Lighter in color especially towards the edges almost orange tinged, nose of red berries and white pepper, a bolder spiced component as well, milder on the palette, firm enough to have some intensity, but a watery fruitiness, pepper in the back of the tongue and throat.
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Peppery, medium acidity, light smooth tannins. Easy sipping. Not a love, kind of a like. I wouldn't get it again.
UPDATE: After a few more tastings, I changed from neutral to dislike. I don't enjoy it, it's just too simple and fruity. Not as peppery as when I first opened it, but just not something I'd want to drink.
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Candy, one dimensional, no balance. In no way could this be confused for even a poorly produced rhone.
Got progressively worse as it opened, more and more candied and disjointed, lacking any kind of saving grace acidity or excitement.
Serving temperatures from too cool to too warm and everything in between, from PnP to hours of decanting, always just bad.
Astringent, bitterly medicinal, yet still cheap, generic candy sweet. Was hoping for more given the relatively restrained abv for its region on the label, disappointment. Mistake. This is garbage. Oh well.
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Loads of red fruit, impression of sweetness, some herb and brush; the Grenache is screaming loud and yet there is some tannin and other elements in here too. Pleasurable and easy; interesting for its actual location and could be mistaken for actual Rhone. 89+ (but something holding me back from full 90)
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Fresh, juicy, ripe red fruits. Some vague savoury notes but really just an easy fruity wine. Much more balance and life than most other California wines in the price category
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Disappointing. An overall candied sweetness to the up front fruit (dry wine at 4g/L residual sugar). Short length of finish. Very fruity, but not thick or dense fruit. Medium bodied. Some slight bitterness on finish. Kind of a meh overall wine meant for the mass market. Not really complex. Tannins are pretty much non-existent. Medium acidity.
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Outstanding blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Petite Syrah and Counoise. Randall Grahm produces this Rhône valley blend in the Central Coast of California. Great balance between body and acidity, very fruity and also with a beautiful structure. A very serious wine with a great alcohol volume at 13,6. Wonderful wine.
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Hearing bad things about the new regime, I thought I'd give this a go. Lovely raspberry and white pepper nose that carries through to the palate. A bit of tension and a lightness on the palate that really delights and perhaps some Mourvedre-style funk. Not grand at all but good fun and works both with and without food. More like a decent lighter style Cotes du Rhone than a Chateauneuf-a-like. Much better than the 2020 Cigare Blanc. Fair value at £14 on special offer.
What happened to Le Cigare? I was a big fan of these wines - 2007 in particular, but have had several different years - and this is not in the same league. The reduced price should have been a warning, I guess. Maybe Mr. Graham is using his better grapes for something else, now? The goofiness of Le Cigare Volant - the name, the label art, the story - was fun because the wine was good. It’s not fun now that the wine is average.
I enjoy Grenache Syrah blends and this didn't disappoint for a Cali offering. Easy smooth drinking red that while not overly complex a nice everday wine goes well with food or without especially for the discount price I got at $13.
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This is a far cry from the Cigar Volante vintages of the 80s and 90s. Light, almost Beaujelais in character. Surprised there's no Gamay in this wine. It's fruity, berry, not particularly intriguing but I suppose with the right fat content there will be a compatible foid-wine experience. 87/100 (I'm being generous with score due to fond memories of old vintages).
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The wine is nice for this moment: cherry twizzlers without being plastic candy sweet, tobacco, herbs and a touch of chocolate. It's light and smooth, definitely does not have a lingering finish. In this moment, it's pretty good and easy going.
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Primarily from Monterey, this blend of 42% Grenache, 31% Cinsault, 24% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Counoise has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is fresh, ripe, plummy, red fruited with a subtle smokiness. It’s medium-full bodied with smooth, nicely textured tannins. Flavours are dry and nicely balanced with red fruits, currant, red cherry, and subtle wood. Fresh, balanced acids. Long, red fruited, cherry, and smoky finish.
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2/16/2024 - dpodratsky3 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Lighter in color especially towards the edges almost orange tinged, nose of red berries and white pepper, a bolder spiced component as well, milder on the palette, firm enough to have some intensity, but a watery fruitiness, pepper in the back of the tongue and throat.
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10/31/2023 - chatters wrote:
Phil's impromptu tasting fun (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): Clean, red berry fruit, a little spice, blackberry, pepper, a little smoky note. Beautifully integrated acid, fruit, spice, softly grainy tannins, long, elegant, fresh, generous, really lovely.
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10/23/2023 - Z1nnfull wrote: 90 Points
Very good Cali expression of a Rhone blend
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7/19/2023 - Twopawsup wrote: 85 Points
Dark pink color with medium legs. Cherry and spices on the nose. Peppery palate with raspberry color. Angular finish with a bit of heat.
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7/6/2023 - chrisk525 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Peppery, medium acidity, light smooth tannins. Easy sipping. Not a love, kind of a like. I wouldn't get it again.
UPDATE: After a few more tastings, I changed from neutral to dislike. I don't enjoy it, it's just too simple and fruity. Not as peppery as when I first opened it, but just not something I'd want to drink.
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7/5/2023 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprisingly great California red Rhone blend
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6/15/2023 - erhall05 wrote:
Was medium body. Easy drinking. Nothing special
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6/1/2023 - Neumann U47 Does not like this wine:
Candy, one dimensional, no balance. In no way could this be confused for even a poorly produced rhone.
Got progressively worse as it opened, more and more candied and disjointed, lacking any kind of saving grace acidity or excitement.
Serving temperatures from too cool to too warm and everything in between, from PnP to hours of decanting, always just bad.
Astringent, bitterly medicinal, yet still cheap, generic candy sweet. Was hoping for more given the relatively restrained abv for its region on the label, disappointment. Mistake. This is garbage. Oh well.
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5/8/2023 - Jzizzle Likes this wine: 89 Points
Loads of red fruit, impression of sweetness, some herb and brush; the Grenache is screaming loud and yet there is some tannin and other elements in here too. Pleasurable and easy; interesting for its actual location and could be mistaken for actual Rhone. 89+ (but something holding me back from full 90)
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2/5/2023 - BPaff Likes this wine: 87 Points
Fresh, juicy, ripe red fruits. Some vague savoury notes but really just an easy fruity wine. Much more balance and life than most other California wines in the price category
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1/26/2023 - OttawaB Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Disappointing. An overall candied sweetness to the up front fruit (dry wine at 4g/L residual sugar). Short length of finish. Very fruity, but not thick or dense fruit. Medium bodied. Some slight bitterness on finish. Kind of a meh overall wine meant for the mass market. Not really complex. Tannins are pretty much non-existent. Medium acidity.
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1/22/2023 - atrabado Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Petite Syrah and Counoise. Randall Grahm produces this Rhône valley blend in the Central Coast of California. Great balance between body and acidity, very fruity and also with a beautiful structure. A very serious wine with a great alcohol volume at 13,6. Wonderful wine.
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12/16/2022 - jmcmchi wrote:
Most of bottle went into the pot. In the glass, a bit on the thin side
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12/4/2022 - king-bing wrote:
Hearing bad things about the new regime, I thought I'd give this a go. Lovely raspberry and white pepper nose that carries through to the palate. A bit of tension and a lightness on the palate that really delights and perhaps some Mourvedre-style funk. Not grand at all but good fun and works both with and without food. More like a decent lighter style Cotes du Rhone than a Chateauneuf-a-like. Much better than the 2020 Cigare Blanc. Fair value at £14 on special offer.
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12/4/2022 - melzar wrote: 88 Points
Tastes like a southern Rhone blend. A little too rustic for me. Well made and a good value, but not my style.
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12/4/2022 - redblendsandredheads Likes this wine:
Smooth?
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11/22/2022 - acorelli wrote: 87 Points
What happened to Le Cigare? I was a big fan of these wines - 2007 in particular, but have had several different years - and this is not in the same league. The reduced price should have been a warning, I guess. Maybe Mr. Graham is using his better grapes for something else, now? The goofiness of Le Cigare Volant - the name, the label art, the story - was fun because the wine was good. It’s not fun now that the wine is average.
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11/22/2022 - redmancge wrote: 87 Points
I enjoy Grenache Syrah blends and this didn't disappoint for a Cali offering. Easy smooth drinking red that while not overly complex a nice everday wine goes well with food or without especially for the discount price I got at $13.
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11/16/2022 - prv530 wrote: 87 Points
This is a far cry from the Cigar Volante vintages of the 80s and 90s. Light, almost Beaujelais in character. Surprised there's no Gamay in this wine. It's fruity, berry, not particularly intriguing but I suppose with the right fat content there will be a compatible foid-wine experience. 87/100 (I'm being generous with score due to fond memories of old vintages).
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11/11/2022 - Wisco Mel Likes this wine:
The wine is nice for this moment: cherry twizzlers without being plastic candy sweet, tobacco, herbs and a touch of chocolate. It's light and smooth, definitely does not have a lingering finish. In this moment, it's pretty good and easy going.
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10/26/2022 - John Haddon wrote: 58 Points
This is not a wine that I enjoyed. I returned the other 3 bottles and I will try something else.
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8/4/2022 - Jfolks wrote:
Loved it
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4/12/2022 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 90 Points
Primarily from Monterey, this blend of 42% Grenache, 31% Cinsault, 24% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Counoise has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is fresh, ripe, plummy, red fruited with a subtle smokiness. It’s medium-full bodied with smooth, nicely textured tannins. Flavours are dry and nicely balanced with red fruits, currant, red cherry, and subtle wood. Fresh, balanced acids. Long, red fruited, cherry, and smoky finish.
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2/10/2022 - jmcmchi wrote: 87 Points
Much better on second day, when syrah tarry notes emerge. Better matchedwith rich-ish foods.
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1/16/2022 - 1NOWNLY wrote: flawed
Pretty sure this has smoke taint..Somebody pop this and review so I can be reassured..or my btl is corked..and its a twist off!
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