Community Tasting Notes 31

• WineFoodTravel wrote:

  January 26, 2024 - Good wine. Deep dark subtle fruit. Smooth with nice soft finish. Maybe just past its peak, but nice if you like older wines.

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• sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

  October 28, 2023 - Last of 6 and sorry to hog the TNs here, but the experiences have been varied, so short note. While I said after the last bottle that the rush was off and I was going to hold this until at least 2024, I just bought a new lot of MVs (‘07, ‘09 and ‘10 Profiles and a ‘07 Oakville Cross, which I’d never heard of, let alone had), I had the luxury of knowing another was on the way. This was very much a return to form of the first 2 (and more less, 5th) bottles, showing lots of life over 3 nights, wonderful on its own and as a compliment to lamb chops especially. Started as I was finishing a ‘07 Vine Cliff 16 Rows, both wines wonderful and of (relatively) similar age and quality vintages, but compositionally pretty distinct, with the VC showing greater intensity, the MV the greater balance, depth and elegance, being the incremental, though clear winner, although each, at solidly under $100/btl, absolutely qpr screamers. I put this wine right there with other mostly more expensive (except for the Hartwell, another qpr screamer), recent Napa Cabs/BDX blends of the ‘13 Hartwell ER, the ‘12 Morlet Estate and the ‘06 Ovid as excellent, if just below great, bottles. Drink now-next few years. 95-96 if scoring

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• sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 95 points

  August 3, 2023 - The mystery of this half case deepens. After 2 immaculate bottles, one disjointed one and one very good but post-peak one, we’re back to square one with another outstanding bottle, singing off the pour and solid as a rock through 2 nights, both well-balanced and vibrant, excellent with and without food (pizza one night, mixed grill the next). Don’t know what to make of this variation, as the bottles arrived in an unopened OWC and have stayed there during their tenure here. Bottle variation? My palate gone wonky (can’t blame it on Rio, but maybe Palo Alto?)? I don’t know, but this sure was a pleasant surprise, very much still in, if toward the latter stages, of peak drinking window. I drank this just 3 months after the last. I won’t fall asleep on my last bottle, but in light of higher priority consumption items, I’m happy to move it back in the queue to a year ending in 4 (alas, not 2034). 95+

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• sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

  June 7, 2023 - 4th of 6, and after 2 immaculate bottles and one that came off as a bit disjointed, a different experience still. While the 3 prior bottles all presented as needing a solid couple of hours aeration for my palate on opening to come to balance, this was fully mature, if anything sliding slightly past peak, on the pour, so I started drinking immediately and kept corked while I’ve consumed. Unlike the last bottle, this was completely harmonious, even without the aeration (unlike the first 2) and stayed beautifully in balance and completely integrated over the nights it’s been open. But the fruit and secondary notes, while consistent in qualities, didn’t seem to have the vibrancy of the prior bottles (or maybe it was just the opulence of the bottles from the night at csimm’s reverberating?), although it hasn’t dropped off further since it was opened. I’m not sure what to expect from the next bottle at this point, but I’ll pop in the next 3-6 months in case the loss of intensity is more than a one bottle thing. Taking in my drink latest date by 5 years (somewhere out in the ether CT friend csimm likely smiling). 93-94 if scoring.

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• drazx wrote: 97 points

  May 15, 2023 - Texture: velvet, smooth
  Flavor: plum at the beginning, bitter dark chocolate after a few sips g
  - smells magnificent
  -

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Pro Reviews 4

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2009
• Type Red
• Producer Merryvale
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation Profile
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley
• UPC Codes 040426002417, 040426702416, 040426802413, 040426902410, 856961002115

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 714 (58%)
• Consumed 525 (42%)

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