Covid Cassoulet (Robin Stark's, Cardiff-by-the-Sea): Nicely complex nose showing secondary characters now. Dense and young on the palate still. Darkly fruited. Evidently this is not just Tannat but that with three other grapes including Cab S. Almost tight. Light tannin. This clearly still has miles to go. Good now. Terrific balance with the acidity leaving a mark. Cool bonus bottle.
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In its drinking window, rich but with bright fruit, not really brooding, more warm and inviting. Good wine with winter fare. Decanted half a bottle the first night and uncorked the coravined remainder a couple nights later and gave it some air.
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P&P, big dark fruits on the nose, fairly flabby on the palate w/ chalky tannins. After an hour the dark fruits started to show a bit more with some peppery spice notes. Short finish. Good for $20 but give it some air and bring it up to room temp first.
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PnP, with a terrific nose of strawberry, raspberry, and leather. Medium bodied on the palate, with soft red fruit and leather up front, and brisk tannins taking over on the tarry finish. Delicious now, and should age well (and continue to soften) for 5+ years.
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Enjoyable enough in the end, but not appealing on p&p - aromas of dark-reddish fruit (bordering on [overripe] strawberry, surprisingly for a Madiran), mint, chocolate, some alcohol, and an almost watery texture despite plenty of grippy tannins, acid and tannins clashing, and general lack of cohesion. Decanted, and an hour later things were looking better, with the alcohol and mint-chocolate aspect diminishing, the texture smoothing out, the acidity playing better with the tannins, and everything just coming together better. Still not great or a stylistic fit for me, but (with the air) enjoyable enough.
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A tannic beast of a wine! Inky purple, Burly, coarse tannins, rustic and searing acidity, dark black fruits, imposing minerals, and more tannins. Yet not without charm. After 3 hours, a second story of red fruits hiding like wallflowers, forest undergrowth, hoisin, savory herbs. It's never going to win any beauty contests but it may shape up to be a compelling wine. Best left alone for at least 3-5 years if not more.
Day 2: left in the fridge overnight. Am surprised at how much the tannins have softened. More sweetness from the fruit, and more wood and tobacco. A bit hollow on the mid-palate, and seems a bit pedestrian.
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6/19/2020 - WetRock wrote:
Covid Cassoulet (Robin Stark's, Cardiff-by-the-Sea): Nicely complex nose showing secondary characters now. Dense and young on the palate still. Darkly fruited. Evidently this is not just Tannat but that with three other grapes including Cab S. Almost tight. Light tannin. This clearly still has miles to go. Good now. Terrific balance with the acidity leaving a mark. Cool bonus bottle.
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3/11/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Bill has been grappeling with its cork'd ness all day. Tough and chewy but not bad.
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12/6/2019 - tward Likes this wine:
In its drinking window, rich but with bright fruit, not really brooding, more warm and inviting. Good wine with winter fare. Decanted half a bottle the first night and uncorked the coravined remainder a couple nights later and gave it some air.
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6/24/2019 - Grateful4Red Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still very tannic, needed to breathe. But quite good nevertheless
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9/13/2018 - Slave to the Rind Likes this wine: 88 Points
P&P, big dark fruits on the nose, fairly flabby on the palate w/ chalky tannins. After an hour the dark fruits started to show a bit more with some peppery spice notes. Short finish. Good for $20 but give it some air and bring it up to room temp first.
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8/16/2018 - ziavino wrote: 90 Points
PnP, with a terrific nose of strawberry, raspberry, and leather. Medium bodied on the palate, with soft red fruit and leather up front, and brisk tannins taking over on the tarry finish. Delicious now, and should age well (and continue to soften) for 5+ years.
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1/28/2018 - Beerzebub wrote:
Enjoyable enough in the end, but not appealing on p&p - aromas of dark-reddish fruit (bordering on [overripe] strawberry, surprisingly for a Madiran), mint, chocolate, some alcohol, and an almost watery texture despite plenty of grippy tannins, acid and tannins clashing, and general lack of cohesion. Decanted, and an hour later things were looking better, with the alcohol and mint-chocolate aspect diminishing, the texture smoothing out, the acidity playing better with the tannins, and everything just coming together better. Still not great or a stylistic fit for me, but (with the air) enjoyable enough.
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12/6/2017 - Kevinmfranklin wrote: 87 Points
Decent value wine
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7/10/2017 - ohne_musik wrote:
A tannic beast of a wine! Inky purple, Burly, coarse tannins, rustic and searing acidity, dark black fruits, imposing minerals, and more tannins. Yet not without charm. After 3 hours, a second story of red fruits hiding like wallflowers, forest undergrowth, hoisin, savory herbs. It's never going to win any beauty contests but it may shape up to be a compelling wine. Best left alone for at least 3-5 years if not more.
Day 2: left in the fridge overnight. Am surprised at how much the tannins have softened. More sweetness from the fruit, and more wood and tobacco. A bit hollow on the mid-palate, and seems a bit pedestrian.
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