Community Tasting Notes 23

• iByron Likes this wine: 87 points

  December 13, 2017 - Dark garnet red in the glass. Nose and palate of red and black fruits with a tarry sheen. Medium tannins. Medium acidity. Medium-long, dark finish. Yes, it tastes like Port if it was dry and unfortified. Not a bad thing. Still vibrant 13 Year’s on. Maybe five years or so left.

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• iByron wrote: 89 points

  September 7, 2011 - Something different this way comes. The color is a dark yet vibrant red purple that's clear yet nearly black in the glass: a hint of what's to come, it turns out. Alcohol on the nose blows off revealing dark fruit and patent leather. Medium-light to medium body with light tannins and good, food-friendly acidity on the palate. Then, WHAM! Extremely dark, almost Old World flavor profile (think Madiran or Bairrada) of patent leather, stewed blackberries, and very dark bitter chocolate which, along with some chicory, rules the long, brooding finish. Yet there's still that light New World "sheen" over it all. That's the conundrum of this wine: such a dark and unforgiving flavor profile in such a light-bodied and smooth-tannined wine. Definitely a food wine, and can probably handle saltier dishes a bit better than a lot of New World reds. Fits squarely within KR's Esoterica mission. Drinking well now through 2014.

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• Wicked Panda wrote: 84 points

  April 8, 2011 - Interesting flavors. Color of nice ruby, clear. Initial nose and taste dies remind one of port. Mid-palate is neutral, with a somewhat bitter finish. It's interesting, and goes better with some food. Not something I would drink alone.

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• Rich S wrote: 86 points

  September 1, 2009 - Crimson color with a bit of shimmer/sparkle. Very interesting nose of red fruit, spices, flowers, mint, menthol. Surprising amount of ripe fruit on the palate with a tart bitter finish, similar to what you would taste after drinking Campari. Smooth and relatively low on tannin makes the wine an easy drink. Enjoyable but very different than anything I have had before.

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• albrigsr wrote:

  August 12, 2009 - Interesting wine. Such a unique mix of flavors including Leather, Mint, Menthol, etc. It certainly changed from Day 1 to Day 2. A bit hesitant to rate this first one. I have 2 more bottles so will wait on a score.

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2004
• Type Red
• Producer Kent Rasmussen
• Varietal Souzão
• Designation Esoterica
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion n/a
• Appellation California
• UPC Code 751116161597

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 6 (5%)
• In Cellars 55 (48%)
• Consumed 54 (47%)

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