I had to adjust expectations for this. I was expecting it to be fresher at this age, but it was quite mature. Drank like a 2007, delicious and drink now. Dark fruit on a soft core.
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Boysenberry and cedar nose, palette of red fruits, raspberries, cassis, tobacco, and moss. Tannins are firm but smooth. It could go longer. Excellent wine. Reminds me more of a high end pinot noir than a Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
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A couple of years of rest has been kind to this wine. The aromas are still a tad heavy, so a decent decant is worthwhile. Scents of forest floor, mushrooms, blackberry jam, and oak with a touch of spice on the palate. Well balanced with an excellent finish.
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PNP Slight fruit structure. Little light for how it was sold to be big and bold Might have peaked last year Nice dark fruit after opening but not a "phenomenal" wine
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Wanted to really like this but feel it was a little disappointing. Soft wine that is probably great for food pairing but in tasting, couldn't stand up to California cabs. Don't feel this is one to leave laying down as it may already be past prime.
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Our neighbor brought this when she came over for cards on 12/22/18. It had a rich, deep nose of black currant, black cherry, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, plush and tasty with flavors that followed the nose. 91+
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A very nice wine. Still tannic. I opened and stood this up for about 3 hours before consuming. I would recommend standing it up for at least 24 hours before opening, and slow decanting for 2-4 hours of air. It will be better in 3 years. Lots of delicious dark fruit and prominent but silky tannins. Really nice dark color. Toasty oak with some vanilla but not over the top. Love this wine and will seek out more.
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Dark and dense in glass Decanted 4 hours. For an experiment, put one glas through vinturi and agreed that the softer mouthfeel was outweighed by the loss of bite. Black fruit on mid-palate almost suggested a petit verdotcomponent (there isn't one) Tannins still showing dusty,allow a few more years to peak
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Due to the chewy and crunchy tannins on the mid-palate I found this wine really hard work to enjoy even after having let it breath numerous hours in the decanter. I would not approach this wine right now, my guess would be that it would benefit laying down for a further five years or so for it to come together hopefully. Life is too short so the remainder went straight into flavor my Chilli con Carne.
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We probably drank this early but with a two hour decant and some aerating this opened up to be a great wine. I will hold on to the rest for at least 3-5 years.
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Opened this by mistake. Should have consulted the drinking window. Very young and consequently harsh. Needs years in bottle before drinking as clearly indicated in the drinking window note. Oops!
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To the nose, black cherry > blackberry for fruit, with a solid earth presence (forest with slight vegetal). A very slight toffee or vanilla at times with a hint of smoke. On the palate, same fruits with slight plum joining in. Oak with, very slight tobacco, but not overwhelming. Medium to medium-full mouth feel with moderate length. Very smooooth. Silky tannins in threads. Some acidity keeps it bright. Very slight toffee, caramel or root beer at the end. Let me repeat: smooth.
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Who doesn’t know of Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s oldest winery. They are huge making over 2M cases per year; and with all that quantity still have 21 Winery of the Year honors. This 2012 Artist Series Meritage is expensive at about $65/bottle. It is primarily Cabernet (70%) with Merlot, Cab Franc, and Malbec in the blend. I really wanted to like this wine. I did like it; just not to higher expectations.
Don’t get me wrong—the Artist Series wine is high quality. It’s deep red and dark in the glass, and you can taste a few layers of fruit from black raspberry to spiced cherries. Quite a bit of toasty oak, too. A very good wine, not a great wine.
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2015 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/19/2015-10/27/2015 (New York City, NY): This opaque crimson wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Polished and focused, it is packed with cassis, dark chocolate, pomegranate and savory herbs. Full-bodied, round and with substantial silky tannins, it has good mid-palate weight, shows no alcoholic heat (14.5%) and finishes long. Soft textures and ripe fruit make this wine quite drinkable now, but it should last for another decade or more. Drink now-2025.
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1/21/2024 - dlerwood wrote: 93 Points
This is beautiful right now. Tannins are very soft. Lucious is the best way to describe it. Drink within the next year or two.
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5/11/2023 - DaneM Likes this wine:
I had to adjust expectations for this. I was expecting it to be fresher at this age, but it was quite mature. Drank like a 2007, delicious and drink now. Dark fruit on a soft core.
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6/18/2022 - SGates Likes this wine: 91 Points
Evolving to include a dusty chocolate note
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11/14/2021 - SGates Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar notes. Settling into a nice mature wine subtle notes taking over
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5/28/2021 - Redsquare82 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Boysenberry and cedar nose, palette of red fruits, raspberries, cassis, tobacco, and moss. Tannins are firm but smooth. It could go longer. Excellent wine. Reminds me more of a high end pinot noir than a Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
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5/27/2021 - jmcmchi wrote:
Found bottle hidden away...
Moderate sediment, no hint of aging in glass
Smooth firm tannins, should be good for a few years yet
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1/25/2021 - tombiro Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fairly smooth, but could still keep for a bit longer. Green pepper, red and blue fruits, and enjoyable overall.
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11/3/2020 - gwarnken Likes this wine: 90 Points
Soft and silky tannin structures with notes of red fruit and mineral on the palate.
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10/13/2020 - golfhawk Likes this wine:
Drinking good right now but I think it could get better with another year or two.
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10/10/2020 - SGates Likes this wine: 91 Points
Continuing to improve with age. rich and decadent. black and blue berries, leather and cigar.
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7/22/2020 - AJGalvin Likes this wine: 94 Points
A couple of years of rest has been kind to this wine. The aromas are still a tad heavy, so a decent decant is worthwhile. Scents of forest floor, mushrooms, blackberry jam, and oak with a touch of spice on the palate. Well balanced with an excellent finish.
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7/17/2020 - jmcmchi Likes this wine:
Decanted two hours, served at 62F. Sediment on shoulder indicates need to stand upright for a couple of days
Fruit and tannin balance in a good place, soft without heat, long and smooth. Best with Camembert
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12/16/2019 - Glenn92 wrote: 90 Points
PNP
Slight fruit structure. Little light for how it was sold to be big and bold
Might have peaked last year
Nice dark fruit after opening but not a "phenomenal" wine
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5/5/2019 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Wanted to really like this but feel it was a little disappointing. Soft wine that is probably great for food pairing but in tasting, couldn't stand up to California cabs. Don't feel this is one to leave laying down as it may already be past prime.
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12/22/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Our neighbor brought this when she came over for cards on 12/22/18. It had a rich, deep nose of black currant, black cherry, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was rich, plush and tasty with flavors that followed the nose. 91+
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10/31/2018 - Bowski412 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very nice wine. Still tannic. I opened and stood this up for about 3 hours before consuming. I would recommend standing it up for at least 24 hours before opening, and slow decanting for 2-4 hours of air. It will be better in 3 years. Lots of delicious dark fruit and prominent but silky tannins. Really nice dark color. Toasty oak with some vanilla but not over the top. Love this wine and will seek out more.
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9/12/2018 - joraesque wrote: 91 Points
Ripe, with a good amount of toasty oak. Drank well over two days.
91-92
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5/26/2018 - jmcmchi Likes this wine:
Dark and dense in glass
Decanted 4 hours. For an experiment, put one glas through vinturi and agreed that the softer mouthfeel was outweighed by the loss of bite.
Black fruit on mid-palate almost suggested a petit verdotcomponent (there isn't one)
Tannins still showing dusty,allow a few more years to peak
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4/28/2018 - BBlankenheim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dry, smoky and balanced. I recommend holding off a bit longer before opening, should age nicely with more time.
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4/6/2018 - tombiro wrote: 89 Points
Wow, it's so not ready for prime time in my opinion. Fantastically tannins, but more intense than most in our group would prefer.
Green pepper, a bit of herbs, and pretty classic Washington Cab to enjoy in a few years.
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3/23/2018 - Rickyd007 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, so well balanced...
Ready to drink
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12/24/2017 - Rickyd007 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an amazing wine, ready to drink
Well balanced, perfect tannin, WOW!
Expensive, but worth every penny!!
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12/23/2017 - aero wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at winery. Pepper, cacao, eucalyptus, green pepper. Could use a few years more to mature (2020+).
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11/13/2017 - Cathair Chaladinn wrote:
Due to the chewy and crunchy tannins on the mid-palate I found this wine really hard work to enjoy even after having let it breath numerous hours in the decanter. I would not approach this wine right now, my guess would be that it would benefit laying down for a further five years or so for it to come together hopefully. Life is too short so the remainder went straight into flavor my Chilli con Carne.
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10/26/2017 - golfhawk Likes this wine: 92 Points
We probably drank this early but with a two hour decant and some aerating this opened up to be a great wine. I will hold on to the rest for at least 3-5 years.
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9/17/2017 - crushzone Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened this by mistake. Should have consulted the drinking window. Very young and consequently harsh. Needs years in bottle before drinking as clearly indicated in the drinking window note. Oops!
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8/26/2017 - capnfutsal Likes this wine: 91 Points
To the nose, black cherry > blackberry for fruit, with a solid earth presence (forest with slight vegetal). A very slight toffee or vanilla at times with a hint of smoke. On the palate, same fruits with slight plum joining in. Oak with, very slight tobacco, but not overwhelming. Medium to medium-full mouth feel with moderate length. Very smooooth. Silky tannins in threads. Some acidity keeps it bright. Very slight toffee, caramel or root beer at the end. Let me repeat: smooth.
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3/9/2017 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 92 Points
fabulous. fully integrated tannins. Delicious
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2/7/2017 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep, dark, purple, full bodied, high ABV
Smokey, earthen ground, rich charcoal, dark fruit
Explosion of ripe dark plums, peppermint, spices
Great wine for the price. Will settle down some in the coming years, but highly enjoyable now.
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1/29/2017 - m251runner wrote: 89 Points
Who doesn’t know of Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s oldest winery. They are huge making over 2M cases per year; and with all that quantity still have 21 Winery of the Year honors. This 2012 Artist Series Meritage is expensive at about $65/bottle. It is primarily Cabernet (70%) with Merlot, Cab Franc, and Malbec in the blend. I really wanted to like this wine. I did like it; just not to higher expectations.
Don’t get me wrong—the Artist Series wine is high quality. It’s deep red and dark in the glass, and you can taste a few layers of fruit from black raspberry to spiced cherries. Quite a bit of toasty oak, too. A very good wine, not a great wine.
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7/21/2016 - AJGalvin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black cherry and spice, but still very smooth
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4/1/2016 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
Continuing to open out
Rich fruit and graphite nose
Smooth n palate, initial tannins are quite intense. Still a ways to go
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2/26/2016 - kenb59 Likes this wine: 90 Points
@@@@
Not sure if I would pay 65
Tannic balanced nice wine
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11/1/2015 - jmcmchi wrote:
Bulk of the fruit is from Canoe Ridge Interesting to compare with the syrah from the same vineyard...
Cedar and blackcurrant nose turning to cigar box
Dusty tannins on front Soft on fruit, layers of minerality mingled with tannins
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10/24/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
2015 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/19/2015-10/27/2015 (New York City, NY): This opaque crimson wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Polished and focused, it is packed with cassis, dark chocolate, pomegranate and savory herbs. Full-bodied, round and with substantial silky tannins, it has good mid-palate weight, shows no alcoholic heat (14.5%) and finishes long. Soft textures and ripe fruit make this wine quite drinkable now, but it should last for another decade or more. Drink now-2025.
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10/10/2015 - Dgordon1216 Likes this wine: 83 Points
Let it rest. A blend not only Meritage.
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9/26/2015 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
Lovely rich, dark berry and smoke nose
Dusty, long sweet tannins, still need a while to integrate
Fruit penetrating, long finish
90-91
November;
cedar starting to appear on nose
dark fruit and mineral in long finish'
note; a lot of this is Canoe Ridge fruit - softness appearing
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