2006 Pride Mountain Merlot Vintner's Select
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2006 Merlot Vintner's Select offers up aromas and flavors of mocha, chocolate, berry fruit, smoke, and herbs, a full-bodied richness, a deep, plush mouthfeel, and a long, heady finish. Although this is a Napa report, I took the liberty of including the Pride Mountain Sonoma bottlings since their wines tend to be primarily Bordeaux varietals rather than the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, etc. that will be covered in the Sonoma report. My apologies to subscribers and the winery for some mistakes I made last year in issue #180, when I listed 2006 instead of 2005 for the Reserve and Vintner's Select wines. This is the strongest portfolio of Pride Mountain wines that has been made under the new winemaker, Sally Johnston, who replaced Bob Foley several years ago. Tel. (707) 963-4949; Fax (707) 963-6039
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright medium ruby. Expressive aromas of red raspberry and caramel. Suave and juicy on entry, then sweet and inviting in the middle, with a lush texture and sexy raspberry and spice flavors. Very attractive, ripe merlot with plenty of well-buffered tannins for aging. "Our most expressive merlot," notes Steve Pride, "and always ripe due to a southern exposure." These vines are planted on rocky clay-and-sand soil.