Tonight's tasting was fairly consistent with my last tasting note for this wine which was six years ago back in 2012, when I wrote:
"This 2008 is a bit tight and closed, not as smooth, polished and fruit filled as some earlier vintages of this wine that I remember - perhaps due to its age or period in its aging profile. This is medium to full bodied, with dark inky color, this is a bright, balanced wine with notes of black cherry, tobacco, spice box and nut leading to a long, smoky moderate tannin finish."
It was time to open my last two bottles of this delicious Merlot. I still struggle to understand why my North American friends shy away from the Merlot grape - it is a great wine grape and really undervalued in Nappa. One of the best Bordeaux is a 100% Merlot.
The Northstar is a very good Merlot - still lagging some delicious wines from Tuscany or Bordeaux but on a good route of a great Merlot for the New Worlds. Worth to keep a couple of bottles at home.
It tastes like black currant (cassis), grapefruit, raisin, vanilla and chocolate. The body is medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Night 2 showing black currant and cedar with a hint of graphite on the nose. Palate is well balanced but tannins are still present developing acid in the mouth. Finish holds for a good length. Will evolve a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep inky garnet color. Cassis and blackberries nose with a touch of baking spice. Baking spices and berries on the middle palate. Interesting finish - almost thirst quenching.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP w/ 30 min glass time. Clear, med purple color. Light nose. Wine was fully mature and a bit thinner than expected. Over the top. Med body, light intensity flavor profile, low acid. Didn't show as well as expected. Nothing off but not very exciting. $32
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Probably past its peak. Seems to have lost its fruit. Has some heat on the front end. The palate is dominated by tar, tobacco and bitter chocolate flavors with earthy tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet/purple appearance. Laden with aromas of mulberries, blackberries, cocoa, vanilla, nougat, cedary spice, and walnut shell. The full-bodied palate displays outstanding length, depth, and concentration, with lots of rich, lush, and plump black fruit, a beautiful texture, and spices galore on the long finish. This is so good it literally dances in the mouth.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 1 hour. A nice Merlot but I am not usualy impressed with Merlot's and this was nothing different. Good flavor but it really didn't do anything for me other than being a decent bottle of wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous notes. Decanted for an hour. Nose started to open up in glass with good aromatics. Good mid weight flavor with resolved tannins. Drink this baby now or within next 1-2 years. GOOD.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind tasted. Black plum, black cherry, vanilla, baking spice. I guessed malbec but only bc the wine before was merlot and I couldn't bring myself to guess it again, so my gut was saying merlot. 60% new French oak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some things are just worth the money you give for them. I'd seriously considered a drive to the winery to buy more, but they've only got the 1.5 liter left, for that year. I see that the 2009 is rated even higher.
Full of fragrance the moment the bottle is opened, and with rich dark notes.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Northstar wines continue to amaze me. They are some of the best Merlots around. Even though this wasn't the best I've ever had from them this was a wonderful representative. Beautiful dark, almost purplish color with a nose full of fruit and smooth tannins that was echo'd by the first taste. Enjoyed the complexity of this drinker and the long lingering finish.
Decanted a very short time. It may have needed more time to breathe but I was not overwhelmed with this offering from Northstar. Started out a bit hot and definitely needs more time to smooth out the roughness. Black cherry and light spice. Hold for another year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is cassias, tobacco, black plum, and earth. Flavors follow the nose, with the addition of some cola and coco powder on the mid-palate and into the finish. Perfectly balanced. This is a very nice Merlot, and is well worth the price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice Merlot. Full bodied, cassis, earth, chocolate, dark fruits. Really great example of the Columbia Valley. A little pricy at my local store for $37, but good value at $30.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This 2008 is a bit tight and closed, not as smooth, polished and fruit filled as some earlier vintages of this wine that I remember - perhaps due to its age or period in its aging profile. This is medium to full bodied, with dark inky color, this is a bright, balanced wine with notes of black cherry, tobacco, spice box and nut leading to a long, smoky moderate tannin finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/28/2022 - Gary Likes this wine: 88 Points
Velvety and well integrated
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2018 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
Tonight's tasting was fairly consistent with my last tasting note for this wine which was six years ago back in 2012, when I wrote:
"This 2008 is a bit tight and closed, not as smooth, polished and fruit filled as some earlier vintages of this wine that I remember - perhaps due to its age or period in its aging profile. This is medium to full bodied, with dark inky color, this is a bright, balanced wine with notes of black cherry, tobacco, spice box and nut leading to a long, smoky moderate tannin finish."
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/12/northstar-merlot-2008-for-casual-wine.html
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2017 - sdrum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still good, but it appears to have lost a bit of the "edge" that it had a couple of years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2017 - luHar1423 Likes this wine: 85 Points
It was time to open my last two bottles of this delicious Merlot. I still struggle to understand why my North American friends shy away from the Merlot grape - it is a great wine grape and really undervalued in Nappa. One of the best Bordeaux is a 100% Merlot.
The Northstar is a very good Merlot - still lagging some delicious wines from Tuscany or Bordeaux but on a good route of a great Merlot for the New Worlds. Worth to keep a couple of bottles at home.
It tastes like black currant (cassis), grapefruit, raisin, vanilla and chocolate. The body is medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2017 - JMFWC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Night 2 showing black currant and cedar with a hint of graphite on the nose. Palate is well balanced but tannins are still present developing acid in the mouth. Finish holds for a good length. Will evolve a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2017 - Papa Dog Likes this wine: 97 Points
Perfectly balanced. Plumb, cherry, vanilla and berry. Wonderfully full and deep, smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2016 - Lyubomir Lefterov wrote: 86 Points
I cant understand this type of wines, baked fruit with 15% ABV, this level of alcohol offsets the balance -sad cause there is potential...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2016 - bin905 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still kicking. In a good place - integrated with a bit of tension.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2016 - Chilgenfeld wrote: 90 Points
Deep inky garnet color. Cassis and blackberries nose with a touch of baking spice. Baking spices and berries on the middle palate. Interesting finish - almost thirst quenching.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2016 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Served with a porches ta and spicy shrimp. Fruit forward, dark and full bodied
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2016 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big fruit, deep texture, long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2015 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fruity and snow. Good and hearty Merlot. Dark red. Good with food and dark (90%) chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, rich aroma and taste of fresh dark fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2015 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 86 Points
PnP w/ 30 min glass time. Clear, med purple color. Light nose. Wine was fully mature and a bit thinner than expected. Over the top. Med body, light intensity flavor profile, low acid. Didn't show as well as expected. Nothing off but not very exciting. $32
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2014 - bin905 wrote: 88 Points
Probably past its peak. Seems to have lost its fruit. Has some heat on the front end. The palate is dominated by tar, tobacco and bitter chocolate flavors with earthy tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
Deep garnet/purple appearance. Laden with aromas of mulberries, blackberries, cocoa, vanilla, nougat, cedary spice, and walnut shell. The full-bodied palate displays outstanding length, depth, and concentration, with lots of rich, lush, and plump black fruit, a beautiful texture, and spices galore on the long finish. This is so good it literally dances in the mouth.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - wicho Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful deep purple in color, fruity nose. On the palate, it is plummy, full bodied with plenty of tannins but not overly acidic. A well made wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2014 - krhaugh wrote: 88 Points
Decanted about 1 hour. A nice Merlot but I am not usualy impressed with Merlot's and this was nothing different. Good flavor but it really didn't do anything for me other than being a decent bottle of wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2014 - BigTex22 wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous notes. Decanted for an hour. Nose started to open up in glass with good aromatics. Good mid weight flavor with resolved tannins. Drink this baby now or within next 1-2 years. GOOD.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2014 - GTFreek wrote:
Blind tasted. Black plum, black cherry, vanilla, baking spice. I guessed malbec but only bc the wine before was merlot and I couldn't bring myself to guess it again, so my gut was saying merlot. 60% new French oak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2014 - Trolson wrote: 92 Points
A real treat. A regular wine for us. 2007 was great too. Wine enjoyable to wide range of red drinkers. Dependable and desirable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/20/2013 - Russ P Likes this wine: 92 Points
Liquid velvet with rich fruit and black pepper on the finish. We don't drink much Merlot but this is fabulous!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/13/2013 - handymom wrote: 91 Points
Just finished my last bottle of Northstar Merlot 2008. Fabulous wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2013 - qwerty2 wrote: 91 Points
Some things are just worth the money you give for them. I'd seriously considered a drive to the winery to buy more, but they've only got the 1.5 liter left, for that year. I see that the 2009 is rated even higher.
Full of fragrance the moment the bottle is opened, and with rich dark notes.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2013 - Trolson wrote: 90 Points
Very drinkable right now. Unusual sweetness for Merlot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2013 - Danvinoatx Likes this wine: 91 Points
Violet color, dark berry and cedar spice smell. Long finish of cooking spice. Drinking well now but could possibly use 1 more year of cellar time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2013 - manny651 wrote: 88 Points
Pretty good merlot, nice nose, better on day 2.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2013 - Skully wrote: 90 Points
Northstar wines continue to amaze me. They are some of the best Merlots around. Even though this wasn't the best I've ever had from them this was a wonderful representative. Beautiful dark, almost purplish color with a nose full of fruit and smooth tannins that was echo'd by the first taste. Enjoyed the complexity of this drinker and the long lingering finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/23/2013 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similar to past notes. GOOD.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2013 - krhaugh Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted a very short time. It may have needed more time to breathe but I was not overwhelmed with this offering from Northstar. Started out a bit hot and definitely needs more time to smooth out the roughness. Black cherry and light spice. Hold for another year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2013 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose is cassias, tobacco, black plum, and earth. Flavors follow the nose, with the addition of some cola and coco powder on the mid-palate and into the finish. Perfectly balanced. This is a very nice Merlot, and is well worth the price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2013 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 88 Points
GOOD
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2013 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice Merlot. Full bodied, cassis, earth, chocolate, dark fruits. Really great example of the Columbia Valley. A little pricy at my local store for $37, but good value at $30.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2013 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle seemed a little ripe compared to others I've tasted. Big dark fruit nose, little oaky, and smokey. Nice every day drinking wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2013 - bkay Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still too young. Could use some decanting. Not a bad bottle
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2013 - MidLifeVices wrote: 84 Points
Medium-full bodied from the overripe fruit. Lacking in acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2013 - Jwd12 wrote: 85 Points
Very nice
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2013 - EJKIII wrote: 90 Points
what a lovely surprise! an everyday drinker, at a reasonable price,with enough complexity, fruit and structure to be interesting. time to buy more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2013 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
good quality red wine, though on the expensive side for its value
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - ATIVA Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark color. Muted black fruit up front gives way to some mild spice and smoke on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2012 - handymom Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this. And I am not much of a merlot fan.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/20/2012 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
This 2008 is a bit tight and closed, not as smooth, polished and fruit filled as some earlier vintages of this wine that I remember - perhaps due to its age or period in its aging profile. This is medium to full bodied, with dark inky color, this is a bright, balanced wine with notes of black cherry, tobacco, spice box and nut leading to a long, smoky moderate tannin finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - mavrixwk wrote: 93 Points
One of my favorite Merlots. Dark fruit on the nose, with a strong palate. Well balanced, some herbal notes, but a rich and juicy palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2012 - tabrand wrote: 91 Points
Big fruit nose, hints of wood and tobacco. Would buy again!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very juicy and meaty. Dark fruit. Tannic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment