Merlot Madness

A Merlot theme was declared.

• 2009 Château La Providence Pomerol 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  From a pop and pour bottle.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, dark purplish colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium intensity, initially herbaceous-dominated with fresh garden herb notes, but after slow-ox in the bottle for more than 2 hours, it opened up to reveal aromas of sweet blackberries, black cherries, figs, and bit of earth. Herbaceous undertone remained. Developing nose.
  On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavor intensity which really needed 2 hours to show up. Flavours of garden herbs, figs, sweet blackberries, black cherries, some red plums, and earth. Medium+ finish.
  Very good quality. Much too young to drink this now. Please hold this for another 6 years at least.

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• 2006 Shafer Merlot 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Pop and poured.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, initially tight, but opened up with air to show aromas of blackberries, dark plums, bits of licorice, cinnamon spice, and vanilla oak. Developing.
  On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, 14.9% alc that feels like a medium alcohol only, plush medium+ tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of sweet blackberries, dark plums, blueberries, bits of licorice, cinnamon spice, mint, vanilla oak. Medium+ finish. Rather elegant and restrained for a New World Merlot from Napa.
  Very good quality. Drinking well now, and will last another 3-4 years.

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• 2000 Château Pavie Macquin 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. From magnum bottle. Aired in decanter over 2 hours.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with lovely aromas of roses, violets, raspberry, dark cherries, and soy sauce. Developing.
  On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium- alcohol, soft feather-light medium- tannins, medium+ body. Pronounced flavor intensity, initially only a deep intense core of sweet licorice, but more fruit flavours showed up with more air in the decanter. Raspberry, dark cherries, blueberries, and a soy sauce umami savouriness. Long finish.
  Very good quality. Can drink now with proper decant, and will continue to improve with further ageing over the next 6-8 years.

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• 2006 Planeta Merlot Sicilia 93 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

  Tasted blind. Aired in decanter for about 45 minutes before drinking.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of ripe dark plums, sea-salt minerality, toasted oak. Developing.
  On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol, firm grippy medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of ripe dark plums, blackberry, bit of sweet licorice, sea-salt minerality, toasted oak. Long finish.
  Very good quality. I guessed that this was an IGT Italian Merlot from Maremma region. Nice to know Sicily can also make a good Merlot. This was much better than the 2008 vintage I tried before.
  Can drink now, and will improve with further age over the next 3-5 years.

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Educational experience again.