Community Tasting Note
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sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 93 points
September 18, 2023 - Lovely stuff. Extremely similar to their '17 Napa Merlot I wrote a note for recently; this was showing just somewhat darker shades of fruit and a touch more density (also maybe a bit more tannic ruggedness). I'm not sure if it was $15-$20 better than the Merlot right now, but I think it has a slightly longer life ahead. Both are built for aging.
No decant- I thought it was honestly best right at opening, as the tannins increased in strength throughout the tasting. This needs a cellar nap more than a decant. Lots and lots of cedary oak, but it doesn't bury the fresh blackberry/black plum fruit. Dense, but not even remotely jammy or hot, and thankfully, not "green" either save for a very subtle, well-integrated touch of tobacco. The palate has solid weight and acidity; the tannins are definitely a bit coarse on the finish once the fruit finally fades.
I slightly preferred their '16 Cab, which felt a touch more polished, without sacrificing elegance. It's possible this vintage showed the fruit a bit more over the oak. I've really enjoyed the wines I've tried from Keenan so far; they feel like a combination of a rich, unapologetic Napa flavor profile with the seriousness and structure of Bordeaux.553 views
2 Comments
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bestdamncab commented:
11/24/23, 4:13 AM - try their Mernet blend.
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sid_loves_wine commented:
11/24/23, 9:39 PM - I'm looking forward to trying that for sure; I've had their lower-tier wines a few times now and was pretty impressed.