2005 Napa Valley Merlot
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Tasting notes
Good full red. Redcurrant, tobacco, melted chocolate, mint and spicy oak on the nose. Sweet and fresh, with youthfully reticent flavors of plum, mocha and sweet herbs. Finishes with big, dusty but ultimately fine tannins. Plenty of stuffing here but in need of a couple years of additional bottle aging.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The superb 2005 Merlot, a blend of fruit from Napa (70%) and Sonoma (30%), exhibits sweet plum and black currant fruit intermixed with mocha, coffee, and earth notes. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, lush, heady wine begs for consumption over the next 7-8 years. Previously recommended: 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (93+), 2003 Merlot Vintner’s Select Mountain Top Vyd. (91). Tel. (707) 963-4949; Fax (707) 963-6039