Splash double decanted back into the bottle then left cork out in the cellar for 2+ hours. Cork back in then on to the restaurant for our meet up with J&D.
Medium/deep ruby in the glass, medium weight in the mouth. Nose of red florals/roses and gentle cedar notes. Palate of rich dark red berries, a hint of spice/cinnamon and a bit of oak. No astringency, just some unresolved oak notes yet to fully integrate otherwise this shows very fine balance and class. Tannins are very fine, not heavy or obtrusive to me. At one point I thought it would accelerate to a 95 but towards the end of the evening it started to pull back, as most young-ish wines do, as they get more air. Last sips at home late into the evening revealed a tad blacker fruit with more a more muted nose and palate profile than what we had earlier. I probably would have given the last sips a 90. This wine does need more time as Joel noted, but is very nice now if consumed within the window of just a couple of hours of air. Went very well with my street corn Caesar salad/smoked oyster dressing and pork pappardelle.
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Brought by Mark to dinner last night, I believe decanted, deep ruby, dark fruit that has started to shed the baby fat with the oak not fully integrated, med/firm tannins, long finish; delicious, but will be better in the future, hold for at least another year or 3
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Medium bodied Bordeaux blend that had bought after visiting a few years back. Wine has faded quite a bit, which is a bit surprising after 5 years. Lacked complexity, especially a short finish.
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This delicate and layered Merlot lacks the intensity of its predecessors, not to mention the Paradise Hills or Prince of Hearts from this vintage. Bright red in color; medium (almost Pinot-like) in body; nose of raspberry, menthol, cardamon, and bay leaf. Tastes of sour cherry, raspberry, straw, and dried pepper, with a grainy and sour finish. Blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. 14.3% alcohol. Followed over several hours with consistent notes, though its was better at the 1-2 hour mark than the 3-4.
When I tasted them last year, I really enjoyed the Paradise Hills and Prince of Hearts from this vintage (and many others), but this strikes me as more pointedly backwards - i.e., the fruit is not a friend, but a problem. Maybe this was the vintage, maybe it was Graeme MacDonald getting a handle on this blend, maybe it was all as intended, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. 92+ at the moment, with no real idea whether it goes up or down from here.
Napa April 2019; 4/6/2019-4/9/2019 (Napa, CA): In what I hope to be a closed phase of development, plum and blackberry. A bit chewy and rough on the palate, kind of boring for $225 a bottle. Overall felt like the blankiets weren’t playing in their price point especially compared tit the VHRs we drank yesterday. I hope the 2015s will gain bottle weight and expression it’s a year or two.
Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): For sure the wine of the tasting. This was just wonderful. All spices across the board (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, maybe a bit of pepper). Lots of good red fruits (currant and cranberry). There's a great balance to the wine and something that seems to keep it well pulled together. Very enjoyable.
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Napa 2018; 6/28/2018-7/3/2018 (Napa): Hands down, the best Right Bank blend in all of Napa. Floral notes, rose petal, cherry, chocolate, yet still far away from being ready. Couldn’t stop smelling, tasting, and revisiting. Beat out William Cole’s Predecessor Merlot by a hair for best Merlot of the trip. Decant or hold a few years and you won’t be disappointed. I get The Vinous rating, think JD missed this one.
9/3/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Splash double decanted back into the bottle then left cork out in the cellar for 2+ hours. Cork back in then on to the restaurant for our meet up with J&D.
Medium/deep ruby in the glass, medium weight in the mouth. Nose of red florals/roses and gentle cedar notes. Palate of rich dark red berries, a hint of spice/cinnamon and a bit of oak. No astringency, just some unresolved oak notes yet to fully integrate otherwise this shows very fine balance and class. Tannins are very fine, not heavy or obtrusive to me. At one point I thought it would accelerate to a 95 but towards the end of the evening it started to pull back, as most young-ish wines do, as they get more air. Last sips at home late into the evening revealed a tad blacker fruit with more a more muted nose and palate profile than what we had earlier. I probably would have given the last sips a 90. This wine does need more time as Joel noted, but is very nice now if consumed within the window of just a couple of hours of air. Went very well with my street corn Caesar salad/smoked oyster dressing and pork pappardelle.
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9/2/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought by Mark to dinner last night, I believe decanted, deep ruby, dark fruit that has started to shed the baby fat with the oak not fully integrated, med/firm tannins, long finish; delicious, but will be better in the future, hold for at least another year or 3
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6/23/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 94 Points
CT ratings seem pretty mixed for this, but I'll stick to my impression that this is a good Merlot in a nice early drinking window spot.
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1/7/2021 - Bobcat 31 Likes this wine: 92 Points
very good
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11/29/2020 - kosdogger wrote: 90 Points
Medium bodied Bordeaux blend that had bought after visiting a few years back. Wine has faded quite a bit, which is a bit surprising after 5 years. Lacked complexity, especially a short finish.
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2/5/2020 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This delicate and layered Merlot lacks the intensity of its predecessors, not to mention the Paradise Hills or Prince of Hearts from this vintage. Bright red in color; medium (almost Pinot-like) in body; nose of raspberry, menthol, cardamon, and bay leaf. Tastes of sour cherry, raspberry, straw, and dried pepper, with a grainy and sour finish. Blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. 14.3% alcohol. Followed over several hours with consistent notes, though its was better at the 1-2 hour mark than the 3-4.
When I tasted them last year, I really enjoyed the Paradise Hills and Prince of Hearts from this vintage (and many others), but this strikes me as more pointedly backwards - i.e., the fruit is not a friend, but a problem. Maybe this was the vintage, maybe it was Graeme MacDonald getting a handle on this blend, maybe it was all as intended, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. 92+ at the moment, with no real idea whether it goes up or down from here.
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4/9/2019 - jimyeni wrote: 90 Points
Napa April 2019; 4/6/2019-4/9/2019 (Napa, CA): In what I hope to be a closed phase of development, plum and blackberry. A bit chewy and rough on the palate, kind of boring for $225 a bottle. Overall felt like the blankiets weren’t playing in their price point especially compared tit the VHRs we drank yesterday. I hope the 2015s will gain bottle weight and expression it’s a year or two.
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1/9/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland III; 1/4/2019-1/13/2019 (Portland/Willamette, Eureka, Napa): For sure the wine of the tasting. This was just wonderful. All spices across the board (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, maybe a bit of pepper). Lots of good red fruits (currant and cranberry). There's a great balance to the wine and something that seems to keep it well pulled together. Very enjoyable.
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7/3/2018 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 96 Points
Napa 2018; 6/28/2018-7/3/2018 (Napa): Hands down, the best Right Bank blend in all of Napa. Floral notes, rose petal, cherry, chocolate, yet still far away from being ready. Couldn’t stop smelling, tasting, and revisiting. Beat out William Cole’s Predecessor Merlot by a hair for best Merlot of the trip. Decant or hold a few years and you won’t be disappointed. I get The Vinous rating, think JD missed this one.
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