Opened too soon. Needs time. Almost black in color with loads of dark fruits and tannins. Good acidity and will benefit from at least 5 more years in the bottle and a long decant afterwards. Hold
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Dark, berry savory and earthy notes. Still a little "grapey" so a few more years may not hurt this wine. Not particularly complex but a nice glass with the right foods.
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Tasted like a very dry Sangiovese. It showed structure this round and the tannin was all throughout the mouth. It struck me totally different than the first bottle
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Good with spicy food. Still fairly tannic, but fruit is strong, and held its own after two days open. Will try another in a year, has the bones to last.
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Opened not decanted. It is quite cold in our house and where I store wine in our kitchen. The temperature of the wine should be warmer. On the entry: dry, acidic attack of present but reticent tart red fruit; light to medium weight in body; ends with a mouthful of fruit that drys out quickly. I want to like this more but can’t. Fair to Good.
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Quick note. Decanted up to 4 hours and paired with pizzas with neighbors. Compared with the other wines we opened this was a rush of fresh fruit. It was however dry, astringent and narrow in profile with dark cherry notes. Fair to Good.
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Popped, poured, and enjoyed. It opened up with a little air in the glass, and got really nice with my smoked-tomato-ragu pasta dinner. The tannins are also emerging as it sits in the glass, and the more time passes, the chalkier they're getting. It's a shame I only have a few bottles of this - while it certainly wasn't premature to open this one now, it's not-so-subtly declaring "hang with me a few years, and you're in for more of a treat than you know ..."
Opened 45 minutes before drinking. Went well with pizza mundo. Reminds me of what CA Zinfandel should be, not too sweet or oaky. The finish was a bit dry (tannins), perhaps a bit more bottle age, or decanting would smooth them out. Good value.
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Opened not decanted. Popped this as we have a pizza being delivered in a couple of hours. This is the first of six bottles and was not sure how much air or how accessible it is on opening. Strong oak and smoke notes. Dry attack of dark red fruit; light to medium weight in body; rustic in style; fresh fruit that's tongue coating with some dryness on a somewhat short finish. Good. I see this getting better with air. Should pair very well with food. No regrets buying and would buy again. FYI, I bought these as a alternative to a southern Rhone table wine that I could pull on a weeknight.
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This was fascinating. In short, this is why I read Rimmerman’s emails, and buy (way too often). Dark, inky purple. A bit of stink on the nose, but different from Syrah. Some dark fruit behind the barnyard. Palate was just alive, with dark, red fruits, tannin, good acidity. Long finish. Opened it tonight with some split pea soup and some truffle flatbread. The wine was worthy. I wlll let my other bottles age a bit, based on other notes.
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Lots of funk on the nose and in the mouth. Smells very raw, almost rotting. In the mouth there’s much more fruit and it’s not nearly as off putting as the nose. There’s also some licorice and acid. Medium tannins and a reasonably long and pleasant finish. The nose is a little too unrefined for my liking and put me off before even tasting but the taste is pretty nice and mellow.
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This is animalistic, raw, “natural”, and refined. My favorite quartet right now. Still young but also totally enjoyable right now. A truly unique (and delicious) wine.
Great bottle of what was, for me, an unknown varietal. Dark and woodsy, brooding and earthy, but with a touch of fruit and balancing acidity. Loads of tannin/structure, aging potential.
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The aromas are of a deep, dark forest, covered in moss after a soaking rain. It's an old growth forest, and there are lots of wild, prickly berry bushes scattered about. You really can smell all the multiple layers of undergrowth present. Palate entry is nice and smooth, soft and pretty in texture. Flavors are of a prickly pear tree, ferns, bitter ugli fruit, and a richness of acidity really builds as you hold this in the mouth. There is a bit of animal must present as well that isn't quite as pleasant as the other characteristics. Lovely acidity on the palate and this transitions beautifully onto the finish and is the dominant note. Things are a bit animale here as well, though, with a bit of poopy funk present. Right now this does feel a bit wound up and youthful. I think two years will allow it to blossom well, but it is also quite pleasant today with sufficient air. It was a bit funkier on a pop and pour. A nice wine, though it does offer more promise for the future.
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Deep black cherry, almondy cherry pit, metallic brett; the nose reminds me of traditional kriek lambic. After a few minutes some fragrant dried red flowers too. On the palate it’s quite concentrated and more structured than expected with M to M+ acid and tannin, a chalky mouthfeel. The fruit is blacker on the palate, with some ink or lead, earth/dirt, and less apparent brett. Drying finish. I don’t always love highly concentrated wines but this is good quality. I expect it can age for a long while and will be better in 5+ years. ~6/10
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Drank on vacation from a small glass, will offer more detailed notes on my next bottle. Fairly primary but with solid structure. Medium-high acidity, medium-full body and tannins. Should improve over the next 3-5 years.
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3/8/2024 - webreg wrote: 90 Points
Deep red color. Forest floor, ink, dark fruit, and spice. Long finish and great mouth feel.
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12/6/2023 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same notes as before. More please.
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8/24/2023 - Thebigbaby wrote: 87 Points
Opened too soon. Needs time. Almost black in color with loads of dark fruits and tannins. Good acidity and will benefit from at least 5 more years in the bottle and a long decant afterwards. Hold
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5/26/2023 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
Dark, berry savory and earthy notes. Still a little "grapey" so a few more years may not hurt this wine. Not particularly complex but a nice glass with the right foods.
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5/22/2023 - wtianseter wrote: 87 Points
Tasted like a very dry Sangiovese. It showed structure this round and the tannin was all throughout the mouth. It struck me totally different than the first bottle
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12/15/2022 - dmitchell4 wrote:
Seemed past it’s prime, though seemed to improve after first night.
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6/19/2022 - Tosti-Lane Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good with spicy food. Still fairly tannic, but fruit is strong, and held its own after two days open. Will try another in a year, has the bones to last.
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4/21/2022 - JimEaton wrote: flawed
Vinegar
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3/19/2022 - Jmac56 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Minimal sweet flowery nose. Nice medium to full bodied wine, nicely balanced, some earth and funk. Tastes like a Mourvèdre
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3/3/2022 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 91 Points
tasted alongside the 2015. of the two, this was deeper, meatier, and more rustic, very mouvedre-like only "more." fun experiment.
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12/28/2021 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. It is quite cold in our house and where I store wine in our kitchen. The temperature of the wine should be warmer. On the entry: dry, acidic attack of present but reticent tart red fruit; light to medium weight in body; ends with a mouthful of fruit that drys out quickly. I want to like this more but can’t. Fair to Good.
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10/9/2021 - JimEaton wrote: 87 Points
A little too much sour cherries. Didn’t improve the second day.
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7/10/2021 - wtianseter wrote: 88 Points
The wine was disjointed and lacked balance. Still a good wine but it has to come together and that may take some time.
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6/21/2021 - tanglenet wrote:
Quick note. Decanted up to 4 hours and paired with pizzas with neighbors. Compared with the other wines we opened this was a rush of fresh fruit. It was however dry, astringent and narrow in profile with dark cherry notes. Fair to Good.
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5/13/2021 - Adventr.us wrote: 90 Points
Popped, poured, and enjoyed. It opened up with a little air in the glass, and got really nice with my smoked-tomato-ragu pasta dinner. The tannins are also emerging as it sits in the glass, and the more time passes, the chalkier they're getting. It's a shame I only have a few bottles of this - while it certainly wasn't premature to open this one now, it's not-so-subtly declaring "hang with me a few years, and you're in for more of a treat than you know ..."
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4/19/2021 - Brain Capers Likes this wine:
Opened 45 minutes before drinking. Went well with pizza mundo. Reminds me of what CA Zinfandel should be, not too sweet or oaky. The finish was a bit dry (tannins), perhaps a bit more bottle age, or decanting would smooth them out. Good value.
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2/18/2021 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Popped this as we have a pizza being delivered in a couple of hours. This is the first of six bottles and was not sure how much air or how accessible it is on opening. Strong oak and smoke notes. Dry attack of dark red fruit; light to medium weight in body; rustic in style; fresh fruit that's tongue coating with some dryness on a somewhat short finish. Good. I see this getting better with air. Should pair very well with food. No regrets buying and would buy again. FYI, I bought these as a alternative to a southern Rhone table wine that I could pull on a weeknight.
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1/15/2021 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was fascinating. In short, this is why I read Rimmerman’s emails, and buy (way too often). Dark, inky purple. A bit of stink on the nose, but different from Syrah. Some dark fruit behind the barnyard. Palate was just alive, with dark, red fruits, tannin, good acidity. Long finish. Opened it tonight with some split pea soup and some truffle flatbread. The wine was worthy. I wlll let my other bottles age a bit, based on other notes.
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1/2/2021 - JimEaton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice balance right out of the bottle with a little aeration. The tannins build as it gets more air. Very nice.
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12/14/2020 - Defcahn5 wrote: 88 Points
Lots of funk on the nose and in the mouth. Smells very raw, almost rotting. In the mouth there’s much more fruit and it’s not nearly as off putting as the nose. There’s also some licorice and acid. Medium tannins and a reasonably long and pleasant finish. The nose is a little too unrefined for my liking and put me off before even tasting but the taste is pretty nice and mellow.
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12/2/2020 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is animalistic, raw, “natural”, and refined. My favorite quartet right now. Still young but also totally enjoyable right now. A truly unique (and delicious) wine.
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11/12/2020 - geexploitation Likes this wine:
Great bottle of what was, for me, an unknown varietal. Dark and woodsy, brooding and earthy, but with a touch of fruit and balancing acidity. Loads of tannin/structure, aging potential.
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8/13/2020 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 90 Points
The aromas are of a deep, dark forest, covered in moss after a soaking rain. It's an old growth forest, and there are lots of wild, prickly berry bushes scattered about. You really can smell all the multiple layers of undergrowth present. Palate entry is nice and smooth, soft and pretty in texture. Flavors are of a prickly pear tree, ferns, bitter ugli fruit, and a richness of acidity really builds as you hold this in the mouth. There is a bit of animal must present as well that isn't quite as pleasant as the other characteristics. Lovely acidity on the palate and this transitions beautifully onto the finish and is the dominant note. Things are a bit animale here as well, though, with a bit of poopy funk present. Right now this does feel a bit wound up and youthful. I think two years will allow it to blossom well, but it is also quite pleasant today with sufficient air. It was a bit funkier on a pop and pour. A nice wine, though it does offer more promise for the future.
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8/13/2020 - erbowman wrote: 87 Points
Not a big fan at this point. It needs to mellow out a bit. Suggest aging for another 2 years.
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7/18/2020 - afields wrote:
Deep black cherry, almondy cherry pit, metallic brett; the nose reminds me of traditional kriek lambic. After a few minutes some fragrant dried red flowers too. On the palate it’s quite concentrated and more structured than expected with M to M+ acid and tannin, a chalky mouthfeel. The fruit is blacker on the palate, with some ink or lead, earth/dirt, and less apparent brett. Drying finish. I don’t always love highly concentrated wines but this is good quality. I expect it can age for a long while and will be better in 5+ years. ~6/10
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6/30/2020 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank on vacation from a small glass, will offer more detailed notes on my next bottle. Fairly primary but with solid structure. Medium-high acidity, medium-full body and tannins. Should improve over the next 3-5 years.
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