Moone. Tsai Wines
Hillside Blend Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a beautiful one from Howell Mountain.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.
Great nose of blueberries, black currants, chocolates, tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, vinaigrette, earth and black pepper.
Full bodied in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, blueberries, black plums, vanilla, cedar, licorice, light cola, black tea and black pepper.
Long finish with soft tannins and raspberries.
This is a wonderful Merlot based Bordeaux Blend from Napa Valley.
Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel and great complexity.
This 8 year old from the great 2012 vintage is drinking very nicely now. Tasty, smooth and easy drinking.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (30 minutes). Just delicious. I loved smelling on it for a long while.
Thank you Wendy for sharing this with me.
Wine Spectator 92 points.
I had it a couple of years ago, and it wasn't quite there. Blossoming now. Delicious and yummy.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and fresh berries.
A blend of 64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are grown at an elevation of 2,100 feet. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 24 months. Less than 600 cases produced.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$125.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a beautiful one from Howell Mountain.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.
Great nose of blueberries, black currants, chocolates, tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, vinaigrette, earth and black pepper.
Full bodied in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, blueberries, black plums, vanilla, cedar, licorice, light cola, black tea and black pepper.
Long finish with soft tannins and raspberries.
This is a wonderful Merlot based Bordeaux Blend from Napa Valley.
Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel and great complexity.
This 8 year old from the great 2012 vintage is drinking very nicely now. Tasty, smooth and easy drinking.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (30 minutes). Just delicious. I loved smelling on it for a long while.
Thank you Wendy for sharing this with me.
Wine Spectator 92 points.
I had it a couple of years ago, and it wasn't quite there. Blossoming now. Delicious and yummy.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and fresh berries.
A blend of 64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are grown at an elevation of 2,100 feet. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 24 months. Less than 600 cases produced.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$125.
Firm, very tight upon release. I couldn't help myself! I would've waited for at least 2 years to allow the fruit to unfold behind the oak. Hearty oak on this guy.
Firm, very tight upon release. I couldn't help myself! I would've waited for at least 2 years to allow the fruit to unfold behind the oak. Hearty oak on this guy.
Sep 30th, 2015Right in its drinking window. Pnp and no rush to.drink still drinking very well with a couple more years in its peak drinking window.
Right in its drinking window. Pnp and no rush to.drink still drinking very well with a couple more years in its peak drinking window.
Jan 3rd, 2021Wow! Love this. So freaking good, in every way. Has many more years ahead of this.
Wow! Love this. So freaking good, in every way. Has many more years ahead of this.
Jan 4th, 2020Amazing! Drinking well not but will last several more years.
Amazing! Drinking well not but will last several more years.
Oct 31st, 2018Pnp and drinking very well right now. BlackBerry, plum, cassis, and tobacco. So good for fathers day!
Pnp and drinking very well right now. BlackBerry, plum, cassis, and tobacco. So good for fathers day!
Jun 17th, 2018Drinking so well now...Easter Turkey dinner wine.
Big beautiful balanced wine.
Love this stuff, so good.
Drinking so well now...Easter Turkey dinner wine.
Big beautiful balanced wine.
Love this stuff, so good.
Ideally needs more time in the cellar but a long decant will do. Only able to decant a hour and still somewhat tannic and closed. A big cali wine. Very very good
Ideally needs more time in the cellar but a long decant will do. Only able to decant a hour and still somewhat tannic and closed. A big cali wine. Very very good
Dec 25th, 2016
2012-luscious, dark berry, cassis bouquet: nice legs; great body, long, slightly tannic finish; a great wine.
2012-luscious, dark berry, cassis bouquet: nice legs; great body, long, slightly tannic finish; a great wine.
Jun 20th, 2016