Dueling Napa Valley Wineries

A tasting of 3 Napa Valley Wineries, each of whom produces multiple Cabernet Sauvignons, and Merlot. The wines were tasted in 2 blind flights. The wineries were Shafer, Larkmead and O'Shaughnessy. The first flight will be the Merlots, and the second flight will be the Cabernet Sauvignons. Technically, the Larkmead Firebelle, at 55% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Malbec, is not a Merlot, merely a Merlot based wine.

All the wines were opened, but not decanted for at least 45 minutes before we started tasting. They were kept in their original bottles, but covered in paper bags so that we couldn't identify the bottles. We had 2 glasses at all times, so we always had 2 wines to compare. As we were 10 people we poured (using pre measured pourers) 1.5 oz of each wine.

• 2008 Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  My last bottle. At a Cab and Merlot wine tasting, this was the favorite Merlot. A blend of 55% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Malbec, it was a big hit. A little better balanced than the 100% Merlots that we drank alongside it.

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• 2013 Shafer Merlot 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I liked it, but it was somewhat disappointing, considering the producer and the vintage. In a blind tasting vs. Larkmead Firebelle and O'Shaughnessy's Merlot, with my wine group, this came in 3rd.

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• 2012 O'Shaughnessy Merlot Howell Mountain 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  My favorite Merlot in a blind tasting. It was my first O'Shaughnessy Merlot and I really enjoyed it. Notes of coffee on the nose.

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• 2008 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  The WOTN at a blind tasting. A full bodied mouthfeel with a long finish.

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• 2007 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Part of a blind tasting. My scores for this wine have bounced around. I'm not sure why, but in a blind tasting, the 2008 Larkmead was clearly better.

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• 2010 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Had it blind with my wine group. Full bodied and a long finish. Drinking very well right now.

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The Larkmead was the favorite of both the Merlots and the Cabernet Sauvignons, with the Cabernet being the WOTN. The Shafer Merlot was a disappointment, not a bad wine, just not as good as the other two Merlots. I wonder if the Firebelle's blend gave it an advantage over the other 2 Merlots?