Beringer, Bancroft Ranch Vineyard Merlot, Howell Mountain

After a long ride back from Hot Springs, Va., we opened a bottle with our take out dinner. This is a nice wine. Red and blue fruit with hints of chocolate, some tobacco and tree leaves dominate the palate leading to a moderately long finish. Very enjoyable.

2021 vintage

Pristine bottle from WineBid. High fill and a tight firm cork that had no more than a half inch of staining. Double decanted off of relatively little sediment with a really excellent yield. On the nose the wine is mostly tertiary but there is some plum and black cherry still poking through among the leaves, menthol, woods, forest floor, and damp earth. On the palate the wine is gentle and a bit reserved but it still has plenty to give. …

1989 vintage

After an hour, it was the best Merlot we've had in many years. It was a little disjointed at first, but that wasn't really surprising.... If you're blessed with any of this in your cellar, do yourself a favor. Decant and aerate for 90 minutes please. Then call me. We'll be right over! The score is only based on those last sips, over an hour in. But wow! The som at Eddie Vs couldn't believe it was Merlot. We paid …

1997 vintage

Going strong and was best about an hour after opening Old school Napa Merlot at its finest Fruit still there - some decent tannic structure still - round, with some some vanilla, cola, and sandalwood in a slightly sweet finish Mild alcoholic heat is the only thing that detracts

1989 vintage

At Boston Wine + Poker, Sudbury, Mass.: Tasted blind. This tasted mature but still showed lots of tannin, and lots of fruit. Structure. Some smokiness. Not at all cloying. I thought it was an aged Pomerol and I thought it was delicious. It was paired with the 1993 vintage, and I thought that one was even better.

1989 vintage

Opened on a lark with dinner. Let it sit for two hours. A really nice merlot. Fruit and hints of chocolate on the nose. The palate was berries, cherry, currants, tobacco and a little chocolate. The finish was moderate to long.

2021 vintage

Perfect pairing. Pear Gorgonzola Risotto and Beef Tenderloin

2006 vintage

Did not expect much and this was a beauty. A wedding year wine for us. Aromatic and nice. Nearing its finish.

1989 vintage

PnP. Opens with black cherry and blackberry followed by plum, tobacco, earth, spice and a touch of chocolate. Still has a lot of fruit with black cherry, blackberry, plum, cassis, earth and spice. Medium body with smooth silky tannins in the finish. A beautiful fully mature merlot. Probably at its peak.

2006 vintage

My last bottle of this beauty. Still needs an hour of air before opening up like a magnificent bouquet of autumn flowers.

2005 vintage

I have a soft spot for this bottling given a lovely ‘94 many years ago. This is totally different. Nose shows VA. Some cedar and oak spice. Black fruited palate but somewhat behind rather asteingent tannins. Seems out of balance and probably over the hill.

2001 vintage

Oh my gosh! It’s 22 years old and still a blueberry milkshake. Horrifying and mystifying at the same time!

2001 vintage

Vinetasters: Howell Mountain (Park Ridge, IL) : Served double blind. Clearly and older wine with its slightly mulchy aromas make me think this is probably merlot heavy again. Coarse in texture and quite disjointed, this reminds me of the terminal stage of a Parkerized wine. Clearly some oxidation going on as well. My 9th, group's 11th.

1997 vintage

Vinetasters: Howell Mountain (Park Ridge, IL) : Served double blind. An interesting wine with plenty of dried cherries on the nose and a slight herbal element too. The palate has a strawberry note that is pretty interesting. Moderate tannins with good freshness (this wine clearly was younger than most others) and reasonably pleasant balance too. My 3rd, group's 5th.

2003 vintage

Vinetasters: Howell Mountain (Park Ridge, IL) : Served double blind. High-toned alcohol and aldehydes on the nose here. Darker fruit, clearly modern in style, with much more oak than necessary. Sticks out in this lineup, especially for its prickly and bitter tannins. My 10th, group's 4th.

2005 vintage

It's a beauty!

2016 vintage

Amazing!

2003 vintage

Kicks you in the face.

2016 vintage

ripe fruit, stewed prunes, cassis, smoky, grilled meats, and cedar notes.

1997 vintage

My last bottle. No decant. Light redish color. Full ripe nose, reduced fruits, some sweetness, nice. On the palate some tannins but dominated by dark berries and a sweet medium finish. Not as good as previous bottles, the fruit is fading, but still remarkable. Drink up.

1997 vintage

ripe, a little pruny, slightly dirty and chalky nose. Smoky with some leather.

1997 vintage

served after 1½ hours in decanter. Stewed prunes, a little savory, with fragrant and woodsy notes.

1997 vintage

Definitely aging, but still an elegant wine with incredible staying power. Drink it now if it’s still around.

1989 vintage

This is carrying along just fine like many of these do. Classic Bordeaux like nose with plum and tobacco notes. A little bit roasty on the palate with notes of milk chocolate. Still rich and fleshy. Some tannin still and strong acidity. There is some warmth. Lists 14.5% so not entirely surprising. Darkly colored still and opaque as indicated with the lingering richness. This is certainly in it's window but I suspect that will remain open for some time forward. …

1994 vintage

This is outstanding merlot, maybe the best merlot from Beringer since 2007, maybe better. Black fruit, cassis, leather, black pepper, finishes balanced. A

2016 vintage

minty, a hint of smoke, some stewed fruits.

1997 vintage

ripe, stewed prunes, smoky.

1997 vintage

Smooth and pleasant but lacking in finish and character.

2003 vintage

Decanted 2+ hrs. Bold licorice, currant and fresh herbs. Spices, oak, mocha and a candied finish. Tasted alongside Duckhorn Three Palms (‘14), Nickel/Nickel Harris (‘16) and Beringer Bancroft Ranch Merlots (‘17) Paired wonderfully with prime rib. It was a good night!

2016 vintage

Even more impressive than the first time I enjoyed it. Plush tannins. Super-plush. Amazingly dry finish that needed the meal we had already finished. Beringer is one of the most underrated names in Napa.

2016 vintage

Dark fruit and licorice. One of my favorite Beringer wines.

2016 vintage

Color, clear red with copper rim. 1st nose, red fruits, macerated fruits and raisin stems. 2nd nose, chocolate and cedar. On the palate, silky smooth with chocolate notes. Great Merlot sample.

2006 vintage

Though no longer quite at the heights of 2016 tasting, this 2020 opening is mature and magnificent.

2005 vintage

Glorious.

2016 vintage

smoky, a little dirty, minty, with stewed prunes. Actually still going strong, with plenty of fruit.

1997 vintage

Wednesday Wine Education #4 (Grapes & Grains, Temecula, CA) : The final of my four bottles and, by far the best. This fully mature wine is a pure expression of Howell Mountain Merlot - Dried plums and berries, fig, violet, bay leaf, mint, truffle, coffee, cocoa, leather, tobacco, cedar, baking spice, and dried herbs. Some unresolved tannin is still prevalent on the long, long finish. Would recommend decanting only to remove sediment and to drink within 30-60 minutes. This fades …

1997 vintage

This bottle has been hanging out in the cellar for 7 years. Still drinking very well, the window should extend into 2021 at least for those folks still holding out.

2006 vintage

still drinking very well, actually pretty ripe and sweet, with a little more vanilla than expected.

1997 vintage

Closed at first, benefitted from a short decant. Started with black cherry and blackberry followed by plum, tobacco, earth, spice and a touch of chocolate. Similar flavors in a medium body. Smooth silky tannins in the finish. A beautiful fully mature merlot. Should go another 5+ years without missing a step.

2006 vintage

Wonderfully aged Merlot. A bit more tannin that I would have predicted, but that is providing nice structure to a dark fruit and cigar box finish. This wine does not appear to be losing its fruit or structure any time soon.

1997 vintage

Black fruit, tobacco, licorice, candied jam. A-/A

2016 vintage

alcoholic, smoky, exotic sweetness, vanilla, and coconut butter. Very nice and fragrant.

1997 vintage

Flavors are a bit subdued with its advanced age. Stewed blackberries and black cherries, with some warm cinnamon spice edge. Grippy tannins.

1997 vintage

Very dense and tannic still. Fleshy and somewhat closed-ish on the first night. More interesting on night two when some complexities unfold. The fill wasn't fantastic being just above the shoulder but this seemed the youngest I've had of this wine. This bottle probably wanted more time. still comes off like something from a completely different era. Not sure I could blind this as not being Cab.

1997 vintage

Dried cherries, herbal notes, cedar, pepper, spice, Smokey oak. Acidity balanced and the fruit is in line with the mid-palate. A-/A

1997 vintage

Mini-Cellar Diminishment Party & Blind Cabernet Bordeaux Blends (Temecula, CA) : This was tasting fantastic on Sunday afternoon. Really gained a lot of complexity since I had it many years ago. Cedar, tobacco, vanilla and plum. Right at its peak. Everyone in the group was surprised to see a Napa Merlot hold up and mature so well.

1997 vintage

outstanding gorgeous nose rolls over the tongue finess and a california merlot? woozier! bravo beringer!

1989 vintage

Initially a little cigar smells give way to something more expressive within a half hour. Especially the palate which went explosive adding some rose petals to it's cedary deep plum and wood. It really grab me by the shirt and let me know it wanted my attention. Which was just fine because this was captivating. A touch of minerals on the nose was offset by a touch of warmth on the palate. This bottle is in some terrific window. Held …

1997 vintage

Dark fruit on the nose, plums, dark flowers, tobacco, spice box. Open and expressive, good fruit but rather linear, soft tannins, well integrated acidity. The alcohol sticking out a little towards the finish. 90-92

2005 vintage

The best showing of this wine over the past 6 years. Maybe at peak? Firm frame yet great touch and texture, especially on the palate and finish. Consistent with previous notes but fully fleshed out now - nothing is hiding or holding back. Drink 2019-2022. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 94.

2006 vintage

Are you sure?

Beringer, Bancroft Ranch Vineyard Merlot, Howell Mountain

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews