Hosts:
David and Betty Hood Gibson, Carol Sorgen
Metropolitan Club
640 Sutter St, SF
The tasting was Merlots: 2020. 2021 and 2022, from Sonoma, Napa and Bordeaux. It emphasized blends with Merlot being at least 60%. Hopefully the tasting provided a helpful distinction between Old World and New World blended merlots.
April Merlot results … California Merlot – the winner!
It wasn’t even close. The four California Merlot entries were considered better by the tasters in every instance. Of these top four California Merlots, the first place winner was the 2022 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley, Merlot, Walters Ranch Vineyard at Atlas Peak.This was the most expensive wine in the tasting available at K&L for $124.95.
Among the lower rated last four French wines was the 2020 Troplong Mondot, St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru rated 100 by Decanter and 98 by Robert Parker. At $120 a bottle at K&L it came in seventh place.
What conclusion can we take away from this tasting? Cellar Society tasters prefer more expensive softer California wines with plush tannins and fruit. Readers, do you agree?
| Rank | Points | Bot# | Wine | Price |
| 1 | 62 | 4 | 2022 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Merlot, Waters Ranch, Atlas Peak | $124.95 K&L |
| 2 | 72 | 3 | 2022 Pride Mountain Napa-Sonoma Counties Merlot | $72.95 K&L |
| 3 | 82 | 1 | 2021Keenan Spring Mountain, Mailbox Vineyard Reserve Merlot, Napa Valley Spring Mountain District | $80.99 Wine.com |
| 4 | 90 | 2 | 2021 Grgich Hill “Estate” Napa Valley Merlot | $44.95 K&L |
| 5 | 94 | 6 | 2022 La Gaffeliere, St-Emilion | $99.99 K&L |
| 6 | 96 | 5 | 2022 Clos du Clocher, Pomerol | $89.99 K&L |
| 7 | 101 | 8 | 2022 Chateau Coudert, St. Emilion: Grand Cru | $24.99 K&L |
| 8 | 123 | 7 | 2020 Troplong Mondot, St. Emilion: Premier Grand Cru Classe | $119.99 K&L |
| Individual Votes: | ||||||||
| Rank | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Total Points | 82 | 90 | 72 | 62 | 96 | 94 | 123 | 101 |
| Your Name | Btl 1 | Btl 2 | Btl 3 | Btl 4 | Btl 5 | Btl 6 | Btl 7 | Btl 8 |
| Laura | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Jim Felton | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| Steve Shank | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Phyllis Harding | 3 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| The Village Drunk | 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Marjie | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Bette | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Carol Sorgen | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Beth DeAtley | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Richard Keenan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Marie Coppola | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| Danne D | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 7 |
| David G | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Ginger | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Eileen | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| Steve Smith | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Ed | 7 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Lisa | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Diane Kawaguchi | 3 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Rick | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
Cellar Society of San Francisco 