BBQ at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): 4th and last bottle and a consistent 91 once again. Requires some decanting albeit this time we did not. A bit of a new world cab with a twist s always what thsi wine reminds us. Well evolved now and its a shame we did not keep a bottle to try in 5yrs but this just drinks so well now and ideal when one needs a wine with a bit of spine t take on meaty foods. Good ripeness, well assimilated oak and very solid. 91
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A poor show of a bottle. Not flawed but not as good as others so maybe an off one ( we hope) rather than the wine dropping off a cliff. Last TN we have from 1 yr ago this wine was a 91... we have one more and covid allowing we can go get it from storage at some point 2020 problems... No rating this time though
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Decanted and served. We love to serve this blind as it makes people go in tangents. New World Cab is what people placed it as it has that ripeness for sure and herby edge. Even Nicol we tried this 2 times before could not relate or place it. Very solid wine once again and the best cellar defender money can buy. 91
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Once again served blind to perplex people. The closer we got was Andreas who said its an american single blend 9 years old. The vote was that this is a 5-8 years old merlot. This time was less of a rhone wine, more violets, more pronounced american oak. Lovely ripeness adn very solid on the palate. Took its time to become more expressive and on the palate remained a bit on the blunt side. Solid 91 and very interesting. Drink now but definitely this is not showing its 18yrs of age.
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Tasted blind and was really perplexing (in a nice way). Felt like a Rhone wine with a touch of extra ripeness , not heavy overdone ripeness, but depth of flavor and layered. We thought it was a Grange des peres or a young Trevallon . Light spice, light herbs edge, good ripe fruit, round and energetic and in a way special. More ready than their Cabs of course and less use of oak here (or at least well assimilated). For 50£ worth it and would buy more. 91-92 and drinks very nicely now.
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4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Our house): Aromas of dark fruit and pepper with meaty overtones. Flavors of dark fruit, pepper and spices. Balanced and full-integrated. Good finish. Guessed CA Syrah.
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Started off wonderfully with big licorice, minty lift, great freshness and that ridge herby/savoury backend. After about 2 hours open it turned into a carmel/spun sugar/pruney bottle of menh.
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A Mixed Bag in Toronto on a Wednesday (Jay's Place - Toronto, On): Killer showing from this humble wine. It pours deep and opaque with no bricking. From the first pour this was deep, polished and rich with notes of cassis, blackberry, aged sweet balsamic, tar, brown sugar, and hints of caramel. For whatever reason this reminded me of the polish of a Sandrone Barolo or a Tuscan Merlot. The palate is lush with abundant tannin and a medium finish carried on dark fruit. The big caveat here was that after a couple of hours of air this became extremely caramelized and butterscoth driven. A big detractor for most at the table.
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5/19/2021 - gjv115 wrote: flawed
Flawed, sadly.
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8/9/2020 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
BBQ at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): 4th and last bottle and a consistent 91 once again. Requires some decanting albeit this time we did not.
A bit of a new world cab with a twist s always what thsi wine reminds us. Well evolved now and its a shame we did not keep a bottle to try in 5yrs but this just drinks so well now and ideal when one needs a wine with a bit of spine t take on meaty foods. Good ripeness, well assimilated oak and very solid. 91
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4/3/2020 - Papies wrote:
A poor show of a bottle. Not flawed but not as good as others so maybe an off one ( we hope) rather than the wine dropping off a cliff. Last TN we have from 1 yr ago this wine was a 91... we have one more and covid allowing we can go get it from storage at some point 2020 problems... No rating this time though
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7/10/2019 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and served. We love to serve this blind as it makes people go in tangents.
New World Cab is what people placed it as it has that ripeness for sure and herby edge. Even Nicol we tried this 2 times before could not relate or place it. Very solid wine once again and the best cellar defender money can buy. 91
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10/16/2018 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Once again served blind to perplex people. The closer we got was Andreas who said its an american single blend 9 years old. The vote was that this is a 5-8 years old merlot.
This time was less of a rhone wine, more violets, more pronounced american oak. Lovely ripeness adn very solid on the palate. Took its time to become more expressive and on the palate remained a bit on the blunt side. Solid 91 and very interesting. Drink now but definitely this is not showing its 18yrs of age.
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7/22/2018 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Tasted blind and was really perplexing (in a nice way). Felt like a Rhone wine with a touch of extra ripeness , not heavy overdone ripeness, but depth of flavor and layered. We thought it was a Grange des peres or a young Trevallon . Light spice, light herbs edge, good ripe fruit, round and energetic and in a way special. More ready than their Cabs of course and less use of oak here (or at least well assimilated). For 50£ worth it and would buy more. 91-92 and drinks very nicely now.
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6/27/2015 - AllRed wrote:
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Our house): Aromas of dark fruit and pepper with meaty overtones. Flavors of dark fruit, pepper and spices. Balanced and full-integrated. Good finish. Guessed CA Syrah.
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3/26/2015 - Vinoevelo wrote:
Started off wonderfully with big licorice, minty lift, great freshness and that ridge herby/savoury backend. After about 2 hours open it turned into a carmel/spun sugar/pruney bottle of menh.
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3/25/2015 - Wine Canuck wrote: 91 Points
A Mixed Bag in Toronto on a Wednesday (Jay's Place - Toronto, On): Killer showing from this humble wine. It pours deep and opaque with no bricking. From the first pour this was deep, polished and rich with notes of cassis, blackberry, aged sweet balsamic, tar, brown sugar, and hints of caramel. For whatever reason this reminded me of the polish of a Sandrone Barolo or a Tuscan Merlot. The palate is lush with abundant tannin and a medium finish carried on dark fruit. The big caveat here was that after a couple of hours of air this became extremely caramelized and butterscoth driven. A big detractor for most at the table.
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12/6/2008 - williamswhine wrote: 89 Points
Soft and silky, dark plum appearance -- perhaps a little past its prime but still a nice wine
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