Drank 3 bottles at a New Year's eve party; about a dozen tasters; those who arrived early and got fresh from the bottle had negative reactions - too harsh, a little thin; then, after opening for less than an hour, the reaction flipped 100%; we're not sophisticated - but we know lush from thin, deep and complex from reedy. After opening, this wine is indeed a cab lover's merlot. Very good now, and no reason to think it will get a lot better over time - so consume, consume, consume.
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Not nearly as good as it should be. It's made in a subdued Bordeaux style, but there's nothing particularly elegant about it. Nor does it show any of the flash of its California colleagues. It's hopelessly lost in the middle somewhere, a fairly insipid Merlot. There's nice sweet tobacco on the nose and palate, and maybe a little currant, but not a lot of power, not a lot of fruit, and not a lot of finish, at least not for the price. If it cost half as much, I'd be more inclined to rave about how balanced and gulpable it is, but that's not high praise for this level of wine.
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12/15/2014 - GMS wrote:
Opened up beautifully. A wonderful wine, and a very nice surprise.
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1/26/2009 - rich01 wrote: 91 Points
liked this wine. not overly fruity but very smooth and easy-to-drink - especially second day. plenty of flavour with liqourice undercurrent.
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5/31/2008 - now_in_mi wrote: 94 Points
Extremely smooth, by far the best merlot tasted to date.
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12/31/2007 - KC Lawyer wrote: 94 Points
Drank 3 bottles at a New Year's eve party; about a dozen tasters; those who arrived early and got fresh from the bottle had negative reactions - too harsh, a little thin; then, after opening for less than an hour, the reaction flipped 100%; we're not sophisticated - but we know lush from thin, deep and complex from reedy. After opening, this wine is indeed a cab lover's merlot. Very good now, and no reason to think it will get a lot better over time - so consume, consume, consume.
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10/1/2005 - Stephan O wrote: 86 Points
Not nearly as good as it should be. It's made in a subdued Bordeaux style, but there's nothing particularly elegant about it. Nor does it show any of the flash of its California colleagues. It's hopelessly lost in the middle somewhere, a fairly insipid Merlot. There's nice sweet tobacco on the nose and palate, and maybe a little currant, but not a lot of power, not a lot of fruit, and not a lot of finish, at least not for the price. If it cost half as much, I'd be more inclined to rave about how balanced and gulpable it is, but that's not high praise for this level of wine.
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7/11/2005 - 1800kidney wrote: 90 Points
Solid, fruit in balance and nice acidity with silky midpalate, long finish. Not a frut bomb..sytlish bottle of wine
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