1997 David Arthur Meritaggio

Community Tasting Notes (14) Avg Score: 92.6 points

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  1/8/2022 - robburgundy Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Auction bottle - moldy label and caked sediment on one side of the bottle implying high humidity cellaring while on its side. The bottle has been standing for months in my basement.
  
  Napa Super Tuscan Blend:
  44% cab, 24% cab franc, 16% merlot, 8% sangiovese and 8% petit verdot
  
  Condition:
  Moldy label. Capsule in good shape. Cork was in good shape with about 2mm of saturation. Pop and poured into the glass. Pulled at basement temp 60 degrees on a San Francisco January.
  
  Visual:
  Clean and clear of sediment, light age-typifying bricking on the rim with a deep ruby core. Long glass sticking legs
  
  On the nose:
  Dark red fruit, black currant, plum, mushroom and tobacco, and a whisper smoke. Similar to the way a LaCroix hints at whatever is pictured on the can. Secondary and tertiary notes well developed here at this point.
  
  Palate:
  Polished, smooth, silky tannins with some grip to let you know it isn’t done fighting yet. Bright acid keeping you salivating with each glug, even after 25 years in the bottle. There’s some complex spice on the finish, kind of the way that ground cinnamon makes your tongue tingle. If I had one critique it would be that it finishes a little hot (alcoholly). It is 14.2% by volume so not that high for Napa standards but typically good winemakers can mask that. That wasn’t the case here.
  
  Conclusions: Very enjoyable bottle and even better with food. It is likely drinking at peak or beginning the slow decline. Other bottles I’ve had of this recently had a slight raisiny note but this one did not.
  
  YBMV!
  
  Drink now!

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  8/4/2020 - ewasowicz wrote: 94 Points

  Nose: still Covid. Getting some raisins
  Taste: raisins, black berries, light oak, very smooth. This wine has held up very well. Good job Bob Egelhoff.

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  3/2/2017 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Consistent with previous tasting notes when I wrote, "this may be at its apex as its showing well - bright and expressive. Deep dark ruby colored with tinge of purple, medium to full bodied, elegant, polished, smooth and delicious full forward sweet black currant, plum and red berry fruits accented by subtle smoke layer turning to silky smooth tannins on a full long finish." I would only add mention of the bright aromatics, its complexity, the deep purple hues, and the tone of anise on the finish.

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  10/13/2015 - MeToo wrote:

  Wow. This is drinking beautifully right now. It’s medium to full-bodied, with just such a rich, warm texture. Lovely forward dark black & blueberry fruit, with a hint of baking spice and smoke. Really nice structure. Just yum.

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  8/12/2015 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Consistent with previous tasting notes, this may be at its apex as its showing well - bright and expressive. Deep dark ruby colored with tinge of purple, medium to full bodied, elegant, polished, smooth and delicious full forward sweet currant, plum and red berry fruits accented by subtle smoke layer turning to silky smooth tannins on a full long finish.

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View all 14 Community Tasting Notes

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