Merryvale, Profile, Napa Valley

courtesy B/D for Easter dinner; fully resolved with still good slightly candied dark berry; a bit of eucalyptus and sous bois.

1995 vintage

Delicious Napa Cab. The tannins are soft and well-integrated, the acidity is getting there. Aromatically, the wine is surprisingly primary, showing cassis, plum, currant, black cherry, jam, tar, prune, some tabacco. Alcohol feels balanced and is not intrusive. The finish is long, carrying freshness despite the wine’s weight. Overall, it is still vibrant and youthful, yet powerful and heavy in style.

2014 vintage

Fully resolved, beautiful secondary flavors, tobacco, some earth, nice delicate long finish. Excellent Napa Meritage. 90

2001 vintage

So good. Those that say this is past prime, are drunk. Only had early merryvale, never aged. This was amazing. Still solid fruit, long smooth finish with nothing harsh.

1994 vintage

Deep ruby. Medium minus raisin, plum, prune, cocoa leather, medium minus acid, high alcohol. Medium finish.

2009 vintage

This was enjoyed at a private dinner and wine tasting event. Decanted and enjoyed with a variety of steak bites, potatoes, charcuterie and cheeses. Drinking nicely at ten years, certainly approachable, but not nearly as expressive as I’d expected. Shows a good mix of primary black and red fruits with hints of evolving complexity. Juicy mouthfeel with a medium plus finish. Not sure if this will improve with further cellaring, but it should drink well for another 5-7 years.

2014 vintage

One off aand the last of a screamer of a deal of 3 Profiles (this, the ‘07 and a ‘10) and a ‘07 Oakville Grade at an average price of $65. I finished off a half case of this about 6 months ago which fluctuated significantly (93-96, with the weakest bottles, interestingly, coming in the middle). This, like the 6th, was a strong bottle, singing off the pour and throughout 2 nights, both on its own and with food (mixed …

2009 vintage

Five years since I had the first bottle. This is a fantastic Napa Valley red. Left bank Bordeaux style. Dark red. Cherries, berries, cedar and chocolate in the nose. Very full bodied and complex. Softish tannins.

1999 vintage

Had low expectations for this bottle, which was kept from release until 2014 in a steel lockbox in an unconditioned San Francisco garage, then for another decade in temp-controlled storage. But, surprise surprise, it’s in very good shape. Stood up 24 hrs and then decanted gently, this has good color, ruby to garnet, from the get-go. Takes about half an hour to show anything from behind some remaining tannin, and the first signals are faint, but by two hours in, …

1999 vintage

Still nicely fresh and very tasty. Very Napa with its rich and opulent fruit, slightly too much new oak, and sweet spice. Fun and tasty, maybe slightly lacking in the middle.

2001 vintage

Smooth with only mild structure to balance the medium to full bodied fruit. Good balance.....drink with a 20 minute decant and clean out the bottle.

1999 vintage

Good wine. Deep dark subtle fruit. Smooth with nice soft finish. Maybe just past its peak, but nice if you like older wines.

2009 vintage

Lovely. Years left.

2001 vintage

Last of 6 and sorry to hog the TNs here, but the experiences have been varied, so short note. While I said after the last bottle that the rush was off and I was going to hold this until at least 2024, I just bought a new lot of MVs (‘07, ‘09 and ‘10 Profiles and a ‘07 Oakville Cross, which I’d never heard of, let alone had), I had the luxury of knowing another was on the way. This …

2009 vintage

Still young but drinking well. Light on Tanins.

2019 vintage

The mystery of this half case deepens. After 2 immaculate bottles, one disjointed one and one very good but post-peak one, we’re back to square one with another outstanding bottle, singing off the pour and solid as a rock through 2 nights, both well-balanced and vibrant, excellent with and without food (pizza one night, mixed grill the next). Don’t know what to make of this variation, as the bottles arrived in an unopened OWC and have stayed there during their …

2009 vintage

Past its prime, but it is still very good. A little "hot" ROH nose overrode the fruit. I can't distinguish which fruit. Balanced.

1994 vintage

A really great showing for a 1999 Napa wine, with obvious resemblance to a left bank Bordeaux. Strong whiff of earth, cocoa, and sweet cedar wood flowed by a dry wine, resembling an old Pauillac or St. Julien from a classic vintage. With more time, the wine showed the greener tobacco notes associated with a cool vintage cabernet or a heavy dose of Cabernet Franc. A real head turning experience from a california wine from an overlooked vintage. Strarted declining …

1999 vintage

Perfect. Lots of life left but ready

2002 vintage

4th of 6, and after 2 immaculate bottles and one that came off as a bit disjointed, a different experience still. While the 3 prior bottles all presented as needing a solid couple of hours aeration for my palate on opening to come to balance, this was fully mature, if anything sliding slightly past peak, on the pour, so I started drinking immediately and kept corked while I’ve consumed. Unlike the last bottle, this was completely harmonious, even without the …

2009 vintage

Blackberry, wilted currant, notes of leather and sous bois; mature and aged, some sense of stewed fruit remaining, with a softness that is still pleasing

1999 vintage

Very enjoyable. Past prime but holding well.

1999 vintage

Texture: velvet, smooth Flavor: plum at the beginning, bitter dark chocolate after a few sips g - smells magnificent -

2009 vintage

Tasted at the winery in the cask room. I am not really knowledgeable on Napa wines since they are so expensive and I am based in Paris. That was indeed a fruit bomb but with blackberry et al... But the oak was not too present and the textue was fine. Good dark presence bringing tension and direction to the juice leading to a long aftertaste. Great experience.

2019 vintage

Third of six, and after 2 immaculate bottles, this was ever so slightly disappointing. Really fabulous, fulsome nose, but disjointed on the palate off the pour, with powerful tannins and acidity and vibrant fruit seeming to be working at cross purposes. After about 2 and a half hours, this came together well, but still lacked the balance and elegance of the prior bottles. Similar in qualities to the prior bottles, this certainly wasn’t flawed in any obvious way and was …

2009 vintage

A very big wine, maybe too big. The alcohol was noticeable with this wine especially as the night went on and was probably affected with warming. The acid is high and the tannins are still present but fine. The wine quite overwhelmed the food. A steak would have been a much better choice. I will see if it improves with steak tomorrow and further aeration. I concur with the high amount of sediment. I opened this as an impulse and …

2014 vintage

Blackberry, cassis, simple and straightforward on nose; on palate it is full, powerful, bold, smooth, showing only slight signs of aging and plenty of life in it still; somewhat textured and very long; relatively simple but very well constructed; excellent

2002 vintage

Fully mature, unsurprisingly. I am sure that more sophisticated drinkers could distinguish it from good quality Bordeaux, but I can’t. I say drink ‘em if you got em’: I don’t see room for improvement.

1998 vintage

I3

2014 vintage

Super smooth and still holding its own. I give this wine a solid 92.

1999 vintage

2nd of 6, consistent TNs from 6/30 bottle. 2 hours of air, then consumed over 3 hours with snacks, then deep dish pizza. Last glass was best, so reiterate that this is early drinking window. Great bottling, great vintage. Highly recommended. 96+ if scoring.

2009 vintage

Opened nice after being open for 2 hours and decanted, warm, silky, coffee, dark fruit, leather notes

2009 vintage

Blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon with 24% Cabernet Franc, 19% of Petit Verdot and 15% of Malbec. Aged for 20 months in French oak almost all new. Inky crimson in colour. Displays dark, ripe plum and black cherry followed by dark chocolate and cedar that is still upfront well after a decade. Sweet, ripe style with plenty of weight and a dense, chewy texture. Long, supple finish.

2011 vintage

This takes some time to breathe and settle before pouring. On the nose consists of toffee, mocha, coffee, black cherries and pencil lead. Wonderful layers of black cherries, mint, cassis, ripe figs and mocha.

2009 vintage

Very good but no where near as good as the 2010 Vintage.

2009 vintage

from magnum, paired with caviar topped Peking duck (Alexander the great antics) nose- blackberry, boysenberry, smoky mouth - tight bit still full of stuffing, dark fruited, perhaps a bit stewy. Drink up.

1994 vintage

Big and powerful, lots of acid. Opened 2 hours and decanted 1 hour before having with a steak. Will wait a few more years on the other 2 bottles. Nowhere near the flavor of the 2013, but still an enjoyable bottle.

2014 vintage

First of 6 ($79@) from a recent auction purchase. On the nose, ripe blackberries, semisweet cherries, a touch of cassis, wet earth, a little smoke and intense dark florals, with additional notes on the palate of camphor, anise, a touch of oak, dried spice, leather and a bit of coffee on the end. Deep, dark purple, medium to full-bodied, thick legs. Powerful but well integrated acidity and tannins, no heat. Impressively complex with great persistence and intensity. I gave this …

2009 vintage

Good.

2009 vintage

See prior notes - fruit was slightly muted but finish remains long. Must decant due to sediment but the cassis and wet cement notes are more noticeable

2014 vintage

4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag (M&R) : Double blind. Dark color. Just a bit reticent at first, with black fruit and chocolate notes discernable. Firm tannin; flavors of dark fruit, chocolate and vanilla. Becomes more expressive as it sits in the glass though doesn't change very much. Well-balanced; tannins are finely knit and have a silky quality- this glides across the palate. Really nice black fruit here. Was surpised to see Merryvale when this was unveiled as my recent …

2009 vintage

Light garnet in the glass, pronounced aromas and flavors, nose of dark fruits and cacao, palate is dry, tannins are soft and silky, ripe fruits, boysenberry, chocolate and green pepper notes. Long finish. *Enjoyed on September 2, 2006 with duck breast with cherry and red wine reduction

1998 vintage

W Barnes and Caitlin

2011 vintage

Had it blind. For the enormous amount of sediments and the extra high acidity I initially though of a 10 or older wine. Then after 2 hours it got much better. The body is massive, dark cocoa, mocha, and licorice. Still a bit alcoholic and tannic to me, unlike most 2014s. The finish is very very long. 91++ HOLD!!!

2014 vintage

Mostly mature black cherry and plum with earth, sweet spice and eucalyptus. Clearly ripe, but also holding its own very well. Good weight, balance and persistence. Purchased at release directly from Merryvale.

2001 vintage

Drank this past the drinking window but still had hints of the fruit while certainly over the top. Very enjoyable.

2001 vintage

Surprisingly Great Drinking year.

2014 vintage

Retail $100. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. I bought this a while ago (late 2012) and I had essentially forgotten about it. Tonight, we pulled out some beef tenderloin from the freezer, dropped it in the immersion circulator, and I went searching for a wine. I came back with this. Really dark in the glass, really dark with blackberry, cassis, and a touch of heat on the nose. The palate is on the austere …

2002 vintage

I thought this was a little better 3 years ago. No signs of age but seemed a bit less intense.

2009 vintage

See prior notes and must decant due to a even more sediment

2014 vintage

Are you sure?

Merryvale, Profile, Napa Valley

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