This was delicious. Deep ruby color with soft but lush tannins. Little bit of tobacco and touch of licorice. From 2009 to 2013 this was one of my "go to" value wines but as often happens with great values the price has gone up and the quality has slightly decreased. Still good however.
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I've always been disappointed with this. This time I drank it over 2 nights and it was much better on day 2 . I've got a few left so next time I will decant it several hours ahead.
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A Ribera with 10% cab. Very dark red. Poured it for my wine group, about half just didn't care for it. Not sure what wine WA had when they gave it 93 points. Disappointing, but its my last bottle, so I don't have to have it again.
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A Ribera with 10% cab. Very dark red. Medium legs. Not particularly aromatic but gives up a little tar and burnt tobacco. First night, quite hot and tannic, and not for the faint of heart. Finishes with iron. Second night did smooth out a bit but still rather ungenerous in both nose and flavor.
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Better than I expected; this was a very solid all around wine that showed nice body, a complexity of flavors, and not to mention live aromas that dance nicely in your head!
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The wine finished strong with lots of tannins. Unfortunately the strong finish doesn't match the beginning, which generally is lacking. I found it to be unbalanced and lacking structure.
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Drank this with a group of wine enthusiasts at Jin Long Seafood Restaurant.
Wine opened with a nose that resembles rose wood, liquorice and leather.
On the body the wine is rounded and somewhat balanced. Structure is evident with a relatively short finish. Notes of vanilla, plums and a touch of strawberry.
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Amazing wine! And for a great price. Voluptuous and opulent with hints of licorice. In the front end of the drink window - it has many more years left!
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Better quality than my usual day to day bottle. Big and fruit forward but finishes long and smooth. Good complexity and appealing earthiness. Ever so slight harsh notes in the middle tempered by food. Can always count on Spain for great value.
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One of our "go to" Spanish wines for about any kind of food. This time served with roast chicken followed by chocolates for dessert. Enjoyable and nicely priced.
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Inky purple with strong minerality and plum on the nose. Very earthy and dark fruit on the palate with good tannic complexity at this price point. Fair acidity leads to a somewhat dry and flat finish, but a nice drinker with a smooth sophisticated feel at a great price point.
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Quite deep ruby, very pink at the edges. The nose is just starting to show some development, the vanilla oak and clean red fruit flavour starting to change and evolve. More spices now - sweet spices, a little too christmassy! Something funky, then some earthy notes. The dominant fruit has gone since first tasting 6 months ago - still fruity, but it finishes more quickly and tannins take over - astringent ones. 5 minutes in the glass and the tannins are starting to change slightly, a little more pleasant but there is still a bitterness... not a flawed bottle, but I think it has gone to sleep for now... Will try again in a few months..
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Tasted at Rendezvous by Kerry Wines, Hong Kong. 197 wines. We managed to sip 32 in two hours. Hard work…but happy to roll up our sleeves, exercise our swirling wrists, put on our wine spectacles, clear our noses and cleanse our palates….we do what we can to make the world a better place!!!
Wow, a big write-up by "He Who Holds Too Much Sway", i.e. RP, failed to impress us. Simply stated, we did not get the "Baby Vega Sicilla" feel...not even a newborn! A blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, we thought just OkeyDokey. Dark, inky red on the eye...we almost thought Malbec. Red fruits, liquorice with obvious oak (12 months) on the palate. A very good wine, excellent QPR, always good to have in the cellar for the gulpers who may visit. Otherwise, eh...
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Carmine/purple at the rim - floral plum/cherry notes on the nose. Medium to full bodied, held slightly in restraint - a trifle dilute, well mannered but evident tannins - fresh, the structure is better than the fruit depth. However, far from ready - try again in two years.
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Decent wine. Nice notes of cherries, fig, tobacco. Wanted to like it more, but did not. I drank it the next day, but the wine did not improve. Lacked depth and body. I realize I may be asking for too much at this price point, but some of the reviews lead me to believe that this wine was special. I do not find it so. OK for one time tasting, but may pass on this one the next time.
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This is apparently from a vineyard next to Vega Sicilia. Dark ruby. Very chocolaty note with sweet spices. On the palate very fruity but lacking aromatic complexity and length for a higher score. I guess just being the neighbor is not enough. At ca 25$ the bottle, well done though.
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Opened last night. Intense black purple saturated with a dark purple rim. Smoky espresso fig paste and blackberry coulis on the nose. Medium weight with grippy black tea tannins. Black fruits on the palate with a stony element and smoky black tea and dark chocolate. Lingering port like finish. Very classy and needs more time.
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Not good. This has a funky, sour, unlikeable flavor profile. It's so distracting that it keeps you from enjoying the wine. I have another bottle so will revisit, but certainly will not risk serving this to guests.
Decentwine but way too tight for the price point. I don't want to buy a $15-$17 wine and wait 3-4 years before it's really ready to drink. Right now, it's rough and not-ready, but has promise. Don't touch before 2016
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Complete and harmonious modern Spanish red with lots of fruit, complexity and excellent persistence, just very very good and easy to drink. Will probably keep but there is certainly no need to wait.
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Vinturi'ed & decanted for 2 hrs. Started out with tastes of red fruits, but quickly turned to tastes of big dark fruits. (Tannins?) took the moisture right out of your mouth. Good value.
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Dark red with purple rim. After a while the nose opens with blackcurrant, cherries, vanilla and herbal notes. Moderate tannins and fine acidity; on the palate lots of dark, ripe fruit and a long, spicy aftertaste. A well balanced wine.
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Great value. Very reserved nose but very interesting flavors, particularly considering the price point dark fruit, smokey notes, beautiful violet notes with vanilla hints. Handles both the earthiness of mushrooms and the acid of a red sauce equally well.
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Lots of pretty oak here with, coco, dill, vanilla bean, followed by ripe red and black cherries with a touch of rose and tea. Big wine but in a style that I enjoy.
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Enticing nose but bitter disappointment in the mouth--literally. The tannins are so thick I think they exfoliated the inside of my mouth! This wine needs years to develop balance. Oh Tannin Bomb!
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Drank over three days. On the first two days an oak imparted movie theater buttery popcorn element dominated on the nose. Go figure. The wine was very tight on the first day, it opened somewhat by the second day, and really sang on the third, with great grip and structure. A young wine that is approachable now, but needs a long decant or a few years of bottle age to show its best. 90-92.
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The wine is clear and bright with a deep ruby colour and presence of legs. The nose is clean and developing, showing pronounced intensity aromas of liquorice, dry peaches, figs and chocolate (maybe some hints of oxidation?). The wine is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has medium+ coarse tannins and a high warm alcohol. It has a medium+ body and medium+ intensity flavours of liquorice, dry peaches, figs and chocolate. The finish is medium+.
It is a very good quality wine with a nice flavour concentration and finish, a good overall balance. However it could be more complex, and like in other vintages it lacks typicity. Can drink now, but it has enough tannic structure and fruit concentration to develop some more complex aromas in the next 3-5 years.
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9/19/2023 - Veg Likes this wine:
About 4 years after the supposed drinking window , I had my last 2 bottles of this and it was quite nice, finally !
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12/12/2020 - Vascular46 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was delicious. Deep ruby color with soft but lush tannins. Little bit of tobacco and touch of licorice. From 2009 to 2013 this was one of my "go to" value wines but as often happens with great values the price has gone up and the quality has slightly decreased. Still good however.
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5/18/2020 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 88 Points
Surprisingly youthful. A bit stripped with fruit faded but tanins still very l ok resent after pnp. Let’s see what tomorrow brings
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5/17/2020 - LotusD wrote:
Dark red and heavy. Delicious with taste of vanilla and stone fruit
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8/1/2019 - Lstenmark wrote: 92 Points
Drank a magnum. Very nice and mature. Nice rounded tannins
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3/25/2019 - Veg Likes this wine:
I've always been disappointed with this. This time I drank it over 2 nights and it was much better on day 2 . I've got a few left so next time I will decant it several hours ahead.
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6/30/2018 - RichD2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very dark red. Ripe blackberry nose and oak. Medium weight with full flavors. Long finish where the ripe Tempranillo tannins come out. Very nice wine.
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3/31/2018 - Markus IWC wrote: 87 Points
Mix of red and blue fruit, vanilla, oak. Spicy and hot mouthfeel, nice BBQ wine.
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12/27/2017 - SMHalps wrote: 85 Points
A Ribera with 10% cab. Very dark red. Poured it for my wine group, about half just didn't care for it. Not sure what wine WA had when they gave it 93 points. Disappointing, but its my last bottle, so I don't have to have it again.
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8/19/2017 - mat600 wrote: 85 Points
Correct sans être transcendant. Un vin de semaine. 85 sur 100.
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7/19/2017 - EdKz@comcast.net wrote: 87 Points
purple, medium/full body, aromas of funk and dark fruit give way to cassis, oak and earth flavors, decent acid, nice finish
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5/27/2017 - Shrages wrote: 88 Points
A Ribera with 10% cab. Very dark red. Medium legs. Not particularly aromatic but gives up a little tar and burnt tobacco. First night, quite hot and tannic, and not for the faint of heart. Finishes with iron. Second night did smooth out a bit but still rather ungenerous in both nose and flavor.
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10/27/2016 - corka Likes this wine: 89 Points
Better than I expected; this was a very solid all around wine that showed nice body, a complexity of flavors, and not to mention live aromas that dance nicely in your head!
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9/5/2016 - fabwine wrote: 86 Points
The wine finished strong with lots of tannins. Unfortunately the strong finish doesn't match the beginning, which generally is lacking. I found it to be unbalanced and lacking structure.
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8/18/2016 - apipays Likes this wine: 92 Points
We like it!
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7/29/2016 - bin905 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice every day drinker. Approachable not noteworthy.
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4/17/2016 - SMHalps wrote:
I didn't actually taste this. I brought it to a group dinner. Those that tried it, liked it.
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4/6/2016 - bigwavedave68 wrote: 89 Points
big, bold, quite tannic
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3/15/2016 - stayhappy21 wrote: 86 Points
Drank this with a group of wine enthusiasts at Jin Long Seafood Restaurant.
Wine opened with a nose that resembles rose wood, liquorice and leather.
On the body the wine is rounded and somewhat balanced. Structure is evident with a relatively short finish. Notes of vanilla, plums and a touch of strawberry.
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3/9/2016 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing wine! And for a great price. Voluptuous and opulent with hints of licorice. In the front end of the drink window - it has many more years left!
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2/8/2016 - catmccon Likes this wine: 88 Points
Better quality than my usual day to day bottle. Big and fruit forward but finishes long and smooth. Good complexity and appealing earthiness. Ever so slight harsh notes in the middle tempered by food. Can always count on Spain for great value.
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1/26/2016 - jbehrendt Likes this wine: 88 Points
One of our "go to" Spanish wines for about any kind of food. This time served with roast chicken followed by chocolates for dessert. Enjoyable and nicely priced.
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1/25/2016 - MarkWhite Likes this wine: 89 Points
Inky purple with strong minerality and plum on the nose. Very earthy and dark fruit on the palate with good tannic complexity at this price point. Fair acidity leads to a somewhat dry and flat finish, but a nice drinker with a smooth sophisticated feel at a great price point.
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1/14/2016 - barolo300 wrote:
Quite deep ruby, very pink at the edges.
The nose is just starting to show some development, the vanilla oak and clean red fruit flavour starting to change and evolve. More spices now - sweet spices, a little too christmassy! Something funky, then some earthy notes.
The dominant fruit has gone since first tasting 6 months ago - still fruity, but it finishes more quickly and tannins take over - astringent ones.
5 minutes in the glass and the tannins are starting to change slightly, a little more pleasant but there is still a bitterness... not a flawed bottle, but I think it has gone to sleep for now...
Will try again in a few months..
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1/13/2016 - Barry Notes wrote: 87 Points
Amana Skiers: P/w short decant. Clear, deep dark purple/red. Some funk on nose and initial taste. A bit over extracted, earthy, dark tired fruit. $17
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1/7/2016 - CSAldinger Likes this wine: 90 Points
My opinion of great Spanish wines at reasonable prices just keeps going up and up.
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1/6/2016 - jviz wrote: 90 Points
soft, well balanced, ample fruit, good weight, subtle oak. If this had a little more punch and acidity it would be a real winner.
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12/30/2015 - androonguyen wrote: 86 Points
Espresso, cherry, vanilla, oak, spice finish, simple finish
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12/19/2015 - Veg wrote:
drunk at Dawns party
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12/19/2015 - Veg wrote:
drunk at Dawn's party
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11/19/2015 - BuzzzzOff Likes this wine: 85 Points
Tasted at Rendezvous by Kerry Wines, Hong Kong. 197 wines. We managed to sip 32 in two hours. Hard work…but happy to roll up our sleeves, exercise our swirling wrists, put on our wine spectacles, clear our noses and cleanse our palates….we do what we can to make the world a better place!!!
Wow, a big write-up by "He Who Holds Too Much Sway", i.e. RP, failed to impress us. Simply stated, we did not get the "Baby Vega Sicilla" feel...not even a newborn! A blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, we thought just OkeyDokey. Dark, inky red on the eye...we almost thought Malbec. Red fruits, liquorice with obvious oak (12 months) on the palate. A very good wine, excellent QPR, always good to have in the cellar for the gulpers who may visit. Otherwise, eh...
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11/19/2015 - Danbrown1 wrote: 92 Points
Good value. Good value. Nice finish.
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6/13/2015 - Jasper May wrote: 89 Points
Carmine/purple at the rim - floral plum/cherry notes on the nose. Medium to full bodied, held slightly in restraint - a trifle dilute, well mannered but evident tannins - fresh, the structure is better than the fruit depth. However, far from ready - try again in two years.
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6/12/2015 - rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com wrote: 83 Points
Decent wine. Nice notes of cherries, fig, tobacco. Wanted to like it more, but did not. I drank it the next day, but the wine did not improve. Lacked depth and body. I realize I may be asking for too much at this price point, but some of the reviews lead me to believe that this wine was special. I do not find it so. OK for one time tasting, but may pass on this one the next time.
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3/28/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 89 Points
This is apparently from a vineyard next to Vega Sicilia. Dark ruby. Very chocolaty note with sweet spices. On the palate very fruity but lacking aromatic complexity and length for a higher score. I guess just being the neighbor is not enough. At ca 25$ the bottle, well done though.
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1/17/2015 - tomasio-1 wrote: 86 Points
Pleasant everyday red. A lot of fruit, a bit new oak, already ripe. Drink now.
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1/1/2015 - df1962 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened last night. Intense black purple saturated with a dark purple rim. Smoky espresso fig paste and blackberry coulis on the nose. Medium weight with grippy black tea tannins. Black fruits on the palate with a stony element and smoky black tea and dark chocolate. Lingering port like finish. Very classy and needs more time.
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12/25/2014 - laxman Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Not good. This has a funky, sour, unlikeable flavor profile. It's so distracting that it keeps you from enjoying the wine. I have another bottle so will revisit, but certainly will not risk serving this to guests.
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12/22/2014 - Magilla Likes this wine: 90 Points
Young wine, easy to drink. Nice flavor of redberries. High quality for a low price.
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12/8/2014 - baseballvino wrote: 86 Points
Decentwine but way too tight for the price point. I don't want to buy a $15-$17 wine and wait 3-4 years before it's really ready to drink. Right now, it's rough and not-ready, but has promise. Don't touch before 2016
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11/30/2014 - EMichels wrote: 85 Points
Tight and unyielding
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11/21/2014 - DK Amateur wrote:
Complete and harmonious modern Spanish red with lots of fruit, complexity and excellent persistence, just very very good and easy to drink. Will probably keep but there is certainly no need to wait.
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11/16/2014 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vinturi'ed & decanted for 2 hrs. Started out with tastes of red fruits, but quickly turned to tastes of big dark fruits. (Tannins?) took the moisture right out of your mouth. Good value.
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11/8/2014 - denver_vinder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red with purple rim. After a while the nose opens with blackcurrant, cherries, vanilla and herbal notes. Moderate tannins and fine acidity; on the palate lots of dark, ripe fruit and a long, spicy aftertaste. A well balanced wine.
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10/30/2014 - Bill Johnson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great value. Very reserved nose but very interesting flavors, particularly considering the price point dark fruit, smokey notes, beautiful violet notes with vanilla hints. Handles both the earthiness of mushrooms and the acid of a red sauce equally well.
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10/11/2014 - torrecas wrote: 85 Points
Se puede beber, pero hay muchos mejores.
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10/7/2014 - Euell Gophar Likes this wine: 87 Points
Typical of the Ribera style if perhaps on the lighter side. Balanced tannins, dark red fruit, some wood and ready to drink after decanting.
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10/6/2014 - KVM wrote:
Interesting, good. Tannin is a little drying on the finish, so needs time as it has in previous vintages.
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9/25/2014 - Borowski Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Okeetjes, maar te duur voor wat het is!
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9/24/2014 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
At Monopole blind: Extracted purple red, grapey, cherry, bright, carbonic notes, fresh purple flowers; pretty hot, chewy, tannic; village cotes du rhone feel to it. Guessed Priorat.
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9/18/2014 - Gustavo Brambila wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 1hr. Drank with lasagna, very enjoyable. Nothing complicated, for the price. I would buy this again.
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9/13/2014 - Eric Ponton wrote: 75 Points
Overly acid and heat.
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9/8/2014 - bajayngo wrote:
Lots of pretty oak here with, coco, dill, vanilla bean, followed by ripe red and black cherries with a touch of rose and tea. Big wine but in a style that I enjoy.
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9/2/2014 - WineWright wrote: 85 Points
Enticing nose but bitter disappointment in the mouth--literally. The tannins are so thick I think they exfoliated the inside of my mouth! This wine needs years to develop balance. Oh Tannin Bomb!
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8/30/2014 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
Drank over three days. On the first two days an oak imparted movie theater buttery popcorn element dominated on the nose. Go figure. The wine was very tight on the first day, it opened somewhat by the second day, and really sang on the third, with great grip and structure. A young wine that is approachable now, but needs a long decant or a few years of bottle age to show its best. 90-92.
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8/23/2014 - lbiagioni wrote: 90 Points
Very good Ribera del Duero. Deep, moderately tannic, slightly acid, berries and plums.
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7/8/2014 - Man in Black wrote:
The wine is clear and bright with a deep ruby colour and presence of legs. The nose is clean and developing, showing pronounced intensity aromas of liquorice, dry peaches, figs and chocolate (maybe some hints of oxidation?). The wine is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has medium+ coarse tannins and a high warm alcohol. It has a medium+ body and medium+ intensity flavours of liquorice, dry peaches, figs and chocolate. The finish is medium+.
It is a very good quality wine with a nice flavour concentration and finish, a good overall balance. However it could be more complex, and like in other vintages it lacks typicity. Can drink now, but it has enough tannic structure and fruit concentration to develop some more complex aromas in the next 3-5 years.
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