Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
92
/100
Reviews
23
professional
Vintages
1
2017
Other
92/100
Merlot
NV
Community Reviews
2626
Reviews
92.5
Avg Score
95
Highest
Taster #9565
· Nov 29, 2025
93/100
The WOY for my Merlot pick, terrific wine. Yep that well put together. I have a couple more and will be drinking them over the next few years. Drink now with decant thru 2030.
2017 vintage
Taster #1070
· May 27, 2025
93/100
Addenda after saving half a bottle: Decant this one if you're drinking it same day1 The complexity went up a notch after some time. I'm guessing about 2-3 hours should be enough, although mine was left in the bottle (sans oxygen) for a couple of days. --- One of my favorite Long Shadows - my go to Merlot. Granted, nose is very subtle, dark cherries with a hint of black olive. The taste brings it together, with more dark cherries …
2017 vintage
Taster #1145
· May 10, 2025
From magnum. Spectacular WOTN.
2017 vintage
Taster #6910
· Feb 8, 2025
95/100
Merlot for Cabernet drinkers.
2017 vintage
Taster #2214
· Nov 26, 2024
93/100
Agree with Perfectly Paired's review. Deep inky purple color. Wonderful nose of blackberry, black cherry, spice and oak. Full bodied palate drinks heavy and has ripe juicy dark berries, chocolate, earthy herbs and minerals.
2017 vintage
Taster #3568
· Jun 18, 2024
92/100
Short decant. Spicey and big red fruit. Delicious.
2017 vintage
Taster #2725
· Feb 5, 2024
91/100
Still pleanty of time left in this bottle, still evolving.
2017 vintage
Taster #0488
· Jan 19, 2024
94/100
An absolutely wonderful Merlot. Wish I had more bottles.
2017 vintage
Taster #4365
· Dec 9, 2023
94/100
One hour decant. Deep inky purple color. Wonderful nose of blackberry, black cherry, spice and oak. Full bodied palate has ripe juicy dark berries, chocolate, earthy herbs and minerals. Fine grained resolved tannins lead into long finish.
2017 vintage
Taster #8279
· Nov 12, 2023
92/100
Quick decant. Nose of sage, dried thyme, bay leaf which dominate the dark fuit underneath. Black raspberry and strong tobacco leaf with caramel, black cherry, smoked meats, and hickory. Light black pepper, pencil lead, dark fruit, gritty tannins, and lots of oak and vanilla on the finale.
2017 vintage
Taster #8776
· Oct 9, 2023
93/100
Very tasty! Lots of dark fruit and noticeable cherry. Definitely get a smoky cigar like flavor as well.
2017 vintage
Taster #6788
· Jun 18, 2023
94/100
Superb wine: has depth, classic Bordeaux character (from a Washington winery!), and refinement. Frenchman winemaker Michel Rolland has done a superb job assembling this Merlot with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot added. Aged berries with hints of vanilla in a leathery-earthy frame. High-class wine from beginning to end.
2017 vintage
Taster #4144
· May 12, 2023
93/100
Consistently great wine! Drinking wonderfully now!
2017 vintage
Taster #0096
· Dec 13, 2022
91/100
PnP, consumed over 3 hours. Appearance: Clear, medium ruby. Nose: Clean, medium+ intensity with developing aromas of plum, blueberry, violet, capsicum, and charred wood. Palate: Dry, medium+ acid, medium tannin, full body, medium+ intensity, 14.9% abv with flavors of plum, spice, and capsicum (green bell pepper) with a medium+ finish. Overall a borderline outstanding wine showing exceptional complexity, intensity, and length with the heat from the 14.9% abv affecting the balance. Drinking well upon opening today, likely has a 3+ …
2017 vintage
Taster #9174
· Dec 5, 2022
91/100
Super.
2017 vintage
Taster #0913
· Dec 4, 2022
90/100
An over-the-top Merlot — 15.2% alcohol: yikes! — designed (I've been told) for restaurants. Definitely a mouthful. While we sipped sans food, it would be best with intensely flavored dishes.
2017 vintage
Taster #3568
· Oct 24, 2022
92/100
Really nice Merlot.
2017 vintage
Taster #8279
· Oct 23, 2022
91/100
Nose of dark fruits, smoky oak, and charcoal. Ripe black fruits and blackberry with a prickly texture and loads of dried herbs and dark chocolate. Vanilla-led finish with rich black plum, chicory, dark cocoa, and long lasting powerful oak. More time might help.
2017 vintage
Taster #7078
· Jun 25, 2022
92/100
Definitely a very consistent wine. From the 2014 vintage, the 2017 really does not have much of a departure in depth, texture or character. Medium + bodied wine. Black cherry and brambleberry, hint of red licorice and baking spices. Finishes with a bit of black pepper. This wine has great acidic character throughout, finishing with a fair amount of black pepper and more youthful oak tannin than I was expecting here in this wine. I would definitely say that you …
2017 vintage
Taster #3206
· Jun 2, 2022
91/100
One of my least favorite vintages, of this normally-intoxicating merlot. Let 2nd bottle sleep... half dozen years min.
2017 vintage
Taster #8348
· May 29, 2022
94/100
Decanted for an hour. Paired with a filet. This wine is dark purple in color with a nose of blueberry, thyme and sage. Wonderful structure in the mouth with boysenberry forward followed by dark chocolate, tobacco and a smooth medium finish with hints of herbs and vanilla. Enjoy this wine now or hold. Tannins are in balance but there.
2017 vintage
Taster #9188
· Mar 28, 2022
One for JJTMB b-day favorites
2017 vintage
Taster #3906
· Mar 16, 2022
91/100
Very long, easy drink. First night decanted for two hours and it was more muted/dull. Much better the second night when we drank directly after pouring.
2017 vintage
Taster #8779
· Jan 29, 2022
94/100
Great fruit and structure but still needs age to improve that finish to be more impressive. Need to pair with a mild blue cheese and prosciutto that instantly brings more flavors out. So well balanced.
2017 vintage
Taster #8279
· Jan 26, 2022
No detailed notes. PnP - started out tight but soon fattened up into a nice, modern Merlot that was eminently drinkable on its own. Just found the Michel Rolland connection... seems like a perfect fit!
2017 vintage
Taster #4473
· Jan 24, 2022
93/100
Excellent now but likely to improve over the next five plus years
2017 vintage