I am afraid that this one is past its prime. If you have not had it yet, open quick. I liked it much more about 2 years ago when I first tried it. Decent for the price.
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Opened up after about 1 hour to a blackberry nose, slightly sour cherries on the tongue, and a light finish. Very good Napa red blend, works well on its own or would pair well with lighter meats (duck, pork.) Wish I had bought more. This has really turned out to be an outstanding value.
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Purple garnet color. Right now there are more wood and earth elements than fruit aromas. Wood mulch, roasted peppers, saddle leather, currants, dill. Not much weight on the palate. Soft but becoming edged acidic cherry. Doesn't impress on the finish. Not quite as good as I remember before, but a reliable QPR value.
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We opened this bottle to have with some ham left over from thanksgiving. For the price it is an outstanding wine. This would make a good every day claret.
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We picked this up at the winery and let it sit in the cellar for awhile and forgot where it came from. We opened it for a week night dinner not expceting much but we were both pleasantly surprised. Allowed to breath in the decanter for 1 hr. Both felt it was very herbal / floral on the nose with a little alcohol heat. My wife really loved the nose and felt it took her back to her herb garden. Could have been a little fuller structured and the finish seemed thin and dropped out a little early. Black cherry and a little cocoa. We really enjoyed it with a seared rib steak, which paired well....seems to be a good beef wine. Will buy again.
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mostly cab, but i'm not sure the exact make-up of the wine. dark ruby color with a dark, curranty, plummy nose. very smooth tannins, the wine just glides across the palate. lots of currants, covered in mocha and medium oak. the oak really comes out on the finish though, and the wine thins out a bit. still a very enjoyable wine. 14.2% alcohol.
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Seemed boring and upright at first, like a bad 1st date. Warmed upand showed its good body smooth fruit and, eventually the spicy. Side-just a hint. No love affair, but I would hang out again.
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14.2% alcohol. deep dark purple garnet color, almost inky. dark plum, berries, cocoa, mineral and multivitamin notes, with hins of earth and graham cracker crust. full bodied with a lush mouthfeel. well balanced ripe fruit and tannins that end with a long dry finish.
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Nice color, dark ruby, purple at the core. Somewhat muted nose. Cassis, vanilla and some herbs. Medium body, medium acidity, medium finish. Overall a good wine. Could use a little more structure.
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Label says Claret based on Bordeaux blend. Think right bank. Tastes like a Cabernet-Merlot blend. Very young. It is deep dark purple ruby in color. Legs on the swirl. Nose has some chreries and plums on the nose. A tad of alcohol as well. Bright red fruit and alcohol on the initial taste. No real weight for this wine which is a flaw. I don't know that this will get better with age. Good qpr for $16. 89 pts.
Tasdted again after 4 nights vacuvined in the fridge. It is much better now. It has taken on some weight but still has a bunch of red berry fruit. Still a little heat but great value. I expeccted this wine would fall apart but it didn't. 89+ pts.
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Purchased for $14. Although lacking distinctinveness, this is a a nice even cab blend, with considerable gusto on the finish. Ideal pairing would be burgers off the grill.
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Still the best red wine that I've had with cheese. Great fruit, body, and finish - likely my favorite claret, and at the right price this can be a great daily quaffer.
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10/25/2021 - leachriscellar wrote: 80 Points
Pretty much gone, a wisp of what was there.
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2/13/2013 - Flamemark Likes this wine: 87 Points
Decanted and let breathe for a bit. Very dark in color, juicy fruit favors, slightly acidic.
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6/22/2012 - cardinalfanrc wrote: 85 Points
Slightly above average table wine. Not great with pasta and sausage. Better after opened up. Buy on sale.
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1/6/2012 - mklasing wrote: 84 Points
I am afraid that this one is past its prime. If you have not had it yet, open quick. I liked it much more about 2 years ago when I first tried it. Decent for the price.
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9/28/2009 - SFDoug wrote: 90 Points
Opened up after about 1 hour to a blackberry nose, slightly sour cherries on the tongue, and a light finish. Very good Napa red blend, works well on its own or would pair well with lighter meats (duck, pork.) Wish I had bought more. This has really turned out to be an outstanding value.
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8/7/2009 - MindMuse wrote: 86 Points
Purple garnet color. Right now there are more wood and earth elements than fruit aromas. Wood mulch, roasted peppers, saddle leather, currants, dill. Not much weight on the palate. Soft but becoming edged acidic cherry. Doesn't impress on the finish. Not quite as good as I remember before, but a reliable QPR value.
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2/8/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 86 Points
A bit tannic and tight right now. Nothing remarkable here.
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12/3/2008 - Jim and Patricia wrote:
We opened this bottle to have with some ham left over from thanksgiving. For the price it is an outstanding wine. This would make a good every day claret.
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11/3/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 85 Points
Bright Cherry and red fruits on the nose. Very simple wine, finish is short and its not very interesting.
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10/19/2008 - JDB wrote:
Suz
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10/19/2008 - JDB wrote: 90 Points
Took in town
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10/19/2008 - JDB wrote: 90 Points
for the price !!!! A steal
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3/13/2008 - Deplesis wrote: 86 Points
We picked this up at the winery and let it sit in the cellar for awhile and forgot where it came from. We opened it for a week night dinner not expceting much but we were both pleasantly surprised. Allowed to breath in the decanter for 1 hr. Both felt it was very herbal / floral on the nose with a little alcohol heat. My wife really loved the nose and felt it took her back to her herb garden. Could have been a little fuller structured and the finish seemed thin and dropped out a little early. Black cherry and a little cocoa. We really enjoyed it with a seared rib steak, which paired well....seems to be a good beef wine. Will buy again.
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2/23/2008 - jonesj22 wrote: 87 Points
Dark fruits, smooth, soft tannins, a bit mushroom earth on the finish and black licorice.
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1/27/2008 - jbrater wrote: 90 Points
Green pepper (?), red raspberry, coffee/chocolate and a light black pepper taste. A lush wine. Great QPR at $19.99--drinks bigger than the tag.
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1/26/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
Binny's winter warm up (Binny's Highland Park, highland park IL): nose: good tart nose of cranberry, cherry, and dark chocolate
taste: very nice and smooth. cranberry, cherry, and chocolate
overall: very good wine. nice body and balance with a good quality finish
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1/15/2008 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 86 Points
mostly cab, but i'm not sure the exact make-up of the wine. dark ruby color with a dark, curranty, plummy nose. very smooth tannins, the wine just glides across the palate. lots of currants, covered in mocha and medium oak. the oak really comes out on the finish though, and the wine thins out a bit. still a very enjoyable wine. 14.2% alcohol.
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1/8/2008 - celtic67 wrote: 90 Points
Dark garnet color. Not a lot of nose on this one. Plums, cocoa, & mineral notes. Great chalky mouthfeel. Solid value.
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12/19/2007 - poptart_nyc wrote: 87 Points
Seemed boring and upright at first, like a bad 1st date. Warmed upand showed its good body smooth fruit and, eventually the spicy. Side-just a hint. No love affair, but I would hang out again.
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12/2/2007 - wcacern wrote: 89 Points
14.2% alcohol. deep dark purple garnet color, almost inky. dark plum, berries, cocoa, mineral and multivitamin notes, with hins of earth and graham cracker crust. full bodied with a lush mouthfeel. well balanced ripe fruit and tannins that end with a long dry finish.
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11/1/2007 - incident wrote: 88 Points
Nice color, dark ruby, purple at the core. Somewhat muted nose. Cassis, vanilla and some herbs. Medium body, medium acidity, medium finish. Overall a good wine. Could use a little more structure.
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10/25/2007 - cobystilp wrote: 89 Points
Label says Claret based on Bordeaux blend. Think right bank. Tastes like a Cabernet-Merlot blend. Very young. It is deep dark purple ruby in color. Legs on the swirl. Nose has some chreries and plums on the nose. A tad of alcohol as well. Bright red fruit and alcohol on the initial taste. No real weight for this wine which is a flaw. I don't know that this will get better with age. Good qpr for $16. 89 pts.
Tasdted again after 4 nights vacuvined in the fridge. It is much better now. It has taken on some weight but still has a bunch of red berry fruit. Still a little heat but great value. I expeccted this wine would fall apart but it didn't. 89+ pts.
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7/8/2007 - out-and-about wrote: 85 Points
okay, nothing special
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7/6/2007 - otisabdul wrote: 87 Points
Purchased for $14. Although lacking distinctinveness, this is a a nice even cab blend, with considerable gusto on the finish. Ideal pairing would be burgers off the grill.
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6/14/2007 - Todd French wrote: 90 Points
Still the best red wine that I've had with cheese. Great fruit, body, and finish - likely my favorite claret, and at the right price this can be a great daily quaffer.
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