Fairly dark red. Medium intense nose, slightly ripe, cassis, red cherry, cedar box and green pepper. A bit of richness in the mouth with a slightly sweet finish with a bit of green pepper.
A lot of classic claret notes with just a bit of ripeness. Great QPR. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
The font on the label is so weird. Like the sign for a roaring 20s retro bar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Walkaround tasting so just short notes: In the bouquet some smoke, oak, red and dark berries. On the palate a slightly sweet start, fresh acidity and round tannin. Good effort! Already nice, but certainly a future until into the 2030’s. 90 - 91+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have really nothing to add to my previous note. A very satisfying, fruity wine and a smashing value. Can be drunk now or be cellared for at least 5 years, although I think it is safer to drink it on the young side. Diam cork.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As always for less than 12€ a fantastic value. No great complexity but, even young, very easy and enjoyable. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Young blood-red color with some purple, very fruity with red berries, cranberries, the spiciness of the Cabernet Franc and bright acidity. The 14,5 % alcohol is not noticable. This wine can easily be stored for another 6 to 8 years and maybe improve a bit, but is already very enjoyable now. Diam cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Several hour double decant. Very linear. Dark fruited, acidic, with just a hint of graphite/slate. Disappointed really as I was hoping for more based on previous TNs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque purple. Medium body with nose of blackberry brandy. Intense flavors of plum, black cherry, blackberry and graphite. Firm structure showing intense fruit flavors, perfect acidity and smooth tannins. A great value year in and out!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just having my third bottle of this young 2019. It has so much broad appeal and is just fantastic for around 20 bucks. Juicy, ripe and layered. Not super complex but shows its right bank pedigree (Merlot / Can Franc). Very forward and while it is still young, it is super approachable and perfect on a Tuesday night like this one. I wouldn't age these forever but I will like to see what it does in say 2-4 years.
Bottom line - Really nice and a bang for the buck. Not sure you can find anything in California for $20 that tastes this good and is not made in a wine factory.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great to see this wine closed under diam. It's the single best thing that lesser chateau can do to increase wine quality.
On day one... this wine looked very new world. It's big, smells slightly jammy, fills the mouth with flavour and has a salty, black olive, woody herbs and nori umami sweep of tannins. Violets, menthol and green pepper notes add complexity and freshness to the medium length and aftertaste.
The dark red fruit at its core is pure and intense. The savoury, charred, finish combined with the higher alcohol level might be too much for those expecting an elegant Claret.
Alcohol level will polarise, especially if had with lighter wines or food. There is so much going on in this young wine right now, and so much of everything, that it needs a year or two to settle.
There's a noticable gap in the back of the wine, unusual as merlot usually fills the cabernet doughnut hole. As the tannins subside, and the middle fleshes out, it should fill.
Good now, but needs time to find balance. Hold, look again in 18 months.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially reticent nose of blackberry and graphite that expressed generous tar, balsamic and hot stone aromas after 8 hours of air.
The palate also went through quite the transformation, starting with ripe plum and raspberry, and took on spiced fruit, oyster sauce and clove notes with time.
Intense, balanced and the long finish is loaded with minerals. I was worried that the 15% alcohol would be an issue but it is very well integrated, as are the tannins.
Excellent QPR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark in color, the wine exudes licorice, smoke, dark chocolate, black pit fruits and cherries. Full-bodied, lushly textured and with a hedonistic, fruit and chocolate filled finish, this will offer a lot of bang for the buck. The wine was made from blending 80% old vine Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 Pts
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/11/2024 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
A longer decant this time. It seemed less ripe and more traditional than my previous note.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2024 - GoldBug999 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Shows promise but needs more time in the bottle. Try again in 2015.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/1/2024 - vvWine.ch wrote: 91 Points
(Blind verkostet im Rahmen der Blick Degustation "Merlot") Intensive Nase, deutliche Röstnoten, Kirsche, Pflaume. Im Gaumen mit süssem Auftakt, delikate Frucht, feine Säure. Lebhaft, frisch. Mittlere Länge.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2024 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Fairly dark red. Medium intense nose, slightly ripe, cassis, red cherry, cedar box and green pepper. A bit of richness in the mouth with a slightly sweet finish with a bit of green pepper.
A lot of classic claret notes with just a bit of ripeness. Great QPR. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
The font on the label is so weird. Like the sign for a roaring 20s retro bar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2024 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 89 Points
89+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2024 - Zweder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Walkaround tasting so just short notes: In the bouquet some smoke, oak, red and dark berries. On the palate a slightly sweet start, fresh acidity and round tannin. Good effort! Already nice, but certainly a future until into the 2030’s. 90 - 91+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 89 Points
89-90
drank after aeration, still meh-ish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2023 - RoelD Likes this wine: 91 Points
I have really nothing to add to my previous note. A very satisfying, fruity wine and a smashing value. Can be drunk now or be cellared for at least 5 years, although I think it is safer to drink it on the young side.
Diam cork.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 90 Points
still 90-ish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 89 Points
89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 90 Points
filtered through a Vinturi with similar results of non-filtered bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2023 - RoelD Likes this wine: 90 Points
As always for less than 12€ a fantastic value. No great complexity but, even young, very easy and enjoyable. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Young blood-red color with some purple, very fruity with red berries, cranberries, the spiciness of the Cabernet Franc and bright acidity. The 14,5 % alcohol is not noticable. This wine can easily be stored for another 6 to 8 years and maybe improve a bit, but is already very enjoyable now.
Diam cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2023 - Claymonster wrote: 85 Points
Several hour double decant. Very linear. Dark fruited, acidic, with just a hint of graphite/slate. Disappointed really as I was hoping for more based on previous TNs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 90 Points
went well with semi-spicy meatballs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 90 Points
I agree with my previous assessment that this wine shows better with spicy or peppery food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2023 - WDK Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opaque purple. Medium body with nose of blackberry brandy. Intense flavors of plum, black cherry, blackberry and graphite. Firm structure showing intense fruit flavors, perfect acidity and smooth tannins. A great value year in and out!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 89 Points
I think this needs time or lots of air, possibly in dumb stage
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 90 Points
showed better with semi-spicy food
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2023 - Coastalnative Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just having my third bottle of this young 2019. It has so much broad appeal and is just fantastic for around 20 bucks. Juicy, ripe and layered. Not super complex but shows its right bank pedigree (Merlot / Can Franc). Very forward and while it is still young, it is super approachable and perfect on a Tuesday night like this one. I wouldn't age these forever but I will like to see what it does in say 2-4 years.
Bottom line - Really nice and a bang for the buck. Not sure you can find anything in California for $20 that tastes this good and is not made in a wine factory.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2023 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 89 Points
still a baby, needs time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2022 - Screwcaps Likes this wine:
Great to see this wine closed under diam. It's the single best thing that lesser chateau can do to increase wine quality.
On day one...
this wine looked very new world. It's big, smells slightly jammy, fills the mouth with flavour and has a salty, black olive, woody herbs and nori umami sweep of tannins. Violets, menthol and green pepper notes add complexity and freshness to the medium length and aftertaste.
The dark red fruit at its core is pure and intense. The savoury, charred, finish combined with the higher alcohol level might be too much for those expecting an elegant Claret.
Alcohol level will polarise, especially if had with lighter wines or food. There is so much going on in this young wine right now, and so much of everything, that it needs a year or two to settle.
There's a noticable gap in the back of the wine, unusual as merlot usually fills the cabernet doughnut hole. As the tannins subside, and the middle fleshes out, it should fill.
Good now, but needs time to find balance. Hold, look again in 18 months.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2022 - DavidWong168 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin pour and followed over an entire evening
Initially reticent nose of blackberry and graphite that expressed generous tar, balsamic and hot stone aromas after 8 hours of air.
The palate also went through quite the transformation, starting with ripe plum and raspberry, and took on spiced fruit, oyster sauce and clove notes with time.
Intense, balanced and the long finish is loaded with minerals. I was worried that the 15% alcohol would be an issue but it is very well integrated, as are the tannins.
Excellent QPR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Dark in color, the wine exudes licorice, smoke, dark chocolate, black pit fruits and cherries. Full-bodied, lushly textured and with a hedonistic, fruit and chocolate filled finish, this will offer a lot of bang for the buck. The wine was made from blending 80% old vine Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 Pts
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment