Lovely Sonoma pinot noir. Aromas of dark cherry, cola, and just a hint of rose. On the palette, notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and what perceived as clove and burnt orange peel. Paired very well with seared duck breast, garlic green beans and noodles with wild mushrooms and thyme. Drinking well now; will wait a year to open my last bottle and see what it becomes. Not a WOW wine but certainly good quality ans worth having a few bottles on hand.
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I am not a big fan of American Pinot's but my wife is so we opened one of these. Very fruit forward which I generally don't go for but I was blown away by this wine. Didn't decant it but poured a small amount into two large glasses and let them sit for 45 minutes. Great wine.
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Seems closed off. Don’t know if it’s too young or too old but assume the latter. A nice wine overall, balanced, and very drinkable, but nothing special. No bouquet at all.
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This delivered immensely for us - the nose was somewhat subdued at first but after 1-2 hours (no decant) it fully emerged to reveal bright, fruit-forward notes of pomegranate, cherry, mulberry, and a hint of vanilla. This is followed by a big, round, and plump wine the mouth, super polished and soft texture, delivering candied red fruits (again, pomegranate being most distinct) complicated by notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, and assorted spices. The alcohol became noticeable at one point but then diminished back into the background. We really enjoyed this, and as others have noted, a solid value!
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Looks like these are really starting to trail off, now. Not much to offer at the pnp. After an hour it opens to its best self. Red fruit fllls out slightly, though there isn't much power or electricity left. It's a rather tame pinot at this point and somewhat devoid of any specific character. It's a nice wine, but not one I would buy again if this were its starting point. These used to drink at 94-95 and were great qpr a few years back. If you have them, drink them. Soon.
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Second bottle better than first from a few months ago (no particular reason why) - better integrated, more minerality present, heat from the alcohol wasn't as present.
Will emphasize again that this is a tremendous value.
Still going strong.....beautiful cherry fruit room temp brings this one to it's best showing. Touch of alcohol left......chalky minerality to it...love it.
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Want to be clear upfront: you should buy this wine if you have the opportunity.
Agree with many of the posts below re: cherry and baking spice flavors. All in all, it’s a very pleasant wine, mostly balanced, and surprisingly complex for the price point.
I thought it needed a 90+ minute decant to hit its stride, although the tannin structure really mellowed in hour 3. I was also drinking without pairing with a meal, where it would have been a great addition.
What prevents me from rating it higher was the alcohol content showing through a bit too much, and it faded a bit too fast. I hope to procure more so I can continue sampling over the next 2-3 years and see how it evolves.
I've got to agree with Mark1npt on this wine: it's a solid Pinot that has aged well and is incredibly well priced (under $40) - so no complaints here, whatsoever. The wine has deepened and hit its stride in the year and a half since I tasted it last (9/18 - 92 points), and it should be open for business for at least the next 2-3 years.
Cherry red in color; medium in body; nose of candied cherry, fresh herbs, and baking spices (e.g., anise, cloves). The ripe flavors are true to the Pinot grape (read: typicity), with the gloriously sweet but tart flavors of homemade strawberry-rhubarb tart (one of my favorites from childhood... yeah, sorry not sorry, go pour this wine in a test tube if you want a purely objective review), along with notes of sour cherry, raspberry, and caraway, followed by a finish that has stretched and deepened in the time since I tasted it last. Decant at least an hour, if not two. 14.5% alcohol. It's a bit too straightforward for an even higher score right now, but - price in mind - it's 94+, with upside.
P.S. I'd give this wine the ultimate compliment (in five words): I wish I had more!
This bottle an easy 94...it's getting better/deeper with age. Hard to believe this was $37/bottle. Drinks like a wine at twice the price. Great depth to the cherry fruit, rich, smooth with gentle spice. Great qpr.
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PnP, with a mélange of blueberry jam, pomegranate, and cinnamon on the nose and palate. Heavy-handed oak and light acidity also combine to make this gooey and sweet. This style of Pinot has its fans.
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A real nice pinot.....not a blockbuster, but great for the price point. Cherry and gentle spice with well integrated acidity, a little clove perhaps. Would buy again.
No formal notes. Aerated and decanted maybe 30 minutes. This wine is ready to drink. Dark and red fruits, smoke and spice. Delicious. Best over next 2 or 3 years. 91 points.
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Brief tasting during a walk around of California Wineries, Montreal.
This has everything, bright raspberries, cherries along with wild herbs, rosemary, thyme, spice a little nutmeg maybe as well, the finish is very well balanced and along with fine tannins give this a good length.
Black raspberry and dark cherry nose with developing smoke and soil. Medium structure, lots of fruit, short-ish palate with a slight black pepper heat to it.
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P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which quite resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the the dusty tannins. For now & the next 4 yrs. My EXC-. 96 pts WE @ $50, and 95 ea WA & Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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Full, round nose of dark bramble, redwood sous bois, lightly smoked game. Mouth is nice, lush. And then the finish just falls off a cliff. Just, disappears almost completely except an imperceptibly slight stale malo (?) and maybe a hint of sulfur. Perhaps a poorly stored bottle? Never experienced similar. Bought three bottles, almost bought a few cases based on RP 95 points. Glad I didn't. Wife likes it so maybe its a flaw in my head :) Maybe a weird dumb phase? Will report back on bottles 2 and 3. If this bottle is an outlier then it might be a stellar deal... via K&L
P: Med Body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by JUST a bit of astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the end of the LONG, very, VERY tangy, balanced finish with a bitter/swtness to the FEW, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & into '22. Well done in a riper style. My EXC-, but poss a wine primarily for lovers of high acidity. 96 pts WE @ $50, and 95 ea WA & Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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Great bouquet, spices, cinnamon. Super juicy pomegranate, extracted and long. Succulent acidity, slightly chewy (that's a good thing), very respectable concentration. A lot to like here, especially the muscularity; Tight and well focused. Like. A. Lot.
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N: Vanilla with poss some toast & notes of alch? Berries WAY underneath?
P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which slowly transitions to a LONG, balanced finish which is ULT pleasant, though with a mild bitter/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now & 3-4 yrs more, + could improve for 6 mos or so. My VG+/EXC-. 96 pts WE @ $50, and 95 ea WA & Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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This balanced yet powerful Pinot needs another year or two in order to hit its stride, but it has a decent amount of promise. Cherry red in color and medium in body, the wine offers pleasant aromas of dried strawberry and straw. Tastes of cranberry, raspberry, pomegranate, and baking spices, with a somewhat tart and brief finish. 14.5% alcohol.
I'm not sure I quite get the critical hype here, but I've never claimed to predict the future: this just needs time to come into its own. The price (under $45) deserves praise, since this is plainly well-made in a medium-bodied style. We'll see if it becomes exceptional, but it is quite promising. Drink in 2019 or later.
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9/1/2022 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Delicious! Mature.
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6/24/2022 - PrinceKyrris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely Sonoma pinot noir. Aromas of dark cherry, cola, and just a hint of rose. On the palette, notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and what perceived as clove and burnt orange peel. Paired very well with seared duck breast, garlic green beans and noodles with wild mushrooms and thyme. Drinking well now; will wait a year to open my last bottle and see what it becomes. Not a WOW wine but certainly good quality ans worth having a few bottles on hand.
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2/20/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous bottle, with perhaps slightly less focus.
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1/9/2022 - Edwin_3 wrote:
wasn't great
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12/26/2021 - Montana wrote: 94 Points
I am not a big fan of American Pinot's but my wife is so we opened one of these. Very fruit forward which I generally don't go for but I was blown away by this wine. Didn't decant it but poured a small amount into two large glasses and let them sit for 45 minutes. Great wine.
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9/26/2021 - leeroach80 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Seems closed off. Don’t know if it’s too young or too old but assume the latter. A nice wine overall, balanced, and very drinkable, but nothing special. No bouquet at all.
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6/1/2021 - Suede wrote: 90 Points
This is fading. Drink now, or better yet, yesterday.
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4/25/2021 - Apollo5710 wrote: 94 Points
This delivered immensely for us - the nose was somewhat subdued at first but after 1-2 hours (no decant) it fully emerged to reveal bright, fruit-forward notes of pomegranate, cherry, mulberry, and a hint of vanilla. This is followed by a big, round, and plump wine the mouth, super polished and soft texture, delivering candied red fruits (again, pomegranate being most distinct) complicated by notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, and assorted spices. The alcohol became noticeable at one point but then diminished back into the background. We really enjoyed this, and as others have noted, a solid value!
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4/4/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Looks like these are really starting to trail off, now. Not much to offer at the pnp. After an hour it opens to its best self. Red fruit fllls out slightly, though there isn't much power or electricity left. It's a rather tame pinot at this point and somewhat devoid of any specific character. It's a nice wine, but not one I would buy again if this were its starting point. These used to drink at 94-95 and were great qpr a few years back. If you have them, drink them. Soon.
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2/2/2021 - depdoc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aroma jumps from the glass, sour cherries, well balanced, long after taste.
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12/25/2020 - adciobanu Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very fruit forward and ripe with stewed fruit, and very smooth. Alcohol is a bit high and overpowering.
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11/5/2020 - Esmags7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second bottle better than first from a few months ago (no particular reason why) - better integrated, more minerality present, heat from the alcohol wasn't as present.
Will emphasize again that this is a tremendous value.
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10/30/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still going strong.....beautiful cherry fruit room temp brings this one to it's best showing. Touch of alcohol left......chalky minerality to it...love it.
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10/25/2020 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Delicious! A solid medium bodied, dark fruit, wine.
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9/13/2020 - SMZ wrote: 94 Points
As good as the other bottles
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8/5/2020 - Esmags7 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Want to be clear upfront: you should buy this wine if you have the opportunity.
Agree with many of the posts below re: cherry and baking spice flavors. All in all, it’s a very pleasant wine, mostly balanced, and surprisingly complex for the price point.
I thought it needed a 90+ minute decant to hit its stride, although the tannin structure really mellowed in hour 3. I was also drinking without pairing with a meal, where it would have been a great addition.
What prevents me from rating it higher was the alcohol content showing through a bit too much, and it faded a bit too fast. I hope to procure more so I can continue sampling over the next 2-3 years and see how it evolves.
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7/28/2020 - SMZ wrote: 94 Points
Same impressions as the last bottle
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5/31/2020 - pas.vino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent wine! Wish I had more!
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5/6/2020 - jlgnml wrote: 88 Points
pleasant
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4/14/2020 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
I've got to agree with Mark1npt on this wine: it's a solid Pinot that has aged well and is incredibly well priced (under $40) - so no complaints here, whatsoever. The wine has deepened and hit its stride in the year and a half since I tasted it last (9/18 - 92 points), and it should be open for business for at least the next 2-3 years.
Cherry red in color; medium in body; nose of candied cherry, fresh herbs, and baking spices (e.g., anise, cloves). The ripe flavors are true to the Pinot grape (read: typicity), with the gloriously sweet but tart flavors of homemade strawberry-rhubarb tart (one of my favorites from childhood... yeah, sorry not sorry, go pour this wine in a test tube if you want a purely objective review), along with notes of sour cherry, raspberry, and caraway, followed by a finish that has stretched and deepened in the time since I tasted it last. Decant at least an hour, if not two. 14.5% alcohol. It's a bit too straightforward for an even higher score right now, but - price in mind - it's 94+, with upside.
P.S. I'd give this wine the ultimate compliment (in five words): I wish I had more!
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3/25/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle an easy 94...it's getting better/deeper with age. Hard to believe this was $37/bottle. Drinks like a wine at twice the price. Great depth to the cherry fruit, rich, smooth with gentle spice. Great qpr.
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3/24/2020 - Jkuryak Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow delicious. Big flavorful Pinot!!
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2/24/2020 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 91 Points
No formal note, a very solid bottle, very smooth and balanced with fine fruit and underbrush along with a little spiciness mixed in.
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2/24/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasty ripe red cherry on the nose and silky palate with resolving tannins on the moderate finish.
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12/22/2019 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really nice basic pinot with strong fruit and smooth finish. Lots of cherry.
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11/30/2019 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking spectacularly well right now. Rich, red fruit, spicebox and acidic backbone. I was quite surprised by this bottle. Wish I had more of it.
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10/28/2019 - ziavino wrote: 89 Points
PnP, with a mélange of blueberry jam, pomegranate, and cinnamon on the nose and palate. Heavy-handed oak and light acidity also combine to make this gooey and sweet. This style of Pinot has its fans.
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8/1/2019 - Puligny33 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is terrific overflowing with black and blue fruits but not heavy in any way; genuinely balanced. Ready to drink and probably 5 years to go.
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7/25/2019 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
A real nice pinot.....not a blockbuster, but great for the price point. Cherry and gentle spice with well integrated acidity, a little clove perhaps. Would buy again.
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6/25/2019 - SMZ wrote: 94 Points
First bottle from this winery. Deep color and aroma. Rich and concentrated, with creamy flavors - stupendous
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6/19/2019 - Puligny33 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is lovely. Ready to drink, overflowing with fruit with adequate acidity. Probably 3-5 years of life left but no need to wait.
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6/14/2019 - Snowryeder Likes this wine:
Dark berries & spice. Drinking well. Enjoyable. Good value.
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6/8/2019 - newsguy1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
No formal notes. Aerated and decanted maybe 30 minutes. This wine is ready to drink. Dark and red fruits, smoke and spice. Delicious. Best over next 2 or 3 years. 91 points.
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5/9/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruit, floral. Good taste.
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4/23/2019 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brief tasting during a walk around of California Wineries, Montreal.
This has everything, bright raspberries, cherries along with wild herbs, rosemary, thyme, spice a little nutmeg maybe as well, the finish is very well balanced and along with fine tannins give this a good length.
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3/15/2019 - JefCon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black raspberry and dark cherry nose with developing smoke and soil. Medium structure, lots of fruit, short-ish palate with a slight black pepper heat to it.
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3/9/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Pinot Noirs (3-CA & 3-OR) (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Clones: 667, 777, 115, Pommard, uninoculated by yeast; Aged 11 mos in 100% FR oak (34% new); 14.5% ABV, 6.0 g/L T.A., & 3.52 pH; 1,500 cs
N: Closed, but seems ripe with notes of vanilla?
P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which quite resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the the dusty tannins. For now & the next 4 yrs. My EXC-. 96 pts WE @ $50, and 95 ea WA & Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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2/15/2019 - Ikesmith Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Full, round nose of dark bramble, redwood sous bois, lightly smoked game. Mouth is nice, lush. And then the finish just falls off a cliff. Just, disappears almost completely except an imperceptibly slight stale malo (?) and maybe a hint of sulfur. Perhaps a poorly stored bottle? Never experienced similar. Bought three bottles, almost bought a few cases based on RP 95 points. Glad I didn't. Wife likes it so maybe its a flaw in my head :)
Maybe a weird dumb phase? Will report back on bottles 2 and 3.
If this bottle is an outlier then it might be a stellar deal...
via K&L
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2/7/2019 - poppacork wrote: 89 Points
This is a robust dark fruited Pinot with a touch of cinnamon spice on the nose and palate.
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1/5/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 7 *shared* Reds] from 01/04/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Clones: 667, 777, 115, Pommard, uninoculated by yeast; Aged 11 mos in 100% FR oak (34% new); 14.5% ABV, 6.0 g/L T.A., & 3.52 pH; 1,500 cs
N: Fragrantly RIPE, dk frts, POSS blk rasps?
P: Med Body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by JUST a bit of astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the end of the LONG, very, VERY tangy, balanced finish with a bitter/swtness to the FEW, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & into '22. Well done in a riper style. My EXC-, but poss a wine primarily for lovers of high acidity. 96 pts WE @ $50, and 95 ea WA & Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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1/5/2019 - robmatic wrote: 93 Points
Great bouquet, spices, cinnamon. Super juicy pomegranate, extracted and long. Succulent acidity, slightly chewy (that's a good thing), very respectable concentration. A lot to like here, especially the muscularity; Tight and well focused. Like. A. Lot.
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11/17/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 4 *shared* bottles] from 11/16/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Clones: 667, 777, 115, Pommard, uninoculated by yeast; Aged 11 mos in 100% FR oak (34% new); 14.5% ABV, 6.0 g/L T.A., & 3.52 pH; 1,500 cs
N: Vanilla with poss some toast & notes of alch? Berries WAY underneath?
P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which slowly transitions to a LONG, balanced finish which is ULT pleasant, though with a mild bitter/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now & 3-4 yrs more, + could improve for 6 mos or so. My VG+/EXC-. 96 pts WE @ $50, and 95 ea WA & Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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9/13/2018 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This balanced yet powerful Pinot needs another year or two in order to hit its stride, but it has a decent amount of promise. Cherry red in color and medium in body, the wine offers pleasant aromas of dried strawberry and straw. Tastes of cranberry, raspberry, pomegranate, and baking spices, with a somewhat tart and brief finish. 14.5% alcohol.
I'm not sure I quite get the critical hype here, but I've never claimed to predict the future: this just needs time to come into its own. The price (under $45) deserves praise, since this is plainly well-made in a medium-bodied style. We'll see if it becomes exceptional, but it is quite promising. Drink in 2019 or later.
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