Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
90
/100
Reviews
1
professional
Vintages
1
2005
Other
88/100
Zinfandel,
Merlot
NV
Community Reviews
2121
Reviews
87.8
Avg Score
93
Highest
Taster #1223
· Dec 20, 2025
A shockingly good wine. We're generally fans of Meeker, and of the Handprint Merlot in particular, but we've sometimes found that certain vintage don't do well past 10 years or so. At 20 years the 2005 is simply incredible. After an hour in the decanter, first taste is of sour cherries. It continues to evolve over several hours into more tobacco and leather. Overall very well balanced, super long finish, lovely mouth feel.
2005 vintage
Taster #1223
· Jun 15, 2018
Still beautiful after all these years. Last bottle.
2005 vintage
Taster #8909
· Nov 4, 2017
Awesome,smoooth.
2005 vintage
Taster #7961
· Mar 2, 2017
93/100
An exceedingly black wine with dense nose filling aromas of black cherry and black plum. The sip combines edgy acidity, sharp tannin, and a dense, velvet, and juicy texture that rolls around the mouth. The swallow triggers a spike of acidity and a sour cherry fruit. Overall, a big bodied, muscular, and concentrated Merlot well worth following for another 5 to 10 years.
2005 vintage
Taster #0360
· May 7, 2014
87/100
So smooth!
2005 vintage
Taster #6661
· Oct 5, 2013
88/100
Was worried after reading other notes stating this one was vinegar. Too our great surprise and pleasure it was still quite good. Proper cellarimg may have given this bottle extended life. Going to look for more!
2005 vintage
Taster #7027
· Jul 2, 2012
88/100
Pretty good.
2005 vintage
Taster #2096
· Jun 29, 2012
90/100
Great flavor
2005 vintage
Taster #8157
· Dec 30, 2011
86/100
Good, but not great. A bit muted in fruit and turning slightly acidic. I suspect this is falling off.
2005 vintage
Taster #7999
· Aug 13, 2011
88/100
I will be kind to this Merlot. Agree with most on this bottling. Purple- crimson in the glass, dark but not opaque.Purple violets in the glass, crushed blue and black fruit, with some oak trailing on the nose. Fairly floral. The palate detects loads of black/blue berry fruit, nots of dark baking chocolate (bitter type), and some wet earth and faint oak. The tannins are very fine, and the balance of acidity and tannins is decent. The finish is long, …
2005 vintage
Taster #1469
· Mar 13, 2011
90/100
Merlot : Deep garnet, moderately intense aromas of black fruit, chocolate, and alcohol that blew off to soon. Flavours of blackberry, cherry and cassis with a medium finish.
2005 vintage
Taster #1967
· Feb 9, 2011
84/100
Past its peak for sure. Strong blackberry with a light vanilla accent. Slightly chalky. Very tannic smoothing out after a while but left with a slightly bitter unsophisticated mouthfeel. I received this bottle as a recent gift. If you own it...put it in your next gift basket. The bottle is beautiful and definitely stands out more than the juice.
2005 vintage
Taster #3711
· Jan 10, 2011
Delicious! Dark fruited. Big and jammy with little pockets of spice. All that I want from a zin...
2005 vintage
Taster #0492
· Sep 20, 2010
84/100
This was a little disappointing, as we had (and bought) at the Meeker Tasting room 2 years ago and really enjoyed the fruit and finish. I suspect we held it too long as this was still good, it was past its peak and no longer the fun wine it was in 2008. The fruit was considerably muted and the acidity was taking over throwing the balance a bit out of wack. It was still very drinkable, just not an excellent …
2005 vintage
Taster #0925
· Jun 12, 2010
87/100
Fruit forward merlot with a heavy dose of vanilla and oak. Nothing special here although the bottle is pretty cool. Terrible QPR at $40.
2005 vintage
Taster #2418
· Mar 6, 2010
86/100
fruit forward, not excessively. Nice backbone and mouthfeel for the price point. Agree with decanting and letting it breathe for awhile. Not overly acidic, nice wine.
2005 vintage
Taster #8166
· Feb 24, 2010
85/100
Nice merlot but needed to decant close to 4 hours to really appreciate it. I bought it for the bottle, let's face it. Aromas of berries, dark fruit. I thought the oak was a bit too much, it tasted burnt on occasion.
2005 vintage
Taster #5750
· Feb 14, 2010
88/100
Pretty darn good! Slightly overoaked, but the oak is a pleasant one - a bit of caramel and vanilla over deep blue fruits. On the palate, very crisp, great acidic backbone and sufficirent, smooth tannins to keep it together. a lot more structure than I'd expect grom a mid range CA merlot...tart red and blue fruit, and nothing at all that would hint at the label's 14.8% abv. good enough length, too, and the most distinctive bottle/label I've ever owned.
2005 vintage
Taster #0142
· Nov 1, 2009
89/100
50+5+12+16+6 Raisin and plum on the nose, blck cherry, vanilla with spice and well integrated oak, nice balance with a tart finish. Not the greatest QPR.
2005 vintage
Taster #5089
· Apr 9, 2009
91/100
Wow... been a long time .. This is a Dry creek Zin!!!! awsome... suprise....
2005 vintage
Taster #0399
· Nov 7, 2007
not good...may have been corked
2005 vintage