It’s alive (think Frankenstein) - but barely. Drinkable, the fruit is about gone, but the minerality is still there. I can’t fault because I drank it way past its prime.
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A superb value at the unbelievable closeout price we paid of $13, which none of the 12 experienced wine tasters we shared this wine with pegged to be anywhere near its chronological age of 19 years. A fair number rightly saw this half Merlot half Cabernet Sauvignon as a Bordeaux blend, probably from Bordeaux or Italy. A good many liked its lush texture and fruity flavor and thought it was a well aged and integrated Merlot. Overall, not a blockbuster but an enjoyable, elegant, savory, and well structured Old World styled wine from Northern Italy.
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Nice dark maroon color. Smooth taste. Alcohol on the nose but timid on the taste. Acidic taste. Dark cherries vs dark raspberries. Becomes smoother with aerating and subsequent tastes.
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Decanted thru Vinturi and returned to bottle 1Hr+ before tasting event, which improved upon the Bordeaux-like impression. This has kept well in the cellar and may yet improve from my previous notes of 2014 and 2016. Good QPR at $16
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From memory (a bit). A decent, but not exceptional wine. Different flavor profile than most other Italians I have had. I had a glass left over and after a few days, it was better than the glasses upon opening -- open for a few days beforehand? Maybe so.
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A little flat tasting for me, without extraordinary nuance. Probably past its prime. Still, smooth and worth drinking. No regrets buying this, but will not look to purchase more bottles.
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Disjointed on the first day strawberry and rough earthy tannins. Much more delicate on the second day. Mic rich earth and mountain berry. Started falling apart on the third day.
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I don't know if it is bottle variation, but this one was disappointing. Started out with ripe, but somewhat blousy fruit. Air seemed to bring more acidity out, but the wine never felt in balance, albeit it was drinkable especially with food. The next night, the ripe fruit had returned, but the wine felt tired and past its prime. Glad I only had one.
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Enjoyed this older dusty wine with softer tannins yet ample acid. Reminiscent of an aged Napa Valley floor Meritage. Tobacco, cassis, saddle leather aromas are lovely. Did I say dusty? I'm fan of this and the '99. I do think it's drink up time as the intensity is waning a bit. Easily, one of the top JR successes. Next bottle with tri tip.
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Very Bordeaux-like w/a little barnyard Rhone touch on the nose at P&P, nice Bordeaux style on the palate, soft tannins, red fruit, all-in-all, quite enjoyable for $16.50 delivered.
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Probably my best bottle out of the 3 I got from Garagiste (the first was horribly corked). Dark maroon color with a touch of bricking. Definitely that "aged Bordeaux" aroma and flavor profile with this one. Tasty, although a tad sour on the finish. Smooth, light tannins that became more apparent with air, a bit of zing from the acid. Slightly sour on the attack, with a solid red fruit core and brambly cherry pie on the back.
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Decanted and poured. Here it is a year after my last bottle and this was definitely better - no hint of oxidation, very smooth, good mouthfeel with a medium-length finish. Very nice wine. Too bad it was my last bottle!
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Rather a different wine from prior bottle in August. Not overly complex but not lacking in complexity either-Nose of cherries and cedar, and just wonderfully balanced.
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Rusty maroon purple color, medium viscosity. Classic aged bordeaux aromas of pencil lead/cigar box, with subdued plum and blueberry fruit. On the palate, shows red fruit, with dust, leather, chocolate notes; nice streak of acid, with well-softened tannins. Tasted blind I would have sworn this was Bordelaise, but on (non-blind) reflection there's a bit more prominent acid, which makes it come across as fresh despite its age. An attractive package that slightly tweaks a familiar style, still drinking well though it has some age at this point. I will drink up the rest in my cellar, since I doubt it will benefit from more bottle time at this point.
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Beautiful matured fruit. Tart red fruit, sour cherry, wonderful acidity. Tones of leather, earth and cigar box. Oak treatment gives wonderful notes of dusty chocolate on the nose and palate. For those that enjoy a mature wine, fruit has mellowed out.
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This wine gets plaudits for QPR; very rare to find a 15 year old wine for less than $15 that is still standing and enjoyable.
Notes: Sour cherry, cedar on the nose with a slight medicinal note. Medium body with good roundness. Palate was a bit sour, perhaps due to declining fruit due to age---but still enjoyable.
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MUCH better than the tragic corked bottle I popped last time. Lots of aged bordeaux blend notes. Cassis, black cherry, earthy black tea. Drank fine the first night, but completely fell apart on night 2.
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Very enjoyable, balanced and seamless, but lacking luster of a great wine. Evolved nicely with just 30 minutes being open, but never to the point of greatness. Have more and look forward to drinking them in the next couple of years.
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Neglected to take detailed notes, but recall liking the wine quite a bit. It definitely took some time to open, and did not at all taste like it was 15 years old. I should think it will keep for a few more years.
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Another bottle where the cork was halfway saturated with wine, but it did not seem to effect the wine adversely. Consistent with previous bottles, having a nice combination of mature dried fruits, dried herbs and leather, with a lively energetic palate. Drinks nicely now, but I would opt to drink sooner rather than later.
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The second bottle we opened was really terrific. Smooth and the leather taste from the first bottle was much more refined and desirable. Third bottle was identical to the second. Really a great bottle of wine.
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Pleasant and has stood up to aging more than most wines I've had that are this old. It has become a bit thin and very slightly sour (I respectfully disagree with those who say it would be better with more acid), and I agree it has limited complexity.
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Opened and cork was soaked half through. No time to give it air so poured through Vinturi. The nose pulled me in. A beautiful wine. Happy to have a 2nd bottle. Will have to see how it is tomorrow
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Nicely aged, with currants, red fruits, a hint of aged leather, and a silky mouthfeel. A little more acidity would make this more interesting. Although it isn't complex or exciting, the quality is very good, especially given the modest price.
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Leather and barnyard on the nose, with a little red fruit and pepper underneath, and some floral notes at the end. Rich and earthy on the palate, with a substantial amount of red fruit and spice. It finishes with some leather and floral notes.
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Stvjackson hit the nail on the head with his (?) review. My first bottle was corked and this one was quite enjoyable and a good learning experience about aged Rosso's from Friuli.
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Remarkably different from the first bottle I opened nearly six months ago. From looking at the past several months of reviews, the amount of bottle variation for this wine is crazy.
This time around, while there's still an enormous noseful of green pepper, it eventually blows off to much more balanced levels. That lets other aromas assert themselves, with lots of tar, leather, barrel char, and hints of allspice and damp earth. There's only a hint of currant-like fruit left, both in the nose and on the palate. Acidity is still lively and lingers the slightly smoky finish.
When it's on, as with this bottle, this is a nicely enjoyable wine. When it's off, it's very much not. So far, I'm at a 50% success rate. Hopefully my couple remaining bottles don't reflect the bad side of the coin-flip profile.
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Loved this wine, drinking perfectly right now. Retained great structure. Tannins did not mellow out as much as I would have expected, but they were balanced by the acidity of the wine. Aromas of leather, currants, dark red fruit. Great drinking on its own. Very robust wine. Looking forward to opening a second bottle.
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Another nice bottle, showing mature aromatics of leather, earth and dried fruit. Some herbal elements as well, with resolved (very resolved) tannins. Quite enjoyable with a tomato based pasta dish.
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A very pleasant surprise. Some cedar and leather combined with some soft cherry fruit. Very mature tasting, but not over the hill. Cellar Tracker says I have 3 bottles, but I can only find the one. I will have to search some more....
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Interesting, complex, nuanced blend, some hints of green pepper, but nice cherry and currant fruit. Medium bodied, initially sweet, but with very good acidity, earthy, green pepper, black cherry and currant fruit. Decent finish. Not concentrated, but ripe and well balanced.
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Aromas of an old dusty plum, some gravel dust, and a raspberry seed. Very nice, mature aromas. Palate leans a bit darker in complexion as well, but fairly decent acidity holds things from going too murky. Fairly soft textually, and as this is held that acid notion just dials up and the dark fruit fades. Nice. Finish begins with wet fall leafs, tart acidity (grapefruit), citrus covered plums, and very mild lingering tannins. Very nice stuff, and perhaps even enjoying this better than my first bottle of the '99 (though it seems these all are showing bottle variation). I would agree that this is ready to go, but I don't find it over the hill.
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Cork was half-way saturated. This provides a nice answer when looking for something with a mature flavor profile. Not a lot of depth, but this is flavorful and balanced. A bit on the herbal side, but not in a bad way. Drinking well right now.
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I thought it was corky but it was just some btl funk that blew off in about 30 minutes. Likewise, it seemed pricked on the tip of the tongue but that went away as well. After a rocky start, nice black cherry and spicy black pepper was revealed but definitely a strong green pepper element. It worked quite well with the roasted green peppers I ate, however. There was also a meatiness to this wine and some sundried tomato. I always drink 98s around the week of our anniversary (typically right bank Bdx) and this was opened as a novelty. I wouldn't have placed it in NE Italy, and I don't think this was ever a great wine, but it is interesting and probably made with love.
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Better than my last bottle, this one seems to have a bit more life, but is still a bit tired. Deep red fruits, a hint of cigar. Went well with a lightly seasoned filet mignon.
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Amazing wine for the price. Opened up beautifully over time, and went well with a slow-cooked smoked pork shoulder. Hope the other two I have are as good. It sounds like there is some inconsistency.
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Tobacco, spiced tar on the nose. The finish was pleasant and not overbearing. Like the previous notes, cork was about 30% saturated. I was expecting bottle variation but this one managed to be a nice pop, pour, drinking wine. Yummy QPR!
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Knocked off 12 bottles for a dinner. Corks were almost 100 percent saturated on 5 bottles, 40 percent on the rest, but the wine was good. Wine was very well received. Very nice again.
Still, the best bottle by far of the lot so far was the one I had last weekend, which had barely any saturation. It was more intense and other-worldly. I feel that ALL of these would have been spectacular if not for the variability of the corks.
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Wow, talk about bottle variation. Opened another one and let it sit for a couple of days, and upon tasting this one, most of the negative stuff from my last tasting note is not there. Its just a nice aged claret with some fading leather, tobacco, and dark red fruits with a nice finish. Let's hope that the two remaining bottles I have will be the same(or better) than this.
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I found this to be an approachable aged wine. The nose is pretty muted, but you can detect age with the softer red fruit notes. There is rasberry on the palate. The palate was medium-short, but I didn't find the wine to be weak and tired. Maybe there is bottle variation or people didn't let the wine rest enough, but I enjoyed this wine for $14.
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I approached this wine with some fear, based on some reviews here, but was pleasantly surprised. I didn't get much of the veggie components expressed here, but rather nice aged notes of earth, leather and dried florals. While the flavors are pleasant, my complaint is in the body which was a bit on the weak and watery side. A bit more flesh and this would have been excellent. No regrets on this purchase as this is a nice food wine with moderate complexity.
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I take back every doubt I expressed in my previous review. This bottle was fantastic.
An 80s era Chat La Lagune for under $15?!! That how I felt with this wine.
Opened and slow-ox'd for one hour - cork was much better on this bottle than the previous one, just some saturation in the first fifth.
Deep dark blood red, showing a slight change of color towards brick, though not lighter. Fruit was very much in the house. But this is probably the very best time to drink this.
Paired dramatically with Braised veal fava beans aside parmesan polenta with pesto drizzle, and I just could not stop drinking this!!
Fabulous. I should have picked up the '99 from Garagiste also, which is reported to be even better.
I think there may be significant bottle variation, based on these first two bottles I opened - but I am really happy with this find.
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PnP and let it swill in the glass for about 15 minutes or so. Garnetish/dark brownish in colour; the nose is very vegetal where the green peppers and celeries are prominent with a hint of tobacco and blueberry. Palate is just about how it smells--lots of green veggies like green peppers and green herbs with barely some tobacco and a faint touch of dark fruit. Lacks depth; drinking window: now - yesterday.
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- Garnet color and aromas of tobacco and dusty. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of cherry, raisin, chocolate, black pepper and bell pepper with a light/medium body. Flabby texture with a medium finish - Not as great as the first bottle, especially on the second night. It started great, but eventually started to exhibit the bell pepper flavor - which is interesting. Still, I enjoyed the purchase and look forward to the 1999 we have waiting in the cellar.
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This wine's appeal for me lies in its complexity and interest. At some points over the course of sharing the bottle with a friend it was outright weird and challenging, but it kept changing and came through to something more palatable. I found the refreshing note to the lingering finish notable and the intensity of flavour paired with a light touch. We frequently detected something that made us think of eating flowers. There were also several points where we were reminded of fruitcake due to a chewiness of the fruit (and I would say there is still definite fruit left to it) paired with beautiful spice. At another point, I wrote "weird + pickled but still somehow delightful." My last note says "coherent but multifarious" as it was constantly changing but throughout it all there was a particular cadence to the rise and fall of how it moved across the palate even though the flavours shifted. I loved experiencing this wine.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of tobacco and cedar. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant, cherry and dusty with a medium/full body. Leathery texture with a medium finish - Had more fruit and tannin than I would have expected given the reviews. I enjoyed this and think it was a great value at $10/bottle.
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Cork was 80 percent compromised - speaks to some temp variations in its cellaring
Opened and decanted, to appreciate color
Good color! Medium to dark blood garnet, clear - reminds me of an 82 La Lagune. I don't really see as much bricking as I expected.
Nose of cedar, tobacco and saddle leather, with strong fruit aromas - cherry, plum, raspberry, mint, asparagus, cloves
On the palate, the initial impression is that of some fruit having left the stadium, however, a couple more sips has you appreciating much more than that.
Complex and rewarding, Ribena, cherry, leather, earth. Comparisons with aged Bordeaux are on the money - but I'm going left bank, with a comparison to aged La Lagune.
It's clear to me that there certainly was some unripe fruit in this bottling which would have been unappetizing when young, but which is now almost totally integrated. I think that this is what some tasters are feeling as vegetal, but I feel it is very nice in this package, as the wine has good vivacity - there is a firm minerality and acidity that livens up the palate.
Shortish finish.
After the first few sips one gets a better appreciation for it. Definitely a food wine, I'm thinking a meat with some blackened bits and some fat.
Drink now however - especially if you are not in a position to properly cellar this at temperature. Also, treat your bottles with a little respect, knowing that most of the corks are wet - you don't want to many temperature or pressure changes before you drink it.
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After just adding a note on different wine saying it showed the best of Garagiste, this one shows to worst. Overhyped, tasteless (other than foul), thin, vegetal. A complete loss.
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This seems to be a polarizing wine indeed. I really didn't appreciate the first bottle but found this one pretty good. The fruit has all but boarded the train and left the station and been replaced by an appealing leather aspect. In the mouth for me the dominant aspect is still the minerality though there is good balance between the acid and the tannins, neither of which makes much of a case. I find the finish thin but appealing loaded with spicy green peppercorns, celery salt, and a prosciutto-like gaminess. I'm surprised to get almost no oxidation here but I still say drink this by summer, 2014 as the fruit is almost non existent and anything tertiary is already in the bottle. Good wine.
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Great wine - if I adjusted for px it would be like a 95. Great mouthfeel, thick fruit, nice medium finish. Not sure if others got a few bad bottles. Ours has been fantastic thus far.
Consistent with other TNs. Seems like a dead fruit bomb hits you on the front but nothing to finish. The lack of depth is noticeable. Still, working with acidic sauce dishes will be fine (not a solo wine). Overall it's good, the only reason for the black cloud is the expectation set by the maniacal wine purveyor's description
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PnP. Very nice aged Bordeaux blend. Cab and Merlot. You can taste the Italian earth. My first bottle doesn't seem to be over the hill or full of vegetal notes like some others. Deep dark penetrating red fruits. Certainly aged with leather and earth. Very smooth tannins that have faded into the background. For $13.91 this is a steal. Nice job Jon R.
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As others have noted, this seems to be past its prime. Highly vegetal nose (bell pepper, celery), with a little leather and tar. Very thin on the palate, with little to no finish. Celery and bell pepper notes carry through into the flavor, with slight dark fruit. It would have been interesting to see if more fruit and tannin would have shown when this was younger; as it is at this stage, it's drinkable but not compelling.
Smelling this reminds me of all the vegetables I didn't want to eat as a child. The Ros di Rol is merlot and cab. On the nose this reeks of chile relleno, mildewy leather, and soil. I'm reminded of a 2000 Cantemerle that tasted like liquified celery not only because of the nose but also a mouth-numbing effect. It floats over my tongue like an air hockey puck. I don't understand this wine.
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Very interesting and a great buy at the price point. It was super supple and there wasn't a trace of tannin left at this point but there was still a good amount of fruit
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Generous scoring only because the nose was interesting. It smelled similar to Bordeaux, herbaceous, cigar. Palate is sour with lots of vegetal notes and just overall bizarre.
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Whiff of VA and old toasted oak on the nose. Red fruits are still present, but fading. I think optimum drinking was a few years ago. Reminded me of a right bank Bordeaux, then again it could pass for a David Lake wine from Columbia, or a minor "super" Tuscan. Acceptable, balanced, a bit rustic, not deep or complex.
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Opened two bottles at the same time. Wine had climbed 3/4 the cork on both, but neither bottle corked. Opened up beautifully after about 30m in the glass. Looking forward to the other four we have!
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Nose of light fruit and earthy soil. Somewhat thin on the palate with some red fruit. Quick finish. Not bad for the price, but I agree it should be consumed now and best with a light dish.
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Corked, but recoverable with wads of plastic wrap and vigorous agitation to reveal a drinkable wine with lots of aged Bordeaux character. Hopefully the next won't be corked.
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Interesting Right Bank Bordeaux like taste profile...but readily identifiable as a baby Super Tuscan. Thin, slightly acidic, without much depth, and nearing the end of its optimal drinking window.
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Opened left in bottle for an hour and drank with homemade pasta on Xmas Eve. Slight browning on edges with a very slight nose of oxidation (not everyone picked up on that). Red fruits on the palate, medium body, and again a hint of oxidation in the background. Nice wine, but now is the time to drink it. Definitely a wine to have with food.
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Very nice food wine. Earthy with some red fruit. Drinking very well right now. Drank half the bottle on day one and the rest on day 2. Not as good on day 2. Drink now. Probably not get much better.
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Drank this on Dec 18 and it's now Jan 2 so really don't remember anything beyond really enjoying it. Opened and bottle decanted for over an hour before 2+ hr consumption. This bottle was reaching the end of its useful life, but great to have a properly aged bottle for around $20
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Slight browning in color, but still quite vibrant. Woody nose with some dough and leaves. Palate is plum like although still holding on to some more typical raspberry flavors and some green olive. Agree with most descriptions I read of an aged Bordeaux. Also, has some savory flavors like an aged CDP as well. Very much a food wine, but still has enough moxy to stand alone as well.
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Very nice bottle. Smelled and tasted exactly like Bordeaux. Leather, soil, coffee bean, dark chocolate. Red currants and blackberries. Firm palate but fair integrated. At peak and amazing wot at $20. Bought off babbo wine list for $75.
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Dark red core that fades out to an orange tinged and watery rim. Viscosity appears medium. Some sediment in this so let bottle rest first and and pour slowly over light or decant. This opens up with aromas of cured meat, currant, and forest floor. Ancillary aromas of coffee, suede, mushrooms, campfire, thyme and wood all softly mingle. On the palate this wine still carries some zip, bright acid structure, and good tannins that are balanced. Flavors of sour and dark cherries, cranberry, stewed tomatoes and game meat are met with touches of juniper, and herbs. This screams stewed or braised meets specifically lamb or other game meats. The finish has grip, though the flavors fade out moderately. Slightly past its prime, however this wine still has some life in it and could possibly go another few years. good by itself but do yourself a favor and pair with food!
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Earthy, orange peel, black tea, roasted meat, forest floor. Lots of fruit shines through here, powerful aromatics. Surprisingly good bordeaux-style aged merlot, perfect right now.
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9/25/2021 - doggman Likes this wine: 88 Points
It’s alive (think Frankenstein) - but barely. Drinkable, the fruit is about gone, but the minerality is still there. I can’t fault because I drank it way past its prime.
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1/11/2019 - RyanStotz Likes this wine:
Still...going. I can't make sense of it and I don't want to.
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12/26/2018 - milwaukeewino wrote:
Pretty nasty nose. Hoping it blows off...
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10/5/2018 - tonysmith72 wrote: 90 Points
Delicious 20 year bottle.
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4/22/2018 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Holding up great! Beautifully integrated tannis. Sour red cherry, raspberries fruit. Very nice
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1/27/2018 - gcarl wrote: 90 Points
Holding up well after 19 years. Still very good old world style Bordeaux blend.
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9/24/2017 - Mossrose wrote: 92 Points
A superb value at the unbelievable closeout price we paid of $13, which none of the 12 experienced wine tasters we shared this wine with pegged to be anywhere near its chronological age of 19 years. A fair number rightly saw this half Merlot half Cabernet Sauvignon as a Bordeaux blend, probably from Bordeaux or Italy. A good many liked its lush texture and fruity flavor and thought it was a well aged and integrated Merlot. Overall, not a blockbuster but an enjoyable, elegant, savory, and well structured Old World styled wine from Northern Italy.
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7/20/2017 - Andy3155 Likes this wine: 80 Points
Nice dark maroon color. Smooth taste. Alcohol on the nose but timid on the taste. Acidic taste. Dark cherries vs dark raspberries. Becomes smoother with aerating and subsequent tastes.
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7/14/2017 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: flawed
Last bottle and... Corked.
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5/19/2017 - gcarl wrote: 90 Points
Decanted thru Vinturi and returned to bottle 1Hr+ before tasting event, which improved upon the Bordeaux-like impression. This has kept well in the cellar and may yet improve from my previous notes of 2014 and 2016. Good QPR at $16
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11/20/2016 - cobystilp wrote: 86 Points
Not as good as the last one. It was thin and very one dimensional.
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1/10/2016 - gcarl wrote: 90 Points
Same impression as my notes from 6/14/14
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5/16/2015 - OldwineinVT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Garagiste selection -- Cab/Merlot blend
Color: light ruby-garnet with brown highlights.
Nose: light to medium intensity. Lots of dried fruit, berries, and warm spice. Opened with air.
Body/flavor: Light to medium body, reminded me of Pinot Noir. Dried fruit, a little leather, and dust with good acid structure.
Finish: relatively short aftertaste.
Wine continued to open... might have evolved even further, but we drank it!
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2/11/2015 - John Nezlek wrote: 86 Points
From memory (a bit). A decent, but not exceptional wine. Different flavor profile than most other Italians I have had. I had a glass left over and after a few days, it was better than the glasses upon opening -- open for a few days beforehand? Maybe so.
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12/26/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 90 Points
Time to drink up
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12/12/2014 - BarkingLeopard Likes this wine: 88 Points
A little flat tasting for me, without extraordinary nuance. Probably past its prime. Still, smooth and worth drinking. No regrets buying this, but will not look to purchase more bottles.
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11/23/2014 - C.donough@gmail.com Likes this wine: 88 Points
Surprised we liked it. Decanted for 6 hours. Paired just fine with spicy Italian sausage and a rich red sauce
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11/23/2014 - pdxwineguy wrote: 87 Points
Disjointed on the first day strawberry and rough earthy tannins. Much more delicate on the second day. Mic rich earth and mountain berry. Started falling apart on the third day.
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11/18/2014 - pifcho Does not like this wine: 82 Points
I don't know if it is bottle variation, but this one was disappointing. Started out with ripe, but somewhat blousy fruit. Air seemed to bring more acidity out, but the wine never felt in balance, albeit it was drinkable especially with food. The next night, the ripe fruit had returned, but the wine felt tired and past its prime. Glad I only had one.
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11/1/2014 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
bit overripe/cooked?, lots of tobacco on day one, some fruit, then fades
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10/26/2014 - sadofsky wrote:
In case I forget, I didn't like this. Basically too fruit-bombe.
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10/23/2014 - gregg g wrote:
Enjoyed this older dusty wine with softer tannins yet ample acid. Reminiscent of an aged Napa Valley floor Meritage. Tobacco, cassis, saddle leather aromas are lovely. Did I say dusty? I'm fan of this and the '99. I do think it's drink up time as the intensity is waning a bit. Easily, one of the top JR successes. Next bottle with tri tip.
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8/16/2014 - ron m wrote:
Ready on pop and pour. Reasonable, mature, somewhat dilute.
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8/5/2014 - MRichman wrote:
Petaluma Wine Group (Tessa's): Good full black fruit, pepper, smoky oak. Mature. Coffee, mud. Perhaps past prime.
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6/19/2014 - BarkingLeopard Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice spice to this wine. Pairs well with tomato and peppers.
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6/14/2014 - gcarl wrote: 90 Points
Very Bordeaux-like w/a little barnyard Rhone touch on the nose at P&P, nice Bordeaux style on the palate, soft tannins, red fruit, all-in-all, quite enjoyable for $16.50 delivered.
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5/23/2014 - jkwatson Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was a very nice, aged Merlot. I hope the next bottle is as good!
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4/4/2014 - Neurowine1 wrote:
Tired
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3/4/2014 - RPerro Likes this wine: 89 Points
Probably my best bottle out of the 3 I got from Garagiste (the first was horribly corked). Dark maroon color with a touch of bricking. Definitely that "aged Bordeaux" aroma and flavor profile with this one. Tasty, although a tad sour on the finish. Smooth, light tannins that became more apparent with air, a bit of zing from the acid. Slightly sour on the attack, with a solid red fruit core and brambly cherry pie on the back.
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2/10/2014 - mwkoehler wrote: 90 Points
Tried this after opening and again 2 days later. Two days later was the key.
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2/4/2014 - rvaidyan wrote:
Super Bowl party
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1/23/2014 - joefel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted and poured. Here it is a year after my last bottle and this was definitely better - no hint of oxidation, very smooth, good mouthfeel with a medium-length finish. Very nice wine. Too bad it was my last bottle!
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1/18/2014 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. Best of 2013 at WW. Old Bx nose and mouth. on the decline but still enjoyable. Bought one.
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1/17/2014 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Continues to drink well. Fruit subdued, but notable for its balance and lack of bombast. Appreciate the alcohol level, as well.
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1/10/2014 - MichaelMA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really liked this wine. Does not really taste its age -- seems quite a bit younger. Bright red fruit, smooth tannins, good finish. Lovely.
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1/8/2014 - Momus99 wrote: 90 Points
Rather a different wine from prior bottle in August. Not overly complex but not lacking in complexity either-Nose of cherries and cedar, and just wonderfully balanced.
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1/8/2014 - joncohen wrote: 89 Points
Rusty maroon purple color, medium viscosity. Classic aged bordeaux aromas of pencil lead/cigar box, with subdued plum and blueberry fruit. On the palate, shows red fruit, with dust, leather, chocolate notes; nice streak of acid, with well-softened tannins. Tasted blind I would have sworn this was Bordelaise, but on (non-blind) reflection there's a bit more prominent acid, which makes it come across as fresh despite its age. An attractive package that slightly tweaks a familiar style, still drinking well though it has some age at this point. I will drink up the rest in my cellar, since I doubt it will benefit from more bottle time at this point.
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12/31/2013 - sms21 wrote: 88 Points
- Crimsom color. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cedar, dusty and cherry with a medium body. Round texture with a medium finish.
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12/20/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine: 89 Points
Beautiful matured fruit. Tart red fruit, sour cherry, wonderful acidity. Tones of leather, earth and cigar box. Oak treatment gives wonderful notes of dusty chocolate on the nose and palate. For those that enjoy a mature wine, fruit has mellowed out.
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12/13/2013 - matthew.gluth wrote:
Woodsy nose. Sharp taste, tingly, but plain. Extremely sour finish.
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12/8/2013 - cwaltonhouse Likes this wine: 87 Points
This wine gets plaudits for QPR; very rare to find a 15 year old wine for less than $15 that is still standing and enjoyable.
Notes: Sour cherry, cedar on the nose with a slight medicinal note. Medium body with good roundness. Palate was a bit sour, perhaps due to declining fruit due to age---but still enjoyable.
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11/25/2013 - Italiana wrote:
Took some time to come together after opening, but then offered deep notes of leather and woodland.
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11/22/2013 - RPerro Likes this wine: 88 Points
MUCH better than the tragic corked bottle I popped last time. Lots of aged bordeaux blend notes. Cassis, black cherry, earthy black tea. Drank fine the first night, but completely fell apart on night 2.
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11/13/2013 - dmitchell4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully. Enjoyed with steak Florentine
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11/8/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 89 Points
Similar notes to last time, losing a little steam. Tasty savory with a complex finish.
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10/25/2013 - zakaib wrote: 89 Points
Very enjoyable, balanced and seamless, but lacking luster of a great wine. Evolved nicely with just 30 minutes being open, but never to the point of greatness. Have more and look forward to drinking them in the next couple of years.
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10/18/2013 - MichaelMA Likes this wine: 89 Points
Neglected to take detailed notes, but recall liking the wine quite a bit. It definitely took some time to open, and did not at all taste like it was 15 years old. I should think it will keep for a few more years.
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9/29/2013 - jay_hawk@yahoo.com wrote: flawed
Corked bottle
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9/16/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
Another bottle where the cork was halfway saturated with wine, but it did not seem to effect the wine adversely. Consistent with previous bottles, having a nice combination of mature dried fruits, dried herbs and leather, with a lively energetic palate. Drinks nicely now, but I would opt to drink sooner rather than later.
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9/15/2013 - svpandae wrote: 85 Points
Dusty and dry, fair amount of structure, and very little fruit. Nothing special, and not my style. Drinks like a Cab Franc.
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9/6/2013 - noob Likes this wine: 91 Points
The second bottle we opened was really terrific. Smooth and the leather taste from the first bottle was much more refined and desirable. Third bottle was identical to the second. Really a great bottle of wine.
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8/29/2013 - gordoyflaca wrote: 92 Points
This needed some time to open up but turned out really nice. black cherry skin, wet earth, jalapeno pepper.
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8/29/2013 - Momus99 wrote: 87 Points
Pleasant and has stood up to aging more than most wines I've had that are this old. It has become a bit thin and very slightly sour (I respectfully disagree with those who say it would be better with more acid), and I agree it has limited complexity.
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8/26/2013 - mwkoehler wrote: 90 Points
Opened and cork was soaked half through. No time to give it air so poured through Vinturi. The nose pulled me in. A beautiful wine. Happy to have a 2nd bottle. Will have to see how it is tomorrow
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8/26/2013 - RichardP wrote: 89 Points
Nicely aged, with currants, red fruits, a hint of aged leather, and a silky mouthfeel. A little more acidity would make this more interesting. Although it isn't complex or exciting, the quality is very good, especially given the modest price.
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8/22/2013 - jkwatson Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nicely aged. Very Merlot-driven. Yummy, but not especially complex.
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8/18/2013 - noob wrote: 85 Points
First bottle we opened was tart and dull. Tasted heavily of leather, really undesirable. Second bottle was a world apart.
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8/6/2013 - mmurry Likes this wine: 89 Points
Leather and barnyard on the nose, with a little red fruit and pepper underneath, and some floral notes at the end. Rich and earthy on the palate, with a substantial amount of red fruit and spice. It finishes with some leather and floral notes.
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8/5/2013 - BHP1994 wrote: 88 Points
Stvjackson hit the nail on the head with his (?) review. My first bottle was corked and this one was quite enjoyable and a good learning experience about aged Rosso's from Friuli.
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8/1/2013 - dls12 wrote: flawed
corked
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7/14/2013 - stvjackson wrote: 88 Points
Remarkably different from the first bottle I opened nearly six months ago. From looking at the past several months of reviews, the amount of bottle variation for this wine is crazy.
This time around, while there's still an enormous noseful of green pepper, it eventually blows off to much more balanced levels. That lets other aromas assert themselves, with lots of tar, leather, barrel char, and hints of allspice and damp earth. There's only a hint of currant-like fruit left, both in the nose and on the palate. Acidity is still lively and lingers the slightly smoky finish.
When it's on, as with this bottle, this is a nicely enjoyable wine. When it's off, it's very much not. So far, I'm at a 50% success rate. Hopefully my couple remaining bottles don't reflect the bad side of the coin-flip profile.
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7/12/2013 - Captaincorey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Loved this wine, drinking perfectly right now. Retained great structure. Tannins did not mellow out as much as I would have expected, but they were balanced by the acidity of the wine. Aromas of leather, currants, dark red fruit. Great drinking on its own. Very robust wine. Looking forward to opening a second bottle.
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7/11/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
Another nice bottle, showing mature aromatics of leather, earth and dried fruit. Some herbal elements as well, with resolved (very resolved) tannins. Quite enjoyable with a tomato based pasta dish.
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7/4/2013 - Francophile Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nice rounded wine that was a good mix for a variety of food
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6/28/2013 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. My top tier at the WSW Northern Italian tasting . Mature leather, earth and sour cherry.The sister wine also fair well.
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6/24/2013 - Tintin Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very pleasant surprise. Some cedar and leather combined with some soft cherry fruit. Very mature tasting, but not over the hill. Cellar Tracker says I have 3 bottles, but I can only find the one. I will have to search some more....
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6/22/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
Interesting, complex, nuanced blend, some hints of green pepper, but nice cherry and currant fruit. Medium bodied, initially sweet, but with very good acidity, earthy, green pepper, black cherry and currant fruit. Decent finish. Not concentrated, but ripe and well balanced.
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6/15/2013 - BHP1994 wrote: flawed
Corked.
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6/15/2013 - jdrago wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyable. Aromas of ark cherry. Took about an hour to open up; good on day two. Short funky finish.
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6/14/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 87 Points
Another nice example... lightweight, bright, well aged, herbal and earthy wine. Drink up.
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6/7/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 90 Points
Aromas of an old dusty plum, some gravel dust, and a raspberry seed. Very nice, mature aromas. Palate leans a bit darker in complexion as well, but fairly decent acidity holds things from going too murky. Fairly soft textually, and as this is held that acid notion just dials up and the dark fruit fades. Nice. Finish begins with wet fall leafs, tart acidity (grapefruit), citrus covered plums, and very mild lingering tannins. Very nice stuff, and perhaps even enjoying this better than my first bottle of the '99 (though it seems these all are showing bottle variation). I would agree that this is ready to go, but I don't find it over the hill.
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6/5/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 88 Points
Cork was half-way saturated. This provides a nice answer when looking for something with a mature flavor profile. Not a lot of depth, but this is flavorful and balanced. A bit on the herbal side, but not in a bad way. Drinking well right now.
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6/3/2013 - wirelesswine wrote: 87 Points
Fairly consistent with last 2 bottles, and this was my last. Drink up quick. It's a nice wine but it's getting long in the tooth for my liking.
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5/24/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
A bit more depth than my last bottle. Loads of mature notes; leather, earth, savory herbs and dried fruits. Nice zippy acidity. Very nice.
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5/22/2013 - Neurowine1 wrote: 83 Points
I thought it was corky but it was just some btl funk that blew off in about 30 minutes. Likewise, it seemed pricked on the tip of the tongue but that went away as well. After a rocky start, nice black cherry and spicy black pepper was revealed but definitely a strong green pepper element. It worked quite well with the roasted green peppers I ate, however. There was also a meatiness to this wine and some sundried tomato. I always drink 98s around the week of our anniversary (typically right bank Bdx) and this was opened as a novelty. I wouldn't have placed it in NE Italy, and I don't think this was ever a great wine, but it is interesting and probably made with love.
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5/18/2013 - rjm_va wrote: 88 Points
Better than last bottle. Not great but smooth enough to pair well with flank steak
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5/18/2013 - jfd717 wrote: 79 Points
cork saturated. wine not very good.
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5/17/2013 - wirelesswine wrote: 88 Points
Better than my last bottle, this one seems to have a bit more life, but is still a bit tired. Deep red fruits, a hint of cigar. Went well with a lightly seasoned filet mignon.
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5/13/2013 - CO_Roots13 wrote: flawed
Corked
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5/6/2013 - ryestraw wrote:
Amazing wine for the price. Opened up beautifully over time, and went well with a slow-cooked smoked pork shoulder. Hope the other two I have are as good. It sounds like there is some inconsistency.
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5/5/2013 - mike10474 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tobacco, spiced tar on the nose. The finish was pleasant and not overbearing. Like the previous notes, cork was about 30% saturated. I was expecting bottle variation but this one managed to be a nice pop, pour, drinking wine. Yummy QPR!
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5/4/2013 - Wamrod wrote: 91 Points
Had with a lamb lunch by the sea. Worked beautifully.
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5/4/2013 - Wamrod wrote: 91 Points
Knocked off 12 bottles for a dinner. Corks were almost 100 percent saturated on 5 bottles, 40 percent on the rest, but the wine was good. Wine was very well received. Very nice again.
Still, the best bottle by far of the lot so far was the one I had last weekend, which had barely any saturation. It was more intense and other-worldly. I feel that ALL of these would have been spectacular if not for the variability of the corks.
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5/3/2013 - AMC Eagle wrote: 88 Points
Wow, talk about bottle variation. Opened another one and let it sit for a couple of days, and upon tasting this one, most of the negative stuff from my last tasting note is not there. Its just a nice aged claret with some fading leather, tobacco, and dark red fruits with a nice finish. Let's hope that the two remaining bottles I have will be the same(or better) than this.
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5/1/2013 - Troon wrote: 88 Points
I found this to be an approachable aged wine. The nose is pretty muted, but you can detect age with the softer red fruit notes. There is rasberry on the palate. The palate was medium-short, but I didn't find the wine to be weak and tired. Maybe there is bottle variation or people didn't let the wine rest enough, but I enjoyed this wine for $14.
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4/30/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 87 Points
I approached this wine with some fear, based on some reviews here, but was pleasantly surprised. I didn't get much of the veggie components expressed here, but rather nice aged notes of earth, leather and dried florals. While the flavors are pleasant, my complaint is in the body which was a bit on the weak and watery side. A bit more flesh and this would have been excellent. No regrets on this purchase as this is a nice food wine with moderate complexity.
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4/29/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: flawed
corked
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4/27/2013 - Wamrod wrote: 93 Points
Wow!
I take back every doubt I expressed in my previous review. This bottle was fantastic.
An 80s era Chat La Lagune for under $15?!! That how I felt with this wine.
Opened and slow-ox'd for one hour - cork was much better on this bottle than the previous one, just some saturation in the first fifth.
Deep dark blood red, showing a slight change of color towards brick, though not lighter. Fruit was very much in the house. But this is probably the very best time to drink this.
Paired dramatically with Braised veal fava beans aside parmesan polenta with pesto drizzle, and I just could not stop drinking this!!
Fabulous. I should have picked up the '99 from Garagiste also, which is reported to be even better.
I think there may be significant bottle variation, based on these first two bottles I opened - but I am really happy with this find.
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4/26/2013 - AMC Eagle wrote: 83 Points
PnP and let it swill in the glass for about 15 minutes or so. Garnetish/dark brownish in colour; the nose is very vegetal where the green peppers and celeries are prominent with a hint of tobacco and blueberry. Palate is just about how it smells--lots of green veggies like green peppers and green herbs with barely some tobacco and a faint touch of dark fruit. Lacks depth; drinking window: now - yesterday.
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4/20/2013 - wirelesswine wrote:
This is a bit tired, unfortunately, but nothing offensive.
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4/19/2013 - BigWineMan wrote:
No formal notes. From memory, after decant this wine was not bad on day 1, but fell apart rather quickly thereafter. Will reserve judgment.
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4/10/2013 - themercuryuniverse wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of tobacco and dusty. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of cherry, raisin, chocolate, black pepper and bell pepper with a light/medium body. Flabby texture with a medium finish - Not as great as the first bottle, especially on the second night. It started great, but eventually started to exhibit the bell pepper flavor - which is interesting. Still, I enjoyed the purchase and look forward to the 1999 we have waiting in the cellar.
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4/2/2013 - dmitchell4 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Awesome
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3/24/2013 - K is for Kate Likes this wine:
This wine's appeal for me lies in its complexity and interest. At some points over the course of sharing the bottle with a friend it was outright weird and challenging, but it kept changing and came through to something more palatable. I found the refreshing note to the lingering finish notable and the intensity of flavour paired with a light touch. We frequently detected something that made us think of eating flowers. There were also several points where we were reminded of fruitcake due to a chewiness of the fruit (and I would say there is still definite fruit left to it) paired with beautiful spice. At another point, I wrote "weird + pickled but still somehow delightful." My last note says "coherent but multifarious" as it was constantly changing but throughout it all there was a particular cadence to the rise and fall of how it moved across the palate even though the flavours shifted. I loved experiencing this wine.
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3/24/2013 - LLakritz wrote: flawed
Had 3 bottles. 2 were good and one was had cork damage. Nice wine for the price.
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3/24/2013 - themercuryuniverse wrote: 89 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of tobacco and cedar. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant, cherry and dusty with a medium/full body. Leathery texture with a medium finish - Had more fruit and tannin than I would have expected given the reviews. I enjoyed this and think it was a great value at $10/bottle.
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3/20/2013 - Wamrod wrote: 91 Points
Cork was 80 percent compromised - speaks to some temp variations in its cellaring
Opened and decanted, to appreciate color
Good color! Medium to dark blood garnet, clear - reminds me of an 82 La Lagune. I don't really see as much bricking as I expected.
Nose of cedar, tobacco and saddle leather, with strong fruit aromas - cherry, plum, raspberry, mint, asparagus, cloves
On the palate, the initial impression is that of some fruit having left the stadium, however, a couple more sips has you appreciating much more than that.
Complex and rewarding, Ribena, cherry, leather, earth. Comparisons with aged Bordeaux are on the money - but I'm going left bank, with a comparison to aged La Lagune.
It's clear to me that there certainly was some unripe fruit in this bottling which would have been unappetizing when young, but which is now almost totally integrated. I think that this is what some tasters are feeling as vegetal, but I feel it is very nice in this package, as the wine has good vivacity - there is a firm minerality and acidity that livens up the palate.
Shortish finish.
After the first few sips one gets a better appreciation for it. Definitely a food wine, I'm thinking a meat with some blackened bits and some fat.
Drink now however - especially if you are not in a position to properly cellar this at temperature. Also, treat your bottles with a little respect, knowing that most of the corks are wet - you don't want to many temperature or pressure changes before you drink it.
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3/19/2013 - sababa1022 Does not like this wine: 75 Points
After just adding a note on different wine saying it showed the best of Garagiste, this one shows to worst. Overhyped, tasteless (other than foul), thin, vegetal. A complete loss.
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3/16/2013 - kanjimoti wrote: 87 Points
This seems to be a polarizing wine indeed. I really didn't appreciate the first bottle but found this one pretty good. The fruit has all but boarded the train and left the station and been replaced by an appealing leather aspect. In the mouth for me the dominant aspect is still the minerality though there is good balance between the acid and the tannins, neither of which makes much of a case. I find the finish thin but appealing loaded with spicy green peppercorns, celery salt, and a prosciutto-like gaminess. I'm surprised to get almost no oxidation here but I still say drink this by summer, 2014 as the fruit is almost non existent and anything tertiary is already in the bottle. Good wine.
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3/15/2013 - tward wrote:
No notes taken, fully mature Bordeaux with something Italian in the nose. A very nice, elegant wine that is probably a touch past its prime. Drink up.
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3/10/2013 - JJ Mills wrote: 90 Points
Great wine - if I adjusted for px it would be like a 95. Great mouthfeel, thick fruit, nice medium finish. Not sure if others got a few bad bottles. Ours has been fantastic thus far.
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3/8/2013 - rjm_va wrote: 85 Points
Consistent with other TNs. Seems like a dead fruit bomb hits you on the front but nothing to finish. The lack of depth is noticeable. Still, working with acidic sauce dishes will be fine (not a solo wine). Overall it's good, the only reason for the black cloud is the expectation set by the maniacal wine purveyor's description
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3/6/2013 - cobystilp wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Very nice aged Bordeaux blend. Cab and Merlot. You can taste the Italian earth. My first bottle doesn't seem to be over the hill or full of vegetal notes like some others. Deep dark penetrating red fruits. Certainly aged with leather and earth. Very smooth tannins that have faded into the background. For $13.91 this is a steal. Nice job Jon R.
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2/24/2013 - stvjackson wrote: 79 Points
As others have noted, this seems to be past its prime. Highly vegetal nose (bell pepper, celery), with a little leather and tar. Very thin on the palate, with little to no finish. Celery and bell pepper notes carry through into the flavor, with slight dark fruit. It would have been interesting to see if more fruit and tannin would have shown when this was younger; as it is at this stage, it's drinkable but not compelling.
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2/23/2013 - danibus wrote: 86 Points
While I appreciate the low-oak earthy profile, it was just a bit too vegetal and seemed over the hill. Could be bottle variation, could be typical.
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2/21/2013 - kanjimoti wrote:
Smelling this reminds me of all the vegetables I didn't want to eat as a child. The Ros di Rol is merlot and cab. On the nose this reeks of chile relleno, mildewy leather, and soil. I'm reminded of a 2000 Cantemerle that tasted like liquified celery not only because of the nose but also a mouth-numbing effect. It floats over my tongue like an air hockey puck. I don't understand this wine.
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2/19/2013 - Big Texas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very interesting and a great buy at the price point. It was super supple and there wasn't a trace of tannin left at this point but there was still a good amount of fruit
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2/15/2013 - dmayfield Likes this wine: 87 Points
Earth. Leather. Old World. Dried Cherry.
Great buy at $13 and some change!
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2/1/2013 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
mature, earthy w/herbal, vegetal edge, tasty enough
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2/1/2013 - Rezy13 Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Generous scoring only because the nose was interesting. It smelled similar to Bordeaux, herbaceous, cigar. Palate is sour with lots of vegetal notes and just overall bizarre.
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1/17/2013 - pape du neuf wrote: 85 Points
Whiff of VA and old toasted oak on the nose. Red fruits are still present, but fading. I think optimum drinking was a few years ago. Reminded me of a right bank Bordeaux, then again it could pass for a David Lake wine from Columbia, or a minor "super" Tuscan. Acceptable, balanced, a bit rustic, not deep or complex.
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1/16/2013 - JDL98136 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened two bottles at the same time. Wine had climbed 3/4 the cork on both, but neither bottle corked. Opened up beautifully after about 30m in the glass. Looking forward to the other four we have!
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1/6/2013 - ddisler wrote: 87 Points
Nose of light fruit and earthy soil. Somewhat thin on the palate with some red fruit. Quick finish. Not bad for the price, but I agree it should be consumed now and best with a light dish.
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1/5/2013 - tward wrote: flawed
Corked, but recoverable with wads of plastic wrap and vigorous agitation to reveal a drinkable wine with lots of aged Bordeaux character. Hopefully the next won't be corked.
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1/5/2013 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 85 Points
Bought from Garagiste. If you like aged reds is drinking decently. Not my thing.
Drink any you bought ASAP.
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12/31/2012 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
Interesting Right Bank Bordeaux like taste profile...but readily identifiable as a baby Super Tuscan. Thin, slightly acidic, without much depth, and nearing the end of its optimal drinking window.
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12/24/2012 - joefel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened left in bottle for an hour and drank with homemade pasta on Xmas Eve. Slight browning on edges with a very slight nose of oxidation (not everyone picked up on that). Red fruits on the palate, medium body, and again a hint of oxidation in the background. Nice wine, but now is the time to drink it. Definitely a wine to have with food.
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12/22/2012 - yayin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice food wine. Earthy with some red fruit. Drinking very well right now. Drank half the bottle on day one and the rest on day 2. Not as good on day 2. Drink now. Probably not get much better.
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12/18/2012 - nlassow Likes this wine:
Drank this on Dec 18 and it's now Jan 2 so really don't remember anything beyond really enjoying it. Opened and bottle decanted for over an hour before 2+ hr consumption. This bottle was reaching the end of its useful life, but great to have a properly aged bottle for around $20
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12/9/2012 - cwiebe Likes this wine: 88 Points
Slight browning in color, but still quite vibrant. Woody nose with some dough and leaves. Palate is plum like although still holding on to some more typical raspberry flavors and some green olive. Agree with most descriptions I read of an aged Bordeaux. Also, has some savory flavors like an aged CDP as well. Very much a food wine, but still has enough moxy to stand alone as well.
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9/2/2012 - Wine Canuck wrote: 91 Points
Very nice bottle. Smelled and tasted exactly like Bordeaux. Leather, soil, coffee bean, dark chocolate. Red currants and blackberries. Firm palate but fair integrated. At peak and amazing wot at $20. Bought off babbo wine list for $75.
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2/26/2012 - bjamesclark wrote: 90 Points
Dark red core that fades out to an orange tinged and watery rim. Viscosity appears medium. Some sediment in this so let bottle rest first and and pour slowly over light or decant.
This opens up with aromas of cured meat, currant, and forest floor. Ancillary aromas of coffee, suede, mushrooms, campfire, thyme and wood all softly mingle.
On the palate this wine still carries some zip, bright acid structure, and good tannins that are balanced. Flavors of sour and dark cherries, cranberry, stewed tomatoes and game meat are met with touches of juniper, and herbs. This screams stewed or braised meets specifically lamb or other game meats. The finish has grip, though the flavors fade out moderately.
Slightly past its prime, however this wine still has some life in it and could possibly go another few years. good by itself but do yourself a favor and pair with food!
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12/23/2010 - jerrysvino wrote: 90 Points
excellent. good tannins, still some fruit.
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5/2/2010 - kenito799 wrote: 90 Points
Earthy, orange peel, black tea, roasted meat, forest floor. Lots of fruit shines through here, powerful aromatics. Surprisingly good bordeaux-style aged merlot, perfect right now.
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11/2/2009 - perke wrote:
Big, earthy wine. Can't recall the exact sensory experience since I drank it a few months ago a surprisingly affordable BD treat.
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