2013 O'Shaughnessy Merlot Howell Mountain
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Tasting notes
Aromatics of graphite and fir. A palate of iron, herbs and spiced black plum. Tactile tannins and a long peppery finish with plenty of sapidity. A rounder palate here and plenty of palate-cleansing tannins. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
A chunky 100% Merlot, the 2013 offers gorgeous toffee, black cherry and mocha notes as well as some chocolate. It has beautiful density, a plump, corpulent, medium to full-bodied texture, and a luscious finish. This is a sexpot of a Merlot fruit bomb to drink over the next 8-10 years.
The 2013 Merlot is dark, intense and flavorful, with an intriguing combination of intense fruit and the savory/mineral overtones that are typical of Howell Mountain. Iron, smoke, game, tobacco and licorice are some of the signatures. Far from an easygoing wine, the Merlot has more than enough richness to drink well for a number of years, along with the tannic heft of a mountain wine.