A big hit at tonight's wine group dinner at Two Chefs. We follow a double blind format, but no one initially figured out this was 100% merlot from one of Washington State's premier producers. From my notes: Dark color in the glass, Rich tobacco-y nose. Silky and elegant on the palate. Very concentrated, Had a long finish. Chris Figgins said it should hold up well at least until 2028. FWIW, this went perfectly with our fourth course - oxtail ravioli........ Simply put, the 2008 more than held its own against a diverse array of top-notch reds, including a 1945 Ducru Beaucalliou -- an incredible treat (gracias Luis): this is a 77-year-old Bordeaux from one of the vintages of the century that delightfully is still hanging in there, has discernably sweet fruit left, but hardly any tannins. The other two reds also were excellent - a 2004 Clio and a 2002 premier cru red burgundy. Rounding out our night was a 1995 Taylor (before it became Taylor-Fladgate) for the dessert course. (Thanks again, Luis)
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Gave it an hour of air, not sure what this has left. Some heft but not as fruit present as hoped for a Merlot. Held up to a New York strip ok and beat out a a Washington Blend in preference. No score given.
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Quite delicious. It took a couple of hour to really open up. Rich black cherry, red plum, baking spice and tobacco. Nice long finish with ripe tannins and ample acidity.
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Dark crimson in color. 14.3% ABV. 100% Merlot from Estate Vineyards. Spellbinding nose of black fruits, anise, smoke and leather. Medium to full bodied. Impeccable balance. Plush and concentrated. Currants, cassis liqueur, chocolate and baking spices on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish with a mouthful of silky, fine grained tannins. As good as domestic Merlot gets. Remarkably this wine will age well for another 2-4 years.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Beautiful nose of lavender, Kirsch, dark chocolate and a hint of mixed exotic spices. Flavors of raspberries, boysenberries and dried plum. Tangy acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink soon.
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This was the first 100% Merlot wine Leonetti made since 2000. 2008 was an excellent vintage in Washington. Bought this on sale for $40. 265 cases were made. Uncorked but not decanted 3 hours before drinking. Deep purple color. Tasted younger than 11 years old. This had quite a bit of grip with tighter tannins. Earthy red fruit with underbrush and leather notes. 91 points.
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An hour in, it totally peacocked and became a greater version of itself. Lots of finesse with smoke, dried herbs, black cherry and cedar. This one aged with grace.
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Opened about an hour before tasting. Nice, complex nose. All sorts of things on the palate - plums, cherries, herbs, tobacco, etc., etc. Fairly rich, but not like a Napa parfait. Very good finish. Well balanced - sleek, polished, refined, and sophisticated. Probably at its peak.
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Dark red in color. 14.3% ABV. 100% Merlot from Estate Vineyards. Stunning nose or red fruits, creosote, violets and molten licorice. Big, dense and full bodied with a virtual cascade of flavors. Raspberry liqueur, cocoa powder and currants and cassis on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and sweet with ever so silky tannins. Leonetti is in the conversation for best domestic Merlot and this particular vintage is incredibly appealing. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Alpharetta, GA): Dark core with maroon rim; chocolate, cherries, meaty, oak, currants, nutty, green pepper; drying tannin, clay, earth, currants, tannic, black cherry, lower acid, high toned, brandy warmth, restrained a bit, some more freshness on back along with alcohol; ok.
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Opened about 90 minutes before drinking, it continued to evolve and improve over the course of the next couple hours. Eventually, it struck me as very rich, but not Napa parfait rich. Hard to identify the flavor components, but there were a bunch of them. Good nose and a solid finish, but the subtlety and complexity were what stood out to me. Will probably be better in another two years or so.
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Aerated into decanter and let rest for an hour. Drank over next 4. Noticeable heat on both the nose and back of throat that was dominant enough to be distracting. Surprisingly grippy tannins. After 3+ hours it finally calmed down, but at that point it just seemed tired (either that or my palate was tired from doing battle).
Not a bad bottle per se. It has good bones and I can see the potential, but in this case was opened on the wrong day during a transitional phase.
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Decanted. Good amount of sediment. Tight and needed 30-60 minutes to open. This is all about structure, subtlety and class right now. I last gave a 91 and this is right there.
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Decanted one hour prior to drinking - loaded with sediment. ruby red color with faint taste of plum and cola. Not what we expected, but still a decent Merlot
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Posed, elegant, precise, and beautiful. Red fruits and berries drape a powerful frame of medium plus to high acid and substantive grainy tannins, particularly for Merlot. This likely needs ten years to reach full maturity.
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Heavy-handed on the wood, and the barrel persuasion didn't subside even after being open for several hours. While still a decent bottle with pedigree - I was expecting far greater things from this label.
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Completion of a previously Coravin'd bottle. Opened an hour before drinking. An excellent merlot, lots of structure, lots of primary fruit still. Lots of big, stringy sediment in the bottom of the bottle.
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This wine is eithe1) not ready to drink yet, or 2) needs a lot of decanting to be fit to drink. Paired it with the Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot of same vintage and the Leonetti was very much overshadowed by the Long Shadows (pun intended).
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It was good, a bit youthful. There was a lot of sediment in the bottle--as much as would have been expected with a much older bottle. I decanted for 90 minutes and the at first impossible nose began to open and revealed cranberry and then some aging plum. A few hours after it was opened there were notes of violets on the nose. Medium body, lingering finish of vanilla and baking spice. 50+5+12+17+7
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Bright red fruit and oak on the nose, cranberry stands out the most. Long finish, medium acidity, and tannin that needs some time to smooth out. Very nice
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Sat in the decanter for one hour. Lots of barrel notes on the nose and palate. Almost Scotch-like. A rib-eye and air helped smooth it out. Red fruit, loam, leather, and plums. Soft on the palate but rocking tannins on the finish suggest years left.
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KW Epic tasting/ mens best bottle (KW): tasted blind among 6 other wines in flight 1 Blind notes: young , rich. lovely mouthfeel. big but rich, nice balance I guessed it was late 90s syrah - way off.
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Drank with friends in Portland at Tabla Bistro. I think it was a bit too warm from having to travel, but still showed exceptional balance and clarity of fruit. Layers wrapped aournd a core of cherry. I can;t score this because of situation, but will really look forward to my other bottle.
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Much better then expected, set up on end several days ahead of drinking to let sediment settle,opened an hour before drinking, dark fruits, cherry, black berry, good balance of fruit, tannins and oak, i have been avoiding my Leonetti wines they have been a little heavy on oak for my palate these two bottles proved me wrong.
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Dark purple/ black fruits and a hint of dark chocolate. Heavy, mouth drying tannins which did soften over two hrs, but overall the tannins overshadowed the fruit. On the palate you are hit w a truckload of tannins, followed by fruit, then the finish just stops short. Not highly optimistic, but it's possible w time the fruit will come thru as the tannins soften.
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Beautiful boquet of blueberries, wild juicy black berries, briar patch, pretty coco and subtle herbs and pepper. On the palate it showed it's youth with a little heat, blocky tannins and just a punch of fruit. After decanting for 2+hrs it was more balanced and screamed for a rare pepercorn steak. Easily my favorite new world Merlot, always a treat to sip.
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- Brick color with slow forming legs. It's unbalanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a medium finish - Last bottle of the night. Had not tried the Leonetti Merlot before. At Badger Creek with George, Tatro, Jamsheed and Tyler.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Followed over 90 more minutes.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of dried herbs, berries, plums and a bit of flowers. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. I'll drink my next bottle in about 4-5 years most likely.
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Brighter cassis and blackberry notes; dusty cocoa...or just dust! light mineral nuance with a slight red meat character; medium body, not heavy at all, very earthy character but still clean with good lift and fine tannins. A bit old world in character.Filet Mignon and mushrooms anybody?
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Probably some of the best Merlot money can buy. 08 is like blood in my glass with aromas of fresh cinnamon sticks, raspberry pulp, mocha, coffee bean, and dried plums. Surprisingly light on it's feet despite the darkness and depth of flavor. This ain't no fruitbomb ladies with the likes of all this cassis and black currant running about. Not to mention the tannic backbone that grinds down on your tongue like a masseuse on your calf. Good thing is the fruit is forward with loads of mocha and ripe black cherry while the finish is all velvet.
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Tried at tasting. It was good, but it did not wow me at all. It is a very well-made wine with aging potential, but the first sip was a downer for me as it has some spicy fruit and minerals...qualities I usually do not like at all. That being said, I think with more time in bottle and/or decanting, this will improve. The structure and complexity is definitely there.
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Beautiful feminine nose. Blueberries meets lilacs plus a smokey element and some mineral / earth aspects too. Very complex. Intense delicious flavor. Mouthwatering acidity. Solid but soft tannins. I would love LOVE to try this bottle in about 10-15 years! I could easily see it being a 95+ pt wine!
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The epitome of a great classic WA red: soft, pure red fruit, ripe plum notes, appealing velvety mouthfeel, with amazing structure. This is great now, but will age well too.
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Very solid wine. Cherry and blackberry fruit. The nose was interesting adding in some nice earthy components. The wine was more elegant than I thought it would be and that was pleasing.
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Received this bottle as a gift for starting a new job (nice job, eh?) This is so much more than just chocolate covered cherries. There is a little smoke and flowers on the nose. Black berries and a bittersweet bakers chocolate on the palat, no milk chocolate or jam. A little earth on the finiah. Not for the faint of heart, adult palates only please.
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Winemaker note Spring 2010 - This wine shows the strengths of pure Merlot from Walla Walla. The nose leads with complex spice, ripe fruits including strawberries, raspberries, and other bramble fruits and has background aromas of mint, pine, white pepper, and juniper berries. Searching harder, there's just a hint of earthy mushroom or forest floor that I really love. It is deeply lush, soft, and packed with caramel, vanilla, fruit, and chocolate on the palate. Its tannin and acid are in perfect balance and will help this wine age for at least 15 years, though it is already drinking wonderfully.
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Silky smooth, with a bit of cherry and (perhaps) caramel. This is a very nice wine for sure. I had the chance to taste Leonetti's wine today for the first time - somewhat odd since I live in Washington - and I was not disappointed.
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11/6/2023 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 90 Points
Seemed a bit old, but opened up over an hour to show more stuffing. Good fruit if muted, tannins fully integrated. Time to drink up imo.
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7/13/2023 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark berry fruit. Cocoa. Soft tannins. Long smooth finish
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2/19/2023 - jfkwines wrote: 89 Points
Fading. IMHO
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9/27/2022 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A big hit at tonight's wine group dinner at Two Chefs. We follow a double blind format, but no one initially figured out this was 100% merlot from one of Washington State's premier producers. From my notes: Dark color in the glass, Rich tobacco-y nose. Silky and elegant on the palate. Very concentrated, Had a long finish. Chris Figgins said it should hold up well at least until 2028. FWIW, this went perfectly with our fourth course - oxtail ravioli........
Simply put, the 2008 more than held its own against a diverse array of top-notch reds, including a 1945 Ducru Beaucalliou -- an incredible treat (gracias Luis): this is a 77-year-old Bordeaux from one of the vintages of the century that delightfully is still hanging in there, has discernably sweet fruit left, but hardly any tannins. The other two reds also were excellent - a 2004 Clio and a 2002 premier cru red burgundy. Rounding out our night was a 1995 Taylor (before it became Taylor-Fladgate) for the dessert course. (Thanks again, Luis)
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12/7/2021 - jberger_ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank after short decant.
On the nose, slight bit of menthol, blue fruits, mocha.
On the palate, moderately weighted fruit with well integrated tannins and acidity. Fruit picked up some weight longer it remained in the glass.
Very nice and in its drinking window, and I suspect it will remain there for 5+ years.
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4/18/2021 - Easter Everywhere Likes this wine:
drink up soon
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2/14/2021 - golfhawk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not sure what it has left. Became real flat as the night went on. I would drink what you have soon.
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1/10/2021 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 91 Points
Decanted fpr 2 hours which helped integrate it
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10/11/2020 - jfkwines wrote:
Gave it an hour of air, not sure what this has left. Some heft but not as fruit present as hoped for a Merlot. Held up to a New York strip ok and beat out a a Washington Blend in preference. No score given.
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9/13/2020 - johnnyo wrote: 94 Points
Quite delicious. It took a couple of hour to really open up. Rich black cherry, red plum, baking spice and tobacco. Nice long finish with ripe tannins and ample acidity.
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8/8/2020 - johnnyo wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully right now.
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5/14/2020 - mshellow wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed it. Good. Not much else to say.
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3/13/2020 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Dark crimson in color. 14.3% ABV. 100% Merlot from Estate Vineyards. Spellbinding nose of black fruits, anise, smoke and leather. Medium to full bodied. Impeccable balance. Plush and concentrated. Currants, cassis liqueur, chocolate and baking spices on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish with a mouthful of silky, fine grained tannins. As good as domestic Merlot gets. Remarkably this wine will age well for another 2-4 years.
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9/21/2019 - tunaguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
still very primary with a lovely mix of dark fruits, vanilla, and herbs. should improve with more time in the bottle. went great with prime filets
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6/15/2019 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Beautiful nose of lavender, Kirsch, dark chocolate and a hint of mixed exotic spices. Flavors of raspberries, boysenberries and dried plum. Tangy acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink soon.
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5/18/2019 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
This was the first 100% Merlot wine Leonetti made since 2000. 2008 was an excellent vintage in Washington. Bought this on sale for $40. 265 cases were made. Uncorked but not decanted 3 hours before drinking. Deep purple color. Tasted younger than 11 years old. This had quite a bit of grip with tighter tannins. Earthy red fruit with underbrush and leather notes. 91 points.
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2/13/2019 - gesusser Likes this wine: 93 Points
Getting better with age and decanting. Most enjoyable
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11/16/2018 - cincybt Likes this wine: 93 Points
An hour in, it totally peacocked and became a greater version of itself. Lots of finesse with smoke, dried herbs, black cherry and cedar. This one aged with grace.
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10/17/2018 - PMHouser Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful, everything was in balance and just right; does not get much better than this.
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8/22/2018 - khunchris Likes this wine: 94 Points
this is singing right now. Very balanced. really good juice
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7/11/2018 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened about an hour before tasting. Nice, complex nose. All sorts of things on the palate - plums, cherries, herbs, tobacco, etc., etc. Fairly rich, but not like a Napa parfait. Very good finish. Well balanced - sleek, polished, refined, and sophisticated. Probably at its peak.
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7/7/2018 - gesusser Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ok merlot.... A bit disappointing given It's price point
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6/25/2018 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Dark red in color. 14.3% ABV. 100% Merlot from Estate Vineyards. Stunning nose or red fruits, creosote, violets and molten licorice. Big, dense and full bodied with a virtual cascade of flavors. Raspberry liqueur, cocoa powder and currants and cassis on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and sweet with ever so silky tannins. Leonetti is in the conversation for best domestic Merlot and this particular vintage is incredibly appealing. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
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3/7/2018 - gesusser Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice smooth merlot...opened and short decant..sealed and reopened..and finished tonite
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2/20/2018 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Alpharetta, GA): Dark core with maroon rim; chocolate, cherries, meaty, oak, currants, nutty, green pepper; drying tannin, clay, earth, currants, tannic, black cherry, lower acid, high toned, brandy warmth, restrained a bit, some more freshness on back along with alcohol; ok.
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1/6/2018 - Stevethebeav Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good. Not much depth.
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8/5/2017 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really rich wine that develops quite a bit of character over a few hours of air.
Currants, blackberries, and oak on the nose. Similar flavors with muted tannins. Very pleasant to drink.
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3/29/2017 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened about 90 minutes before drinking, it continued to evolve and improve over the course of the next couple hours. Eventually, it struck me as very rich, but not Napa parfait rich. Hard to identify the flavor components, but there were a bunch of them. Good nose and a solid finish, but the subtlety and complexity were what stood out to me. Will probably be better in another two years or so.
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12/17/2016 - millerarner wrote: 89 Points
Aerated into decanter and let rest for an hour. Drank over next 4. Noticeable heat on both the nose and back of throat that was dominant enough to be distracting. Surprisingly grippy tannins. After 3+ hours it finally calmed down, but at that point it just seemed tired (either that or my palate was tired from doing battle).
Not a bad bottle per se. It has good bones and I can see the potential, but in this case was opened on the wrong day during a transitional phase.
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12/9/2016 - gmbdds wrote:
Decanted. Good amount of sediment. Tight and needed 30-60 minutes to open. This is all about structure, subtlety and class right now. I last gave a 91 and this is right there.
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11/20/2016 - cr8it wrote: 88 Points
Decanted one hour prior to drinking - loaded with sediment. ruby red color with faint taste of plum and cola. Not what we expected, but still a decent Merlot
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9/19/2016 - Recoveringimporter Likes this wine: 94 Points
World class merlot.
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9/19/2016 - Recoveringimporter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful. Could go for another 4-5 years..
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4/17/2016 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
Posed, elegant, precise, and beautiful. Red fruits and berries drape a powerful frame of medium plus to high acid and substantive grainy tannins, particularly for Merlot. This likely needs ten years to reach full maturity.
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2/19/2016 - fitchbuck wrote: 91 Points
Heavy-handed on the wood, and the barrel persuasion didn't subside even after being open for several hours. While still a decent bottle with pedigree - I was expecting far greater things from this label.
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2/10/2016 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Completion of a previously Coravin'd bottle. Opened an hour before drinking. An excellent merlot, lots of structure, lots of primary fruit still. Lots of big, stringy sediment in the bottom of the bottle.
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12/5/2015 - RJ&JJ wrote:
This wine is eithe1) not ready to drink yet, or 2) needs a lot of decanting to be fit to drink. Paired it with the Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot of same vintage and the Leonetti was very much overshadowed by the Long Shadows (pun intended).
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9/25/2015 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted for 45 minutes before traveling. Significant coarse sediment. Alluring violet and dark berry nose, with an extended finish.
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8/12/2015 - Kopperl wrote: 90 Points
Very nice bottle of wine
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7/28/2015 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. Tastes like a Spanish wine with seasoned American oak.
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10/25/2014 - annerk wrote: 91 Points
It was good, a bit youthful. There was a lot of sediment in the bottle--as much as would have been expected with a much older bottle. I decanted for 90 minutes and the at first impossible nose began to open and revealed cranberry and then some aging plum. A few hours after it was opened there were notes of violets on the nose. Medium body, lingering finish of vanilla and baking spice. 50+5+12+17+7
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9/14/2014 - AWBryce Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright red fruit and oak on the nose, cranberry stands out the most. Long finish, medium acidity, and tannin that needs some time to smooth out. Very nice
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6/30/2014 - Vinsant wrote:
Sat in the decanter for one hour. Lots of barrel notes on the nose and palate. Almost Scotch-like. A rib-eye and air helped smooth it out. Red fruit, loam, leather, and plums. Soft on the palate but rocking tannins on the finish suggest years left.
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3/28/2014 - gesusser wrote: 93 Points
One hour decant not enuff, but after another hour @ table this tasty dark red long legged merlot opened up, great w/ BBQ ribs, had a very nice finish
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12/7/2013 - jinks Likes this wine: 94 Points
KW Epic tasting/ mens best bottle (KW): tasted blind among 6 other wines in flight 1
Blind notes:
young , rich.
lovely mouthfeel. big but rich, nice balance
I guessed it was late 90s syrah - way off.
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9/28/2013 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good, but I would prefer the Quilceda Creek(RIP) or Shafer merlot.
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6/28/2013 - ChrisinCowiche wrote:
Drank with friends in Portland at Tabla Bistro. I think it was a bit too warm from having to travel, but still showed exceptional balance and clarity of fruit. Layers wrapped aournd a core of cherry. I can;t score this because of situation, but will really look forward to my other bottle.
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6/3/2013 - Lazy JH wrote: flawed
The wine was oxidized and had a fizz like taste
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4/19/2013 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
Decanted. Dark fruit, tobacco and pepper. The nose is very inviting and the palate is smooth and restrained.
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2/13/2013 - EJS wrote: 92 Points
Much better then expected, set up on end several days ahead of drinking to let sediment settle,opened an hour before drinking, dark fruits, cherry, black berry, good balance of fruit, tannins and oak, i have been avoiding my Leonetti wines they have been a little heavy on oak for my palate these two bottles proved me wrong.
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10/24/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote: 92 Points
Drinkable today, but needs 4-5 years. Pretty much what WIML said.
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9/22/2012 - bonedoc wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple/ black fruits and a hint of dark chocolate. Heavy, mouth drying tannins which did soften over two hrs, but overall the tannins overshadowed the fruit. On the palate you are hit w a truckload of tannins, followed by fruit, then the finish just stops short. Not highly optimistic, but it's possible w time the fruit will come thru as the tannins soften.
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6/22/2012 - bajayngo wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful boquet of blueberries, wild juicy black berries, briar patch, pretty coco and subtle herbs and pepper. On the palate it showed it's youth with a little heat, blocky tannins and just a punch of fruit. After decanting for 2+hrs it was more balanced and screamed for a rare pepercorn steak. Easily my favorite new world Merlot, always a treat to sip.
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5/26/2012 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Nice concentrated black cherry fruit and chocolate, but a little too much heat to warrant a higher score.
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2/19/2012 - "H" wrote:
- Brick color with slow forming legs. It's unbalanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a medium finish - Last bottle of the night. Had not tried the Leonetti Merlot before. At Badger Creek with George, Tatro, Jamsheed and Tyler.
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10/22/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 95 Points
Probably the best US Merlot money can buy if you can afford it. Enjoyed at a recent tasting event. Absolutely gorgeous that borders on perfection
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9/25/2011 - DrSpalding wrote: 93 Points
Very merlot. Leonettis drink so well when young and this merlot is a prototypical merlot. Hence, very merlot.
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9/20/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92+93-?
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Followed over 90 more minutes.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of dried herbs, berries, plums and a bit of flowers. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold. I'll drink my next bottle in about 4-5 years most likely.
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9/15/2011 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Brighter cassis and blackberry notes; dusty cocoa...or just dust! light mineral nuance with a slight red meat character; medium body, not heavy at all, very earthy character but still clean with good lift and fine tannins. A bit old world in character.Filet Mignon and mushrooms anybody?
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4/17/2011 - Rivergirl wrote: 90 Points
Excellent. I think in another year or two this will be even more fabulous.
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3/31/2011 - GreatLibations wrote: 93 Points
Probably some of the best Merlot money can buy. 08 is like blood in my glass with aromas of fresh cinnamon sticks, raspberry pulp, mocha, coffee bean, and dried plums. Surprisingly light on it's feet despite the darkness and depth of flavor. This ain't no fruitbomb ladies with the likes of all this cassis and black currant running about. Not to mention the tannic backbone that grinds down on your tongue like a masseuse on your calf. Good thing is the fruit is forward with loads of mocha and ripe black cherry while the finish is all velvet.
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2/14/2011 - Decanthor wrote: 89 Points
Tried at tasting. It was good, but it did not wow me at all. It is a very well-made wine with aging potential, but the first sip was a downer for me as it has some spicy fruit and minerals...qualities I usually do not like at all. That being said, I think with more time in bottle and/or decanting, this will improve. The structure and complexity is definitely there.
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2/12/2011 - Jack Cranley wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful feminine nose. Blueberries meets lilacs plus a smokey element and some mineral / earth aspects too. Very complex. Intense delicious flavor. Mouthwatering acidity. Solid but soft tannins. I would love LOVE to try this bottle in about 10-15 years! I could easily see it being a 95+ pt wine!
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10/20/2010 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Quench 2010 (W Hotel): Soft and smooth. Very enjoyable.
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9/19/2010 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
The epitome of a great classic WA red: soft, pure red fruit, ripe plum notes, appealing velvety mouthfeel, with amazing structure. This is great now, but will age well too.
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7/2/2010 - bowempe wrote: 94 Points
Very solid wine. Cherry and blackberry fruit. The nose was interesting adding in some nice earthy components. The wine was more elegant than I thought it would be and that was pleasing.
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5/19/2010 - SGates wrote: 92 Points
Merlot is not dead. Long live WA merlot.
Received this bottle as a gift for starting a new job (nice job, eh?) This is so much more than just chocolate covered cherries. There is a little smoke and flowers on the nose. Black berries and a bittersweet bakers chocolate on the palat, no milk chocolate or jam. A little earth on the finiah. Not for the faint of heart, adult palates only please.
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4/11/2010 - Redteeth wrote:
Winemaker note Spring 2010 - This wine shows the strengths of pure Merlot from Walla Walla. The nose leads with complex spice, ripe fruits including strawberries, raspberries, and other bramble fruits and has background aromas of mint, pine, white pepper, and juniper berries. Searching harder, there's just a hint of earthy mushroom or forest floor that I really love. It is deeply lush, soft, and packed with caramel, vanilla, fruit, and chocolate on the palate. Its tannin and acid are in perfect balance and will help this wine age for at least 15 years, though it is already drinking wonderfully.
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4/10/2010 - ewinecouple wrote: 93 Points
Silky smooth, with a bit of cherry and (perhaps) caramel. This is a very nice wine for sure. I had the chance to taste Leonetti's wine today for the first time - somewhat odd since I live in Washington - and I was not disappointed.
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