The Merlot Dinner a/k/a Richard's Last Supper

Good group, lots of new faces, very informal (with few notes, aside from a few impressions and rankings). Unfortunately, it was held at The Acorn which I am generally all too happy to avoid.

• 2006 Nova Wines Marilyn Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A very simple, gimmicky wine with no redeeming qualities. My 7th of 8.

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• 2005 B.R. Cohn Merlot Sonoma Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  My 8th of 8. Worst by far. Big, full, characterless, with a sweet candied cherry finish.

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• 2005 Starmont Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Austere, with loads of cedar from the predominant oak. My tied for 5th.

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• 2005 Nickel & Nickel Merlot Suscol Ranch

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Another fairly oaky, cedary, austere merlot, undistinguished from others with nearly similar "profiles" of wood spice and cedar. My tied for 5th.

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• 2003 Grgich Hills Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  My wine of the flight.

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• 2002 Seavey Vineyard Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Good structure, earthy (almost dirty). My 3rd of the flight.

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• 2005 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Someone snuck a cab into the merlot dinner, shame on them! My 2nd of the flight.

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• 1997 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Howell Mountain

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  A bit of funk on the nose; fairly unremarkable below that. My 4th of the flight.

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• 2001 Gargiulo Vineyards Merlot Money Road Ranch

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  My #1 of the flight.

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• 2004 Luna Vineyards Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A big merlot, but carries its weight well. Oak in balance. Nice. My 2nd of the flight.

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• 2000 Del Dotto Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep dark merlot with black fruits. My 3rd of the flight.

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• 2004 Hall Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A fairly simple wine, but quite good and quaffable. My 4th in the flight.

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• 2004 Clarendon Hills Merlot Brookman

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

  Primarily green pepper, but with time showed some band aid notes. Noone seemed to think it was flawed. My 3rd of the flight.

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• 2005 Robert Foley Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  My impressions of this wine kept declining over an hour in the glass. Initial impression was very positive, with bold aromas of fruit and herbs, but with time, began to show more structure than fruit. My 2nd of the flight.

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• 2004 Quilceda Creek Merlot

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  A very nice wine, and my 1st for the flight.

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• 2002 L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  A very big merlot, with little complexity, but not at all unbalanced and nice, if simple. My 5th in the flight.

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• 2006 Shafer Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Only note I had is that this was my 4th in the flight, though I'm not sure why as I usually enjoy the Shafer merlots.

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• 2003 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes 82 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Very underwhelming. The sweetness is fairly unidimensional and there is way too little acid to support it. A simple, flabby dessert wine. I really don't like 2003 for sauternes.

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• NV Graham Porto 20 Year Old Tawny 89 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

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