I first drank this about 6 years ago and the tannins were so rough and harsh that it was undrinkable. Well time certainly fixed this wine significantly. The fruit has depth and good flavor. Black fruits, licorice and some finishing spice. I can still taste a touch of the harsh tannins in the background on the lingering finish that reminds me of my first taste and holds me back from giving an extra point. But the vintage does show the depth even in a table wine such as this, you just have to give it time. Lots of it for a 2005.
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Drank at an event from a double magnum. Has stood up well. Good nose of fruit and earth. Good sweet fruit up front, tails off on the finish. Drinking well now from a big bottle.
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i had forgotten about this bottle, opened it on a whim, it has developed some flavors nicely and was amazing as soon as i opened it, delicious oak,vanilla, sweet cassis, ripe fruit flavors. after an hour, it's got some of the immature bordeaux flavors. for $9 its a great value. not going to get much better than it is now but drink and enjoy it while it's at this phase of it's life.
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Dark core - slightly purple at the edge. Huge nose - slightly musty with plenty of oak in the background. Dark cherries and leather - dominated by the tannic finish. Left overnight. Tannins more in balance and the wine seems very much lighter.
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Nose: raspberry, pickles, green peppercorn, dust and vanilla. Taste: Good dark fruit, but with some sinister blueberry. Much too tannic for us, particularly on the finish, despite being decanted for 2-3 hours.
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A very nice everyday sort of wine for the entry fee. In contrast to others, found it drinkable on day one as well as later (when it had softened a bit). Some typical bordeaux notes (graphite, pencil shavings, cherry), but more modern than classic. Not going to wow, but eminently pleasant and drinkable for $10-ish. I didn't find this particularly hard or backwards compared with some other young '05s, so my guess is this is merlot based.
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Almost undrinkable out of the bottle. Opened up after a few days in the bottle. Did not decant the wine. Nice fruit on the nose, short red fruit taste with a green streak. Not bad for $10, but probably would not purchase again.
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Changes dramatically over time. Out of the bottle nearly undrinkable. On the third night it is quite impressive for such an inexpensive wine with crisp bright cherry flavors. Decant or wait before opening.
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Nice nose of cherries and blackberries with a hint of black licorice, but not very persistent. Tannins are there but pretty well integrated at this point. Good flavors of cherries with some black fruit notes and a solid amount of vanilla. More vanilla than I normally like but many would probably like this component. I sense the oak monster hiding in the background but he stays hidden. Decent finish but at this point still too dry for me. (87-88 points)
This is one of the better under $10 Bordeaux wines I have had, most I dislike. Not sure I would buy more for drinking now but might grab a few more to see how they evolve. If you have this I would hold off at least another year or even two but don't wait too long this is not built to go the distance.
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Ug, not a fan. Wish I could be more descriptive on this one. Flat, lacked body. A littly tangy, hint of tannis. I'm using the second bottle to swing the flavor of my homemade shiraz. Otherwise, bordeaux burgers would be the destiny.
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The longer this thing sits out, the more fruit you're going to taste. Still tight after an hour in the decanter, but the fruit stood out a bit more. This is just a typical everyday drinking wine out the 2005 vintage, which if you are going to drink in 2007 is not going to be anything spectacular. 75% Merlot and 25% Cab for the price is pretty good. Normally for 10 bucks you're looking at 90% Merlot at least.
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Tasted like water with a bit of grape juice. second bottle i've had so i don't believe it was flawed. highly recommended by normally dependable wine store employees.
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5/26/2016 - vino_Kaz wrote: 86 Points
More drinkable and smooth now than ever.
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2/8/2015 - Kentw wrote: 87 Points
I first drank this about 6 years ago and the tannins were so rough and harsh that it was undrinkable. Well time certainly fixed this wine significantly. The fruit has depth and good flavor. Black fruits, licorice and some finishing spice. I can still taste a touch of the harsh tannins in the background on the lingering finish that reminds me of my first taste and holds me back from giving an extra point. But the vintage does show the depth even in a table wine such as this, you just have to give it time. Lots of it for a 2005.
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7/12/2014 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Drank at an event from a double magnum. Has stood up well. Good nose of fruit and earth. Good sweet fruit up front, tails off on the finish. Drinking well now from a big bottle.
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5/29/2013 - slmckenney wrote: 85 Points
- Ruby color and has flavours of mushroom.
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4/30/2013 - Tonythefish wrote: 84 Points
Nice 3rd wine from winery but drink now - not much left in this
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7/14/2012 - Tonythefish wrote: 89 Points
Great value in Bordeaux wine
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3/7/2012 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 89 Points
i had forgotten about this bottle, opened it on a whim, it has developed some flavors nicely and was amazing as soon as i opened it, delicious oak,vanilla, sweet cassis, ripe fruit flavors. after an hour, it's got some of the immature bordeaux flavors. for $9 its a great value. not going to get much better than it is now but drink and enjoy it while it's at this phase of it's life.
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1/13/2011 - Old_Winyards wrote:
Starting to move towards the austere / fruitless side of the spectrum. Either heading downhill or somehow flawed would be my conclusion.
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7/31/2010 - Mivvy wrote: 83 Points
Dark core - slightly purple at the edge. Huge nose - slightly musty with plenty of oak in the background. Dark cherries and leather - dominated by the tannic finish. Left overnight. Tannins more in balance and the wine seems very much lighter.
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8/3/2009 - jbrater wrote: 86 Points
Taste of cherry, anise, light black pepper finish w lots of smooth tannins. definitely needs a little decanting/opening. Nice red.
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4/29/2009 - agentorange wrote: 86 Points
Nose: raspberry, pickles, green peppercorn, dust and vanilla. Taste: Good dark fruit, but with some sinister blueberry. Much too tannic for us, particularly on the finish, despite being decanted for 2-3 hours.
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4/17/2009 - yonster24 wrote: 78 Points
Thin, uninteresting, nothing on the palate, just not a good wine at all.
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4/1/2009 - Vertical wrote: 88 Points
Better the next day.
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12/31/2008 - Old_Winyards wrote:
A very nice everyday sort of wine for the entry fee. In contrast to others, found it drinkable on day one as well as later (when it had softened a bit). Some typical bordeaux notes (graphite, pencil shavings, cherry), but more modern than classic. Not going to wow, but eminently pleasant and drinkable for $10-ish. I didn't find this particularly hard or backwards compared with some other young '05s, so my guess is this is merlot based.
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11/29/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 85 Points
Nice enough Bordeaux for 10 bucks. Nose of earth, a bit of black currant and blackberries. Medium bodied wine with a finish that was a touch short.
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9/5/2008 - ocattorney wrote: 85 Points
Almost undrinkable out of the bottle. Opened up after a few days in the bottle. Did not decant the wine. Nice fruit on the nose, short red fruit taste with a green streak. Not bad for $10, but probably would not purchase again.
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7/25/2008 - aaronwine wrote: 87 Points
Changes dramatically over time. Out of the bottle nearly undrinkable. On the third night it is quite impressive for such an inexpensive wine with crisp bright cherry flavors. Decant or wait before opening.
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2/29/2008 - Paul_M wrote: 87 Points
Nice nose of cherries and blackberries with a hint of black licorice, but not very persistent. Tannins are there but pretty well integrated at this point. Good flavors of cherries with some black fruit notes and a solid amount of vanilla. More vanilla than I normally like but many would probably like this component. I sense the oak monster hiding in the background but he stays hidden. Decent finish but at this point still too dry for me. (87-88 points)
This is one of the better under $10 Bordeaux wines I have had, most I dislike. Not sure I would buy more for drinking now but might grab a few more to see how they evolve. If you have this I would hold off at least another year or even two but don't wait too long this is not built to go the distance.
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1/23/2008 - NToland wrote:
Ug, not a fan. Wish I could be more descriptive on this one. Flat, lacked body. A littly tangy, hint of tannis. I'm using the second bottle to swing the flavor of my homemade shiraz. Otherwise, bordeaux burgers would be the destiny.
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11/13/2007 - dddxdave wrote: 85 Points
The longer this thing sits out, the more fruit you're going to taste. Still tight after an hour in the decanter, but the fruit stood out a bit more. This is just a typical everyday drinking wine out the 2005 vintage, which if you are going to drink in 2007 is not going to be anything spectacular. 75% Merlot and 25% Cab for the price is pretty good. Normally for 10 bucks you're looking at 90% Merlot at least.
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10/10/2007 - jfrank79 wrote: 80 Points
Tasted like water with a bit of grape juice. second bottle i've had so i don't believe it was flawed. highly recommended by normally dependable wine store employees.
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10/7/2007 - riffcold wrote: 86 Points
Beautiful violet color; well-rounded and many red fruits are expressive, otherwise not very interesting
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9/22/2007 - peternelson wrote: 86 Points
K&L: Cherry, plum, forest, sous-bois; hint tobacco, zest, lots of a’s--lighter; dry t’s, dry earth, good everyday wine, but not much more.
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9/22/2007 - EMichels wrote: 86 Points
K&L Tasting - Bordeaux: Beautiful red fruit and licorice nose; Strong tannins; Needs time; Darker than the nose would suggest; A bit thin, tart
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