Reviews
CURRENT REVIEWS
2009 Wines
Wine: 2009 Paloma Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
Oct. 2011
Rating: 95
Price: $54, 440 cases made
Review:
Delivers a complex mix of zesty, vibrant wild berry, raspberry, currant and blackberry fruit in a firm seamless way. Full-bodied and gaining with every sip, this ends with complex mix of espresso and wild berry. Best from 2013 though 2025. From California. —J.L.
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2009 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
December 2011
Rating: 93
Price: $54
Review:
Sleek and richly structured, with aromas of red currant and loamy black olive leading to plush complex flavors of ripe plum, mocha and toasty oak. Drink now though 2016. Tim Fish
2008 Wines
Wine: 2008 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
February 2011
Rating: 93
Price: $54
Review:
Supple and plush, showing great depth, length and balance. Aromas of red currants, loam and olive lead to ripe flavors of plum, sweet mocha and spice. Drink now though 2016. Tim Fish
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s
The WINE ADVOCATE
December 2010
PALOMA 2008 MERLOT NAPA ($54.00)
Score: 88
Review:
While not as outstanding as the 2007, the 2008 Merlot Spring Mountain is a front end-loaded cuvee offering abundant silky tanniins, pleanty of herbaceously-tinged mocha, chocolate, black cherry and plum-like fruit and a soft, fully mature style. It is best consumed over the next 4-5 years. Tel. And Fax (707) 963-7504
2007 Wines
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s
The WINE ADVOCATE
December 23, 200
PALOMA 2004 MERLOT NAPA ($54.00)
Score: 91
Review:
Northern California lost an affable, highly respected proprietor, Jim Richards, this year but his fans will ensure his legacy continues by supporting wines such as this. The 2007 Merlot is a sumptuous, round, silky generous, delicious effort offering plenty of berry fruit, mocha, and chocolatey undertones. Like so many wines that have emerged from this Spring Mountain vineyard, it offers delicious drinking . Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years. Tel. And Fax (707) 963-7504
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2007 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
February 2010
Rating: 88
Price: $54
Review:
Offers appealing aromas of red currant and spicy mocha, as well as supple, ripe wild berry and earthy sage flavors that linger toward soft tannins. The better of two bottles tasted. Drink now through 2015. 3,100 cases made. Tim Fish
The CONNOISSEURS' GUIDE
September 2010
PALOMA MERLOT, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley 2007 ($54.00)
Score: 91
Review:
Deeply fruited, impressively filled with a keen sense of dark, well-ripened cherries that indelibly marks it as a Merlot. Paloma's latest is an especially well-balanced working that is at once rich, refined and remarkably polished. It does show a streak of fine-grained finishing tannins, but there is nothing so coarse as to raise worries, an the wine's fruit eases its way past a bit of last-minute astringency. As good Merlot will, this one might tempt early drinking, but it has a long life before it and should evolve for years to come.
2006 Wines
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s
The WINE ADVOCATE
December 2008
PALOMA 2004 MERLOT NAPA ($54.00)
Score: 93
Review:
An excellent Merlot from proprietor Jim Richards, this 2006 reveals flamboyant, sexy, chocolaty, mocha, and coffee notes intermixed with oodles of black cherry and berry fruit. Full-bodied, silky textured, and mouthfilling, this hedonistic effort will provide enormous pleasure over the next 5 - 8 years. Tel. And Fax (707) 963-7504
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2006 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
December 2008
Rating: 93
Price: $54
Review:
Plush, ripe and elegant, with fragrant currant, caramel and olive aromas and supple, beautifully layered plum, cedar and loamy, toasty oak flavors that are wrapped around a dense, complex core. Drink now through 2015. 3100 cases made. Tim Fish
2005 Wines
The WINE ADVOCATE
December 2007
PALOMA 2004 MERLOT NAPA ($54.00)
Score: 92
Review:
A very strong effort for Paloma, their 2005 Merlot is a full bodied, big, juicy, succulent style of Merlot with oodles of black cherry and mocha-tinged fruit with some sweet, supple oak in the background. Opulent, fleshy, and all that a Merlot should be, this low-acid, plump wine cuts a broad swath across the palate. It should drink beautifully for at least 8-10 years. Tel. And Fax (707) 963-7504
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2005 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
December 2007
Rating: 88
Price: $54
Review:
Supple yet focused, with plum and nutty spice aromas and well-=structured currant, cedar and mineral flavors. The tannins are ripe, but need time to flesh out. Best from2009 through 2012. 1,372 cases made. —Tim Fish
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
July 2008, Merlot pg. 81
PALOMA 2005 Merlot-Spring Mountain District Napa Valley
Score: 95, Two Stars
Review:
"Its aromas may be a touch slow to open, and, even with air, the wine shows a certain restraint to its impeccably focused themes of cherries, sweet herbs and creamy oak, but, once in the mouth, this classical, solidly structured bottling shows its true self with deeply cast, well-fruited flavors and plenty of mass and bottom. It is extracted without being tough, and its youthful, tailored tannins never get in the way of its lingering fruit. Its impressions of proportion and careful balance guarantee more and better to come with age, and we would strongly urge that the wine be put aside for four to seven years."
2004 Wines
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s
The WINE ADVOCATE
December 26, 2006
Issue 168
PALOMA 2004 MERLOT NAPA ($50.00)
Score: 91
Review:
A big, sweet perfume of chocolate fudge, toffee, caramel, black cherry, and coffee beans jump from the glass of this flamboyant, exotic, plush Merlot. Medium to full-bodied with low acidity and ripe tannin, it represents a hedonistic blast of fruit, glycerin and soft tannins. Enjoy over the next 7-8 years. Tel. And Fax (707) 963-7504
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2004 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
November 30, 2006
Rating: 93
Price: $54
Review:
A supple, graceful style. Complex aromas of red currant, plum and black cherry carry over to the palate, offering depth, richness and layers of flavors that unfold gradually. Tightly wound now, with firm but ripe tannins. keeps revealing subtle flavor nuances, with hints of mineral, sage and dusty berry. Best from 2008 through 2013. 1,135 cases made. —James Laube
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s
The WINE ADVOCATE
December 26, 2005
Issue 162
PALOMA 2003 MERLOT NAPA ($55.00)
Score: 89
Review:
An elegant, soft, velvety example of Paloma, with deep ruby/purple-tinged color, attractive notes of caramel, mocha, sweet cherry and berry fruit, this 2003 Merlot is round and medium-bodied with no hard edges. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. Tel. And Fax (707) 963-7504
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2003 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
December 15, 2005
Rating: 90
Price: $51
Review:
Impeccably balanced, with rich, vibrant, intense currant, fresh earth, black cherry and blackberry fruit that’s well focused. The tannins and cedary nutmeg-laced oak add a firm edge on the finish. Best to cellar short-term or decant. Drink now though 2001. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,930 cases made. —James Laube
2002 Wines
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
March 2005, Merlot pg. 81
PALOMA 2002 Merlot-Spring Mountain District Napa Valley
Score: 93, Two Puffs
Review:
Here is a tight but delicious Merlot whose mountain-side grapes have contributed a level of sinew not often seen in the variety. Its aromas start off with expected notes of ripe red cherries before picking up more concentrated suggestions of currants and black cherries. In the mouth, it currently shows less of Merlot's early juiciness and, instead, relies on the depth of its still nascent fruit as the convincing offset to its blanket of youthful tannins. This one will reward cellaring.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s
The WINE ADVOCATE
February 28, 2005
Issue 157
PALOMA 2002 MERLOT NAPA ($50.00)
Score: 90
PALOMA 2002 SYRAH NAPA ($45.00)
Score: 90
Review(s):
Paloma's 2002 Merlot is a worthy successor to their brilliant 2001, but it is not as rich, complex, or deep as the latter vintage. The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2002 possesses lovely aromas of chocolate-infused coffee intermixed with berry and currant fruit. This lush, medium to full-bodied Merlot is ideal for drinking now and over the next 7-8 years.
Even better is the 2002 Syrah (which I believe will be the final vintage of this cuvee). It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of blackberries, licorice, currants, and smoke. Opulently-textured, ripe, and hedonistic, this is a Syrah to enjoy over the next 5-7 years.
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 2002 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
December 31, 2004
Rating: 93
Price: $51
Review:
Jim and Barbara Richards follow their stunning 2001 (Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2003) with this complex, elegant 2002 from their 15-acre vineyard on a steep ridge on Spring Mountain in western Napa Valley. It includes 17 percent of estate cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels for 19 months before release. 1,650 cases made. —James Suckling.
WINE SPECTATOR WEEKLY
Wine:2002 Paloma Syrah Spring Mountain District
Closing date: September 23, 2004
Rating: 93
Price: $42
Review:
This wine quickly accelerates, with smooth, rich wild berry, sage, mocha, espresso bean and minerally flavors that are dense and concentrated, showing but a glimpse of what lies ahead as it sails on, relying on its fruit character to carry the long, rich finish. Best from 2005 through 2012.
From California.— J.L.
WINE SPECTATOR
Wine:2002 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District
Closing date: September 2004
Rating: 93
Price: $51
Review:
A delicious Merlot that's a worthy successor to the stellar '01. Ripe, rich, juicy and polished, with layers of currant, black cherry and plum that are deeply concentrated, elegant and lively. A light overlay of toasty, mocha-scented oak adds another flavor dimension, and the flavors linger on a long, zesty aftertaste. Drink now through 2009. 1,650 cases made. From California.—J.L
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