Sterling Vineyards, Merlot, Napa Valley

Sterling Vineyards · California › Napa Valley › United States of America

Red · Merlot
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LWIN 1796100
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
86 /100
Reviews
18
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

23
23
Reviews
85.6
Avg Score
90
Highest
Taster #2928 · Jun 4, 2023
This was a gift from Dick & Cathy Herbst in January 2003. Or that is when Dick marked the bottle label.
2000 vintage
Taster #4409 · Nov 27, 2020
Meh. This lost its fruit. Tannins, oak, and a bit of a headache now. Left this in the cellar too long
2006 vintage
Taster #9266 · Jul 12, 2020
87/100
Past her prime but still drinkable. Very smooth but lacking fruit character. Considering it’s age, impressed with how well she held up. Peak was six or seven years ago.
2000 vintage
Taster #0931 · Mar 15, 2020
Got as a gift. but gone bad totally. Dumped.
2000 vintage
Taster #6981 · Sep 2, 2013
85/100
Yawn! Fruity with some rough tannins. Typical boring California Merlot for me. Glad it was on sale. Quaffable after something good.
2006 vintage
Taster #8715 · Jan 26, 2013
"Fresh" out of the bottle it was actually a great merlot! BUT...within 10 minutes, it was gone! Poured out outside against the fence!!
2000 vintage
Taster #8932 · Jan 15, 2013
87/100
- Brick color and aromas of black currant. It's unbalanced and has flavours of black currant, tobacco and black pepper with a light/medium body. Narrow texture with a medium finish - Well, old bottle given to me. Maybe been around to long. Smells a bit acidic. Flavor still ok but lacking a bit. Has not gone bad but should have been drank a couple years ago.
2006 vintage
Taster #9478 · Nov 23, 2012
90/100
very smooth, still good, underestimated
2006 vintage
Taster #4913 · Dec 1, 2011
90/100
surprisingly good. got from a drop off during a wine and cheese at our house. sat around for a while. did not think much of it. and popped and poured tonight. smooth. flavorful. easy drinking.
2006 vintage
Taster #3525 · Nov 9, 2011
88/100
Nice, but drink now.
2006 vintage
Taster #1396 · Apr 26, 2011
87/100
Expected this to be past its prime. NOT. Far from a fruitbomb, rather a very nicely developed merlot. Merlot as it should be made with a lovely backbone of softening tannins and nice structure. Blackberry and cassis with undertones of leather. Very nice with the lamb chops and chocolate a couple of hours later.
2000 vintage
Taster #2684 · Feb 6, 2011
86/100
Very nice modest wine. Good balance and pleasantly smooth finish. Not tannic.
2006 vintage
Taster #3358 · Dec 5, 2010
87/100
Tasted at friend's house so no real notes - Very balanced with nice tannins and dry tanninc finish. This wine was much better than an '07 BV Napa Cab (the ~ $20.00 wine) and much better than a Trumpeter Reserve Malbec.
2006 vintage
Taster #1251 · Aug 7, 2010
90/100
one of my favorite's
2006 vintage
Taster #9885 · Jul 10, 2010
88/100
Was past it's prime but still good. I wish we would have remembered to drink it sooner.
2000 vintage
Taster #7169 · Feb 6, 2010
84/100
Out of prime, but still tasty!
2000 vintage
Taster #1017 · Jan 24, 2010
82/100
Nearing the end of its shelf life, but still a nice, soft drinkable wine.
2000 vintage
Taster #8773 · May 17, 2009
86/100
Probably a few points higher if it was more in it's prime, but I was pleastly surprised with the decent fruit and good mellow tannic structure. Didn't overpower the food I ate with it (surf and turf) and actually complimented it quite well. Flavor notes of cherry, cassis, and tobacco leaf.
2000 vintage
Taster #6756 · Apr 27, 2009
84/100
Found this one in the back of the Eurocave. Nice spice at first then the fruit rolls in. Great with a little pasta. Nothing special but a nice surprise for a forgotten wine we thought might be past its prime.
2000 vintage
Taster #3613 · Jan 26, 2009
A bit past its prime
2000 vintage
Taster #2187 · Jun 23, 2007
84/100
Good fruit, nothing spectacular
2000 vintage
Taster #8782 · Dec 26, 2006
82/100
This merlot was a bit flabby, a bit too fruity. There were some nice tannins on the back end, a bit more complexity on the finish. Decent
2000 vintage
Taster #1084 · Oct 25, 2006
74/100
weak
2000 vintage