| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 04/11/08 | 2006 | Merlot | Alamos | Argentina | 13.5% | $9.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Red, clear Nose - Smokey fruit, soft Taste - Blackberry, smoke. solid texture, smooth mouthfeel, nice finish.
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| RATING |
Attack - Moderate + Evolution - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 8.5 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 10/05/07 | 2002 | Reserve Merlot | Keenan | Spring Mountain District | 14.3% | N/A | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Dense crimson Nose - Fresh roasted coffee beans. Hot Taste - Black cherry, dark chocolate, coffee. Velvety texture, rich tannins, lingering flavors.
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Evolution - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 9.6 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 02/02/07 | 2005 | Merlot | Twenty Rows | Napa Valley | 14.4 | $21.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Bright, dense centered crimson Nose - Fresh plums, tobacco, dark chocolate Taste - Firm plums, fresh tobacco, rich earth, dark chocolate. Long finish. Solid. Impressive. | ||||||||||||
| RATING |
Attack - Intense Evolution - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 9.6 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 01/18/07 | 2001 | Merlot | Chateau Ross | Springfield, Tennessee | NA | $26.00 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Purple Nose - Whiffs of oak, chocolate, and blackberry Taste - Oak, chocolate, and blackberry. Chewy medium/full body, firm texture, lingering finish. | ||||||||||||
| RATING |
Attack - Intense Evolution - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 9 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 12/23/06 | 2004 | Merlot | Cinnabar | Paso Robles, California | 14.6% | $19.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Dense red Nose - Plum Taste - Spicy, and cherry flavored, with good acidity. It’s the acidity that keeps the plum, which is evident on the nose, in check, creating a nice touch. | ||||||||||||
| RATING |
Attack - Intense Evolution - Average Finish - Medium Overall - 8 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 11/07/06 | 2004 | Merlot | Roshambo | Healdsburg, California | 13.9% | $9.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Crimson Nose - Ripe plum and oak Taste - Quaffer. On the tongue the acidity is well pronounced as well as the tannins. The body is thin and the finish is drying.
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| RATING |
Attack - Low+ Middle - Soft Finish - Short Overall - 5 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 10/3/06 | 2002 | Merlot | Michael Shaps | Monticello - King Family Vineyards | 13.4% | $36.70 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Bright ruby Nose - Vanilla oak Taste - Crisp acidity, red berry fruit, soft tannins
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| RATING |
Attack - Moderate + Middle - Strong Finish - Medium + Overall - 8.5 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 09/13/06 | 2002 | Reserve Merlot | Keenan | Spring Mountain District | 14.3% | N/A | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Dense crimson Nose - Nice oak and roasted coffee beans Taste - Ripe black fruit, dark chocolate, caramel, and vanilla flavors. Velvety texture, rich tannins, lingering flavors. Harmony.
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Evolution - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 9.6 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 05/31/06 | 2002 | Merlot | Keenan | Napa Valley - Carneros | 14.6% | $25.00 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Ruby Nose - Cherry, soft oak, floral aromas, and a hint of cigar box Taste - Ripe cherry, strawberry jam, and vanilla flavors are up front. Solid acidity, firm tannins, a dash of peppercorn spice, and tobacco leaf in the center makes for a mouth-watering combination with the juicy front end. Delicious. Medium to full bodied. Good texture and mouthfeel. Balance is the key ingredient 6/3/06 In the decanter at room temperature, tannins are more pronounced, and the fruit remains firm without going plum.
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Evolution - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 9.9 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 05/18/06 | 2004 | Merlot | Oakencroft | Monticello | 13% | $24.00 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Ruby Nose - Barnyard, tobacco, ripe fruit Taste - Light bodied Merlot with tobacco, light oak, and cherry flavors, crisp acidity and mild tannins
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Middle - Average Finish - Short Overall - 7 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 04/21/06 | 2002 | Merlot | Keenan | Napa Valley | 14.3% | $24.00 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Ruby Nose - Smoky, infused with cherries Taste - Rich ripe fruit, toast, tar, firm tannins, and acidity, medium body, chewy, moderate finish. Decant toned down fruit balancing out flavors
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Middle - Strong Finish - Medium + Overall - 9 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 12/9/05 | 2002 | Merlot | Georges Duboeuf | Reserve | 13% | $9.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Garnet to the rim Nose - Strawberry with musk Taste - Spice, red fruit, chocolate, tobacco, with fresh tannins, and a medium mouthfeel
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| RATING |
Attack - Moderate Middle - Strong Finish - Short Overall - 6.6 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 11/5/05 | 2003 | Merlot | LaPlaya | Colchagua Valley, Chile | 13.5% | $5.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Deep Crimson Nose - Ripe red fruit, nice bouquet Taste - Ripe red fruit up front, solid center, nice texture and structure, rich tannins, good balance
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Middle - Strong Finish - Long Overall - 9 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 10/5/05 | 2002 | Merlot | Michael Shaps | Monticello - King Family Vineyards | 13.4 | $36.70 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Bright crimson, long tight legs, effervescent Nose - Intense earth, tobacco, tight fruit Taste - Cherry, cola, tobacco, firm tannins, good acidity and structure, long warm finish
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Middle - Long Finish - Strong Overall - 9.6 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 8/25/05 | 2003 | Merlot/Shiraz | Luna di Luna | Sicilia | 13% | $10.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Bright crimson, moderately spaced arches Nose - Rare earth and wood on open. Plum and red fruit after breathing Taste - Complex; red fruit up front, lemon/lime, pilsner, rich tannins, a bit of astringency refreshingly drying out the middle, with a very long finish
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| RATING |
Attack - Intense Middle - Long/thick Finish - Strong Overall - 9.5 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 7/6/05 | 2002 | Merlot | Rosemount Estate Diamond Label | South Eastern Australia | 13.5% | $9.99 | |||||||
| NOTES | Sight - Dark red w/medium arches Nose - Cherry and toast Taste - Spicy and sour cherry, medium body with balanced flavors
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| RATING |
Attack - Moderate Middle - Medium Finish - Average Overall - 5.4 | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 6/3/05 | 2002 | Merlot Blend (57%) | Jefferson Vineyards | Monticello | 13% | $25.15 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Plum in color with uniform legs Nose - Ripe plum Taste - Plum, tannic with a hint of tobacco, and a dry finish. | ||||||||||||
| RATING |
Sight - 7 Nose - 5.5 Taste - 5 Price - 3 Overall - 5 This one should be drank right away in order to experience it at it's best. After 45 minutes of allowing it to breath, I thought I would experience more subtle flavors, but was disapointed. The blend consist of 57% Merlot; 19% Cabernet Franc; 17% Cabernet Sauvignon; 7% Petit Verdot | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 5/30/05 | 2003 | Merlot | Michael Shaps | King Family Vineyards - Monticello | 12.8 | $20.95 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Garnet to Ruby Red w/Nice long legs Nose - Earth tones, tobacco, unripe fruit Taste - Crisp sharp tannins, Astringent. Tobacco, plum, cherry and a moderately dry finish
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| RATING |
Sight - 7 Nose - 8 Taste - 6.5 Price - 4 Overall - 6.4 This one needs time to develop, and mellow out. It's like a teenager ready to take on the world. Some age will calm this one down, and it'll be fine. | ||||||||||||
| DATE | VINTAGE | VARIETAL | PRODUCER | APPELLATION | Alc. by Vol | PRICE | |||||||
| 5/24/05 | 2001 | Merlot | Columbia Crest Grand Estates | Columbia Valley | 13.5 | $10.99 | |||||||
| NOTES |
Sight - Ruby red Nose - Oak and vanilla Taste - Oak, buttery vanilla, ripe cherry and strawberry, very smooth, very sweet, and delicious | ||||||||||||
| RATING |
Sight - 5 Nose - 6.5 Taste - 8 Price - 7 Overall - 6.6 Sweet! Very ripe and smooth. If you want a sweet red minus astringency, this is the wine for you. | ||||||||||||