Switchback Ridge, Merlot Peterson, Napa Valley

Was a little awkward right out of the bottle, but after an hour slow ox and warming up from the cellar, the odd notes began blowing off. Still plenty of structure, but the dark, muddled fruit that’s balanced with dust seems to indicate that there’s raisiny notes waiting in the bullpen and about to be called to the mound.

2017 vintage

40 mins slow ox. Consistent w prior tastings, in a great place though showing some heat I don’t recall

2017 vintage

Notes follow ~ two hours slow ox. Nose is fairly muted, though over time red fruit and fig notes have evolved into darker fruits…now blackberry and black cherry with mist in the background. We restocked our inventory of these last year during a winery cellar closeout. And while we found some of the bottles to be funky, tonight this is clearly in it’s prime and singing. Ample back-palate tannins provide a lengthy finish, dominated by the dark fruits mentioned. This …

2017 vintage

A Cabernet Sauvignon lover’s Merlot that is so hard to resist. Chocolate notes add a wonderful dimension to the black fruit, spring flower components. Delicious.

2015 vintage

Mark & Rochelle Come to Visit (Thai Village, Batavia) : Popped and poured. Deep youthful color, opaque at the core. Chocolate, black cherry, clay and mocha notes. Full-bodied with medium tannins and flavors of black and blue fruits, chocolate and spice. Very nice. (R&D)

2017 vintage

Straight from the bottle there’s more funk/prune on the nose than I can enjoy at noon time. Setting aside to enjoy something else while the funk dissipates

2017 vintage

First pulled the cork 2.5 hours ago and this bottle is faring much better than any/most of its predecessors. Must in the nose with muted dark fruit, black cherry, espresso and fig. Not particularly complex but showed more heft and weight earlier in the evening.

2017 vintage

On the 18th hole of its life, this improved considerably w 45 mins of bottle air. As in my latest note, Port-like characteristics remain – if faint – on the nose. While some sweet tannins remain, this is largely driven by blackberry, black plum, and other dark fruits. Drink up and enjoy!

2017 vintage

Final in this format and better than my last 3 bottles. 20 minutes after pulling the cork there’s some her spaciousness on the nose along with dark red Fruit, star anise and old mint leaf. Fairly thin and shallow across the palate, this ultimately surprises. As the wine pours, my nose picks up something that leads me to expect port- like, overdone characteristics, but that’s not the case. This is not adding weight and is past its peak in this …

2015 vintage

Although I began drinking this immediately after pulling the cork, my notes begin 75 minutes later. While port-like characteristics are evident on the nose, they don’t continue. Nicely balanced dark fruit and well-integrated, mature tannins fully envelop thr front to mid palate, lingering to provide a finish of 15 -20 secs. Unlike The bottle from my last note, this was A recent purchase from Switchback’s cellar, and represents an amazing value. this should be consumed within the next 18 months, …

2017 vintage

Chocolate covered cherries combine with blue fruit, tobacco and spice notes to deliver a wonderful Napa Merlot. Great depth and texture. Layered and full of deliciousness. Wonderful!

2015 vintage

This was one of the bottles originally purchased upon release from the winery. Seems to be exhibiting bottle variation, compared to the two cases we recently bought, we have consistently had a lot of Bordeaux like characteristics. This actually seems to be in a dumb phase after three hours in a decanter vs the bottles most recently purchased.

2017 vintage

An hour after pulling the cork, not decanted. Love the earthy bordeaux nose, this is in a great place and amazing qpr.

2017 vintage

20 minutes after decanting this shows creosote / tar, chocolate and freshly-hewn oak on the nose. This is still really dark across the palate, showing coffee and espresso over tannins that are quickly softening and becoming more approachable.

2017 vintage

Opened this up about an hour ago and got right into it. asphalt, chocolate and hints of dark fruit on the nose. There multi-layered palate has a medium+ weight and while tough to call, it offers more chocolate and some black plum. No rush, good through 2027+

2017 vintage

Dynamite 2001 merlot. Not “elegant” - this is still a big, mountain red. Concentrated and substantial. Dark blackberry fruit. Super last night with tuna tacos, and perhaps even better this afternoon (2nd half of bottle) with empanadas while watching the Ravens - Commanders game.

2001 vintage

Decanted 1/2 hr. Drank over 2 days. Day 2 was bigger and smoother than day 1. Big tastes of dark fruits (plum, cherry) with a some chocolate. The alcohol was evident on day 1. It smoothed out on day 2.

2015 vintage

Found one more 375. I'll drink a glass, but it's well past its expiration date.

2015 vintage

Right out of the bottle this seems very consistent with my last note, and I'm glad this is my final bottle. Tea and a hint of prune on the nose, really no semblance of fruit remains here. I'd take this for corked (and my wife does) except this is identical to my last note on this vintage and what are the odds of two corked bottles as side-by-side… Disappointed.

2015 vintage

At a 35th work anniversary luncheon at my club. We opened this bottle alongside the 2017 SR Reserve. The nose was fruit and hints of chocolate. The palate was berry, cherry, plum with a fair amount of chocolate flavors running though it leading a finish that was moderate to long.

2017 vintage

Euchre night (R&D's) : Deep inky color. An initial brown sugar note that I find in many TRB wines, along with an abundance of black fruit, plum and chocolate. Full-bodied with firm but fine tannins and flavors of black cherry, plum and chocolate. The fruit carries the oak nicely. (R&D)

2017 vintage

Had with steak. Vickey and I both thought it was harsh and no “softness” like we remembered

2015 vintage

Opened two hours in advance of dinner. The nose is all fruit with a hint of chocolate. The palate is dark berries, cherry, currants and a little chocolate leading to a moderately long finish.

2017 vintage

No different than a few weeks ago. Opens up nicely w 45-90 mins of air. Went just as well w pizza tonite as with steak, sword or tuna.

2017 vintage

Needed to retry before pulling the trigger on SR's Black Friday special and not disappointed. Needs an hour to open up and add weight and even then it reflects the vintage. While not as dark as many other years Im certainly happy to add more to the cellar. Great on its own, with food or in the pool on a weeknight, its a solid value that'll please crowds and connoisseurs alike

2017 vintage

Lovely classic Switchback merlot. Had opened bottle a couple hours before pouring the first glass. Definitely tannins noticeable, but they’re enveloped with the delicious fruit. I didn’t notice any oak. This will only get better over the next 6-10 or more years! It was great on its own and with a perfectly seasoned grilled steak.

2017 vintage

From a 375, decanted for an hour. Plenty of coffee on the nose, this was a bit rough and tight right after decanting, but after an hour the tannins have really softened up. Not as expressive or refined as other vintages, it's still very enjoyable and solid for the vintage. At the 3 hr mark this has added weight and the dark wood has evolved to dark fruit. Getting better and shows long term promise.

2017 vintage

Had back to back as pop, and Poors with the 2016. Both from 750. Knows on the 15 is a bit more floral and fragrant, but the 16 delivers better across the pallet. I don't have many. (if any) 15 remaining; if I did, I'd mark him for drinking in the next 6 to 9 months . While the wine is still respectable and enjoyable, it's on the 16th or 17th hole IMO

2015 vintage

Ready to drink. Deep, rich

2015 vintage

Smokey currant, black raspberry, chocolate, white pepper with just a trace of toasty oak on the finish. Rich and balanced. Drinking well and seems completely integrated at this point. Double decanted

2015 vintage

Wow, what a dynamite bottle of 2001 merlot. I bought 6 bottles of this at auction a few years ago and I guess they were well stored (and have been since I got them), as the three bottles I’ve had so far have been excellent. This bottle was dark - almost black in color - and it was full-bodied, with concentrated cherry and blackberry (more cherry after a few hours’ airtime), and some noticeable tannins still present. On day two, …

2001 vintage

Drinking maturely. Time to enjoy. Not much acidity. Tannins are soft and relaxed.

2015 vintage

Decent wine - showing some maturity. Time to work into some burger nights!

2015 vintage

Based on the bottle I had, the window is closing on this one - drink now.

2001 vintage

This Merlot is just starting to express itself. Cassis and chocolate covered cherries combine with tilled soil and unsmoked cigar tobacco. Great depth and texture. Aromatically pleasing. This is a Cabernet lover’s Merlot. Large scaled but nicely balanced. Its better days are ahead.

2015 vintage

Nice baking spice and blackberry notes

2015 vintage

Highly recommend and a good QPR wine. This is a merlot lover's merlot. Drink or hold - drinking very well right now, if possible would recommend a short splash decant and not sure about too much further upside with further cellaring but this wine is big and structured enough that with proper cellaring this has an easy decade+ to go at this point and should continue to soften and balance out a bit. Big bold wine, full bodied, good mouth …

2015 vintage

I will continue obtaining this vineyard for my cellar (the merlot). It is a nice pronounced merlot for the price and has aging capabilities. I am increasing my drink window by 2 years with this writing.

2015 vintage

If you like a pronounce merlot, this wine is for you! The aromas of dark fruit (blackberry), cassis, and dark rich cherries; along with flavors of dark cherries and blackberry with a lasting finish. Long legs on the glass and a dark rich ruby (almost black) color. A very slight tart (due to tannins) comes through, but the mellow, smooth palate offset this. A true merlot. Pushing my drink window back by 3 years (or let settle in the decanter …

2015 vintage

This Napa Merlot from Calistoga is kicking some butt right now. A 2015 is in the zone right now. Brambly and muddy black and red fruits. Pie spice, red licorice and a touch of black cherry cola here. This wine is soft and round on the front and finishes with some grip and weight. This bottle disappeared RATHER quickly among just 2 drinkers with a lot of really solid Mexican food (mesquite smoked and grilled fajitas). The last time I …

2015 vintage

Right out of the bottle without decanting, this is somewhat tight on the nose with leather and tight Oak. Lots more tannin than in the “16 I had splash decanted. Rough leather, crushed stone and much more dry on the palate. Compared with the “16 side-by-side, this is more primal where the 16 shows more elegance. Given the different aeration with each vintage it’s tough to tell, but I have a preference for the 16 versus the 17 overall. At …

2017 vintage

Might be my last 375, Pop and pour. After 90 mins the fruit is still vibrant but the tannins have faded. Fresh black and blueberries dominate, this was solid on its own and w our Mediterranean grilled swordfish tonite

2015 vintage

Pulled the cork to discover I’d Coravin’d a glass some (unknown) date in the past. Softer than I expect from SR with mild green notes on a satiny finish that leaves a pleasant mouthfeel. While enjoyable on its own and with tonites fried chicken, this differs enough from the house style that I’d consider this an off bottle or given its handling, yet another death by Coravin. Odd nose

2017 vintage

Very nice, soft, dark berry. Lovely. Paid 49-ish discounted from 69-. I’d buy again at the discounted price.

2015 vintage

Similar to the bottle drunk last June (2021), this was excellent. Blackberry and cassis but a little darker and meatier than in June. Still young. Interesting to compare this to the recent 1999 Pride merlot - this Switchback is much bigger and has lots of tannins yet to resolve. The Switchback was a great pairing with chili while watching the Superbowl, but the Pride with its silky pure fruit was perhaps more enjoyable, and easier to drink without food.

2001 vintage

Drinking from a 375, strong fruit finish. Great expression of Merlot plenty of time on larger formats

2017 vintage

Chocolate, plum, black cherry. Some vanilla and baking spices. Drinking well now, but there are still some tannins so this should hold up well in the cellar. Need to buy more ASAP!

2015 vintage

A really nice merlot. Fruit and chocolate on the nose. The palate is berries, plums and chocolate leading to a moderately long smooth finish.

2015 vintage

Let breathe for about 30 minutes. Medium to full bodied. Soft tannins. Dark fruit with cherries and plums. Very approachable. Very approachable.

2015 vintage

Fantastic merlot. Deep and dark color; full bodied. Creamy blueberry nose; in the mouth, flavors of blueberry and plum, with a bit of spice on the finish. Just a dynamite treasure of a wine that clearly has years and years ahead. In the last year I’ve also drunk the 2007 and several bottles of the 2010, and this 2001 actually tastes like it could be younger than either of those. On day two (remaining 1/3 bottle), the fruit is even …

2001 vintage

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Switchback Ridge, Merlot Peterson, Napa Valley

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