DD2h. Dark red, red rim,6. Generous bouquet of dark fruits, herbs, and behind it some spicy oaky notes, very fine. Rather full bodied harmonious palate, some rustic tannins, fruit, slightly bitter finish. Drink now-onwards. This has really come together nicely integrating the oak. Very good together with the roasted beef.
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Best after about 6 hours of air to open up. Still as beautiful and interesting as it was 10 months ago but losing some fruit boldness and drive. Probably at it's peak and I think it will start pointing downhill over the next couple years. Very nice wine with high QPR. 5+12+17+7 = 91
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Definitely needs to be decanted for a few hours. Once decanted really opened up with aromas of cherries and currants. Cherry, currant and some oak on the palate. Very nice.
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Just about a year since my first try of this and it has absolutely been worth the wait to pop the second. The bouquet is a full and intriguing mix of mature oak barrel, dense earthy mulch, hot slurry, charred meat, and very dark berry with remarkable persistence. It's all in there. Palate has softened the grip, just a little, and there is still a good measure of influence from the tannins, which are a prerequisite for the genre anyway. Just a fantastic bottle for a restaurant list where you would pay $65 for a $20 bottle and then feel like you got a steal of a deal. Glad I paid the $20. 4+13+17+8 = 92
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D1h. Dark red, slim red rim, 6. Very new world oaky sweetish fruity nose. Rather massive palate with some tannin. Seems pretty simple right now but maybe it will surprise if cellared some years from now?
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D3h. Very dark red, 6.5. Intense sweet fruity peppery nose. Massive harmonious tannin dominated palate. Wait 5 years at least. Overnight at room temperature: not much changed!
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Very good Malbec. Still young, even after 1½ hour decant it was tight and not giving much. Night in the fridge helped. Dark red color. Dark red/black fruit, spice. Medium finish. It will last for more years, however I'm not sure it will improve.
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This is a fantastic weeknight wine. Not overly complex and didn't need much in the way of time to breathe. Had great balance and fruit with medium tannins and not too high alcohol.
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Notes after slow-ox'ing overnight in bottle. First sample was very, very tight and un-giving for the first few hours. Very dark ruby color, almost opaque, with slow rosy legs. No sediment. The intensity of the aroma is medium and sports very dark berry and cigar, asian spices, roses, baby powder, and a light dill & oak influence. The palate smooths out on day two and starts with grippy, Old World rustic tannins that get chased away by a wave of fruit and minerals. Like a berry-cement smoothie. Those minerals seem to join the prominent acidity to stretch out the flavors much longer on the finish than I expect in this price class. Very food friendly structure. I get a kick out of the CT drinking window average of 2012-2016 and the fact that half of the bottles inventoried have already been consumed. This wine is just getting started and I could see it living out to 2018+. 5+11+17+8 = 91
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This is a wine that benefits greatly from decanting. Upon opening it's too stiff and unyielding. After 2-3 hours in a decanter it starts to open up. Very dark in color, with dark fruits on the nose. Deep dark rustic fruits on the palate with solid fine tannins. Continues to improve with air and time in in the glass. A real reserva style Malbec.
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Much too young to be drinking this wine, but wow does it pack a potent mouthful!!! Gorgeously rich, deep, and powerful aromas and flavors. Lots of dark fruit -- plum, blackberry, black cherry with herbal (even floral?) hints and earthy leather and cigar box. The tannins needed a lasso, but will soften with a few more years in the bottle. This wine will be something really special in a few more years.
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One of the best QPRs I've had all year. An intro of rich candy caramel wafting from the glass; laser-focused tannins grasping your collar as the outro. Really special stuff here. And something I rarely bring up: the bottle's physical aesthetic is simple yet refined & elegant.
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Popped and poured with grilled burgers and finished the following night. Aroma is cigar box and plum. Taste is pretty tannic and has the plum taste, but finishes pretty thin.
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Someone brought this bottle over, and I have 6 in the cellar so had to try it. This is a big gripping wine, I think this will be good for at least 5 years to settle the tannins down and mellow out, and I think it will shine then. Drinking window much larger than cellartracker currently suggests!
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Really hard for me to pin this down. It's not in a style I normally seek out, but nevertheless I like it. on the nose, dark earthy fruit, tobacco, spice and herbs. Also the hints of secondary character that suggests a maturity beyond '08. On the palate, medium bodied with nicely balanced acidity that lends a slightly sour note to the overall package. Little if any sweetness. A couple of years could serve to round this out. For now, probably better as a food wine than a cocktail wine.
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Decanted briefly. Started with a nice mix of tannin and fruit, in tension, but balancing each other. Flattened out a bit after 1 hour or so, lost some of the initial edge.
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12/29/2017 - rpk99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best showing to date and I am out. Bummer.
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6/23/2017 - asgerG wrote: 90 Points
DD2h. Dark red, red rim,6. Generous bouquet of dark fruits, herbs, and behind it some spicy oaky notes, very fine. Rather full bodied harmonious palate, some rustic tannins, fruit, slightly bitter finish. Drink now-onwards. This has really come together nicely integrating the oak. Very good together with the roasted beef.
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8/3/2016 - fingers wrote: 91 Points
Best after about 6 hours of air to open up. Still as beautiful and interesting as it was 10 months ago but losing some fruit boldness and drive. Probably at it's peak and I think it will start pointing downhill over the next couple years. Very nice wine with high QPR. 5+12+17+7 = 91
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5/8/2016 - rpk99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is really coming around, lovely stuff now, the tannins are settling in very nicely,
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12/24/2015 - Cycledoc wrote:
Definitely needs to be decanted for a few hours.
Once decanted really opened up with aromas of cherries and currants.
Cherry, currant and some oak on the palate.
Very nice.
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10/30/2015 - fingers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just about a year since my first try of this and it has absolutely been worth the wait to pop the second. The bouquet is a full and intriguing mix of mature oak barrel, dense earthy mulch, hot slurry, charred meat, and very dark berry with remarkable persistence. It's all in there. Palate has softened the grip, just a little, and there is still a good measure of influence from the tannins, which are a prerequisite for the genre anyway. Just a fantastic bottle for a restaurant list where you would pay $65 for a $20 bottle and then feel like you got a steal of a deal. Glad I paid the $20. 4+13+17+8 = 92
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10/17/2015 - erhardy Likes this wine: 100 Points
Classic. One of the best ever
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9/16/2015 - rpk99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This stuff is improving may have another year or two and hit peak. Much better than two years ago. If you got it try it
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5/25/2015 - asgerG wrote: 88 Points
D1h. Dark red, slim red rim, 6. Very new world oaky sweetish fruity nose. Rather massive palate with some tannin. Seems pretty simple right now but maybe it will surprise if cellared some years from now?
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1/18/2015 - asgerG wrote: 87 Points
D3h. Very dark red, 6.5. Intense sweet fruity peppery nose. Massive harmonious tannin dominated palate. Wait 5 years at least.
Overnight at room temperature: not much changed!
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11/29/2014 - Buick455 wrote: 90 Points
Very good Malbec. Still young, even after 1½ hour decant it was tight and not giving much. Night in the fridge helped. Dark red color. Dark red/black fruit, spice. Medium finish. It will last for more years, however I'm not sure it will improve.
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11/25/2014 - tonysmith72 wrote: 90 Points
This is a fantastic weeknight wine. Not overly complex and didn't need much in the way of time to breathe. Had great balance and fruit with medium tannins and not too high alcohol.
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11/12/2014 - fingers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Notes after slow-ox'ing overnight in bottle. First sample was very, very tight and un-giving for the first few hours.
Very dark ruby color, almost opaque, with slow rosy legs. No sediment.
The intensity of the aroma is medium and sports very dark berry and cigar, asian spices, roses, baby powder, and a light dill & oak influence. The palate smooths out on day two and starts with grippy, Old World rustic tannins that get chased away by a wave of fruit and minerals. Like a berry-cement smoothie. Those minerals seem to join the prominent acidity to stretch out the flavors much longer on the finish than I expect in this price class. Very food friendly structure.
I get a kick out of the CT drinking window average of 2012-2016 and the fact that half of the bottles inventoried have already been consumed. This wine is just getting started and I could see it living out to 2018+. 5+11+17+8 = 91
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4/13/2014 - ewsds wrote: 90 Points
This is a wine that benefits greatly from decanting. Upon opening it's too stiff and unyielding. After 2-3 hours in a decanter it starts to open up. Very dark in color, with dark fruits on the nose. Deep dark rustic fruits on the palate with solid fine tannins. Continues to improve with air and time in in the glass. A real reserva style Malbec.
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3/27/2014 - rpk99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
just a touch too simple for my taste, nice tannic structure though,
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3/6/2014 - Poliosis Likes this wine: 90 Points
great red meat wine.
smoke, leather, rich dark fruits.
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9/1/2013 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
notes aligned with previous bottle
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6/18/2013 - krmcgrath wrote: 89 Points
Dark, forward fruit. spice and iron balanced nicely with acid and easy tannins. Improved and morphed a little with air.
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5/29/2013 - mistiano wrote: 78 Points
Very dry for a Malbec. I was disappointed based on what I had read about this wine. It did not smooth out even after letting it breath.
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5/15/2013 - Cycledoc wrote: 90 Points
Nice, full fruity nose
Very fruit forward - like a Zin
Nice finish
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4/13/2013 - Wine Sparty wrote: 87 Points
Popped and poured. Dark fruits, both on the nose and palate. Not too much else going on, though.
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3/30/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Solid effort. Better with air.
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3/15/2013 - monist wrote: 89 Points
Solid malbec.
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1/25/2013 - cadamson wrote: 87 Points
Very dark purple. Licorice and cocoa notes with dark fruit, medium bodied. A bit tart on the finish.
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12/29/2012 - docjavadude Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much too young to be drinking this wine, but wow does it pack a potent mouthful!!! Gorgeously rich, deep, and powerful aromas and flavors. Lots of dark fruit -- plum, blackberry, black cherry with herbal (even floral?) hints and earthy leather and cigar box. The tannins needed a lasso, but will soften with a few more years in the bottle. This wine will be something really special in a few more years.
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12/27/2012 - kungfubaby Likes this wine: 88 Points
Still quite heavy, tannic and young. Mouthcoating blue and black fruits, long finish, I expect will improve significantly with some time.
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12/11/2012 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the best QPRs I've had all year. An intro of rich candy caramel wafting from the glass; laser-focused tannins grasping your collar as the outro. Really special stuff here. And something I rarely bring up: the bottle's physical aesthetic is simple yet refined & elegant.
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12/11/2012 - Wine Sparty wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured with grilled burgers and finished the following night. Aroma is cigar box and plum. Taste is pretty tannic and has the plum taste, but finishes pretty thin.
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11/5/2012 - rpk99 wrote: 87 Points
Someone brought this bottle over, and I have 6 in the cellar so had to try it. This is a big gripping wine, I think this will be good for at least 5 years to settle the tannins down and mellow out, and I think it will shine then. Drinking window much larger than cellartracker currently suggests!
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11/2/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
Really hard for me to pin this down. It's not in a style I normally seek out, but nevertheless I like it. on the nose, dark earthy fruit, tobacco, spice and herbs. Also the hints of secondary character that suggests a maturity beyond '08. On the palate, medium bodied with nicely balanced acidity that lends a slightly sour note to the overall package. Little if any sweetness. A couple of years could serve to round this out. For now, probably better as a food wine than a cocktail wine.
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8/6/2012 - svpandae Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted briefly. Started with a nice mix of tannin and fruit, in tension, but balancing each other. Flattened out a bit after 1 hour or so, lost some of the initial edge.
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4/14/2011 - msr wrote: 85 Points
Nicely spicy
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