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Merlot tasting...

107.205.10.55

Posted on October 25, 2018 at 10:18:02
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003



...over $25 currently available.

Six of us blind tasted six merlots, rating the one we liked best 1pt and the one we liked least 6pts, so low points wins.

All of these wines started out tasting very good. A couple ended up not tasting as good in comparison after a while.

6. 2012 Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Valley $35 - 31pts - 3 lasts - tastes of coffee and a little bitterness. Surprising because I usually find WA merlots to taste better than the ones from CA.

5. 2015 Sebastiani Alexander Valley $26 - 30pts - 2 lasts - lighter and drier than the others.

3/4. 2013 Silverado Mt. George Vineyard Coombsville $45 - 17pts - 1 first (exact scores as the next one) - fruity, I liked it better at first.

3/4. 2013 John Robert Eppler Napa $33 - 17pts - 1 first - nice berry fruit - my #2.

2. 2014 Emmolo Napa $40/liter bottle (we poured it into a 750ml bottle for the tasting) - 16pts - 3 firsts, 1 last (my #1) - velvety, chocolate and cherry flavors with a nice balance. This would have won except for the taster who rated it last, who said while he liked it, it didn't taste like a merlot to him.

1. 2014 Reynolds Stag Leap $48 - 15pts - 1 first (my #3) - I thought it was ok but nothing special.

When you look at the scores, the top two or even four are pretty good, but the Emmolo stands out for the price (even if it doesn't taste like merlot :-).

 

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Another wine that doesn't taste like the others., posted on October 26, 2018 at 13:46:37
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3050
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
I just opened a bottle of Sangiovese from my Novelty Hill (Washington) club shipment. Nothing like any Sangiovese I tried while in Tuscany. It isn't bad, just riper and lacking the acidity of the original.

I prefer the originals.

 

RE: Another wine that doesn't taste like the others., posted on October 27, 2018 at 10:50:13
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
Amen...Italian varietals in WA are a mistake. Although Leonetti would beg to differ.

 

RE: Merlot tasting..., posted on October 27, 2018 at 10:53:35
triodesteve
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Location: Walla Walla Washington
Joined: September 4, 2001
A 1 liter bottle? Just what every wine shop wants to see....a bottle that doesn't fit into any rack.

 

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