Nice nose, good initial palette, slides off the end at this point, but, for the price point, awesome with prime NY strip — 4 years ago
Opaque red color. Sweet cherry, raspberry fruits. Cigar box, chocolate-vanilla swirl. Good pairing with a butter/ rosemary seared strip steak. — 4 years ago
Bright dark ruby. Initially reticent nose opened in the glass to reveal wonderfully complex scents of black- and redcurrant, blackberry, minerals, licorice, loam and tobacco leaf, plus a whiff of leather. Seamless, savory and classy on entry if a bit subdued, then delivers lovely restrained sweetness and a complicating wildness in the middle palate that still calls for more bottle aging. Old World in its classic dryness, this highly concentrated Opus One really shines on its vibrant, slowly building back end, where the broad, dusty tannins caress and saturate the palate and allow the fruits and minerals to build. A wine of outstanding depth, clarity, finesse of grain and class; it's hard to imagine that this site could give more. Long-time winemaking director Michael Silacci noted that the estate did not strip leaves prior to the brutal August heat spike. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, May 2020)
— 4 years ago
Beautiful, beautiful wine. The last 96 we had was maybe a smidge more together but it’s marginal. Quite dark in the glass. Deep restrained red fruit on the nose. Tannins are slightly dusty but overall very seamless. Excellent refreshing acid. Perfect with a dry aged strip steak. — 4 years ago
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of eating out in Chicago on the river and enjoyed this 2017 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot. From Napa Valley this blend is 88% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Everything is all outside, no dining in and social distancing is a must, though masks are optional out doors and waitstaff has to wear the masks.
On the nose was black cherry, raspberry, black plums, tobacco, chocolate, rose petals and dusty earth.
On the palate there is beautiful fruit, black cherry, black plum, raspberry, cocoa, licorice, red currant, vanilla, spice and dusty earth.
The wine is medium to full bodied that has a creamy, silky smooth mouth feel with medium to medium + acidity and medium + fine tannins that leads into a long fresh fruit finish. A very enjoyable bottle of wine that went very well with my NY Strip. I hope everyone is well and healthy? Please stay safe and continued health. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago
Delicious with a NY strip — 3 years ago
Matthew W.
Beast of the East vs. Best of the West….taste off
VA Monticello Petit Verdot against a Cali Napa Valley Cab.
Pairing: American Wagyu Strip, Home Fries, Mushroom Ron Zacapa 23 glaze.
As much as I love my Napa Cabs, the edge went to the PV. 93 - 92. — 8 months ago