Rich blackcurrant — almost Ribena-like — and menthol, eucalyptus, mocha on the nose; immediately open and expressive; firm structure with well-developed tannins underneath a generous, ripe palate; long cassis finish.
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From Magnum: dark red color with brownish edges. Marvelous ripe nose. The palate is dominated by velvet texture and dark berries, round and silky. Medium to long finish with ripe tannins. At the end of peak drinking window.
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This wine seems to have significantly more body and character than it did when younger. It is deep, dark and delicious and seems to have gained nuance. Don't know if I've ever marked a wine so much higher as it aged.
50+5+12+17+8=92
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UWS (@ JB): In the bouquet red and dark berry fruits as well as dark and red cherries. A hint of menthol as well. On the palate ripe red fruits, sweet spices, some autumn impressions and eucalyptus. Good acidity. Beautiful wine and fully mature now and the next few years.
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Dark ruby-garnet. Gorgeous nose with cedar, cassis, graphite and black cherry. Mid-full bodied and perfectly round with soft tanins, opulent fruit and balancing acidity. Long finish. Changed signifficantly in character almost 2 hours after being unkorked and decanted, reveiling heavier aromas of leather, loam and cooked fruit. It was less pleasent than initially but more typical of its place of origin. Nevertheless, it remained very enjoyable and paired nicely with a medium-rare, spicy steak.
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Deep garnet almost black. Expressive nose of cassis and cedar, nuances of graphite and as time progressed more plummy and heavier, leathery and red earth aromas were revealed. Supple texture with resolved tannins in the mouth with good acidity to balance the extract. Must have been a wine from a warm vintage as the aromas were a little bit jammy or not perfect provenance. Very satisfying wine with sweetness in the mouth due to the flavours and medium-high alcohol.
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un assemblage bordelais à l'italienne fait de 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc. Couleur soutenue, le nez est rond, riche et fruité avec des arômes caustiques. La bouche est souple, fraîche et un peu végétales (qui rappelle de cabernet franc). La finale est sur la barrique (noix de coco). Bordelais de nature, c'est plaisant mais un peu simple.
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Tasted April 9, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of florals, plums, perfume and sandlewood. Flavors of plums, berries and a little bitters on the finish. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Good blaance. Drink or hold maybe over the short to medium term.
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Rich but subtle. Nice warmth to this wine and layers of flavor. Went amazing well with our food at Mama Mia (Italian restaurant). Great bottle of wine. This was a 1.5 L magnum by the way. If you've been holding on to this one, you need to drink up. Age isn't going to do much more for this guy. The tannins are already ultra soft and almost not there.
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Smooth medium weight assemblage wine that drinks well but comes off less well against good and affordable Bordeaux or Bordeaux style wines. Dark berries with a note of plums on the palate, the tannins are well integrated and the acidity makes it a nice complement to rich foods.
50+5+11+15+7=88
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Rolha 2/3 infiltrada. Vinho delicado, feminino, ótima profundidade, elegante. Cereja, leve defumado e final remetendo a liquirizia. Madeira perfeitamente integrada, muito agradável de beber já, embora tenha taninos e estrutura para agüentar mais três anos no mínimo. Final muitíssimo longo e agradável. Excepcional
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Angelo Gaja at ABS-SP (ABS-SP): From the new winery in the coast of tuscany in Bolgheri. Gaja spoke with great enthusiasm and pride of this project. The architect Giovanni Bo did a great job for him with this modern style construction, almost entirely underground. Magari (wich means "who knows" or "may be" - as explained by Gaja himself) shows rubi color and plums, mineral and earthy notes on the nose. On the palate it´s very soft, round and balanced, great retrotaste. Tasty finish. The wine should be drank not held. Gaja also talked about the negotiation to buy the property which took forever and almost didn´t happen. The name Ca´Marcanda (negotiation post) was given to remember this peculiar negotiation.
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Very attractive nose, nice fruit, powerful structure with ample tannin and acid. In spite of strong character, no single dimension dominates. Very appealing overall. Surprised Parker gave it just 89. Still, it seems a bit expensive at $115 at Cava restaurant in New Canaan.
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With it's very sweet cassis filled nose, in a blind tasting this would have me guessing Bordeaux. Never found the fruit to be excessively tart, seemed to strike a nice balance in the mouth. Smooth wine with dark cherries, leather, and tobacco on the finish. Not a knock you over the head sort of wine, but I would drink again.
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WIML91,WA89,NOWS Tasted October 8, 2005 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in Spiegelau Magnum glasses. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Aromas of leather, smoke, tobacco and crushed black cherries. Flavors of black cherries, plums and dried herbs. I’m a “Magari” kind of guy so take that into account. Can be drank now with an hour in the decanter and also be drank over the next 5+ years easily. Recommended.
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Gaja tasting at A Southern Season: Deeper and richer than the '02 Promis, probably due to vintage variations. More berries. Unfortunately the finish is short and seems clipped and distracts greatly from the wine. 50+12+10+5+7 = 84.
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Complex, smoke, wildflowers, toast, pencil lead, currant and olive nose. Fantastic structure with great fruit flavours; long, currant and vanilla finish. 5/5+
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At this point this wine is over-oaked and somewhat disjointed. It has promise if it comes together but I don't think it will ever merit over 90 points. Tasted blind it has many young Bordeaux characteristics (green pepper, high acid, etc.) as you would expect of this blend.
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Closed nose showing a little plasticine, slightly green palate attributable to the Cabernet Franc component, more body than the Promis from this vintage. Overall, an interesting, fairly solid Bordeaux clone.
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12/20/2023 - SussexRH Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich blackcurrant — almost Ribena-like — and menthol, eucalyptus, mocha on the nose; immediately open and expressive; firm structure with well-developed tannins underneath a generous, ripe palate; long cassis finish.
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4/18/2022 - shafer1994 Likes this wine: 92 Points
From Magnum: dark red color with brownish edges. Marvelous ripe nose. The palate is dominated by velvet texture and dark berries, round and silky. Medium to long finish with ripe tannins. At the end of peak drinking window.
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12/25/2017 - samsneed Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely wine ready to drink now, enjoy!
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6/12/2015 - richardkim Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium in color and body. The palate offers blackberry, iron, Asian spice, and sandalwood. The finish dances with minerality and flint.
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2/22/2015 - Tad GW wrote: 92 Points
This wine seems to have significantly more body and character than it did when younger. It is deep, dark and delicious and seems to have gained nuance. Don't know if I've ever marked a wine so much higher as it aged.
50+5+12+17+8=92
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2/12/2015 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
UWS (@ JB): In the bouquet red and dark berry fruits as well as dark and red cherries. A hint of menthol as well. On the palate ripe red fruits, sweet spices, some autumn impressions and eucalyptus. Good acidity. Beautiful wine and fully mature now and the next few years.
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12/29/2013 - efcarpel Likes this wine:
Smooth, great with food heavier sea food/pork; low tannins; moderate fruit; medium body; very very enjoyable
90-94 est
Had at WA Frost with D&D, M&M
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2/24/2013 - Niushork wrote: flawed
These ones I opened around September 2011. The wine came through the cork on all of them and it was spoiled. Last time I buy this wine.
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1/31/2011 - Tad GW wrote: 90 Points
50+5+11+16+8=90
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7/6/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
The licorice and dried herbs are getting more pronounced. Maybe some leather.
Good body and great with steak.-cld
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6/28/2010 - Yiannis wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby-garnet. Gorgeous nose with cedar, cassis, graphite and black cherry. Mid-full bodied and perfectly round with soft tanins, opulent fruit and balancing acidity. Long finish. Changed signifficantly in character almost 2 hours after being unkorked and decanted, reveiling heavier aromas of leather, loam and cooked fruit. It was less pleasent than initially but more typical of its place of origin. Nevertheless, it remained very enjoyable and paired nicely with a medium-rare, spicy steak.
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6/25/2010 - Stefanos T. wrote: 91 Points
Deep garnet almost black. Expressive nose of cassis and cedar, nuances of graphite and as time progressed more plummy and heavier, leathery and red earth aromas were revealed. Supple texture with resolved tannins in the mouth with good acidity to balance the extract. Must have been a wine from a warm vintage as the aromas were a little bit jammy or not perfect provenance. Very satisfying wine with sweetness in the mouth due to the flavours and medium-high alcohol.
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4/27/2010 - Capt M wrote: 90 Points
Quite elegant, powerful and resourceful. Roundness and harmony are just acceptable. My 90 means 90+. Still outstanding.
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11/21/2009 - lumpyelbow wrote: flawed
Still pretty enjoyable but slightly oxidized.
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10/14/2009 - DuVinMD wrote: 85 Points
un assemblage bordelais à l'italienne fait de 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc. Couleur soutenue, le nez est rond, riche et fruité avec des arômes caustiques. La bouche est souple, fraîche et un peu végétales (qui rappelle de cabernet franc). La finale est sur la barrique (noix de coco). Bordelais de nature, c'est plaisant mais un peu simple.
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4/9/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - Italians (Mi Piaci's in Dallas, TX): WIML91
Tasted April 9, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of florals, plums, perfume and sandlewood. Flavors of plums, berries and a little bitters on the finish. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Good blaance. Drink or hold maybe over the short to medium term.
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4/9/2008 - win wrote: 89 Points
Italian Wines at Mi Piaci: Large Italian tasting. Minimal notes. A bit modern, some spice & green.
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12/21/2007 - frederikboivin wrote:
belle bouteille, bien à point, belle structure et beau fruit. bu avec pascual et le grill au zeste de folie
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10/7/2007 - docmckay wrote: 91 Points
Rich but subtle. Nice warmth to this wine and layers of flavor. Went amazing well with our food at Mama Mia (Italian restaurant). Great bottle of wine. This was a 1.5 L magnum by the way. If you've been holding on to this one, you need to drink up. Age isn't going to do much more for this guy. The tannins are already ultra soft and almost not there.
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9/27/2007 - Vinho wrote: 91 Points
NM. Nariz perfumado, muito elegante, macio e sedoso. Taninos finíssimos, pronto para beber. E.
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6/27/2007 - Tad GW wrote: 88 Points
Smooth medium weight assemblage wine that drinks well but comes off less well against good and affordable Bordeaux or Bordeaux style wines. Dark berries with a note of plums on the palate, the tannins are well integrated and the acidity makes it a nice complement to rich foods.
50+5+11+15+7=88
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8/13/2006 - EyeDoc wrote:
Very solid but not in the same class as a solaia, sassacaia, ornellaia.
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6/19/2006 - Vinho wrote: 92 Points
Rolha 2/3 infiltrada. Vinho delicado, feminino, ótima profundidade, elegante. Cereja, leve defumado e final remetendo a liquirizia. Madeira perfeitamente integrada, muito agradável de beber já, embora tenha taninos e estrutura para agüentar mais três anos no mínimo. Final muitíssimo longo e agradável. Excepcional
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5/3/2006 - cousteau wrote: 89 Points
Angelo Gaja at ABS-SP (ABS-SP): From the new winery in the coast of tuscany in Bolgheri. Gaja spoke with great enthusiasm and pride of this project. The architect Giovanni Bo did a great job for him with this modern style construction, almost entirely underground.
Magari (wich means "who knows" or "may be" - as explained by Gaja himself) shows rubi color and plums, mineral and earthy notes on the nose. On the palate it´s very soft, round and balanced, great retrotaste. Tasty finish. The wine should be drank not held.
Gaja also talked about the negotiation to buy the property which took forever and almost didn´t happen. The name Ca´Marcanda (negotiation post) was given to remember this peculiar negotiation.
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12/23/2005 - jpan wrote:
Very attractive nose, nice fruit, powerful structure with ample tannin and acid. In spite of strong character, no single dimension dominates. Very appealing overall. Surprised Parker gave it just 89. Still, it seems a bit expensive at $115 at Cava restaurant in New Canaan.
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11/4/2005 - R2-D2 wrote: 90 Points
With it's very sweet cassis filled nose, in a blind tasting this would have me guessing Bordeaux. Never found the fruit to be excessively tart, seemed to strike a nice balance in the mouth. Smooth wine with dark cherries, leather, and tobacco on the finish. Not a knock you over the head sort of wine, but I would drink again.
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10/8/2005 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91,WA89,NOWS
Tasted October 8, 2005 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in Spiegelau Magnum glasses. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Aromas of leather, smoke, tobacco and crushed black cherries. Flavors of black cherries, plums and dried herbs. I’m a “Magari” kind of guy so take that into account. Can be drank now with an hour in the decanter and also be drank over the next 5+ years easily. Recommended.
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10/5/2005 - DougLee wrote:
donated
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12/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($75) Gaja Tasting with Willi Klinger: Old world, woody dry nose. Rich palate with a peppery acidic finish. Dry, savory. Coffee retronasal. Eh.
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10/7/2004 - Eric wrote:
Gaja tasting and a bonus Beaucastel (Seattle, WA, USA): The nose is brambly with a somewhat austere palate, quite tart. This does have nice structure, and with an hour in the glass it unfolded pretty well.
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9/22/2004 - JeffGMorris wrote: 84 Points
Gaja tasting at A Southern Season: Deeper and richer than the '02 Promis, probably due to vintage variations. More berries. Unfortunately the finish is short and seems clipped and distracts greatly from the wine. 50+12+10+5+7 = 84.
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9/1/2004 - plitton wrote:
Sam's Wine Italian Night (Chicago Store): Complex and yummy.
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8/3/2004 - Double-A Likes this wine: 98 Points
Complex, smoke, wildflowers, toast, pencil lead, currant and olive nose. Fantastic structure with great fruit flavours; long, currant and vanilla finish.
5/5+
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7/20/2004 - Winetex wrote: 88 Points
At this point this wine is over-oaked and somewhat disjointed. It has promise if it comes together but I don't think it will ever merit over 90 points. Tasted blind it has many young Bordeaux characteristics (green pepper, high acid, etc.) as you would expect of this blend.
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3/6/2004 - Blair Curtis wrote: 88 Points
Closed nose showing a little plasticine, slightly green palate attributable to the Cabernet Franc component, more body than the Promis from this vintage. Overall, an interesting, fairly solid Bordeaux clone.
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