N: Fragrant minerals & flowers with undertones of spice
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt attractively balanced by an acidity which transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly spicy/bitter finish with notes of tangy/swtness. My VG+, arguably more for the QPR of this vendor's $6.95, which is @ the HEAD of wine-searcher's rather skewed class. Drink now & PROBABLY through '19.
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt counterbalanced by an acidity which morphs into a LONG, VERY slightly bitter finish with OCCASIONAL *hints* of raisins. The bitterness on the end distracts, & as I don't see that resolving... My G+/VG-. 89 pts i-review.com, 88 ea Vinous & Anthony Dias Blue, and Gold @ Int'l Rose Drink Pink Wine Comp. [This vendor's $10.95 is at the TOP of wine-searcher's offerings.]
Note: For a different perspective, please cf. my note of 6/23/2018.
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois
85% Grenache & 15% Syrah grown in quaternary terraces consisting of angular pebbles & leached clays; 15 day controlled temp fermentation ff'd by 6 mos aging in concrete vats.
N: RIPE berries with notes of minerals & smoke, poss tar?
P: Med body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt me by puckerish astringency which pretty much resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitterswt choc tint (& OCCASIONAL *hints* of raisins) to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS into, poss through, '19, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My VG+, though I can see more as this loosens/matures. [I didn't see another source with which to compare this vendor's $13.95.]
N: Closed, but SEEMS ripe & potentially deep; Notes of spice?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some firming acidity which transitions into a LONG, tangy (with HINTS of pucker) finish with a touch of dreariness on the very back which detracts. For now & into '20, + MIGHT improve through the rest of '18. My VG, poss VG+. 88 pts WA & 87 WS. [This vendor's $9.95 puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's offerings!]
89.5% C.S., 6.5% Merlot, 2% Syrah, & 2% other select varieties aged for several mos in a combination of AM & FR oak barrels; 13.5% ABV, 0.53 g/100ml T.A., & 3.75 pH.
N: Very slightly closed; Ripe, jammy berries with notes of smoke & pyrazines
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by some almost "swtish" pucker which morphs into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness (40:60) to the dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, DESERVES another 12-18 mos, then drinking for another 3 yrs? My VG+. 89 pts WS & 88 with a "Best Buy" from WE @ $12. [This vendor's $8.95 beats all but about 15% of wine-searcher's large, surprisngly skewed listing.]
2016 Barone Fini Pinot Grigio
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Valdadige
N: Fragrant minerals & flowers with undertones of spice
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt attractively balanced by an acidity which transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly spicy/bitter finish with notes of tangy/swtness. My VG+, arguably more for the QPR of this vendor's $6.95, which is @ the HEAD of wine-searcher's rather skewed class. Drink now & PROBABLY through '19.
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2017 Saleya Côtes de Provence Rosé
France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
N: FRAGRANT floral with grapes underneath
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt counterbalanced by an acidity which morphs into a LONG, VERY slightly bitter finish with OCCASIONAL *hints* of raisins. The bitterness on the end distracts, & as I don't see that resolving... My G+/VG-. 89 pts i-review.com, 88 ea Vinous & Anthony Dias Blue, and Gold @ Int'l Rose Drink Pink Wine Comp. [This vendor's $10.95 is at the TOP of wine-searcher's offerings.]
Note: For a different perspective, please cf. my note of 6/23/2018.
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2016 Domaine des Homs Minervois Clots de Pals
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois
85% Grenache & 15% Syrah grown in quaternary terraces consisting of angular pebbles & leached clays; 15 day controlled temp fermentation ff'd by 6 mos aging in concrete vats.
N: RIPE berries with notes of minerals & smoke, poss tar?
P: Med body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt me by puckerish astringency which pretty much resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitterswt choc tint (& OCCASIONAL *hints* of raisins) to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS into, poss through, '19, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My VG+, though I can see more as this loosens/matures. [I didn't see another source with which to compare this vendor's $13.95.]
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2015 Càntele Primitivo Salento IGT
Italy, Puglia, Salento IGT
Typically aged in barriques of 6 mos
N: Closed, but SEEMS ripe & potentially deep; Notes of spice?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some firming acidity which transitions into a LONG, tangy (with HINTS of pucker) finish with a touch of dreariness on the very back which detracts. For now & into '20, + MIGHT improve through the rest of '18. My VG, poss VG+. 88 pts WA & 87 WS. [This vendor's $9.95 puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's offerings!]
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2015 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
89.5% C.S., 6.5% Merlot, 2% Syrah, & 2% other select varieties aged for several mos in a combination of AM & FR oak barrels; 13.5% ABV, 0.53 g/100ml T.A., & 3.75 pH.
N: Very slightly closed; Ripe, jammy berries with notes of smoke & pyrazines
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by some almost "swtish" pucker which morphs into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness (40:60) to the dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, DESERVES another 12-18 mos, then drinking for another 3 yrs? My VG+. 89 pts WS & 88 with a "Best Buy" from WE @ $12. [This vendor's $8.95 beats all but about 15% of wine-searcher's large, surprisngly skewed listing.]
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