A dark fruit-driven nose. Blackberry with integrated oak. Comes across a bit firey, lots of acidity, plenty of alcohol. Plenty of tannin, plenty of body! A very more-ish wine. Wine overall is pretty wild, feral. There's some mediteranean herb notes (lavender, sage). Black pepper that's intertwined well. An unusually lifted, astringent finish. Nose is much much better than the palate. The finish is particularly unpleasant. This wine in the mouth is so disjointed and the overt acidity does feel unnatural, perhaps added. It has some of the separate elements to make you think it could age okay, maybe even to meld some of the odd hard edges. On the other hand, it's eight years old and is very poorly balanced now, I'd vote against it happening.
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Dark colour to the rim; big nose of blackberries and spice. Medium to full body, blackberry, cassis and barrel flavours come through with just the right amount of acidity to keep it precise. Well made, good value.
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Dense dark purple color. Sweet dark licorice with rich almost candied black cherry. Port like. The fruit and alchohol is too forward (at least at this stage), but the oak is balanced. 15% abv.
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Nose is dark cherry and dark jammy fruit, vanilla, smoke, and spice. Flavors ate plummy dark fruit, wood smoke, leather, and a touch of vanilla and spices. There is a floral note and some pepper kick that work their way into the mix on the finish. Reasonably well balanced, yet at this price point I would have liked a more complete integration of fruit, acids, and tannins. Though good, it was more astringent than desirable.
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10/29/2017 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 90 Points
beautiful
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8/11/2016 - Angle Gold Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep purple, smooth, black fruit, opaque. Doesn't appear to be showing its age yet. Really enjoyed it.
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3/31/2016 - jmcmchi wrote: 89 Points
Blackcurrant nose
Smooth, almost viscous, velvety with pepper on mid-back palate. Tannins evident on second sip, acidity still holding well
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2/7/2016 - lyle@vinchicago.com Does not like this wine: 86 Points
A dark fruit-driven nose. Blackberry with integrated oak. Comes across a bit firey, lots of acidity, plenty of alcohol. Plenty of tannin, plenty of body! A very more-ish wine. Wine overall is pretty wild, feral. There's some mediteranean herb notes (lavender, sage). Black pepper that's intertwined well. An unusually lifted, astringent finish. Nose is much much better than the palate. The finish is particularly unpleasant. This wine in the mouth is so disjointed and the overt acidity does feel unnatural, perhaps added. It has some of the separate elements to make you think it could age okay, maybe even to meld some of the odd hard edges. On the other hand, it's eight years old and is very poorly balanced now, I'd vote against it happening.
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1/26/2014 - Stirling wrote: 89 Points
Dark colour to the rim; big nose of blackberries and spice. Medium to full body, blackberry, cassis and barrel flavours come through with just the right amount of acidity to keep it precise. Well made, good value.
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1/11/2014 - richone Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a smooth, full-bodied wine that will go well with a flavorful meal.
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8/23/2013 - jmcmchi wrote: 90 Points
Decanted at home. Intense black fruit sweet aromas with hints of tar. Juice and fruit on palate, soft, tannins subtle but holding a neat structure
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6/15/2013 - jmcmchi wrote: 89 Points
Purply red, dense color. Tarry smoke with blackcurrants and hints of plum Soft mouthfeel, good fruit extraction, tannins evident but well integrated
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6/7/2013 - AndersonWoodinvilleWines Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid Syrah with notes of prunes and oak. Tannins took awhile to calm. Acid is subdued but adequate.
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11/11/2012 - Chilgenfeld wrote: 87 Points
Deep plum color. Cherry, prunes baking spices (pepper), smoky taste on the palate. Balanced acidity. Still young will age nicely.
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3/11/2012 - StainedGlass wrote: 87 Points
Dense dark purple color. Sweet dark licorice with rich almost candied black cherry. Port like. The fruit and alchohol is too forward (at least at this stage), but the oak is balanced. 15% abv.
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2/26/2012 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nose is dark cherry and dark jammy fruit, vanilla, smoke, and spice. Flavors ate plummy dark fruit, wood smoke, leather, and a touch of vanilla and spices. There is a floral note and some pepper kick that work their way into the mix on the finish. Reasonably well balanced, yet at this price point I would have liked a more complete integration of fruit, acids, and tannins. Though good, it was more astringent than desirable.
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