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A tale of two very distinct 2004 Napa Merlots

Monterrey, Mexico

Tasted February 7, 2010 by hcampana with 324 views

Introduction

I wanted to do a mini blind tasting for my wife and I, so she could differentiate between two very different wine styles of primarily the same grape. Wines were served single blind to both of us in Riedel Vinum stems.

Flight 1 (2 notes)

Red
2004 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
90 points
Tasted blind from 750ml. Because the wine was served too cold, my first whiff before swirling threw me off. There was an earthy, roasted coffee note that made me think this might be the Conn Valley Right Bank. After the wine warmed up and a little swirling, the almost over the top ripeness and aromas of caramel, oak and jammy fruit convinced me this had to be the Pride. Full bodied, sweet and with slightly un balanced alcohol. There is no denying this wine has a big "deliciousness" factor, but it is borderline over the top, so haters of this style won't like it. I did, but I would have preferred a little more restraint.

Probado a ciegas de una botella de 750 ml. Debido a que fue servido demasiado frío, mi primera inspección de la nariz antes de agitar mi copa reveló un nota de café tostado terrosa que me hizo pensar que el vino quizás era el 2004 Conn Valley Right Bank. Después de que el vino se calentó un poco y después de ligera agitación, emergieron aromas de caramelo, barrica de roble y mermelada de frutas negras y rojas que me hicieron pensar que este tenía que ser el Pride. Corpulento, dulce y con el alcohol un poco prominente. No se puede negar que este vino tiene un factor grande de hedonismo, pero está al borde de tener demasiada extracción y madurez de fruta. A los que odian este estilo no les será agradable. A mí sí me gustó, pero hubiera lo apreciado más con un punto más de moderación.
Red
2004 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank USA, California, Napa Valley
88 points
Tasted single blind from 750ml. Very restrained nose. Probably because it was served too cold. With time, this became almost Bordeaux-like. Aromas of smoky red fruits and cedar lead into a medium to full bodied wine that is clearly less extracted than Wine 1. It is also obviously less ripe than wine 1, as there is no jaminnes. Very balanced and elegant for a Napa wine, it suffered a bit with the in your face style of wine 1, which made it seem austere at times. A different style all together, but very nice nevertheless.

Probado a ciegas de una botella de 750 ml. La nariz inicó reticente. Probablemente por la temperatura a que se sirvió. Con tiempo, el vino se presenta bastante Bordalés. Aromas de frutas rojas, humo y cedro nos llevan a un vino con corpulencia mediana que claramente tiene menos extracción y madurez de fruta que el Vino 1. Muy balanceado y elegante para un vino de Napa, este vino claramente sufrió en la comparación con un vino mucho más suculento y sabroso, pues lo hizo aparecer más austero de lo que es. Un estilo muy diferente al Vino 1, pero casi tan bueno.

Closing

I was gladly surprised that the often maligned 2004 Pride vintage would come out on top of this mano a mano.

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