Some sedimentation in the bottle. Still fresh tasting. Plummy. Acidity and tannin are nicely softened and in balance. Three more years of proper storage have brought this to a nice place. Very good to excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Après l'avoir ouvert 2min, le vin a une acidité désagréable. Il a un joli nez fruité prometteur. Mais le gout n'est pas top. Cette acidité est toujours présente, semble presque une caractéristique du vin. 30 min plus tard, il s’est un peu ouvert, mais cette acidité est toujours présente. Et au gout, l'acidité se dissipe légèrement, mais pas suffisamment. D'où sa note, 79. Je ne rachèterai pas ce vin.
Not decanted. Tart and tannic, with an emphasis on the tart. Restrained nose. Decent, a rating of "good." Consumed half the bottle, the other half was forgotten in the office wineref for a week. At that point, much better - softer, plummier; still food-friendly but the aromatics were more plush. Upgrade to "very good". Strongly recommend consuming in the course of an extended unhurried meal, or lacking that a decanting, or another 3-4 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful deep ruby color. Juicy nose, silky mouthfeel, and an almost meaty tomato flavor. Good acidity, pleasantly tannic with some licorice on the finish. A little difficult to approach at first but with time it all came together really nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is so much better than my last bottle. Not as new-world-ish and oaky as before; this really has come together. Bright black cherry, damp earth, minerals, herbs all wrapped in a cloak of superbly balanced acids. The Cab Franc gives this a bit of a Loire red character, but without the green stalky character that can sometimes creep in. Serious stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and consumed over dinner. The nose has an earthy component along with some plum and cherry. Pretty well balanced...an easy drinker. This paired well with italian food...a shorter finish though. Overall a nice QPR from garagiste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
heard this was mostly cabernet franc with some sangiovese. wild berries and vanilla on the nose. ripe, sour cherries with some tobacco, spice and toast on the palate. very smooth and delicious, especially for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a value for the price. To me this blends new and old world wine very well. Lots of fruit for an ITL wine without heavy tannins or a rough finish (my Italian wine experience to date has been in the 'value' bin so I was impressed with this).
Acidity on the finish was refreshing, so this is what 'balance' is? (Coming from a guy who drinks big CA syrah and zins primarily).
At $12 this is a great value, I enjoyed it by itself but the acidity tells me it's good with food too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep red colour, rosette rim. Noticeable aroma of turkey gravy; beets; mulch; wild boar. Some fruit in flavour, dried cherries, not much mid palate or finish; definite tannin structure, will age well and this wine possesses potential for future development. Try again in two-three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I found this quite nice. A bit new-world with the ripe fruit and healthy oak, but the acids were sharp and deliniating with some hints of damp earth. The cab franc gives it an interesting tabacco quality and the bright sangio fruit provides liveliness. Quite complex for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty decent with spagetti and meat sauce. Not complex, but flavorful and smooth. Update: Gained complexity and texture on day 2; added 2 pts. Suggest at least a 60-min decant at this stage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an enticing little Bolgheri concoction of cabernet franc with a little splash of sangiovese to keep things interesting. Spicy red berries are found on the nose, along with traces of tobacco leaf. Witty and playful in the mouth, sporting a nice interplay of blackberry fruit and wet earth, sound acidity, and a medium length finish. Though the cab franc gives the wine a certain earthy, Bordeaux element, the wine could never be mistaken for anything but a very pleasing Italian red on a beautiful summer night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great QPR. Dark purple color yet not too heavy. It has a odd nose. I wasn't too happy with that. It makes up for a bad nose with the remarkable pallete. Smooth, balanced. Good acidity to keep it light. It has great fresh fruit. I will definitely buy more of this wine if I see it cheap. Thanks Garagiste!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Garagiste. I believe this is predominately cab franc with a splash of sangiovese. Initially displayed a very plumy nose, combined with touches of mineral and a bit of wet earth, indeed almost Bordeaux esque. I liked the wines tobacco profile, both in bouquet and in flavor, adding additional facets to the bright red fruit. The sangiovese provides a nice, pleasing touch of acidity to keep things moving along. A unique blend and worth buying again at some point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted this after a 2005 Amon Ra Shiraz and gave my palate whiplash... The nose was a bit funky, with earthy and woodsy aromas that were almost musky. The flavors were earthy and rustic, with currant and plum fruit. Very well balanced and a smooth drinker. We drank this on it's own, but the next time I would have it with lasagne or italian sausage. This wine is a great value, and another great recommendation from Garagiste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/2/2015 - zovizule Likes this wine:
Another nice bottle. Still good body and medium dark fruit to nicely balance the acidity. Drinking great, excellent value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2012 - Nico P. wrote:
Some sedimentation in the bottle. Still fresh tasting. Plummy. Acidity and tannin are nicely softened and in balance. Three more years of proper storage have brought this to a nice place. Very good to excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2012 - rdewolff wrote: 79 Points
Après l'avoir ouvert 2min, le vin a une acidité désagréable. Il a un joli nez fruité prometteur. Mais le gout n'est pas top. Cette acidité est toujours présente, semble presque une caractéristique du vin.
30 min plus tard, il s’est un peu ouvert, mais cette acidité est toujours présente. Et au gout, l'acidité se dissipe légèrement, mais pas suffisamment. D'où sa note, 79. Je ne rachèterai pas ce vin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/9/2012 - JSHinson wrote: 90 Points
Tart, bright sour cherry, with leather and sand on the back palette. Pretty wine. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
Ok
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 87 Points
Bit sweet but good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
Ok
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 86 Points
Very sweet, cloying, decent not great
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2009 - Nico P. wrote:
Not decanted. Tart and tannic, with an emphasis on the tart. Restrained nose. Decent, a rating of "good." Consumed half the bottle, the other half was forgotten in the office wineref for a week. At that point, much better - softer, plummier; still food-friendly but the aromatics were more plush. Upgrade to "very good". Strongly recommend consuming in the course of an extended unhurried meal, or lacking that a decanting, or another 3-4 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2008 - HRT wrote:
Deep ruby color. Smell of sweet red fruit. Smooth, well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2008 - HRT wrote:
Deep ruby color. Scents of earth. Well balanced but acidity is fairly prominent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2008 - HRT wrote:
Dark pomegranate color. Scents of earth and alcohol. Well balanced with tannins and acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2008 - HRT wrote:
Deep garnet color. Scents of sweet cherries and currants. Well balanced but not too complex. The 2004 is better than the 2003.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2008 - HRT wrote:
Deep garnet color. Scents of sweet cherries, currants. Well balanced with sweet tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2008 - valecnik wrote: 88 Points
Beautiful deep ruby color. Juicy nose, silky mouthfeel, and an almost meaty tomato flavor. Good acidity, pleasantly tannic with some licorice on the finish. A little difficult to approach at first but with time it all came together really nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2008 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
This is so much better than my last bottle. Not as new-world-ish and oaky as before; this really has come together. Bright black cherry, damp earth, minerals, herbs all wrapped in a cloak of superbly balanced acids. The Cab Franc gives this a bit of a Loire red character, but without the green stalky character that can sometimes creep in. Serious stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 86 Points
Decanted and consumed over dinner. The nose has an earthy component along with some plum and cherry. Pretty well balanced...an easy drinker. This paired well with italian food...a shorter finish though. Overall a nice QPR from garagiste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2008 - Magnolian wrote: 87 Points
Simple, flavorful, rustic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2008 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 Points
heard this was mostly cabernet franc with some sangiovese. wild berries and vanilla on the nose. ripe, sour cherries with some tobacco, spice and toast on the palate. very smooth and delicious, especially for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2007 - MBrown wrote: 90 Points
What a value for the price. To me this blends new and old world wine very well. Lots of fruit for an ITL wine without heavy tannins or a rough finish (my Italian wine experience to date has been in the 'value' bin so I was impressed with this).
Acidity on the finish was refreshing, so this is what 'balance' is? (Coming from a guy who drinks big CA syrah and zins primarily).
At $12 this is a great value, I enjoyed it by itself but the acidity tells me it's good with food too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2007 - queneau wrote: 88 Points
Deep red colour, rosette rim. Noticeable aroma of turkey gravy; beets; mulch; wild boar. Some fruit in flavour, dried cherries, not much mid palate or finish; definite tannin structure, will age well and this wine possesses potential for future development. Try again in two-three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2007 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
I found this quite nice. A bit new-world with the ripe fruit and healthy oak, but the acids were sharp and deliniating with some hints of damp earth. The cab franc gives it an interesting tabacco quality and the bright sangio fruit provides liveliness. Quite complex for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2007 - jim dixon wrote: 88 Points
Woodsy it is. Hoping it will pick up nuance and complexity with air.
After defrosting from the freezer: fig newton on the nose and palate. Not bad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2007 - Magnolian wrote: 88 Points
Pretty decent with spagetti and meat sauce. Not complex, but flavorful and smooth.
Update: Gained complexity and texture on day 2; added 2 pts. Suggest at least a 60-min decant at this stage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2007 - thebonnydooner wrote: 86 Points
Drank fairly quickly, very pleasant, but did not see much in this worthy of detailed discussion.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2007 - Dale M wrote: 89 Points
This is an enticing little Bolgheri concoction of cabernet franc with a little splash of sangiovese to keep things interesting. Spicy red berries are found on the nose, along with traces of tobacco leaf. Witty and playful in the mouth, sporting a nice interplay of blackberry fruit and wet earth, sound acidity, and a medium length finish. Though the cab franc gives the wine a certain earthy, Bordeaux element, the wine could never be mistaken for anything but a very pleasing Italian red on a beautiful summer night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2007 - cobystilp wrote: 89 Points
Great QPR. Dark purple color yet not too heavy. It has a odd nose. I wasn't too happy with that. It makes up for a bad nose with the remarkable pallete. Smooth, balanced. Good acidity to keep it light. It has great fresh fruit. I will definitely buy more of this wine if I see it cheap. Thanks Garagiste!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2007 - Dale M wrote: 88 Points
From Garagiste. I believe this is predominately cab franc with a splash of sangiovese. Initially displayed a very plumy nose, combined with touches of mineral and a bit of wet earth, indeed almost Bordeaux esque. I liked the wines tobacco profile, both in bouquet and in flavor, adding additional facets to the bright red fruit. The sangiovese provides a nice, pleasing touch of acidity to keep things moving along. A unique blend and worth buying again at some point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2007 - mstrickland wrote: 86 Points
Paid $18 which is overpriced for this wine. Good, simple, and not very memorable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2007 - last chance wrote: 88 Points
Tasted this after a 2005 Amon Ra Shiraz and gave my palate whiplash... The nose was a bit funky, with earthy and woodsy aromas that were almost musky. The flavors were earthy and rustic, with currant and plum fruit. Very well balanced and a smooth drinker. We drank this on it's own, but the next time I would have it with lasagne or italian sausage. This wine is a great value, and another great recommendation from Garagiste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment