1989 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 88.3 points

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  1/8/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Deep dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of cigar box notes of tobacco & cedar, earthy/dusty notes, loam, spices, herbs, leather, tea, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well with decanting & airing but at 34 years of age, it is at its peak of development so although it may hold here at its current plateau, I doubt any further development will occur with additional aging. Fill at lower portion of neck, cork clean & intact.

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  3/30/2021 - WetRock wrote:

  A gamble that paid off nicely. Not really a vintage that is known for much from CA. Dense and darkly colored still. Strongly earthy on the nose. Like Pinot earthy. And given how it drank initially, somewhat lean and red fruited, one might have given Pinot a guess blind. But as the fruit opens it becomes more Bordeaux like in flavor even while keeping that foresty earthiness on the nose. Plummy cedar and cigar. There's a hint of brett in the background. Nice acidity. While it's not real complex it does pick up weight over night. Pretty good and a bit surprising.

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  1/11/2019 - Chekib m. wrote: 91 Points

  Nice color, not showing its 30 years age.
  Very intense nose, dried fruit, ash, tobacco, wet earth, dried orange rind. very surprising indeed, almost Grenache like.
  Medium body, very soft with fille resorted tannins. Dried fruits, sweet red berries, tea leaves. Really good length though discreet.
  Very elegant. The type of wine that grows on you.
  This wine really surprised me. It’s almost an aged Grenache, definetely not Merlot.

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  12/18/2017 - woof Likes this wine: 85 Points

  Older wine, but nice

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  8/25/2017 - woof Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Nice color; wonderful nose; tastes like an older wine, but a nice one

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View all 12 Community Tasting Notes

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