Pride Mountain Vineyards
Vintner Select Cuvee Sonoma County Merlot
Sonoma County, California, USA
Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Claret 2013, Sonoma County, California
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
This is a delicious Merlot based Bordeaux blend from from Sonoma County.
Full bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, chocolates, black currants, black plums, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, light earth, licorice and light coffee.
Long finish with medium tannins.
This 10-year-old is drinking very nicely now, and it will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to visit it again in 5 years.
Showing nice complexity with a great mouthfeel. Elegant and rich. Powerful and fruit forward.
Drinking very much like a Napa Cabernet.
Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Good by itself or with food.
A blend of 62% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. 14% of the grapes are from Napa Valley. Aged in French oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of only 450 cases.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$200.
Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Claret 2013, Sonoma County, California
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
This is a delicious Merlot based Bordeaux blend from from Sonoma County.
Full bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, chocolates, black currants, black plums, black cherries, cedar, vanilla, light earth, licorice and light coffee.
Long finish with medium tannins.
This 10-year-old is drinking very nicely now, and it will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to visit it again in 5 years.
Showing nice complexity with a great mouthfeel. Elegant and rich. Powerful and fruit forward.
Drinking very much like a Napa Cabernet.
Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. Good by itself or with food.
A blend of 62% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. 14% of the grapes are from Napa Valley. Aged in French oak barrels for 22 months. A small production of only 450 cases.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$200.
Broad and lush. Still primary. Violet and sappy fruit. Nice, but too alcoholic?
Broad and lush. Still primary. Violet and sappy fruit. Nice, but too alcoholic?
Mar 4th, 2023
dark ruby violet; plum, tobacco, bitter dark chocolate, espresso, cedar; dense, concentrated dark fruit and spice with velvety texture and long finish; full bodied, good acidity, slightly gritty tannin, 14.7% ABV; blend of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 14 months in 40% new French oak; $62
dark ruby violet; plum, tobacco, bitter dark chocolate, espresso, cedar; dense, concentrated dark fruit and spice with velvety texture and long finish; full bodied, good acidity, slightly gritty tannin, 14.7% ABV; blend of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 14 months in 40% new French oak; $62
Mar 28th, 2020Medium dark ruby violet hue. Aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder, and pencil lead with ripe, concentrated dark fruit on the palate and medium length finish. Full bodied with sweet, velvety tannins and 14.5% alcohol. Made from a blend of 87.9% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 0.1% Petit Verdot aged in 40% new French oak. $85.
Medium dark ruby violet hue. Aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder, and pencil lead with ripe, concentrated dark fruit on the palate and medium length finish. Full bodied with sweet, velvety tannins and 14.5% alcohol. Made from a blend of 87.9% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 0.1% Petit Verdot aged in 40% new French oak. $85.
Jul 22nd, 2018
This started rocking after an hour. Chalky and freshly squeezed blackberries and plum on the nose. Black cherry on the palate with awesome cinnamon and baked berry medley pie. Still young, but killer merlot. Spring Mtn merlots (Pride, Keenan, Paloma) are the best in Napa in my opinion! Nice bottle @David Schoonover !
This started rocking after an hour. Chalky and freshly squeezed blackberries and plum on the nose. Black cherry on the palate with awesome cinnamon and baked berry medley pie. Still young, but killer merlot. Spring Mtn merlots (Pride, Keenan, Paloma) are the best in Napa in my opinion! Nice bottle @David Schoonover !
1 person found it helpfulJul 20th, 2018
Great structure and focus. Oak, fruit, acid are all in harmony. The vintners Select is all clone 6 if I recall. Age worthy no doubt, but why wait if you don't have to!?
Great structure and focus. Oak, fruit, acid are all in harmony. The vintners Select is all clone 6 if I recall. Age worthy no doubt, but why wait if you don't have to!?
Dec 9th, 2016
Savory baked fruit and wood influence, gripping tannin front pallet that smooths and fills out. Long lasting flavor, higher alcohol integrated well
Savory baked fruit and wood influence, gripping tannin front pallet that smooths and fills out. Long lasting flavor, higher alcohol integrated well
Oct 21st, 2015In great shape, still primary in terms of fruit, but the tannin is resolved. No hard edges
In great shape, still primary in terms of fruit, but the tannin is resolved. No hard edges
Jun 21st, 2014Nicely balanced. Black fruits. A cool hit of acidity for a merlot.
Nicely balanced. Black fruits. A cool hit of acidity for a merlot.
Dec 24th, 2013
'09 Vintner Select Merlot... major highlight of the trip. A wine club-only release with insane length and complexity, and 95 points from Bobby Parker doesn't hurt, either.
'09 Vintner Select Merlot... major highlight of the trip. A wine club-only release with insane length and complexity, and 95 points from Bobby Parker doesn't hurt, either.
Oct 19th, 2013