This wine looked much younger than 21 years old. The nose was a little reluctant at first with dark fruit and tobacco. With air, the fruit sweetened up and grew in intensity. On the palate, there was refined dark cherry, tobacco, and graphite notes on the finish. Structurally, there was balanced acidity and fully resolved tannins in this medium-bodied wine. Overall, this is a contemplative wine that requires your full attention, as it does not scream it attributes, it whispers.
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Wow, WOTN and up against some stellar competition (SLV Fay, Gralyn and La Mission Haut Brion). Beautifully balanced, great structure and balance of fruit and fine tannins. Still lots left in the wine (but no wine left in the cellar)
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Opened this magnum with SA friends who had brought it as a hostess gift 19 years ago. I agree heartily with Wrighty's comments though I've put it a couple of points lower at 94 as for me it's not quite as complex as a top flight Bordeaux of similar age would be. It was delightful however, showing its age with a little browning on the edge and a faint but not unpleasant hint of "portiness" but it was very smooth and extremely well integrated. The slightly muted dark fruit, some leather, and solid but not drying tannins went wonderfully with crusted rack of lamb. What a treat. My guess is that this wine is probably fairly stable for the moment, particularly in larger format bottles, but I wouldn't wait too long too enjoy it as it's really in a wonderful spot now and I don't see it improving with more time.
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colour is still purple, no sign of age at all! Soft tanned leather and cigar box nose, so soft and enticing… Palate has hints of spice, some meaty notes plus cassis and red currant and a long, long finish.
Was an award winning, Bordeaux beating wine in its youth and certainly keeping it up in its maturity.
Beautiful wine.
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Double decanted for sediment. At Hope Cove, with rare rib-eye. Room filling cabernet nose on decanting. Broad palate, round flavours, still a little tannin to prop it all up. Classic old world meets new SA blend, still with several years until any decline.
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Deep cherry colour. Initially some heat on the nose. On day two this becomes more claret like on the palate. It's let down by a less than smooth finish. This was certainly not declining and perhaps would have improved more with time.
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Double decanted, Audouzed 4hrs. With slow-roast beef rib. In line with previous note, paired beautifully with the beef. Sweetish entry, juicy mid palate, still enough tannins remaining for the Bordeaux-a-like clean, dry finish. May develop more secondary characteristics, but in a great spot now.
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Opened right out of 55 degree cellar; decanted immediately. Big dark color, lush on the palate, dark fruits, prune, black berry, long tangy finish. Tannins mostly resolved. Last bottle.
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Double decanted 4hrs. With fillet steak. Initially tight nose bloomed impressively after the decant, tobacco & green peppers. Medium+ in the mouth, nice acidity with some slightly grainy tannins throughout. Flavours following the nose. A serious wine at this price point.
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the nose is dominated by dark fruits and smoke with a tad of burnt fruits. The mouth is thick and quite velvety but well balanced by a good acidity. Smoke aftertaste. Good wine but not great due to this burnt fruit aspect.
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Not decanted. Drinking nicely, mature, classic old South African tobacco notes, black currants, tastes like what it is: a Cab-dominate Bordeaux blend. Could last for a while, but I'd drink now-2015.
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Drank parallell to phelan segur 2002. Dense dark berries and some pencil shave on the nose, quite simple but nice fruit on palate after an hour. Not very complex and a bit underwhelming.
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Meerlust Rubicon Vertical with Hannes Myburgh (Handford Wines, London): Darker in colout than expected from a 2001. Quite shy on the nose a bit restrained to start. From the great 2001 vintage but for us it was a bit lower than the top of the flight like the 2003 (Papies 93). Had a few porty notes at times too, a touch of bolgheri in style we could say vs the rest which are more bordeaux. still pretty god wine. Hannes Myburgh's Number 1 of the flight. 70%CS/15%M/15%CF - 13.5% Alc
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Less evolved than 2003, fine and complex on the nose, herbal, spicy with dark fruit and hints of chocolate and tobacco. Good acidity and grip - wonderful balance. Great length. Very classical and elegant - excellent. Drinking nicely, but no rush at all. 92-94
dark core, red edges, hint of brown n - tobacco, pencil shaving, blackcurrants, fruity rich claret medium body blackcurrants, gentle tannin some nice mellow flavours coming through - tobacco, cedar a little length good stuff without being hugely exciting can't see it getting much better but also no hurry to drink. Still lots of fruit. Not drying out.
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I last tasted this in 2007 and gave it a 91. Since then, the heavy tobacco and cedar have subsided and everything has mellowed and come into focus. Still has a lot of structure and would probably last at least 5 more years. Fruit is showing well. This SA wine is durable and delivers.
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Medium/deep ruby/garnet core, narrow pale garnet rim - relatively youthful. Nose is still quite youthful too, with ripe blackcurrant fruit to the fore, vanilla, a touch of herbs. Not overly complex but quite attractive. Medium/full bodied, plush and ripe but not overbearing with soft tannins, ripe blackcurrant, vanilla, nice savoury edge, touch of chocolate, lovely fresh acidity carrying a good length, harmonious finish. Certainly drinking now but no hurry - should be good for at least another 5 years.
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- Brick color with medium forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and smokey with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - This bottle has enough tannin to last 1-2 more years -- last bottle was past its prime.
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From magnum. This bordeaux blend showed Iiitial unpleasant cigarette smoke aromas that blew off. Fresh yet mature fruit, cassis, mint, eucalyptus, forest aromas. Palate showed mint, eucalyptus, tobacco. Finish had mid to moderate tannins, long finish of secondary flavors, and no alcohol.
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A very well made SA wine. Still holding but loosing the fruit and thus giving the perception of higher acid. Still a good wine that deserves a good cut of meat.
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The color shows sign of age. At first the wine seems very shut down and tight. After 2.5 hours bits of fruit, game, earth, smoke, and chocolate. Very silky smooth mouth feel. Overall this wine seems to be in a bad phase and not revealing much. I will check back in in 6 months.
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Riesling tasting witth friends (@ WB): Beautiful mature bouquet with chocolate. On the palate mainly red fruits like raspberries and also cassis and paprika. A firm amount of acidity, soft tannin and some smoky oak. This bottle is completely ready now.
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Drank this with 85 Talbot, 02 Sena, 08 Grace Chairman's Reserve. I rate this as WOTN with the Talbot. It was very tight initially but opened up nicely after 2 hours of decanting. Ruby red. Good nose of lead pencil and mint. Complex with good balance of fruit and fine tannins. Drinking like an average bordeaux grand cru but at a fraction of the price.
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Decanted an hour prior. Paired well with filet and king crab but not as I remembered from prior drinking dates. Allow more decanting time. Would probably be better with a more robust/juicier cut of meat.
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At its peak - decanted one hour ahead of time; great balance. Good fruit and tanins mellowed out. Nice after taste with no tanins, although it held its own well with a fatty standing rib roast.
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drinking at its peak, dark coloring. 1 hour of airtime before drinking. Boysenberry and blueberry on the nose. Ripe dark fruit on the palate, with moderate oak. Medium finish. Paired well with bacon/gorgonzola cheese spread. Has good acidity. WOTN
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Decanted for three hours. The nose has lots of (French?) oak, with some aged red fruit and a touch of heat. Somewhat rustic on the palate, with coarse tannins and solid, slightly vinegary acidity. Very extracted and full of flavors, drinking very much like a mid-level Bordeaux with a Spanish oakiness. Medium-bodied, without a trace of overripe heaviness. Still lots of tart red fruit left. The fruit, structure and exuberance make me think this has got a good amount of life ahead of it, but the acetic twang has me worried. Definitely a food wine. $30 on sale for $24.
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This bottle may be partially flawed, but it didn't have the depth of fruit, length, or complexity I expected. Had it once before, from the same vintage, and was impressed. This one had the beginnings of a vinegary, acidic reaction, so either it's past it's time, or somewhat flawed. The cork was red about half way up.
Similar to first bottle drank several months ago. Bright fruit with slightly burnt texture. Good acidity for style. Got the structure to last another 10 years.
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Dark red colour. Open nose with blackcurrants, some integrated oak, cigar box, a hint of peppers. Taste is like a good tuscan bordeaux blend, or a left bank bordeaux from a warm year. Medium-bodied, soft tannins. Good now and until 2012.
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What a surprise this one was. Terrifically unique nose of leather, plum and "dust", for lack of a better term. Medium bodied with good fruit, and very well integrated. A totally unique take on the bordeaux blend. Haven't drank a lot of African wines, but this one is an absolute home run, especially with the $20 price tag.
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I had this twice before with a fairly wide difference in score. Unfortunately, I find myself agreeing with the lower one. This tasted like a fairly typical Bordeaux blend with lots of relatively simple bright red fruit. There's good acidity and smooth tannins, and this still tastes quite youthful. Very pleasant, but I think the last bottle might have had a dose of brett to give it some barnyard complexity. $30
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Lots of berries, black-berries in both nose and mouth. Well balanced, and we really like this wine. Don't wait to pop this one - feels like it don't need more time in the closet.
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Dark, almost black with purple hues on the rim. At this stage sadly the nose is shy, hints of dark fruit almost plumy, green peppers and tobacco. The palate is sour cherries with a grainy earthiness. The finish is a bit tannic at this point and is showing signs of tertiary funk starting to emerge probably from the Cab Franc. Overall this wine farm continues to be one of my favorite producers from SA. It delivers a Bordeaux like approach in style for a much lower price point. This wine is a bit shutdown at this time, it needs more time. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Matured in Nevers barriques for 24 months. 80% new wood and 20% second fill. Further 24 months bottle maturation.
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Superbe assemblage bordelais d'Afrique du Sud, avec un fruit exubérant et pure typique du Nouveau Monde, mais aussi une structure et un équilibre solides qui en font un cru pouvant vieillir. Boisé intégré, élégance bordelaise. Excellent RQP.
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Dark tarry jam nose. Exciting acid on tip of tongue to start. Spicy, tobacco, light tannin, leather. Grainy. Bordeaux blend. Light-medium body. Food wine.
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Excellent wine that needs some time to open up as it is tight right out of the bottle. We let it breath for nearly an hour before drinking and it really helped. Good nose of dark berries with a nice long finish.
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This shows a lot of edge in its coarse texture and dry tannins and I can't help but feel its style is more austere-Bordeaux than plush-California with its dusty dark fruit, leather, charcoal and dried tobacco notes. This really would be great with a nice steak.
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Ripe and full cherry, blackberry, tar, oak and a pronounced tobacco from the 15% cabernet franc on the nose. The nose is deep, inviting and confident. It is full and complex on the palate, with an oak presence leading in front of a spicy onslaught. Tannins are still ample but manageable. The finish is spicy and long. There is not much fruit left on the palate. This is a quality, peaking Bordeaux blend that is definitely a fine value at $32.
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A really nice Bordeaux like wine. After we let decanted for almost 2 hours, it shows its flavors of tobaco, soil, chocolate all well balanced with nice tannins. could aged another 4 to 6 years.
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Vibrant, lively and crying out for food: there's a lot of umph left in this wine, and a nice degree of balance between the creamy plum fruit and shoe leather notes.
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Was quite nice on its own, but way better with a nice rich piece of meat. Black cherry and currants with cedar on the nose. Black tea leaves, vanilla spice, toast, and dusty tannins with tobacco made up the palate. Not sure where Spectator came up with their maturity window, but I'd give this one at least 3 years until maturity and up to 10 to drink.
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Very similar to my last bottle. Nice flavours of tobacco, charcoal, cassis, plum and herbs on the nose and palate with really good acidity, slightly drying tannins and a medium length finish.
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Needs to decant for 2 hours to soften up. brings out tabacco and leather. After another hour some chocolate. I think is still young and should age well. With 10 bottles left, I think opening 2 a year will be interesting.
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Decanted for a few hours and initially somewhat muted still. Opened up in the glass and over the following 2hrs. Rich Bordeaux nose with tobacco and chocolate. Soft tannins. Clean smooth finish. Very enjoyable and very good value.
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Very dark red colour.Initially this was a little harsh with dominant tannins and some cassis and a hint of tobacco,bordeaux style.Second day it really opened up,fruitiness coming clearly out and the tannins softened.On the nose dark fruit,cassis and a hint of vanilla.The palate showed good concentration of fruit,mainly cassis, well balanced with the acidity.Long finish.Found some oak and a small hint of tobacco too.Overall this was not as refined or developed as I had hoped for.It will probably get more nuanced in the cellar.
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Opaque dark ruby; vanilla, blackcurrant, dark druits, black tea on the nose - initially restrained but develops; similar on the full bodied palate; smoother tannin on this than last time, good grip on the medium+/long finish. Feels like a wine in early maturity and there is no sign of it being anywhere near it's peak yet - so secondary characteristics are barely there => not particularly complex yet but no reason why it should not develop so.
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Salil in NYC + Dinner with Doug (NYC): Smells like Napa Cab frank on opening....mint, some bell pepper. (70 cab, 15 mer, 15 cab f). Chocolate and black fruit, a touch of gooseberry on the palate, powerfull tannins...
Day 2 - WOW - bdx band-aid. lactic, sweet tobacco, bell pepper, great cassis note, tannin and plum, nice medium finish. powerfull acidity (the only way to see thats its SA) very very good wine! YUM!
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Casual Friday (Chez Nous): Deep ruby color. Pretty Bordeaux nose of band-aid, tobacco, green pepper, charcoal and cassis. Lots of Cab Franc character. Spicebox on the palate with puckery dry tannins, medium to full bodied. I think this could still use some cellaring.
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Dark red in colour. Nose is intriguing - constantly evolving and very complex, showing aromas of dark fruits, black cherry, tobacco, earth, smoke, coffee and a little herbaceousness. Blackberries, tobacco, earth and herbs follow in the mouth with lifting acidity and fairly firm tannins. Falls away a little towards the finish, but this is a very interesting wine to explore over a few hours and great value.
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Nose: spice and dark slate. Also, some sort of herb is present but just BARELY...maybe sage? Regardless, it's nice. Once in a while I get just the barest whiff of rotten fruit. I know that sounds unappetizing, but you'll just have to take my word for it that it's not. It's just ... more interesting. Palate: The mouthfeel is full and so smooth...mmm. Sour cherry and blackberry and just rich. Really nice. Really nice with STEAK, too.
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Deep ruby and noticeably leggy in the glass; high vanilla (sherbet), black cherry, black olive; lively palate with a full body of thick fruit and nearly "old world" tannins but soft too. I was impressed by this wine - very pleasant drinking indeed. Not particularly complex or developed yet. Prefer this to the Rustenberg JXM 2004 earlier this year - not fair comparison but......
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Bordeauish nose with juniper bush (as a variant on cedar), black cherries, herbs, a hint of menthol and marzipan from the oak. Balanced, good acids, mature, medium length. Good value.
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Tasted double blind. Aromas of blackberry, herbs, dark fruit and a faint roasted red bell pepper tone. Flavors of dark fruit with a sweet edge, roasted pepper and chewy red fruit on the finish. Drinking nicely. This was the surprise of the night.
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Meerlust Rubicon Vertical (Caldesi, London): This has a notably floral, herbaceous nose with some salami and parma ham notes. Very nice palate: the young forward fruit makes it feel immediately attractive and easy. Good structure with a nice tannic mouthfeel. Excellent length. Very Good Indeed.
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Meerlust Rubicon Offline (Caldesi, London): Deepr, more purply colour than the 01 Foundry Syrah. Concentrated blackcurrant nose with a slightly floral note - juniper? Still quite chewy. Nice in the mouth but falls off quite quickly. Possibly a little closed. 3+
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Lovely nose. With ribeye and mashed potatoes, the blackberry fruit on this wine was awesome. It was perfect. On its own, the wine was still very nice but didn't have the lushness that it had with dinner. A slight herbalness combined with the fruit, and the wine was slightly drying, but the tannins were soft enough to not be distracting. Fairly high acidity, which was great with food, but did veer the fruit toward smaller berries when by itself. But overall, a well balanced cab blend at a very good price.
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There's a lot of wood on this, not oak, but more sawdusty. A meaty flavor mixed in with the fruit. Seems inconsistent with other notes. Maybe a bad bottle? It didn't seem corked or cooked or otherwise flawed. Just some strange flavors.
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Wild Game with 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape + Extras (Skymountain Circle): Next came horseradish & sour cream smashed potatoes paired with one of South Africa’s finest – the Rubicon. This 2001 has a huge nose of boysenberry, pralines, menthol, herbs and a basket of dark fruits. Its taste was consistent with the nose except that it was denser and richer than I would have expected. Also there was a wonderful lavender and dried flowers thing going on in the background. This wine should continue to evolve for some time. It hung very well with the CDPs. What a wonderful value. 95+
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Dark Color. Very aromatic. Strong sense of ripe blackcurrant, sweet chocolate, smoke, then comes the rose pedal JM of WS talked about. Full bodied with excellent concentration. Very balanced acidity.Some spiciness. Tannin is big and a bit grainy. Good length buttery finish. Very bold in style overall and it's the style I like.
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Solid wine. Complex nose, woody aromas. Very heavy tobacco, dark wood, and dark berry flavors. Intense and interesting. Long finish. Need to be in the right mood to enjoy.
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Deep crimson; black currants, black cherries, plums; restrained berry, slightly spicy, elegant, decent structure, medium body, firm tannins, lingering finish. Decanted 1 hr. Delicious, pure fruit but not much complexity. Perhaps with aging?
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12/24/2022 - Meerlust wrote: 88 Points
This wine looked much younger than 21 years old. The nose was a little reluctant at first with dark fruit and tobacco. With air, the fruit sweetened up and grew in intensity. On the palate, there was refined dark cherry, tobacco, and graphite notes on the finish. Structurally, there was balanced acidity and fully resolved tannins in this medium-bodied wine. Overall, this is a contemplative wine that requires your full attention, as it does not scream it attributes, it whispers.
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10/30/2022 - Wrighty wrote:
Wow, WOTN and up against some stellar competition (SLV Fay, Gralyn and La Mission Haut Brion).
Beautifully balanced, great structure and balance of fruit and fine tannins. Still lots left in the wine (but no wine left in the cellar)
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6/7/2022 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
Premium Mature Bordeaux Blend (at my home): Good solid BX blend, rustic, med complexity
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4/17/2022 - ptmotr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened this magnum with SA friends who had brought it as a hostess gift 19 years ago. I agree heartily with Wrighty's comments though I've put it a couple of points lower at 94 as for me it's not quite as complex as a top flight Bordeaux of similar age would be. It was delightful however, showing its age with a little browning on the edge and a faint but not unpleasant hint of "portiness" but it was very smooth and extremely well integrated. The slightly muted dark fruit, some leather, and solid but not drying tannins went wonderfully with crusted rack of lamb. What a treat. My guess is that this wine is probably fairly stable for the moment, particularly in larger format bottles, but I wouldn't wait too long too enjoy it as it's really in a wonderful spot now and I don't see it improving with more time.
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1/16/2022 - Wrighty Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is wonderful.
colour is still purple, no sign of age at all! Soft tanned leather and cigar box nose, so soft and enticing… Palate has hints of spice, some meaty notes plus cassis and red currant and a long, long finish.
Was an award winning, Bordeaux beating wine in its youth and certainly keeping it up in its maturity.
Beautiful wine.
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3/13/2021 - jwebtx wrote:
No detailed notes, but I will say the fruit was dark and prominent. Plenty of life left in this wine.
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12/23/2020 - SimonK Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfect point of ripeness but still lots if youthfulness
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4/15/2019 - dave747400 wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted for sediment. At Hope Cove, with rare rib-eye. Room filling cabernet nose on decanting. Broad palate, round flavours, still a little tannin to prop it all up. Classic old world meets new SA blend, still with several years until any decline.
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1/13/2017 - knothoef wrote: 87 Points
Very dark, still a bit harsh. Spices and some chocolate in the nose, but you don't taste it.
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8/26/2016 - knothoef wrote: 89 Points
Very powerful and good balanced. Nice acids and spices.
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7/17/2016 - rayq wrote: 90 Points
Deep cherry colour. Initially some heat on the nose. On day two this becomes more claret like on the palate. It's let down by a less than smooth finish. This was certainly not declining and perhaps would have improved more with time.
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6/23/2016 - dave747400 wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted, Audouzed 4hrs. With slow-roast beef rib. In line with previous note, paired beautifully with the beef. Sweetish entry, juicy mid palate, still enough tannins remaining for the Bordeaux-a-like clean, dry finish. May develop more secondary characteristics, but in a great spot now.
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2/28/2016 - vcerf Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened right out of 55 degree cellar; decanted immediately. Big dark color, lush on the palate, dark fruits, prune, black berry, long tangy finish. Tannins mostly resolved. Last bottle.
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11/15/2015 - dave747400 wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted 4hrs. With fillet steak. Initially tight nose bloomed impressively after the decant, tobacco & green peppers. Medium+ in the mouth, nice acidity with some slightly grainy tannins throughout. Flavours following the nose. A serious wine at this price point.
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5/10/2015 - NickNYC Likes this wine: 88 Points
the nose is dominated by dark fruits and smoke with a tad of burnt fruits. The mouth is thick and quite velvety but well balanced by a good acidity. Smoke aftertaste. Good wine but not great due to this burnt fruit aspect.
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11/5/2014 - Giggs wrote: 90 Points
Not decanted. Drinking nicely, mature, classic old South African tobacco notes, black currants, tastes like what it is: a Cab-dominate Bordeaux blend. Could last for a while, but I'd drink now-2015.
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9/27/2014 - NiklasT wrote: 89 Points
Drank parallell to phelan segur 2002. Dense dark berries and some pencil shave on the nose, quite simple but nice fruit on palate after an hour. Not very complex and a bit underwhelming.
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9/24/2014 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Meerlust Rubicon Vertical with Hannes Myburgh (Handford Wines, London): Darker in colout than expected from a 2001. Quite shy on the nose a bit restrained to start. From the great 2001 vintage but for us it was a bit lower than the top of the flight like the 2003 (Papies 93). Had a few porty notes at times too, a touch of bolgheri in style we could say vs the rest which are more bordeaux. still pretty god wine.
Hannes Myburgh's Number 1 of the flight.
70%CS/15%M/15%CF - 13.5% Alc
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9/24/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Less evolved than 2003, fine and complex on the nose, herbal, spicy with dark fruit and hints of chocolate and tobacco. Good acidity and grip - wonderful balance. Great length. Very classical and elegant - excellent. Drinking nicely, but no rush at all. 92-94
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4/20/2014 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
dark core, red edges, hint of brown
n - tobacco, pencil shaving, blackcurrants, fruity rich claret
medium body
blackcurrants, gentle tannin
some nice mellow flavours coming through - tobacco, cedar
a little length
good stuff without being hugely exciting
can't see it getting much better but also no hurry to drink. Still lots of fruit. Not drying out.
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4/18/2014 - Brian1970 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I last tasted this in 2007 and gave it a 91. Since then, the heavy tobacco and cedar have subsided and everything has mellowed and come into focus. Still has a lot of structure and would probably last at least 5 more years. Fruit is showing well. This SA wine is durable and delivers.
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1/25/2014 - SoCal wrote:
Last bottle. A fantastic value considering how it delivers both new and old world in the same wine. I love SA.
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4/10/2013 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
Medium/deep ruby/garnet core, narrow pale garnet rim - relatively youthful. Nose is still quite youthful too, with ripe blackcurrant fruit to the fore, vanilla, a touch of herbs. Not overly complex but quite attractive. Medium/full bodied, plush and ripe but not overbearing with soft tannins, ripe blackcurrant, vanilla, nice savoury edge, touch of chocolate, lovely fresh acidity carrying a good length, harmonious finish. Certainly drinking now but no hurry - should be good for at least another 5 years.
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2/14/2013 - cigar52 wrote:
- Brick color with medium forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and smokey with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - This bottle has enough tannin to last 1-2 more years -- last bottle was past its prime.
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1/21/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 91 Points
From magnum. This bordeaux blend showed Iiitial unpleasant cigarette smoke aromas that blew off. Fresh yet mature fruit, cassis, mint, eucalyptus, forest aromas. Palate showed mint, eucalyptus, tobacco. Finish had mid to moderate tannins, long finish of secondary flavors, and no alcohol.
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12/30/2012 - SoCal Likes this wine:
A very well made SA wine. Still holding but loosing the fruit and thus giving the perception of higher acid. Still a good wine that deserves a good cut of meat.
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10/5/2011 - Dar3 wrote: 90 Points
Still has strong fruit, some leather. I would say drink now
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8/10/2011 - SoCal wrote:
The color shows sign of age. At first the wine seems very shut down and tight. After 2.5 hours bits of fruit, game, earth, smoke, and chocolate. Very silky smooth mouth feel. Overall this wine seems to be in a bad phase and not revealing much. I will check back in in 6 months.
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5/13/2011 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Riesling tasting witth friends (@ WB): Beautiful mature bouquet with chocolate. On the palate mainly red fruits like raspberries and also cassis and paprika. A firm amount of acidity, soft tannin and some smoky oak. This bottle is completely ready now.
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5/1/2011 - johanalex wrote: 92 Points
This was marvellous. I am glad I kept it until now. Still lot of power to live on but it was at its peak (I think) right now. Enjoy!
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2/9/2011 - emkc wrote: 90 Points
Drank this with 85 Talbot, 02 Sena, 08 Grace Chairman's Reserve. I rate this as WOTN with the Talbot. It was very tight initially but opened up nicely after 2 hours of decanting. Ruby red. Good nose of lead pencil and mint. Complex with good balance of fruit and fine tannins. Drinking like an average bordeaux grand cru but at a fraction of the price.
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1/31/2011 - JRMEAD wrote: 89 Points
Decanted an hour prior. Paired well with filet and king crab but not as I remembered from prior drinking dates. Allow more decanting time. Would probably be better with a more robust/juicier cut of meat.
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12/20/2010 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 95 Points
At its peak - decanted one hour ahead of time; great balance. Good fruit and tanins mellowed out. Nice after taste with no tanins, although it held its own well with a fatty standing rib roast.
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12/5/2010 - lrossouw wrote: 99 Points
Lovely wine. Enjoyed with fillet in good company!
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10/21/2010 - andtheodor wrote: flawed
Blind free-for-all: TCA
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6/26/2010 - curtiy wrote: 92 Points
drinking at its peak, dark coloring. 1 hour of airtime before drinking. Boysenberry and blueberry on the nose. Ripe dark fruit on the palate, with moderate oak. Medium finish. Paired well with bacon/gorgonzola cheese spread. Has good acidity. WOTN
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6/8/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for three hours. The nose has lots of (French?) oak, with some aged red fruit and a touch of heat. Somewhat rustic on the palate, with coarse tannins and solid, slightly vinegary acidity. Very extracted and full of flavors, drinking very much like a mid-level Bordeaux with a Spanish oakiness. Medium-bodied, without a trace of overripe heaviness. Still lots of tart red fruit left. The fruit, structure and exuberance make me think this has got a good amount of life ahead of it, but the acetic twang has me worried. Definitely a food wine. $30 on sale for $24.
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4/29/2010 - dratwood wrote: 92 Points
Wonderfully earthy, quintessential South African red, full mouthed, peat, good fruit and tannins, very smooth, lingering finish
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4/3/2010 - BigGer wrote: 82 Points
This bottle may be partially flawed, but it didn't have the depth of fruit, length, or complexity I expected. Had it once before, from the same vintage, and was impressed. This one had the beginnings of a vinegary, acidic reaction, so either it's past it's time, or somewhat flawed. The cork was red about half way up.
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2/25/2010 - Sundbyberg wrote: 82 Points
Had great expectations on this wine, but it was either going into a tunnel or it was on its way down.
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12/31/2009 - jcvalenti wrote: 91 Points
Similar to first bottle drank several months ago. Bright fruit with slightly burnt texture. Good acidity for style. Got the structure to last another 10 years.
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11/29/2009 - ERx wrote: 89 Points
Must & minerals; ruby red- currant & blackberry
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11/20/2009 - Mats_L wrote: 90 Points
Dark red colour. Open nose with blackcurrants, some integrated oak, cigar box, a hint of peppers. Taste is like a good tuscan bordeaux blend, or a left bank bordeaux from a warm year. Medium-bodied, soft tannins. Good now and until 2012.
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11/18/2009 - jpwines wrote:
Others appear ro like this better than we do. It has a strange nose and taste--hard to describe. Dusty, mineral, ?
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10/10/2009 - jcvalenti wrote: 92 Points
What a surprise this one was. Terrifically unique nose of leather, plum and "dust", for lack of a better term. Medium bodied with good fruit, and very well integrated. A totally unique take on the bordeaux blend. Haven't drank a lot of African wines, but this one is an absolute home run, especially with the $20 price tag.
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7/11/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 88 Points
I had this twice before with a fairly wide difference in score. Unfortunately, I find myself agreeing with the lower one. This tasted like a fairly typical Bordeaux blend with lots of relatively simple bright red fruit. There's good acidity and smooth tannins, and this still tastes quite youthful. Very pleasant, but I think the last bottle might have had a dose of brett to give it some barnyard complexity. $30
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5/23/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 94 Points
Stimmel's Market: The Last Temptation of Stimmel's (Bowling Green, OH): Bargain of the night. Leathery plummy nose, beautifully earthy and very old world. Medium- tannins, acidic, medium body. Juicy. Earthy. Light medicinal and herbal notes. Spanish-y. $30
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2/10/2009 - nyman wrote:
Lots of berries, black-berries in both nose and mouth. Well balanced, and we really like this wine. Don't wait to pop this one - feels like it don't need more time in the closet.
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1/25/2009 - SoCal wrote: 91 Points
Dark, almost black with purple hues on the rim. At this stage sadly the nose is shy, hints of dark fruit almost plumy, green peppers and tobacco. The palate is sour cherries with a grainy earthiness. The finish is a bit tannic at this point and is showing signs of tertiary funk starting to emerge probably from the Cab Franc. Overall this wine farm continues to be one of my favorite producers from SA. It delivers a Bordeaux like approach in style for a much lower price point. This wine is a bit shutdown at this time, it needs more time. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Matured in Nevers barriques for 24 months. 80% new wood and 20% second fill. Further 24 months bottle maturation.
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12/6/2008 - Villon wrote: 90 Points
Superbe assemblage bordelais d'Afrique du Sud, avec un fruit exubérant et pure typique du Nouveau Monde, mais aussi une structure et un équilibre solides qui en font un cru pouvant vieillir. Boisé intégré, élégance bordelaise. Excellent RQP.
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11/22/2008 - Wrighty wrote: 91 Points
Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (Landmark Hotel, London): Soft nose, some green pepper, a little cedar. Palate is feminine, soft and lush.
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8/7/2008 - joshwoodward wrote: 87 Points
Dark tarry jam nose. Exciting acid on tip of tongue to start. Spicy, tobacco, light tannin, leather. Grainy. Bordeaux blend. Light-medium body. Food wine.
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7/6/2008 - alliesteve wrote: 91 Points
Excellent wine that needs some time to open up as it is tight right out of the bottle. We let it breath for nearly an hour before drinking and it really helped. Good nose of dark berries with a nice long finish.
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6/10/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 90 Points
This shows a lot of edge in its coarse texture and dry tannins and I can't help but feel its style is more austere-Bordeaux than plush-California with its dusty dark fruit, leather, charcoal and dried tobacco notes. This really would be great with a nice steak.
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5/9/2008 - wwetmore wrote:
Ripe and full cherry, blackberry, tar, oak and a pronounced tobacco from the 15% cabernet franc on the nose. The nose is deep, inviting and confident. It is full and complex on the palate, with an oak presence leading in front of a spicy onslaught. Tannins are still ample but manageable. The finish is spicy and long. There is not much fruit left on the palate. This is a quality, peaking Bordeaux blend that is definitely a fine value at $32.
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4/27/2008 - Mondial wrote: 90 Points
Good solid wine.
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4/26/2008 - Patou99 wrote: 92 Points
A really nice Bordeaux like wine. After we let decanted for almost 2 hours, it shows its flavors of tobaco, soil, chocolate all well balanced with nice tannins. could aged another 4 to 6 years.
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4/23/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 90 Points
Vibrant, lively and crying out for food: there's a lot of umph left in this wine, and a nice degree of balance between the creamy plum fruit and shoe leather notes.
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4/23/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 90 Points
Was quite nice on its own, but way better with a nice rich piece of meat. Black cherry and currants with cedar on the nose. Black tea leaves, vanilla spice, toast, and dusty tannins with tobacco made up the palate. Not sure where Spectator came up with their maturity window, but I'd give this one at least 3 years until maturity and up to 10 to drink.
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4/7/2008 - salil wrote: 89 Points
Very similar to my last bottle. Nice flavours of tobacco, charcoal, cassis, plum and herbs on the nose and palate with really good acidity, slightly drying tannins and a medium length finish.
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4/6/2008 - apes wrote: 88 Points
Needs to decant for 2 hours to soften up. brings out tabacco and leather. After another hour some chocolate. I think is still young and should age well. With 10 bottles left, I think opening 2 a year will be interesting.
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4/5/2008 - GraemeBell wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for a few hours and initially somewhat muted still. Opened up in the glass and over the following 2hrs. Rich Bordeaux nose with tobacco and chocolate. Soft tannins. Clean smooth finish. Very enjoyable and very good value.
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2/22/2008 - petec-s wrote: 90 Points
Very good wine, refined smokey fruit nose and palate , excellent in length/ 13.5%/ valentines night dinner.17.5/20
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2/22/2008 - Henman wrote: 88 Points
Very dark red colour.Initially this was a little harsh with dominant tannins and some cassis and a hint of tobacco,bordeaux style.Second day it really opened up,fruitiness coming clearly out and the tannins softened.On the nose dark fruit,cassis and a hint of vanilla.The palate showed good concentration of fruit,mainly cassis, well balanced with the acidity.Long finish.Found some oak and a small hint of tobacco too.Overall this was not as refined or developed as I had hoped for.It will probably get more nuanced in the cellar.
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2/17/2008 - rob1869 wrote: 92 Points
Opaque dark ruby; vanilla, blackcurrant, dark druits, black tea on the nose - initially restrained but develops; similar on the full bodied palate; smoother tannin on this than last time, good grip on the medium+/long finish. Feels like a wine in early maturity and there is no sign of it being anywhere near it's peak yet - so secondary characteristics are barely there => not particularly complex yet but no reason why it should not develop so.
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12/15/2007 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Salil in NYC + Dinner with Doug (NYC): Smells like Napa Cab frank on opening....mint, some bell pepper. (70 cab, 15 mer, 15 cab f). Chocolate and black fruit, a touch of gooseberry on the palate, powerfull tannins...
Day 2 - WOW - bdx band-aid. lactic, sweet tobacco, bell pepper, great cassis note, tannin and plum, nice medium finish. powerfull acidity (the only way to see thats its SA) very very good wine! YUM!
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12/14/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 90 Points
Casual Friday (Chez Nous): Deep ruby color. Pretty Bordeaux nose of band-aid, tobacco, green pepper, charcoal and cassis. Lots of Cab Franc character. Spicebox on the palate with puckery dry tannins, medium to full bodied. I think this could still use some cellaring.
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12/13/2007 - salil wrote: 90 Points
Dark red in colour. Nose is intriguing - constantly evolving and very complex, showing aromas of dark fruits, black cherry, tobacco, earth, smoke, coffee and a little herbaceousness. Blackberries, tobacco, earth and herbs follow in the mouth with lifting acidity and fairly firm tannins. Falls away a little towards the finish, but this is a very interesting wine to explore over a few hours and great value.
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10/18/2007 - tarheel17 wrote: 90 Points
Nose: spice and dark slate. Also, some sort of herb is present but just BARELY...maybe sage? Regardless, it's nice. Once in a while I get just the barest whiff of rotten fruit. I know that sounds unappetizing, but you'll just have to take my word for it that it's not. It's just ... more interesting. Palate: The mouthfeel is full and so smooth...mmm. Sour cherry and blackberry and just rich. Really nice. Really nice with STEAK, too.
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9/25/2007 - rob1869 wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby and noticeably leggy in the glass; high vanilla (sherbet), black cherry, black olive; lively palate with a full body of thick fruit and nearly "old world" tannins but soft too. I was impressed by this wine - very pleasant drinking indeed. Not particularly complex or developed yet. Prefer this to the Rustenberg JXM 2004 earlier this year - not fair comparison but......
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8/30/2007 - Wrighty wrote: 92 Points
Meerlust dinner (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Slightly closed nose, concentrated berries. Opens up with some soft tannins.
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7/18/2007 - cona wrote: 88 Points
Magnum committee - July. Huge oak, very sweet lush Cab
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7/17/2007 - Wrighty wrote: 92 Points
Wow, this was beautiful. Ordered at the end of the night so not too much detail but lovely balance and intesity with soft fruit and a good finish.
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7/8/2007 - magnord wrote: 88 Points
Bordeauish nose with juniper bush (as a variant on cedar), black cherries, herbs, a hint of menthol and marzipan from the oak. Balanced, good acids, mature, medium length. Good value.
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7/1/2007 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Tasted double blind. Aromas of blackberry, herbs, dark fruit and a faint roasted red bell pepper tone. Flavors of dark fruit with a sweet edge, roasted pepper and chewy red fruit on the finish. Drinking nicely. This was the surprise of the night.
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6/9/2007 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 91 Points
Meerlust Rubicon Vertical (Caldesi, London): This has a notably floral, herbaceous nose with some salami and parma ham notes. Very nice palate: the young forward fruit makes it feel immediately attractive and easy. Good structure with a nice tannic mouthfeel. Excellent length. Very Good Indeed.
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6/9/2007 - SimonG wrote:
Meerlust Rubicon Offline (Caldesi, London): Deepr, more purply colour than the 01 Foundry Syrah. Concentrated blackcurrant nose with a slightly floral note - juniper? Still quite chewy. Nice in the mouth but falls off quite quickly. Possibly a little closed. 3+
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5/23/2007 - hutch wrote: 90 Points
Lovely nose. With ribeye and mashed potatoes, the blackberry fruit on this wine was awesome. It was perfect. On its own, the wine was still very nice but didn't have the lushness that it had with dinner. A slight herbalness combined with the fruit, and the wine was slightly drying, but the tannins were soft enough to not be distracting. Fairly high acidity, which was great with food, but did veer the fruit toward smaller berries when by itself. But overall, a well balanced cab blend at a very good price.
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5/12/2007 - irish87 wrote: 86 Points
There's a lot of wood on this, not oak, but more sawdusty. A meaty flavor mixed in with the fruit. Seems inconsistent with other notes. Maybe a bad bottle? It didn't seem corked or cooked or otherwise flawed. Just some strange flavors.
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5/4/2007 - RSheldon wrote: 95 Points
Wild Game with 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape + Extras (Skymountain Circle): Next came horseradish & sour cream smashed potatoes paired with one of South Africa’s finest – the Rubicon. This 2001 has a huge nose of boysenberry, pralines, menthol, herbs and a basket of dark fruits. Its taste was consistent with the nose except that it was denser and richer than I would have expected. Also there was a wonderful lavender and dried flowers thing going on in the background. This wine should continue to evolve for some time. It hung very well with the CDPs. What a wonderful value. 95+
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4/20/2007 - kanwingshing wrote: 92 Points
Dark Color. Very aromatic. Strong sense of ripe blackcurrant, sweet chocolate, smoke, then comes the rose pedal JM of WS talked about. Full bodied with excellent concentration. Very balanced acidity.Some spiciness. Tannin is big and a bit grainy. Good length buttery finish. Very bold in style overall and it's the style I like.
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4/4/2007 - mitchmiller wrote: 89 Points
Good cab right out of the gate at a fair price. Needs to open about an hour and its excellent.
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1/28/2007 - Brian1970 wrote: 91 Points
Solid wine. Complex nose, woody aromas. Very heavy tobacco, dark wood, and dark berry flavors. Intense and interesting. Long finish. Need to be in the right mood to enjoy.
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1/25/2007 - ColinR wrote: 89 Points
Deep crimson; black currants, black cherries, plums; restrained berry, slightly spicy, elegant, decent structure, medium body, firm tannins, lingering finish.
Decanted 1 hr. Delicious, pure fruit but not much complexity. Perhaps with aging?
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11/20/2006 - Skanstull wrote:
Good but this will benefit from a couple of more years in the cellar. Quite tannic.
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11/19/2006 - GSinger wrote: flawed
cooked. :(
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10/22/2006 - JOhlsson wrote:
Closed. Sweet fruit, good concentratation. Oaky and quite high acidity. Time will tell. (87? now)
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