Where to start - a Sisseck wine for the proletariat that rewards keeping a cellar. The silky creamy spicy mouthfeel is what grabs me. The plum and roasted earth aromas and flavors remain buoyed on this intact evolved structure and are afforded focused continuance on the wine’s healthy acidity. For 20$ and a dedicated conscientious mobile cellar this pedestrian wine pleases.
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“G8 summit – A journey on the Duero-Douro-River” (blind), Wine 14: The wine showed ripe red fruit, leather, tobacco, spices, clove and smoke on the nose. On the palate the medium-bodied, reasonably balanced wine showed red and some dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco and clove, with medium-plus acidity, medium-level tannin, some heat from the alcohol and very good length. Once revealed as Hacienda Monasterio I felt underwhelmed. My first bottle of Hacienda Monasterio, but if this 1997 is a benchmark for Hacienda Monasterio’s quality the wine seems overrated and overpriced to me.
PnP. Has really developed nicely since last noted in 2005. The cherry candy elements have turned to dark cherry and it's much more savory. The palate has good fruit presence, silky tannins and light acidity; feels integrated and has some textural complexity. Paired really well with fabada beans from Asurias with chorizo and morcilla. This could go years yet, but this was sadly my last bottle.
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Pristine bottle from case carefully cellared since acquisition which may account in some measure to the outstanding performance of this wine tonight; deep dulling crimson with a smidge of amber at edge and 1-2 mm meniscus in moderately bright light against white background; urgent linear nose of cedar and blood; takes off to an even higher plain on the palate with tart plummy raspberry wash with final layer of nice tannins stretching all the good stuff out.
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I'm drinking a 1996 Hacienda Monasterio, pretty serious stuff but still too oaky (I tried this on release and passed due to the wood). It's very good even with the oak - seemless with pitch-perfect fruit - but the finish is all drying oak and the nose has coconut and oak-chest smells overshadowing the fruit... The oak does fade with air, and some nice minty-medicinal-iodine-minerally-dusty-earthy fruit emerges. Yes, the bouquet has become lovely now. Excellent concentration without being excessive. Finish remains oaky.
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Maybe this bottle went through a rough divorce. It does not hold up to the IWC review, and does not even warrant the lukewarm descriptions from others on this site. Pleasant enough, and not without subtle charm I suppose, but essentially monolithic and uninspiring.
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94, 95, 96 in Spain with Helio San Miguel (New York City): Deep ruby color. Plum and prune notes on the nose, very primary. Medium bodied on the palate, slightly cloying and empties out on the finish. At first I thought this might be one of the three Riberas, but finally opted for a different wine. Group's ranking #10, my ranking #11.
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A little better than the last couple of bottles. Some secondary flavors and aromas developing. Still very dry and earthy, but a nice aged character developing. Let the last bottle sit for at least another year or two to see where it goes. I'm thinking that this will improve and show some nice aged characteristics.
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Wine lost much of its fruit, but not tannins. Still full bodied, but short finish and weak nose. Probably getting past its prime. Was much better when tasted in 2001
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There was a very dramatic funk on the nose for this wine...a sort of "behind the barnyard" sort of funk. Hints of tobacco, leather, and blueberry, cigar box and milk chocolate could all be found in this wine. It carried a lovely 30 second finish and I was completely blown away
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Somewhat muddy garnet optic. Muted nose with cherry and tobacco. Fine tannins with decent acidity. Medium to light body, but not delicate; rather 4-square if anything. Moderate finish. Entirely adequate with grilled lamb chops and roasted green beans, but nothing special.
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Decanted one hour -- moderate sediment. Medium extraction, reddish purple with some bricking. Gorgeous nose of leather, cedarbox, tobacco, and cherry. On the palate, ripe fruit and a Ludden's cough drop or red jujube cherry flavor and layered nuaces of meat, licorice, cola and spices. Still has ample structure and a nice moderate-length finish.
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Tasted half dozen times in past three years. Consistent notes. Ready to drink, bordeaux profile but plenty of ripe fruit. Beautiful balance on good length.
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($20) Nose of chocolate and red fruit. Great concentration and length. Chocolate, leather, fruit. Creamy mouth feel. Would be even more like milk chocolate with slightly less pucker power. Nice wine. $20
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($20) Complex roasted red fruits, subtle smoky oak. Earth, Brettomyces. Interesting, concentrated and layered. Nice Tanzer gave it high marks, it certainly pleases
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Knockout Nose! It's all about raspberry liqueur and pine or another woodsy quality. Medium bodied, ripe sweet delicious stuff. The nose, though is its best quality. Grows a bit dry and woody with exposure. Sweet dried cherry fruit in the finish.
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2/6/2023 - Tgood wrote:
Where to start - a Sisseck wine for the proletariat that rewards keeping a cellar. The silky creamy spicy mouthfeel is what grabs me. The plum and roasted earth aromas and flavors remain buoyed on this intact evolved structure and are afforded focused continuance on the wine’s healthy acidity. For 20$ and a dedicated conscientious mobile cellar this pedestrian wine pleases.
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1/15/2023 - Joelene wrote: 92 Points
Drink really really well, sour cherry and plum, licorice and leather, polished tannins, good acidity and long drying finish. Mouthwateringly good.
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3/24/2017 - aaronfullen wrote: 90 Points
I was stunned this thing still had life in it. But it definitely did.
Cork and fill were great. Wine had a foundation of tart cherry with some balancing earthy flavors and a little tannin still hanging around.
Enjoyable bottle and very impressive that a 21 year old Crianza is still pleasurable to drink.
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1/16/2016 - PSPatrick wrote: 88 Points
“G8 summit – A journey on the Duero-Douro-River” (blind), Wine 14: The wine showed ripe red fruit, leather, tobacco, spices, clove and smoke on the nose. On the palate the medium-bodied, reasonably balanced wine showed red and some dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco and clove, with medium-plus acidity, medium-level tannin, some heat from the alcohol and very good length. Once revealed as Hacienda Monasterio I felt underwhelmed. My first bottle of Hacienda Monasterio, but if this 1997 is a benchmark for Hacienda Monasterio’s quality the wine seems overrated and overpriced to me.
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11/20/2015 - Lipsman wrote: 89 Points
An uncomplex but agreeable and easy drinking wine with moderate fruit and length.
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1/8/2015 - robmatic wrote: 91 Points
The elusive great bottle. This wine has been somewhat inconsistent over the years, but this bottle was excellent. Time to drink.
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10/17/2013 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Has really developed nicely since last noted in 2005. The cherry candy elements have turned to dark cherry and it's much more savory. The palate has good fruit presence, silky tannins and light acidity; feels integrated and has some textural complexity. Paired really well with fabada beans from Asurias with chorizo and morcilla. This could go years yet, but this was sadly my last bottle.
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2/23/2013 - Tgood wrote: 92 Points
Deep crimson, nice cinnamon spiced black cherry and piney aromas and flavors; lively tannins on palate; cellared at 55F since purchase.
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2/16/2013 - Tgood wrote: 94 Points
Pristine bottle from case carefully cellared since acquisition which may account in some measure to the outstanding performance of this wine tonight; deep dulling crimson with a smidge of amber at edge and 1-2 mm meniscus in moderately bright light against white background; urgent linear nose of cedar and blood; takes off to an even higher plain on the palate with tart plummy raspberry wash with final layer of nice tannins stretching all the good stuff out.
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3/3/2012 - blanquito wrote: 92 Points
I'm drinking a 1996 Hacienda Monasterio, pretty serious stuff but still too oaky (I tried this on release and passed due to the wood). It's very good even with the oak - seemless with pitch-perfect fruit - but the finish is all drying oak and the nose has coconut and oak-chest smells overshadowing the fruit... The oak does fade with air, and some nice minty-medicinal-iodine-minerally-dusty-earthy fruit emerges. Yes, the bouquet has become lovely now. Excellent concentration without being excessive. Finish remains oaky.
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10/16/2011 - Alberic13 wrote: 88 Points
Look: brick red, funky nose, needed to breathe for an hour, good after that
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10/12/2011 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote: 65 Points
Look: Brick red to tawny '88.
Nose: Tomato, stewed prunes.
Taste: Tomato, prunes ,dust.
Summary: Past. Cook roast only.
.4/5.0 pts; 65 pts, F
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1/28/2011 - darvid wrote:
Maybe this bottle went through a rough divorce. It does not hold up to the IWC review, and does not even warrant the lukewarm descriptions from others on this site. Pleasant enough, and not without subtle charm I suppose, but essentially monolithic and uninspiring.
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12/10/2010 - dougsmith wrote: 86 Points
94, 95, 96 in Spain with Helio San Miguel (New York City): Deep ruby color. Plum and prune notes on the nose, very primary. Medium bodied on the palate, slightly cloying and empties out on the finish. At first I thought this might be one of the three Riberas, but finally opted for a different wine. Group's ranking #10, my ranking #11.
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8/28/2009 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
A little better than the last couple of bottles. Some secondary flavors and aromas developing. Still very dry and earthy, but a nice aged character developing. Let the last bottle sit for at least another year or two to see where it goes. I'm thinking that this will improve and show some nice aged characteristics.
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11/19/2008 - endodon wrote: 89 Points
Wine lost much of its fruit, but not tannins. Still full bodied, but short finish and weak nose. Probably getting past its prime. Was much better when tasted in 2001
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5/3/2008 - Kirk Grant wrote: 90 Points
There was a very dramatic funk on the nose for this wine...a sort of "behind the barnyard" sort of funk. Hints of tobacco, leather, and blueberry, cigar box and milk chocolate could all be found in this wine. It carried a lovely 30 second finish and I was completely blown away
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1/19/2008 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Typical old world style RdD. Not much terroir. Very dry and dusty. Not showing much age. Drinking ok. Can last, but I don't expect it to improve.
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10/8/2006 - teekayfl wrote: 87 Points
Somewhat muddy garnet optic. Muted nose with cherry and tobacco. Fine tannins with decent acidity. Medium to light body, but not delicate; rather 4-square if anything. Moderate finish. Entirely adequate with grilled lamb chops and roasted green beans, but nothing special.
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7/8/2006 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
not bad. Typical old world style RdD. Not showing much age. Drinking nicely, but can last.
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6/22/2005 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
Decanted one hour -- moderate sediment. Medium extraction, reddish purple with some bricking. Gorgeous nose of leather, cedarbox, tobacco, and cherry. On the palate, ripe fruit and a Ludden's cough drop or red jujube cherry flavor and layered nuaces of meat, licorice, cola and spices. Still has ample structure and a nice moderate-length finish.
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11/13/2004 - burgbob wrote: 90 Points
Tasted half dozen times in past three years. Consistent notes. Ready to drink, bordeaux profile but plenty of ripe fruit. Beautiful balance on good length.
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2/1/2001 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($20) Nose of chocolate and red fruit. Great concentration and length. Chocolate, leather, fruit. Creamy mouth feel. Would be even more like milk chocolate with slightly less pucker power. Nice wine. $20
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6/1/2000 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($20) Complex roasted red fruits, subtle smoky oak. Earth, Brettomyces. Interesting, concentrated and layered. Nice Tanzer gave it high marks, it certainly pleases
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1/1/1999 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Knockout Nose! It's all about raspberry liqueur and pine or another woodsy quality. Medium bodied, ripe sweet delicious stuff. The nose, though is its best quality. Grows a bit dry and woody with exposure. Sweet dried cherry fruit in the finish.
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