Surprise! Still drinking beautifully. Needs a little decant. Tannins are mostly gone, but still vibrant fruit, big acidity, & creamy. Nicely balanced with a wonderful nose and finish. Glad I have a couple of bottles left. Much better than the 2001 Klipsun Merlot from A. Will. It is wonderful to enjoy this after thirteen years in bottle and realize what great wines the A. Will folks turn out.
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WOW! Popped and poured. Drank over a period of 4 hours. The first impression was smooth and well balanced with almost no signs of tannin or harsh acidity. In the second hour there developed a nice but of spice that turned into a soft vanilla finish by hour number 3. Really wish I had more of this!
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Nose showed pretty and aromatic notes of stewed fruit, clove, dried prunes, dried currants and dates, which led to a palate that had surprising alive acidity and mirrored much of the nose along with a sweetness, mocha tone and chocolate covered blueberries (you know, those kind of saccharine ones you buy in the airport) with fading, papery tannins. Needs to be drunk soon, but is a nice time-capsule to Washington's past and presented for a fun experience.
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Found this one in a corner of the cellar. A fascinating wine with light spicy wood notes, berries, and herbs on the nose. The palate is dominated by delicious juicy fruit in the form of dark berries with a little cherry juice. After the initial wave of fruit, notes of dark chocolate and heavily roasted coffee emerge to frame the wine and lead to a slightly bitter, drying finish buffered by just enough fruit.
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Nice ripe raspberry and blueberry notes. Beautiful balance on the mid-palate, finish is balanced and lasts and lasts. Such a nice sipping wine, but also works well with moderate meat and fish dishes.
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Blueberry and blackberry fruit with a touch of coffee, a nice herbal streak, and spice--after an hour this wine reminded me of graham crackers right after you open the package. Over time, some Port-like qualities emerged and the bottom dropped out.
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Kavana Wine Tasting: Washington Reds (Seattle, WA): Hmm, a somewhat difficult showing. Bright aromatics but with a hint of tomato paste showing this as a little overripe. The palate is rich with a bit of Welch's grape jelly, quite sweet. Some notions of stem as well as some alcohol poking out. I'm pointing out the flaws, but there was a nice core here as well. A solid effort.
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Beautiful merlot. This was an intense purple color. Fairly complex aromatics, with some exotic spices, black fruits (plum), and tobacco. Medium-to-full bodied yet elegant, with lots of rich, concentrated plum and dark fruit flavors, backed by more winter-type spices and a lingering pine/forest note on the long finish.
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Friday night NW wines (Houston): Dark color. Brett on the nose with alcohol vapors that blew off over time. Plum and blueberry fruits on the palate. Nice tannins, initially big mouthful but the fruit drops out after about 30-45 minutes.
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This is one of the few wines I've ever opened, tasted, and downed the entire bottle in an evening. Extremely smooth and lasting; seductive. I usually stop at 1/2 bottle, but I could not. The drinkability was perfect.
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Today I received an email from Andrew Will about their sell-off of their last single-vineyard Merlot, the 2002 Klipsun. I grabbed one on the way home, and when I came home I had to rummage the cellar for an AW Merlot that was somewhat closer to readiness. The Ciel looked so tempting...
This has a very typical Ciel du Cheval nose with violet and sappy raspberry, yet it also shows some interesting herbal undertones and intense spiciness. On the palate this is saturated and sweet with lots of crushed berry, yet it also has loads of structure and a nice streak of bitter espresso that really balances out the wine. The acidity is racy and provides the wine with nice vibrancy. The structure is ample and shows that this wine is easily 2 years away from smooth drinking. That said, for myself, I'm enjoying the kick in the teeth and all that silky tannin.
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Alana's Outstanding. Great fruit with cherry and undertones of forest berries. Tobacco and allspice notes. Nice lingering finish. Very food friendly as well.
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1/20/2014 - papabluez Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprise! Still drinking beautifully. Needs a little decant. Tannins are mostly gone, but still vibrant fruit, big acidity, & creamy. Nicely balanced with a wonderful nose and finish. Glad I have a couple of bottles left. Much better than the 2001 Klipsun Merlot from A. Will. It is wonderful to enjoy this after thirteen years in bottle and realize what great wines the A. Will folks turn out.
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2/17/2013 - elshml@verizon.net Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine is drinking fantastic right now. Really balanced tannins, fruit and spice. Even better the second night. Wish I had more.
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12/28/2012 - Marc_Iadarola Likes this wine: 92 Points
WOW! Popped and poured. Drank over a period of 4 hours. The first impression was smooth and well balanced with almost no signs of tannin or harsh acidity. In the second hour there developed a nice but of spice that turned into a soft vanilla finish by hour number 3. Really wish I had more of this!
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11/20/2012 - Gary wrote: 90 Points
very much alive... plenty of grip, dark/juicy fruit.
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12/11/2011 - Reptibark wrote: 90 Points
Nose showed pretty and aromatic notes of stewed fruit, clove, dried prunes, dried currants and dates, which led to a palate that had surprising alive acidity and mirrored much of the nose along with a sweetness, mocha tone and chocolate covered blueberries (you know, those kind of saccharine ones you buy in the airport) with fading, papery tannins. Needs to be drunk soon, but is a nice time-capsule to Washington's past and presented for a fun experience.
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10/30/2011 - vendange wrote: 91 Points
Found this one in a corner of the cellar. A fascinating wine with light spicy wood notes, berries, and herbs on the nose. The palate is dominated by delicious juicy fruit in the form of dark berries with a little cherry juice. After the initial wave of fruit, notes of dark chocolate and heavily roasted coffee emerge to frame the wine and lead to a slightly bitter, drying finish buffered by just enough fruit.
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12/18/2010 - winetennis wrote: 91 Points
Nice ripe raspberry and blueberry notes. Beautiful balance on the mid-palate, finish is balanced and lasts and lasts. Such a nice sipping wine, but also works well with moderate meat and fish dishes.
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5/23/2009 - vendange wrote: 88 Points
Blueberry and blackberry fruit with a touch of coffee, a nice herbal streak, and spice--after an hour this wine reminded me of graham crackers right after you open the package. Over time, some Port-like qualities emerged and the bottom dropped out.
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9/25/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 89 Points
Light ruby. Tart cranberry aromas. Sour cherry.
Lush and medium light bodied. Fine and feminine Merlot.
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12/26/2006 - Eric wrote: 87 Points
Kavana Wine Tasting: Washington Reds (Seattle, WA): Hmm, a somewhat difficult showing. Bright aromatics but with a hint of tomato paste showing this as a little overripe. The palate is rich with a bit of Welch's grape jelly, quite sweet. Some notions of stem as well as some alcohol poking out. I'm pointing out the flaws, but there was a nice core here as well. A solid effort.
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12/11/2005 - MJHDC wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful merlot. This was an intense purple color. Fairly complex aromatics, with some exotic spices, black fruits (plum), and tobacco. Medium-to-full bodied yet elegant, with lots of rich, concentrated plum and dark fruit flavors, backed by more winter-type spices and a lingering pine/forest note on the long finish.
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7/1/2005 - jaybdavis wrote: 88 Points
Friday night NW wines (Houston): Dark color. Brett on the nose with alcohol vapors that blew off over time. Plum and blueberry fruits on the palate. Nice tannins, initially big mouthful but the fruit drops out after about 30-45 minutes.
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3/7/2005 - anacapa1 wrote: 92 Points
This is one of the few wines I've ever opened, tasted, and downed the entire bottle in an evening. Extremely smooth and lasting; seductive. I usually stop at 1/2 bottle, but I could not. The drinkability was perfect.
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6/23/2004 - Eric wrote: 90 Points
Today I received an email from Andrew Will about their sell-off of their last single-vineyard Merlot, the 2002 Klipsun. I grabbed one on the way home, and when I came home I had to rummage the cellar for an AW Merlot that was somewhat closer to readiness. The Ciel looked so tempting...
This has a very typical Ciel du Cheval nose with violet and sappy raspberry, yet it also shows some interesting herbal undertones and intense spiciness. On the palate this is saturated and sweet with lots of crushed berry, yet it also has loads of structure and a nice streak of bitter espresso that really balances out the wine. The acidity is racy and provides the wine with nice vibrancy. The structure is ample and shows that this wine is easily 2 years away from smooth drinking. That said, for myself, I'm enjoying the kick in the teeth and all that silky tannin.
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1/15/2004 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Complete contrast - watery and insipd. Sweetish fruit with no body and flat finish.
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10/11/2003 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Alana's Outstanding. Great fruit with cherry and undertones of forest berries. Tobacco and allspice notes. Nice lingering finish. Very food friendly as well.
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