Ravenswood Merlot Gregory Vineyard

It’s barely bricking at the edges but still a strong garnet throughout. Lots of mint and cigarbox and some almost Zin-ripe fruit but more red than black. Lots of stuffing and some umami and balanced acidity too. I’m drinking a glass now after it’s been open for 5 hours and it’s just starting to slip into seafood gumbo flavors and leave Cabernet behind.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Merlot (25%) from the Gregory Vineyard, planted in 1945. Harvested on September 28th 1996, bottled on July 20th, 1998. 14% alcohol and 6,6 g/l acidity. Total production 1250 cases. Deep, rather opaque and quite evolved blackish-red color with a syrupy-brown hue. The rather evolved nose feels very rich and expressive with intense aromas of peppermint and eucalyptus, some sweet notes of wizened black cherries, a little bit of ripe blackcurrant, light leafy tones, …

Just an amazing drinking experience. This is a 28 year old wine, tasting so good with mature tertiary flavors, reminiscent of a quality old world wine. Sad that it’s my last bottle, but really enjoyed them.

This bottled started to show its true age.

OMG. Wine came directly from Ravenswood and cellared properly all these years. Reminded me of a well aged Ridge Monte Bello. Just a fabulous drinking experience!

Some clear notes of oak, medium-bodied, bit of sweetness. Okay.

I liked the wine much, much more then the score suggests. Starting off with a mellow, mildly sweet nose...difficult to discern this is a new world wine. Sweet tobacco. Soft, well integrated fruit somewhere between black and red. Not very complex. Maybe "too" well integrated (old) for this particular wine. Delicious to enjoy but lacked greatness. Maybe it would have better a couple of years ago? Drink now.