What a treat. Showing its age. Darker than you’d expect given it’s a war vintage. Tea colored at the edges. Soft, faded fruit. Orange rind, some dried herbs, mushroom, black tea, cured meat. Some dried wood, dried roses. A slight tart tang. Softening out and adding done delicate sherry notes with time in the glass. An amazing wine given the age. Certainly not a powerhouse but really special- a taste of history — 2 years ago
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes.
Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia Valley. Soft and fruit forward. Rich and nicely balanced.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of air time.
This 8 year old Merlot is complex and spicy. Really enjoyed the nose at this point, and the high alcohol is well integrated by now.
Easy drinking and a good sipping wine. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
I had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious. I just love Michel Rolland wines.
A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new).
14.9% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$75. — 20 days ago
First time tasting the ‘19 vintage, and the Produttori edged out one of my fave under the radar barolistas this early on. Maybe because it released sooner? Both red fruited with sour cherries and elegant tamed tannin/acid, but the Produttori had another gear of sweet incense and hard candy. The vintage does remind me of a more approachable’13 from a tannin perspective. — 7 months ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Pretty nose of currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, earth, leather, chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus, peppercorn, alcohol, black tea and violets.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, coffee, oak, vanilla, licorice, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth, pencil lead and light mint.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Merlot based Bordeaux blend from South Africa.
This 6 year old is starting to drink very nicely now. Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel. Spicy and opulent. Fruit-forward and elegant with nice complexity.
Gets tangier as it opens up, and feels like a Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon.
Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 90 minutes in the decanter. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Wine Enthusiasts 91 points. Robert Parker 90 points.
A blend of 54% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$45. — 2 years ago
Medium deep ruby , quite wide ruby rim . Bit more wood spice on the nose , touch of herbal cassis , blackberry. On the palate quite rigid dark fruits , with a touch of vanilla , blackcurrant and blackberry . Quite grippy tannins with quite good acidity. Decent length with a bit more grafite and tobacco . This probably needs a little time to round out the rather grippy tannins , so better in 5 years and will last well a further 10-15 — 6 months ago
Inky in color with a very short reddish/ brick rim.
Full bodied with medium acidity
Showing black fruits with earth, bell pepper, tobacco, oak, dark coffee, pencil lead, bitter herbs, earth, light roasted bell pepper and forest floor.
Soft tannins on the tangy finish.
This 10 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is probably on its way out. Still very drinkable, but a little unbalanced and showing lots of earth notes.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after two hours of air time.
Showing nice complexity at this point, but a little bitter for my taste.
Although still good, I expected more from this second wine from this producer and this vintage.
90 points.
$80 (current vintage). — 2 years ago
It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a tasty one from Mount Veeder.
Deep ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black plums, black currants, dark coffee, oak, spices, pencil lead, vanilla, tobacco, licorice, earth, light herbs and peppercorn.
Medium plus in body and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, coffee, vanilla, spices, cola, licorice, mint, black pepper, bitter herbs, vegetables and earth.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins, cranberries and peppercorn.
This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is starting to drink nicely now, although it needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly.
Showing nice complexity, elegant and spicy, with lots of earth notes.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime.
Smooth, elegant and tangy. Feels like a young Bordeaux, and will age nicely in the next 10 years.
Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a Brie cheese and crackers.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 30 months in French oak barrels (50% new). A tiny production of only 125 cases.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$95. — 3 years ago
Ira Schwartz
A high quality champagne just not the style of DP I seek out. I found this vintage hedonistic versus serious. Obviously very young. I wish I had the skill set to speculate on how this will turn out with time. — 5 days ago