Lets change it up a bit and revisit the often mis-understood grape: Merlot.
I almost totally ignore this one myself, but have had a few beauties.
I have on tap some Blankiet from 01 and 02. (It’s probably all I own)
Lets see where we stand on this. I open this one up to other countries and regions if we can’t get enough Napa involved. (Some Italian Merlots I have recently had have been impressive).
If you do agree to post tasting notes, please try to finish with an average/good/great/excellent/wow one word descriptor at the end of your note. Makes my post tabulations easier.
Another boardwide tasting that is right in my wheelhouse. According to CT I have 41 different Napa merlots to choose from - and that doesn’t include 16 different Pride merlots that don’t show up when I limit the subregion to “Napa”.
If I don’t include the Pride merlots my best option would probably be a 2004 Blackbird, an 02 Paloma, or a Switchback from 02, 03 or 04. Prides I can do numerous vintages of vintner’s select or Napa/Sonoma merlot. If we want to get a vertical of the Beringer Howell Mtn Bancroft Ranch I can do a 94, 96, 99 or 02.
Looks like I’ll have to get out my Wine Enthusiast scent kit to take another stab at creating a tasting note!
I have Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red, if that counts as ‘Merlot’…it’s a Bordeaux Blend, technically, but it appears Jack is stretching the task a bit to include clarets, so I’m covered if we go that route.