1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Bright ruby-violet hue. Ripe plummy aromas with a dusty, spiced accent. A firm entry leads a medium-bodied palate with very tight tannins and good fruit concentration. Dry through the finish. Drink now or later.

- Joe Czerwinski, Steve Heimoff, Michael Schachner, Larry Walker

"Best of the Best Meritage Wines"

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Great, deep color. Wonderful balance. Slightly muted nose, but intense grape and tannin feel. Vanilla notes with spicy pepper tones. Richly concentrated.

  

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Bursting with lavish oak at every turn, this rich and somewhat stylish wine is underpinned with ample, cassis-like fruit and accented throughout with touches of loamy earth and sweet rooty spice. Solid, but never overdone in the mouth, it is slightly supple and somewhat polished in feel before ending on a tougher, nominally tannic note. Time will most certainly remedy its coarser aspects, and, while serviceable with hearty foods in three or four years, it promises to improve for upwards of a decade.

- Charles Olken and Earl Singer

"Great Wines"

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

A red meritage wine, 1995 Napa Valley Profile, was deeply scented and flavored with blackbery, cassis and barrel vanillin. Soft on the palate, it is still concentrated and full-bodied.

- Bill Stephens

"Exceptional"

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

- BTI

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Merryvale proved its point—Profile belongs on the same table with the best of Napa.

- Ben Giliberti

"Ranked Second"

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Recently, Napa Valley’s Merryvale Vineyards conducted a blind tasting for restaurant wine buyers, retail trade, and invited Eleanor to participate. Merryvale put its 1995 Profile in blind tasting against seven other big hitters in the Bordeaux blend category from both Napa and Sonoma.Results. Ranking begins with Eleanor’s number one preference and is followed by group ranking in parentheses. All wines are 1995. Stonestreet Legacy (4); Merryvale Profile (2); Caymus regular Cabernet Sauvignon (1); Joseph Phelps Insignia (3); Pahlmeyer (5); Far Niente (7); Cain Five (8); and Opus One (6). In such distinguished company, coming in second place should get your vote of confidence!

- Ray & Eleanor Heald

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

A Bordeaux-style blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot that is dense, ripe and loaded with fruit.

- Anthony Dias Blue

"Napa Valley Wines To Buy"

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

"Wines to Buy" Young and vibrant, with concentrated flavors and firm tannins.

- Jeff Morgan

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Young and vibrant, with a ripe, rich, lively core of currant, plum, anise, sage and cedar. This complex and concentrated wine is supported by a firm tannic backbone, but the flavors glide through on the finish. A blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. 2,150 cases made.

- James Laube

"Gold Medal"

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

- Dr. Richard Vine

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

The two exceptional Profile cuvees should receive more attention from wine consumers. The outstanding 1995 Profile (14.5% alcohol) is made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc. It needs 4-5 years of cellaring, so readers looking for Cabernet-based wines with immediate accessibility should be forewarned. The wine exhibits an opaque purple color, followed by copious amounts of toasty, smoky, high quality new oak in the nose, along with equally impressive quantities of black currants, plums, and cherries. Deep and full-bodied, with high tannin but outstanding concentration, this is an impressively built, bordeaux-like wine. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.

- Robert Parker, Jr.

1995 'Profile', Napa Valley

Good deep saturated color. Bright, ripe aromas of roasted plum, black cherry, cassis, smoke and lead pencil. Broad and fleshy on the palate, but sound acids give this concentrated wine good shape and balance. Finishes with ripe tannins and noteworthy persistence. Lots of potential.

- Stephen Tanzer