although fruit has disappeared , still a very attractive bottle revealing lots of secondary flavours , paired well at the BBQ with lamb and grilled eggplant and mushrooms , drink soon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It took it good 20-30min for this to come together and continued to develop after that. Most fruit flavors have disappeared by now, so this offers mostly secondary ones - leather, dust, smoke. I am not sure this will improve any further, but the drinking window posted here is definitely too short - the wine drinks just fine. Not an amazing wine, but a good pleasant surprise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First of all, this has a well structured, tannic backbone that gives this life welll beyond the 'CT' drinking window, this was still quite 'fresh', but whether it will improve or not is the question, no need for those with the '59' bottles to drink up, but not sure how much it will benefit in the cellar - Very dark, full bodied with a nose of extreme plum, ceder, tobacco, spice and vanilla, nicely structured and balanced, decent complexity, quite green, but sweet, smooth on the palate with good length, quite tasty (89 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well, what can I say? Representing a very pure Merlot, this last bottle bought in Chile, MundoVino in Santiago on 2005, had not soul.Yeah, bitter chocolate (of french oak) and silky plums but without good feeling. Short finish and still violet colour; that is all.Thinking on chilean wines, my first choice is, without any doubt, Camenére: similar to Merlot but more expressive in this terroir. Everybody knows Bordeaux Merlot is for early drinking; maybe this company with a french origin, has the same way.In any case, never five years laying down. Really disappointed.
Bueno, ¿qué puedo decir? Esta botella representa un merlot puro (chocolate amargo y ciruelas) pero sin alma. De tintos chilenos, siempre pienso en camanére, muy parecida a la merlot pero más expresiva en la tierra chilena. Quizás esta compañía de origen francés, requiera el mismo tratamiento que en Burdeos: un pronto consumo y no esperar cinco años. Última botella de las compradas en Mundovino en Santiago en el 2005. Realmente desilusionado con esta botella.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I agree with one taster, this is a cab lover's merlot, dark color, raspberry nose, i really like this wine, surprised that the tannins are still very present
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From the dry farmed 60 year old Apalta vineyard. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Carmenere aged for 11 months in French oak Bordeaux barrels (40% new oak and 60% 2nd and 3rd fill barrels). $21.50 US
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wines by Michel Rolland (FOF): Clear dark red color. The nose gives associations to smelling tomato plants and green vegetables, plus some hints of tobaco. Unfortunately the taste is also dominated by the green tomatos. Hollow end, hard and bitter. Like a cold cup of coffee.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blackcurrant and raspberry nose. On opening sweet oak dominated but this dissipated to the palate with time. This is seen more as caramel on the palate and, with the fruit attack, there's some grainy white pepper and faint chocolate too. I think this wine is beginning to fade... the fruit is not as strong as before, and the tannin and heat remains perhaps a little too strongly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at dinner, I didn't take any detailed notes but it had a powerful but restrained nose and palate. Tight berries and fine oak all rather well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vibrant deep purple red color, immediate nose of eucalyptus or licorice along with black cherry and some alcohol heat on the nose. Palate a little reticent at the beginning, but nice flavors of berry and chocolate to go with some vanilla and oak. For $16, nice value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is your cab drinkers merlot. It is huge. I actually prefer the regular label for value, but this is a monster. I'd have to try again in a year and see what I think then.
4/19/07- tried again... Nice nose, great mouthfeel and structure. Maybe slightly green, but the tannins have calmed a little. 87ish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple colour, some terracotta on the rim. The nose is dominated by briary black fruits, oakiness, and some burn at the back of the nose. There's also some herbiness. The palate comprises sweet ribena fruit backed by good structure, and some spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A pretty good merlot with some depth, but all three people who shared a bottle agreed that it was no better than cheaper wines such as Gordon Brothers or Bernard Griffin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, this took me by surprise. Liked the regular bottling of their merlot and this is a few steps up. Deeper and more concentrated with better balance. The nose is explosive with tons of mocha and black fruits. Again has a nice earthy element. Firm tannins up front with a rich palate. Full bodied black fruits, cherries, and a bit of brett that integrates eventually. Keep making good merlots, somebody has to!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/12/2021 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 87 Points
Still very much alive. Generous, rather international style. No complexity but perfectly palatable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2017 - rekkie58 Likes this wine: 89 Points
although fruit has disappeared , still a very attractive bottle revealing lots of secondary flavours , paired well at the BBQ with lamb and grilled eggplant and mushrooms , drink soon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - ininov wrote:
It took it good 20-30min for this to come together and continued to develop after that. Most fruit flavors have disappeared by now, so this offers mostly secondary ones - leather, dust, smoke. I am not sure this will improve any further, but the drinking window posted here is definitely too short - the wine drinks just fine. Not an amazing wine, but a good pleasant surprise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2011 - sshaw906 wrote: 88 Points
Probably waited too long to drink this wine. Could have been smoother. A bit of an after taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 89 Points
First of all, this has a well structured, tannic backbone that gives this life welll beyond the 'CT' drinking window, this was still quite 'fresh', but whether it will improve or not is the question, no need for those with the '59' bottles to drink up, but not sure how much it will benefit in the cellar - Very dark, full bodied with a nose of extreme plum, ceder, tobacco, spice and vanilla, nicely structured and balanced, decent complexity, quite green, but sweet, smooth on the palate with good length, quite tasty (89 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2009 - rexmerlot wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby colour. Big red fruit on nose and palate. Nice wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2009 - pickhardt wrote: 86 Points
OK, but not great in any respect. Still looking for a South American wine worth buying other than malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2009 - Harley1199 wrote:
Well, what can I say? Representing a very pure Merlot, this last bottle bought in Chile, MundoVino in Santiago on 2005, had not soul.Yeah, bitter chocolate (of french oak) and silky plums but without good feeling. Short finish and still violet colour; that is all.Thinking on chilean wines, my first choice is, without any doubt, Camenére: similar to Merlot but more expressive in this terroir. Everybody knows Bordeaux Merlot is for early drinking; maybe this company with a french origin, has the same way.In any case, never five years laying down. Really disappointed.
Bueno, ¿qué puedo decir? Esta botella representa un merlot puro (chocolate amargo y ciruelas) pero sin alma. De tintos chilenos, siempre pienso en camanére, muy parecida a la merlot pero más expresiva en la tierra chilena. Quizás esta compañía de origen francés, requiera el mismo tratamiento que en Burdeos: un pronto consumo y no esperar cinco años. Última botella de las compradas en Mundovino en Santiago en el 2005. Realmente desilusionado con esta botella.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2009 - spendergast wrote: 88 Points
Dark fruit with notes of earth, spice. Good acidity and integrated tannins - good buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2009 - golfhawk wrote: 84 Points
A little too tart for me. Kate liked it but I don't think I will be getting anymore.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2008 - michigan dogs wrote: 88 Points
I agree with one taster, this is a cab lover's merlot, dark color, raspberry nose, i really like this wine, surprised that the tannins are still very present
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2008 - tvinoronquillo wrote:
From the dry farmed 60 year old Apalta vineyard. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Carmenere aged for 11 months in French oak Bordeaux barrels (40% new oak and 60% 2nd and 3rd fill barrels). $21.50 US
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2008 - kdillon wrote: 85 Points
Had this with a steak and it was wonderful. Lots of fruit, and a bit of peppery spice to it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2008 - ggtirevite wrote: 87 Points
Was better the second night - paired with Steak, rather than Pizza maybe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2008 - Bardamu wrote: 85 Points
Nice, deep dark Merlot. Typical Chillean in style, ripe but dense, earthy and dark fruit tones. Well made wine and a good buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2007 - Wrighty wrote: 91 Points
Big wine, lots of dark fruit and hints of chocolate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2007 - Terkel wrote: 82 Points
Wines by Michel Rolland (FOF): Clear dark red color. The nose gives associations to smelling tomato plants and green vegetables, plus some hints of tobaco. Unfortunately the taste is also dominated by the green tomatos. Hollow end, hard and bitter. Like a cold cup of coffee.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2007 - gravelld wrote:
A little oak dominant, still quite full on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2007 - dirtyharry wrote: 87 Points
This is a big, bold merlot. Lots of dark fruit, oak, smoke, slight veggie taste. More like an Aussie shiraz.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2007 - rob1869 wrote: 88 Points
At Holbeck Ghyll: Friday night, no details. Notable menthol, mint and general herbiness about this. Smooth crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2007 - rsazima wrote: 88 Points
VERY GOOD. Vegetal off scents at the beginning, but sweet red/black fruit after decanting, very aromatic, nice balance. 88-89 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2007 - gravelld wrote: 85 Points
A blackcurrant and raspberry nose. On opening sweet oak dominated but this dissipated to the palate with time. This is seen more as caramel on the palate and, with the fruit attack, there's some grainy white pepper and faint chocolate too. I think this wine is beginning to fade... the fruit is not as strong as before, and the tannin and heat remains perhaps a little too strongly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2006 - shaneajohnson wrote:
No detailed notes, but took to a wine dinner. Some voted it WOTN. Seemed well balanced, well integrated, nice for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2006 - Wrighty wrote: 90 Points
Drank at dinner, I didn't take any detailed notes but it had a powerful but restrained nose and palate. Tight berries and fine oak all rather well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2006 - Squirreljam wrote:
Vibrant deep purple red color, immediate nose of eucalyptus or licorice along with black cherry and some alcohol heat on the nose. Palate a little reticent at the beginning, but nice flavors of berry and chocolate to go with some vanilla and oak. For $16, nice value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2006 - DanaSr wrote: 88 Points
Nice, Smooth, Full Body. A great evening sipper
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2006 - ggtirevite wrote: 89 Points
Very nice - bordeaux like
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2006 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
This is your cab drinkers merlot. It is huge. I actually prefer the regular label for value, but this is a monster. I'd have to try again in a year and see what I think then.
4/19/07- tried again... Nice nose, great mouthfeel and structure. Maybe slightly green, but the tannins have calmed a little. 87ish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2006 - gravelld wrote: 86 Points
Dark purple colour, some terracotta on the rim. The nose is dominated by briary black fruits, oakiness, and some burn at the back of the nose. There's also some herbiness. The palate comprises sweet ribena fruit backed by good structure, and some spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2006 - mreinitz wrote: 86 Points
A pretty good merlot with some depth, but all three people who shared a bottle agreed that it was no better than cheaper wines such as Gordon Brothers or Bernard Griffin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2006 - jjclips2 wrote: 91 Points
Wow, this took me by surprise. Liked the regular bottling of their merlot and this is a few steps up. Deeper and more concentrated with better balance. The nose is explosive with tons of mocha and black fruits. Again has a nice earthy element. Firm tannins up front with a rich palate. Full bodied black fruits, cherries, and a bit of brett that integrates eventually. Keep making good merlots, somebody has to!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment