It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Strong nose of black plums, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, earth and peppercorn.
Full bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, oak, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a young Merlot from Bordeaux. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
A good food wine that I paired with pizza.
A blend of 68% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
15% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$55. — 3 years ago
Mid to dense Ruby. Herbaceous aromas with graphite and black currant. A sweet fluid palate showing black currant of medium plus intensity and partly resolved Tannins. Oak has been absorbed. In a great spot at the moment - excellent balance. Drink remaining 4 bottles in next few years but it is essentially at its peak. A really good wine but from an Aussie point of view tasting more South East than West Australia. Had another bottle 25 weeks later on the 6th October 2020 with consistent notes. The main feature was that it was less herbaceous than it usually is for Margaret River. Showing more ripe berry fruit and cassis in this warmer year. More McLaren Vale in style. Still very good. — 5 years ago
Taken from what was generally a tough vintage in the Northern Rhone, the 1997 ‘La Chapelle’ Hermitage is a striking rendition at more than twenty years of age. Bulls blood, iodine, red cherry puree and crushed mint flavors provide some serious refinement. Silky throughout, this will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years — but is marvelous right now. Drink 2019-2025- 93 — 7 years ago
Popped and poured; consumed over four hours. This was a beautiful wine from the start. Loads of currants and sweet tobacco with some baking spices and graphite in the mix. On the palate there were layers of dark fruits with just the slightest a touch of leather and kalamata olive peeking through. However, this gives an overall impression of being fresh and full of vigor. Tannins are firm yet silky in their delivery. I thought there was adequate acid to give it some lift too. The finish lasts for well over a minute and there is a savory element that is simply beguiling. This is a lovely wine that's drinking so well right now but has the balance and pedigree to suggest it will gracefully see the latter part of the next decade. This bottle was already throwing a good amount of very fine sediment but it's nothing that interferes with the experience. — 7 years ago
From the wine list at EMP bought by a new friend at the table next to us to go mano a mano against the 88 La Turque I shared. Slightly darker red and more pure in color. Amazing aroma that is more linear than the animalistic La La but in the same league. Hit its stride right out of the pop and pour gate. Lovely perfume with a more briary nose but speaks Cote Rotie from the get go. Perfectly integrated fruit and structure. Best Jamet I've had. Thanks to Danny for this treat. — 9 years ago
A classic Aussie Cab Sauv with no fruits bombs! — 9 years ago
Drank with my buddies Geoff and Danny. It's amazing. Here is the thing when drinking next to a 70 R Mondavi CS you really see the Bordeaux wooly aromatic thing. Napa is so clean and offering of florals and fruits, yet the Bordeaux had the forest floor and wooly thing. Both awesome but night and day. — 12 years ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Nice nose of black currants, blackberries, black plums, cedar, licorice, chocolates, vanilla, earth, light vinaigrette, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus and peppercorn.
Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, espresso, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, eucalyptus, spices, peppercorn and mildew.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Showing great complexity with a soft mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.
This 13 year old will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Nicely balanced, rich and extracted. Elegant and fruit forward.
Wine Spectator 92 points.
A good quality wine that will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 1% Malbec.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$550. — 3 years ago
Lovely smooth cab. Mellow, full bodied wine just made for a perfect medium rare filet. I’d bet it has a bit of merlot blended in. Would love to taste it with 5 years of aging but probably give in and drink it with my next hunk of red meat. Very enjoyable! — 4 years ago
Blend of 61% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc & 1% Petit Verdot. Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black raspberry & blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, cacao and smoky oak notes. Fine polished tannins, long finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, just starting to drink well but will last for the next decade+. Tasting Sample! — 4 years ago
My friend graciously shared his 1979 Robert Mondavi Winery ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon(WWB, 92), a wine I had not visited since I was at the winery several years back. The nose is highly Bordelaise with layers of red currents and red bell pepper with shades of dusty terroir that all mingle in the glass. The wine still has a good degree of freshness and a core of dark fruits with red bell pepper, damp earth and sandalwood tones. This now forty one year old wine has aged very gracefully. While not in its prime, it will provide drinking enjoyment over the next five to ten years — yet another resounding success from this Oakville estate. Drink 2020-2025- 92 — 5 years ago
An excellent example of French Syrah Well integrated. A slight chocolate nose. Slightly dry on the palette but well balanced and enjoyable. Finish is medium to long. Well executed. Lots of life left. Fun to drink over the next 10 years and see it evolve. — 8 years ago
This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 9 years ago
The trademark burnt oak takes this cab to the next level. Sitting on a bottle of the 08 and can't wait to compare. Coffee, blueberry, leather. Everything in every sip. — 10 years ago
50-100 years old 3500kg per liter very small under2tons per acre 100% new barrels better for barrel fermentation deep dark earth soy espresso dark berry and plum fruit meaty dark and wild animal very aromatic black licorice 2010 the best vintage ever2008amaxing next to 2005and of course 2004 very rich and well endowed on the palate very round and silky tannins a big but well balanced wine lots of dark spices and fresh on the finish dark spices and some wild animal like but has lots of fruit earth and dark earth with layers of everything here and in balance. Finish 50+ most excellent — 12 years ago
Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 3 years ago
78% Cab Sauv, 12% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec, deep Ruby, concentrated youthful aromas, ripe black fruit, subtle nutty spice & creamy chocolate. Aged 24 months, 85% new & 15% 1-yr American oak. Palate fresh fruit flavors, sweet plum, blackcherry & dried blackberry, bits of oak & cacao peeking through. Tannins present, but a tad persistent. Long & elegant finish with vanilla & slight mineral tang. Drinks well now continue to develop over the next 15+ years! Outstanding! Tasting Sample! — 4 years ago
Celebrating 20K on Instagram with this beautiful wine!
Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Doesn't show age at all.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, chocolates, mocha, caramel and black pepper.
Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, mocha, coke, light earth, peppercorn, leather and tobacco.
Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a great Napa Bordeaux blend. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and fruit forward.
A fantastic wine from a great vintage. I've had a few different vintages of this, from older to younger, and this 2012 vintage is so nice right now. Will be even better in the next 10 to 15 years.
Thank you John for sharing this with me.
Rich yet elegant. Opulent and luxurious. Delectable and delicious.
Robert Parker 96 points.
Good right out of the bottle and much better after 3 hours of airtime. Fun wine for parties if it's in the budget. 😉
A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged in New French oak barrels for 24 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
97 points.
$250. — 5 years ago
When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 7 years ago
Final red wine of the night. Moving more towards bold fruity forward wine to cap the night. Dessert wine next. — 9 years ago
"Odedi"
This is a fabulous sweet wine from Bordeaux.
Dark Golden in color.
Beautiful sweet nose of honey, yellow apples, apricots, honeysuckle, lemons, caramel, spices and white pepper.
Full bodied and bold, with high acidity.
Sweet on the palate with honey, citrus, tropical fruits, spices, lemons and brown sugar.
Long, long finish with citrus and limes.
This 8 year old still feels very young and concentrated. Nicely balanced with lots of acidity to balance the sugars. Tangy and interesting with a heavy mouthfeel.
Rich, yet elegant. Sweet and powerful. Creamy and bold. A delicious experience.
Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime.
A great vintage that shows its power. Already showing great complexity, but will age nicely in the next 50 years.
Decadent and delicious. A fabulous dessert wine.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
97 points.
$250 (375ml). — 3 years ago