February 6, 2021 - Opened a bottle last night at the Wine Watch and first thought the wine was passed its prime. After about 30 minutes, this Merlot opened up and the fruit came forward of dark red cherry, fully integrated tannins, hint of leather, some earth and a delicious merlot showing its age. It reminds me of a well aged Right Bank Bordeaux and not a California fruit bomb. This is a great wine from a great producer from a great year and it has aged well but drink it soon and give it decant and filter
November 29, 2020 - Very fully integrated and balanced alcohol and oak, and it’s begun developing more tertiary flavors. I’ve had some other 90s Napa merlots (Beringer Bancroft) that have been more tannic this was. The wine had a nice acidity that went well with the steak dinner. Drank alongside a 2007 Frank Family Cabernet, which was good, but noticeably sweeter and more extracted. I think it was almost a dead ringer for st emilion merlot. This is a wine that is at peak for my taste preferences. Sad that I do not have another bottle.
September 24, 2020 - Just opened a cellared bottle last night.
Still absolutely delicious.
Powerful and scrumptious wine...still.
Have a few more bottles.
April 26, 2011 - Drinking well (from Mag). Not a ton of oomph...but great.
December 31, 2010 - Decided this would be a fun bottle to open for the small NY Eve party. Decanted for about 3 hrs before drinking. Definitely nearing the end of its life, but still a delicious treat. Lovely brick red, the fruit was very moderated -- definitely an earth-heavy wine at this point. I was sorry to see the bottle end.
May 10, 2010 - This wine is over the hill. If you have any left I suggest you drink up. The earlier bottles I had weren't bad but I just think it is over the hill at this point.
December 20, 2009 - Medicinal bandaid on the nose and following through on the finish. Clearly a flawed bottle. Such a shame, the previous bottle we purchased at the winery was delicious.
July 5, 2009 - This isn't going to get any better in the bottle. Classic styled Merlot from a great year in Napa.
May 24, 2009 - sorry folks this note below was intended for the 97 shafer cabernet...my bad, my have been drunk when I wrote this...not sure......but probable :)
May 23, 2009 - Gather round children......if you have this wine thank your lucky stars, I don't....so I hate u. Drank this tonight blind with our weekly wine group, brought by a member. Most of us guessed bordeaux, I went right bank...... and then quickly into hiding after it was revealed. I swore there was a good dose of merlot in this wine since it has some sweet red fruit. Delicious, beautiful nose of red fruit and leather, the oak is gone, tannins smooth, secondary characteristics, stored pristine since purchase. I drink napa young, but has made me thinking otherwise. I am going to let all mine age u should to!!!!!!!!!!!!