This wine won a Bordeaux varietal tasting. While a few tasters thought the wine was a bit hot, they also thought it was well balanced with a silky texture. It was difficult to see that this wine was 16 years old - it shows no signs of age.
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Completely oxidized. I should just give this a really low score, because B&H put synthetic corks in these that are known to give trouble. Not drinkable. Apparently this is good wine when it is not spoiled.
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Doesn't appear to have faded. Still lots of vibrant fresh berry fruit flavour. Possibly even better on day 2. We thought it showed very typical Merlot characteristics.
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This is drinking beautifully now and seems to have a good bit of life left. Rich and supple blackberry and blueberry fruit, with floral and herbal undertones. Still has a bit of soft tannins and enough acidity to give it structure. Just a great example of what California Merlot can be.
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3 hour decant - really glad I did this! Deep purple - no signs of bricking. Nicely balanced. Lots of jam and berries on the nose - with some tobacco. Burst of fruit with receded tannins. The finish is full of cream and butterscotch. Nice length. Really at its peak - probably will give people pleasure (if properly stored) for a couple of years to come.
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purchased bottle in 2004. 3 hours decant. dark purple no bricking, bubblegum. cherries, slight cedar, slight oak, very fruit forward, with smooth tannins , and a little heat . this is certainly at its peak , and i cannot see getting any better . Delicious !!
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Decanted 1 hour. Will serve w/ grilled pork ribs. Nose of berries, "cigar box," and tobacco. Across the palate tannins are integrated with a good balance and mouthfeel. No heat; seems to open up with more time in the glass. Score improved to 91. . .
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WIML92,WA92-94,NOWS Tasted March 26, 2005 at an offline so brief comments only. Opened and served immediately in Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glasses. Dark purple, almost inky in color but clear at the edges (who can see through the center of this?). Nose of carmalized brown sugar, squished plums and tiny bit of bell pepper fighting its way through this fruit bomb. Flavors of dark, chocolate covered cherries, European chocolates and jammy black currants. Good juice, well made and feel free to sit on this one for five plus years if it suits you.
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Ecclectic Easter Tasting at Asti Trattoria (Asti Trattoria): Superb wine. Dark purple color. Eucalyptus infused bouquet that also gave off tobacco, cigar box smells and dark chocolate. Excellent silky texture and if it hadn't ben for the DRC, this would have been my WOTN. Could be mistaken for one of the great "New-World Style" Right-Bank Bordeaux such as Monbousquet.
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($42) 15.6% alcohol. Beautiful nose on this wine - like macerated black berries and raspberries, the seeds and all. The palate is good, but not as captivating as the nose with a little more heat from the alcohol than is ideal. Full-bodied, sweet red berry fruit and a hard-edged side that suggests this may benefit from some more time.
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8/18/2015 - doctornoah wrote: flawed
Corked. Almost thankful - it was hot and sweet underneath and I would've had to drink it otherwise
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6/4/2015 - berkeleywinedog Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine won a Bordeaux varietal tasting. While a few tasters thought the wine was a bit hot, they also thought it was well balanced with a silky texture. It was difficult to see that this wine was 16 years old - it shows no signs of age.
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3/1/2015 - Quarked wrote: flawed
Completely oxidized. I should just give this a really low score, because B&H put synthetic corks in these that are known to give trouble. Not drinkable. Apparently this is good wine when it is not spoiled.
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8/13/2014 - zacsmith Likes this wine: 92 Points
Doesn't appear to have faded. Still lots of vibrant fresh berry fruit flavour. Possibly even better on day 2. We thought it showed very typical Merlot characteristics.
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5/1/2012 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is drinking beautifully now and seems to have a good bit of life left. Rich and supple blackberry and blueberry fruit, with floral and herbal undertones. Still has a bit of soft tannins and enough acidity to give it structure. Just a great example of what California Merlot can be.
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11/20/2011 - nospeel wrote: 92 Points
3 hour decant - really glad I did this! Deep purple - no signs of bricking. Nicely balanced. Lots of jam and berries on the nose - with some tobacco. Burst of fruit with receded tannins. The finish is full of cream and butterscotch. Nice length. Really at its peak - probably will give people pleasure (if properly stored) for a couple of years to come.
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2/27/2011 - Mr France wrote: 92 Points
Nose was not very strong, but overall very well balanced and delicious. Still drinking well.
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1/29/2010 - oldervines wrote: 92 Points
purchased bottle in 2004. 3 hours decant. dark purple no bricking, bubblegum. cherries, slight cedar, slight oak, very fruit forward, with smooth tannins , and a little heat . this is certainly at its peak , and i cannot see getting any better . Delicious !!
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2/4/2007 - llink wrote:
Super Bowl 2007. Well integrated, tannins are smooth and pleasant. This wine is ready to go today, but should hold together for a while.
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10/1/2005 - Blue Oval wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Will serve w/ grilled pork ribs. Nose of berries, "cigar box," and tobacco. Across the palate tannins are integrated with a good balance and mouthfeel. No heat; seems to open up with more time in the glass. Score improved to 91. . .
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3/26/2005 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92,WA92-94,NOWS
Tasted March 26, 2005 at an offline so brief comments only. Opened and served immediately in Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glasses. Dark purple, almost inky in color but clear at the edges (who can see through the center of this?). Nose of carmalized brown sugar, squished plums and tiny bit of bell pepper fighting its way through this fruit bomb. Flavors of dark, chocolate covered cherries, European chocolates and jammy black currants. Good juice, well made and feel free to sit on this one for five plus years if it suits you.
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3/26/2005 - Winetex wrote: 92 Points
Ecclectic Easter Tasting at Asti Trattoria II (Asti Trattoria, Austin, Texas): This was one big, bad wine. I was not expecting the power out of this wine but it delivered. Ultra concentrated with very defined flavors. It may have lacked subtlety but made up for it in sheer power. Quite good.
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3/26/2005 - steffenpelz wrote: 92 Points
Ecclectic Easter Tasting at Asti Trattoria (Asti Trattoria): Superb wine. Dark purple color. Eucalyptus infused bouquet that also gave off tobacco, cigar box smells and dark chocolate. Excellent silky texture and if it hadn't ben for the DRC, this would have been my WOTN. Could be mistaken for one of the great "New-World Style" Right-Bank Bordeaux such as Monbousquet.
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12/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($42) 15.6% alcohol. Beautiful nose on this wine - like macerated black berries and raspberries, the seeds and all. The palate is good, but not as captivating as the nose with a little more heat from the alcohol than is ideal. Full-bodied, sweet red berry fruit and a hard-edged side that suggests this may benefit from some more time.
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