My final bottle of the 13 vintage. In the decanter 3 hours prior to drinking, drank over the next 3 hours.Still a little tightly bound, but merlot characteristics there, black cherries, plums, dried olives and dried herbs. Initially felt a little more than medium bodied, with the Tannins still showing some grip, however probably more medium with open. Tad out of balance with the fruit/grip not quite round but still a nice merlot. Not sure if aging further will assist.
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Ok so granted I haven't had a lot of 100% merlot from Vic (ever!) but gee wizz this must be the best I've had from the state and perhaps top 5 from OZ (which of course might not be saying much). Dry, serious, firm berry fruits, grainy stern tannin, spicy oak finish. Yep all the Franco-phile ingredients right here.
Edit - stupid...just found a bunch of Vic merlot I have rated higher...regardless bloody good
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Giant steps would have to have the most ugly wine label of all times. I am still trying to figure out what it is but obviously it is some work of art or statue Italian or Greek in origin. Anyway it means something to some one but it is just plain ugly to me. Ok let's get back to the wine. I smell oak, licorice,a bit of yeast, a wiff of alcohol all finely balanced.
The taste is at first smooth and refined, well balanced with some mid fruit. After a few more glasses I can tell this wine has legs, yes maybe another year or two ,but at the moment still drinking well . Medium colour medium weight.
August 2019
The wine is still performing well. Yeast on the nose alcohol nearly gone Smooth , fruit , nice clean finish has softened out and drinking at peak.
maybe another year.
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1/20/2024 - red.red.vino wrote: 91 Points
My final bottle of the 13 vintage. In the decanter 3 hours prior to drinking, drank over the next 3 hours.Still a little tightly bound, but merlot characteristics there, black cherries, plums, dried olives and dried herbs. Initially felt a little more than medium bodied, with the Tannins still showing some grip, however probably more medium with open. Tad out of balance with the fruit/grip not quite round but still a nice merlot. Not sure if aging further will assist.
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11/7/2020 - red.red.vino wrote:
Needed 4 hrs in the decanter to start to really open up. Sadly the bottle was probably finished then too, next time.
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1/3/2020 - StewartWent wrote: 90 Points
Ok so granted I haven't had a lot of 100% merlot from Vic (ever!) but gee wizz this must be the best I've had from the state and perhaps top 5 from OZ (which of course might not be saying much). Dry, serious, firm berry fruits, grainy stern tannin, spicy oak finish. Yep all the Franco-phile ingredients right here.
Edit - stupid...just found a bunch of Vic merlot I have rated higher...regardless bloody good
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5/10/2017 - Eric gene Noack Likes this wine: 94 Points
Giant steps would have to have the most ugly wine label of all times.
I am still trying to figure out what it is but obviously it is some work of art or statue Italian or Greek in origin.
Anyway it means something to some one but it is just plain ugly to me.
Ok let's get back to the wine.
I smell oak, licorice,a bit of yeast, a wiff of alcohol all finely balanced.
The taste is at first smooth and refined, well balanced with some mid fruit.
After a few more glasses I can tell this wine has legs, yes maybe another year or two ,but at the moment still drinking well .
Medium colour medium weight.
August 2019
The wine is still performing well.
Yeast on the nose alcohol nearly gone
Smooth , fruit , nice clean finish has softened out and drinking at peak.
maybe another year.
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