Surprise 2009 Napa Merlot tasting after the Pahlmeyer tasting.

Deep purplish ruby red. Lovely nose with notes of gunpowder, tobacco, dark berries, lavender, lilac and a touch of gravel. Medium tannins (7/10) and medium plus body. Lots of dark berries, sweet spices and woody. Long finish.

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Medium to deep purplish red. Lovely nose with notes of black currants, light sweet spices, perfume, and even a touch blue. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and balanced acidity. Medium bodied with notes of cassis, gravel, spices, cinnamon and light blue fruits. Long finish.

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Deep ruby red. Layered nose with cassis, blueberries, spices and a bit of minerality. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. In a beautiful spot right now with tons of blue fruits, spices, cinnamon, anise and a touch herbal on the palate. Long finish and no reason to wait on this.

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Fourth red wine and second ringer, difficult to tell the difference except that it did not seem like a Cabernet at all.

Deep ruby core with medium edges. Very interesting nose with olives, iron, cassis, blueberries, some funk and steely too. Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Definitely young and packs a punch. Layers of black fruits on the palate, blue too, some mint and herbal undertones. Long and lingering finish. Very interesting with the difference between the palate and the nose.

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