1978 Clos du Val Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91 points

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  9/25/2021 - GHarmsen Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Wow. What an education bottle. Enjoyed the entire bottle, catching it while it is still drinkable and enjoyable for those who like old wine. The wine definitely showed its age but again, a great example of well made wine being able to age gracefully if stored properly.
  
  Wholly developed, tertiary character with almost non existent tannins, mild acidity, and plump, dried fruits over earthy mushrooms and leather. What a treat. Drink 'em if ya got 'em.

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  10/8/2019 - Dr. Gold Likes this wine: 93 Points

  In my cellar since release. Still some tannin. No rush to use this one up. Well stored bottles will only get better. Leather, barnyard, cedar, full bodied.

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  6/10/2018 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Dried sweet red fruit, some light tobacco, herbal elements. Elegant and in good shape for its age, but not showing tons of complexity.

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  9/26/2017 - TheEngineer Likes this wine: 88 Points

  This bottle is on the graceful slope downhill and we caught it while it was still attractive. Mostly tertiary notes, leafy, tobacco,bit of tar but nice sensation of something sweet, some sweet fruit, dried fruits, bit simplistic but enjoyable graceful, lingers on for some time and then into memory.

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  2/16/2013 - prof b Likes this wine: 95 Points

  I opened this on a bit of a whim, with low expectations for such an old Napa merlot. I was shocked by its quality. The cork was flawless for a bottle of this age, showing no signs of deterioration. Wine had soaked the cork only about a half of a centimeter. Once I inspected the cork, my expectations were raised considerably and I was not disappointed. The fragrance of this dark brick red grapejuice filled the air as I poured the first glass. Aromas of wet tobacco, forest floor, and earth mixed with faint traces of the dark fruits that likely once dominated this wine. On the palate the former aromas came through, generating an intoxicating complex flavor. The tannins were gone, having fully integrated into the wine. This left a long but not epic finish enhanced by the significant acidity of the wine. The wine remained alive through the two hours I consumed it.
  
  I paired this wine with a lightly grilled, grass fed, soy and lemon marinated flank steak along with roasted beets and carrots dashed with sherry and balsamic vinegar respectively. An outstanding meal to match an outstanding wine. If only I had another bottle...

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