6/25/2023 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

Dark fruit forward, light tannins, this wine was REMAKABLE. shared with friends (Hal, Ileana, Robert, Anna amd of course my bride Lori) , it was incredible.

6/25/2023 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

Dark fruit forward, light tannins, this wine was REMAKABLE. shared with friends (Hal, Ileana, Robert, Anna amd of course my bride Lori), paired with a peppery filet, incredible, wish I had 20 more botles

9/12/2022 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

Deeeeep plum/purple color, amazing legs, this Syrah was beyond amazing and if I could find some to buy today I would do so without hesitation. Complex flavors of dark fuit with smooth/rich tannins at the finish. I recall drinking this bottle of over 3 night's and it got better each night. Joe and his team did a remarkable job putting this wine together.

9/12/2022 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

I have had this wine in the cellar for about 8 years, and this evening reaped the reward of patience and time. We let it sit open for 15 minutes or so, the color on rhe cork was deeeeeeep purple/plum, its nose was fruit forward with no aroma of alcohol (most red wines sme strongly of alcohol to me), very deep/rich complex flavors of dark fruit followed by tannins. Each drink had a long finish inviting the next sip. All this being said, I may have waited a year too long to drink this so if you have any, consider enjoying it now.

9/8/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

I pulled a vacuum on the bottle, out it back in the cellar for 3 days and just poured another glass. The peppered resemblance to Apothic Red has diminished and opened up to aroma and taste of dark fruits with very light tannins. I still don't think I'll invest in more, but will let future bottles breathe for an extended time or aerate and decant before drinking and believe they will be enjoyable.
John

9/5/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

I let it breathe for an hour, i can't imagine whT it would be like when just opened. Its thin, spicy, good legs,,,,,, if you've had Apothic Red, I think this wine will taste familiar. I have 7 more bottles, & wll give the rest some time in the celar. I was about to order another case on WineText, but will pass now that I've opened a bottle.

8/16/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

I spoke with a rep from Sterling today & they shared that the Meritage can cellar 5 to 6 years. The tannins should mellow during that time, and the wine should gain some complexity. I'm trying a bottle now and if I think it stands a chance I'll buy and cellar a case to see if they are right....

7/24/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

If you are thinking of buying this with a hope that it might taste like some of the other mid teens priced old vine Zins. Sadly, we're not finding a good tasting red zin forn$7......

6/29/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

I have been waiting a decade to drink this, shared with family who was over for my birthday and it did not disappoint. Decanted for about 20 minutes and poured. It was a full blown, wheel standing, nitro burning blast! Really, it was rich, full of tannin, long legs, dark fruit forward with a long finish, wish I had a couple cases!!!! Lastly, if you have any of this it may be time to drink it up, I have one bottle left and will find an event to share it at sooooon.
Poppa John

5/15/2022 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

I am no expert on tasting notes, (i) wine had good legs, (ii) when I smell any wine the first thing I get is the aroma of alcohol, then dark fruits like berries, no leather, very little oak, (iii) tasting, the flavor hit me with dry fruity flavors and not heavy on tannins but they were present. The flavor sat long on my pallette and finished with a different set of flavors I'm not sure how to describe.

All things considered, I've had several bottles of this over the last 2ish years and this bottle was leaps and bounds better than the ones drank long ago. If I can find more of it at a reasonable price, I'll likely buy all they have, some for soo, and some for a couple years from now.
Cheers!!!

3/10/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

Night 1, let the 1st glass sit for 30 minutes, it was a fine chianti but lacked comexity. Let the 2nd glass sit for an hour & it seemed to open up quite a bit. Good fruit forward with nice tannin's. Night 2, I let it sit for a while and it opened up a lot with a lot more dark fruit flavor and strong tannin's. I have 11 bottles left, may buy another case and cellar for 5 to 7 years & believe it will be remarkable by then.

2/17/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

Bought BOGO @Publix, it was $8 so my expectations were low, it us a nice drink for a cheap bottle of Chiani. I will cellar a few bottles to see what happens in 5 or so years

2/2/2022 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

I added the drink between window based on info from Fidelitas website.

1/31/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

Drank over three evenings, it got better each night. Not as dry as some other Block Zins from ABC, very fruit forward (its a Zin). All in all, it could have used a couple more years in the cellar but it was really enjoyable.

1/31/2022 - PoppaJohn wrote:

Drank over three evenings, all things being equal it drank really well.

1/14/2022 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

Disclosure: I am not able to identify specific flavors (yet).
Decanted half the bottle for 30 minutes, started out comex with subtle tannins and fruit forward, but not sweet. After another 30 minutes opened up much better and is drinking very nicely.

12/26/2021 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

Fruit forward, light on tannins, a little young but I believe this will benefit from a few years in the cellar.

12/24/2021 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

Opened the bottle this evening with my father in law. We let it breath for about 20 minutes in a decanter. Although I may have waited too long to open this vintage, it did not dissapoint. I would buy this again (if by some miracle it were available :- )

12/21/2021 - PoppaJohn Does not like this wine:

Lacked character

12/23/2021 - PoppaJohn wrote:

No character

12/5/2021 - PoppaJohn Likes this wine:

For a bottle bought on clearance at abc, it was surprisingly good.

11/25/2021 - PoppaJohn wrote:

Meh