Weird and unenjoyable at first but finally smoothed out and was good after 3+ hours of being open in the bottle. I should have poured it into a decanter to speed things up. Overall, I think this is best enjoyed much younger after tasting many bottles both young and with bottle age.
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Dark fruits and pepper play on the nose. The wine is medium+ bodied, beautifully balanced, and dry. The palate features notes of blackberry, dark cherry, black currant, pencil shaving, oak, and tobacco. Hints of herbs on the long finish.
Still drinking well but I wouldn't wait much longer.
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Hits the QPR value button with nice dark cassis and berry fruits and decent balance, with just enough mint, mocha and tobacco notes to make it interesting, punches above average.
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C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: Vanilla slightly atop cherries with undertones of dill? Earth (poss) & leather with swirling/addt'l air
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses the BULK of its bite by the fairly LONG, VERY slightly bitterish, very, VERY slightly tangy finish to the firming, very, VERY fine tannins. // Day 2: Held BETTER than expected! :) Drink now, but I'm guessing with sufficient stuffing to last into EARLY '22, should you so choose. My EXC- given the QPR of this. 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Early Aug 2019's wine-searcher still shows this various places from $9.90-$12.54.]
Note: Also tasted 7/3, 9/8, & 12/13/17, + 4/22/2018
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Strange, funk on the nose that was hard for me to overcome. Normally a pretty big fan of Chilean wines, but this one seemed a little harsh and unrefined. Didn't have unreasonable expectations for a sub $10 bottle, but this one didn't do it for me.
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Crazy nose that takes time to blow off, borderline noxious, with smoked jalapeno pepper, dirty diaper, and vacuum dust. Blackberry, fig and black pepper commingle on the direct palate, with a slight tannic bite adding depth on the medium finish.
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: IRON, minerals, with notes of vanilla, cherries underneath, poss some pyrazines?
P: LM body; Nice, almost swtish frt met by a touch of firming astringency which QUITE mitigates by the START of the LONG (albeit very slightly faint) finish, only to OCCASIONALLY reappear from time to time. // Day 2 [having used Private Preserve]: Held nicely, + noted additional aromas (& flavors) of blk olives. Went well with left-over grilled pk chops. My VG/VG+, easily MORE *if* one takes into account the QPR of the $6.99 COSTCO "special" pd for it in late 2016. I can see this easily holding through '19, poss even the '20 WS predicted. 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Early Aug 2018's wine-searcher still shows this various places from $9-$17, & with one outlier @ $4.98!]
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Bought only for cooking. I find a lot of good wines from Chile at $10 an below that works fantastically well. I used half and vacu-pumped and seal the other half. Sat in room temp for 5 days. Was going to pour it out but thought - maybe I'll try it. Poured and sat in glass for 1 hour, while I prepped and grilled a filet mignon. Very dark wine, barely can see any light coming through the wine. Nose is great, blind I think I would have guessed, Piedmont, Cannubi 2006. Yes a great nose. Mint, eucalyptus, marzipan, sweet chocolate, plum, cherries, fig, raspberry, crushed blue berries, forrest right after a rain, blood/iron, plum sauce, pipe tobacco. Drinking pretty much as a good Piedmont as well. Acidity keep the tannin and oak in check. Drinking big, fresh/young. An austere wine, coffee, black currant, boysenberry, dark bitter chocolate, pepper, oak, prune. Just a little sweeter than I like and little angular but I think it will smooth out considering the acidity is still strong. If you like bigger wines I think you'd be happy with this one. I think you need a long decanter to enjoy this. I will not tell you were I bought it but will go back and pick up a case as midweek table wine for big foods.
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The cork was brittle, leaving little cork dust in the wine. First taste immediately after pour was sour and had a medicinal, eucalyptus smell. But wait! Give it a chance. Poured through vinturi, and it calmed down a lot. Still more acidic than I prefer. Nothing really to like about it. My wife poured her glass down the drain. I enjoy ménage e trois a lot more for even a dollar less. I will cook with this, but I see no reason to buy another bottle.
After reading notes of other reviewers, I agree that bell pepper stands out. I suppose the bell pepper is what does not appeal to me about this wine.
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C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: The initial jolt of aromas DON'T endure, then becoming slightly closed; Earth slightly atop a melding of berries & vanilla with notes of pyrazines
P: LM, poss Med, body; Nice, almost swtish frt met by firming acidity with a VERY slight pucker & the barest hint of bitterness. All of this morphs into a fairly LONG (albeit very, VERY slightly faint) pleasant finish with occasional HINTS of bitterness & a touch of spice. A somewhat "off" bottle of this? [Perhaps just a *touch* of TCA?] 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Early Mar 2019's wine-searcher still shows this various places from $9.90-$12.54.]
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Fantastic QPR at under 10 Euros! This wine is a no brainer. It has aromas of minerals, veggies hints, blackcurrants, smoke, plums. Its medium bodied broad shouldered, fresh, complex minerally black fruited palate has an oaky fruity middle and ends longish, savoury, refreshing as well as a bit tannic. 13.5%.
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C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: Slightly closed; Some forest floor, ALMOST barnyd; Poss some berries with notes of pyrazines
P: Med, poss LM, body; Almost swtish frt NICELY balanced by acidic astringency which SLOWLY (& fairly seamlessly) evolves into a LONG, ult almost swtish finish. 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [As of late Feb '19, wine-searcher still shows various U.S. vendors from $10-$17.] // Day 4: Noting some choc aromas
Note: Also tasted on 4/22/2018
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Charismatic. Fun and fruity, but complex too, with pungent Indian spices and underbrush. Yummy dark berry fruit with substantial tannins. Astonishing value for $10.
Aerated with a Vinturi. Nose of black cherry, currant, mocha, forest floor and herbs. Black and red fruit, vanilla, coffee and ripe tannins on the palate. Medium to long finish. Full bodied. An excellent QPR. Served with grilled cheeseburgers.
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: ATTRACTIVE melange of cherries, minerals, vanilla, & pyrazines, the vanilla/cherries poss SLIGHTLY atop
P: Med, poss LM, body; Almost swtish frt with WONDERFULLY balancing acidity, which is shown by a very, VERY slightly puckerish mid-P that slowly, fairly seamlessly, pretty much resolves by the LONG, very slightly tangy finish. LOVE the Euro style & acidity of this INCREDIBLE value! Could WELL improve through the rest of '17, then drink NICELY into '20. (BTW, went VERY well with inexpensive, extra sharp Cheddar cheese.) 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [As of mid Apr '19, wine-searcher still shows various U.S. vendors from $10-$12.54.]
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Tough to beat the qpr on this cab. Nice dry well structured wine with cassis and plum flavors and a slight green pepper edge. I usually splash decant this to help bring the fruit flavors to the forefront. A steal for around $10.
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WSET Diploma - South America (and a Tignanello!) (SF): Medium plus ruby color. Medium intensity nose. Faint brett, faint rubbery reduction. Less prominent and riper pyrazines (bell peppers) than the carmenere (this has 15% merlot). Black fruit - indistinct blackcurrant. Hints of menthol and eucalyptus (alcohol and pyrazines). Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol (feels 14% - correct), medium plus acid, medium plus tannins - grippy and chewy. Slight impression of used oak - used French. A bit more black fruit and less pyrazines than the carmenere. Not the best example of Chilean cab - would like more black fruit.
15% merlot
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C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos. 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH;" 50,000 cases imported.
N: Fairly closed; Smoke, earth?
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt on front met by a very slight pucker which TOTALLY resolves by the fairly LONG, very, VERY slightly astringent finish. Drinks WAY above the $6.79 I pd COSTCO for it! :) 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Late Feb 2020's wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $9.90 & $11.99.]
Addendum: Also tasted 7/3, 9/8, & 12/13/17, + 4/22/18 and 4/5/19.
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Aromas of bell pepper, black currant, earth and blackberry. Flavors of blackberry, black cherry, touch of plum and touch of earth. Finish echos the blackberry and black cherry theme for 25 seconds. I really can't get over how good this is for $10. Probably one of the all time great value wines I have ever had.
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Lots of green vegetal notes and minerality. I wouldn't call this fruit forward or bright in any way. It's a different, almost old world style of Cab and won't appeal to a lot of people who like big fruit bombs. For $10 though, a good value.
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Montes classic series; Cab.Sauv. Actually is blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 85% – Merlot 15%. Matured in oak barrels for 8 months (45%). Tasting vivid dark red, ripe red fruits flavor; intense fruity notes like strawberries, red berries, little vanilla. Tannic, medium bodied. Value for money, elegant label.
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Graphite, bell pepper and steers berry fruit on the nose. In fact , fruit took a backseat to the minerality and terroir coming through. Firm, but not overbearing tannins and a medium plus finish makes this a steal at 10$. However, the fruit never came to the forefront even on day two. A job well done but some might not take to this style of Cabernet.
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A nose of some dark fruit and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied Cab, with black cherry, plum, caramel and spice on smooth finish, a very good value. www.winelx.com
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2nd bottle of this. Enjoyed it again but not quite as much as last time. Definitely a well-balanced wine with pleasant fruit, a smoky / earthy element and clean finish. Have two more, will probably drink them within a year.
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Forward nose of smoked meat and stewed berries. Full bodied, well structured wine with soft tannin, a bright acidity, mushroomy mid-palate, hint of tobacco and green bell pepper, and a long, dry finish. A really nice bottle overall and truly excellent for the price.
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Tried this wine as it made the Wine Spectator Top 100 list at #42. Should have known a $10 bottle of wine is never going to be a Top 100 wine. This may have the worst nose that I have ever experienced for a Cabernet, the taste was not bad, but I don't like drinking a wine when I have to hold my nose.
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Very fresh up front flavors of sweet plums and blackberry. Mid palette is more peppery with black cherries and a velvety coating which softens the acidic cherries. This is quite well produced as to be able to hold back that cherry acid requires some viscous juice, which is most definitely in this wine. Thick and lush with a long finish. Clearly a great wine for under $ 10 !
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Opened 45 minutes before drinking. Aromas of blackberry, fruit cake, melted chocolate and pepper. Lots going on here and these Chilean cabs have a distinctive element to them. Flavors of blackberry, chocolate, earth and boysenberry. Finish lasts about 25 seconds. This is incredible for only $10 bucks!
Pretty good and hard to beat the price. I like that the green bell pepper flavor I find in most Chilean Cabs is there, but more in the background and not in your face like some. Allows the dark fruit and spice to lead.
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11/20/2020 - JRagsdale Likes this wine: 86 Points
Weird and unenjoyable at first but finally smoothed out and was good after 3+ hours of being open in the bottle. I should have poured it into a decanter to speed things up. Overall, I think this is best enjoyed much younger after tasting many bottles both young and with bottle age.
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10/8/2020 - smcisaac Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pleasant but undistinguished cab. A little beyond peak?
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9/30/2020 - Stephen.Somm Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark fruits and pepper play on the nose. The wine is medium+ bodied, beautifully balanced, and dry. The palate features notes of blackberry, dark cherry, black currant, pencil shaving, oak, and tobacco. Hints of herbs on the long finish.
Still drinking well but I wouldn't wait much longer.
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8/10/2020 - bvanbower Likes this wine: 88 Points
Opened to cook with but after being open for a while it was drinkable.
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2/16/2020 - guzmana Likes this wine: 89 Points
Médium body and good price. Solid but definetly not super exciting.
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9/13/2019 - DbertCellar wrote: 89 Points
Better
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8/28/2019 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Fruits noirs, cassis et mures avec
de l'eucalyptus mais pas dominant.
Tanins charnus et finale longue
avec un peu de chauffe.
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8/11/2019 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 88 Points
Hits the QPR value button with nice dark cassis and berry fruits and decent balance, with just enough mint, mocha and tobacco notes to make it interesting, punches above average.
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6/28/2019 - joet626 wrote: 87 Points
Thin body, slightly "green" tasting
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4/5/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Private Preserve after Day 1
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: Vanilla slightly atop cherries with undertones of dill? Earth (poss) & leather with swirling/addt'l air
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses the BULK of its bite by the fairly LONG, VERY slightly bitterish, very, VERY slightly tangy finish to the firming, very, VERY fine tannins. // Day 2: Held BETTER than expected! :) Drink now, but I'm guessing with sufficient stuffing to last into EARLY '22, should you so choose. My EXC- given the QPR of this. 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Early Aug 2019's wine-searcher still shows this various places from $9.90-$12.54.]
Note: Also tasted 7/3, 9/8, & 12/13/17, + 4/22/2018
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3/11/2019 - nowine4u Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decent showing. Some nice rich dark fruit flavors.
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1/28/2019 - pfisher17 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Has higher hopes for this. Quaffable but not transcendent.
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12/30/2018 - DbertCellar wrote: 86 Points
A mixed bag. Some of the nice attributes of the last, but sharper notes.
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12/18/2018 - guzmana Likes this wine: 89 Points
Consistent with prior note. Decent Cab.
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12/11/2018 - r4Cali Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Strange, funk on the nose that was hard for me to overcome. Normally a pretty big fan of Chilean wines, but this one seemed a little harsh and unrefined. Didn't have unreasonable expectations for a sub $10 bottle, but this one didn't do it for me.
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11/3/2018 - pfisher17 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Needs lots of decanting
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9/23/2018 - pfisher17 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decant! Makes all the difference! A few hours opens this up.
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9/14/2018 - ziavino wrote: 89 Points
Crazy nose that takes time to blow off, borderline noxious, with smoked jalapeno pepper, dirty diaper, and vacuum dust. Blackberry, fig and black pepper commingle on the direct palate, with a slight tannic bite adding depth on the medium finish.
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5/20/2018 - Evjoker wrote: 88 Points
It's a little harsh but the taste is there. Some rose on the nose and then tart cherry gives way to sweet cherry. Dry but the tannins aren't that big.
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4/22/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: IRON, minerals, with notes of vanilla, cherries underneath, poss some pyrazines?
P: LM body; Nice, almost swtish frt met by a touch of firming astringency which QUITE mitigates by the START of the LONG (albeit very slightly faint) finish, only to OCCASIONALLY reappear from time to time. // Day 2 [having used Private Preserve]: Held nicely, + noted additional aromas (& flavors) of blk olives. Went well with left-over grilled pk chops. My VG/VG+, easily MORE *if* one takes into account the QPR of the $6.99 COSTCO "special" pd for it in late 2016. I can see this easily holding through '19, poss even the '20 WS predicted. 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Early Aug 2018's wine-searcher still shows this various places from $9-$17, & with one outlier @ $4.98!]
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3/24/2018 - Golf_Wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought only for cooking. I find a lot of good wines from Chile at $10 an below that works fantastically well. I used half and vacu-pumped and seal the other half. Sat in room temp for 5 days. Was going to pour it out but thought - maybe I'll try it.
Poured and sat in glass for 1 hour, while I prepped and grilled a filet mignon. Very dark wine, barely can see any light coming through the wine. Nose is great, blind I think I would have guessed, Piedmont, Cannubi 2006. Yes a great nose. Mint, eucalyptus, marzipan, sweet chocolate, plum, cherries, fig, raspberry, crushed blue berries, forrest right after a rain, blood/iron, plum sauce, pipe tobacco. Drinking pretty much as a good Piedmont as well. Acidity keep the tannin and oak in check. Drinking big, fresh/young. An austere wine, coffee, black currant, boysenberry, dark bitter chocolate, pepper, oak, prune. Just a little sweeter than I like and little angular but I think it will smooth out considering the acidity is still strong. If you like bigger wines I think you'd be happy with this one. I think you need a long decanter to enjoy this. I will not tell you were I bought it but will go back and pick up a case as midweek table wine for big foods.
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1/20/2018 - Josephd wrote: 80 Points
The cork was brittle, leaving little cork dust in the wine. First taste immediately after pour was sour and had a medicinal, eucalyptus smell. But wait! Give it a chance. Poured through vinturi, and it calmed down a lot. Still more acidic than I prefer. Nothing really to like about it. My wife poured her glass down the drain. I enjoy ménage e trois a lot more for even a dollar less. I will cook with this, but I see no reason to buy another bottle.
After reading notes of other reviewers, I agree that bell pepper stands out. I suppose the bell pepper is what does not appeal to me about this wine.
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12/13/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: The initial jolt of aromas DON'T endure, then becoming slightly closed; Earth slightly atop a melding of berries & vanilla with notes of pyrazines
P: LM, poss Med, body; Nice, almost swtish frt met by firming acidity with a VERY slight pucker & the barest hint of bitterness. All of this morphs into a fairly LONG (albeit very, VERY slightly faint) pleasant finish with occasional HINTS of bitterness & a touch of spice. A somewhat "off" bottle of this? [Perhaps just a *touch* of TCA?] 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Early Mar 2019's wine-searcher still shows this various places from $9.90-$12.54.]
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11/6/2017 - macaujames Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fantastic QPR at under 10 Euros! This wine is a no brainer. It has aromas of minerals, veggies hints, blackcurrants, smoke, plums. Its medium bodied broad shouldered, fresh, complex minerally black fruited palate has an oaky fruity middle and ends longish, savoury, refreshing as well as a bit tannic. 13.5%.
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9/16/2017 - Peter-Luke Likes this wine: 90 Points
Voici un excellent rapport qualité prix. Du fruit noir et une légère épicé, les tannins sont riches et bien intégrés . Très bien !
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9/8/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Decanted ~ 90 mins; Private Preserve after Day 1
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: Slightly closed; Some forest floor, ALMOST barnyd; Poss some berries with notes of pyrazines
P: Med, poss LM, body; Almost swtish frt NICELY balanced by acidic astringency which SLOWLY (& fairly seamlessly) evolves into a LONG, ult almost swtish finish. 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [As of late Feb '19, wine-searcher still shows various U.S. vendors from $10-$17.] // Day 4: Noting some choc aromas
Note: Also tasted on 4/22/2018
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8/30/2017 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Charismatic. Fun and fruity, but complex too, with pungent Indian spices and underbrush. Yummy dark berry fruit with substantial tannins. Astonishing value for $10.
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8/28/2017 - hoservin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi. Nose of black cherry, currant, mocha, forest floor and herbs. Black and red fruit, vanilla, coffee and ripe tannins on the palate. Medium to long finish. Full bodied. An excellent QPR. Served with grilled cheeseburgers.
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8/20/2017 - pfisher17 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decant for over 4 hrs. Smooth. Not over oaked. Nice.
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8/19/2017 - DbertCellar wrote: 90 Points
Blackberry, strawberry, minerality, butterscotch aromas. Soft and dry on the pallet.
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8/5/2017 - Sirmika wrote: 89 Points
Amazing wine for that price
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7/21/2017 - Boupboup Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent pour le prix...top 100...wow
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7/3/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Decanted for ≈10 min prior
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos." 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH; 50,000 cases imported.
N: ATTRACTIVE melange of cherries, minerals, vanilla, & pyrazines, the vanilla/cherries poss SLIGHTLY atop
P: Med, poss LM, body; Almost swtish frt with WONDERFULLY balancing acidity, which is shown by a very, VERY slightly puckerish mid-P that slowly, fairly seamlessly, pretty much resolves by the LONG, very slightly tangy finish. LOVE the Euro style & acidity of this INCREDIBLE value! Could WELL improve through the rest of '17, then drink NICELY into '20. (BTW, went VERY well with inexpensive, extra sharp Cheddar cheese.) 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [As of mid Apr '19, wine-searcher still shows various U.S. vendors from $10-$12.54.]
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6/27/2017 - wineracquet Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tough to beat the qpr on this cab. Nice dry well structured wine with cassis and plum flavors and a slight green pepper edge. I usually splash decant this to help bring the fruit flavors to the forefront. A steal for around $10.
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5/31/2017 - hllam wrote: 85 Points
taste average but cheap
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4/23/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 83 Points
WSET Diploma - South America (and a Tignanello!) (SF): Medium plus ruby color.
Medium intensity nose. Faint brett, faint rubbery reduction. Less prominent and riper pyrazines (bell peppers) than the carmenere (this has 15% merlot). Black fruit - indistinct blackcurrant. Hints of menthol and eucalyptus (alcohol and pyrazines).
Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol (feels 14% - correct), medium plus acid, medium plus tannins - grippy and chewy.
Slight impression of used oak - used French.
A bit more black fruit and less pyrazines than the carmenere. Not the best example of Chilean cab - would like more black fruit.
15% merlot
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4/22/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
C.S. 85% & Merlot 15% "...planted on soils derived from granite in different degrees of decomposition with extensive areas of moderate depths of red clay & little organic matter. 45% of the wine was aged in 1st-use FR oak barrels for 8 mos. 13.5% ABV, 4.50 g/L R.S., 3.45 g/L T.A., & 3.48 pH;" 50,000 cases imported.
N: Fairly closed; Smoke, earth?
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt on front met by a very slight pucker which TOTALLY resolves by the fairly LONG, very, VERY slightly astringent finish. Drinks WAY above the $6.79 I pd COSTCO for it! :) 90 pts WS & #42/Top 100 for '16 @ $13, 88 pts Good Cheap Vino, 86 Vinous (Raynolds), & 85 WA. [Late Feb 2020's wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $9.90 & $11.99.]
Addendum: Also tasted 7/3, 9/8, & 12/13/17, + 4/22/18 and 4/5/19.
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4/22/2017 - slywka7 wrote:
Aromas of bell pepper, black currant, earth and blackberry. Flavors of blackberry, black cherry, touch of plum and touch of earth. Finish echos the blackberry and black cherry theme for 25 seconds. I really can't get over how good this is for $10. Probably one of the all time great value wines I have ever had.
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3/22/2017 - cmmatthews wrote: 87 Points
Lots of green vegetal notes and minerality. I wouldn't call this fruit forward or bright in any way. It's a different, almost old world style of Cab and won't appeal to a lot of people who like big fruit bombs. For $10 though, a good value.
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2/7/2017 - pg_kolossi wrote: 86 Points
Montes classic series; Cab.Sauv. Actually is blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 85% – Merlot 15%. Matured in oak barrels for 8 months (45%). Tasting vivid dark red, ripe red fruits flavor; intense fruity notes like strawberries, red berries, little vanilla. Tannic, medium bodied. Value for money, elegant label.
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2/6/2017 - Muledog71 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Graphite, bell pepper and steers berry fruit on the nose. In fact , fruit took a backseat to the minerality and terroir coming through. Firm, but not overbearing tannins and a medium plus finish makes this a steal at 10$. However, the fruit never came to the forefront even on day two. A job well done but some might not take to this style of Cabernet.
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2/6/2017 - cheesaman Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very easy drinking, lots of dark fruit. Slightly tannic. A definite good buy at price point.
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1/29/2017 - wabi47 wrote: 87 Points
Good fruit and structure, beyond its price point; medium body and nicely lean and dry; more oak than I prefer
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1/25/2017 - mzmijewski wrote: 91 Points
Tobacco and oak on the nose. Great fruit and earthy on the tongue. Extremely dry and well balanced. Only $10.
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1/23/2017 - guzmana Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice berry and cherry notes with some spice. Light on the tannins but with decent balance. A bit on the fruity side but a good value
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1/21/2017 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 87 Points
A nose of some dark fruit and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied Cab, with black cherry, plum, caramel and spice on smooth finish, a very good value. www.winelx.com
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1/20/2017 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine: 87 Points
2nd bottle of this. Enjoyed it again but not quite as much as last time. Definitely a well-balanced wine with pleasant fruit, a smoky / earthy element and clean finish. Have two more, will probably drink them within a year.
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1/6/2017 - Keeping It Real wrote: 89 Points
A decent cab. Something about Chile... great QPR to say the least. You can fool anyone by saying this is $50.
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1/5/2017 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine: 89 Points
Forward nose of smoked meat and stewed berries. Full bodied, well structured wine with soft tannin, a bright acidity, mushroomy mid-palate, hint of tobacco and green bell pepper, and a long, dry finish. A really nice bottle overall and truly excellent for the price.
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12/29/2016 - JWH6 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Tried this wine as it made the Wine Spectator Top 100 list at #42. Should have known a $10 bottle of wine is never going to be a Top 100 wine. This may have the worst nose that I have ever experienced for a Cabernet, the taste was not bad, but I don't like drinking a wine when I have to hold my nose.
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12/26/2016 - tomoem Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very fresh up front flavors of sweet plums and blackberry. Mid palette is more peppery with black cherries and a velvety coating which softens the acidic cherries. This is quite well produced as to be able to hold back that cherry acid requires some viscous juice, which is most definitely in this wine. Thick and lush with a long finish. Clearly a great wine for under $ 10 !
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12/18/2016 - slywka7 wrote: 90 Points
Opened 45 minutes before drinking. Aromas of blackberry, fruit cake, melted chocolate and pepper. Lots going on here and these Chilean cabs have a distinctive element to them. Flavors of blackberry, chocolate, earth and boysenberry. Finish lasts about 25 seconds. This is incredible for only $10 bucks!
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12/17/2016 - Jobu wrote: 89 Points
Pretty good and hard to beat the price. I like that the green bell pepper flavor I find in most Chilean Cabs is there, but more in the background and not in your face like some. Allows the dark fruit and spice to lead.
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