Finally became drinkable. Had on in 2007 and another around 2014. Both were so tannic I put them down the drain. Decanted six hours to soften it up. Strong dark fruit flavors. Not cloudy after al these years. Won't go looking for more. If you have it, either do a long decant of hold for several years. This is a biggie!
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Beautiful nose of creosote, charred oak, vanilla, black currant and tomato vine. Medium-full bodied with sweet black cherries baked with rosemary and thyme as well as black currant, boysenberry jam, cocoa powder and charred French oak. Still delicious, this is now toward the end of its prime drinking window, but you don't need to be in a rush to drink. I have 2 more bottles and will wait at least a year for the next. Absolutely a joy to drink! Drink now-2027 94
Tatiana says it seems incredibly youthful. 96 (why do I keep her around?!?!?!? lol)
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A bit of toasty french oak and good cassis on the nose. Dark cherries, black fruits and sweet herbs add to a complex, mature, layered finish. Surprisingly rich - giving some who tasted this blind the impression of Napa cabernet. A treat of a discovery!
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As always, this wine is fabulous! Fantastic nose of charred wood, black currants and cherries as well as grilled herb switches. Medium-bodied with very high quality tannin and bright acidity, this is fantastic at the table and great by itself. It is certainly fully mature and may be starting to lose a little concentration and sweetness. Drink now-2023. 92.
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Fantastic nose of Cabernet Sauvignon. Loaded with copious quantities of black currant, dark chocolate and French roast coffee. Rich and full-bodied and more tannic than I remember with black currant, milk chocolate, a bit of oak, spearmint and spice. Perhaps this is drying out slightly, but still a beauty! This has now reach full maturity and is unlikely to gain any more complexity with additional time in bottle. Drink Now-2022 91
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Taking awhile to come around, but is showing a beautiful nose of spring flowers, black fruits, creosote, new wood, mint and spice. Medium-full bodied with a fantastic texture. The tannin just envelopes the mouth and the acidity provides a mouth-watering lift to the finish. This is now fully mature, but shows absolutely no signs of falling off and may indeed continue to develop for several more years and last 10. Drink 2018-2025+ 93
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fantastic nose of creosote and liquefied rock/mineral scents. Asphalt. very Graves-like. Black currant, charred wood and oak cask. Full-bodied and quite dense. This bottle needed some time to open in decanter, but nonetheless is showing hints of oxidation. That said, it is also still quite dense and tannic, with good acidity. Minus the oxidation, I would say this may need another year or two to even reach its peak, but the obvious oxidative notes give me pause. Not as fresh as the last two bottles tasted in 2015 and 2016 (given 94 and 94+), hopefully this is simply a slightly off bottle. Very, very old Bordeaux-like. 90 df 8.9
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This wine takes at least a full hour to open in the decanter. Tight at first, it now displays sweet mint and black currant on the nose as well as plenty of new French oak. Still very dark in color, this wine is dense and a Little stern. Really solid, but the tannins are of very high quality. They just need another few years to soften. Sweet red and black currants, new oak, spice. Delicious. Tastes as if it NEEDS another 2-3 years and should go another 10 after that. Drink 2018-2028. 94+ df 9.3
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Disappointed. Nose is very inviting with its earthiness but, upon taste, kind of flat where I can't pick anything out. I decanted for an hour but spparently that didn't help. Same results on day 2 and 3. For the price, better options out there.
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Still vibrant with aromas of cherry. Deep purple color with nice legs. Stronger on the attack and midpalate with cherry and tobacco flavors with a hint of vanilla. Perfect acidity and reasonably long finish.
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Kleur: Diep opaak donker rood Aroma / bouquet: Zwaar en krachtig bouquet, donker fruit, bramen, kersen. Aards, champignons en truffel. Laurier, kruidkoek, zacht-zoete drop. Smaak / Afdronk: Smaakbom. Dik-sappige powerwijn met een uitgesproken frisse zuurgraad, krachtige en mooi gerijpte tannines. Indrukwekkend lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Indrukwekkende en relatief betaalbare Supertuscan. Powerwijn met groot rijpingspotentieel. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 92/100
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Color: Deep opaque dark red Aroma / bouquet: Heavy and powerful bouquet, dark fruit, blackberries, cherries. Earthy, mushrooms and truffles. Laurel, gingerbread, soft-sweet drop Taste / Finish:. Smaakbom. Thick juicy power wine with pronounced fresh acidity, powerful and beautiful ripened tannins. . Impressively long finish General / potential: Impressive and relatively affordable Super Tuscan. Power wines with great aging potential. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 17 + General / potential: 8 = 92/100
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James Suckling/Zachy's Super Tuscany Tasting (City Winery (Varick Street in NYC)): Always intimidating to write a note on something that Paul S has commented on, but here goes - this was really much too young - was surprised to learn this was a 2004 as it came across as much younger. The tannins were still strong, get a touch of cherry, some spice, nice flavors. This was one of Mike's favorites.
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Visit to Castello di Monsanto (Castello di Monsanto, Chianti, Tuscany): Another rarity - a 100% Cabernet from the heart of the Chianti region. I thought this was just okay. The nose flattered to deceived - it was fruity, but not new worldly way - more like a Super-Tuscan to my mind, with woody herbs, meat, leather and shades of undergrowth undergirding its expressive tones of red berries, plums and darker cassis fruit. With a bit of time in the glass, a nice peppery note, some smoky tones and even a floral component started emerging. A very nice nose actually - the 100% new oak showed a bit, but was quite nicely integrated by this point. The palate started out quite nicely too, with a good, sappy attack, where the fruit caught on the nose were nicely supported by chewy tannins that have just started to softened and very fresh acidity. Unforunately, the wine leaned out substantially, and the midpalate was rather on the thinner side, very simple too, with its fruit seasoned with lots of peppery spice, before finishing in a very minty, mentholly end. I thought it resembled a rather simple Coonawarra Cabernet from Australia more than anything here. Nice head, rather weaker tail then, with a nose that was more interesting and complex than the palate. A decent enough drink, but no great shakes. Should get a little better with age, and certainly with some food though - would be interesting to try in a 3-4 years.
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Opened this bottle some years to early so it took some time for the wine to open up. Green pepper, tobacco and leather in the nose along with black currant and an slice of tomato. Will diffently be better in some years. So great propect for this wine.
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2009 LVMH Tasting at Elway's Cherry Creek (Denver, CO): This needs at least 2 more years in the bottle. The use of 100% Cab and 15 months in 100% new French oak really give this grip and stuffing for another 15 years - maybe more. A nice example of the varietal with some regional characteristics thrown in. Even after a few more years in the bottle, this will really need some food to show its stuff. Good effort.
1/31/2024 - kend707 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Finally became drinkable. Had on in 2007 and another around 2014. Both were so tannic I put them down the drain. Decanted six hours to soften it up. Strong dark fruit flavors. Not cloudy after al these years. Won't go looking for more. If you have it, either do a long decant of hold for several years. This is a biggie!
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12/17/2023 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful nose of creosote, charred oak, vanilla, black currant and tomato vine. Medium-full bodied with sweet black cherries baked with rosemary and thyme as well as black currant, boysenberry jam, cocoa powder and charred French oak. Still delicious, this is now toward the end of its prime drinking window, but you don't need to be in a rush to drink. I have 2 more bottles and will wait at least a year for the next. Absolutely a joy to drink! Drink now-2027 94
Tatiana says it seems incredibly youthful. 96 (why do I keep her around?!?!?!? lol)
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7/18/2022 - achasd Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ready at last, it was a nice expression of Italian cabernet, in a fruit-forward way.
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7/7/2019 - BHRH Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bit of toasty french oak and good cassis on the nose. Dark cherries, black fruits and sweet herbs add to a complex, mature, layered finish. Surprisingly rich - giving some who tasted this blind the impression of Napa cabernet. A treat of a discovery!
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5/31/2019 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Smooth finish, nice fruit in the middle, pleasant nose.
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4/8/2019 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 92 Points
As always, this wine is fabulous! Fantastic nose of charred wood, black currants and cherries as well as grilled herb switches. Medium-bodied with very high quality tannin and bright acidity, this is fantastic at the table and great by itself. It is certainly fully mature and may be starting to lose a little concentration and sweetness. Drink now-2023. 92.
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12/20/2018 - alfagirl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Exquisite.
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11/19/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fantastic nose of Cabernet Sauvignon. Loaded with copious quantities of black currant, dark chocolate and French roast coffee. Rich and full-bodied and more tannic than I remember with black currant, milk chocolate, a bit of oak, spearmint and spice. Perhaps this is drying out slightly, but still a beauty! This has now reach full maturity and is unlikely to gain any more complexity with additional time in bottle. Drink Now-2022 91
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4/7/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 93 Points
Taking awhile to come around, but is showing a beautiful nose of spring flowers, black fruits, creosote, new wood, mint and spice. Medium-full bodied with a fantastic texture. The tannin just envelopes the mouth and the acidity provides a mouth-watering lift to the finish. This is now fully mature, but shows absolutely no signs of falling off and may indeed continue to develop for several more years and last 10. Drink 2018-2025+ 93
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2/21/2018 - D3S Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Aromatics are unpleasant, tart on palate with no fruit or anything else. Worse every year. It’s past it’s prime. I dumped 1/2 bottle.
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4/4/2017 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 90 Points
fantastic nose of creosote and liquefied rock/mineral scents. Asphalt. very Graves-like. Black currant, charred wood and oak cask. Full-bodied and quite dense. This bottle needed some time to open in decanter, but nonetheless is showing hints of oxidation. That said, it is also still quite dense and tannic, with good acidity. Minus the oxidation, I would say this may need another year or two to even reach its peak, but the obvious oxidative notes give me pause. Not as fresh as the last two bottles tasted in 2015 and 2016 (given 94 and 94+), hopefully this is simply a slightly off bottle. Very, very old Bordeaux-like. 90 df 8.9
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7/18/2016 - mrmikemtr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Barnyard nose at opening and throughout. Taste of black currant and sweet herb throughout, hold for 3 years or so.
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6/29/2016 - D3S Likes this wine: 89 Points
good, but not great. no fruit and flat finish. It was much better a year earlier.
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4/27/2016 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine takes at least a full hour to open in the decanter. Tight at first, it now displays sweet mint and black currant on the nose as well as plenty of new French oak. Still very dark in color, this wine is dense and a Little stern. Really solid, but the tannins are of very high quality. They just need another few years to soften. Sweet red and black currants, new oak, spice. Delicious. Tastes as if it NEEDS another 2-3 years and should go another 10 after that. Drink 2018-2028. 94+ df 9.3
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1/23/2016 - mrmikemtr wrote: 89 Points
Disappointed. Nose is very inviting with its earthiness but, upon taste, kind of flat where I can't pick anything out. I decanted for an hour but spparently that didn't help. Same results on day 2 and 3. For the price, better options out there.
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6/28/2015 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
good the first and second day
so decant suggested
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6/21/2015 - danmcmahon wrote: 90 Points
Very smooth.
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2/28/2015 - alfagirl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Recommend decanting. Blueberries and red fruit. Medium bodied. Medium to long finish.
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12/7/2014 - Coletrickle4 wrote:
Same as last
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11/15/2014 - wboyd wrote: 90 Points
Still vibrant with aromas of cherry. Deep purple color with nice legs. Stronger on the attack and midpalate with cherry and tobacco flavors with a hint of vanilla. Perfect acidity and reasonably long finish.
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10/5/2014 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Kleur: Diep opaak donker rood Aroma / bouquet: Zwaar en krachtig bouquet, donker fruit, bramen, kersen. Aards, champignons en truffel. Laurier, kruidkoek, zacht-zoete drop. Smaak / Afdronk: Smaakbom. Dik-sappige powerwijn met een uitgesproken frisse zuurgraad, krachtige en mooi gerijpte tannines. Indrukwekkend lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Indrukwekkende en relatief betaalbare Supertuscan. Powerwijn met groot rijpingspotentieel. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 92/100
Google Translate
Color: Deep opaque dark red Aroma / bouquet: Heavy and powerful bouquet, dark fruit, blackberries, cherries. Earthy, mushrooms and truffles. Laurel, gingerbread, soft-sweet drop Taste / Finish:. Smaakbom. Thick juicy power wine with pronounced fresh acidity, powerful and beautiful ripened tannins. . Impressively long finish General / potential: Impressive and relatively affordable Super Tuscan. Power wines with great aging potential. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 17 + General / potential: 8 = 92/100
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9/16/2014 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 88 Points
better the second day with tart dark fruit and sour cherries mixed with italian earth and trace oak
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6/15/2014 - MadTownWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Continue to like this. Really big still. Different flavors from typical cabs. Want to see how it evolves now.
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4/16/2014 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 89 Points
interesting cab with different italian earth undertones and less vanilla oak background
this has room for development too
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2/11/2014 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine: 92 Points
James Suckling/Zachy's Super Tuscany Tasting (City Winery (Varick Street in NYC)): Always intimidating to write a note on something that Paul S has commented on, but here goes - this was really much too young - was surprised to learn this was a 2004 as it came across as much younger. The tannins were still strong, get a touch of cherry, some spice, nice flavors. This was one of Mike's favorites.
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6/14/2013 - Paul S wrote: 88 Points
Visit to Castello di Monsanto (Castello di Monsanto, Chianti, Tuscany): Another rarity - a 100% Cabernet from the heart of the Chianti region. I thought this was just okay. The nose flattered to deceived - it was fruity, but not new worldly way - more like a Super-Tuscan to my mind, with woody herbs, meat, leather and shades of undergrowth undergirding its expressive tones of red berries, plums and darker cassis fruit. With a bit of time in the glass, a nice peppery note, some smoky tones and even a floral component started emerging. A very nice nose actually - the 100% new oak showed a bit, but was quite nicely integrated by this point. The palate started out quite nicely too, with a good, sappy attack, where the fruit caught on the nose were nicely supported by chewy tannins that have just started to softened and very fresh acidity. Unforunately, the wine leaned out substantially, and the midpalate was rather on the thinner side, very simple too, with its fruit seasoned with lots of peppery spice, before finishing in a very minty, mentholly end. I thought it resembled a rather simple Coonawarra Cabernet from Australia more than anything here. Nice head, rather weaker tail then, with a nose that was more interesting and complex than the palate. A decent enough drink, but no great shakes. Should get a little better with age, and certainly with some food though - would be interesting to try in a 3-4 years.
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2/12/2011 - Drudgaard wrote: 89 Points
Opened this bottle some years to early so it took some time for the wine to open up. Green pepper, tobacco and leather in the nose along with black currant and an slice of tomato.
Will diffently be better in some years. So great propect for this wine.
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9/16/2009 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 60 Points
R&R Marketing 2009 Gala (Atlantic City, NJ): All menthol and brett on the nose. In the mouth, just brett.
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5/7/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
2009 LVMH Tasting at Elway's Cherry Creek (Denver, CO): This needs at least 2 more years in the bottle. The use of 100% Cab and 15 months in 100% new French oak really give this grip and stuffing for another 15 years - maybe more. A nice example of the varietal with some regional characteristics thrown in. Even after a few more years in the bottle, this will really need some food to show its stuff. Good effort.
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