91 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Dec 2007
Dark purple core with a fuchsia rim. Big fruit and spice on the nose - fresh anise surrounded by rich black cherry and raspberry with warm vanilla and nutmeg. On the palate it is smooth and full with very fine tannins. The flavors are rich and juicy without getting heavy or jammy. Dark fruits are surrounded by bright cinnamon spice. This is a powerful wine yet it remains very well balanced. A top quality Merlot.
Easily one of the best values to come out of Napa in the last decade or more. Forget the movie “Sideways” and drink this Merlot. It has everything you want in a wine: great smells, rich flavors and a bright, easy-to-remember package. While the grapes come from two of the best vineyards in Napa (Pritchard Hill and Diamond Mountain), the wine itself is made as a joint effort between a Californian and an Australian winemaker. Killer stuff that is great to drink on its own but will go with a variety of cheeses, meats (bbq ribs, hamburgers) and pasta dishes (particularly with tomato sauce).
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Tags: 2005, anise, black, california, cherry, cinnamon, Coast, fresh, fruit, green, lion, merlot, Napa, North, nutmeg, purple, r wines, raspberry, red, red wine, spice, valley, vanilla
