Zachary Price

9.1

While at Total Wine, I picked up the previous Novelty Hill bottle and this Januik Merlot, (the Cabernets are a bit out of my price range at the moment). As mentioned previously, these wineries share a tasting space in Woodinville, WA. Mike Januik, the winemaker and owner of the Januik label, has been labeled one of the "Masters of Merlot" and, as the name implies, specializes mainly in Bordeaux grapes sourced from mature vineyards around the Columbia Valley. 2013 was a warmer year towards harvest than the previous two vintages, yielding in changes to the flavor profile of many of the grapes in the Columbia Valley due to the longer hang time on the vine. This wine is composed of 96% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon (likely to add a tad more tannic structure), harvested from Weinbau, Klipsun, and Ciel du Cheval vineyards and seems like it could benefit with another year or two under its belt. ~$22 | #januik #merlot #columbiavalley

On the eyes: Med opacity, bright, magenta-garnet, med stain, med+ tears. No gas, evidence of floc.

On the nose: Cherry, black plum, orange peel, dried hay, herbaceous, with a hint of chocolate, med+ alcohol.

On the tongue: Med+ tannin, med acid, med+ alcohol, med+ body. Cherry, black plum skin, and blueberry yielding to hints of menthol, chocolate, and cedar with a pleasant long oaky finish. — 8 years ago

PS Michaels

9.4

2010. Terrific. — 9 years ago

William Meyers

9.3

#R.Stuart&Co. 2007 Tawny dessert wine #klisun rich & heavy w/notes of nutmeg cocoa vanilla black cherry - an oenophiles cough syrup - great! — 9 years ago

Christian Broder

GM/Sommelier The Social Wine Company

9.1

Barely showing any age at all. Very well made. — 9 years ago

Chip Patterson

9.6

Excellent flavor 9 years out! — 10 years ago

Gilbert Lara Jr

9.2

2006 Covington Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artisan Series Klipsun Vineyard — 11 years ago

Heather Bell

9.1

Flavorful but light sauv. Hints of mango, peach, pineapple. Tastes sweeter as you drink it. — 8 years ago

Eric Hwang

8.9

Good thing a friend found this in my cellar. I normally don't keep WA wine this long, but this is pretty damn good. Red Mountain fruit may have something to do with it. Leathery, chocolate, and still bright red and black fruits. Round tannins and smooth finish. — 8 years ago

Kaitlin Ohlinger

9.0

Very tasty. Balanced sweetness, not flabby. Freaking great with blue cheese. — 9 years ago

Kim Kolb

9.1

Honey Dew Melon with slight honey on the nose. Slightly acidic with soft notes of citrus on the palate. A very nice deviation from a New Zealand Sauv Blanc! I really like it! — 9 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.7

A collection 86 cab discovery 9 Klipsun merlot 5 cf champoux. Bottled at the end of June has a very complex bouquet fresh plowed earth that intensity of red mountain horse heaven hills gives it a floral quality to compliment the earth from red mountain dark bittersweet chocolate cassis currant. Mouth filling from the center out dark spice and a long layered finish espresso and mocha very complex this wine has that forward nature of this vintage. Big but very elegantly fashioned need time but has all the right stuff. Passing time is the place to taste Washington wines they are going to make three wines from the three major appellations in Washington horse heaven hills red mountain and walla walla. 2013 barrel sample from discovery vineyard lots of dark berry fruit rich viscous with layers of currant and cassis berry fruit very intense with layers of dark spice and still had wonderful balance and freshness. Most excellent — 10 years ago

John Thompson

9.7

Very nice desert wine — 11 years ago

Nick Kapral

9.0

Domestic neb is very very good. Love the bottle and glass bottle stop. Good stuff coming from WA state — 8 years ago

Matt Harrelson

9.2

Still young. Nice acidity and a touch of smoke — 9 years ago

Martin Redmond

9.2

Garnet color with black and red fruit, dried rose, cacao and spice aromas. On the palate, it medium bodied, and fresh with well integrated tannins and blackberry,red berry, vanilla and spice flavors with a complementary minerality. Blend of 63% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec from Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Kiona, and Hedges vineyards. Aged 20 months in French oak (81% new). — 9 years ago

Susan Meyer

8.9

Great Washington Red Bordeaux Blend 2006 for Blind Tasting — 9 years ago

with Anthony

Anthony Lombardi

8.9

Grassy nose w/ some light honeysuckle. Bright w/ good acidity. A rounder version of SB with a great mix of classic grapefruit & gooseberry flavors accented by a whisper of honey from the new French oak.

100% Klipsun vineyard on Red Mountain, this is a warm site & it takes excellent farming & winemaking to pull off an elegant wine like this . — 10 years ago

Marcus Maroney

9.5

Red mountain ftw. — 10 years ago

with Mike

Kai Ichikawa

8.9

Cooking and drinking. Nice starter wine. — 11 years ago