blind, I thought Bordeau form 04 or 01. It has that restrained fruit which I like. This was still improving at the end of the day.
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2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
I had not had a wine from this winery in 6 vintages. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is tight but with air it has leather and black cherries. Soft, yet a nice complexity. Layered black raspberries. Blind, I thought this would have been a bit older but certainly drinking very well. Soft, smooth tannins. I liked this wine, but would not cellar long term.
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2003 Pezzi King Merlot Susie's Reserve 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
A nice wine for easy drinking. Black raspberries and root beer on the nose were a bit unique. Soft texture. A bit tart with cherries on the palate. Simple and pleasant. A generic sort of Merlot. The kind with no faults but no excitement either.
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2005 Domaine du Petit-Brouard 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol
I liked this wine, but was surprised to see it was an 05. A lot of funk already on the nose. I didn't mind it, but It seems advanced for its age. Also some cherries and in fact, I really enjoyed the nose thinking it might be a 2000 or earlier. On the palate, it drinks much younger. The wine is lean and sinewy. Not that its bad, just not what I was expecting from the nose. It put on weight as it was opened to air. Very approachable with dark cherries. I would drink these up in the next few years, but it would work great at the table.
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2003 Château Fombrauge 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Inky purple in color. The nose has dusty dark cherries with just a hint of funk. A soft velvety texture. Sweet black fruit on the palate in the boysenberry vein. Lots of tannins. From the ripeness and the tannins, I guessed 03. I really liked this wine and it got better all afternoon. Interesting to see how the 03's are ageing. Perhaps a bit rapidly, but perhaps not. Still confusing. Worth opening a bottle and enjoying right now.
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2001 Falesco Lazio Montiano 91 Points
Italy, Latium, Lazio
I had not revisited this wine in some time. Inky purple in color. There is still a ton of oak here and it seems like it will outlast the fruit. The nose has spice, oak, black cherries and dust. It is soft in texture with nice complexity and firm tannins. The palate has black cherries with some menthol cigarettes on the finish. I would be worried about much more age on these as the balance is not there. IIRC, these had lots of bottle variation though, so who knows. This was a good bottle at a good time.
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2000 Delectus Merlot Stanton 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
You know, the last half dozen 2000's I have drunk have been very nice. While the vintage was panned, I think it has gotten more interesting over time. Not a block buster, but one that has shown development and complexity over time. Perhaps instead of saying a bad vintage, it was just atypical. Anyway, this wine was complex and very interesting. The nose had some sweaty socks with got more funky with air. Also some black cherries and charcoal. Soft and sweet to drink with layers of cherries and forest floor notes. Nice wine.
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2001 Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Still drinking young, the nose was a bit more evolved with cherries and leather. Juicy texture. The palate has firm tannins, dark cherries and is tightly wound. This is a complex wine. I thought California for sure. Lots of fruit and sunshine. I was surprised to see it unveiled as it lacked the acidity I would have expected. Still, this will improve from here I think. Now is it worth the $90 price tag?
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2004 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
The problem with tasting blind is that you might like a wine that wish you wouldn't. This was one of those guilty pleasures. Lots of fruit, mostly dark cherries and black raspberries. Lush, velvety texture. Not complex but interesting and lush to drink. I would have been surprised if this was not from Napa. A fruit lover's wine and while I wouldn't want to drink it all the time, it was very tasty this afternoon.
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1989 Château La Fleur de Gay Flawed
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Apparently the cork fell apart on opening. The bottle was way past prime. Oxidized with just a bare whiff of fruit left. Cork happens. This was not a correct bottle.
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2007 Sineann Merlot Champoux Vineyard 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Inky purple in color. Black cherries on the nose with a bit of funk. This has bright fruit, mostly black cherries. Quite primary at this stage and really never even started to unwind. Needs a few years for sure, but there is a lot of stuffing. It should get better.
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2003 Columbia Crest Merlot Reserve 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, oak and a liqueur note. Tannic with black raspberries on the palate. Long finish. This was opened late and kept unwinding all night. Not a bad wine at all, I think a couple of hours in a decanter would help. Always one of the great values in Merlot I think.
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