1996 Concho y Toro

[Drew]

Went to pick up a couple of bottles of 98' "Diablo" merlot but found 96' instead. WS rates it 86 pts. similar tn's to the 98. Do you think the 96' is still drinking good? I don't know the longevity of "Diablo" merlots.

Drew

[Randy Caparoso]

If anything, the '96 should be better. '98 was a difficult, wet year in Chile -- mostly green, herby reds. The '99s, incidentally, are the opposite. They'll be extraordinary at every price range. I put in a more complete report based upon a recent visit on [url=http://www.wine-lovers-page.com/randysworld.]www.wine-lovers-page.com/randysworld.[/url]

[Drew]

Randy....you were right! Picked up three bottles of 96' today and after the customary one hour rest, in this household, decanted for 45 minutes and wow. Beautiful dark garnet, slightly translucent, (not as dark as the 98'). Wonderful nose of dark fruit, vanilla, slight dill. Very smooth upfront dark fruit with the best balance of oak I've experienced in a long time. The flavors dance on your tongue singing fruit...oak...fruit...oak in perfect rythm gliding into a medium long finish. What a nice merlot for $8.39 + tax. Hope you all can find a bottle....I'm so lucky to live in a wine rich area!

Drew

[winecollector]

Drew- Did you know that you can get a 5-liter bottle of Concho y Toro Merlot in PA for around $30? I don't think it's the Diablo though, I think it's possibly Sunrise? I haven't opened it yet, so I don't know what to expect.

[winoweenie]

Who is the imposter using our very own Randys` Name on the above post? Randy said he`d be signing off for three weeks. Bucko, call in the feds. Winoweenie

[winecollector]

Now now, Winoweenie! Let's not tick off the moderator! You don't want him to start deleating you postings, do you?