A good example of how Merlot makes one of the best kinds of wine in Washington. Merlot is famous for being silkier, fruitier, and less tannic than other Bordeaux wines. But Washington makes Merlots that are more muscular, concentrated, black, tannic, and acidic, closer to Cabernet Sauvignon in California. The Hogue Merlot is almost black in color, is well structured by both tannin and acidity, and the primary fruit is concentrated blackberry and black cherry. 13 years of aging in the bottle, however, has added roundness and integration, with no hint of decline or oxidation. All the elements of the wine harmoniously flow into a long, delicious, and lovely finish.
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Tannic has increased, wine is lighter and some heat on the finish. A nice bouquet of fruit, spice, leather. Ripe fruit on the palate. Need to drink up.
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Still a powerful nose of fruit, spice. But tannins and fruit on the palate have diminished. The wine is now lighter in depth and flavor. Needs an hour to decant. Chewy on the palate, and a nice finish. But it is time to drink this wine -- at it's peak.
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12/3/2015 - Mossrose wrote: 92 Points
A good example of how Merlot makes one of the best kinds of wine in Washington. Merlot is famous for being silkier, fruitier, and less tannic than other Bordeaux wines. But Washington makes Merlots that are more muscular, concentrated, black, tannic, and acidic, closer to Cabernet Sauvignon in California. The Hogue Merlot is almost black in color, is well structured by both tannin and acidity, and the primary fruit is concentrated blackberry and black cherry. 13 years of aging in the bottle, however, has added roundness and integration, with no hint of decline or oxidation. All the elements of the wine harmoniously flow into a long, delicious, and lovely finish.
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7/1/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 78 Points
over the hill. still drinkable but extremely tannic and very little flavor. Good for mixing in sangria at this point.
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6/7/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 88 Points
Tannic has increased, wine is lighter and some heat on the finish. A nice bouquet of fruit, spice, leather. Ripe fruit on the palate. Need to drink up.
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4/5/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 90 Points
more tannic than prior, and the wine is deeper. Nice lingering finish.
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2/18/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 89 Points
Still a powerful nose of fruit, spice. But tannins and fruit on the palate have diminished. The wine is now lighter in depth and flavor. Needs an hour to decant. Chewy on the palate, and a nice finish. But it is time to drink this wine -- at it's peak.
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