An American oak, over-oaked mess that tastes like vanillin. Yuck. No complexity. Too high in alcohol. It’s trying to appease a Parker palate. 🤮 I poured my sample down the sink.
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Black inky purple. Opaque. Nose redolent of blackberry and kirsch liquor, definitely fig and some baking spice, Fine sediment at the bottom of the Riedel WineWing syrah stem. Feeling some of the 16.5 ETOH. Fine tannins balanced by acidity but hot. Should last quite a while but worried about the ABV as that’s not going to go away. Long finish but hot.
Note above was from coravined glass out of 🍷 cooler. Three days later popped the other half remaining. Came to room temp and am much more impressed. Raising score to 94. Not feeling the heat quite as much.
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4th Saturday group uptown tasting (Mike & LA's): Double blind. Deep color. Cassis, currant, chocolate and plum aromas. Plum and ripe dark fruit on the palate. Medium plus tannins. I did not think this was Spanish, let alone grenache. Still a bruiser, I see I tasted this in 2014 and said 5-7 years...definitely not before 2020 with this.
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Glass staining concentration with a massive nose of anise, black berry, and mixed spice. Palate is modern styled and loaded with deep black fruits, cassis, chocolate, bright cherry, tar, and vanilla extract. Definitely a fruit bomb but well balanced and supported by a fairly tannic backbone. Decanted for 5 hours. Only needs 3 given finish and some of the character dropped off midway.
Decanted and tasted over several hours. Better after the air time. Gorgeous nose. Dark fruit at the beginning then a really pretty red raspberry streak. There is plenty of tannin and subtle oak that adds nicely to the complexity. Young, but drinking well now.
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Aromatically explosive, chocolate, deep blue/blackberry. Still tannic for Grenache. Young, primary, fruit centric. Almost has Bordeauxesque grilling herbs on the nose. Palate coating. Dense. Long finish. Love it.
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This is an amazing, luscious and massive wine. Prunes and black cherries, smoke, tar, tobacco, earth with huge tannic backbone. You could easily lay this down for another decade, probably longer. If you like big wine it drinks great now. A great way to start the new year!
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Opened by Allred's friend Rich and drank alongside the 2007 Campo de Borja from this producer and after a bunch of old world reds. You can taste the Australian influence of Dan Phillips and Chris Ringland in this wine and this seemed out of place in the lineup of wines at the dinner. Opaque black color. Perfumed nose. Extremely young and a bit awkward at this stage. However, it was full of lush ripe fruit now with even more hiding and waiting to emerge once the tannins settled. A huge monstrous wine and very concentrated. Notes of blackberries, oak and tar. Really needs time to shine. I 'm scoring this how it is drinking now but this certainly has the potential to get into the 95 point range when it comes around. 91+ points.
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Similar to the Campo de Borja in many respects, but just more of everything. More fruit, more oak and more structure, this youthful beast needs 5-7 years to reach peak. Loads of dark fruit on the nose and palate, with spice and vanilla tones and a hint of chocolate in the finish.
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Opened by R&D at Adelle's. First time with this producer, but hopefully not the last. Notes of blueberry and red fruits with hints of dates and chocolate as well.
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Very impressive wine - has everything in the superlative. Almost opaque - very darkly colored. Nose is both intense and complex but still youthful. Creamy oak and dense blackcurrant fruit stand out, sweet spice as well. Might pass for a top Priorat? Maybe less mineral. Full bodied and thick on the palate and yet poised. This is a remarkable feat given the weight, the alcohol (16,5%) and the amount of new oak used. On the heavy side for sure but sometimes you're in the mood for it and this is really good. Lingering finish.
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Drank at home alongside 2 Rhone grenaches with wine-loving friends. Dark purple, opaq color. Complex, sweet nose with dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate cake, violets and intense creamy oak. Full-bodied and creamy-textured with massive fruit, high but perfectly integrated alcohol (16.5%), velvety tannins and an acidity that is capable of offering balance and elegance to this monster. Very long aftetrtaste. An opulent wine that needs further cellaring. Great drinking experience. Like a European version of a grenache-based SQN.
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Really enjoyed this thick a lush garnacha - recommended although quite expensive. Nose of candy-cherry and a wonderfully broad dark fruit flavour with some emerging tobacco and a long finish. 16.5% alc and still oak, but both will integrate very well. A Spanish amarone. Try to hold of drinking bottles for at least 5, and ideally 10, years.
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amazing garnacha. well integrated and not over the top. dark fruits, rich and creamy, oak and alcohol still take a back seat. one of the top wines of the night.
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Probably one of the best Garnach's I've had. Being someone who normally drinks California Cabs, this one makes me realize what quality old world wine is supposed to taste like. Holding my second bottle for a few years.
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Tried this after enjoying the 2008 Bodegas Alto Moncayo. Beautiful dark purple semi-translucent color. This has a nose of blueberries, lilac, vanilla. Palate of more blueberries, oak, very primary and linear at this point. Not much if any acidity, medium viscous mouth feel. Finish 20-25 seconds, not as long as the mid-tier 2008.
My friend who loves Oakville cabs was very impressed by this, but I prefer the mid-tier Alto Moncayo for a better price as it has better structure and more complexity at this point.
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Beautiful bouquet with exclusive toasted oak and sweet ripe fruits. On the palate a lot of tastes, from fruits to oak and herbs and spices etc. Beautiful soft tannin and a lot of pleasant sweetness. Really a complex, harmonious and elegant beauty. I don’t have any idea how long this can last, but if I had a case, probably not even a year.
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Taste from wine dispenser at Whole Foods - again. Cloudy purple color. Supple sweet nose. Dark cherry, cola. Excellent grip on the palate. Super masculine. More flavors of cassis, fig, some burnt caramel or toffee and vanilla. Some eccentric black olive. A big wine. A bit muted this time around though - probably just from the bottle having been open though preserved.
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Pulled cork and did a 2 hour slow oxidation, then decanted one hour with vigorous swirling before serving. purple-black in the glass, with violet edges. the nose offered raspberry ganache and baking spice. fully integrated tannins (surprising for its youth) and nicely weighted in the mouth. the finish played out the nose without adding much else. overall, very underwhelming for its price point. everything was definitely in balance, but there was no "wow" factor for me. i prefer the alto moncayo to this, especially for 1/4 of the price.
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From dispenser at Whole Foods Lincoln Park. Gorgeous bouquet of fresh blackberries, blueberries, plums, rich extracted fragrant milk chocolate action coupled with nice earth and a beautiful baking spice. Awesome palate with more super ripe and New World purple fruit, light roast coffee, all spice, clove and a good amount of oak. There's also a feminine floral side with some purple flowers on the nose. The finish is completely in harmony with sweet tannins, well harnessed alcohol and great acidity. Opulent silky mouth feel. Wish I had more than just a taste. Consist scores from this bottling. Worth the price tag if this is your style. Big bold and balanced.
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Second time i decanted it for only am hour. It definitely needs at least a couple hours to really open up and be at its best. First time it was in decanter for a couple of hours and was much better. Still an excellent bottle of wine.
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7/11/2021 - theharve wrote: 93 Points
huge wine prob 2 years from peak
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4/28/2021 - europat55 wrote: 89 Points
Nose: 88. Palate: 90. (Tasted blind)
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4/28/2021 - Bordeaux_Jon Does not like this wine: 84 Points
An American oak, over-oaked mess that tastes like vanillin. Yuck. No complexity. Too high in alcohol. It’s trying to appease a Parker palate. 🤮 I poured my sample down the sink.
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12/21/2020 - NuTricks wrote: 94 Points
Black inky purple. Opaque. Nose redolent of blackberry and kirsch liquor, definitely fig and some baking spice, Fine sediment at the bottom of the Riedel WineWing syrah stem. Feeling some of the 16.5 ETOH. Fine tannins balanced by acidity but hot. Should last quite a while but worried about the ABV as that’s not going to go away. Long finish but hot.
Note above was from coravined glass out of 🍷 cooler. Three days later popped the other half remaining. Came to room temp and am much more impressed. Raising score to 94. Not feeling the heat quite as much.
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11/23/2017 - Kavine wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed the fruit and though not suited for a Turkey styled dinner - it suited the cool air and cheese evening ...
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7/22/2017 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday group uptown tasting (Mike & LA's): Double blind. Deep color. Cassis, currant, chocolate and plum aromas. Plum and ripe dark fruit on the palate. Medium plus tannins. I did not think this was Spanish, let alone grenache. Still a bruiser, I see I tasted this in 2014 and said 5-7 years...definitely not before 2020 with this.
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10/25/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Changed after being Coravined too many times.... Leather, blackberry, plum/fig, port like. Way different than 1st time around.
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10/1/2015 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big flavors, but an overly heavy wine. Fig and black fruits with licorice and vanilla - this felt young and might get better in a few years
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9/21/2015 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Glass staining concentration with a massive nose of anise, black berry, and mixed spice. Palate is modern styled and loaded with deep black fruits, cassis, chocolate, bright cherry, tar, and vanilla extract. Definitely a fruit bomb but well balanced and supported by a fairly tannic backbone. Decanted for 5 hours. Only needs 3 given finish and some of the character dropped off midway.
http://www.maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/129596959624
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8/6/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and tasted over several hours. Better after the air time. Gorgeous nose. Dark fruit at the beginning then a really pretty red raspberry streak. There is plenty of tannin and subtle oak that adds nicely to the complexity. Young, but drinking well now.
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8/6/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Aromatically explosive, chocolate, deep blue/blackberry. Still tannic for Grenache. Young, primary, fruit centric. Almost has Bordeauxesque grilling herbs on the nose. Palate coating. Dense. Long finish. Love it.
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8/5/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Small pour tasted blind. Dark purple. Sweet dark rich Grenache . Looking forward to revisiting. Needs a good decant to fairly assess. Excellent juice!
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7/11/2015 - SimpleBoyFromD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very big, lush and fruit forward. Jammy but falls off the cliff after about 90 minutes.
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6/21/2015 - SimpleBoyFromD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Balanced fruit bomb. Drink soon, seems to be dropping off.
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1/1/2015 - SaxWine Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is an amazing, luscious and massive wine. Prunes and black cherries, smoke, tar, tobacco, earth with huge tannic backbone. You could easily lay this down for another decade, probably longer. If you like big wine it drinks great now. A great way to start the new year!
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2/21/2014 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
Opened by Allred's friend Rich and drank alongside the 2007 Campo de Borja from this producer and after a bunch of old world reds. You can taste the Australian influence of Dan Phillips and Chris Ringland in this wine and this seemed out of place in the lineup of wines at the dinner. Opaque black color. Perfumed nose. Extremely young and a bit awkward at this stage. However, it was full of lush ripe fruit now with even more hiding and waiting to emerge once the tannins settled. A huge monstrous wine and very concentrated. Notes of blackberries, oak and tar. Really needs time to shine. I 'm scoring this how it is drinking now but this certainly has the potential to get into the 95 point range when it comes around. 91+ points.
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2/18/2014 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Similar to the Campo de Borja in many respects, but just more of everything. More fruit, more oak and more structure, this youthful beast needs 5-7 years to reach peak. Loads of dark fruit on the nose and palate, with spice and vanilla tones and a hint of chocolate in the finish.
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2/18/2014 - thelostverse wrote: 95 Points
Opened by R&D at Adelle's. First time with this producer, but hopefully not the last. Notes of blueberry and red fruits with hints of dates and chocolate as well.
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11/13/2013 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very impressive wine - has everything in the superlative.
Almost opaque - very darkly colored.
Nose is both intense and complex but still youthful.
Creamy oak and dense blackcurrant fruit stand out, sweet spice as well. Might pass for a top Priorat? Maybe less mineral.
Full bodied and thick on the palate and yet poised. This is a remarkable feat given the weight, the alcohol (16,5%) and the amount of new oak used. On the heavy side for sure but sometimes you're in the mood for it and this is really good. Lingering finish.
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11/10/2013 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank at home alongside 2 Rhone grenaches with wine-loving friends. Dark purple, opaq color. Complex, sweet nose with dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate cake, violets and intense creamy oak. Full-bodied and creamy-textured with massive fruit, high but perfectly integrated alcohol (16.5%), velvety tannins and an acidity that is capable of offering balance and elegance to this monster. Very long aftetrtaste. An opulent wine that needs further cellaring. Great drinking experience. Like a European version of a grenache-based SQN.
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10/17/2013 - Nanda wrote: 96 Points
Drinking spectacularly. Big and richly fruited. But very well-balanced, light on it's feet and long.
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2/17/2013 - HaraldS wrote: 94 Points
huge intense fruit. complex layering
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10/25/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 95 Points
Really enjoyed this thick a lush garnacha - recommended although quite expensive. Nose of candy-cherry and a wonderfully broad dark fruit flavour with some emerging tobacco and a long finish. 16.5% alc and still oak, but both will integrate very well. A Spanish amarone. Try to hold of drinking bottles for at least 5, and ideally 10, years.
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10/20/2012 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
RussK. WW at Cafe Seville. Too young. Rough finish. Some spice. Nice nose, fresh sawdust.
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6/19/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 95 Points
amazing garnacha. well integrated and not over the top. dark fruits, rich and creamy, oak and alcohol still take a back seat. one of the top wines of the night.
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6/7/2011 - vinoballo wrote: 95 Points
Delicious Grenache. Huge fruit with a hint of smoke.
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3/15/2011 - thash wrote: 93 Points
Probably one of the best Garnach's I've had. Being someone who normally drinks California Cabs, this one makes me realize what quality old world wine is supposed to taste like. Holding my second bottle for a few years.
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3/4/2011 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
RUSSK Redhead's highend tasting too young. Second favorite 1 of the night.
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1/6/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 90 Points
Tried this after enjoying the 2008 Bodegas Alto Moncayo. Beautiful dark purple semi-translucent color. This has a nose of blueberries, lilac, vanilla. Palate of more blueberries, oak, very primary and linear at this point. Not much if any acidity, medium viscous mouth feel. Finish 20-25 seconds, not as long as the mid-tier 2008.
My friend who loves Oakville cabs was very impressed by this, but I prefer the mid-tier Alto Moncayo for a better price as it has better structure and more complexity at this point.
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10/27/2010 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful bouquet with exclusive toasted oak and sweet ripe fruits. On the palate a lot of tastes, from fruits to oak and herbs and spices etc. Beautiful soft tannin and a lot of pleasant sweetness. Really a complex, harmonious and elegant beauty. I don’t have any idea how long this can last, but if I had a case, probably not even a year.
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8/24/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Taste from wine dispenser at Whole Foods - again.
Cloudy purple color. Supple sweet nose. Dark cherry, cola. Excellent grip on the palate.
Super masculine. More flavors of cassis, fig, some burnt caramel or toffee and vanilla.
Some eccentric black olive. A big wine. A bit muted this time around though - probably just from the bottle having been open though preserved.
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7/25/2010 - caeleric Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pulled cork and did a 2 hour slow oxidation, then decanted one hour with vigorous swirling before serving. purple-black in the glass, with violet edges. the nose offered raspberry ganache and baking spice. fully integrated tannins (surprising for its youth) and nicely weighted in the mouth. the finish played out the nose without adding much else. overall, very underwhelming for its price point. everything was definitely in balance, but there was no "wow" factor for me. i prefer the alto moncayo to this, especially for 1/4 of the price.
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6/10/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
From dispenser at Whole Foods Lincoln Park.
Gorgeous bouquet of fresh blackberries, blueberries, plums, rich extracted fragrant milk chocolate action coupled with nice earth and a beautiful baking spice.
Awesome palate with more super ripe and New World purple fruit, light roast coffee, all spice, clove and a good amount of oak. There's also a feminine floral side with some purple flowers on the nose.
The finish is completely in harmony with sweet tannins, well harnessed alcohol and great acidity. Opulent silky mouth feel. Wish I had more than just a taste.
Consist scores from this bottling. Worth the price tag if this is your style. Big bold and balanced.
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5/9/2010 - ap8617 wrote: 93 Points
Second time i decanted it for only am hour. It definitely needs at least a couple hours to really open up and be at its best. First time it was in decanter for a couple of hours and was much better. Still an excellent bottle of wine.
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1/15/2010 - ap8617 wrote: 98 Points
Holy cow. Just amazing. Don't know how to describe like a real wine drinker other than amazing.
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10/27/2009 - ews3 wrote: 96 Points
Zachys Fall 2009 Food & Wine Extravaganza (The Lighthouse at Pier Sixty (NYC)): beautiful wine. black pepper, perfume, plum, cranberry, blackberry. long, long finish.
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