Darker with less bricking than the January bottle, and more fruit persistence and tannins. This one required decantation to relax where the other did not. Black cherry, fennel, coffee. New World merlot can't get much better than this, and based on this bottle would push the drink-by date out to 2023.
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Medium dark red with pink edges. Pure raspberry fruit in the front but then some coffee bean and red flowers. There is also a bit of scorched earth. Delicious red fruit flavours and a long dry finish.
Not the tricked up wine one would expect from Rolland. The micro oxygenator must have been in the shop.
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Shared with Layne and Donna. Say what you will about Rolland's heavy hand with oak and hot vintage ripenes, neither of which I'm a fan of, this wine was aged merlot perfection. Mellow tannins carried warm black cherry fruit, tobacco and freshly roasted coffee beans. All secondary type characteristics but for a fleeting whiff of violets.
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From magnum purchased upon release. While I'm not surprised that this wine is so well made, I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it as well. Black plum, cassis and dark roast coffee aromas. Similar flavors are still fresh as well, with just faint earth hints, slightly better spice, good concentration and more restraint than I expected from a wine labeled as 14.7%.
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I have held onto this wine because '03 was such a hot year, I am now finding that the wine is starting to go a bit flabby/oxidized. I guess it's lucky that I only have one more .750 and a mag left. I would expect the mag to be holding up better.
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Tasted blind in a group of 13 wines and this was top one or 2. It has evolved since I drank it last in 2007. Really a very special merlot, with a solid structure to match the rich fruit
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Uh oh. The downward spiral begins. Been a fan of the Pedestal since the beginning ... but at this stage the '03 is falling apart & fruit flabby. While there are still a few good individual elements that shine through, the overall effort is no longer harmonious. If holding I'd drink up now, lest these diverge even further.
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Nice merlot.. Bing cherries, dark chocolate, some dusty tannins., the oak is integrating well. Structure seems to be diminishing and is starting to border on flabby. The fruit and rest seem to be still primary. Not as good as I recollect from my first bottle in 2006. Drink now-2015.
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Very smooth, balanced and elegant merlot. Started out cautiously as was a bit closed - opened up, however, very nicely after decanting over an hour plus. Wouldn't wait too long to drink the next bottle - seems to be at it's peak now. Drink up!
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Terrible. The definition of a new world fruit bomb. How are you supposed to pair this with food? Thick over ripe fruit smothered in oak, low acidity, and high alcohol. The style is ridiculous.
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Outstanding! Decanted for 1 hour. Opulent and lush with beautiful notes of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, ripe plum and cedar. Velvet smooth tannins and wonderfully balance acidity. Love a beautifully crafted Washington Merlot!
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Opened up for my wife's book club party and was lucky to have one glass of this delicious Merlot. Beautiful notes of black currant, black cherry, mocha and cedar with a very pleasant finish. Very well balanced and drinking beautifully.
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Decanted 1/2 hr befroe dinner. Initially required Vintue Aerator, and then 45 minutes lated it revealed its dark fruit complexity and minerality . Augurs great things for the future. Glad I have 2 cs combined of the 03 and 04 vintages.
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Dinner at The Lido Deck in Newport Beach. The last time I checked in on this wine was about 4 years ago and it was pretty shut down. This bottle was wide awake and ready for sexy time. Opulent and sensuous notes of sweet black cherries, currants, cinnamon and cola nut. With air, a touch of bay leaf and sweet Maduro cigar. Outstanding density and weight on the palate with good acidity. Drinking well now, but I can see this wine improving even more over the next 5 years or so. 91-92 points.
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Dark purple color with plum, chocolate and a little earthiness on the nose. Smooth mouthfeel with lots of black fruit, chocolate and some vanilla oak. Nice finish with fully integrated tannins. Excellent merlot which has the potential to last several more years. This wine was decanted for an hour but probably needs only minimal airing at this point. Was still going strong on day 2.
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did a side-by-side with friends with this and the '04. this one needed more time to come together but generally, for me, was pretty much a dead heat with the '04. dunno grape makeup comparison between the 2. had merlot behavior for most part, excellent bouquet. lotta fruit & nice finish.
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What a welcome relief from the 2000 Haut Bergey. Great wine, opulent great fruit. Michel Rolland is showing up his Bordeaux kinsmen, from Washington! Best unaerated.
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Brought to restaurant and aerated in the glass for 30 minutes. Dark garnet color. Full and expressive nose of plum, anise, red currants, and moca. Big and seamless on the palate, ushering up notes of black plums, cherries, licorice, and earth with seemingly effortless power. Long, graceful finish. Most impressive now, but will improve even further with 3 to 5 years in the cellar.
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Wine Flock - Global Merlot Introspective (My Place): Huge, effusive nose has rich, chocolaty black fruit, toast and asian spices. Palate is loaded with round, rich, sweet black fruit - mocha, vanilla and more spices. Maintains a balanced and stays light across the mid-palate. Long, creamy staying finish adds notes of asphalt and tar. Super effort. My #1, Group #1.
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Wineflock - Merlot around the world (Rich's): Group #1, My #2 - WOTN by a pretty wide margin. Full opaque purple color. Big concentrated black fruit with asphalt notes. Mmmn, nice big rich chocolate black fruit with a long clean bright finish. This is the merlot John Alban would make if he made one.
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Still excellent, but beginni ng to change into a more austere wine with trememdous potential. Rolland is a master of Merlot. Required aeration to show itself.
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DUO, Miami Anti-SIDEWAYS BYO Merlot Dinner: Flight 2, #2. Ellen's and my wine. Paired against the other Washington Merlot. I preferred the Northstar, and Ellen loved this one as always. It was her WOTN. Ed Davis hated it, calling it a tricked up wine seemingly using oak chips. From prior experience this needed more air, as I had only double decanted it in the morning. Surprisingly the Pedestal to my mind showed poorest of my Merlot's being outclassed by the 03 Galatrona, and the 97 Pride.
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Dark, inky appearance. On the nose, it opens up after a bit into a modest, cherry melange perfume. On the palate, it starts out strong and seemingly integrated, but loses a bit of cohesiveness after an hour or so. Complex, with a deep layers of fruit and vanilla surrounded by unresolved tannings. Long finish. I think 4-5 years before this really hits its full stride. Rating based on first impression as well as perceived potential.
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Some of the reviews are surprising to me...we thought this an incredibly good wine. In a blind tasting, it was preferred over the 03 Leonetti Merlot, two CA merlots, and even a right bank 1998 Bordeaux (admittedly not first or second growth). Based on notes, we decanted several hours. The nose was rich, but had a bit of bordeaux-like graphite and solid fruit. Jumped out of the glass. It was very well-structured. Neither over-extracted nor lean. Long finish with blackberry fruit, soft tannins, and a nice complex set of tastes. We loved it.
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Something happened to this wine which lowered the score. Nice nose like last time, but flabby now. Not sure if is dumb phase, but need to wait now on these for a bit. Still solid but did not blow me away this time.
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Chicago Wine Geeks taste Merlot (Chicago, IL): Dark ruby color with a forward and aromatic nose of flowers, chocolate, dark fruits, baking spices and toasty oak. Creamy palate is reminiscent of a chocolate milkshake. Needs some air to smooth out and strut its stuff. The last few sips were awesome. My #2, group's #4.
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Decanted for 4 hours before dinner. Ellen thought it super, and much better than the 98 Masseto we had Tuesday. I liked it, but I think my taste buds were affected by the cigars I smoked playing golf.
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Quilceda Creek Vertical 1990-2003 (My house): Really needed time to evolve and that it did over 8 hours. Velvety tannins, ripe red fruit, some mocha and oak elements. This was served as a pre-cursor to a Quilceda Creek vertical and I thought it was one of the best wines of the night.
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87;82. Good looking wine. 3 hours in decanter. Lovely fragrant soft nowe with both blue and red powdery notes. Pain grille and asian spices and chocolate. Sweet cola and rootbeer. Lively, yet with low exotic notes. Thick and rich, yet fresh. Seamless. Massive, dark, ripe, roasted fruits with some smokey notes. Dark chocolate. Aftertaste has sweet tobacco, dark chocolate syrup, creosote and some cinamon.
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A facinating and delicious bottle of wine from Long Shadows. It opened up over the course of the evening and we enjoyed the experience of the change. It will probably be difficult to acquire once the word spreads of the wine's fantastic character. I you find it now, buy it.
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About 6 months ago, I was blown away by the rich blueberry and vanilla flavors of this wine. Last night, however, this wine did not show as well. It seems to have shed most of its baby fat and is currently going through an awkward adolescence. Decanted for an hour and a half, this wine exhibited aromas of chocolate-dipped cherries, vanilla, and some cedar. On the palate, it seemed really angular and disjointed and really acidic, which would have been fine had I ordered a really fatty piece of meat, but I had the filet mignon for dinner, and the wine just did not pair well with it. No doubt, this wine will emerge from its awkward phase a stunner, but perhaps not for another couple of years at least. Although I had rated it a 93 when I first tasted it, last night it only got an 88, which, while still a very respectable score, is just not what I had thought (hoped?) it was going to be.
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If this is not a great wine then the 20 years I have been drinking wines has not shown me much.
Wonderful fruit with very solid tannins, I thought they would integrate better after decanting for several hours but did not. Even with that the fruit starts off with bright cherry and then evolves into a darker cherry and warrants the score. Great wine.
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Dinner at home w Mike & Linda Bittel, Bob Muraro & Delia McDonald, and Cesar Basurto. Followed procedure from ,my first experience; i.e. double decanted in am, and uncorked 2-3 hours before drinking. Wine showed extremely well vs an all star line-up of Jacques Prieur 99 Musigny; 97 Astralis; 97 Sperss; and 2000 Williams-Selyem Rochioli-Riverblock. I love this wine, and feel fortunate to have 2 of the 500+ cases made of this inaugural vintage.
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This baby was opened WAY too soon. Decanted for almost two hours and should have given it overnight I think. Outstanding nose leaps from the glass but this sucker is tight right now. All the elements are there for an outstanding future. Big structure, loads of fruit and solid gripping tannins. I would give this at least another 2 years, maybe 5. No rating. I feel like I wasted this bottle by opening it too soon. Too bad.
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Mothers day dinner with my wife. Decanted for 2 hours before dinner, bottle consumed over a 6 hour period. We were somewhat dissapointed in the wine overall. Came across a bit hot with a muted finish. Initial mouth feel improved with air and was big, loads of velvety fruit and dark chocolate. Hits the front of the pallet hard but fades quickly into the back of the mouth. Acidity and tannin were ample.
I enjoyed it, did not love it; my wife did not finish her first glass. Big picture this is a good, not great, wine--accurate QPR, not a bargain in 03 IMO. Will try again next year.
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Dinner party w Gus&Jeannie Vidauretta and Rob Barlick. Decanted for 2-1/2 hrs in am.Interestingly didn't develop the complexity of my prior bottle 2 weeks ago @ Mark's Las Olas.Served w Lidia Bastianich's Chicken w Wild Mushrooms(including delicious fresh morelle)that Ellen prepared. Served after the 96 Artadi Vina El Pison(I enjoyed them equally). this is a much heavier and sweeter wine. Rich dark chocolate flavors. This wine is HOT! I bought the first cs direct from Long Shadows(as well as 6 packs of their other wines), after Connoisseur's Guide gave it ***. All of which are sold out at Long Shadows, and are in limited distribution nationally. Got my second cs from Mike Bittel @ Sunset Corners the day before he was to receive his 9 6-paks.Premier only gave him the 2 I purchased.I promised to open a bottle when he came to dinner.
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At Mark's Las Olas w Steve, Joyce & Greg Rapaport, and Justin & Janet Mannes. Doublle decanted and rebottled in am. Tasted great at first sip, but I subsequently learned it requires 2 to 3 hours air. At first at dinner was a slightly sweet bitter chocolate flavor and a little clumsy, but 2 and 1/2 hours later the wine had opened up and could rival the 97 Masseto!! This was after we had downed the wonderful 84 Ridge Montebello. When we first compared the Pedestal to the Monte Bello it paled in comparison but at the end of the night it came close to rivalling this heady mature Californian.I have 11 bottles left, and will buy another case. Great QPR!
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Tasted at a wine shop tasting last night. Quite a dissapointment. Low acidity, no flavor definition. Fat, flabby fruit, overloaded with oak and alcohol. Tasted twice over the evening, no real development in an hour of time. Boring.
Although this is very young wine, and in some ways badly in need of a little bottle age, I don't believe it has the backbone to age gracefully. Not good now, won't get better later. Avoid.
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3/5/2017 - Neecies Likes this wine: 94 Points
Darker with less bricking than the January bottle, and more fruit persistence and tannins. This one required decantation to relax where the other did not. Black cherry, fennel, coffee. New World merlot can't get much better than this, and based on this bottle would push the drink-by date out to 2023.
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3/4/2017 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Medium dark red with pink edges. Pure raspberry fruit in the front but then some coffee bean and red flowers. There is also a bit of scorched earth. Delicious red fruit flavours and a long dry finish.
Not the tricked up wine one would expect from Rolland. The micro oxygenator must have been in the shop.
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1/31/2017 - Neecies Likes this wine: 93 Points
Shared with Layne and Donna. Say what you will about Rolland's heavy hand with oak and hot vintage ripenes, neither of which I'm a fan of, this wine was aged merlot perfection. Mellow tannins carried warm black cherry fruit, tobacco and freshly roasted coffee beans. All secondary type characteristics but for a fleeting whiff of violets.
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9/2/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
From magnum purchased upon release. While I'm not surprised that this wine is so well made, I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it as well. Black plum, cassis and dark roast coffee aromas. Similar flavors are still fresh as well, with just faint earth hints, slightly better spice, good concentration and more restraint than I expected from a wine labeled as 14.7%.
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10/11/2015 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Dense merlot which has absorbed oak for the most part. Excellent with ribeyes.
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10/11/2014 - FLI Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very full flavored for a merlot - rich and deep fruit. A bit hot, though.
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2/14/2014 - KNasr wrote: 92 Points
I have held onto this wine because '03 was such a hot year, I am now finding that the wine is starting to go a bit flabby/oxidized. I guess it's lucky that I only have one more .750 and a mag left. I would expect the mag to be holding up better.
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5/4/2013 - pinotwinelover wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind in a group of 13 wines and this was top one or 2. It has evolved since I drank it last in 2007. Really a very special merlot, with a solid structure to match the rich fruit
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4/14/2013 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hr. Still a rich, opulent Merlot.
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10/8/2012 - FLI wrote: 90 Points
Very big style. A bit hot from the alcohol, but not out of balance. Much fruitier than the average merlot. Tannins resolved.
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7/3/2012 - fitchbuck wrote: 91 Points
Uh oh. The downward spiral begins. Been a fan of the Pedestal since the beginning ... but at this stage the '03 is falling apart & fruit flabby. While there are still a few good individual elements that shine through, the overall effort is no longer harmonious. If holding I'd drink up now, lest these diverge even further.
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6/17/2012 - burcusabrews wrote: 89 Points
Nice merlot.. Bing cherries, dark chocolate, some dusty tannins., the oak is integrating well. Structure seems to be diminishing and is starting to border on flabby. The fruit and rest seem to be still primary. Not as good as I recollect from my first bottle in 2006. Drink now-2015.
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12/24/2011 - johnnyo wrote: 94 Points
Perhaps my favorite Washington Merlot.
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9/24/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Dinner Party with Lourdes & Charles Humble, Jeannie & Gus Vidauretta; 9/23/2011-9/24/2011 (Icon Brickell, 465 Brickell Avenue, #3303, Miami, FL 33131): - Violet color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black currant and violet. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, black currant, oak and alcohol with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - Decanted for 3 hrs, and then brought back to Cellar temp in Cave before serving.
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8/10/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Decanted before dinner. Vey good, but a little tight. Better day 2, rich aromatic merlot.
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7/15/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club does Washington State Reds (Surprise winners) (Tracy's): Really not my style but still a well made wine overall. Plum, cherry, pencil lead and smoke. On the palate the fruit is ripe. The style is a bit over the top and not balanced enough.
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6/4/2011 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Excellent again!
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4/24/2011 - 3marinerfans wrote: 94 Points
Very smooth, balanced and elegant merlot. Started out cautiously as was a bit closed - opened up, however, very nicely after decanting over an hour plus. Wouldn't wait too long to drink the next bottle - seems to be at it's peak now. Drink up!
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2/27/2011 - Shooey wrote:
Terrible. The definition of a new world fruit bomb. How are you supposed to pair this with food? Thick over ripe fruit smothered in oak, low acidity, and high alcohol. The style is ridiculous.
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2/23/2011 - jad1964 wrote: 93 Points
what a difference a year makes. last one was in jan '10. this one was better by a wide margin. 1 hr decant. exceptional.
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1/23/2011 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding! Decanted for 1 hour. Opulent and lush with beautiful notes of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, ripe plum and cedar. Velvet smooth tannins and wonderfully balance acidity. Love a beautifully crafted Washington Merlot!
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11/12/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hr in am. Needed 2-3 hours. Great at end of dinner. Rich, succulent good fruit, excellent bouquet.
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9/9/2010 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
Opened up for my wife's book club party and was lucky to have one glass of this delicious Merlot. Beautiful notes of black currant, black cherry, mocha and cedar with a very pleasant finish. Very well balanced and drinking beautifully.
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8/19/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1/2 hr befroe dinner. Initially required Vintue Aerator, and then 45 minutes lated it revealed its dark fruit complexity and minerality . Augurs great things for the future. Glad I have 2 cs combined of the 03 and 04 vintages.
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4/2/2010 - Paul Lin wrote: 91 Points
Dinner at The Lido Deck in Newport Beach. The last time I checked in on this wine was about 4 years ago and it was pretty shut down. This bottle was wide awake and ready for sexy time. Opulent and sensuous notes of sweet black cherries, currants, cinnamon and cola nut. With air, a touch of bay leaf and sweet Maduro cigar. Outstanding density and weight on the palate with good acidity. Drinking well now, but I can see this wine improving even more over the next 5 years or so. 91-92 points.
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2/16/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple color with plum, chocolate and a little earthiness on the nose. Smooth mouthfeel with lots of black fruit, chocolate and some vanilla oak. Nice finish with fully integrated tannins. Excellent merlot which has the potential to last several more years. This wine was decanted for an hour but probably needs only minimal airing at this point. Was still going strong on day 2.
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1/18/2010 - jad1964 wrote: 91 Points
did a side-by-side with friends with this and the '04. this one needed more time to come together but generally, for me, was pretty much a dead heat with the '04. dunno grape makeup comparison between the 2. had merlot behavior for most part, excellent bouquet. lotta fruit & nice finish.
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10/1/2009 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Open up nicely in 15 minutes. A consistently good, slightly hedonistic Merlot from Michelle Roland/alan Shoup.
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8/31/2009 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Deliicious, as always. Ellen loves it, het type of wine.
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7/22/2009 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured day one required Vinturi Aerator. 2nd half, day 2 much more open, deep dark red fruit flavors.
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6/18/2009 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
What a welcome relief from the 2000 Haut Bergey. Great wine, opulent great fruit. Michel Rolland is showing up his Bordeaux kinsmen, from Washington! Best unaerated.
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11/24/2008 - caldwell wrote:
My long-long ago tasting notes only say "Tasty." As i recall this has gained a lot of density and character and responds well to air in the glass.
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11/7/2008 - Tubbs wrote:
Showing very nicely now and will last 5, maybe 10 more years. Great complexity. Very nice, complete wine.
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8/11/2008 - winegr wrote: 92 Points
darn good. Deep with good balance. True washington state character of deep cherry, tar, and a bit of herb. Very nice.
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5/26/2008 - DougLee wrote: 93 Points
Brought to restaurant and aerated in the glass for 30 minutes. Dark garnet color. Full and expressive nose of plum, anise, red currants, and moca. Big and seamless on the palate, ushering up notes of black plums, cherries, licorice, and earth with seemingly effortless power. Long, graceful finish. Most impressive now, but will improve even further with 3 to 5 years in the cellar.
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4/24/2008 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
Wine Flock - Global Merlot Introspective (My Place): Huge, effusive nose has rich, chocolaty black fruit, toast and asian spices. Palate is loaded with round, rich, sweet black fruit - mocha, vanilla and more spices. Maintains a balanced and stays light across the mid-palate. Long, creamy staying finish adds notes of asphalt and tar. Super effort. My #1, Group #1.
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4/24/2008 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
Wineflock - Merlot around the world (Rich's): Group #1, My #2 - WOTN by a pretty wide margin. Full opaque purple color. Big concentrated black fruit with asphalt notes. Mmmn, nice big rich chocolate black fruit with a long clean bright finish. This is the merlot John Alban would make if he made one.
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4/12/2008 - yotaiwan wrote: 90 Points
extremely strong and rich, still a little bitter on the end, no much fragance, but good fruit and a little plum.
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3/14/2008 - goldstein wrote: 93 Points
great! night night! bg
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12/15/2007 - ptheimer wrote: 92 Points
Very right bank bordeaux, much better than expected
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10/27/2007 - corkscrewy wrote: 92 Points
Deep red with ripe plums and blackberry big boquet. Vanilla with light tannins with a lasting finnish.
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8/7/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Still excellent, but beginni ng to change into a more austere wine with trememdous potential. Rolland is a master of Merlot.
Required aeration to show itself.
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5/21/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
DUO, Miami Anti-SIDEWAYS BYO Merlot Dinner: Flight 2, #2. Ellen's and my wine. Paired against the other Washington Merlot. I preferred the Northstar, and Ellen loved this one as always. It was her WOTN. Ed Davis hated it, calling it a tricked up wine seemingly using oak chips. From prior experience this needed more air, as I had only double decanted it in the morning. Surprisingly the Pedestal to my mind showed poorest of my Merlot's being outclassed by the 03 Galatrona, and the 97 Pride.
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4/27/2007 - QuidnuncWS wrote: 87 Points
Had while on vacation in Roche Harbor. Great nose and lots of dark fruit on palate. A bit more tannic than I remembered from a previous tasting.
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4/14/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
Dark, inky appearance. On the nose, it opens up after a bit into a modest, cherry melange perfume. On the palate, it starts out strong and seemingly integrated, but loses a bit of cohesiveness after an hour or so. Complex, with a deep layers of fruit and vanilla surrounded by unresolved tannings. Long finish. I think 4-5 years before this really hits its full stride. Rating based on first impression as well as perceived potential.
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3/14/2007 - amred wrote: 94 Points
Some of the reviews are surprising to me...we thought this an incredibly good wine. In a blind tasting, it was preferred over the 03 Leonetti Merlot, two CA merlots, and even a right bank 1998 Bordeaux (admittedly not first or second growth). Based on notes, we decanted several hours. The nose was rich, but had a bit of bordeaux-like graphite and solid fruit. Jumped out of the glass. It was very well-structured. Neither over-extracted nor lean. Long finish with blackberry fruit, soft tannins, and a nice complex set of tastes. We loved it.
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2/11/2007 - pinotwinelover wrote: 90 Points
Something happened to this wine which lowered the score. Nice nose like last time, but flabby now. Not sure if is dumb phase, but need to wait now on these for a bit. Still solid but did not blow me away this time.
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12/28/2006 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Chicago Wine Geeks taste Merlot (Chicago, IL): Dark ruby color with a forward and aromatic nose of flowers, chocolate, dark fruits, baking spices and toasty oak. Creamy palate is reminiscent of a chocolate milkshake. Needs some air to smooth out and strut its stuff. The last few sips were awesome. My #2, group's #4.
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12/28/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 4 hours before dinner. Ellen thought it super, and much better than the 98 Masseto we had Tuesday. I liked it, but I think my taste buds were affected by the cigars I smoked playing golf.
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12/1/2006 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
Quilceda Creek Vertical (Michael's House, St. Louis Park): Nice fruit with cherry, plum and blueberries. Medium plus finish and pretty concentrated wine. Found this in an old tasting note word document.
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12/1/2006 - burcusabrews wrote: 94 Points
Quilceda Creek Vertical 1990-2003 (My house): Really needed time to evolve and that it did over 8 hours. Velvety tannins, ripe red fruit, some mocha and oak elements. This was served as a pre-cursor to a Quilceda Creek vertical and I thought it was one of the best wines of the night.
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11/24/2006 - phenricsson wrote: 94 Points
87;82. Good looking wine. 3 hours in decanter. Lovely fragrant soft nowe with both blue and red powdery notes. Pain grille and asian spices and chocolate. Sweet cola and rootbeer. Lively, yet with low exotic notes. Thick and rich, yet fresh. Seamless. Massive, dark, ripe, roasted fruits with some smokey notes. Dark chocolate. Aftertaste has sweet tobacco, dark chocolate syrup, creosote and some cinamon.
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10/22/2006 - jrglm wrote: 90 Points
A facinating and delicious bottle of wine from Long Shadows. It opened up over the course of the evening and we enjoyed the experience of the change. It will probably be difficult to acquire once the word spreads of the wine's fantastic character. I you find it now, buy it.
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10/7/2006 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
About 6 months ago, I was blown away by the rich blueberry and vanilla flavors of this wine. Last night, however, this wine did not show as well. It seems to have shed most of its baby fat and is currently going through an awkward adolescence. Decanted for an hour and a half, this wine exhibited aromas of chocolate-dipped cherries, vanilla, and some cedar. On the palate, it seemed really angular and disjointed and really acidic, which would have been fine had I ordered a really fatty piece of meat, but I had the filet mignon for dinner, and the wine just did not pair well with it. No doubt, this wine will emerge from its awkward phase a stunner, but perhaps not for another couple of years at least. Although I had rated it a 93 when I first tasted it, last night it only got an 88, which, while still a very respectable score, is just not what I had thought (hoped?) it was going to be.
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6/18/2006 - pinotwinelover wrote: 96 Points
If this is not a great wine then the 20 years I have been drinking wines has not shown me much.
Wonderful fruit with very solid tannins, I thought they would integrate better after decanting for several hours but did not. Even with that the fruit starts off with bright cherry and then evolves into a darker cherry and warrants the score. Great wine.
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6/9/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at home w Mike & Linda Bittel, Bob Muraro & Delia McDonald, and Cesar Basurto.
Followed procedure from ,my first experience; i.e. double decanted in am, and uncorked 2-3 hours before drinking. Wine showed extremely well vs an all star line-up of Jacques Prieur 99 Musigny; 97 Astralis; 97 Sperss; and 2000 Williams-Selyem Rochioli-Riverblock. I love this wine, and feel fortunate to have 2 of the 500+ cases made of this inaugural vintage.
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5/18/2006 - texaswino wrote:
This baby was opened WAY too soon. Decanted for almost two hours and should have given it overnight I think. Outstanding nose leaps from the glass but this sucker is tight right now. All the elements are there for an outstanding future. Big structure, loads of fruit and solid gripping tannins. I would give this at least another 2 years, maybe 5. No rating. I feel like I wasted this bottle by opening it too soon. Too bad.
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5/18/2006 - Eric wrote:
Realm 2004 release tasting at Kaspar's (Seattle, WA): Resinous. Cinnamon. Very spicy with big structure. This has a definite Washington acid signature, but it's stern, black and brooding.
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5/18/2006 - DFC wrote: 91 Points
Dark cherries dipped in chocolate here.
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5/15/2006 - AzorianMatador wrote: 91 Points
Mothers day dinner with my wife. Decanted for 2 hours before dinner, bottle consumed over a 6 hour period. We were somewhat dissapointed in the wine overall. Came across a bit hot with a muted finish. Initial mouth feel improved with air and was big, loads of velvety fruit and dark chocolate. Hits the front of the pallet hard but fades quickly into the back of the mouth. Acidity and tannin were ample.
I enjoyed it, did not love it; my wife did not finish her first glass. Big picture this is a good, not great, wine--accurate QPR, not a bargain in 03 IMO. Will try again next year.
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5/12/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Dinner party w Gus&Jeannie Vidauretta and Rob Barlick. Decanted for 2-1/2 hrs in am.Interestingly didn't develop the complexity of my prior bottle 2 weeks ago @ Mark's Las Olas.Served w Lidia Bastianich's Chicken w Wild Mushrooms(including delicious fresh morelle)that Ellen prepared. Served after the 96 Artadi Vina El Pison(I enjoyed them equally). this is a much heavier and sweeter wine. Rich dark chocolate flavors. This wine is HOT! I bought the first cs direct from Long Shadows(as well as 6 packs of their other wines), after Connoisseur's Guide gave it ***. All of which are sold out at Long Shadows, and are in limited distribution nationally. Got my second cs from Mike Bittel @ Sunset Corners the day before he was to receive his 9 6-paks.Premier only gave him the 2 I purchased.I promised to open a bottle when he came to dinner.
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4/29/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 95 Points
At Mark's Las Olas w Steve, Joyce & Greg Rapaport, and Justin & Janet Mannes. Doublle decanted and rebottled in am. Tasted great at first sip, but I subsequently learned it requires 2 to 3 hours air. At first at dinner was a slightly sweet bitter chocolate flavor and a little clumsy, but 2 and 1/2 hours later the wine had opened up and could rival the 97 Masseto!! This was after we had downed the wonderful 84 Ridge Montebello. When we first compared the Pedestal to the Monte Bello it paled in comparison but at the end of the night it came close to rivalling this heady mature Californian.I have 11 bottles left, and will buy another case. Great QPR!
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3/24/2006 - MtBakerDave wrote:
Tasted at a wine shop tasting last night. Quite a dissapointment. Low acidity, no flavor definition. Fat, flabby fruit, overloaded with oak and alcohol. Tasted twice over the evening, no real development in an hour of time. Boring.
Although this is very young wine, and in some ways badly in need of a little bottle age, I don't believe it has the backbone to age gracefully. Not good now, won't get better later. Avoid.
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