Blankiet Estate
Paradise Hills Vineyard Merlot
Napa Valley, California, USA
This is a wine that need lots of time in the decanter or big ass glass.
Trying to understand this wine from just pouring a glass and drinking it is pointless.
Full bodied (Imagine meatloaf in fight club, may he rest in peace) complex, super tight and vivid yet 18 years young. On the nose I sense tar (freaking new highway asphalt!) probably new and old reused oak. Scent of white spirit in that haze of tar before sweet jammy fruit appears between a rich autumn forrest with leaves that start to decompose in my nostrils. Mineral notes between iron, copper, gravel and a plummers jacket. This is by far a wine that I can’t decide if I like or love I’m intrigued by its mystique and bedazzled by its harsh appearance. These grapes must have grown on vines stuck with its roots deep in some serious steriod soil.
On the palate, long jammy blue fruit, violets, ripe black plum, blackberry, liquorice, tar, rich iron minerality towards licking your own wound. Long lasting finish going to sundried blue fruit, tobacco and jeez this wide palete with its perfectly integrated oak and smooth tannins.
I’m ready to give my verdict after 4-5 hours in the glass, I love this wine so much.
This is a wine that need lots of time in the decanter or big ass glass.
Trying to understand this wine from just pouring a glass and drinking it is pointless.
Full bodied (Imagine meatloaf in fight club, may he rest in peace) complex, super tight and vivid yet 18 years young. On the nose I sense tar (freaking new highway asphalt!) probably new and old reused oak. Scent of white spirit in that haze of tar before sweet jammy fruit appears between a rich autumn forrest with leaves that start to decompose in my nostrils. Mineral notes between iron, copper, gravel and a plummers jacket. This is by far a wine that I can’t decide if I like or love I’m intrigued by its mystique and bedazzled by its harsh appearance. These grapes must have grown on vines stuck with its roots deep in some serious steriod soil.
On the palate, long jammy blue fruit, violets, ripe black plum, blackberry, liquorice, tar, rich iron minerality towards licking your own wound. Long lasting finish going to sundried blue fruit, tobacco and jeez this wide palete with its perfectly integrated oak and smooth tannins.
I’m ready to give my verdict after 4-5 hours in the glass, I love this wine so much.
Excellent nose. Dark cherry juice, clove, toast, soft tannin, a bit short on the finish. I'm not sure if the wine is showing all its colors right at the moment, opened 45 min and decated. Fruit is strong and acidity is balanced a bit high on the
alcohol. May show better tomorrow.
Excellent nose. Dark cherry juice, clove, toast, soft tannin, a bit short on the finish. I'm not sure if the wine is showing all its colors right at the moment, opened 45 min and decated. Fruit is strong and acidity is balanced a bit high on the
alcohol. May show better tomorrow.
Man, I love this wine. My 2nd time having the 2004, and it's just stellar. I wrote down cinnamon and sweet/pastry/tart (in a very good way)...and went to look at my old review, which said cinnamon and key lime. Well damn, how's that for consistency!
Man, I love this wine. My 2nd time having the 2004, and it's just stellar. I wrote down cinnamon and sweet/pastry/tart (in a very good way)...and went to look at my old review, which said cinnamon and key lime. Well damn, how's that for consistency!
Nov 16th, 2016Wow. Good thing I didn't write a review after my first sip, as this 12 year old Merlot took 90 minutes to open up. But now it's singing! Smoke and cinnamon/nutmeg on this nose. Still bursting with fruit. Velvety texture with blueberry and key lime finish. Would never ever guess that this was an 04
Wow. Good thing I didn't write a review after my first sip, as this 12 year old Merlot took 90 minutes to open up. But now it's singing! Smoke and cinnamon/nutmeg on this nose. Still bursting with fruit. Velvety texture with blueberry and key lime finish. Would never ever guess that this was an 04
Jun 2nd, 2016
In a really nice place. Fruits still there but secondary layers of earth coming in.
In a really nice place. Fruits still there but secondary layers of earth coming in.
Nov 11th, 2018
Silky smooth. Nice fruit, soft tannins.
Silky smooth. Nice fruit, soft tannins.
Aug 16th, 2015