I’ve been loving the much maligned 2011’s lately. Most of them are in their prime right now including this one which was super elegant with a great mix of rocky minerality and dark fruit. This is at peak and will drink well for another decade. — 8 days ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Light nose of red fruits with oak, licorice, spices, chocolates and moca.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with red cherries, currants, wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.
Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 6 year old Merlot from Napa Valley is drinking very nicely now. Tasty and easy drinking. Rich and extracted.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years. Needs 3 hours to open up properly, so be patient.
Nicely balanced and feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux red.
Good by itself as a sipping wine.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in (33% new) French and American Oak barrels for 18 months.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$60. — 2 months ago
DEEP red color, almost black and non-see-through. Big fruit forward nose, jammy dark ripe fruits, with hints of blood orange and violet peppered in. A big fruit palate with hints of graphite, vanilla and wood, with tight tannins that hang on and don’t let you forget, with a lithe, tight acidity that shows that it still needs some time to reach its peak, despite the pedigree. This is a prime example of modern Napa cab, dry but fruity, but bombs, American as hell, distinctive and brash, and not ready to play on the big stage, but lots of potential. — 16 hours ago
Lighter than I thought … need to try more Pinot Noirs — 15 days ago
Delicious — 3 days ago
Andrew Cullimore
No formal notes . Deeper ruby , medium wide ruby , garnet rim . Nice dark fruits , garrigue , black pepper. In the mouth nicely balanced acidity dark fruits , black pepper and herbal touches . Quite mineral and balanced on the medium length finish , fine slightly grippy tannins . Elegant and refined. Drinking well now though absolutely no rush , prime drinking over the next 5-10 years perhaps . — 14 days ago