Abundant red and blue fruits on a very silky frame with earthy and savory components emerging mid-palette. More beautiful red/blue fruits on the medium long and clean finish with no bitterness or astringency. Amazing QPR at $15 and perfect mid-term cellar candidate. Drink now or soon, wine is peaking.
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Good stuff and now completely ready to go. Integrated tannins and a silky texture support red fruits and spice along with some mineral elements in the medium bodied wine. Nothing super special, but good QPR at under $20. Drink now or next year or so.
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This was quite enjoyable on the first night, though I forgot to take notes. But on night #2 it was even better. Both the monastrell and cabernet took turns coming to the foreground, the first lending a chewing, dark, plummy richness, and the former yielding bright red fruits and cedar.
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Not much nose but has a long finish. Hints of pears, cherries, melon, mint. A little tanny. Not especially fruit forward. Dry. Maybe needs still more aging.
Purple in the glass, rim variation to a dark ruby, quick forming tears with glass staining, ripe fruits on the nose with cherry and notes of green pepper, palate is fruit forward with blackberries, plum notes of anise and wood, long finish. Very nice.
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Didn't take formal notes, but it was a decent new world style red that I would have probably guessed Spanish blind. Dark and dark red fruits with light earthiness. The last glass showed some dried fruits on the second day. Not bad but not really my cup of tea either. Worked fine with Mexican takeout.
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Drank over two nights. Night two was better than night one. This really opened up nicely and was a very full-bodied wine. IMO a great QPR. Good aromas of blackberry and currants on the nose. Tannins were soft and not overwhelming at all. I liked this.
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What can one say; this wine is simple and straightforward, but is a smashing success at $7. This is the kind of wine you could give away by the case, and yet the receivers would be favorably impressed. It would be a much better party wine that most of the retch that is often served.
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I'm trying really hard to like this wine, especially with all of the "great value" remarks. But I just don't see it. On the nose it's not too bad. Has some decent fruit but there's is also an unpleasant aroma seeping through of old rubber. The palate is where this wine loses me. It's very unbalanced somewhat astringent the oak flavor tastes somewhat artificial and not cohesive with the other flavors.
I honestly think it may have to go down the drain. I'll wait a while possibly until tomorrow before doing so in case it changes but as of right now. No Thanks.
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The beverage is dark red/purple in the glass. Highly aromatic with black,red fruit notes. Fleshy and plush on the palate. Those are the specifics.
Generally, it looks artificial. It smells artificial. And it tastes artificial. Likely this is all a result of the use of the "avant-garde technology" Bodegas Castano refers to on their website.
I won't score it as it is unlikely that this product meets my criteria to be considered "wine".
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My Grade: VG+. This Monastrell, Cab blend could be mistaken for a Cali Central Coast or even Aussie Syrah and not in a bad way. Great Black Cherry color, nose of dried plums, tar, licorice and shoe polish. Intense, concentrated blackberry, fig, black cherry, licorice, black pepper on the palate, juicy, mineral mid, but somewhat watery finish. Great value.
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PnP via Vinturi. Complex nose - white pepper, garrigue, could swear I smelled thyme at one point. On the palate, all of that, chocolate, tar, and blackberry / black plum in the background, all over a firm bed of prominent, medium grain tannins. Goes just a bit watery as it shifts from mid-palate to finish - bottle variation? Hadn't noticed it in other bottles. I have just one left - sad...
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Nose: dark fruit, black current, figs, tabaco. Plate: complex and rich, slightly unbalanced acidity, but to be revisited ... might need some more time in the cellar. Generally really good value for money. Intrigued what the even better 2012 is like. To be revisited in a year.
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Really opening up now, and probably at peak. Pepper, currant, blackberry, ripe plum on the nose. Balanced and supple on the palate, with complex fruit, firm, slightly rough tannins, moderate acidity. Medium length finish with a faint whiff of smoke. Fantastic value.
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If you have this, I would hold it for a year or two. Great QPR right now, nice notes of black pepper, but acid and tannins are a bit sharp and bitter on the finish. Has upside potential.
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Give this wine no less than 45 minutes in the glass or decanter before drinking After this period, it is a delicious mix of red fruit, mineral, spice and flower. Recommend having this with food, as on its own it was not as impressive. Very nice QPR.
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PnP, note taken about 90 minutes after being opened. Spot on from my tasting note earlier this month: Nose shows flowers, oak, dried raspberries. On the palate it is a little earthier but generally follows the nose. Tannins dominate on the finish, slight sense of alcohol in transition phase. OK quaffer.
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PnP. Nose shows flowers, oak, dried raspberries. On the palate it is a little earthier but generally follows the nose. Tannins dominate on the finish, slight sense of alcohol in transition phase. OK quaffer.
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This is about as good as a "weeknight wine" gets; total steal at $9 from Last Bottle. Brambly nose, a rose filled palate, and a quenching, slightly herbal finish. Nice!
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Tobacco, earth, red fruit on the nose. Initially very tannic; opened out over the course of two hours with bright berry flavors, cranberry and cassis. Very pleasant weeknight wine. Lots of life in it still.
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Couldn't agree more with MIKE KOPANSKI. I too think with a little aging this will improve. I recently tasted a 2004 that had excellent mature flavors and spiciness - it was very very good.
Popped and smelled the cork, got that aroma of steely, graphite minerality, then poured a glass. Perceived this wine had plenty of potential, but was pretty tightly wound. Drank about half the glass then poured everything into a decanter. The decanting immediately released some serious French oak. I'm sure this is one of those wines that will taste much better tomorrow, so we will describe what we have now, and save a glass or two overnight. There is serious deep purple color. Decanting released the oak aroma, but not much else beside a hint of roses. You get the impression some good things are hiding, or asleep. The mostly red fruit profile has the kind of spicy sharpness just made to age a little. So balanced, the fine little tannins, adequate, but not overpowering acidity, and even the oak are working in seamless harmony. At this point, there is a slight bitterness on the finish that is accompanied by an emerging rich dark cherry floating in vanilla.
Tight and tannic on first opening; much better after a day in the decanter, and still lively after two. Tobacco, herbs, red fruit. I'd say wait a year, or decant a day before drinking.
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Notes from Day 2. Removed from fridge and decanted 2/3 bottle, letting it come to just under room temperature. Sweet fruit, with a good bit of oak. Black cherry, tobacco, oak, vanilla. Good stuff, but I think it could use another year or two to integrate the oak more. Has some definite potential. 65% Monastrell (Mourvedre), 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet).
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Anew wine and area to me. This wine has promise. It needs to age a few more years to remove some of the dominance of tannin and somewhat rough taste - had strong lingering taste that was good but should get better.
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Tried at tasting. This is one of those wines that has a good, complex nose, but the palate is a complete letdown. Not as much fruit as the nose leads you to believe. Still, a good value, but I don't agree with 90 WA rating.
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3/10/2022 - up4wine wrote: 87 Points
This has lasted surprisingly well in the cellar for being a dirt cheap wine.
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6/18/2019 - Alaskawino wrote: 85 Points
Medium purple with a hint of garnet. Prune and spice with a bit of white pepper. Nose and palate are similar.
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1/1/2019 - SchlaepDog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Abundant red and blue fruits on a very silky frame with earthy and savory components emerging mid-palette. More beautiful red/blue fruits on the medium long and clean finish with no bitterness or astringency. Amazing QPR at $15 and perfect mid-term cellar candidate. Drink now or soon, wine is peaking.
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4/28/2017 - SchlaepDog Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good stuff and now completely ready to go. Integrated tannins and a silky texture support red fruits and spice along with some mineral elements in the medium bodied wine. Nothing super special, but good QPR at under $20. Drink now or next year or so.
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1/16/2017 - up4wine wrote: 87 Points
Simple, yet very drinkable wine.
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9/26/2016 - Gekko78 wrote: 90 Points
Needs a lot of air in order to show full potential. Best with food.
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1/14/2016 - Quarked wrote: 90 Points
This was quite enjoyable on the first night, though I forgot to take notes. But on night #2 it was even better. Both the monastrell and cabernet took turns coming to the foreground, the first lending a chewing, dark, plummy richness, and the former yielding bright red fruits and cedar.
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12/20/2015 - Glenn Gilbert Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not much nose but has a long finish. Hints of pears, cherries, melon, mint. A little tanny. Not especially fruit forward. Dry. Maybe needs still more aging.
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11/27/2015 - WineCenturyAZ Likes this wine: 88 Points
Purple in the glass, rim variation to a dark ruby, quick forming tears with glass staining, ripe fruits on the nose with cherry and notes of green pepper, palate is fruit forward with blackberries, plum notes of anise and wood, long finish. Very nice.
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10/9/2015 - studleytrey wrote: 86 Points
Didn't take formal notes, but it was a decent new world style red that I would have probably guessed Spanish blind. Dark and dark red fruits with light earthiness. The last glass showed some dried fruits on the second day. Not bad but not really my cup of tea either. Worked fine with Mexican takeout.
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9/10/2015 - leverage9 wrote: 90 Points
Already complex and sultry, good for another 4-5 years
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6/14/2015 - redz wrote: 88 Points
nice with spicey food, opened up after few hrs
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5/31/2015 - edkotch Likes this wine:
Liked it even more than the 2012 which is getting higher marks right now
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5/27/2015 - Randito wrote: flawed
Overripe plums, raisins, musty smell and taste. This bottle was corked.
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5/5/2015 - mcromain1021 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank over two nights. Night two was better than night one. This really opened up nicely and was a very full-bodied wine. IMO a great QPR. Good aromas of blackberry and currants on the nose. Tannins were soft and not overwhelming at all. I liked this.
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2/4/2015 - up4wine wrote: 86 Points
What can one say; this wine is simple and straightforward, but is a smashing success at $7. This is the kind of wine you could give away by the case, and yet the receivers would be favorably impressed. It would be a much better party wine that most of the retch that is often served.
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1/10/2015 - Fusions33 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
I'm trying really hard to like this wine, especially with all of the "great value" remarks. But I just don't see it.
On the nose it's not too bad. Has some decent fruit but there's is also an unpleasant aroma seeping through of old rubber.
The palate is where this wine loses me. It's very unbalanced somewhat astringent the oak flavor tastes somewhat artificial and not cohesive with the other flavors.
I honestly think it may have to go down the drain. I'll wait a while possibly until tomorrow before doing so in case it changes but as of right now.
No Thanks.
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12/22/2014 - texanoblues Does not like this wine:
The beverage is dark red/purple in the glass. Highly aromatic with black,red fruit notes. Fleshy and plush on the palate. Those are the specifics.
Generally, it looks artificial. It smells artificial. And it tastes artificial. Likely this is all a result of the use of the "avant-garde technology" Bodegas Castano refers to on their website.
I won't score it as it is unlikely that this product meets my criteria to be considered "wine".
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11/14/2014 - Joesap wrote:
My Grade: VG+. This Monastrell, Cab blend could be mistaken for a Cali Central Coast or even Aussie Syrah and not in a bad way. Great Black Cherry color, nose of dried plums, tar, licorice and shoe polish. Intense, concentrated blackberry, fig, black cherry, licorice, black pepper on the palate, juicy, mineral mid, but somewhat watery finish. Great value.
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10/1/2014 - tautlinehitch Likes this wine: 89 Points
PnP via Vinturi. Complex nose - white pepper, garrigue, could swear I smelled thyme at one point. On the palate, all of that, chocolate, tar, and blackberry / black plum in the background, all over a firm bed of prominent, medium grain tannins. Goes just a bit watery as it shifts from mid-palate to finish - bottle variation? Hadn't noticed it in other bottles. I have just one left - sad...
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8/1/2014 - Purple Tooth wrote: 88 Points
Rustic, yet striding for elegance. Sweet, bright red fruit, and long finish. Very Chilean in flavor profile. Awesome wine for the price.
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6/25/2014 - Gekko78 wrote: 88 Points
Nose: dark fruit, black current, figs, tabaco. Plate: complex and rich, slightly unbalanced acidity, but to be revisited ... might need some more time in the cellar. Generally really good value for money. Intrigued what the even better 2012 is like. To be revisited in a year.
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2/21/2014 - tautlinehitch Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really opening up now, and probably at peak. Pepper, currant, blackberry, ripe plum on the nose. Balanced and supple on the palate, with complex fruit, firm, slightly rough tannins, moderate acidity. Medium length finish with a faint whiff of smoke. Fantastic value.
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2/10/2014 - Sparty1983 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprisingly smooth for the price point - outstanding value wine!
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1/29/2014 - blakel wrote: 87 Points
If you have this, I would hold it for a year or two. Great QPR right now, nice notes of black pepper, but acid and tannins are a bit sharp and bitter on the finish. Has upside potential.
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12/10/2013 - JHaslam Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ridiculous QPR!
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11/19/2013 - Kesslerc14 wrote: 87 Points
Give this wine no less than 45 minutes in the glass or decanter before drinking After this period, it is a delicious mix of red fruit, mineral, spice and flower. Recommend having this with food, as on its own it was not as impressive. Very nice QPR.
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11/18/2013 - JHaslam Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great QPR!
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10/23/2013 - Bellissimo wrote:
PnP, note taken about 90 minutes after being opened. Spot on from my tasting note earlier this month: Nose shows flowers, oak, dried raspberries. On the palate it is a little earthier but generally follows the nose. Tannins dominate on the finish, slight sense of alcohol in transition phase. OK quaffer.
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10/22/2013 - syrahiously wrote: 88 Points
Seemed a bit tight. Otherwise, a good everyday wine with or without food.
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10/15/2013 - Bellissimo wrote:
PnP. Nose shows flowers, oak, dried raspberries. On the palate it is a little earthier but generally follows the nose. Tannins dominate on the finish, slight sense of alcohol in transition phase. OK quaffer.
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10/15/2013 - gbanks Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is about as good as a "weeknight wine" gets; total steal at $9 from Last Bottle. Brambly nose, a rose filled palate, and a quenching, slightly herbal finish. Nice!
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10/7/2013 - fdub Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid QPR.
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7/31/2013 - LopedeAguirre Likes this wine: 86 Points
Dark red, too concentrated , lacks finesse.
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7/25/2013 - admid wrote: 78 Points
Terrible
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5/27/2013 - tautlinehitch Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tobacco, earth, red fruit on the nose. Initially very tannic; opened out over the course of two hours with bright berry flavors, cranberry and cassis. Very pleasant weeknight wine. Lots of life in it still.
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5/19/2013 - alfazed wrote: 85 Points
pleasant and unremarkable, seemed a little closed, will wait on the others
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3/24/2013 - epiphany Likes this wine: 88 Points
Couldn't agree more with MIKE KOPANSKI. I too think with a little aging this will improve. I recently tasted a 2004 that had excellent mature flavors and spiciness - it was very very good.
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3/20/2013 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 89 Points
Popped and smelled the cork, got that aroma of steely, graphite minerality, then poured a glass. Perceived this wine had plenty of potential, but was pretty tightly wound. Drank about half the glass then poured everything into a decanter. The decanting immediately released some serious French oak. I'm sure this is one of those wines that will taste much better tomorrow, so we will describe what we have now, and save a glass or two overnight. There is serious deep purple color. Decanting released the oak aroma, but not much else beside a hint of roses. You get the impression some good things are hiding, or asleep. The mostly red fruit profile has the kind of spicy sharpness just made to age a little. So balanced, the fine little tannins, adequate, but not overpowering acidity, and even the oak are working in seamless harmony. At this point, there is a slight bitterness on the finish that is accompanied by an emerging rich dark cherry floating in vanilla.
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3/4/2013 - sully13 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good food wine, better on the second day. The finish smoothed considerably.
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1/26/2013 - czar33 wrote: 87 Points
Beau fruit, bien rond, un peu vert et épicé mais très bien.
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1/15/2013 - NavyVet6874 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nothing special, but pleasent to drink while watching a movie.
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10/14/2012 - rwillis102 wrote: 87 Points
Rated at wine store tasting. Decanting might help. Overrated by Jay Miller IMHO (wink, wink).
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10/1/2012 - nzinkgraf wrote:
2/3 Monastrell, 20% Cab, 15% Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouchet). A rustic and fresh red fruit salad.
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9/27/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Rich, fat, works at $12.
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8/9/2012 - wmazanec wrote: 85 Points
Should have let this breath a bit. While not bad, no one was clamoring to run and buy more
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6/14/2012 - tautlinehitch wrote: 87 Points
Tight and tannic on first opening; much better after a day in the decanter, and still lively after two. Tobacco, herbs, red fruit. I'd say wait a year, or decant a day before drinking.
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5/14/2012 - RPerro wrote: 87 Points
Notes from Day 2. Removed from fridge and decanted 2/3 bottle, letting it come to just under room temperature. Sweet fruit, with a good bit of oak. Black cherry, tobacco, oak, vanilla. Good stuff, but I think it could use another year or two to integrate the oak more. Has some definite potential. 65% Monastrell (Mourvedre), 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet).
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2/21/2012 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 87 Points
Anew wine and area to me. This wine has promise. It needs to age a few more years to remove some of the dominance of tannin and somewhat rough taste - had strong lingering taste that was good but should get better.
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8/6/2011 - Decanthor wrote: 85 Points
Tried at tasting. This is one of those wines that has a good, complex nose, but the palate is a complete letdown. Not as much fruit as the nose leads you to believe. Still, a good value, but I don't agree with 90 WA rating.
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