this bottle confused me.....

[Grape Stuff]

I had a 1997 Andrew Will Merlot (Pepper Bridge Vineyard). I was expecting something really great. A little age, good year, good producer, etc.

What I experianced was (ok here's the hard part) a very dark ruby color, a nose of subtle black fruit a medium body feel with very earthy flavors...almost musty, an a finish that was very long, maybe 30-40 seconds.

Lots of complex flavors, nice finish, but not a lot of fruit. So...I don't know if this bottle was:

a) Had very slight cork taint?
b) Was very old world in style?
c) Was in a dead period?

I can't say I was dissapointed with the bottle, it was just so completely different from anything I'd had before.

Any insight?

[wineguruchgo]

Being that you used the word "musty" it might have been corked. Yet, being that it's as old as it is, I would think the "musty" taste would have been more prevalent.

The wine may have been in it's "dumb stage". When wine begins to age there is a physical chemical composition change which many refer to as a dumb stage.

If this is the case, something tells me if you had held onto it for another few years your thoughts may have been different.

This is my guess. I'm sure others will have an opinion as well. Sorry you were disappointed.

[This message has been edited by wineguruchgo (edited 04-10-2004).]