A lovely balanced wine that is/was fantastic value. My wife gave this 94 and loved it, (she is a Cab Sav lover) but my thoughts are that comprehensively this appear to be nicely made and even though it is only a year away from the end of its window, seems to have plenty of time left. Most enjoyable.
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Still going strong. Dark purple. Rich, extracted and modern in style but very approachable and well balanced. Black cherry, currant and fading vanilla. Cab and syrah give it some intensity and body. Would appeal to fans of California reds looking for a change. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah.
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(From a half bottle) Fairly muted nose. Plenty of fruit and vanilla in the mouth. This bottle isn't showing anywhere near as much development as the previous two. Pretty short finish with a bit of grip. Pleasant and undemanding.
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My last two halves have shown definite signs of development - I get the feeling that, in half-bottle at least, this wine is beginning its slide into decrepitude. Drink up!
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(From a half bottle.) Quite high-toned on the nose; sweet fruit that carries onto the palate. Lovely mouthfeel. Great length. Grippy finish. Comes across more like a Rioja than a Ribera to my relatively uneducated palate. I wasn't expecting much, but was very pleasantly surprised. Not sure there's any hurry, given that this was a half.
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Really dark fruit, vanilla, some tobacco, hints of coffee. Silky texture, and just enough minerality to give structure. A little heavy on the oak day-1, but not as noticeable Day-2.
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Dullish burgundy colour. A real mix on this nose: baked black fruits, sour cherry, cedar, blackberries, but also something I cannot identify; perfumed. Blackberries, blueberries and violets to taste. A little mint. Dry and just starting to thin, possibly past its best?
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Dark plum cherry center, cherry robe. Bright fresh nose, intense and ripe, cherry and dark plum notes, some brush, blood, tar, definite meaty notes. Complex. nicely balanced on the palate, dry but with fine tannins, good acidity, blackberry and cherry with nice meaty, smoke, dark fruit notes on the finish. Overall a complex and interesting wine that was lovely with dinner. Did not check the drinking window before I opened and was a little worried, but this wine is drinking well and really does not need much more time. Not going to die, anytime soon either though.
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Richtig gut und mit viel mehr Charakter als die großen Investitionen einer Versicherungsgesellschaft vermuten lassen. Tannine, Säure, Frucht und Struktur sind sehr schön aufeinander abgestimmt. Blaubeeren und Johannisbeeren mischen sich mir Curry und ein kräutrigen Note(wahrscheinlich vom Holz). Der Wein ist wirklich gut gemacht und ein Genuss. Das einzige was man bemängeln könnte ist, dass er seine Herkunft aus Ribera del Duero(bzw. ganz nah dran) etwas zu verschleiern scheint aber vllt. ist es auch einfach nur eine neue Nuance die Kastilien uns darbietet.
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Very different from the last bottle. I double decanted and pumped each night but it went from a 90 on night one to 86 on night three. Maybe too much air.
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This is mostly Tempranillo, but with 15% cab and 10% syrah. Needs some air or decanting. Much improved on day two and three with very dark fruit with some black olive and herb, maybe oregano. Think this will continue to improve for many years.
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Agreed with the value for the money. Though not from the Rioja region this was a very tasty Tempranillo that also has some Cabernet and Syrah to give it a bit more punch.
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Deep purple in the glass, nose of black fruits, palate is full bodied and fruit forward with blackberry, black plum and cherry, balanced acid and soft tannins, wood, leather, anise lead to a lush long finish. Very nice.
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Great tempranillo opened up a little tight but after a 25 to 45 minute airing it became a fabulous fruit bomb, made of 75℅ tempranillo 15% cab and 10% granache it is a prime example of new world Spanish wine making I had the pleasure to meet the wine maker and executive estate chef in Newport RI last year at a dinner filled with out of the ordinary food combos that accentuated the wineries eclectic vision. Overall this wine is complex strong tannins,fresh fruit with an earthy undertone but all together is palatal heaven.
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raspberry maybe strawberry on the nose... tart fruit mid palate and not an especially long finish though there is something "clean" about it so add a point if you like that. pairs nicely with food and fairly good qpr. Would purchase again.
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Full bodied and earthy, with dark cherry and still youthful fruits yet a balanced acidity. Very approchable now, but surely will improve with some age. This tempranillo blend is a good value.
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4/30/2022 - flussier Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beau vin rond, prêt à boire. Sur les fruits noirs et le boisé. Bel équilibre et bonne longueur en bouche. Bon RQP, je recommande fortement ce vin.
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4/23/2021 - PMJak11 Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Nothing exciting. No real discernible characteristics worth noting. Wish I could say more.
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2/7/2021 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
A very reasonable a full bodied wine that seemed a little short on fruit.
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9/27/2020 - Rrhodez Likes this wine: 93 Points
outstanding and delicious. fruit forward. i could drink this all day every day. smooth dark cherry. so good.
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9/20/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
A well balanced and reasonable wine.
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7/27/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely balanced wine that is/was fantastic value. My wife gave this 94 and loved it, (she is a Cab Sav lover) but my thoughts are that comprehensively this appear to be nicely made and even though it is only a year away from the end of its window, seems to have plenty of time left. Most enjoyable.
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1/31/2020 - kronfeld wrote:
9th bottle of a case. Peaked in 2018 and has declined notably over 2019. Now a little flabby. Still fine but should be drunk soon.
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12/7/2019 - Liskit wrote:
Present to Cemil Gandur
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11/14/2019 - PMJak11 wrote: 88 Points
Decent, but nothing to write home about. Then again for under $20 it was decent value. Worth a try.
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10/25/2019 - Francophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very nice fruity balanced wine.
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7/14/2019 - Francophile Likes this wine: 94 Points
A really lovely wine. Great well balanced tannin, a velvety mouthful with no acid obvious. This wine was one of the best for our taste.
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3/12/2019 - joseduca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Powerful, balanced. Earthy and with tones of berries and tobacco. Dark color and it could be stored for another 5-10 years.
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1/27/2019 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Minimal dark fruit aromas. Ripe dark cherry, cedar and juicy licorice flavors. Good acidity and length.
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12/7/2018 - MLR Likes this wine: 90 Points
beautiful fruit. Smooth and mid weight in the mouth.
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12/3/2018 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 92 Points
At its peak now. Really excellent.
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11/11/2018 - StainedGlass wrote: 90 Points
Still going strong. Dark purple. Rich, extracted and modern in style but very approachable and well balanced. Black cherry, currant and fading vanilla. Cab and syrah give it some intensity and body. Would appeal to fans of California reds looking for a change. 75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah.
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10/20/2018 - guzmana Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Consistent with prior note.
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10/20/2018 - Nostromo99 Likes this wine: 88 Points
(From a half bottle) Fairly muted nose. Plenty of fruit and vanilla in the mouth. This bottle isn't showing anywhere near as much development as the previous two. Pretty short finish with a bit of grip. Pleasant and undemanding.
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8/26/2018 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking very well. Still tastes as though it has 2-3 years more life in it. My last bottle. Very enjoyable.
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6/27/2018 - Nostromo99 wrote: 88 Points
My last two halves have shown definite signs of development - I get the feeling that, in half-bottle at least, this wine is beginning its slide into decrepitude. Drink up!
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6/16/2018 - joet626 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding! Lovely fruit and spice. Well-balanced. Liked this a lot
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5/16/2018 - Nostromo99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
(From a half bottle.) Quite high-toned on the nose; sweet fruit that carries onto the palate. Lovely mouthfeel. Great length. Grippy finish. Comes across more like a Rioja than a Ribera to my relatively uneducated palate. I wasn't expecting much, but was very pleasantly surprised. Not sure there's any hurry, given that this was a half.
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5/6/2018 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very consistent. Drink now but no hurry.
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2/25/2018 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really dark fruit, vanilla, some tobacco, hints of coffee. Silky texture, and just enough minerality to give structure. A little heavy on the oak day-1, but not as noticeable Day-2.
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2/19/2018 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
Not as awesome as the prior bottle, but still dark and tasty. Solid 90 points with some nice herbal tarry character.
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2/3/2018 - Keith Clark wrote: 82 Points
Dullish burgundy colour. A real mix on this nose: baked black fruits, sour cherry, cedar, blackberries, but also something I cannot identify; perfumed. Blackberries, blueberries and violets to taste. A little mint. Dry and just starting to thin, possibly past its best?
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12/29/2017 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet color. Musty cellar aroma. Dark raspberry and earth flavors with an integrated lengthy finish. Full body with good structure.
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12/8/2017 - Nyrican wrote: 91 Points
very nice went well with lamb.
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10/28/2017 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Dark plum cherry center, cherry robe. Bright fresh nose, intense and ripe, cherry and dark plum notes, some brush, blood, tar, definite meaty notes. Complex. nicely balanced on the palate, dry but with fine tannins, good acidity, blackberry and cherry with nice meaty, smoke, dark fruit notes on the finish. Overall a complex and interesting wine that was lovely with dinner. Did not check the drinking window before I opened and was a little worried, but this wine is drinking well and really does not need much more time. Not going to die, anytime soon either though.
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9/30/2017 - Christian von Dresky Likes this wine: 88 Points
Richtig gut und mit viel mehr Charakter als die großen Investitionen einer Versicherungsgesellschaft vermuten lassen. Tannine, Säure, Frucht und Struktur sind sehr schön aufeinander abgestimmt. Blaubeeren und Johannisbeeren mischen sich mir Curry und ein kräutrigen Note(wahrscheinlich vom Holz). Der Wein ist wirklich gut gemacht und ein Genuss. Das einzige was man bemängeln könnte ist, dass er seine Herkunft aus Ribera del Duero(bzw. ganz nah dran) etwas zu verschleiern scheint aber vllt. ist es auch einfach nur eine neue Nuance die Kastilien uns darbietet.
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9/2/2017 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really superb for the price ! No need to wait: this can't get any better.
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8/9/2017 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very different from the last bottle. I double decanted and pumped each night but it went from a 90 on night one to 86 on night three. Maybe too much air.
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8/4/2017 - dmitchell4 wrote: 91 Points
Needs air
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5/27/2017 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is mostly Tempranillo, but with 15% cab and 10% syrah. Needs some air or decanting. Much improved on day two and three with very dark fruit with some black olive and herb, maybe oregano. Think this will continue to improve for many years.
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2/12/2017 - guzmana Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice. Medium bodied with dark berries and a bit of leather. Some earthiness. Good length.
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1/6/2017 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
I am thinking this one needs another year or so in the bottle. Lot of potential but right now nothing special.
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11/4/2016 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Consumed over several days. Well balanced and structured with nice dark fruit flavors.
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9/23/2016 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very tasty and easy drinking medium body red. Went very well with pull pork. Crushed dry fruit, light spices, complimentary oak, and velvety tannins.
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5/26/2016 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Wow, this is great but to needs time!
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5/14/2016 - jocelyng wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry, raspberry and licorice. Great velvety tannins with a well balanced acidity. Long with a super finish. Amazing wine for the price !
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4/9/2016 - Bandreas wrote:
Dark red and purple color.
Moderately parkerized
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4/1/2016 - millercj Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex
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3/23/2016 - seanwindsor Likes this wine: 88 Points
Agreed with the value for the money. Though not from the Rioja region this was a very tasty Tempranillo that also has some Cabernet and Syrah to give it a bit more punch.
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3/20/2016 - alanmori wrote: 92 Points
Excellent wine; great QPR.
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10/6/2015 - WineCenturyAZ Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep purple in the glass, nose of black fruits, palate is full bodied and fruit forward with blackberry, black plum and cherry, balanced acid and soft tannins, wood, leather, anise lead to a lush long finish. Very nice.
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10/4/2015 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great tempranillo opened up a little tight but after a 25 to 45 minute airing it became a fabulous fruit bomb, made of 75℅ tempranillo 15% cab and 10% granache it is a prime example of new world Spanish wine making I had the pleasure to meet the wine maker and executive estate chef in Newport RI last year at a dinner filled with out of the ordinary food combos that accentuated the wineries eclectic vision. Overall this wine is complex strong tannins,fresh fruit with an earthy undertone but all together is palatal heaven.
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10/1/2015 - abi9 wrote: 88 Points
raspberry maybe strawberry on the nose... tart fruit mid palate and not an especially long finish though there is something "clean" about it so add a point if you like that. pairs nicely with food and fairly good qpr. Would purchase again.
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7/31/2015 - europat55 wrote: 89 Points
Fairly dark red color. Rich, fruity, dense nose. Rich, tasty palate. Medium-long finish.
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3/18/2015 - StainedGlass wrote: 90 Points
Full bodied and earthy, with dark cherry and still youthful fruits yet a balanced acidity. Very approchable now, but surely will improve with some age. This tempranillo blend is a good value.
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