Despite its age, it had a nice roundness and smoothness, with a decent bouquet of flavor. Clearly past its prime, it was pretty mellow all around, yet a pleasure to drink after all these years. It was the last of the lot, so my wife and I enjoyed it on this beautiful spring Tuesday.bin Pennsylvania. Life is good and so was the wine.
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At twelve years of age, it is time to drink this in the coming year or so. Opened and tasted, then pumped and vacuum stoppered, and re-tasted a couple days later to reveal an evolving and improved, increased complexity tasting profile.
Dark ruby colored, medium bodied, aromatic berry fruits, tobacco and floral, complex medley of black berry fruits, tones of tobacco leaf, anise and hints of mocha and black tea. On second tasting a couple days later, there was a layer of sweet cognac on the mid-palate that was faint on initial opening but almost predominate later. Nice polished dusty tannins highlight the moderate smoky black berry, tea and cognac layered finish.
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Resilient well aged Napa Merlot brimming with fragrant scents and youthful, dynamic color. Penetrating red currant, black licorice and wild berry mingle on a firm, well oaked frame. Regal afternoon tea shines accented by a supporting cast of dried raspberry with a pipe tobacco tint. Builds up steam driving towards a prolific, saturated ending offering bitter chocolate and coffee bean. Demonstrably better than previous review in August 2010. Hard to think this can improve - drink em.
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AGM Thanks to CellarTracker for their telling me to drink this wine as it was a tad long in the tooth, however still awfully good. Some hints of chocolate and coffee. Not much nose left but enjoyable. A very nice wine to watch some football tonight.
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Dark ruby red with some brown edging. An initial warm nose of baked cherry pie. A wine that reflects mature notes of coffee, dried cherry, herbs and cedar box. A secondary tier of cocoa and dark chocolate add complexity to this Merlot. This wine developed aromas of fresh brewed coffee, adding an underbrush, drying finish. This wine has already peaked and going down, but still interesting in it's own way.
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I think this wine has hit a wall. It's our third-to-the last bottle of a case we bought back in '04, and we've loved every bottle until this one. It was thin, boring, and overly sweet, like it lost its structure and has gone out of balance.
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A spectacular bottle! One of the best I've had of late. The nose on this wine was so powerful and inviting, I hesitated (well, not for that long) to taste it because the dark fruit aromas were so exciting. Complex flavors of black cherry, plum and violets changed with each glass. Strong, lingering finish. Sure wish I had another bottle of this! Salud!!
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This wine was spectacular! It was deep and dark and full of fruit, but still had aways to go. This particular vintage is one of Whitehall Lane's finest when it comes to Merlots. This Merlot can sit and age for quite awhile. If you have several, try one now. It is, like I said previously, very rich and fruity. It will eventually mellow out but you can age it awhile longer. It needs decanting or at least leave the bottle open for several hours. Great with cheeses and chocolate.
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A bit extracted full flavour Merlot. Close to overoaked as well. A bit straight at you simple wine with a decent finish, nothing special but a nice wine to enjoy over a couple of nights. Concentrated fruit.
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Shy nose of currants, earth. Fulll and complex on entry with dark cherries, significant pencil lead, cedar, licorice and earth. Soft tannic bite. Mid palate has medium concnentration. Finish gains length with time but lacks the complexity/depth of the attack. (4+12+16+6=88)
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Agree with the others on this one. A little monolithic, without the layers of complexity I would hope for in a 90+ point wine. Very good, but not outstanding.
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nice wine with a lot of mocha and a small amount of caramel? The taste was pretty smoth but with the typical oaky CA effect. But it was not as much as others, in terms of oak and it was integrated nicely. Not bad for a merlot
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Ordered 375ml (screw cap -- nice) off the list at Annie's Bistro (San Francisco). Decent dark cherry fruit whacked with a ton of chocolately, caramel-ly oak. Okay, but don't need to add this wine to my collection.
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3/29/2016 - jtcoolaidman wrote: 90 Points
Despite its age, it had a nice roundness and smoothness, with a decent bouquet of flavor. Clearly past its prime, it was pretty mellow all around, yet a pleasure to drink after all these years. It was the last of the lot, so my wife and I enjoyed it on this beautiful spring Tuesday.bin Pennsylvania. Life is good and so was the wine.
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1/12/2015 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
At twelve years of age, it is time to drink this in the coming year or so. Opened and tasted, then pumped and vacuum stoppered, and re-tasted a couple days later to reveal an evolving and improved, increased complexity tasting profile.
Dark ruby colored, medium bodied, aromatic berry fruits, tobacco and floral, complex medley of black berry fruits, tones of tobacco leaf, anise and hints of mocha and black tea. On second tasting a couple days later, there was a layer of sweet cognac on the mid-palate that was faint on initial opening but almost predominate later. Nice polished dusty tannins highlight the moderate smoky black berry, tea and cognac layered finish.
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8/26/2013 - no leashes wrote: 88 Points
Nice Merlot, getting a bit flabby.
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12/30/2012 - jtcoolaidman wrote: 89 Points
Very nice, peppery, nice tannins, went beautifully with our filet and roasted potatoes
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4/20/2012 - wine maestro wrote: 91 Points
Resilient well aged Napa Merlot brimming with fragrant scents and youthful, dynamic color.
Penetrating red currant, black licorice and wild berry mingle on a firm, well oaked frame.
Regal afternoon tea shines accented by a supporting cast of dried raspberry with a pipe
tobacco tint. Builds up steam driving towards a prolific, saturated ending offering bitter
chocolate and coffee bean. Demonstrably better than previous review in August 2010.
Hard to think this can improve - drink em.
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11/26/2011 - Winoluver wrote: 89 Points
AGM
Thanks to CellarTracker for their telling me to drink this wine as it was a tad long in the tooth, however still awfully good. Some hints of chocolate and coffee. Not much nose left but enjoyable. A very nice wine to watch some football tonight.
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8/26/2010 - wine maestro wrote: 87 Points
Dark ruby red with some brown edging. An initial warm nose of baked cherry pie. A wine
that reflects mature notes of coffee, dried cherry, herbs and cedar box. A secondary tier
of cocoa and dark chocolate add complexity to this Merlot. This wine developed aromas of
fresh brewed coffee, adding an underbrush, drying finish. This wine has already peaked
and going down, but still interesting in it's own way.
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3/24/2010 - hfindlay wrote:
I think this wine has hit a wall. It's our third-to-the last bottle of a case we bought back in '04, and we've loved every bottle until this one. It was thin, boring, and overly sweet, like it lost its structure and has gone out of balance.
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12/28/2008 - dougdell wrote: 86 Points
A nice mid-week sipper, okay with Italian food.
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9/24/2007 - armchairsommelier wrote: 92 Points
A spectacular bottle! One of the best I've had of late. The nose on this wine was so powerful and inviting, I hesitated (well, not for that long) to taste it because the dark fruit aromas were so exciting. Complex flavors of black cherry, plum and violets changed with each glass. Strong, lingering finish. Sure wish I had another bottle of this! Salud!!
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9/11/2007 - Grace 77 wrote: 91 Points
This wine was spectacular! It was deep and dark and full of fruit, but still had aways to go. This particular vintage is one of Whitehall Lane's finest when it comes to Merlots. This Merlot can sit and age for quite awhile. If you have several, try one now. It is, like I said previously, very rich and fruity. It will eventually mellow out but you can age it awhile longer. It needs decanting or at least leave the bottle open for several hours. Great with cheeses and chocolate.
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8/26/2007 - tplskylrk wrote: 89 Points
A bit extracted full flavour Merlot. Close to overoaked as well. A bit straight at you simple wine with a decent finish, nothing special but a nice wine to enjoy over a couple of nights. Concentrated fruit.
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1/31/2007 - Nanda wrote: 88 Points
Shy nose of currants, earth. Fulll and complex on entry with dark cherries, significant pencil lead, cedar, licorice and earth. Soft tannic bite. Mid palate has medium concnentration. Finish gains length with time but lacks the complexity/depth of the attack. (4+12+16+6=88)
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8/28/2006 - mmyette wrote: 88 Points
Agree with the others on this one. A little monolithic, without the layers of complexity I would hope for in a 90+ point wine. Very good, but not outstanding.
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6/19/2006 - tfesmgk wrote: 87 Points
Nice appropriately priced merlot. Still plenty of time to drink.
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5/27/2006 - DRL01 wrote: 90 Points
For $25 this is one of the best bargains around. Sweet, smooth, medium bodied. Notes of cherry, vanilla.
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4/24/2006 - AlexRed wrote: 87 Points
Consistant with previous notes... nice everyday merlot. great nose of nice spice and fruit ...
on the second night it tailed off significantly. more so that privious bottles... strange...
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3/26/2006 - AlexRed wrote: 89 Points
Consistant with previous bottles...
nice nose, rich, strong fruit with brown spices. Oak is nicely integrated.
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3/20/2006 - pgm wrote: 88 Points
Classic merlot notes of ripe berry & cherry fruit, with green pepper and currant. Nice vanillin oak. Some odd notes of pineapple. Very good.
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1/6/2006 - AlexRed wrote: 88 Points
consistant... getting alittle better with time.... more in line with the 375s i had. more lushness, and spice...
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12/12/2005 - AlexRed wrote: 87 Points
tasty. although i have had several 375s that were better. hopefully that means it needs more time.
better on the second day, nose more pronounced and the fruit had some additional nuance.
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12/2/2005 - roostir wrote: 89 Points
Smooth drinking, nice merlot. Lots of fruit forward flavor with hints of berry, jam, and some spice. No off flavors detected.
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9/22/2005 - John wrote: 87 Points
nice wine with a lot of mocha and a small amount of caramel? The taste was pretty smoth but with the typical oaky CA effect. But it was not as much as others, in terms of oak and it was integrated nicely. Not bad for a merlot
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7/1/2005 - hhwong wrote: 86 Points
Ordered 375ml (screw cap -- nice) off the list at Annie's Bistro (San Francisco). Decent dark cherry fruit whacked with a ton of chocolately, caramel-ly oak. Okay, but don't need to add this wine to my collection.
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