Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

I called this Napa merlot between 2013-2015. Similar to some of the other merlots of the night, I got a dustiness to the fruit. Nicely balanced with good acidity and tannin. Definitely more red and black fruit dominant with bay leaf and a streak of licorice down the middle. I could see this going up in score a little bit over the next couple of years. Thanks @Jack Thompson — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

I guessed French wine with a vintage around 2010-2012. Very nice Italian merlot. There was a dustiness characteristic to the red and black fruit with swisher sweet like tobacco. Very fun to try next to my Long Shadows Pedestal as they were about as different as can be! Thanks @Benjamin Keator — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.0

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

I guessed domestic merlot between 2012-2014 from Napa. Very classic merlot. Ripe red and black fruits on the nose, slightly floral on the palate, as well as cedar wood, with good acidity. Thanks @Andrew Heffley — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

Celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday. She prefers champagne over red wine (and she really enjoys red wine) so this was definitely a perfect bottle. Awesome, creamy mousse. Roasted almonds, brioche, and rich key lime pie. This is definitely on the young side, but extremely enjoyable now. Very little tart notes here. Yeasty and chalk driven. Bubbles go forever. I enjoy the more oxidized style champagnes, and while this is maybe more reductive in style, there is an awesome savory/sea salt note steak down the middle of the palate here. — 5 days ago

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

Probably my WOTN. I guessed Napa merlot between 2012-2014. Really benefited from being decanted as it changed quite a bit. At first, it had some leather and herbal aromatics but after a while, it turned to more dark fruit and nutmeg. Very soft and round on the palate showing mocha and baked plums. Very enjoyable, but give it a decant if popping soon. Thanks @Weston Eidson — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

This was my contribution. Everyone guessed Napa. This was decanted about two hours prior to being poured and it was firing on all cylinders (I thought it would still be a little unforgiving). Large and in charge merlot. Mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, and a lot of ripe blackberry. Nutmeg and cinnamon. Rich and opulent. — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

I guessed this was French and that it was mid-2000s. Quite a bit of herbal notes, soft plum and stewed red and black fruits. Low acidity. Came across as over the hill a bit, which is surprising given the vintage. Still a nice merlot from Sonoma. — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

I called this 2012-2014 Napa merlot. Very balanced. Chalky tannins. Red, blue and black fruit. Aside from the Pedestal, I got more chocolate and dates here than the others. It wasn’t exuberant nor shy, just a nice “down the middle” wine. Thanks @Bill Makens — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.3

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

My guess was domestic and that it was a 2013-2015. Very surprised this was French. I found it to be a very modern expression. Ripe fruits, licorice, plum, cassis, and just a faint hint of leather at last sip. I imagine its French pedigree would have shown itself more as the night went on. Really enjoyed this. — 2 days ago

with Jack, Andrew and 3 others

Shay A

9.1

Monthly WTF group. Theme this month was merlot. All wines tasted blind.

I opened this as a starter for everyone and was very pleased. For around $25, this is a wonderful champagne. Roasted lemon & lime alongside brioche aromatics. Very creamy mousse. Chalky minerality on the palate. Honeyed guava, touch of honeycomb. Really good acidity. I was introduced to this by @David T ; thanks David! — 2 days ago

with Andrew, Bill and 3 others