2004 Merlot
This one's for Cabernet lovers! Although 100% Merlot, the intense inky ruby red hue and aromas of black cherry and cassis will make this a fun wine to slip into Cabernet tastings as a ringer to win. The mid palate is thick with ripeness and broad textures and the slight grip of fine tannin frames the lingering fruit and espresso flavors in the long finish.
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Profile
| Appellation: | Napa/Sonoma |
|---|---|
| Vintage: | 2004 |
| Harvest: | October 2004 |
| Fermentation: | Stainless Steel |
| Cooperage: | French Oak |
| Blend: | 100% Merlot |
| Alcohol: | 14.5% |
| Bottling: | April 2006 |
| Production: | 3930 cases |
| Release Date: | May 15, 2006 |
- November 02, 2007 Wine Advocate, Dec. 26, 2006, Issue 168
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Rating: 87
Slightly lighter than previous vintages, the lean 2004 Merlot reveals austere tannin in the finish, but it offers nice herbal undertones in the attractive berry and mocha fruit. Drink this medium-bodied Merlot over the next 3-4 years. - November 02, 2007 Wine Spectator Insider, Dec. 27, 2006
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Rating: 94
Ripe and fleshy, with a pretty dash of toasty oak. The fruit is sweet, with currant and berry flavors that are intense, concentrated and complex, ending with a pretty burst of fruit and oak that lingers. Well-structured, with ripe tannins. Drink now through 2013. 3,390 cases made. - November 02, 2007 Wine Enthusiast, March 2007
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Rating: 90
You'll find tannins aplenty in this tightly wound mountain Merlot. That gives it a shut-down, dry astringency. Aging is the obvious solution, and such is the balance, the harmony that five to ten years should soften and sweeten, letting the blackberry and cherry fruit emerge. - November 02, 2007 California Grapevine, Dec. 06/Jan. 07
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Rating: 90
Medium ruby; attractive, spicy, red berry and cherry fruit aroma with hints of coffee and vanilla; medium-full to full body; rich, spicy, red berry fruit flavors; well balanced and structured; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Deserves another year or two of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.
- November 02, 2007 Connoisseurs' Guide, Nov. 2006
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Rating: 89
There is a real wealth of sweet cherry qualities to both the liberally oaked aromas and the slightly juicy flavors of this mouthfilling Merlot, but all of its richness comes at the cost of some last-minute heat. In the end, ripeness overtakes its fruitier parts, and it dries out just a bit at the finish. It is, however, still a generous and very commendable wine. It is just a bit less involving and lacks the fruity extension shown by its two high-achieving siblings. - October 26, 2007 Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, May/June 2007 Online Review
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Rating: 91
Dark red. Sexy, expressive, slightly high-toned nose melds red currant, cranberry, leather and nuts. Supple and refined, with a creamy texture to the red fruit and spice flavors. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins and lovely aromatic persistence. Slightly high-toned throughout but not overly sweet. I find this quite suave. - October 26, 2007 Wine & Spirits, Oct. 2006, Pg 65
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Rating: 89
A smooth, crowd-pleasing merlot, this jams blackberry & toffee flavors into a confit to sweeten a steak.
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