Colour: medium(-) translucent ruby Nose: medium(-) intensity, secondary, youthful. Red and black plum, black cherry, pomegranate syrup. Touch of cedar, sweet spice. Palate: dry, medium tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol (13,5%), medium bodied. Medium(-) intensity, medium(-) length finish. Red and black plum, black cherry, pomegranate syrup. Touch of cedar, sweet spice. Some medicinal (cough syrup) character, liquorice, and dried rosemary that isn't obvious on the nose. Conclusions: good to very good. I gather this is now made more in a 'vin de soif' style rather than a 'vin de garde' style -- hence the lower price. My first chance to try this wine, but I guess I should seek out older vintages for comparison. It's very drinkable, given this consideration. Can drink now, but suited to short-term ageing. DAY2: still drinking very nicely, but red fruit character (strawberry, red cherry, pomegranate) and balsamic vinegar character has come to the fore -- acidity is very lively and fresh. A good food wine. Seal: screwcap. 56% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 13% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah (i.e., Durif)
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A Californian attempt at Châteauneuf du Pape which has a similar flavour profile but which is more Côtes du Rhône than Châteauneuf du Pape. It has light but savoury dark berry fruit and a slight graininess. Opening up now but with scope for further improvement.
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Retail $17. Big Ass Bottle. Under screw cap. 56% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 13% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah. Not too long ago, this was a $40+ wine, and the jewel of the Bonny Door lineup. While I am not sure where Randall Grahm would place it now, it is less than half the price and a bit more ubiquitous than it once was. On the light side in color, but rich in aromas of red fruit (black cherry, cassis), spice (clove, black pepper), and herbal (thyme, sage). The palate is nicely balanced with the aforementioned fruit, a dash of spice, and more than enough tartness to go around. Sure, this might not be as complex as previous iterations, but it is a fine quaff.
56% grenache, 30% cinsault, 13% syrah, 1% petite sirah. 13.5% abv. Decanted. Now 1h after decant. Transparent garnet color. Aromas of flowers, lifted, slightly candied red cherries and raspberries, some herbs and the barest hint of garrigue and kirsch. Palate w bright red cherries, earthy blackberries, herbs, bark, minerals, some garrigue and a bit of earth. Nice acids on a medium body. Moderate tannins on midpalate. Not much of a finish but a lingering presence of the wines. Certainly lighter than what I was expecting given it's blend. More lively, fresh and nervy than most Chateneuf du Papes type blends from CA that I'm used to. But also doesn't seem to have the depth that I was expecting based on bottles of past vintages. Delicious and very good but not great. 88+.
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What has happened to this offering? Years ago it was an interesting weeknight wine made from well-sourced grapes. Today it tastes simple and diluted. Needs more Syrah to give it some grip and deeper notes on the palate. All that’s left in the bottle is raspberry juice. Pass.
Tis a pity she's a whore... So weird to see this as a 15$ bargain wine now. And it tastes like it. Generic cheap red with weird dish detergent notes on the nose. Bleech.
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12/1/2023 - Nycfan75 wrote:
Jordig, gräsig, mörka bär, pepprig. Mjuka toner. Smakrik.
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4/8/2023 - penguinoid Likes this wine:
Colour: medium(-) translucent ruby
Nose: medium(-) intensity, secondary, youthful. Red and black plum, black cherry, pomegranate syrup. Touch of cedar, sweet spice.
Palate: dry, medium tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol (13,5%), medium bodied. Medium(-) intensity, medium(-) length finish. Red and black plum, black cherry, pomegranate syrup. Touch of cedar, sweet spice. Some medicinal (cough syrup) character, liquorice, and dried rosemary that isn't obvious on the nose.
Conclusions: good to very good. I gather this is now made more in a 'vin de soif' style rather than a 'vin de garde' style -- hence the lower price. My first chance to try this wine, but I guess I should seek out older vintages for comparison. It's very drinkable, given this consideration. Can drink now, but suited to short-term ageing.
DAY2: still drinking very nicely, but red fruit character (strawberry, red cherry, pomegranate) and balsamic vinegar character has come to the fore -- acidity is very lively and fresh. A good food wine.
Seal: screwcap.
56% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 13% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah (i.e., Durif)
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11/29/2022 - La Grappe wrote: 86 Points
A Californian attempt at Châteauneuf du Pape which has a similar flavour profile but which is more Côtes du Rhône than Châteauneuf du Pape. It has light but savoury dark berry fruit and a slight graininess. Opening up now but with scope for further improvement.
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4/29/2022 - erikdahlin Likes this wine:
Transluscent ruby color. Spice notes on first sniff and soft fruitiness on first sip.
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3/26/2022 - Wisco Mel wrote:
Delicious, once it opened up
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1/19/2022 - KVM wrote:
It's lively, pretty and zippy. I married a girl who matched that description!
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11/23/2021 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points
Retail $17. Big Ass Bottle. Under screw cap. 56% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 13% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah. Not too long ago, this was a $40+ wine, and the jewel of the Bonny Door lineup. While I am not sure where Randall Grahm would place it now, it is less than half the price and a bit more ubiquitous than it once was. On the light side in color, but rich in aromas of red fruit (black cherry, cassis), spice (clove, black pepper), and herbal (thyme, sage). The palate is nicely balanced with the aforementioned fruit, a dash of spice, and more than enough tartness to go around. Sure, this might not be as complex as previous iterations, but it is a fine quaff.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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11/21/2021 - KVM wrote:
Delightful fruity, lively, Grenache strawberry.
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11/18/2021 - James Kim wrote: 88 Points
56% grenache, 30% cinsault, 13% syrah, 1% petite sirah. 13.5% abv. Decanted. Now 1h after decant. Transparent garnet color. Aromas of flowers, lifted, slightly candied red cherries and raspberries, some herbs and the barest hint of garrigue and kirsch. Palate w bright red cherries, earthy blackberries, herbs, bark, minerals, some garrigue and a bit of earth. Nice acids on a medium body. Moderate tannins on midpalate. Not much of a finish but a lingering presence of the wines. Certainly lighter than what I was expecting given it's blend. More lively, fresh and nervy than most Chateneuf du Papes type blends from CA that I'm used to. But also doesn't seem to have the depth that I was expecting based on bottles of past vintages. Delicious and very good but not great. 88+.
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11/5/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A touch of overt spice on the nose.
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11/5/2021 - Old Wine Maven wrote:
Ok, but not what this wine once was. The Cinsault is delicate but over powered by the alcohol.
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10/15/2021 - jonahfactor Does not like this wine:
What has happened to this offering? Years ago it was an interesting weeknight wine made from well-sourced grapes. Today it tastes simple and diluted. Needs more Syrah to give it some grip and deeper notes on the palate. All that’s left in the bottle is raspberry juice. Pass.
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9/25/2021 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Tis a pity she's a whore... So weird to see this as a 15$ bargain wine now. And it tastes like it. Generic cheap red with weird dish detergent notes on the nose. Bleech.
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8/27/2021 - Central Coast Sharon Likes this wine:
Ruby, somewhat translucent in the glass. A little sulfur on the nose upon opening. Cherry and leather on the palate. Nice on a hot DC evening.
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7/26/2021 - Jzizzle Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice fruit and spice, but not the herb or roughness that I enjoy in Rhone. Appealing but limited complexity.
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7/6/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
With some spice on the nose. Little tight across the palate, with some gumption, needs to ease in.
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6/5/2021 - Dr Mr Eric wrote:
Thumbs up
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8/6/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Nice ripe red fruit to it with some spice and earth. Smells like a well made GSM. All the components are there.
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