Oh boy this has really come into its own. Interesting for me looking over my past TNs. It is still a mutt - whole mixture of varietals, so what do you compare it to. BUT, this still has great fruit, black plum and leather. All sorts of lovely tertiary flavors and smells. Its definitely at the latter end of its window but for now still going strong.
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I suspect the last bottle was not typical. Dark Ruby with garnet edge. Dark cherry merlot notes meld with rich tempranillo meatiness. Slight VA in a good way. No raisins in this bottle. Balanced fruit/acid core, typical Navarra flavors, lasting 20 seconds with a nice structured tannic backbone. Went well with a Dominican guisado de res. Will save my last one.
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Rich, smooth, with plenty of fruit - prunes, hint of chocolate. Tannins present. Still good and very drinkable, may last a year or so more. Perfect with bar b q beef burgers
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Good wine. Just hard to tell what it is. It is a mutt. Mixture of fruit with cherry predominant. Good tannic backbone. Drinking well now and has more years to go.
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Moving the end date out on this wine as it appears not to have peaked yet. The flavor and tannin tasted more of a younger wine despite its age. I'm keeping my other two bottles for another couple of years.
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Rich thick wine with strong garnet coloring. Good balance between forward fruit (not boisterous) and tannic finish. The 2019 default end date seems early.
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Thick, rich and concentrated fruit, integrated oak, some funky barnyard and animalistic notes and strong tannins characterize this fun, but not really balanced red. Not sure if this will ever integrate into something elegant, but complex and a good drink now.
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Garnet with minimal lightening to the rim. This seems to be still on the young side. Scored with 94 points in 2012 by the WA with a drinking window till 2020. The use of new oak is nearly not noticeable at this point. Still quite unevolved with thick and concentrated fruit and with a backbone of tannin and just enough acidity to keep a balance. With time it adds complexity with notes of minerals and forest floor. I would like to have this in a decade or so, but it is quite clear to me that this is an excellent to possibly outstanding wine with a great future, especially if it shed some of its tannin in the next decade. 5/12+/16+/9+, 92+ 2019-2030
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Deep, red, clear colour. Tight nose - vanilla and toast along with dark fruits. Brighter red fruit flavours with a touch of vanilla on the end and a little alcohol. Medium to long finish. Enjoyable - opened up over an hour or so.
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a big wine but still refreshing. Very fruity on opening, it's developed its tannins after a couple of hours in the glass, suggesting that it still has time to mature.
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Liked it a couple of years ago as a young wine and thought it would get only better over time. But the more time passed and the more bottles I opened the less I liked it. All the fruit countering the earthiness has disappeared leaving this wine tasting somewhat flat and "old" in a disappointing kind of way.
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Easy to see why many do not feel this wine special…tight minerality, slightly high acids, and fine tannins still unresolved…but for me, this just means that another 3 years and this wine will be singing. The diverse varietal blend works, in that the complexity of flavors gives quite a harmonious red/black/blue fruit impression. No complaints--money well spent for a wine with modest expectations.
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I can't understand a certain RP's high score for this wine, it's heavy with a lot of concentration and matter but that's all there is, lacking elegancy and delivering a boring and slightly alcoholic experience, the QPR is not bad, but with this 94 score you expect a lot more, so it is more a curse than a blessing I feel
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PnP - quite tannic and not so drinkable, but this did open up over time. This was slightly corked, although it was still drinkable. Subtle fruit on the nose leads to so-so flavors. Not bad for the price, but ultimately somewhat boring.
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This is getting better. Great QPR, but not close to the Parker rating yet. Plum, full bodied, some acidity, fine tannins. Starting to drink well, but good for a few more years.
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Bereits im Glas eine tolle Farbe. In der Nase Düfte nach Kirsche, Schwarzbeere und Vanille. Im Mund harmonisch rund mit viel Frucht, Kirsche, Erdbeere, wieder Vanille, waldfrüchte. Tolles PLV.
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From 75cl, good cork. Either this wine isn't ageing gracefully, or this specific bottle was just less impressive than my previous ones. Quite grippy and tannic, frankly a bit cheap-tasting. I remember reading a TN which described a wine as "attenuated" (=to make something smaller, thinner or weaker) and this word came to mind despite the hefty 14.5% alc and superficial sweetness of this Merlot-dominated blend. 86P(?)
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PnP (surprisingly ready?!), served non-blind. Consistent with prior bottles, which is to say it is quite good. A Cab Sauv and Merlot heavy blend rounded out with Syrah, etc., that manages extraordinary aromatics and flavors considering the very modest price-tag. It did begin to fade at or near the 2 hour mark. Drink this in its youth, preferably with a hearty meal. Medium-bodied, well-lifted, with focused, ripe tannins and a medium/medium+ finish. 14,5% abv, drink thru 2018. recommended, and best served just above cellar temp ~ 17C
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Totally forgettable. Not worth the calories. Not sure why they even bothered to bottle this. Tasted like flavorless water. Off chance the bottle has been oxidized, but cork seemed tight. Waste of time.
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Nice earthy nose, good structure, but seems weak on fruit and overly strong on acids. Plus, too much heat, probably due to the alcohol level of 14.5%. OK wine, but out of balance and too tart. Not something I'll get more of.
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From 75cl, dry cork sent a shower of cork-dust into the bottleneck on opening. Not decanted; this TN after 2 hours. Gorgeous ripe blackberry and dark plum scent; velvety, super-ripe entry with a generous dollop of glycerine; the tannins sure do tighten up on the mid-palate making the finish distinctly pucker-mouthed. But heck, that's what the next sip is for - to smooth off the rough surface of my tongue. Moreish. A great value at 11 EUR retail; mature now, but 2-4 years in hand. 89P (if those tough-love tannins smooth away with time, potential for 91P) Second day: slightly softer but not improved. 88P
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consistent with prior bottles, very good. Aerated to decanter 90 minutes, enjoyed over the following 2 hours. Bursting with vivid aromas and flavors, and, thankfully, just as engaging on the palate. At ~ $20, this is a well grown wine that should drink well for the next 5 years. Sensibly full-bodied, really well lifted. Next one in 18 months, or so. 14,5% abv, recommended
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At Fusion with Charlotte and Helen. Aromas of anise, leather and unripe plum. Tastes of shale, cigar box and plums. Well integrated tannins and a smooth finish. Glad I have more.
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Clear deep ruby core with a slightly with legs quick to form and staining the glass. Beautiful rustic nose of earth, subtle gamey note and cedar. Palate of medium plus tannin and medium acidity, balanced and powerful. Could do with some bottle age but nice now.
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Plum and earth on the great nose. Bracing acidity and rustic feel in the mouth. This could do with a little bottle age. What's up with the Parker rating. Way overkill. I'll check in again on this wine in a year.
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Muted nose; not much there. But has a nice mouthfeel, good balance, and nice concentration. Flavors of black currant, chocolate, and underbrush. Not much change over 6 hours so probably not a wine for long term cellaring. Drink now through 2017.
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From 75cl, acceptable if slightly brittle cork. Thanks Wine-Strategies for your accurate correction (09.01.2013). I evidently muddled up my pouring for 10 guests on 30.12.2012 and tasted this wine only out of the aerated bottle on that occasion - and not as P+P. Tonight's wine was tight as a tannic fist on opening, and took 90 minutes to start delivering its plush dark-fruit Gospel in tune. But once it finally starts singing, this big mama has one heck of a feel-good message to preach. I'd be raising a glass to Oh Happy Day right now were it not for some pretty fierce tough-love tannins at the back-end of the finish. If these resolve, as they should, over the next 4-5 years, this bargain wine should be soundly on the Road to Jerusalem. (89-)90P.
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What Honest Bob said, though I can't see this as a PnP given the very forthright nature here. 90 minutes aeration in decanter allowed some of the sheer muscle here to relax and give way to some nuanced fruit and terroir notes. I'll try it again in a few years.
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From 75cl, acceptable cork. Two bottles tasted, both in equally good condition, one opened 3 hours in advance, the other P+P. Merlot dominates, dark-fruited, ripe, rich and a bit red-bloody, but tempered and given an attractive lift by the other varietals in this appealing mongrel blend (35% Merlot, 35% Cab Sauv, 20% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah). Hefty 14,5% alc. Good value at 11 EUR retail. 90P
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Very dark. Impenetratable, oaked nose. Brawny and bracing on the palate. Enjoyed previous vintages but really feel like they've take it too far with this. Agressive and alcoholic on the backend.
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11/3/2022 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oh boy this has really come into its own. Interesting for me looking over my past TNs. It is still a mutt - whole mixture of varietals, so what do you compare it to. BUT, this still has great fruit, black plum and leather. All sorts of lovely tertiary flavors and smells. Its definitely at the latter end of its window but for now still going strong.
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3/8/2022 - RKatzDO wrote:
I suspect the last bottle was not typical. Dark Ruby with garnet edge. Dark cherry merlot notes meld with rich tempranillo meatiness. Slight VA in a good way. No raisins in this bottle. Balanced fruit/acid core, typical Navarra flavors, lasting 20 seconds with a nice structured tannic backbone. Went well with a Dominican guisado de res. Will save my last one.
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12/17/2021 - Alaskawino wrote: 82 Points
On the down and out medium purple and Bricked. Heavy on the prune and rasin with moderate tannins and acid Decanting helps a little.
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5/23/2021 - clochrin Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rich, smooth, with plenty of fruit - prunes, hint of chocolate. Tannins present. Still good and very drinkable, may last a year or so more. Perfect with bar b q beef burgers
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1/29/2021 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good wine. Just hard to tell what it is. It is a mutt. Mixture of fruit with cherry predominant. Good tannic backbone. Drinking well now and has more years to go.
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3/25/2020 - Altonplace Likes this wine: 90 Points
Moving the end date out on this wine as it appears not to have peaked yet. The flavor and tannin tasted more of a younger wine despite its age. I'm keeping my other two bottles for another couple of years.
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11/15/2019 - Altonplace Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich thick wine with strong garnet coloring. Good balance between forward fruit (not boisterous) and tannic finish. The 2019 default end date seems early.
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5/19/2019 - JeremyBernton Likes this wine: 88 Points
Thick, rich and concentrated fruit, integrated oak, some funky barnyard and animalistic notes and strong tannins characterize this fun, but not really balanced red. Not sure if this will ever integrate into something elegant, but complex and a good drink now.
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3/1/2019 - Caruso Likes this wine: 94 Points
Garnet with minimal lightening to the rim. This seems to be still on the young side. Scored with 94 points in 2012 by the WA with a drinking window till 2020. The use of new oak is nearly not noticeable at this point. Still quite unevolved with thick and concentrated fruit and with a backbone of tannin and just enough acidity to keep a balance. With time it adds complexity with notes of minerals and forest floor. I would like to have this in a decade or so, but it is quite clear to me that this is an excellent to possibly outstanding wine with a great future, especially if it shed some of its tannin in the next decade. 5/12+/16+/9+, 92+ 2019-2030
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2/3/2017 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Deep, red, clear colour. Tight nose - vanilla and toast along with dark fruits. Brighter red fruit flavours with a touch of vanilla on the end and a little alcohol. Medium to long finish. Enjoyable - opened up over an hour or so.
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9/2/2016 - KevinTucker wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully, not past prime.
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1/19/2016 - miadelt Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good body and flavors; but developing more sweetness than I prefer.
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5/31/2015 - Lordswood wrote: 91 Points
a big wine but still refreshing. Very fruity on opening, it's developed its tannins after a couple of hours in the glass, suggesting that it still has time to mature.
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5/11/2015 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 85 Points
Lots of alcohol but the dark fruit notes make it interesting and quite pleasant to drink. Very smooth tannins with a medium finish. Good food wine.
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3/27/2015 - GinTonik Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Liked it a couple of years ago as a young wine and thought it would get only better over time. But the more time passed and the more bottles I opened the less I liked it. All the fruit countering the earthiness has disappeared leaving this wine tasting somewhat flat and "old" in a disappointing kind of way.
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2/10/2015 - jbmays Likes this wine: 92 Points
Easy to see why many do not feel this wine special…tight minerality, slightly high acids, and fine tannins still unresolved…but for me, this just means that another 3 years and this wine will be singing.
The diverse varietal blend works, in that the complexity of flavors gives quite a harmonious red/black/blue fruit impression. No complaints--money well spent for a wine with modest expectations.
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1/27/2015 - Kris G Does not like this wine: 85 Points
I can't understand a certain RP's high score for this wine, it's heavy with a lot of concentration and matter but that's all there is, lacking elegancy and delivering a boring and slightly alcoholic experience, the QPR is not bad, but with this 94 score you expect a lot more, so it is more a curse than a blessing I feel
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1/25/2015 - miadelt Likes this wine: 90 Points
A big wine for the region. Full bodied, dark color, and interesting flavors.
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12/31/2014 - nvdierdo wrote: 87 Points
high in acidity and not-so-ripe tannines
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6/11/2014 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 88 Points
PnP - quite tannic and not so drinkable, but this did open up over time. This was slightly corked, although it was still drinkable.
Subtle fruit on the nose leads to so-so flavors. Not bad for the price, but ultimately somewhat boring.
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5/16/2014 - Kris G Does not like this wine: 87 Points
very spicy, but becomes rather boring after a half glass, almost undrinkable on the second day : fast oxidation and way too high in acids
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3/12/2014 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is getting better. Great QPR, but not close to the Parker rating yet. Plum, full bodied, some acidity, fine tannins. Starting to drink well, but good for a few more years.
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1/19/2014 - spo Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pleasantly sweet, but not too sweet. In between old and new. I like this at less than $20.
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1/16/2014 - Sir-Harrie wrote: 91 Points
Bereits im Glas eine tolle Farbe. In der Nase Düfte nach Kirsche, Schwarzbeere und Vanille. Im Mund harmonisch rund mit viel Frucht, Kirsche, Erdbeere, wieder Vanille, waldfrüchte. Tolles PLV.
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11/9/2013 - Kris G Does not like this wine: 87 Points
I think it is still a bit on the young side, the RP94 score is a joke
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9/4/2013 - honest bob wrote: 86 Points
From 75cl, good cork. Either this wine isn't ageing gracefully, or this specific bottle was just less impressive than my previous ones. Quite grippy and tannic, frankly a bit cheap-tasting. I remember reading a TN which described a wine as "attenuated" (=to make something smaller, thinner or weaker) and this word came to mind despite the hefty 14.5% alc and superficial sweetness of this Merlot-dominated blend. 86P(?)
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8/31/2013 - LeChapeau wrote: 85 Points
Average wine. Nothing to see here, move along.
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8/14/2013 - ravbik wrote: 90 Points
Good qpr well rounded red full body.
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8/7/2013 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP (surprisingly ready?!), served non-blind. Consistent with prior bottles, which is to say it is quite good. A Cab Sauv and Merlot heavy blend rounded out with Syrah, etc., that manages extraordinary aromatics and flavors considering the very modest price-tag. It did begin to fade at or near the 2 hour mark. Drink this in its youth, preferably with a hearty meal. Medium-bodied, well-lifted, with focused, ripe tannins and a medium/medium+ finish. 14,5% abv, drink thru 2018. recommended, and best served just above cellar temp ~ 17C
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7/24/2013 - laxman Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Totally forgettable. Not worth the calories. Not sure why they even bothered to bottle this. Tasted like flavorless water. Off chance the bottle has been oxidized, but cork seemed tight. Waste of time.
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5/22/2013 - LeChapeau wrote: 85 Points
Nice earthy nose, good structure, but seems weak on fruit and overly strong on acids. Plus, too much heat, probably due to the alcohol level of 14.5%. OK wine, but out of balance and too tart. Not something I'll get more of.
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5/15/2013 - WDK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Unbelievable qpr. Dark ruby, expressive nose, medium body with intense flavors of ripe cherry and asphalt. Long beautiful finish.
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5/12/2013 - honest bob wrote: 89 Points
From 75cl, dry cork sent a shower of cork-dust into the bottleneck on opening. Not decanted; this TN after 2 hours. Gorgeous ripe blackberry and dark plum scent; velvety, super-ripe entry with a generous dollop of glycerine; the tannins sure do tighten up on the mid-palate making the finish distinctly pucker-mouthed. But heck, that's what the next sip is for - to smooth off the rough surface of my tongue. Moreish. A great value at 11 EUR retail; mature now, but 2-4 years in hand. 89P (if those tough-love tannins smooth away with time, potential for 91P) Second day: slightly softer but not improved. 88P
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5/5/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent with prior bottles, very good. Aerated to decanter 90 minutes, enjoyed over the following 2 hours. Bursting with vivid aromas and flavors, and, thankfully, just as engaging on the palate. At ~ $20, this is a well grown wine that should drink well for the next 5 years. Sensibly full-bodied, really well lifted. Next one in 18 months, or so. 14,5% abv, recommended
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4/30/2013 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 88 Points
At Fusion with Charlotte and Helen. Aromas of anise, leather and unripe plum. Tastes of shale, cigar box and plums. Well integrated tannins and a smooth finish. Glad I have more.
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4/29/2013 - Cellar Hand Likes this wine: 90 Points
Clear deep ruby core with a slightly with legs quick to form and staining the glass. Beautiful rustic nose of earth, subtle gamey note and cedar. Palate of medium plus tannin and medium acidity, balanced and powerful. Could do with some bottle age but nice now.
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4/16/2013 - Winevestor wrote: 88 Points
Plum and earth on the great nose. Bracing acidity and rustic feel in the mouth. This could do with a little bottle age. What's up with the Parker rating. Way overkill. I'll check in again on this wine in a year.
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2/9/2013 - Wine-O-Forever wrote: 92 Points
Muted nose; not much there. But has a nice mouthfeel, good balance, and nice concentration. Flavors of black currant, chocolate, and underbrush. Not much change over 6 hours so probably not a wine for long term cellaring. Drink now through 2017.
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1/26/2013 - cwiebe wrote: 87 Points
Not a lot of detailed tasting notes, but stuck me as a poorly aged Bordeaux. Not a fan, but YMMV.
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1/10/2013 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
From 75cl, acceptable if slightly brittle cork. Thanks Wine-Strategies for your accurate correction (09.01.2013). I evidently muddled up my pouring for 10 guests on 30.12.2012 and tasted this wine only out of the aerated bottle on that occasion - and not as P+P. Tonight's wine was tight as a tannic fist on opening, and took 90 minutes to start delivering its plush dark-fruit Gospel in tune. But once it finally starts singing, this big mama has one heck of a feel-good message to preach. I'd be raising a glass to Oh Happy Day right now were it not for some pretty fierce tough-love tannins at the back-end of the finish. If these resolve, as they should, over the next 4-5 years, this bargain wine should be soundly on the Road to Jerusalem. (89-)90P.
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1/9/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
What Honest Bob said, though I can't see this as a PnP given the very forthright nature here. 90 minutes aeration in decanter allowed some of the sheer muscle here to relax and give way to some nuanced fruit and terroir notes. I'll try it again in a few years.
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12/30/2012 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
From 75cl, acceptable cork. Two bottles tasted, both in equally good condition, one opened 3 hours in advance, the other P+P. Merlot dominates, dark-fruited, ripe, rich and a bit red-bloody, but tempered and given an attractive lift by the other varietals in this appealing mongrel blend (35% Merlot, 35% Cab Sauv, 20% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah). Hefty 14,5% alc. Good value at 11 EUR retail. 90P
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11/13/2012 - wolfonthehill wrote: 92 Points
Still quite tight - needed an hour to start opening up. Perfect at 2 hours.
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9/23/2012 - heathmount wrote:
Not delivered, given alternative
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5/6/2012 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 83 Points
Very dark. Impenetratable, oaked nose. Brawny and bracing on the palate. Enjoyed previous vintages but really feel like they've take it too far with this. Agressive and alcoholic on the backend.
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