Medium dark purple going garnet. Black cherry and cedar with a hint of green. Palate is dark cherry and earthy with spice. Nice long acid supported finish. This is now in a much better place than earlier. Good for another year.
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Medium to light purple with medium rim. Cherry to dark cherry with cedar and spice. Pallet is tight acid cherry early. Day 2 is mellower but no great shakes.
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Friday Walk Around Tasting at Sam's Fine Wine & Spirits, Lexington, SC 10/24/2014 (Sam's Fine Wines & Spirits, Lexington, SC): This is a very nice tasting blend from Washington State, but to my palate, not exactly a 93 point wine. There are lots of tasty things to mention on this wine, but they are not necessarily layered and concentrated enough for an exalted score. The color moderately dark, somewhat more opaque than we would expect for this blend of grapes. The nose is a plus with an interesting array of spicy cigar box, floral, smokey, and various red and dark fruit aromas. The blend of 68% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, 4% Syrah and 3% Tempranillo brings a wider array of fruit flavors than any of the individual varietals could provide. There is plum, cherry, raspberry, red currant and blackberry in a spicy, ripe, almost jammy package. There is the kind of oak that brings out the taste of chocolate. Soft and refined, just not 93 points.
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Well it looks like I am significantly contrarian on this one. I write this as I am about 2/3 through the bottle and approaching 2 hours with the bottle open. I've been hoping for it to improve but it has not. Each glass was poured with a Centellino Aerodivino which I have found to give wines a very good aeration.
The Wine smells and tastes like a cheap Malbec more than a Cab blend. There is a lot of fruit on the nose and it leaves my nose tingling (not good) after a good sniff. Some acid in the nose too.
The flavor hits heavy at first with a lot of non-descript fruit and a green flavor (here I agree with W&S that it is a leafiness but that's as far as I can agree with their evaluation) that gives me NO positive impact and it distracts from the flavor profile significantly. It leaves a slick metallic (almost slimy) flavor on the tongue that hangs around forever...talk about a long finish but it has no redeeming residual and it borders on unpleasant. There is some nice tannin residual but it is hidden largely by that taste above.
I do not believe this bottle is flawed, rather it shows to me as a mediocre made wine from less than the best grapes. For sure its drinkable but it is of no interest to me. I doubt I will give it an intentional try again; if someone is serving it I may give it a second try for the team.
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A simple but good everyday wine. With plenty of air time aromas and flavors are fruit forward expressing, huckleberry, blackberry and plum. Notes of violets and imitation vanilla chime in. Acidity is moderate but lacking tannins. This is very open in texture but lacking overall structure. Overall an easy drinking wine that is enjoyable now.
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Light (green) nose with some faint cherry notes. Medium legs and a good dark color. Somehwhat silky wine, but not a lot going on. Some good dark fruit on the pallet, but a very light finish. Easy drinking wine. It's hard to rate this wine at this price point.... $12 at Costco this is very good for the money. This a not a special occasion wine or a wine you take to a restaurant. This is a great mid day of the week/pizza wine. At this price point I would rate it 88-89. Taking the price out of the equation, I would rate it a 86-87 (no backbone whatsoever).
93pts from Wine & Spirits, yeah right...
For the $ it's worth the risk...
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Very cool stone fruit sense, with overriding minerality across a relatively simple berry profile with traces of leather. While nothing incredibly characteristic, it's one of the best value cool WA state reds out there. Perfect for Tuesdays and pizza.
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8/20/2019 - Alaskawino wrote: 87 Points
Medium dark purple going garnet. Black cherry and cedar with a hint of green. Palate is dark cherry and earthy with spice. Nice long acid supported finish. This is now in a much better place than earlier. Good for another year.
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3/31/2018 - Alaskawino wrote: 81 Points
Medium to light purple with medium rim. Cherry to dark cherry with cedar and spice. Pallet is tight acid cherry early. Day 2 is mellower but no great shakes.
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8/5/2016 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good. Delicious and smooth. Liked this a lot
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11/5/2015 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I think this underrated by the others. Very well balanced and smooth. Lots of dark fruit flavors. Really good.
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8/11/2015 - jmcmchi wrote: 87 Points
Easy drinking, lot of soft fruit, tannins unobtrusive good value
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5/17/2015 - Bob and Joli Likes this wine: 86 Points
Good everyday table wine. Was overrated by the wine store in the low 90s.
Some dark berry notes. Blended well. Drink it the day you uncork it.
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4/11/2015 - F_&_M Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great depth and balance.
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1/31/2015 - The13thGryphon Likes this wine: 86 Points
Decent weekday red. Nothing terribly exciting, but nothing terribly wrong either. Especially for the price.
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1/21/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Nate notes classic Columbia Valley dusty coco. I get more high tonned cherry. Nate continues bakers chocolate meets vanilla extract.
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10/24/2014 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 Points
Friday Walk Around Tasting at Sam's Fine Wine & Spirits, Lexington, SC 10/24/2014 (Sam's Fine Wines & Spirits, Lexington, SC): This is a very nice tasting blend from Washington State, but to my palate, not exactly a 93 point wine. There are lots of tasty things to mention on this wine, but they are not necessarily layered and concentrated enough for an exalted score. The color moderately dark, somewhat more opaque than we would expect for this blend of grapes. The nose is a plus with an interesting array of spicy cigar box, floral, smokey, and various red and dark fruit aromas. The blend of 68% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, 4% Syrah and 3% Tempranillo brings a wider array of fruit flavors than any of the individual varietals could provide. There is plum, cherry, raspberry, red currant and blackberry in a spicy, ripe, almost jammy package. There is the kind of oak that brings out the taste of chocolate. Soft and refined, just not 93 points.
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10/1/2014 - Carvaholic Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good, but not great. Was nice to drink by itself and good with grilled chicken and veggies.
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9/27/2014 - wtianseter wrote: 74 Points
Well it looks like I am significantly contrarian on this one. I write this as I am about 2/3 through the bottle and approaching 2 hours with the bottle open. I've been hoping for it to improve but it has not. Each glass was poured with a Centellino Aerodivino which I have found to give wines a very good aeration.
The Wine smells and tastes like a cheap Malbec more than a Cab blend. There is a lot of fruit on the nose and it leaves my nose tingling (not good) after a good sniff. Some acid in the nose too.
The flavor hits heavy at first with a lot of non-descript fruit and a green flavor (here I agree with W&S that it is a leafiness but that's as far as I can agree with their evaluation) that gives me NO positive impact and it distracts from the flavor profile significantly. It leaves a slick metallic (almost slimy) flavor on the tongue that hangs around forever...talk about a long finish but it has no redeeming residual and it borders on unpleasant. There is some nice tannin residual but it is hidden largely by that taste above.
I do not believe this bottle is flawed, rather it shows to me as a mediocre made wine from less than the best grapes. For sure its drinkable but it is of no interest to me. I doubt I will give it an intentional try again; if someone is serving it I may give it a second try for the team.
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9/21/2014 - richswerb Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very drinkable cab ... $20 at Heinens on sale, was a pleasant surprise. Enjoyed it.
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5/30/2014 - 88rebel wrote: 88 Points
Grape street
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4/6/2014 - JaynPam Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drinks above its price. Complex.
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3/19/2014 - tfharris wrote: 86 Points
I was expecting a little more. First night, it was almost undrinkable. Day 2 and 3 it was much more pleasant. Decant before drinking.
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3/5/2014 - bjamesclark wrote: 87 Points
A simple but good everyday wine. With plenty of air time aromas and flavors are fruit forward expressing, huckleberry, blackberry and plum. Notes of violets and imitation vanilla chime in. Acidity is moderate but lacking tannins. This is very open in texture but lacking overall structure.
Overall an easy drinking wine that is enjoyable now.
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2/4/2014 - sdrum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really nice balance. Recommend decanting right now.
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1/17/2014 - jmasterj wrote: 86 Points
one dimensional. Ruby blend with a quick blast of tart, unripe berries. Medium weight, short finish. Might need another year of two in the cellar.
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1/10/2014 - VinoHunter Likes this wine:
Light (green) nose with some faint cherry notes. Medium legs and a good dark color. Somehwhat silky wine, but not a lot going on. Some good dark fruit on the pallet, but a very light finish. Easy drinking wine. It's hard to rate this wine at this price point.... $12 at Costco this is very good for the money. This a not a special occasion wine or a wine you take to a restaurant. This is a great mid day of the week/pizza wine. At this price point I would rate it 88-89. Taking the price out of the equation, I would rate it a 86-87 (no backbone whatsoever).
93pts from Wine & Spirits, yeah right...
For the $ it's worth the risk...
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1/8/2014 - JasonG wrote: 87 Points
Very cool stone fruit sense, with overriding minerality across a relatively simple berry profile with traces of leather. While nothing incredibly characteristic, it's one of the best value cool WA state reds out there. Perfect for Tuesdays and pizza.
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12/12/2013 - dleaf wrote: 86 Points
Good nose, thin on the palate. Improved noticeably second day. Worth the price.
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11/22/2013 - vines4humanity Likes this wine:
We noted chocolate tones in the wine.
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11/8/2013 - webbah wrote: 89 Points
Not much nose but a silky taste and light and smooth finish. Medium to fast legs. Solid cheap bottle for any night
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10/29/2013 - mjschof Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not much on the nose, but great color, and a great inexpensive bottle for quick weeknight dinners.
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10/18/2013 - VinLancaster wrote:
Simple, lacking in body, this wine was almost “flat”. Uninspiring.
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9/19/2013 - Brett and Megan wrote: 82 Points
aroma - chiles and red fruits; taste - dry, tannic, not robust; ok, but not very complex - maybe more time?
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