Not quite as good as the 2007, this is still a super respectable wine. Soft and approachable, while still intense and complete. There is a deep, brooding, almost complex mouth full of flavor. Textbook Merlot dark magenta color. The first hit on the nose is wine barrel smokiness followed up with blueberry, blackberry, and ripe plum. The mostly black fruit profile crosses the the palate with some very dry tannins. Has a bunch of that earthy, mineral, dry tannic structure. Refined mid palate. Silky smooth tannins. Balanced and integrated. Nice introduction of new oak, still waiting to fully integrate. The acid profile has some of that Granny Smith Apple feeling. As we drink down the glass the tannins become really silky. The finish starts to have some of that chocolate flavor we expect from Napa Valley Merlot with some medium heavy toast oak . Give the finish a half minute, and we get a dark cherry flavor. Still young, wait ntill next year.
Tasted several hours later, things evolve towards ripe plums, and unfortunately, manipulated acidity. Suspect 2008 had issues as a vintage, because this wine has a history of over achievment this bottle does not exhibit.
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10/17/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 Points
Not quite as good as the 2007, this is still a super respectable wine. Soft and approachable, while still intense and complete. There is a deep, brooding, almost complex mouth full of flavor. Textbook Merlot dark magenta color. The first hit on the nose is wine barrel smokiness followed up with blueberry, blackberry, and ripe plum. The mostly black fruit profile crosses the the palate with some very dry tannins. Has a bunch of that earthy, mineral, dry tannic structure. Refined mid palate. Silky smooth tannins. Balanced and integrated. Nice introduction of new oak, still waiting to fully integrate. The acid profile has some of that Granny Smith Apple feeling. As we drink down the glass the tannins become really silky. The finish starts to have some of that chocolate flavor we expect from Napa Valley Merlot with some medium heavy toast oak . Give the finish a half minute, and we get a dark cherry flavor. Still young, wait ntill next year.
Tasted several hours later, things evolve towards ripe plums, and unfortunately, manipulated acidity. Suspect 2008 had issues as a vintage, because this wine has a history of over achievment this bottle does not exhibit.
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