Six plus years and still going strong. Wonderful. Rich. Opaque. Fruit and tannins in a seamless blend. Bordering on chewy in a good way. Muscular and restrained at the same time. On the one dimensional end of the complexity spectrum, but then it's a new world Merlot. Still and all, a terrific offering in its class. Years of life ahead, but drinking very well now. Throwing some sediment so let it settle and then decant. A solid 92 and a good QPR in its (now long gone) day.

Cheers!

MG

MG;
Great notes - I've got a bottle of '98 Pride Merlot in the cellar that'll sit yet for another year or two.

On a slight sidebar I just had a '96 Pride CS at a restaurant in Atlanta that was phenomenal, and only $42. Super plush, complex, and lots of life left in it, too.

...hey, chief - you gonna finish that bottle?

The first Pride I ever had. Remember reading a little about it, seeing it at a Costco in Scottsdale of all places for $19.99. Tried it and went back to empty the bin.
Thanks for the memories. Wish I had a few more bottles and I cringe everytime I reach for the 97, knowing it will be gone after another 6-pack or so.
The 97s behave in the same manner as their older brother by the way.

Cheers!
And remember: Life's too short to drink bad wine.