Once Future, Sangiacomo Merlot, Los Carneros

480 cases. Really nice again. Imbalanced ever so slightly with the tart acidity but actually helped a bit with the rich Thanksgiving leftovers. There's tart red fruit but there's also a savory component with this. This was open for 3 days (stoppered and stored in a wine fridge) and was pretty consistent over that period.

NYE 2023 Blind Tasting: Four 100% Varietals (Home) : 14% ABV Dark red color, slightly cloudy, small amount of sediment. Chocolate & vanilla.

Everyone enjoyed this at a small get-together. Went very well with roast chicken, scalloped potatoes, and green beans. Again, the front end was a little jarring, but is otherwise stellar.

14.01% abv. 1st of 3 bottles from a recent auction. This was very nice, but not completely harmonious at this stage in its life. The combination of alcohol and high acidity detracted a bit, especially on the front end. Much better once you got to the mid-palate, with lovely fruit expression and a nice backbone of acidity. No hurry on this, as it has a chance to come together more as it ages.

Bright nose of dark berries. On the tongue, again, dark berries--blueberry, currant--but, also, as much as anything, cola. Noticeable tannin, but, certainly, not anything to scare off those who are tannin averse. Just a so-easy-to-drink wine. I messed up on this one, I should have ordered more.

Plush and complex, with dark plum and berry fruit, graphite, violet and long finish.

Tonight’s quarantine wine is 2016 Once and Future Merlot Sangiacomo vineyard. This vineyard is smack dab in Carneros, which is known more for whites and pinot noir. But, it has great structure and acidity. This is surprisingly bold and spicy. Black fruit, tobacco and ...asparagus? Great smooth mouthfeel, soft tannins. This wine is really starting to come together.

Opened at 11:30am to breathe and put a bit in a beef dish. Deep red-purple color. Gorgeous nose of sweet red berries. Still quite primary on the palate. Bright acidity and mild tannins covered in rich red fruit. Open for 12 hours, the acidity is more pronounced and the fruit is more mellow. Long, delicious finish.

14.01% abv...not 14, but 14.01! Typifies precision of craft Joel P striving for. Nice wine, balanced, pure expression of merlot without manipulation. Dark garnet plum color. Leggy in glass. Bramble fruit nose, plums, earth, licorice root, subtle spice on palate. Light tannins, juicy acid, lighter style but shows med length. Enjoyable, minimalist style of merlot from California.

Second bottle before commenting, hesitated after reading some other notes. Opaque reddish-purple, tinted legs. Medium intensity nose, less than expected from the deep color. Sappy youthful gentle black fruit on the nose. Maybe a little campfire in a good way. Nose is refined, a strength, reminiscent of right bank Merlot-based Bordeaux (this is 100%). Healthy acidity on the palate, drinking it too young. Big surprise: flavor is NOT right bank Bordeaux... intense sappy slightly “raw” brambly fruit like baked plum …

The nose showed an inviting mix of crushed wild berries, stone dust, dried red florals, pencil shavings, a hint of orange citrus and thyme. On the palate, I found soft, enveloping textures, balanced through a core of minerals and mouth-watering acidity, as a mix of raspberry, cherry and strawberry fruits swept across the senses, with hints of sweet spice, and a twang of savory herbs. The finish was long and savory, showing earthy minerals, lingering spiced red berries and fine …

Good, but heat noticeable throughout. Distracting.

Favorite Merlot.

Black cherry, mint, cedar. Very California. Big fruit, but layered complexity.

Tasted over two nights, there is a deep core of black cherry and macerated raspberry fruit that rides on top of a rock solid acid spine. The tannins are quite gentle, but are there holding up the side walls of the wine. There is a richness to the wine that never descends into creaminess, but rather keeps coming back to the structure. The raspberry tone lingers long after the wine is gone. This is thoroughly enjoyable now, but with the …

Medium bodied with a core of dense, black cherry and plum approaching ripe, but never out of balance. Cedar, touch of cola and baking spices fill out the flavor profile. Probably the best Merlot I’ve ever had. Approachable now, but will hold my others.