Nickel & Nickel
Suscol Ranch Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley, California, USA
A delight. First go round with this guy was met with a smile and I’ll have another please. Lush fruit, with clover, leather, caramel infusions. Great finish.
A delight. First go round with this guy was met with a smile and I’ll have another please. Lush fruit, with clover, leather, caramel infusions. Great finish.
Nov 4th, 2018
Lush and smooth texture with flavors of plum, sage and blueberries with highlights of vanilla Oak. Beautiful finish - one of the best Merlot’ I have had from Suscol Ranch. Drinking with Meg and my daughter Julie.
Lush and smooth texture with flavors of plum, sage and blueberries with highlights of vanilla Oak. Beautiful finish - one of the best Merlot’ I have had from Suscol Ranch. Drinking with Meg and my daughter Julie.
Oct 7th, 2018
Sawdust and drywall on the nose. Also industrial steel beam. Spice as well. Black pepper subtleties. Vanilla oak and dill on the palate. Fine tannins.
Sawdust and drywall on the nose. Also industrial steel beam. Spice as well. Black pepper subtleties. Vanilla oak and dill on the palate. Fine tannins.
4 people found it helpfulAug 24th, 2014It has a lot of brett. I think that's the horse poopish taste. It has a sage flavor that kicks in on the sip and then goes to the sawdusty bite.
It has a lot of brett. I think that's the horse poopish taste. It has a sage flavor that kicks in on the sip and then goes to the sawdusty bite.
2 people found it helpfulAug 24th, 2014
You should never drink & drive but, it’s ok when it’s Santa’s magical sleigh.
The nose broods; dark cassis & some currants, candied, dark chocolate, covered cherries, blackberries, stewed plum, baked strawberries, sweet tarriness, black licorice, very, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon and vanillin notes, wet clay, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, hints graphite, very dark cola to liqueur characteristics, whiff of white pepper, some dry herbs-Rosemary dominant with slight candied, bright, fresh, dark, red florals.
The body is thick, rich & full. I thought this would be near or at its peak but, there is another 3-5 years before it gets there. The structure & tension are still quite powerful. The tannins are round but, thick, tarry, chewy and still well pronounced. It’s good but, lacks a little depth, complexity & character for me. Dark cassis & some currants, candied, dark chocolate, covered cherries, blackberries, stewed plum, baked strawberries, raspberries playing hide & go seek, sweet tarriness, black licorice, strong dark spices with plenty of palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and vanillin notes, wet clay forest floor, shades of mushroom pop up, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, hints graphite, dry tobacco with ash, leathery, very dark cola to liqueur characteristics, white pepper, some dry herbs-Rosemary dominant with slight candied, bright, fresh, dark, red, blue & purple florals. The acidity is like a gentle spring. The long finish is, ripe, ruby, slightly candied, juicy and elegant that falls into seriously pronounced dark spices. Especially, for Merlot.
Good wine...it’s just lacks the depth I look for in a 10 year old red. And, not sure it delivers it down the road.
You should never drink & drive but, it’s ok when it’s Santa’s magical sleigh.
The nose broods; dark cassis & some currants, candied, dark chocolate, covered cherries, blackberries, stewed plum, baked strawberries, sweet tarriness, black licorice, very, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon and vanillin notes, wet clay, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, hints graphite, very dark cola to liqueur characteristics, whiff of white pepper, some dry herbs-Rosemary dominant with slight candied, bright, fresh, dark, red florals.
The body is thick, rich & full. I thought this would be near or at its peak but, there is another 3-5 years before it gets there. The structure & tension are still quite powerful. The tannins are round but, thick, tarry, chewy and still well pronounced. It’s good but, lacks a little depth, complexity & character for me. Dark cassis & some currants, candied, dark chocolate, covered cherries, blackberries, stewed plum, baked strawberries, raspberries playing hide & go seek, sweet tarriness, black licorice, strong dark spices with plenty of palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and vanillin notes, wet clay forest floor, shades of mushroom pop up, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, hints graphite, dry tobacco with ash, leathery, very dark cola to liqueur characteristics, white pepper, some dry herbs-Rosemary dominant with slight candied, bright, fresh, dark, red, blue & purple florals. The acidity is like a gentle spring. The long finish is, ripe, ruby, slightly candied, juicy and elegant that falls into seriously pronounced dark spices. Especially, for Merlot.
Good wine...it’s just lacks the depth I look for in a 10 year old red. And, not sure it delivers it down the road.
Delicious Merlot. Fruity, round, but still balanced.
Delicious Merlot. Fruity, round, but still balanced.
1 person found it helpfulNov 17th, 2016
Excellent finish!!! Nice oak flavor at the end.
Excellent finish!!! Nice oak flavor at the end.
1 person found it helpfulJan 16th, 2016
$76 airport lounge, ripe and full with elegance: satisfying with salty charcuterie. Will buy for cellar.
$76 airport lounge, ripe and full with elegance: satisfying with salty charcuterie. Will buy for cellar.
1 person found it helpfulFeb 23rd, 2015
Opening a bottle of their 2012 Suscol Ranch Merlot, aged for 17 months on French oak (52% new), showing beautiful fresh aromas of dark fruits and berries with a gentle cedar notes. On the palate juicy fresh fruit, plum and blackberry with toasty oak, white pepper and earthy tones, very unique flavor. Smooth tannins, well balanced on a lingering finish great now but cellar will benefit.
Opening a bottle of their 2012 Suscol Ranch Merlot, aged for 17 months on French oak (52% new), showing beautiful fresh aromas of dark fruits and berries with a gentle cedar notes. On the palate juicy fresh fruit, plum and blackberry with toasty oak, white pepper and earthy tones, very unique flavor. Smooth tannins, well balanced on a lingering finish great now but cellar will benefit.
May 12th, 2017