I have to give credit when credit is due because this was rather decent. Meaty and juicy, from the mourvedre probably. Good dark ripe fruit profile, a little stewed, but there is plenty of tartness that pulls the fruit through nicely. I wouldn't be a buyer again, but this really was OK.
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Time to drink, in a good window, not unstable microbially, just a little mataro/brett stink (probably from the Mataro). Bright cherry flavors, a little earth and the acid seems almost frizzante. Nose has a little skunk to it which just barely shows on the palate, mostly on entry. Fairly dry and short on the finish and throwing a huge sediment. Coffee, tar notes and additional nose of mentholatum, earth and underbrush. But really, I see this in a place where it will hold in the high 80's or low 90's for 1-2 years, then start to decline. Unlike certain ageworthy shiraz, this blend does not seem to be put together for a ten or more year hold, IMHO.
Day 2, 24 hours in reefer with vacuvin closure - Better wine on night two, stink is gone, nice cherry and red raspberry fruit remaining. Perhaps this will age another 5 years but for me, I plan to consume my last bottle in the next 12 months.
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The Mataro component came out quite strongly in this bottle mimicking brett and I am not a fan of such. The nose, especially, was quite skunky and a little bit of barnyard funk but this did not show up in the flavor palate of the wine. Anise, red currant, moderate tannins but some alcoholic heat that was not so pleasant. Not nearly as fun an experience as last May's bottle.
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Decanted 30 min. Dark ruby red, cherry and interesting exotic spice on the nose. Full bodied, ripe and very rich, cherries, spice, and some eucaliptus/mint on the finish. A little hot (16.5%, so amazingly not burning). Quite nice. Day 2 - more balanced and together, heat not as obvious as on day 1, however the mint finish is also not there now. Overall, nice wine, certainly not worth the $60 retail, but for $20 this was a good deal.
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The Mataro (Mourvedre) tends to dominate ths wine, especially on the palate, although it is 40% of the blend. Nose of spice and blueberries, the palate has a certain weight and meatiness. Dark fruit, blackberries mostly, chocolate and bit of heat are also evident. More than I expected, quite good and in a very nice drinking window today. Drink now to 2011.
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Relatively restrained, slow developing nose, no heat, no oak, some stewed lamb at first, then insistent pure raspberry that turns black with air. Great persistence and subtle tang, showing length and some forgiveable warmth at the end. Parker called this austere, but I was just struck by how much finesse they managed to cram into this 16.7% technical data-sheet brute. Showed some more sweetness on the second day but still no aromatic heat.
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This is a blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Mataro/Mourvedre with a nose of blackberries, plums and pepper with a hint of menthol. On the palate, there were globs of blackberries with pepper and licorice following thereafter and finishing on a plummy note. The finish was a bit truncated but an overall good wine (that is overpriced IMO at $55). HS88
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8/4/2013 - Charlie Carnes wrote:
I have to give credit when credit is due because this was rather decent. Meaty and juicy, from the mourvedre probably. Good dark ripe fruit profile, a little stewed, but there is plenty of tartness that pulls the fruit through nicely. I wouldn't be a buyer again, but this really was OK.
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5/27/2013 - millerarner wrote: 88 Points
Past it's prime, but not bad. Coffee, cocoa, burnt toffee, olives. Finished a bit tart.
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1/19/2010 - gesusser wrote: 90 Points
tasty ; threw a lot of sediment w/ decanting thru the houdini; time to trip up
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5/9/2009 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
Time to drink, in a good window, not unstable microbially, just a little mataro/brett stink (probably from the Mataro). Bright cherry flavors, a little earth and the acid seems almost frizzante. Nose has a little skunk to it which just barely shows on the palate, mostly on entry. Fairly dry and short on the finish and throwing a huge sediment. Coffee, tar notes and additional nose of mentholatum, earth and underbrush. But really, I see this in a place where it will hold in the high 80's or low 90's for 1-2 years, then start to decline. Unlike certain ageworthy shiraz, this blend does not seem to be put together for a ten or more year hold, IMHO.
Day 2, 24 hours in reefer with vacuvin closure - Better wine on night two, stink is gone, nice cherry and red raspberry fruit remaining. Perhaps this will age another 5 years but for me, I plan to consume my last bottle in the next 12 months.
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2/15/2009 - guitarguy wrote: 87 Points
The Mataro component came out quite strongly in this bottle mimicking brett and I am not a fan of such. The nose, especially, was quite skunky and a little bit of barnyard funk but this did not show up in the flavor palate of the wine. Anise, red currant, moderate tannins but some alcoholic heat that was not so pleasant. Not nearly as fun an experience as last May's bottle.
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1/1/2009 - ron m wrote:
Decanted 30 min. Dark ruby red, cherry and interesting exotic spice on the nose. Full bodied, ripe and very rich, cherries, spice, and some eucaliptus/mint on the finish. A little hot (16.5%, so amazingly not burning). Quite nice. Day 2 - more balanced and together, heat not as obvious as on day 1, however the mint finish is also not there now. Overall, nice wine, certainly not worth the $60 retail, but for $20 this was a good deal.
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11/4/2008 - gesusser wrote: 92 Points
this was outstanding...berry & spice; glad i have more laid down; great value @ $30/bottle; clean finish, lingering taste;
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5/13/2008 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
The Mataro (Mourvedre) tends to dominate ths wine, especially on the palate, although it is 40% of the blend. Nose of spice and blueberries, the palate has a certain weight and meatiness. Dark fruit, blackberries mostly, chocolate and bit of heat are also evident. More than I expected, quite good and in a very nice drinking window today. Drink now to 2011.
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4/5/2008 - tcfishler wrote: 90 Points
Relatively restrained, slow developing nose, no heat, no oak, some stewed lamb at first, then insistent pure raspberry that turns black with air. Great persistence and subtle tang, showing length and some forgiveable warmth at the end. Parker called this austere, but I was just struck by how much finesse they managed to cram into this 16.7% technical data-sheet brute. Showed some more sweetness on the second day but still no aromatic heat.
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11/30/2006 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 88 Points
This is a blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Mataro/Mourvedre with a nose of blackberries, plums and pepper with a hint of menthol. On the palate, there were globs of blackberries with pepper and licorice following thereafter and finishing on a plummy note. The finish was a bit truncated but an overall good wine (that is overpriced IMO at $55). HS88
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