1999 Reviews

 

THE INSIDERS’ WINE LINE-JOE SULLIVAN
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: Volume 4, Number 1
Rating: 93
Review:
“The 1999 Merlot, Napa Valley has a perfumed bouquet of blackberry, black plum, cedar, tea, black olive, cocoa, violets and vanilla with a faint hint of mint. The flavors of cherries, berries, pepper, cassis and spicy oak are well balanced with exceptional depth and texture followed by a fabulous, complex, expansive, fruity finish.”


Wine: 1999 Paloma Syrah, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: Volume 4, Number 4
Rating: 94
Review:
“ The 1999 Syrah, Napa Valley has a very exotic bouquet of blackberry, currants, cherries, coffee, lavender, tobacco, mint, pepper and vanilla. The flavors of lush berries, cassis, dry citrus zest, Asian spice and smoky oak are lush and expansive with fabulous depth followed by a long, fruity, spicy finish. One of the finest syrahs produced in California.”

 

WINE ADVOCATE – ROBERT PARKER JR.
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: 6-29-02, Issue 141
Rating: 93
Review:
“A sensational Merlot, Paloma’s 1999 Spring Mountain cuvee offers beautiful mocha, fudge, and black fruit scents with notions of high quality toasty oak in the background. Well-knit, long and opulently-textured, with terrific purity as well as intensity, it will drink well for 10-14 years.”


Wine: 1999 Paloma Syrah, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: 2-28-02, Issue 139
Rating: 90
Review:
“Opaque purple-colored with terrific density and ripeness, this multi-layered, deep, full-bodied Syrah reveals loads of blackberry and currant fruit along with subtle wood, underbrush, and toasty notes, and a long, spicy finish. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.”

 


COLORADO WINE NEWS
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: July- September 2002
Rating: BEST WINE
Review:
“The 1999 Merlot, Napa Valley, contains 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged 19 months in 50% new French oak. It opens big, rich and dense with blackberry, black cherry, currant, plum, chocolate, and well integrated soft oak. There is lots of extraction evident in the ripe, sweet fruit flavors which carry everything from the nose laced with fine tannin and well integrated firm oak. The finish is broad and long with a touch of alcohol at the end. This is a big, smooth, well balanced, structured and integrated wine which has elegance to match its power. It will improve and open with two or three years in the bottle. Paloma regularly crafts one of the best Merlots made in California and if you love merlot, buy as much of this as you can find. Delicious, Outstanding.”

 

CALIFORNIA GRAPEVINE
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: April- May 2002
Rating: 76
Review:
“Medium-dark ruby; attractive, intense, cedary, toasty, plumy, ripe black cherry fruit aroma; full body; dense, cedary, high-extract, blackberry flavors with overtones of charred oak; full tannin; rough, somewhat caustic, dry finish; lingering aftertaste.

 


CONNOISSEURS’ GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA WINE
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: December 2001
Rating: 88, One Puff
15% Cabernet Sauvignon
Review:
“Intense, extracted aromas of dried black cherries, chocolate, woody spice and a slightly rooty note, score points for volume even though not possessed of the fruit that one expects of Merlot. In the mouth, the wine finds initial suppleness giving way to hard-charging tannins and toasty oak that challenge for attention from mid-palate to finish. Richness and depth save it, and several years of patient cellaring are likely to bring it some needed softening.”


Wine: 1999 Paloma Syrah, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: February 2002
Rating:
Review:
“While this wine is admirably long on depth and richness in the nose, it comes upon the tough and dilute side in the mouth. It shows a bit of early interest but dries out to a coarse finish, and it simply fails to follow through on its aromatic promises of size and fruity substance.”

 

INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR – STEPHEN TANZER
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: November/December 2001
Rating: 89
Review:
“Medium ruby. Primal aromas of blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate and charred oak. Fat, dense and rich, with a chewy texture and good depth: flavors of briary mountain berries along with hints of mocha, espresso and herbs. Still rather tightly wound, with juicy acids dominating the youthful fruit. Finishes with even, toothdusting tannins and firm acidity.”


Wine: 1999 Paloma Syrah, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: November/ December 2001
Rating: 90
Review:
“Dark ruby. Knockout nose combines black raspberry, violet, smoked meat, tree bark and black cardamom. Dense, rich and ripe, but a bit rigid in its youth due to strong acidity. But this has accurate varietal character and terrific verve. Finishes ripe and long, with fine tannins.”

 

WINE SPECTATOR
Wine: 1999 Paloma Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: January 31-February 28, 2002
Rating: 89
Review:
“Packs in lots of currant, mineral, cedar, spice and hazelnut, shaded by pretty, toasty-cedary oak. Offers dept and complexity while maintaining a sense of elegance. Drink now through 2007. 2,200 cases made. –J.L.”


Wine: 1999 Paloma Syrah, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Reviewed: January 31 – February 28, 2002
Review:
“Spot-on Syrah with its earthy, beefy, leathery aromas and rich yet elegant band of cherry, licorice and plum-laced flavors. Gains complexity, finishing with well-integrated tannins. Drink now through 2006. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 145 cases made.

 

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