Platnick Intro Retro of Merlot

Brian generously hosted a group of ten and tasted us double blind on this group of new world and old world Merlot. Shockingly only one taster called the line up as Merlot (or even Bordeaux). We are all turning in our wine geek cards as guesses ranged from Tempranillo to Grenache to Mouvedre. We're brutal. But thankfully the wines were anything but brutal. A good showing and informative range of Merlot spanning nearly 25 years.

Wines were tasted in the order listed and sequenced by percent Merlot contained (from highest to lowest). All wines opened and allowed to slow ox for a few hours.

• 2012 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

  Tasted blind. A real head turner of a nose with white flowers, exotic spice and orchard fruit. Palate is medium bodied with good waxy, oily texture. Nice acid driven lift and freshness. In a wonderful spot right now.

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• 2004 Quilceda Creek Merlot 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Tasted blind. Ruby red. Really beautiful and full, layered nose of plum, spice, herb with a toasty note. Palate is expansive and penetrating with full body. Bright with nice acidity that carries the palate. Velvety texture and sauve tannins. Long finish is smokey and spice filled. My #2, Group #1.

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• 2006 Quilceda Creek Merlot 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Tasted blind. Ruby red. Something off in the nose here with volatile acidity and acetone interfering with plummy fruit beneath. VA blows off a bit with time but never really goes away. On the palate this is quite a bit better with big spice-driven plum fruit. Good lift and persistence for the density of fruit. Long finish. Shame about the VA-impacted nose. My #9, Group #4.

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• 2003 Quilceda Creek Merlot 93 Points

  USA, Washington

  Tasted blind. Ruby in color. Full aromatics have ripe, concentrated plum fruit and herbs. Big plum fruit palate with intense spice notes. Good power and lift driven by racy, persistent acids. Flashes modernity with spice and brown sugar, but the interplay of power and freshness here is quite well done. My #3, Group #7.

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• 2005 Quilceda Creek Merlot 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Tasted blind. Dark ruby color. Wow, monolithic nose is full of dense and non-delineated notes of ripe plum fruit, toast and spice. Same on the palate with full scale, brooding, powerful plum fruit and spice. Brawny tannin. A beast of a Merlot. My #7, Group #5.

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• 1995 Tertre Rôteboeuf 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. This wine was a real stunner out of the gate, but faded fast after an hour in the glass. Light ruby. Wow, gorgeously complex aromatic is so detailed with plum, black cherry, earth, tar and dill. Palate has medium body with moderately intense fruit and good acidic structure. Layered and complex initially but shows quite tired after an hour. My #4, Group #9.

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• 1998 Château Pavie Macquin Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. This was a poor showing and perhaps a bum bottle. Ruby. Odd aromatic that is funky and dirty. Palate has very light fruit and is hollow, with just a bunch of acids remaining. Will assume it as flawed. My #11, Group #11.

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• 2001 Château Pavie 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. Dark ruby with some browning at the edge. Simply gorgeous, layered and explosive nose features plum, black cherry, spice, herb, leather and earth. Palate has medium-to-full body with beautiful richly textured and earth-driven fruit. Everything is working in harmony with the structural elements providing length and lift. Herb and earth filled finish. My #1, Group #2.

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• 1989 Château Troplong Mondot Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Seriously oxidized. Likely just an off bottle. My #12, Group #12.

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• 1999 Château Pavie 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. Ruby and losing color at the edges. Lighter nose with the fruit seemingly receding and faint notes of leather and herb lurking beneath. On the palate has medium body with good fruit but angular with no nuance or layering. Kind of a one note (in taste and texture) wine. My #10, Group #8.

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• 2000 Château Monbousquet 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. Deep ruby. Big full nose is flamboyant but still serious with layers of flavor -- plum, spice, herb, mocha, barrel toast and vanilla. Palate is full bodied with excellent depth of flavor that largely echoes the nose but also features some more earth and leather tones. This is velvety smooth with soft tannin and moderate acids providing structure and lift. Quite nice in that modern style. My #5, Group #6.

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• 1982 Château L'Arrosée 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Tasted blind. Light brown ruby and translucent at the edge. Wow, the nose boasts seriously potent ashy and cigar box notes, with tar, bell pepper and mature red fruits. Palate has complex and mature notes that are all about the leather and tar with some mature, decaying plum fruit lingering as well. The acid is lighter here and likely fading away. Complex for sure but starting to lose its intensity and fruit. My #8, Group #10.

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• 2002 Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted blind. Deep, dark ruby. Wow, big intense and brooding nose with plum, black cherry and spice. Palate is very young with fresh, plush, bold plum fruit and firm tannins. Powerful and intense but this stays fresh and lively. Chalky finish. This still is too young with lots of upside. My #6, Group #3.

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