Decanted 90 minutes. Continues to drink well with notes of dark concentrated fruit (black raspberry, cherry, currant), earth, and spice. This wine has a nice velvety mouthfeel with soft tannins and long finish. Paired with grilled baby back ribs.
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Let stand 24h from cellar before opening. Deep purple color. Needed about an hour to open up and stayed consistent over the next few hours. Blackberry, kirsch, raisony, almost like an Amarone. Paired perfectly with BBQ Pork. Well integrated medium tannins, long beautiful finish. Still in prime drinking window probably for another 5+ years. Drinking beautifully now.
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Opened and let it breathe for about a hour. Nose shows mature notes dark cherries and blueberry paste with some hints of raisins. Beautiful acidity and grippy tannins still, with a dense a complex palate of raisins, molasses, white pepper, dark fruits, tobacco. Long ending that has beautiful oaky notes. Am excellent wine we paired we a 1.4lbs, 60-day dry aged NY strip steak.
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Perfect example of a wine at peak. Dont wait, open up and enjoy. No hurry, but this wine will not get better that this. Last bottle, enjoyed alongside a 2005 Pavie.
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Double decanted off its sediment and followed over the course of three+ hours. Perfect, and I mean perfect, cork- you'd think this was current vintage. Abundant rich plummy black fruits, chocolate and mocha with a great herbal overtone. Soft tannins. Lingering finish. Absolutely wonderful and at peak; should last a couple of years at this level.
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Not quite at the sublime level of my 2017 review, but still deeply content rated with intense black fruit, licorice and menthol. At or near peak, drink now-2025.
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This wine continues to drink very well with notes similar to my last tasting a year ago. Dark fruit with spice, hints of damp earth, cedar. Tannins are still prominent but well integrated. Drinking very well.
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Big bold wine. Still a lot of youth. Nose of dark berries, pencil lead. Powerful juice right of the bat. Plum, dark berries, tobacco. Likely to continue aging very nicely.
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Big, dark and rich wine that really has a lot going on. I last tasted this in 2009, and while this style of wine was more in my wheelhouse then, I think the wine is showing better now. I think this has many years of life left, and would be interesting to try again in another 10 years.
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Another classic bottle, showing no real signs of aging, with a nose of pencil shavings, black cherry and blackberry, and powerful flavors in the mouth: plum, fresh blackberry and currant. Cigar box notes on the finish.
This has really shined in the last couple years, hitting a peak that I really didn’t anticipate in its youth. Should be good for another ten years.
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Dark purple, glass coating, big rich, ripe, black cassis, black cherry, but then smoothed out and showed nuance with underbrush, shrooms, leather, spice, lovely tangy and lift in the finish, amazing surprise, and not so big and overdone in the end, especially when compared to the Shafer Hillside. 2nd place tonight after the Rostaing Cote Blonde. Blind Dirty Dozen TOC dinner at La Paella
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Decanted 2 hrs. Notes similar to last tasting a year ago: A fairly extracted wine with notes of dark cherry, cedar, earth, pepper with prominent but smooth tannins. Great velvety mouthfeel with long finish. This wine continues to drink well and has years to go. Paired very nicely with grilled tenderloin burgers.
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Decanted 2 hrs. A fairly extracted wine with notes of dark cherry, cedar, earth, pepper with prominent but smooth tannins. Great velvety mouthfeel with long finish. This wine has years to go. Paired very nicely with grilled dry-aged Wagyu ribeye steaks and grilled lobster tails.
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Decanted and drank over 2 hours. Big beautiful nose of fruit, some cedar and spice. The wine has excellent fruit, smooth tannins and a long tasty finish. Went great with NY strip steaks. Not sure why drinking window says to drink by 2019…at least a few more years of great drinking, probably more.
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Pop and pour. Last of a coravin'd bottle. Aromas of plum, dried cherry, blackberry, mint and eucalyptus. Flavors of plum, cherry, mint, blackberry and touch of earth. Ends with a big 45+ second finish with plum and cherry notes. The coravin is really an amazing product. Tastes just as good as it did the first time.
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Gros vin ici, dense et corsé. En a encore beaucoup sousla pédale. Un bon 3 heures en carafe car fermé à l'ouverture. Mures, cassis et prunes avec chocolat. Tannins charnus et acidité moyenne. Finale interminable et capiteuse. Un monstre encore.
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From the Coravin. Let sit in the glass for 2 hours. Aromas of blackberry, plum, currant, mint and eucalyptus. Favors of cherry, blackberry, currant, touch of plum and touch of cocoa. Ends with a nice 40 second finish with plum and mint notes. This is in a great spot right now but glad I have more in the bottle.
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Decanted an hour before the first glass; still had a lot of astringent qualities, acid, not integrated at all. Thought the bottle might be flawed.
After 2 hours, it had opened up. Acid and tannins are beautifully integrated at this point, providing structure but not particularly noticeable. Currant, fig, other dark fruit and a little graphite on the finish. Medium-plus body, medium legs.
I’ve had a few other bottles of this over the past decade and this one didn’t quite have the horsepower of previous samples - it’s probably starting to fade, so likely need to drink up. There was, unfortunately, only a very brief window where it was truly singing with the 30+ second finish I associate with this vintage. Still a great wine.
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Dark ruby/garnet in glass with no loss of color. Deep dark berries/cassis on bouquet. Maybe a hint of graphite but fruit still overpowers. Less fruit on palate but still dark and strong, possibly dark chocolate/espresso. Long, lingering, mouth coating finish. This has plenty of legs left.
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Fruity and a little funky (in a good way at least to me) on the nose. Full bodied with a good dose of spice supported by soft tannin. The Carmenère really gave it an interesting character. I just kept going back for more.
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Wonderful fruit finish, notes of strawberry, bright cherries, and white chocolate. Silky smooth, I am a fan. The 2009 and 2005 have same scores from the critics, but for me these are two different worlds. The 2009 is dark, lacks complexity&length. The 2005 is elegant and lengthy.
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WS #1 wine from way back. Held on to this to give it time to cellar. Didn’t disappoint. Inky black Color, Bordeaux like on the nose as others have said. Licorice, Dark fruits and graphite in the nose, plenty of fruit on the palate. Long legs and smooth integrated tannins. Olive and dusty tobacco nuances behind blackberry dried plum and casis flavors. Long finish. I would put it up against any To Kolon vineyard fruit. Well done.
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- Brick color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry and black currant. It's balanced with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - Perfect condition being in my cellar from OWC. Drinking great with plenty of time left.
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Well, I waited too long with this one. The velvety tannins, dense body, and hint of pepper associated with the wine was long gone. It was acidic and bland. I might have let this one go a couple years too long. Normally, I'd rate this at a 92, but I'm forgoing the rating out of respect for this deceased bottle.
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3rd time rating this. It's really evolved over the time I've had it. First time was super, then it was a little hot, but now it has mellowed and is drinking beautifully. Sorry to see it go...
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PnP. Medium dark purple in color. Nose to me is ripe dark fruit, black cherry liqueur, pencil shavings, cigar ash. Lovely, fairly rounded palate that is about ripe fruit, but also pretty restrained power, as it is pretty light on its feet. Spicy. Nose reminds me of Bordeaux while the palate reminds me of a Zin/Cab blend. This bottle has plenty of life ahead of it but drinking nicely right now.
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Another in the good/better/best/special reserve/private cuvee/etc etc etc offerings that all the new world wineries, and many/most (too many in any event) have imitated in Europe. Am I being curmudgeonly to wish for the days of only good/best? And at the price this commands I can't say its a good deal in any sense of the word. But whatever...
A bordeaux blend that was medium weight, with notes of cassis, spice, earth and tobacco. Drier on the finish than I would have thought from the fruit on the nose. Nice to drink, just not nice to buy.
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Black berries, chocolate, coffee / mocca and sweet licorice on the nose. Concentrated, dark fruit and berries with soft tannins and elegant acidity on the palet. Maybe a bit too "berry-sweet" for my taste.
Don't hold on to it longer.
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Very restrained upon opening and a decant but opened up with time. Did not hit its stride until about the third hour. Cherry and tobacco and very tasty at that point.
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Last of my 3 bottles and wish I had more. Opened the others 5 and 10 years ago. This was by far the best showing! Needed the cellar time for fruit integration, maturing tannins, and balance to be a world class contender. Wonderful evolution over 2-3 hours. Worked really well with lamb and venison.
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Tasted double blind. The first time I’ll have an aged example of this wine. Any concerns about the ageability of these wines can be put to bed. This wine showed even a bit young! Overall, I’ve got a positive impression but for a higher rating the complexity and the balance would have to be better.
TN: Dark fruit, mineral scents and some herbs on the medium- expressive nose. More interesting on the palate with a beautiful sweet fruit core with strawberries and cassis, additional aromas of dry soil and herbs. Good intensity, good delineation, not overly high complexity. Structure is marked by noticeable but fine tannins and a slightly too high acidity, medium- length.
Decanting: Decanted for roughly 3+ hours which seems right.
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Koncentrerad doft med tydliga mognadstoner som drar åt choklad och välitegrerad balanserad ek. Björnbär, svartavinbär, fräsch doft. Koncenterad smak med rostade nötter, frukt, silkeslena tanniner, mörka bär och en pigg friskhet. Peak-time enligt min mening!
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The nose could pass for a great Bordeaux, loads of currant, black plum and blackberry, black tea, pencil shaving, but with a touch of loam that makes it recognizable as Chilean. It’s a great start. The mouth is equal to it or better. Powerful, full bodied, still bright and fresh but also mature, black cherry with tobacco and tar. Tannins are still quite firm, but sweet. Long juicy and rich finish.
This bottle suggests it’s just beginning maturity, and could drink great for another 10 years.
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Inky colored. Full bodied. Classic Cabernet notes of cassis and blackberry. An interesting taste of savory olive and bacon- Syrah like on the finish. Fine tannins remain- the best bottle yet.
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Believe it or not, but tight start for a 14 year old wine. Opened beautifully over a two hour period. Tannins were smooth and fruit was smooth. Loads of blackberry. Cedar and dark cherries persist.
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- Brick color with slow forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant, blackberry and licorice anise with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Still needs some more time. You can really taste the black berries in this wine. A long finish.
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Brief 1/2 hour decant before drinking over two hours. Dark fruit mixed with earthy flavors, some tobacco, but a little hot, which I attribute to fading fruit. I recently had a 2013 version of this wine which I liked more. Perhaps this is bottle specific.
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I've been too conservative with my ratings over the years. That changes with this bottle. Tonight this was singing and hit the mark for my palate. Decanted in glass for over an hour. This is superior juice and just delicious. Structured with perfectly integrated tannins. Layered with great texture and mouthfeel. Satisfying long finish. Not much more you could want here for the style. One of my favorite producers. Too bad the price has risen so much, but this is excellent quality. Last and best bottle of 6.
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- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's in total harmony and has flavours of raisin and strawberry jam with a medium body. Oily texture with a medium finish.
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This bottle was terrific. This vintage has come together beautifully. Complex with graphite, dark fruit, and mineral. Long finish. Moderate tannins. This bottle was in a secondary stage of maturity. Drink or Hold.
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4th Saturday Group: South America & Spain (M&LA's): Blind. Loam, plum, dark fruit, cherry and licorice. Plum and dark fruit on the palate with medium tannins. Hints of ripe raisiny fruit as it sits in the glass, also picking up a slight medicinal quality that is a little disappointing. I did not guess this as our Clos Apalta.
This was double decanted off its sediment not quite three hours before this flight was poured.
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A great wine! This is WOW! Perfume like penetrating floral and dark fruits bouquet, purple ruby red, still young, full body, smooth and refined tannins, firm structure, so complex, yet so soft, chocolate-ish creamy velvet coating your palate, vanilla, loads of blackberry, currants, delineated, this is a first class wine. One of the best wines I ever tasted. Bravo!
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I am not generally a fan of new world big wines. If I drink Chilean it’s usually almaviva. I have perfect temperature and humidity controlled cellars, so have aged approprtiately. Out of two cases bought, I have about a case of this left.
Up until this point, the wine has been unimpressive, either too big or tight. Openend, decanted for an hour and drank. It’s fantastic, Bordeaux texture/complexity with a new world fruit. It’s still young, with my conditions, needs about 3-5 years of aging.
I agree with the previous reviewer. like liquid cashmere, could not describe it better. This wine has it all, I think this may be the best wine I have ever tasted. Nose was incredible, finish just did not end. I need to find more of this beauty.
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One of my favorite wines. This baby is HUGE, but finishes like liquid cashmere. The nose is incredible with rose petals and lavender. Plenty of fruit and moderate tannins complete a beautiful wine. Blackberry, and black cherry, along with a hint of smoke & leather. Still has time, but delicious and in a great spot right now.
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Un gran vino, delicioso. Debe estar en su cuspide: intensa fruta roja con unos taninos sedosos. Profundo y brillante rojo rubí de capa baja y rivetes rojo ladrillo. La madera aflora despues de la hora de abierto, mientras tanto es pura fruta. Muy recomendable
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Decanted for 45 min back in the bottle and off to Smith and Wollensky with Samaj. Wine is a treat nose packed with dark chocolate and fruit, smooth, thick coats your mouth and lingers Paired nicely with a Cajun ribeye Wine has plenty of life ahead
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Great bottle of wine. A sleeper for sure. See previous notes from 3. A sleeper for sure. See previous notes from 2015.
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Oh was this gorgeous! Even after shipping out to Las Vegas for dinner with friends it was so perfectly balanced, with bright fruit, soft tannin and smooth cascade of deep plush dark berry, fresh flowers and long gentle finish. By itself and with just about every dish we ordered at Lago the wine was a perfect complement. Just as big a thrill now as on release as WOTY, maybe at its peak but not ready to fall off anytime soon.
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Showed a bit of underbrush & earth--calmer fruit too than the bottle opened nearly a year ago. Still dark fruit driven & broad, but I enjoyed this; went especially great with roasted boar.
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I'm still holding on to my 96 rating. Still showing a great nose of dark fruits with some earth. Tannins are now pretty well integrated with a long finish. Maybe not WOTY now but still a really good wine.
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Still quite big and ripe and youthfull, but developing some complexity. Fairly balanced for 15% but if not cellar temp would've been hot. While this was very good, not sure I get the WOTY hype.
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Jelly doughnut, Bordeaux, and wine tasting room on the nose. Bourbon, smoke, and grape popsicle. Perfect tannins. Rich and smooth. My wife claimed this wine lacked depth; she thought that it was harsh too. However, I really liked this wine.
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So sad this was my last bottle of this monster. Each one got better over the eight years I drank them and I'm sure this wine has many more years to mature. Just a fantastic wine.
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This seems to be a very polarizing wine, some liked it and some did not in our group. I felt like it had a very hot nose, but if you get through the alcohol, there was some beautifully perfumed florals, and scorched earth, on the palette the alcohol was back out in force and I found it difficult to get clear notes. This is a massively big wine with a lot of alcohol present and strong oak treatment.
In our group 3/8 felt this was WOTN, while several others had it 3rd out of 4 wines. I am not sure if this one could use more time to develop, or if it is falling apart in the bottle. I have had other vintages of this wine that were much more enjoyable. No score as I just did not get it with this wine.
This is slowly entering maturation stage, a lot of dark cherries rapped with moderate oak treatment. Needs like at least an hour in decanter to become better together, good balance and quite enjoyable now, but will get better with time, my guess is it could last for another decade.
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Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The tannins are coarse and woody with the feel showing an extracted side along with bell peppers, chocolate, coffee, dark red cherries, sour red berries, and oak tones.
Overall: This was hard to identify blind. I only knew that it was a bordeaux blend, but it was hard to put down the country. I liked this a lot more when it was younger. While my palate has changed, I'm also just not sure if this has aged as well as was expected. The oak hasn't integrated with time and its not that the tannins aren't resolving, its that they feel like they're more wood driven. Maybe this was in a bit of a dumb period, but this bottle feels like it hasn't aged all that gracefully.
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Served blind within a 2005 BDX varietals theme. Yikes, I really did not care for this bottle, though I loved one 8 years ago. Question is whether it's my palate or the wine that has evolved since that bottle? Definitely my palate, but probably the wine too. I found the nose unattractive due to it's high toned veneer -- some VA and lots of canned/candied fruits. The palate is more pleasant thought the fruit still leans quite sweet. The tannins are velvety and provide a good countering structure.
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The Rotating Dinners, I.7: 2005 Bordeaux Blends (Chicago, IL): Served double-blind (but it was known this was a 2005 Bordeaux blend). Based on the dirt here, I had this pegged as an old world wine (albeit not a very good one). Quite plummy, I thought the merlot showed quite prominently here. There's quite a bit of oak; not too obtrusive, as well as a little bit of acid. Heavy tannin. I guessed some sort of modernist right-bank wine.
Poured into a decanter and drank over approximately 3 hours. This is a dark-cherry-skinned-red wine with substantial grit in the bottle – decanting is highly recommended – and staining potency in the mouth. On the nose, I get mint, green pepper, and chocolate. In the mouth, this is lush, albeit with a slight “prickle” at first (this fades with time), and with rich layers of flavor. The richness continues on the finish, with some sweet lingering flavor and only a slight nip of heat. Overall, this is a yummy wine with loads of flavor. It is a touch green at first, but air certainly helps open it up into a redder dimension. Look, I don’t think this is a wine of the year for any year I’ve been enjoying wine, but it is not inconceivable that WS selected it for that award given the desire for regional diversity, etc., etc. The fact remains that it is a very good, enjoyable wine, one that gets better with an hour of two of air – which suggest 5-10 more years of good longevity. 93 points.
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A massive and delicious fruit flavor dominated wine. I really don't get any tertriary flavors out of this. Dark plum, cassis, ripe berry, perhaps a bit of coffee. Thick and wonderful. They've put 1000mL of wine flavor into this 750mL bottle! Thanks to SD-Wineaux for opening this up.
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Outstanding. Gorgeous red and black fruit dominate this bold, rich, delicious wine. With an hour+ of decanting it showed a heavy Bordeaux leaning thanks to what it appears to be new french casks/barrels. Highly recommended
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Served with lamb at Easter dinner. The other wine was an Opus One. This wine suffered in comparison. While delicious and truly a Bordeaux-styled wine, we probably drank it at least 5 years too soon.
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Best showing for this wine, yet. Pepper/smoke/oak subdued compared to that in the past, perhaps because of bottle age or perhaps because it was paired with quite robust food. Drink now or over the next several years, pair with bold robust food.
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Good, rich, spicy red, but it was really anonymous. It was ten years old, but didn't show any signs of tertiary notes. It had somewhat strong spice, presumably from the carmenere, and ripe fruit on the mid-palate, but the finish was medium-ish. There isn't really anything wrong with this wine except that it will probably never meet exaggerated expectations. At ten years in, I think this will hang in there for a good while, but I don't get the feeling that this will evolve into anything special or more than it is now. Blind, this could be well made Napa, Argentina, Paso, Chile, Australia...
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Decanted 1 hour, poured back into the bottle and drank at a restaurant. Big wine. Carmenere really comes out. I enjoyed it, but not sure about the 95 points and the Wine of the Year. I'll drink my 2nd bottle soon.
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Quite some red and dark berries first, followed by graphite, mints, lavenders, black truffles, and precious wood in the nose; wow, very delicious on the palate, with just the right fruitiness, dark berries, stewed plums, dark chocolate, green peppers, mints, and wood spices; long finish, with most of the stuff from the palate; overall, 93-94 points.
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Tasted immediately after opening and a decant. Red fruit with a whiff of graphite and green pepper on the nose. Initially tart and lean on the palate. My wife tastes prunes. I am getting something more complex. Improved considerably after an hour or two of air. It added weight, texture, fruit and some savory spice came out of hiding. The score is mine after two hours in decanter or glass.
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I have just loved this wine and its probably my favorite Clos Apalta. After years of enjoying this wine it has hit its peak and started over the hump. Lets be clear, its still a 92 point wine and quite good, but the bright fruits are slipping and the secondary flavors are emerging. For some this may be criteria for raising the points. I have based my notes on how it was drinking from the beginning and now its moving into its twilight years.
Opened, decanted and ran though a screen filter. There was significant amounts of sediment so a little screening is appropriate at this stage.
Deep purple and no clarity. Nose was warm with hints of black fruits, prominent leather, cigar box and herbal elements.
On the palate its matches the nose pretty well. The dark fruits are less now and the secondary flavors are gaining ground. Still quite lush and balanced and quite enjoyable but for slightly different reasons then I wrote back in 2012 and 2014.
Open, filter, decant and enjoy this gem soon!
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I'll admit - I bought this wine because it was the #1 2008 for Wine Spectator. I'm glad I did and that I have a couple of bottles left. It's an amazing wine. Black currant, creme de cassis, a hint of graphite and some fig. An amazing wine to end the weekend.
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1 hour decant and drank a good-sized glass over about 1.5 hours. Served blind but we knew it was $80+ and from the Southern Hemisphere, we are all at a loss as to what it could be. The alcohol and green-ness stands out more than anything else. I is also thin and fragile, with significant wood. Not that enjoyable to drink. I hope this wine was better in its youth.
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South American Stars (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark purple red color. decanted for 45 minutes, drank 1 glass blind over 30 minutes. This was just a hot oaky mess from the get go on the nose and palate. The palate is thin, cassis, creme de cassis fruit, wood, alcohol. This struck me as a faded shell of what might have been. I'm not much of a carmenere fan to begin with, but I can't blame it on that. Given the faded fruit, my impression is that this wine is done vs. it needs time.
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While the nose continues to radiate beautifully, I sensed the flavor balance of the wine was a little "off." Could be this bottle, but I will not wait to long until I open my last bottle just in case this vintage is starting to decline. Looking forward to the 2009 & 10s!
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i purchased this bottle 6 months ago from my place of work, where it had been properly cellared since its arrival ~2008. Shared this with my parents and girlfriend.
the 2005 Clos Apalta was rated wine of the year in 2008 by the Wine Spectator with a score of 96 points. It also received 95 from suckling and 94 from Parker. the blend is 42% Carmenere, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot.
Drinking heavenly. ripe, powerful, but never candied. classy structure and gorgeous texture. consumed over 4 hours.
nose of black/blue fruit, ash, ceder, and rich minerality. think cement, graphite, and charred oak. underneath the characteristic Chilean nose comes a deep violent and sandlewood note that adds an old world refinement.
full body, perfectly integrated and textured tannins reminiscent of salty south american dark chocolate. fine grain. the oak adds structure but is also totally integrated and doesn't intrude on the nose or palate. plenty of fresh acidity and structural tannin to keep this rocking for a few years although i don't see it improving much beyond this point.
palate of ripe wild blackberries, blackcurrant and blueberry pie filling. despite these inky characteristics i get some youthful raspberry tang and bright cherry cola, perhaps from the 26% merlot. the decadent minerality comes across on the palate as cool and clean. pencil shavings, wet stone. this is a masterful blend where each grape shows it's regional characteristics but works in harmony to make a bottle that is more than the sum of its parts.
plenty of wildcard nuances i can barely put my finger on ie. candied onion, steak seasoning, candle wax and red apple skin. LONG sticky, grippy, savoury finish.
Hands down the finest Chilean wine i've had to date.
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Always one of my favorite wines any where, at the moment this is in a sweet spot. Super clean with virtually no sediment in the glass compare to a lot in the bottle. dark ruby plus bright raspberry. Exotic, brilliant, brilliant deep wine which pairs perfectly with rib steak or T-bone. If a date, this was a 21 year old Latina beauty who can discuss world affairs as well as neural network programming before taking you home and giving you a physical earthquake.
Fully mature and not likely to improve from here
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Amazing wine. Decanted for about 2 hours. Paired well with NY Strip and Filet. Great fruit up front followed by secondary notes of bitter sweet chocolate and cedar - long finish.
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My last bottle, and it was fantastic. I've enjoyed every bottle, but this one was at it's absolute peak. Deep dark fruits - plums, blackberries, etc. Rich silky-smooth fruit with an ethereal quality lengthy finish that's hard to describe. One of the best wines I've had in the past couple of years. Delicious.
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Bumping it up a point. Fantastic wine really delivered more than ever. Beautiful bouquet super sexy, drinks so well right now with plenty of life ahead. A must buy when you can come across it. 95+
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Has gotten better in the six years since I tried again...and did not feel like it has peaked yet. Will wait another few years for the final bottle. Wow.
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Fabulous... Waited till it was a decade old and was not disappointed. Powerful red that could have easily aged another decade. Decanted for an hour and paired with Provençal skirt steak with ratatouille and roast baby potatoes. French fajitas to go with South American Bordeaux.
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I had my first bottle 6 years ago. We were guests of this winery the year this vintage was harvested and it was anticipated it would do well. Turns out it won accolades. And in 2009 when I tried it I rated it very highly. But on opening our second of four bottles today (decanted for 2 hours) I feel as though the wine is quite hot. It is possible my palate has changed and I prefer blended / Bordeaux style wines more than I did back then. My reading on this now is tart cherry, pepper, chalk. I am concerned this will not improve over time.
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Wow! I'm so glad I waited for this to turn 10 years old. Opaque purple color turning violet at the rim with a transparent rim. The nose gives off high octane notes of dark berries, licorice, cola, cocoa and tobacco notes. The palate is full-bodied with a rich, decadent, velvety texture. Flavors of blackberry, currant, blueberry, cola, cigar box, espresso, and graphite form the core. It's got a 40-second finish with hints of earth, dried herbs and spice. This has come together so well in its 10th year - very well-integrated, harmonious and so alive! My only regret is that it's my last bottle. Drink now until 2025.
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Drinking well right now. Very lush and full of fruitiness, although the body is lightened by the Carmenere grapes. Tannins subdued. Needs at least a few hours of decanting before it comes into its own.
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- Garnet color with slow forming legs. It's in total harmony and has flavours of black olive, cherry and strawberry jam with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Great wine and well balanced.
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Just gets better and better...really singing. Popped and poured. Nose of dry oak and dark fruits. Palate of the same. Don't know if I'll wait another year to open the next one???
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More than two years later, this wine continues to be a pleasure to drink. Unbelievably rich fruit that has become more chewy with age but with a finish that has more complicity with notes of licorice, cassis and dark chocolate. Must decant for at least an hour to get all the subtle flavors.
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Brought this bottle to drink before a Bob Seger concert. PnP. Dark fruit, medium bodied, good finish, very smooth. This seems very young to me as the secondary notes just aren't there. I believe this will significantly improve with bottle time and plan to put my remaining 2 back in the cellar for a few years. Concert was fantastic by the way.
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Decanted for about 2 hours. Rich, dark wine with nice texture and complexity, a delicious wine. Paired very well with dry-aged steak, and gave no indication that its time to drink up -- feel free to give it 3-5 years before pulling the next one, or enjoy with air now.
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Great nose of darker fruit, tobacco, and damp earth. Solid, very structured tannins that were yet pleasant. Unbelievable finish! Probably near its prime but will remain this way for 5-10 yrs. somewhere between new and old world which made it a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving.
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Decanted 6 hours and served with grilled lamb chops. Ahh, maturity. This shows the burnished fruit and softened edges of a wine entering its prime. Beautiful dark fruit with notes of smoked herbs, tobacco, and underside of the saddle that brings a feral rusticity to the fore. The tannins are slightly drying on the medium length finish which only accentuate the rustic appeal. Drinking beautifully now, this flows effortless across the palate.
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Seems to be entering it's prime drinking window. Has a nose of dark and slightly spicy and smokey fruits. In the palate it's got beautiful rustic dark fruits witha bit of spice and minerality. Has very fine tannins for structure, but its acidity is fading. Really delicious right now.
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A nice cabernet, not WOTY great. Had 3 bottles in my cellar since 2008 and this is the 2nd one I have tried. Needed about an hour to open up and I feel it is still got some good years ahead.
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2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): Deep ruby/red and highly aromatic, this blend of 42% Carménère, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot is hitting its stride. Lavender, plum, fig, tobacco and graphite are delivered on the nose and palate. Medium-to-full-bodied, round, seamlessly alcoholic and with medium-weight tannins, it maintains a silky mouth texture throughout the middle palate and lengthy finish. Although this wine has loads of stuffing, it is distinctly "feminine" and a joy to drink. It should be at its best over the next decade. Drink now-2024.
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Restrained blackberry flavor with herbaceous undertone and some black tar. Medium body and moderate, but still grippy tannins. Drying finish with some cedar.
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Excellent. Gave it a few hours decant and well worth it. Needed to breathe a bit. Awesome perfume of fruits and herbs on the nose. Flavor profile is full of dark fruit, chocolate, spices, oak. Well balanced and rich, great finish. Drinks well now but can hold for much longer.
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Sweet cherry fruit. The tannins are nearly completely integrated. Probably drinking as well as this ever will. A nice Bordeaux blend, but a bit one dimensional.
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Disappointing bottle tonight. Alcohol overwhelmed the fruit and the vanilla and other flavors that have been present before. Maybe in a dumb phase or bottle is past prime. Not sure, but disappointed.
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Drank it together with Thomas at Piment in Hamburg together with Opus One 2007. Clos Apalta lost. In the nose dark berries, Vanilla, still very fruity. in the palate the same, missing complexity, soft, silky tannins . I expected a little bit more diversity. Great wine with a lot of Power. was my last bottle
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Filtered and Decanted 2 hours - medium sediment. Deep garnet extended to edges - no clearing at the edges detected. Still, I agree with those who think it might start to fade in 2-3 years. My first bottle. I have 2 more and expect to drink them before 2017.
My wife is strict about not drinking reds young, and found this level of aging "just right". Very much in the bordeaux style, but the flavor profile is different, I assume that is the carmenere.
As others have noted, this stuff KILLS a medium rare T-bone.
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A good buddy brought this to dinner - PNP into decanter and consumed 30 minutes later with grilled NY strips. This surprised me. I'm usually pretty bearish on Chilean wines but this was very good. Dark red color (looked pretty young), plum, blackberry, cherry & some earthiness (no bell pepper that I get on a lot of Chilean wines with age). Similar palate profile to nose. Full bodied but nice acid / tannic structure. Great with steaks or on its own.
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Deep red color. Aromas of dark red fruits, chocolate and wood spices. Rich, thick fruit in the mouth with great depth and length and well-integrated tannins. Very suave and complex on the palate. This delicious wine is in the last few years of its peak drinking period.
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Still drinking amazingly well. A fair bit of sediment so make sure to decant, filter, or pour carefully. Flavors is leather, smoke and graphite. Paired with filet mignon, baked potatoes and corn on the cob. Wish I had more !
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I would disagree somewhat with recent reveiws in that I feel that the fruit is very much apparent on this one. I think 2-3 years left. Very dark, succulent and jammy. Admittedly we did pop and pour.....it really didnt stand a chance to evolve that night!!
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I'll bump this up from my 2012 notes and I agree with Toke_man. This is drinking at its peak I believe. The nose is deep and powerful with dark fruit and a nice smokey whiff.
On the palate this is complex and layered. The fruit is still very present but starting to take a backseat to the smoke, leather and spices. A slight herbal finish.
Paired with Toke's filet and baked potatoes and it was magnificent! 1 bottle left...
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Initial nose of dark cherry metallic (?) that burned off at the second glass. Opaque dark garnet with a pleasant dark cherry and slight oak flavor. Tannins resent but not overbearing, giving a suggestion that this wine has some more life in it. Will wait several more years to consume the remaining bottle i have and continue enjoying this one.
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Worth the hype. I felt that this wine has years to go. It is still fairly monolithic although very hedonistic. Good balance. Deep and thick nose. Second day the alcohol is a tad too much, some heat. First day was in check.
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This is a powerhouse wine, with fantastic balance. Very dark in the glass. On the nose there is tons of dark berry compote and a subtle touch of oak. Secondary smells are just starting to develop. On the palate the acidity holds up extremely well to the fruit concentration. This is a big wine, but in no way does it come across as sappy or over extracted. It has a brightness to it as well. Lots of room for aging still. Personally I would hold this for 8-10 more years if possible, but it's drinking well now.
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This wine has been opened for about 5 days and corked each time, and it has only today started to recede. What a great tribute to wine making. Inky black color, good dense cork with a solid pull/pop, and legs ran slow. Pour first glass through Vinturi, and it was a beast. Was so strong and there was so much going on it made me pause, as I couldn't drink this by the gulp. But over the course of about an hour, the strong component took a step back. Really nice, and very fruity without being over the top. Complex, as between the intense fruit, acidity, and alcohol, there was a lot going on in the first glass or two. And a very very long finish to boot. The brightness in this wine reminded me a of a very good pinot and I almost wasn't sure I was drinking a predominantly cabernet wine. I agree with another reviewer; it the best S. American wine I've ever tried, and I've had Don Melchor which was no slouch. I think the Carmenere added a really nice blend for this wine. I can see the wine of the year accolades are well deserved. Alcohol seemed fairly potent but did not come off as hot. Not sure I would call this balanced, as different components took turns coming forward. And as I said, this is now day five, and just starting a tad to fall apart, but still quite enjoyable. At 7 years, I see about 1/4 of CT inventory has been sampled, most likely to see where this is at. CT end point is 2019 and it might be close either way. Recommended.
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absolute monster, still could wait to try. old world nose, new world delivery. it got better as night went on and held up well with lamb, and steak. over top fruit, oak, tannins.
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Best red from South America I have tasted. Decanted for an hour and enjoyed with steak. Very smooth and great finish. Sorry I only have one more bottle.
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great wine, my wife "accidently" opened the remaining bottle for her ladies night, i got half a glass to recover from the shock - in vain, what a loss !! bottle may have needed another 2-3 years to reach perfection. best chilean wine i ever tasted, better than almaviva
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Paired perfectly with grilled seasoned hamburger topped with gourmet pimento cheese. Dark garnet color. No flaws. Mild sediment. Mild rim variation in the glass. Old world nose. Musky. Low tannin. Low alcohol. Medium finish. Have the feeling that it is just at or beyond peak. Most drinkable. Would consider the CT window on target.
Every time I drink this wine, I've been drawn to the same adjectives: smoke, dark fruit, oak. My consistent criticism here, is that the oak is the most dominant feature of this wine, I wish there was less oak, or more fruit to balance. It is still a really good low to mid 90 point wine.
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Dark in the glass, nose of stewed fruits and leather. A serious wine, lots of fruit, but all in balance. Fully mature but should drink well for the next 5+ years.
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Brought to my sister birthday and did not decant. The wine is definitely a very good wine. I smelled LOTS of prune and figs some peppers as well. Also lots of that "Chilean" smell very dificult to describe but that you "know" is from Chile as much as you can recognize the smell of an Italian wine. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied, very well integrated tanins, very nice aftertaste. Decent QPR since you can taste the quality. My biggest mistake was not to decant since the wine got better and better as the night went on.
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Much more developed than when i last had it about 3 years ago. decanted. very long legs reflecting 15% alcohol content. deep opaque and black with a short deep garnet border. nose of deep dark fruits, peppers, raspberries, currants. body is medium to full. on the palate this wine excels with deep dark fruits, pepper, currants. finishes very long and spicy with just a hint of heat. this is a big and bold wine but it really shows elegant restraint. very long chewy finish. Feels like a high end elegant restrained shiraz.
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After a few hours in the decanter, this was opening nicely. Still very intense with stout tannins, which makes me this this one still needs a few more years to reach its apogee. Deep dark fruits and with solid structure and lengthy finish. A very good wine that still feels quite young.
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Intense, pleasantly fruity yet complex nose with black cherries and currants, herbs. Full bodied, concentrated, slightly viscous, but with a good balancing acidity. Rubber, smoke, blackberries on the palate, very polished and well structured. Very solid and balanced, a touch too pruned for me, but the very high quality is obvious. Seamless finish, very good length.
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N: fresh ripe black cherries and currant, licorice P: figs and prunes and dates. Interesting fruit profile. Well balanced with complexity but a little fruit forward. Nice now and layers of favors apparent. Long finish. Higher alcohol and can use some time in cellar
It has been a very long time since we have had a wine this good. We bought this wine from Sokolin immediately after it was named the #1 wine from W/S and has been in our cellar ever since. Decided to share it with some friends and was not disappointed. A wonderful silky smooth wine with fantastic balance. Finish was long and very satisfying, with nice berry notes, wonderful tannins and acid levels. If you have not had this wine you need to give it a try. I wish I had more for later.
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Very expressive nose of ripe blackberry and vanilla spice -- almost reminiscent of a high-end shiraz. On the palate there's blackberry, a hint of plum, dark chocolate, and a hint of tobacco. There's enough acid to make the wine seem fresh. Tannins are slightly drying on the finish, which is graced by a really nice streak of mocha. It's not my favorite style of wine but we're really enjoying it tonight.
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It's been about a year since the last bottle was opened, so time to try 2 of 6. Decanted for two hours and drank in glass for another two. Dark and warm in the nose yet showing slight twinges of bright notes in the toasty hint of alcohol. Unctuous and mouth-coating with inviting black cherries and berries flowing across the palate that share space with juicy currants while all supported by an earthy toasty backbone and wisps of bitter cocoa. Complex and well built and crafted as shown in the lingering and delicious finish. In excellent balance right now. Open one if you have some and enjoy the rest for another 5-7 at least. I will be curious to see how this shows in it's tenth year. Superb.
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Breeders' Cup XXIX; 11/2/2012-11/3/2012: Decanted 2 hours, returned to bottle for 6 hours, then decanted 30 minutes. Never quite came around aromatically or on the palate. Some creamy vanilla notions on the nose, dry black licorice/anise, black plum, but overall reticent. Palate is closed down, tart red fruit, spicy edges, not much fruit concentration from midpalate onward. Maybe we killed it with the long treatment; would try it again with just a 2-hour decant.
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Very good but lacked the robust, complex characteristics expected from a wine of this pedigree. In fact, I would argue that this may have plateaued already...
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See previous notes. So much licorice, gravel, menthol, plum, spice and leather. Drinking wonderfully and will last for a long time to come. Scrumptious. Voluptuous body. Drink now - 2030 (I actually think at this will last longer than speculated previously).
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We decanted it in the bottle for 2 hours and then I spilled some on the floor. Very dark red. Aroma: dark, woody, plummy Palate: dark chocolate, coffee, dark berries.
Wow, double wow! Super dark fruit, concentrated, and incredibly fruit forward. This wine has great complexity with hints of milk chocolate, tabacco, and rich dark berries. This wine is big, expressive and coats your mouth with rich fruit. The finish lasts for 30+ seconds and the nose has strong dark berries with current. Love it!
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Popped and poured; was able to give it 30 minutes but no decanter available. This got better and better as it opened. I think this has much more huge upside. The carmenere is there for sure, and gives this a bit of green hue, but it is blending together nicely now since my last taste of this wine.
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Decanted for 45 minutes and drank w steak. Big nose of dark fruit and dust. Mouthfilling fruit, tobacco with an interesting green pepper counterpoint. Long finish. Oak is fairly well integrated, and what is left is not distracting in the least. Really nice wine that is in a nice place now but has some time ahead.
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Brought to dinner at Boca. Drank alongside the '05 Clos des Papes CdP. Dark garnet with purple hue. Nose of blackberry, cassis, espresso, & graphite. Structured palate of ripe blackberry, cassis, vanilla, and espresso. Excellent length. Lively, pleasant acidity. Youthful tannins. Oak is not fully integrated. I'll wait a few years to open another.
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Dark Extracted sexy volumious curvatures of black and blue fruits. Ink, dark roasted coffee beans, dark chocolates with black spices. Ultra ripe style. Chockful of rich ripe vitamin c fruity blueberry goodness. Almost like a syrah with it's concentrated fruits. Feels like an ultra ripe right bank. Good wine nonetheless.
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South American Tasting (Jan's House): Amazing wine and almost everyone loved this. Aromatic with blueberries, blackberries, floral, spice and coffee beans. Powerful on the palate and finish and long in length. This should improve over time and is still quite tannic. Drink now through 2018.
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Holy fruit batman! Such an amazing wine. Drank with some friends in New Orleans as a special treat with diner. Dark cherry. Ripe black berry. Very juicy. Have 3 more and am just jonesing to open the next one.
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Our group popped this much ballyhoo'd WS wine of the year this afternoon at the wine meeting. The last time I got this excited to taste a new wine was when we broke out the Amon Ra for Sarah's going away party. The bouquet on this guy started to hit me when my nose was still about a foot and a half feet away with black pepper, liquorish, cassis and loads of black fruit leaping out of the glass. Deep ruby in color with just a hint of rim variation, well extracted juice. The mouth feel wasn't quite as full bodied as I expected, but there was no shortage of complexity, from dark fruit to baking spice to vanilla to tobacco and then finally some leather, but the fruit was mostly in the drivers seat. Medium to long finish, especially towards the back of the throat. We all agreed that this was an exceptional wine from a great vintage, but no one in our group would have named it wine of the year.
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Still big and youthful; very dark and brooding. The Carmenere provides a slight greeness to the wine, but not in a bad way. More like green olives. We decanted for an hour and drank for another hour. It was still slightly disjointed but there is lots of potential to improve. I think my next one to drink a couple or so years more of waiting.
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Dark crimson color with purplish hues. Just from the nose, it was clear that this wine was in a league of its own - black cherry, vanilla, fig, plum, violets, and almonds. The texture is silky and smooth. Palate has dark cherry, blueberries, mocha, slight cedar. Mild graphite tannins that coat a long finish with a remembrance of wallnut. Drink from 2011 to 2021.
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I opened this after a steak dinner with friends on 4/29/12. It had a big, deep, strong bouquet of smoke, black currant, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, spice and mineral aromas. The palate was very concentrated and full bodied with flavors that followed the nose. A great wine with a long finish.
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Popped and poured. Inky black color. Dense, intensely aromatic cassis. Full bodied, with plenty of concentration. There is a smoky, creosote like flavor on the long, long finish. this opened significantly over the 2-3 hours it was open. WOTY- not for me, but a really nice version of Bordeaux blending.
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took this to dinner with tiffany and the Fisher's... had had this wine with them several years back at a dinner in Cabo and wanted to trigger those memories, wine was still good (but not great), this is carmeniere/cab/merlot/PV blend and done well, grippy from the carmeniere (as it should be), more spice than fruit with some smoky traces on nose and palate... good / enjoyable dinner wine, probably wouldn't buy again at this price point ($65)
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Tasted over two days, and was better on day two. Very well made wine, but could be from anywhere. A little VA on the nose, but the interplay of the raspberry and balckberry fruit takes center stage. Deserves a place at the dinner table with some great steak cuts,and could make old bones if held longer, but not really Wine of the Year material for my tastes.
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Popped and poured. Intoxicating nose full of warm spices, black cherry liquor, and a hint of menthol all of which elegantly flow onto the palate. Chewy texture, fine tannins, well proportioned acidity, and a sexy lightly-smokey finish balance out this charming wine. Ready now but should drink well for several years. Exceptional. A winner.
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Popped and poured. This seemed to be holding something back. Perhaps a decant would have helped. It certainly was enjoyable, but I expected a bit more.
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Don't like where this wine is right now. Opened and drank. Too much tannins at first thought it did dissipate after a half hour--obviously must decant in the future. Seemed unbalanced. Will wait.
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Tasted blind. This was one of those rare cases when no one could recognise the Chilean origin of a Chilean red wine (which is pretty obvious in most cases, IMHO). I guessed Argentina, or that it was a modern wine from the Old World. Blackberry, sweet plum on the nose, with oak spices, lavender, and a touch of earthiness. Slightly sweet on the palate, but there is great acidity and a serious, almost Bordeaux-like structure which makes it appealing. Six years old and quite unevolved, this will last. 93-94 points
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Aromas of grilled pork and tar when opened. After a 1 hour decant, I tasted blackberry, leather, earth and grilled meat. Well integrated and very long. Excellent wine.
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Decanted for two and a half hours. See previous notes. I can't get over the menthol, sage and licorice stick development in this lustrous Chilean Bordeaux-styled blend. This is more like Martha's Vineyard-meets-Pessac Leognan. A yummy palate, and even more harmony. Drinking rather well. The plum, oak and mocha are still present with more finesse, and what a finish...... Wish I had more. Classic. You must decant for at least two hours before enjoying. Drink now - 2020.
After a few more hours and an olive tapenade quality starts to make itself present. Evolving and really draws you in.
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Big nose of currant, dark fruits, leather and a bit of earth. Very juicy in the mouth with the dark fruits holding on into the finish. Tannins still a bit strong at this point but what a delightful wine. I think this will get a bit better in time.
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Leo's Blind Tasting Group - June '11 edition (Restaurant Saul, Brooklyn): I liked this a lot more on release. There's not much in terms of flavour development; the fruit's taken a bit of a step back, the oak and herbal flavour elements here are more prominent and it finishes with some alcoholic warmth.
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Rich, still elegant with nuances of cherry, currant and fruit. Lots of oak and tannins. Extremely long aftertaste.The best wine from Chile I ever tasted.
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Honestly, this was not good. It was poor. It is horribly over-oaked. It tastes like bitter wood. There is some intensity of blue fruit there, and a hint of sweetness under the bitter oak, but overall this is a heavy, joyless wine. I just don't understand the raves.
Decanted more than one hour and drank it during two days.Initially a little restrained but opened up after two hours.Vibrant fruity nose.On the palate very vibrant smooth dark toned fruit with obvious currant flavors.Full bodied and very delicious.On the second day still very primary,smooth and balanced with great fruit.A real treat.
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Lovely perfumed nose. On the palate, I find semi-dry and restrained dark fruit on the palate with a hint of crushed stone. The structure is elegant and refined, and biting tannins dominate the lengthy finish. Really a beautiful wine experience and a refreshing change of pace from the fruit bombs from the southern rhone and CA that I've been having too much of lately.
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2005 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta (WS96/WA91) 15%. Michel Rolland consults; mostly carmenere-based Bdx blend. This was WS 2008 WOTY! Surprisingly tight at first (no decanting); improved with time to show pronounced cranberry/currant flavors, some earth/minerality. Revisited 2 days later on Xmas afternoon, finished prior to the (very late) meal, but much more enjoyable. Really a baby still, it needs plenty of air time at this point to show it's stuff. Good, not great; one remaining. RF95.
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Fantastic! Bob brought it to The Old Stone Inn for a corkage fee of $20. This 2008 WOTY did not disappoint! Opened and vin-aerated into a decanter table side and consumed with a beef Wellington dinner. Great pairing! I agree with most notes below and am elated that I have two more bottles in my cellar to enjoy on future celebrations!
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An amazing wine. Everything you want in a New World Bordeaux-style wine. Deep violet-purple in color, but not inky. Wonderful nose with scents of cherry, berryfruit and spice. Fruity but not jammy. Plum, cocoa and cherry dominate, with a soft but well defined tannic backbone. Hints of tobacco and spice on the mid-palate and the after, which goes on and on. This wine should hold up well for a number of years, and likely will continue to soften and integrate with age. Competes well with the elite Napa blends at 1/2 the price or less. I plan to hold for at least another year before trying next bottle.
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WOTN for me! So smooth and refined. The fruit is quite forward, but not overpowering. Very elegant, quite complex, was changing every 15 minutes in the glass. Chocolate, truffles, fruit, spices, everything going on - yet all in balance. This is special, and for the price!
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Oh the joy. Still a baby, with tannins to go a long ways. A clean, pure nose. Full body. The Carmenère was really evident, more than I expected. The earth of Chile also very evident. Just wonderful.
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nose; mocha, truffels, blackberreis, plums, and spice. palate; cassis, minerals, black cherries, herbs, and milk chocolate. medium bodied. medium plus tannin. medium acidity. medium length finish. a let down for a wine of the year.
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Tastes like syrah, and a big, alcoholic one at that. Dense red, meaty, and spicy fruits. Lacking in structure. Some chocolate elements. Enjoyable enough.
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Decanted for about an hour and a half but not sure it needed it. Ready to drink now. The fruit is at its peak, ripe berries. Smooth and polished from start through finish.
This was my contribution to a celebratory dinner at the Old Stone Inn with the leadership of Roncelli- in recognition of our award of an $80 million construction project for LG Chem. This is a dynamic wine that is over the top in bouquet, mouth feel, taste, structure and finish. One of my personal top 10 wines of all time.
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93+ Pts. This is just a baby, it will improve for 3-5 years easy, and drink over 10+. Very tight upon opening, then decanted for 2 hours. It really opened up, but was only showing primary flavors. Some smooth oak that was well integrated and should mellow over time. Super pure dark fruits with some balance, but it's still early to see what this will become...AMM
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Decanted for 90 minutes and I will start by saying its too early to drink this wine, but if you do, go at least 2+ hours decanting. That said this really took a great roller coaster ride over the next 90 minutes with some Porterhouse steaks. Big and bold enough to compliment the food and has many of the great Bordeaux nose and palate attributes, but it still is a bit disjointed and slightly hot. after the food was done and there was some left to sip alone, it got very tannic on the finish, so I think it was evolving in the decanter, but not in a good direction - maybe e few more hours needed? If someone else poured one tomorrow, i'd happily drink it, but for my other 5, I'm waiting a few more years - the caliber of this wine earns it the right to drink when really ready!
Excellent Merlot blend which is really two wines depending on whether you are eating food or not. Alone, this wine is peppery and full of tannins, especially at the end; with food it is smooth and a perfect partner with beef.
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Hands down one of the Best wines I ever had from Chile. Dark color, with bold aromas of truffles, meat, ripe berries, tobacco, licorice and tar notes. Full-bodied, with super polished tannins. The serious structure is still hiding behind the fruit of the wine. Tightly wound and beautiful. Drinking well now, but give it a bit more time if you can - Hard to resist. - JD97+
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taken to a holiday party, decanted one hour prior to tasting, and then run thru a vinturi (sic?), which (gulp!) actually helped smooth out some edgy tannin. very ripe, super bold wine which i liked well enough, it was just dwarfed by the 03 bressler. not as balanced to my palate as the 97 or 01 drunk at about the same age, i.e. a bit ramped up, but not totally spoofilated. drink or hold. 2008 WS WOTY.
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Decanted for three hours. Beautiful purple and a nice chrytal rim. The plum, mocha and toasted oak just periminates the senses. The tannins are silky and velvety at the same time. The finish just sales on and on. What a complex work of art. This is the best Clos Apalta that I have ever had. The nose and palate are soooooo harmonious. This seems like Pessac meets Red Mountain. I still don't feel like this should be WOTY during the same year that the historic 2005 Bordeaux came out, however, still magnificent. Opulent and complex, without being too pretntious. This will reward cellaring. Drink 2011- 2021.
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A massive wine. Dark purple, almost black. Oodles of fruit on the nose, along with some light smoke and tar. Very full bodied. Layers of dark, creamy fruit on the palate, especially fig and plum. Lots of spiciness. Very interesting wine with lots of stuffing, will be interesting to see if this evolves positively with many years in bottle. Wine of the Year? No way. But very good, especially for the release price.
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Truly a blockbuster that we tried alongside the Phelps 2002 Insignia. A great contrast. This blend is outstanding and drinking very well right now with rich ripe fruit and dark current mixed with red ripe berries. Not at all stewed, just decadent. Almost makes you want to pour it over ice cream. The finish is unending. Drink now through 2014, but don't hold too long.
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Very niicely structured but not a unique wine. Definitely a good helping of fruit. Was drinkable with mimimal decanting. Nice finish. Very enjoyable to the new world wine lovers @ party.
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upon opening, very rich and luscious, with great dark fruits. Good long finish with pretty significant tannins (obviously). Within one hour, though, this had pretty much shut down and the fruit was gone, hidden behind strong tannins. Finished the next night, and had opened back up some, but not all the way. more black fruit and nice length on the finish. A very good wine but will not touch the next bottle for several years.
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Delicious fruit...big and brooding. A young monster, with lots of stuffing for the future. I will let my others sit for a couple years. Easy 95 pts for me.
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wotn out of 7wines, in a Wine Spec. any thing ever in the top 10 blind taste, was fun Very good, would have guessed cali cab, great nose long finish, balanced and nuanced,cant remeber much else except a bit of a raisiny thing going on that I liked overhyped? yeh a bit but very solid
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Made my head spin with aromas of grape and berries. We were going to decant it, but when we tasted it there seemed no reason. I swear there was a heady, delicious taste in my mouth after two minutes. It just kept on going and going.
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Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of bell pepper, nail polish, plum and currant. Flavors of currants and berries. Medium acidity, firm tannins and medium to full body. Drink over the medium term. If drinking now be sure and decant a bit to blow off the nail polish. I'm thinking this wine is fairly consistent with my previous rating of WIML92 so we'll call it WIML91 for the moment.
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This is beautiful wine, elegant and unique. Talc, red fruit, mirabelle plum and a vegetal note. This shows a tightly packed architecture of refined fruit (cherry and green plums), bright acid, a delicate and fully integrated minerality, and a bittersweet chocolate finish. That said, scores here seem a tad inflated, like giving a talented little leaguer a Gold Glove. At the moment, the tannins are still quite sharp and the wine needs time in the cellar or a lot of air. I would think about opening this first thing in the AM (if you can resist the obvious temptations).
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A very elegant showing, without the tarry, smoky character that I noted in my two tastings from 2008: this bottle struck me as having quite an affinity with the Right Bank, with cherry and currant and a slightly green but nevertheless nicely rich earthiness. A little coffee on the finish. Not as enthusiastic as I have been, but plenty enthusiastic still.
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Drank with steak at Smith & Wollensky. Dark purple with ruby hint on the rim. Nose had chocolate and spice, along with earthiness and some green pepper. The taste is tobacco, chocolate and cassis. Light tannins on the finish with some spice. Overall, enjoyable wine with good complexity that is still tight and needs more time. Intense dark fruit and chocolate flavors that is rich and bold.
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Decanted for 2 hours, better to have it decanted 1-2 hours more. Extremely rich nose of black berries and fruits. Spices, oak and berries in the mouth. Tanins are ok after 2 hours of decanting. High acidity. Long and intetresting finish. I think it will be much better drinkable already next year with peak in 3 years. 93-94
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Very delicious, incredibly rich, full-bodied, begged for a fatty steak. Had an acidic streak that took away from the overall enjoyment. Nice length in the finish. Over all the wine is very, very good, just not a buy for me.
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2000 and previous Barolo and Barbaresco (My House (Portland, OR)): Definitely a different animal than all the Barbaresco and Barolo we were tasting this night, but quite a wine. My palate doesn't usually tend to this part of the world, but this one was good. Nothing was heavy or overdone about this wine. It's definitely very fruit forward, but it's not in your face at all. This went phenomenally with dark chocolate, as it really brought out some of the second tier, earthy flavors on the palate. This is a very even keel wine, not over-extracted, but harmonious throughout showing a good combination of fruit and chalky, sweet soil flavors.
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Classic Values (My Apartment): Dark, dark fruit, dark red fruits, dried tobacco hints, wet/soft wood tones on the nose. Rich mouthfeel that is slightly juicy but not as dense as I would have expected. Slightly spicy with dried red & dark fruits on the finish with strong tannins and acid nicely in balance. Certainly seems built to maintain this balance & get better with age.
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"Classic Values" night (Phillip's apt, Chicago IL): nose: great layered nose filled with fruits along with red and dark cherries, anise, bits of herbs and spice. Good depth, but not really kicking it up another notch at this time. Good fruit seperates it in the tasting with a good lush quality too
taste: very well balanced with good medium+ tannins with a nice lush medium/full feel of red and dark cherries, anise, spice tones and a good amount of mixed berries
overall: an excellent wine. Really good feel with nice firm tannins. Seemed to be holding back a bit at this time, but has a really good lushness to it on both the nose and palate that make it very attractive
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wow.. it is indeed exceptional bottle. big nose of vanilla, anise, black currant, berries, earth.. perfectly balanced tannins, given its youth. big fruit forward on the palate, smooth, LONGGGGG finish exceptional had with a duck confit.
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Consistent with previous notes, this showed nice currant and plum, vanilla smoke and earth. Not quite as exciting as previous bottles, but that's probably my head cold getting in the way. Our dinner guests found it quite exciting. No score this time on account of my temporary disability.
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Friends sharing good wines (Ann's, Avondale, PA): Rich wine with dark fruits, slight bell pepper, bacon fat, and coffee? It is hard to imagine that it is WS wine of the year but it was very good.
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SL staff friday night- non-american reds (casa de aaron, NYC): rated 5/10 of our tasting. actually group average 2-3/10. my notes were of density and richness. certainly has stuffing. a nice bitter coffee finish. i like the plummy notes. would love to see it in 10 yrs. who's buying? one of 2 wines decanted this night.
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Hard to judge this wine now...decanted for 2.5 hours and tasted and it was much more evolved at 4 hours...huge fruit, dense and complex. I will cellar my other bottles for a few more years before opening another...has incredible potential but too young at this point. Revisit in 2011-12
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Tasted alongside 2001 Clos Apalta, 45 minutes open bottle, 30 minutes in glass (Snowbound 2008 Tasting). Initially somewhat tight with a blueberry, black raspberry nose; dark berry, plum & spice that slowly opens into an amazing wine. This became a very rich, complex wine with layers of plum, black raspberry, and blueberry all lightly spiced. There was also a mineral taste that seemed to come and go over the pour. Amazing balance for a wine that is clearly very young; great integration between tannins & fruit.
I buy the Clos Apalta every year and i find a very evident evolution in this vintage. IMO this wine is built to mature over a much longer time horizon than previous vintages; you can enjoy it now decanted with generous air-time (and i am going to open a bottle from my cellar in Jan to taste over an extended period) but this is a wine to cellar. it is still amazing to me how a few wine makers have transformed the Chilean wines so far, so fast. While not a 100 pt wine today, this is a world class wine today and worth some effort to acquire (WS noise aside).
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Wine was opened and allowed to "slow-O" for about 3 hours before it was poured into a decanter and allowed to decant for about 2 additional hours. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roses, sandlewood, lots of florals with a mixed bag of red fruits. Mostly flavors of red berries and red currants at this early stage of the game. Medium acidity, fairly firm tannins, medium more toward full bodied. Can be drank now with an extended decant but I'd recommend holding myself. Seems to have the stuff to be a fairly long lived wine so no rush here. Might pick up some points with more time in bottle. Drinking around the WIML92-93 point mark for me at the moment.
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Holiday wine/food party (Home): Wine of the Night by consensus, though I suspect that the whole WOTY thing biased the ladies. Still, this is a highly drinkable very balanced effort that is just not going to disappoint your average wine drinker.
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Had on Christmas Eve. It assaulted my mouth (after decanting an hour plus). There is a lot going on but no nearly ready to drink. Wait several years on the others.
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Initially disappointed, the wine was very closed, although I thought it might have been due to the spicy food I had just eaten. After an hour, however, it really opened up, with rich fruit and spice. Excellent, but decant it for at least an hour.
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thick deep purple color. a bit reticent at first. smokey, floral and evergreen aromas. dark fruit. medium-full bodied. fine grained tannins. way too young, was better on day 2 and 3. nice wine but definately not woty.
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Wineflock - Recent Acquisitions (Caro Mio): Big forward nose of toasty vanilla oak black fruit. Lifted with coffee and mocha notes as well. Huge juicy mouthful of coffee black fruit with sweet chocolate undertones on the palate. Just the slightest hint of green as well. Very nice with upside. 94+ pts.
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Flock - Recent Acquisitions (Chicago, IL): Wow - a seriously, expressive, powerful and delicious nose. Rich red and black fruits, coffee, mocha, vanilla and green herbs (was thinking a Foley Cab Franc all the way). Palate is rich and decadent while bright and lifted. Not a simple fruit bomb as it has balance and youthful complexity. Full flavored and long finish has cocoa, black currants, toast, spice and herbs. A stellar wine.
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Complex and layered with plenty of dark fruits, spices, mint, toast, earth, green herbs and floral elements across the nose and palate. Very well balanced and elegant with good acidity, chewy tannins on the back end and a long smooth finish. Really enjoyable, and a wine I would have loved to explore further with time or several years from now.
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Dark, translucent ruby-red in the glass. A fabulous nose highlighted by potent raspberry and crushed violet. Classy, yet not-so-subtle flavors of sweet and tart cherry, cassis and plum drive the front end. A silky-smooth transition of mint and chocolate lead to the finish supported by a touch of acidity and tannin, with a decent amount of soft oak. Elegant and classy, yet racy at the same time. I am happy to have had this at such a young stage.
40+5+5+19+18+8=95
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Tasted the '05 (ws #1) and the '01 (ws #2) side by side, decanted both for 90 mins. The '05 was tight, but opened up to a luscious wine with a long finish and beautiful oaky vanilla with strong tannins. Definitely very young but still drinkable now with the open bottle time. Very understandable as the WS WOTY, good rating (deservedly); high production and availability. Glad I bought a case when it was released, going to hold on to the rest for a few years! As far as the '01, it was quite the opposite. Great at first but declined over the evening. It took on that organic, green pepper flavor that tells me it has peaked. Don't get me wrong, it was still very good, but drink it now with less decant time. I feel the '05 is built for the longer haul, more so than the '01.
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Dinner last night. Saw it on the wine list at Delmonico for $155 and couldn't resist buying it just to buy it since it had been announced as WoTY earlier that day. Very impressive, showing a lot of maturity for a wine this young. Earthy, balanced and nice. Would buy again.
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Nose is a bit reserved with slight hint of oak and dark berries. The body is full of blueberries. After some time it gained complexity and strengthen the finish full of tannins and chocolate . Creamy mouth-feel and very enjoyable. Still young but joy to drink. We finish the bottle very fast and at around 60F, which made the nose too subdued. This leaves me with 92-93 impression but it could be even better if decanted and served slightly warmer. One of the best wines if not the best I had this year.
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I bought six bottles even before it was named WOTY in 2008. I immediately opened and drank the first bottle upon receipt and was a little disappointed since I thought it was a little harsh, high in acid, and high in tannins. I drank another bottle in 2010 and it was better, and a third bottle in 2011 and it was still a little better. I think I will cellar my last three bottle for consumption in about 2 years.
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Quite different from my previous tasting of a single glass, which, though I found it enjoyable, was very dominated by oak. This bottle was decanted over two hours with dinner, and went through a number of phases. Initially quite reserved, then tarry, smoky, and creamy with oak, and finally blossoming into a wonderfully balanced, juicy, and spicy wine with lots of power and loads of cassis, plum, and raspberry, relatively unencumbered by oak. It wasn't until this last phase that you could recognize its earthy and herbal Chilean character. Really quite remarkable. I like it a shade better than the '05 Melchor. 95
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Purple opaque. Nose of dark berries, tar, oak. Similar palate with dark chocolate and velvety tannins. Hedonistic wine. Will likely mellow a bit in 5 years but may lose some character as well.
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A glass poured as a sample by my retailer. I'd been looking forward to trying this for awhile. It wasn't the usual elegant, balanced, juicy wine the Clos Apalta has been for years now: this was dark, rich, charred, smoky and powerful, loaded with currant and earth, very similar to the bruising '05 Melchor. Very provocative, indulgent, and worth a buy. Estimating 93-95, but I'll wait to score it on a more complete opportunity to taste...
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** Color: deep purple Aroma: Dark Berries, minerals/earth and mocha Flavor: Plum, fig minerals, blackberry with spice box undertones Enjoyed this more than Montes M. It had smooth soft tannins and was a deeper, richer wine - almost creamy. Not sure how this will cellar, being so drinkable so young - but I have a few more bottles I will let age in the cellar. (50+5+12+17+9)
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Off the wine list at 7, in the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. Surprisingly open despite its youth, this wine was popped and poured and enjoyed over a couple of hours. Gorgeous nose of mocha, dark berries, cassis and welcome earthy/mineral notes. Big and bold fruit on the palate, but so balanced and smooth. Again a welcome earthy note on the palate showed the complexity here. Really impressive.
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This was way too oaky to be pleasurable. The wood obliterated the substantial fruit that lurked beneath. This is the worst tasting young Clos Apalta I have ever tasted. It may come around in years once the oak subsides, but for now this is not pleasurable.
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Decanted 3 hr’s. Red currants, cherry and a touch of anise spice on the nose. Ripe and racy red currant, plum and tar flavors along with notes of coffee and a nice mineral streak. Slick and supple tannins from the start that never yield until the showy finish.
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Wine Spectator Grand Tour (Las Vegas): Man these Chilean 05's are good. Another blockbuster with huge raspberry fruit and that typical chilean loam. very ripe flavorful fruit with creamy undertones and an unreal finish.
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12/22/2023 - spendergast Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Continues to drink well with notes of dark concentrated fruit (black raspberry, cherry, currant), earth, and spice. This wine has a nice velvety mouthfeel with soft tannins and long finish. Paired with grilled baby back ribs.
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10/9/2023 - Stevey Likes this wine: 95 Points
Let stand 24h from cellar before opening. Deep purple color. Needed about an hour to open up and stayed consistent over the next few hours. Blackberry, kirsch, raisony, almost like an Amarone. Paired perfectly with BBQ Pork. Well integrated medium tannins, long beautiful finish. Still in prime drinking window probably for another 5+ years. Drinking beautifully now.
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9/1/2023 - rbs1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good to have waited several years since the last bottle. Still improving
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6/18/2023 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened and let it breathe for about a hour. Nose shows mature notes dark cherries and blueberry paste with some hints of raisins.
Beautiful acidity and grippy tannins still, with a dense a complex palate of raisins, molasses, white pepper, dark fruits, tobacco. Long ending that has beautiful oaky notes.
Am excellent wine we paired we a 1.4lbs, 60-day dry aged NY strip steak.
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6/15/2023 - wren460 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfect example of a wine at peak. Dont wait, open up and enjoy. No hurry, but this wine will not get better that this. Last bottle, enjoyed alongside a 2005 Pavie.
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6/5/2023 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
All tertiary notes. On the decline yet still fun to drink. I would drink now.
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3/21/2023 - kanowsky Likes this wine: 96 Points
Succulent bouquet, almost like well-aged compost. Tannins still present. Leather, tobacco, spice, and dark fruit. Has another five years left.
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3/16/2023 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Double decanted off its sediment and followed over the course of three+ hours. Perfect, and I mean perfect, cork- you'd think this was current vintage. Abundant rich plummy black fruits, chocolate and mocha with a great herbal overtone. Soft tannins. Lingering finish. Absolutely wonderful and at peak; should last a couple of years at this level.
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2/5/2023 - Winedad53 wrote: 94 Points
Not quite at the sublime level of my 2017 review, but still deeply content rated with intense black fruit, licorice and menthol. At or near peak, drink now-2025.
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1/19/2023 - spendergast Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine continues to drink very well with notes similar to my last tasting a year ago. Dark fruit with spice, hints of damp earth, cedar. Tannins are still prominent but well integrated. Drinking very well.
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1/18/2023 - Twarsaw Does not like this wine:
Tracy hated it.
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11/5/2022 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Big bold wine. Still a lot of youth. Nose of dark berries, pencil lead. Powerful juice right of the bat. Plum, dark berries, tobacco. Likely to continue aging very nicely.
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11/5/2022 - Outplaying wrote:
Big, dark and rich wine that really has a lot going on. I last tasted this in 2009, and while this style of wine was more in my wheelhouse then, I think the wine is showing better now. I think this has many years of life left, and would be interesting to try again in another 10 years.
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10/1/2022 - ghramos wrote: 98 Points
Long silky finish. Red currant. Amazing wine, tasted blind and came on top on our tasting.
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10/1/2022 - pgm wrote: 95 Points
Another classic bottle, showing no real signs of aging, with a nose of pencil shavings, black cherry and blackberry, and powerful flavors in the mouth: plum, fresh blackberry and currant. Cigar box notes on the finish.
This has really shined in the last couple years, hitting a peak that I really didn’t anticipate in its youth. Should be good for another ten years.
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5/5/2022 - peternelson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark purple, glass coating, big rich, ripe, black cassis, black cherry, but then smoothed out and showed nuance with underbrush, shrooms, leather, spice, lovely tangy and lift in the finish, amazing surprise, and not so big and overdone in the end, especially when compared to the Shafer Hillside. 2nd place tonight after the Rostaing Cote Blonde. Blind Dirty Dozen TOC dinner at La Paella
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1/21/2022 - spendergast Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. Notes similar to last tasting a year ago: A fairly extracted wine with notes of dark cherry, cedar, earth, pepper with prominent but smooth tannins. Great velvety mouthfeel with long finish. This wine continues to drink well and has years to go. Paired very nicely with grilled tenderloin burgers.
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12/25/2021 - spendergast Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. A fairly extracted wine with notes of dark cherry, cedar, earth, pepper with prominent but smooth tannins. Great velvety mouthfeel with long finish. This wine has years to go. Paired very nicely with grilled dry-aged Wagyu ribeye steaks and grilled lobster tails.
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10/13/2021 - NY Wino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over 2 hours. Big beautiful nose of fruit, some cedar and spice. The wine has excellent fruit, smooth tannins and a long tasty finish. Went great with NY strip steaks. Not sure why drinking window says to drink by 2019…at least a few more years of great drinking, probably more.
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10/5/2021 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Overall a good bottle of wine although there was an off taste to the ending. It still didn't impact my score that much.
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7/4/2021 - mats13 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Spectacular. Dead ringer for an aged Napa Cab. Fruit is still there, complicated by all manner of savory herbs, leather and earth.
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4/24/2021 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pop and pour. Last of a coravin'd bottle. Aromas of plum, dried cherry, blackberry, mint and eucalyptus. Flavors of plum, cherry, mint, blackberry and touch of earth. Ends with a big 45+ second finish with plum and cherry notes. The coravin is really an amazing product. Tastes just as good as it did the first time.
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4/5/2021 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 96 Points
Easter gathering (Andrew's): WOTN for me. Beautiful Bordeaux blend drinking at a wonderful maturity spot.
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3/2/2021 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Gros vin ici, dense et corsé.
En a encore beaucoup sousla pédale.
Un bon 3 heures en carafe car fermé à l'ouverture.
Mures, cassis et prunes avec chocolat.
Tannins charnus et acidité moyenne.
Finale interminable et capiteuse.
Un monstre encore.
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1/9/2021 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 95 Points
From the Coravin. Let sit in the glass for 2 hours. Aromas of blackberry, plum, currant, mint and eucalyptus. Favors of cherry, blackberry, currant, touch of plum and touch of cocoa. Ends with a nice 40 second finish with plum and mint notes. This is in a great spot right now but glad I have more in the bottle.
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12/13/2020 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Happily, similar to the 5/29/14 bottle except more youthful.
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12/11/2020 - Esmags7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted an hour before the first glass; still had a lot of astringent qualities, acid, not integrated at all. Thought the bottle might be flawed.
After 2 hours, it had opened up. Acid and tannins are beautifully integrated at this point, providing structure but not particularly noticeable. Currant, fig, other dark fruit and a little graphite on the finish. Medium-plus body, medium legs.
I’ve had a few other bottles of this over the past decade and this one didn’t quite have the horsepower of previous samples - it’s probably starting to fade, so likely need to drink up. There was, unfortunately, only a very brief window where it was truly singing with the 30+ second finish I associate with this vintage. Still a great wine.
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11/5/2020 - Wine Sparty wrote: 92 Points
Nice wine with some classic dark fruits but not too fruit forward.
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10/1/2020 - jtaylor3 wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby/garnet in glass with no loss of color. Deep dark berries/cassis on bouquet. Maybe a hint of graphite but fruit still overpowers. Less fruit on palate but still dark and strong, possibly dark chocolate/espresso. Long, lingering, mouth coating finish. This has plenty of legs left.
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7/27/2020 - eatdrinkrepeat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fruity and a little funky (in a good way at least to me) on the nose. Full bodied with a good dose of spice supported by soft tannin. The Carmenère really gave it an interesting character. I just kept going back for more.
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5/31/2020 - gothamfreerider Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful fruit finish, notes of strawberry, bright cherries, and white chocolate. Silky smooth, I am a fan. The 2009 and 2005 have same scores from the critics, but for me these are two different worlds. The 2009 is dark, lacks complexity&length. The 2005 is elegant and lengthy.
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5/8/2020 - Cholera Likes this wine: 94 Points
WS #1 wine from way back. Held on to this to give it time to cellar. Didn’t disappoint. Inky black Color, Bordeaux like on the nose as others have said. Licorice, Dark fruits and graphite in the nose, plenty of fruit on the palate. Long legs and smooth integrated tannins. Olive and dusty tobacco nuances behind blackberry dried plum and casis flavors. Long finish. I would put it up against any
To Kolon vineyard fruit. Well done.
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5/1/2020 - Neuman wrote: 93 Points
- Brick color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry and black currant. It's balanced with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - Perfect condition being in my cellar from OWC. Drinking great with plenty of time left.
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4/29/2020 - tantotinto wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle of this wine. A beautifully perfumed nose. Cherry, tobacco and smoothly elegant on the palate. Tart finish.
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4/24/2020 - PrideReserveClaret2001 Likes this wine:
Well, I waited too long with this one. The velvety tannins, dense body, and hint of pepper associated with the wine was long gone. It was acidic and bland. I might have let this one go a couple years too long. Normally, I'd rate this at a 92, but I'm forgoing the rating out of respect for this deceased bottle.
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4/18/2020 - HabsFan360 wrote: 95 Points
This is drinking very well now right now. Well integrated tanins and long on the finish. This wine still has more time left.
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4/3/2020 - abi9 Likes this wine: 94 Points
3rd time rating this. It's really evolved over the time I've had it. First time was super, then it was a little hot, but now it has mellowed and is drinking beautifully. Sorry to see it go...
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3/21/2020 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Medium dark purple in color. Nose to me is ripe dark fruit, black cherry liqueur, pencil shavings, cigar ash. Lovely, fairly rounded palate that is about ripe fruit, but also pretty restrained power, as it is pretty light on its feet. Spicy. Nose reminds me of Bordeaux while the palate reminds me of a Zin/Cab blend. This bottle has plenty of life ahead of it but drinking nicely right now.
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3/14/2020 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 90 Points
Another in the good/better/best/special reserve/private cuvee/etc etc etc offerings that all the new world wineries, and many/most (too many in any event) have imitated in Europe. Am I being curmudgeonly to wish for the days of only good/best? And at the price this commands I can't say its a good deal in any sense of the word. But whatever...
A bordeaux blend that was medium weight, with notes of cassis, spice, earth and tobacco. Drier on the finish than I would have thought from the fruit on the nose. Nice to drink, just not nice to buy.
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1/11/2020 - wilksnake wrote:
One of my favorite vintages, excellent wine
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1/6/2020 - erwing Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black berries, chocolate, coffee / mocca and sweet licorice on the nose. Concentrated, dark fruit and berries with soft tannins and elegant acidity on the palet. Maybe a bit too "berry-sweet" for my taste.
Don't hold on to it longer.
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12/25/2019 - tantotinto wrote: 92 Points
Very restrained upon opening and a decant but opened up with time. Did not hit its stride until about the third hour. Cherry and tobacco and very tasty at that point.
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12/21/2019 - spineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last of my 3 bottles and wish I had more. Opened the others 5 and 10 years ago. This was by far the best showing! Needed the cellar time for fruit integration, maturing tannins, and balance to be a world class contender. Wonderful evolution over 2-3 hours. Worked really well with lamb and venison.
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12/6/2019 - Cailles wrote: 93 Points
Tasted double blind. The first time I’ll have an aged example of this wine. Any concerns about the ageability of these wines can be put to bed. This wine showed even a bit young! Overall, I’ve got a positive impression but for a higher rating the complexity and the balance would have to be better.
TN: Dark fruit, mineral scents and some herbs on the medium- expressive nose. More interesting on the palate with a beautiful sweet fruit core with strawberries and cassis, additional aromas of dry soil and herbs. Good intensity, good delineation, not overly high complexity. Structure is marked by noticeable but fine tannins and a slightly too high acidity, medium- length.
Decanting: Decanted for roughly 3+ hours which seems right.
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7/18/2019 - erwing Likes this wine: 94 Points
Koncentrerad doft med tydliga mognadstoner som drar åt choklad och välitegrerad balanserad ek. Björnbär, svartavinbär, fräsch doft. Koncenterad smak med rostade nötter, frukt, silkeslena tanniner, mörka bär och en pigg friskhet. Peak-time enligt min mening!
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5/24/2019 - pgm wrote: 96 Points
The nose could pass for a great Bordeaux, loads of currant, black plum and blackberry, black tea, pencil shaving, but with a touch of loam that makes it recognizable as Chilean. It’s a great start. The mouth is equal to it or better. Powerful, full bodied, still bright and fresh but also mature, black cherry with tobacco and tar. Tannins are still quite firm, but sweet. Long juicy and rich finish.
This bottle suggests it’s just beginning maturity, and could drink great for another 10 years.
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4/28/2019 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 94 Points
Inky colored. Full bodied. Classic Cabernet notes of cassis and blackberry. An interesting taste of savory olive and bacon- Syrah like on the finish. Fine tannins remain- the best bottle yet.
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4/27/2019 - T&T Wine wrote: 97 Points
Believe it or not, but tight start for a 14 year old wine. Opened beautifully over a two hour period. Tannins were smooth and fruit was smooth. Loads of blackberry. Cedar and dark cherries persist.
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3/10/2019 - Marc S wrote: 93 Points
- Brick color with slow forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant, blackberry and licorice anise with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Still needs some more time. You can really taste the black berries in this wine. A long finish.
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3/9/2019 - Kevnzworld wrote: 91 Points
Brief 1/2 hour decant before drinking over two hours.
Dark fruit mixed with earthy flavors, some tobacco, but a little hot, which I attribute to fading fruit. I recently had a 2013 version of this wine which I liked more.
Perhaps this is bottle specific.
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2/22/2019 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 96 Points
I've been too conservative with my ratings over the years. That changes with this bottle. Tonight this was singing and hit the mark for my palate. Decanted in glass for over an hour. This is superior juice and just delicious. Structured with perfectly integrated tannins. Layered with great texture and mouthfeel. Satisfying long finish. Not much more you could want here for the style. One of my favorite producers. Too bad the price has risen so much, but this is excellent quality. Last and best bottle of 6.
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1/27/2019 - Marc S wrote: 93 Points
- Ruby color with medium forming legs. It's in total harmony and has flavours of raisin and strawberry jam with a medium body. Oily texture with a medium finish.
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1/5/2019 - Chrisinroch wrote:
Really tasty new world Bordeaux. Cassis, cocoa, and a bit of herb. Drinking ing nicely out of the gate, but it softened a bit over 3 hours.
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10/28/2018 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle was terrific.
This vintage has come together beautifully.
Complex with graphite, dark fruit, and mineral.
Long finish.
Moderate tannins.
This bottle was in a secondary stage of maturity.
Drink or Hold.
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10/27/2018 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
4th Saturday Group: South America & Spain (M&LA's): Blind. Loam, plum, dark fruit, cherry and licorice. Plum and dark fruit on the palate with medium tannins. Hints of ripe raisiny fruit as it sits in the glass, also picking up a slight medicinal quality that is a little disappointing. I did not guess this as our Clos Apalta.
This was double decanted off its sediment not quite three hours before this flight was poured.
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9/30/2018 - Hawk94 Likes this wine: 99 Points
A great wine! This is WOW! Perfume like penetrating floral and dark fruits bouquet, purple ruby red, still young, full body, smooth and refined tannins, firm structure, so complex, yet so soft, chocolate-ish creamy velvet coating your palate, vanilla, loads of blackberry, currants, delineated, this is a first class wine. One of the best wines I ever tasted. Bravo!
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9/1/2018 - maderay wrote: 94 Points
Delicious
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8/30/2018 - Fulcrum Likes this wine: 94 Points
I am not generally a fan of new world big wines. If I drink Chilean it’s usually almaviva. I have perfect temperature and humidity controlled cellars, so have aged approprtiately. Out of two cases bought, I have about a case of this left.
Up until this point, the wine has been unimpressive, either too big or tight. Openend, decanted for an hour and drank. It’s fantastic, Bordeaux texture/complexity with a new world fruit. It’s still young, with my conditions, needs about 3-5 years of aging.
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5/20/2018 - VDLT Wine wrote:
2nd LI Blind BYO (Primi Italian Steakhouse Islip): Tight, outsized - not my thing.
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4/15/2018 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 95 Points
Slow-oxed for 4 hours, then decanted for 2 hours. Outstanding
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2/25/2018 - mouki Likes this wine: 98 Points
I agree with the previous reviewer. like liquid cashmere, could not describe it better. This wine has it all, I think this may be the best wine I have ever tasted. Nose was incredible, finish just did not end. I need to find more of this beauty.
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2/18/2018 - WineCPA wrote: 98 Points
One of my favorite wines. This baby is HUGE, but finishes like liquid cashmere. The nose is incredible with rose petals and lavender. Plenty of fruit and moderate tannins complete a beautiful wine. Blackberry, and black cherry, along with a hint of smoke & leather. Still has time, but delicious and in a great spot right now.
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2/18/2018 - Russocaster Likes this wine: 94 Points
Un gran vino, delicioso. Debe estar en su cuspide: intensa fruta roja con unos taninos sedosos. Profundo y brillante rojo rubí de capa baja y rivetes rojo ladrillo. La madera aflora despues de la hora de abierto, mientras tanto es pura fruta. Muy recomendable
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12/25/2017 - redknife wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 45 min back in the bottle and off to Smith and Wollensky with Samaj. Wine is a treat nose packed with dark chocolate and fruit, smooth, thick coats your mouth and lingers
Paired nicely with a Cajun ribeye
Wine has plenty of life ahead
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11/22/2017 - fjv3 wrote:
Past
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11/19/2017 - Marc S wrote: 93 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Great bottle of wine. A sleeper for sure. See previous notes from 3. A sleeper for sure. See previous notes from 2015.
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10/21/2017 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cellaraid - Cabernet Sauvignon Taste-Off Dinner (Tonny's Restaurant): nice depth, balance of red and black fruits, with some hints of spices and coffee; lots of tannins though
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10/9/2017 - Winedad53 wrote: 97 Points
Oh was this gorgeous! Even after shipping out to Las Vegas for dinner with friends it was so perfectly balanced, with bright fruit, soft tannin and smooth cascade of deep plush dark berry, fresh flowers and long gentle finish. By itself and with just about every dish we ordered at Lago the wine was a perfect complement. Just as big a thrill now as on release as WOTY, maybe at its peak but not ready to fall off anytime soon.
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9/29/2017 - cobbpa wrote: 92 Points
Showed a bit of underbrush & earth--calmer fruit too than the bottle opened nearly a year ago. Still dark fruit driven & broad, but I enjoyed this; went especially great with roasted boar.
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9/19/2017 - Bobc7had wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful wine. Fully integrated tannins and fruit. No need to hold. Fine right now
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8/27/2017 - CabIsKing wrote: 96 Points
I'm still holding on to my 96 rating. Still showing a great nose of dark fruits with some earth. Tannins are now pretty well integrated with a long finish. Maybe not WOTY now but still a really good wine.
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8/14/2017 - Grape_ape Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still quite big and ripe and youthfull, but developing some complexity. Fairly balanced for 15% but if not cellar temp would've been hot. While this was very good, not sure I get the WOTY hype.
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7/22/2017 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Jelly doughnut, Bordeaux, and wine tasting room on the nose. Bourbon, smoke, and grape popsicle. Perfect tannins. Rich and smooth. My wife claimed this wine lacked depth; she thought that it was harsh too. However, I really liked this wine.
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7/18/2017 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 95 Points
So sad this was my last bottle of this monster. Each one got better over the eight years I drank them and I'm sure this wine has many more years to mature. Just a fantastic wine.
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6/4/2017 - Asmiller Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big and bold. Still has fruit. Decanted about two hours. Outstanding.
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5/27/2017 - jeduardoms Likes this wine: 96 Points
This vintage was ranked #1 on the 2008 Wine Spectator's Top 100 list.
It is fantastic and at it's peak.
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4/16/2017 - D. Mitchell Does not like this wine:
This seems to be a very polarizing wine, some liked it and some did not in our group. I felt like it had a very hot nose, but if you get through the alcohol, there was some beautifully perfumed florals, and scorched earth, on the palette the alcohol was back out in force and I found it difficult to get clear notes. This is a massively big wine with a lot of alcohol present and strong oak treatment.
In our group 3/8 felt this was WOTN, while several others had it 3rd out of 4 wines. I am not sure if this one could use more time to develop, or if it is falling apart in the bottle. I have had other vintages of this wine that were much more enjoyable. No score as I just did not get it with this wine.
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3/29/2017 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had a few nights ago. Cannot offer a tasting note, but this wine was nothing short of spectacular. Slow-oxed for about 4 hours.
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3/16/2017 - HOS wrote: 89 Points
I believe this is past it's prime. Will drink our last bottle quickly.
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1/21/2017 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
Good showing, paired well w grilled steak and chimichurri. Drink over next 3 yrs
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12/17/2016 - Lyubomir Lefterov wrote: 92 Points
This is slowly entering maturation stage, a lot of dark cherries rapped with moderate oak treatment. Needs like at least an hour in decanter to become better together, good balance and quite enjoyable now, but will get better with time, my guess is it could last for another decade.
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12/12/2016 - KeithAkers wrote: 87 Points
Rotating Dinner Series- 2005 Blind Bordeaux Blends from around the world (The Bristol, Chicago IL): Nose: There is a ripeness to the nose with bell peppers, chocolate, herbs, cigar wrapper, dark red cherries, sour red berries, spice notes, coffee, and oak notes. The nose has some extraction, but the oak isn't all that integrated and is a bit prominent.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The tannins are coarse and woody with the feel showing an extracted side along with bell peppers, chocolate, coffee, dark red cherries, sour red berries, and oak tones.
Overall: This was hard to identify blind. I only knew that it was a bordeaux blend, but it was hard to put down the country. I liked this a lot more when it was younger. While my palate has changed, I'm also just not sure if this has aged as well as was expected. The oak hasn't integrated with time and its not that the tannins aren't resolving, its that they feel like they're more wood driven. Maybe this was in a bit of a dumb period, but this bottle feels like it hasn't aged all that gracefully.
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12/12/2016 - Nanda wrote: 80 Points
Served blind within a 2005 BDX varietals theme. Yikes, I really did not care for this bottle, though I loved one 8 years ago. Question is whether it's my palate or the wine that has evolved since that bottle? Definitely my palate, but probably the wine too. I found the nose unattractive due to it's high toned veneer -- some VA and lots of canned/candied fruits. The palate is more pleasant thought the fruit still leans quite sweet. The tannins are velvety and provide a good countering structure.
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12/12/2016 - acyso wrote: 83 Points
The Rotating Dinners, I.7: 2005 Bordeaux Blends (Chicago, IL): Served double-blind (but it was known this was a 2005 Bordeaux blend). Based on the dirt here, I had this pegged as an old world wine (albeit not a very good one). Quite plummy, I thought the merlot showed quite prominently here. There's quite a bit of oak; not too obtrusive, as well as a little bit of acid. Heavy tannin. I guessed some sort of modernist right-bank wine.
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11/20/2016 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Poured into a decanter and drank over approximately 3 hours. This is a dark-cherry-skinned-red wine with substantial grit in the bottle – decanting is highly recommended – and staining potency in the mouth. On the nose, I get mint, green pepper, and chocolate. In the mouth, this is lush, albeit with a slight “prickle” at first (this fades with time), and with rich layers of flavor. The richness continues on the finish, with some sweet lingering flavor and only a slight nip of heat. Overall, this is a yummy wine with loads of flavor. It is a touch green at first, but air certainly helps open it up into a redder dimension. Look, I don’t think this is a wine of the year for any year I’ve been enjoying wine, but it is not inconceivable that WS selected it for that award given the desire for regional diversity, etc., etc. The fact remains that it is a very good, enjoyable wine, one that gets better with an hour of two of air – which suggest 5-10 more years of good longevity. 93 points.
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11/12/2016 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A massive and delicious fruit flavor dominated wine. I really don't get any tertriary flavors out of this. Dark plum, cassis, ripe berry, perhaps a bit of coffee. Thick and wonderful. They've put 1000mL of wine flavor into this 750mL bottle! Thanks to SD-Wineaux for opening this up.
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9/3/2016 - Russocaster Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding. Gorgeous red and black fruit dominate this bold, rich, delicious wine. With an hour+ of decanting it showed a heavy Bordeaux leaning thanks to what it appears to be new french casks/barrels. Highly recommended
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7/18/2016 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious! Very smooth, lots of fruit, nicely balanced. Nice blend of old world and new world styles.
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5/8/2016 - SonnyChiba wrote:
Down to 2 bottles of this. Notes constant with previous tastings, not much has changed. Love the perfume of the nose and silky tannins.
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4/10/2016 - jbehrendt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Served with lamb at Easter dinner. The other wine was an Opus One. This wine suffered in comparison. While delicious and truly a Bordeaux-styled wine, we probably drank it at least 5 years too soon.
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2/15/2016 - BlancdeBlanc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Assertive blending of dark fruits, tar, A significantly tasty wine.
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1/30/2016 - maxmanx wrote:
Definitely ready to go.
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1/9/2016 - Redguy wrote:
Audouzed 5 hrs. This bottle was a bit off. The fruit was tired and the tannins were a little rough. Suspect improper storage in its youth.
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1/6/2016 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Best showing for this wine, yet. Pepper/smoke/oak subdued compared to that in the past, perhaps because of bottle age or perhaps because it was paired with quite robust food. Drink now or over the next several years, pair with bold robust food.
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12/30/2015 - Seafoam Manor wrote: 92 Points
Good, rich, spicy red, but it was really anonymous. It was ten years old, but didn't show any signs of tertiary notes. It had somewhat strong spice, presumably from the carmenere, and ripe fruit on the mid-palate, but the finish was medium-ish. There isn't really anything wrong with this wine except that it will probably never meet exaggerated expectations. At ten years in, I think this will hang in there for a good while, but I don't get the feeling that this will evolve into anything special or more than it is now. Blind, this could be well made Napa, Argentina, Paso, Chile, Australia...
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12/25/2015 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, but still fairly tight.
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12/19/2015 - maxmanx wrote:
Decanted 1 hour, poured back into the bottle and drank at a restaurant. Big wine. Carmenere really comes out. I enjoyed it, but not sure about the 95 points and the Wine of the Year. I'll drink my 2nd bottle soon.
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12/11/2015 - CWang wrote: 94 Points
Quite some red and dark berries first, followed by graphite, mints, lavenders, black truffles, and precious wood in the nose; wow, very delicious on the palate, with just the right fruitiness, dark berries, stewed plums, dark chocolate, green peppers, mints, and wood spices; long finish, with most of the stuff from the palate; overall, 93-94 points.
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11/30/2015 - SIMAS Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wonderfull, one of the best wines I tasted in the last years.
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11/2/2015 - tantotinto wrote: 93 Points
Tasted immediately after opening and a decant. Red fruit with a whiff of graphite and green pepper on the nose. Initially tart and lean on the palate. My wife tastes prunes. I am getting something more complex. Improved considerably after an hour or two of air. It added weight, texture, fruit and some savory spice came out of hiding. The score is mine after two hours in decanter or glass.
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10/24/2015 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
And back to 92 points.
I have just loved this wine and its probably my favorite Clos Apalta. After years of enjoying this wine it has hit its peak and started over the hump. Lets be clear, its still a 92 point wine and quite good, but the bright fruits are slipping and the secondary flavors are emerging. For some this may be criteria for raising the points. I have based my notes on how it was drinking from the beginning and now its moving into its twilight years.
Opened, decanted and ran though a screen filter. There was significant amounts of sediment so a little screening is appropriate at this stage.
Deep purple and no clarity. Nose was warm with hints of black fruits, prominent leather, cigar box and herbal elements.
On the palate its matches the nose pretty well. The dark fruits are less now and the secondary flavors are gaining ground. Still quite lush and balanced and quite enjoyable but for slightly different reasons then I wrote back in 2012 and 2014.
Open, filter, decant and enjoy this gem soon!
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10/21/2015 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Substantial Sediment. Intense at first and then softened. Didn't hold up next day.
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10/18/2015 - vwsmaltz wrote: 95 Points
I'll admit - I bought this wine because it was the #1 2008 for Wine Spectator. I'm glad I did and that I have a couple of bottles left. It's an amazing wine. Black currant, creme de cassis, a hint of graphite and some fig. An amazing wine to end the weekend.
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9/20/2015 - galewskj wrote: 87 Points
1 hour decant and drank a good-sized glass over about 1.5 hours. Served blind but we knew it was $80+ and from the Southern Hemisphere, we are all at a loss as to what it could be. The alcohol and green-ness stands out more than anything else. I is also thin and fragile, with significant wood. Not that enjoyable to drink. I hope this wine was better in its youth.
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9/19/2015 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 88 Points
Not as good as the last bottle. Drink up.
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9/19/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 87 Points
South American Stars (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark purple red color. decanted for 45 minutes, drank 1 glass blind over 30 minutes. This was just a hot oaky mess from the get go on the nose and palate. The palate is thin, cassis, creme de cassis fruit, wood, alcohol. This struck me as a faded shell of what might have been. I'm not much of a carmenere fan to begin with, but I can't blame it on that. Given the faded fruit, my impression is that this wine is done vs. it needs time.
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9/17/2015 - redknife Likes this wine: 93 Points
took to ruths chris
good but needs time
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9/8/2015 - WineWright Likes this wine: 93 Points
While the nose continues to radiate beautifully, I sensed the flavor balance of the wine was a little "off." Could be this bottle, but I will not wait to long until I open my last bottle just in case this vintage is starting to decline. Looking forward to the 2009 & 10s!
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9/7/2015 - Merky_Waters Likes this wine: 94 Points
birthday bottle.
i purchased this bottle 6 months ago from my place of work, where it had been properly cellared since its arrival ~2008. Shared this with my parents and girlfriend.
the 2005 Clos Apalta was rated wine of the year in 2008 by the Wine Spectator with a score of 96 points. It also received 95 from suckling and 94 from Parker. the blend is 42% Carmenere, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot.
Drinking heavenly. ripe, powerful, but never candied. classy structure and gorgeous texture. consumed over 4 hours.
nose of black/blue fruit, ash, ceder, and rich minerality. think cement, graphite, and charred oak. underneath the characteristic Chilean nose comes a deep violent and sandlewood note that adds an old world refinement.
full body, perfectly integrated and textured tannins reminiscent of salty south american dark chocolate. fine grain. the oak adds structure but is also totally integrated and doesn't intrude on the nose or palate. plenty of fresh acidity and structural tannin to keep this rocking for a few years although i don't see it improving much beyond this point.
palate of ripe wild blackberries, blackcurrant and blueberry pie filling. despite these inky characteristics i get some youthful raspberry tang and bright cherry cola, perhaps from the 26% merlot. the decadent minerality comes across on the palate as cool and clean. pencil shavings, wet stone. this is a masterful blend where each grape shows it's regional characteristics but works in harmony to make a bottle that is more than the sum of its parts.
plenty of wildcard nuances i can barely put my finger on ie. candied onion, steak seasoning, candle wax and red apple skin. LONG sticky, grippy, savoury finish.
Hands down the finest Chilean wine i've had to date.
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8/10/2015 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Always one of my favorite wines any where, at the moment this is in a sweet spot. Super clean with virtually no sediment in the glass compare to a lot in the bottle. dark ruby plus bright raspberry. Exotic, brilliant, brilliant deep wine which pairs perfectly with rib steak or T-bone.
If a date, this was a 21 year old Latina beauty who can discuss world affairs as well as neural network programming before taking you home and giving you a physical earthquake.
Fully mature and not likely to improve from here
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8/9/2015 - flwinos wrote: 94 Points
Amazing wine. Decanted for about 2 hours. Paired well with NY Strip and Filet. Great fruit up front followed by secondary notes of bitter sweet chocolate and cedar - long finish.
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7/30/2015 - RSTAR4 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Last of the 2005 Clos Apalta in my cellar. It is as good as ever, and is probably at or around it's peak. Perfectly balanced and supple.
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7/27/2015 - ewsds Likes this wine: 96 Points
My last bottle, and it was fantastic. I've enjoyed every bottle, but this one was at it's absolute peak. Deep dark fruits - plums, blackberries, etc. Rich silky-smooth fruit with an ethereal quality lengthy finish that's hard to describe. One of the best wines I've had in the past couple of years. Delicious.
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7/24/2015 - SonnyChiba wrote: 95 Points
Bumping it up a point. Fantastic wine really delivered more than ever. Beautiful bouquet super sexy, drinks so well right now with plenty of life ahead. A must buy when you can come across it. 95+
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7/18/2015 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 94 Points
Has gotten better in the six years since I tried again...and did not feel like it has peaked yet. Will wait another few years for the final bottle. Wow.
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6/14/2015 - GFWeaver wrote: 95 Points
Fabulous... Waited till it was a decade old and was not disappointed. Powerful red that could have easily aged another decade. Decanted for an hour and paired with Provençal skirt steak with ratatouille and roast baby potatoes. French fajitas to go with South American Bordeaux.
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4/25/2015 - abi9 wrote: 88 Points
I had my first bottle 6 years ago. We were guests of this winery the year this vintage was harvested and it was anticipated it would do well. Turns out it won accolades. And in 2009 when I tried it I rated it very highly. But on opening our second of four bottles today (decanted for 2 hours) I feel as though the wine is quite hot. It is possible my palate has changed and I prefer blended / Bordeaux style wines more than I did back then. My reading on this now is tart cherry, pepper, chalk. I am concerned this will not improve over time.
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4/14/2015 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow! I'm so glad I waited for this to turn 10 years old. Opaque purple color turning violet at the rim with a transparent rim. The nose gives off high octane notes of dark berries, licorice, cola, cocoa and tobacco notes. The palate is full-bodied with a rich, decadent, velvety texture. Flavors of blackberry, currant, blueberry, cola, cigar box, espresso, and graphite form the core. It's got a 40-second finish with hints of earth, dried herbs and spice. This has come together so well in its 10th year - very well-integrated, harmonious and so alive! My only regret is that it's my last bottle. Drink now until 2025.
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4/11/2015 - nmoreilly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same as previous
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3/31/2015 - Shouzen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well right now. Very lush and full of fruitiness, although the body is lightened by the Carmenere grapes. Tannins subdued. Needs at least a few hours of decanting before it comes into its own.
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3/21/2015 - sam_rosato@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great Wine, This is in a class with Cali Cabs at twice the price
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3/13/2015 - Marc S wrote: 93 Points
- Garnet color with slow forming legs. It's in total harmony and has flavours of black olive, cherry and strawberry jam with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Great wine and well balanced.
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2/4/2015 - jswanson wrote: 94 Points
Just gets better and better...really singing. Popped and poured. Nose of dry oak and dark fruits. Palate of the same. Don't know if I'll wait another year to open the next one???
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1/23/2015 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 96 Points
More than two years later, this wine continues to be a pleasure to drink. Unbelievably rich fruit that has become more chewy with age but with a finish that has more complicity with notes of licorice, cassis and dark chocolate. Must decant for at least an hour to get all the subtle flavors.
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1/5/2015 - jusuf Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the best Chilean wines I have drunk so far. Velvet. Pure velvet on the palate. If the body were stronger, it would be a TOP-point candidate.
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1/4/2015 - AWBryce Likes this wine: 93 Points
Open for seven hours when tasted, but so young and succulent. Good fruit and strong nose, needs 10+ years.
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12/23/2014 - SonnyChiba wrote: 94 Points
Notes same as before. Really tasty wine.
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12/8/2014 - HOS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brought this bottle to drink before a Bob Seger concert. PnP. Dark fruit, medium bodied, good finish, very smooth. This seems very young to me as the secondary notes just aren't there. I believe this will significantly improve with bottle time and plan to put my remaining 2 back in the cellar for a few years. Concert was fantastic by the way.
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12/6/2014 - MLD70 Likes this wine:
Decanted for about 2 hours. Rich, dark wine with nice texture and complexity, a delicious wine. Paired very well with dry-aged steak, and gave no indication that its time to drink up -- feel free to give it 3-5 years before pulling the next one, or enjoy with air now.
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11/30/2014 - spineguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great nose of darker fruit, tobacco, and damp earth. Solid, very structured tannins that were yet pleasant. Unbelievable finish! Probably near its prime but will remain this way for 5-10 yrs. somewhere between new and old world which made it a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving.
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11/26/2014 - Redguy wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 6 hours and served with grilled lamb chops. Ahh, maturity. This shows the burnished fruit and softened edges of a wine entering its prime. Beautiful dark fruit with notes of smoked herbs, tobacco, and underside of the saddle that brings a feral rusticity to the fore. The tannins are slightly drying on the medium length finish which only accentuate the rustic appeal. Drinking beautifully now, this flows effortless across the palate.
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11/11/2014 - ewsds wrote: 93 Points
Seems to be entering it's prime drinking window. Has a nose of dark and slightly spicy and smokey fruits. In the palate it's got beautiful rustic dark fruits witha bit of spice and minerality. Has very fine tannins for structure, but its acidity is fading. Really delicious right now.
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11/1/2014 - Cycle Man Likes this wine: 92 Points
A nice cabernet, not WOTY great. Had 3 bottles in my cellar since 2008 and this is the 2nd one I have tried. Needed about an hour to open up and I feel it is still got some good years ahead.
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10/30/2014 - wren460 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tastes like chicken. Definitely mature and delicious.
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10/17/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): Deep ruby/red and highly aromatic, this blend of 42% Carménère, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot is hitting its stride. Lavender, plum, fig, tobacco and graphite are delivered on the nose and palate. Medium-to-full-bodied, round, seamlessly alcoholic and with medium-weight tannins, it maintains a silky mouth texture throughout the middle palate and lengthy finish. Although this wine has loads of stuffing, it is distinctly "feminine" and a joy to drink. It should be at its best over the next decade. Drink now-2024.
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9/27/2014 - Surfdoc wrote: 91 Points
Restrained blackberry flavor with herbaceous undertone and some black tar. Medium body and moderate, but still grippy tannins. Drying finish with some cedar.
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9/20/2014 - SonnyChiba wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Gave it a few hours decant and well worth it. Needed to breathe a bit.
Awesome perfume of fruits and herbs on the nose. Flavor profile is full of dark fruit, chocolate, spices, oak. Well balanced and rich, great finish. Drinks well now but can hold for much longer.
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9/8/2014 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Sweet cherry fruit. The tannins are nearly completely integrated. Probably drinking as well as this ever will. A nice Bordeaux blend, but a bit one dimensional.
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8/7/2014 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 95 Points
consistent with notes of 9/7/2012.
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7/27/2014 - King JR wrote: 89 Points
Disappointing bottle tonight. Alcohol overwhelmed the fruit and the vanilla and other flavors that have been present before. Maybe in a dumb phase or bottle is past prime. Not sure, but disappointed.
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7/13/2014 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank it together with Thomas at Piment in Hamburg together with Opus One 2007. Clos Apalta lost. In the nose dark berries, Vanilla, still very fruity. in the palate the same, missing complexity, soft, silky tannins . I expected a little bit more diversity. Great wine with a lot of Power. was my last bottle
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6/17/2014 - jmrife Likes this wine: 94 Points
Filtered and Decanted 2 hours - medium sediment. Deep garnet extended to edges - no clearing at the edges detected. Still, I agree with those who think it might start to fade in 2-3 years. My first bottle. I have 2 more and expect to drink them before 2017.
My wife is strict about not drinking reds young, and found this level of aging "just right". Very much in the bordeaux style, but the flavor profile is different, I assume that is the carmenere.
As others have noted, this stuff KILLS a medium rare T-bone.
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6/7/2014 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
A good buddy brought this to dinner - PNP into decanter and consumed 30 minutes later with grilled NY strips. This surprised me. I'm usually pretty bearish on Chilean wines but this was very good. Dark red color (looked pretty young), plum, blackberry, cherry & some earthiness (no bell pepper that I get on a lot of Chilean wines with age). Similar palate profile to nose. Full bodied but nice acid / tannic structure. Great with steaks or on its own.
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6/6/2014 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 95 Points
consistent with notes of 9/7/2012. Felt all the more opulent in a night of old world wines. Opening quickly now, 1/2 hour decant should be enough.
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5/29/2014 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of dark red fruits, chocolate and wood spices. Rich, thick fruit in the mouth with great depth and length and well-integrated tannins. Very suave and complex on the palate. This delicious wine is in the last few years of its peak drinking period.
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5/13/2014 - ReelUncorked wrote:
2008 ws wine of the year
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5/3/2014 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 95 Points
Still drinking amazingly well. A fair bit of sediment so make sure to decant, filter, or pour carefully. Flavors is leather, smoke and graphite. Paired with filet mignon, baked potatoes and corn on the cob. Wish I had more !
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5/2/2014 - nmoreilly wrote: 93 Points
I would disagree somewhat with recent reveiws in that I feel that the fruit is very much apparent on this one. I think 2-3 years left. Very dark, succulent and jammy. Admittedly we did pop and pour.....it really didnt stand a chance to evolve that night!!
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5/2/2014 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I'll bump this up from my 2012 notes and I agree with Toke_man. This is drinking at its peak I believe. The nose is deep and powerful with dark fruit and a nice smokey whiff.
On the palate this is complex and layered. The fruit is still very present but starting to take a backseat to the smoke, leather and spices. A slight herbal finish.
Paired with Toke's filet and baked potatoes and it was magnificent! 1 bottle left...
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3/25/2014 - TheWineDon wrote: 95 Points
Initial nose of dark cherry metallic (?) that burned off at the second glass. Opaque dark garnet with a pleasant dark cherry and slight oak flavor. Tannins resent but not overbearing, giving a suggestion that this wine has some more life in it. Will wait several more years to consume the remaining bottle i have and continue enjoying this one.
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2/8/2014 - Son888 Likes this wine: 94 Points
95 very nice. new world
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11/25/2013 - Jojala wrote: 94 Points
Worth the hype. I felt that this wine has years to go. It is still fairly monolithic although very hedonistic. Good balance. Deep and thick nose. Second day the alcohol is a tad too much, some heat. First day was in check.
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11/3/2013 - nschmidt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid full bodied Chilean blend. Wine of the year, I don't get that. Enjoyable but not spectacular.
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11/3/2013 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 94 Points
Inky color with textured plush tannins. Flavors of plum, cassis, black berries. Great wine.
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10/23/2013 - djdaqm Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a powerhouse wine, with fantastic balance. Very dark in the glass. On the nose there is tons of dark berry compote and a subtle touch of oak. Secondary smells are just starting to develop. On the palate the acidity holds up extremely well to the fruit concentration. This is a big wine, but in no way does it come across as sappy or over extracted. It has a brightness to it as well. Lots of room for aging still. Personally I would hold this for 8-10 more years if possible, but it's drinking well now.
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10/23/2013 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine has been opened for about 5 days and corked each time, and it has only today started to recede. What a great tribute to wine making. Inky black color, good dense cork with a solid pull/pop, and legs ran slow. Pour first glass through Vinturi, and it was a beast. Was so strong and there was so much going on it made me pause, as I couldn't drink this by the gulp. But over the course of about an hour, the strong component took a step back. Really nice, and very fruity without being over the top. Complex, as between the intense fruit, acidity, and alcohol, there was a lot going on in the first glass or two. And a very very long finish to boot. The brightness in this wine reminded me a of a very good pinot and I almost wasn't sure I was drinking a predominantly cabernet wine. I agree with another reviewer; it the best S. American wine I've ever tried, and I've had Don Melchor which was no slouch. I think the Carmenere added a really nice blend for this wine. I can see the wine of the year accolades are well deserved. Alcohol seemed fairly potent but did not come off as hot. Not sure I would call this balanced, as different components took turns coming forward. And as I said, this is now day five, and just starting a tad to fall apart, but still quite enjoyable. At 7 years, I see about 1/4 of CT inventory has been sampled, most likely to see where this is at. CT end point is 2019 and it might be close either way. Recommended.
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9/27/2013 - wren460 wrote: 93 Points
Very good.
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9/21/2013 - jad1964 Likes this wine: 94 Points
absolute monster, still could wait to try. old world nose, new world delivery. it got better as night went on and held up well with lamb, and steak. over top fruit, oak, tannins.
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9/9/2013 - sraders wrote: 94 Points
Best red from South America I have tasted. Decanted for an hour and enjoyed with steak. Very smooth and great finish. Sorry I only have one more bottle.
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8/16/2013 - malan wrote: 95 Points
great wine, my wife "accidently" opened the remaining bottle for her ladies night, i got half a glass to recover from the shock - in vain, what a loss !! bottle may have needed another 2-3 years to reach perfection. best chilean wine i ever tasted, better than almaviva
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8/10/2013 - Mark H. LeQuire wrote: 96 Points
Paired perfectly with grilled seasoned hamburger topped with gourmet pimento cheese. Dark garnet color. No flaws. Mild sediment. Mild rim variation in the glass. Old world nose. Musky. Low tannin. Low alcohol. Medium finish. Have the feeling that it is just at or beyond peak. Most drinkable. Would consider the CT window on target.
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8/3/2013 - bonedoc wrote:
Every time I drink this wine, I've been drawn to the same adjectives: smoke, dark fruit, oak. My consistent criticism here, is that the oak is the most dominant feature of this wine, I wish there was less oak, or more fruit to balance. It is still a really good low to mid 90 point wine.
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7/6/2013 - Morg wrote: 93 Points
Dark in the glass, nose of stewed fruits and leather. A serious wine, lots of fruit, but all in balance. Fully mature but should drink well for the next 5+ years.
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6/29/2013 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 89 Points
Dessicated tannins dominate the graphite infusion with back notes of dark fruit and allspice.
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6/15/2013 - wren460 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brought to my sister birthday and did not decant. The wine is definitely a very good wine. I smelled LOTS of prune and figs some peppers as well. Also lots of that "Chilean" smell very dificult to describe but that you "know" is from Chile as much as you can recognize the smell of an Italian wine. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied, very well integrated tanins, very nice aftertaste. Decent QPR since you can taste the quality. My biggest mistake was not to decant since the wine got better and better as the night went on.
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6/7/2013 - drbill Likes this wine:
Much more developed than when i last had it about 3 years ago.
decanted. very long legs reflecting 15% alcohol content. deep opaque and black with a short deep garnet border. nose of deep dark fruits, peppers, raspberries, currants. body is medium to full. on the palate this wine excels with deep dark fruits, pepper, currants. finishes very long and spicy with just a hint of heat. this is a big and bold wine but it really shows elegant restraint. very long chewy finish. Feels like a high end elegant restrained shiraz.
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5/20/2013 - ewsds Likes this wine: 92 Points
After a few hours in the decanter, this was opening nicely. Still very intense with stout tannins, which makes me this this one still needs a few more years to reach its apogee. Deep dark fruits and with solid structure and lengthy finish. A very good wine that still feels quite young.
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4/15/2013 - igaf wrote:
Intense, pleasantly fruity yet complex nose with black cherries and currants, herbs. Full bodied, concentrated, slightly viscous, but with a good balancing acidity. Rubber, smoke, blackberries on the palate, very polished and well structured. Very solid and balanced, a touch too pruned for me, but the very high quality is obvious. Seamless finish, very good length.
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4/14/2013 - Win-E Likes this wine: 93 Points
N: fresh ripe black cherries and currant, licorice
P: figs and prunes and dates. Interesting fruit profile. Well balanced with complexity but a little fruit forward. Nice now and layers of favors apparent. Long finish. Higher alcohol and can use some time in cellar
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4/14/2013 - bonedoc wrote:
This wine was overshadowed by some fruitier wines, so I will not rate it, but the theme here is dark smoky fruit and oak.
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3/3/2013 - gesusser wrote: 94 Points
Smooth long legged red....2 hour decant
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2/9/2013 - Ron&nina Likes this wine: 98 Points
It has been a very long time since we have had a wine this good. We bought this wine from Sokolin immediately after it was named the #1 wine from W/S and has been in our cellar ever since. Decided to share it with some friends and was not disappointed. A wonderful silky smooth wine with fantastic balance. Finish was long and very satisfying, with nice berry notes, wonderful tannins and acid levels. If you have not had this wine you need to give it a try. I wish I had more for later.
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1/19/2013 - bonedoc Likes this wine: 94 Points
spicy oak on the nose and palate, dark sweet cabernet/carmenere on palate, w/ hints of smoke. full bodied, long finish, a new world style for sure.
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1/9/2013 - dron_ap wrote: 94 Points
Extremely good. Huge potential and many years ahead
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12/26/2012 - AMM3RD wrote:
No formal note, was enjoyed by all at Christmas dinner. Balance and depth has improved since my last bottle. Drink over the next 5+ years...AM
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12/23/2012 - mreinitz wrote: 92 Points
Very expressive nose of ripe blackberry and vanilla spice -- almost reminiscent of a high-end shiraz. On the palate there's blackberry, a hint of plum, dark chocolate, and a hint of tobacco. There's enough acid to make the wine seem fresh. Tannins are slightly drying on the finish, which is graced by a really nice streak of mocha. It's not my favorite style of wine but we're really enjoying it tonight.
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12/18/2012 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 94 Points
It's been about a year since the last bottle was opened, so time to try 2 of 6. Decanted for two hours and drank in glass for another two. Dark and warm in the nose yet showing slight twinges of bright notes in the toasty hint of alcohol. Unctuous and mouth-coating with inviting black cherries and berries flowing across the palate that share space with juicy currants while all supported by an earthy toasty backbone and wisps of bitter cocoa. Complex and well built and crafted as shown in the lingering and delicious finish. In excellent balance right now. Open one if you have some and enjoy the rest for another 5-7 at least. I will be curious to see how this shows in it's tenth year. Superb.
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12/12/2012 - bonedoc Likes this wine: 93 Points
dark rich fruits, chocolate, nicely integrated oak and just enough acidity. not a wow wine, but hard to complain about.
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11/2/2012 - Giggs wrote: 91 Points
Breeders' Cup XXIX; 11/2/2012-11/3/2012: Decanted 2 hours, returned to bottle for 6 hours, then decanted 30 minutes. Never quite came around aromatically or on the palate. Some creamy vanilla notions on the nose, dry black licorice/anise, black plum, but overall reticent. Palate is closed down, tart red fruit, spicy edges, not much fruit concentration from midpalate onward. Maybe we killed it with the long treatment; would try it again with just a 2-hour decant.
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11/1/2012 - wren460 wrote: 92 Points
Very good, needs time. Lots of vanilla & oak. Needs decanting, maybe 2 or 3 hours. Not wine of the year for me, but still, very good.
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10/26/2012 - Al-Vino wrote: 91 Points
Very good but lacked the robust, complex characteristics expected from a wine of this pedigree. In fact, I would argue that this may have plateaued already...
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10/13/2012 - Matt Scott wrote: 95 Points
See previous notes. So much licorice, gravel, menthol, plum, spice and leather. Drinking wonderfully and will last for a long time to come. Scrumptious. Voluptuous body. Drink now - 2030 (I actually think at this will last longer than speculated previously).
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9/24/2012 - BlancdeBlanc Likes this wine: 92 Points
We decanted it in the bottle for 2 hours and then I spilled some on the floor. Very dark red. Aroma: dark, woody, plummy Palate: dark chocolate, coffee, dark berries.
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9/7/2012 - danielbleier wrote: 95 Points
just an awesome wine, consistent with notes 07/17/2011. Still needs a decent decant, years of life left on the 2 bottles I have left.
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9/4/2012 - Schiffy wrote: 96 Points
Wow, double wow! Super dark fruit, concentrated, and incredibly fruit forward. This wine has great complexity with hints of milk chocolate, tabacco, and rich dark berries. This wine is big, expressive and coats your mouth with rich fruit. The finish lasts for 30+ seconds and the nose has strong dark berries with current. Love it!
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8/27/2012 - mactheknife wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured; was able to give it 30 minutes but no decanter available. This got better and better as it opened. I think this has much more huge upside. The carmenere is there for sure, and gives this a bit of green hue, but it is blending together nicely now since my last taste of this wine.
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8/10/2012 - Chrisinroch wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 45 minutes and drank w steak. Big nose of dark fruit and dust. Mouthfilling fruit, tobacco with an interesting green pepper counterpoint. Long finish. Oak is fairly well integrated, and what is left is not distracting in the least. Really nice wine that is in a nice place now but has some time ahead.
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8/10/2012 - mye wrote: 92 Points
Deep dark, gorgeous fruit, chocolate, and coffee flavors.
2 hours decant and most of the heat was gone..
lovely with a rib eye..
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8/2/2012 - Wink wrote: 94 Points
Brought to dinner at Boca. Drank alongside the '05 Clos des Papes CdP. Dark garnet with purple hue. Nose of blackberry, cassis, espresso, & graphite. Structured palate of ripe blackberry, cassis, vanilla, and espresso. Excellent length. Lively, pleasant acidity. Youthful tannins. Oak is not fully integrated. I'll wait a few years to open another.
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7/15/2012 - celk wrote: 88 Points
Rich, deep dark fruit and oaky. Really attractive mouthfeel and body. Balanced but finishes a touch warm and astringent. Enjoyable, anoynomous.
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7/15/2012 - Alex H wrote: 88 Points
Dark Extracted sexy volumious curvatures of black and blue fruits. Ink, dark roasted coffee beans, dark chocolates with black spices. Ultra ripe style. Chockful of rich ripe vitamin c fruity blueberry goodness. Almost like a syrah with it's concentrated fruits. Feels like an ultra ripe right bank. Good wine nonetheless.
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6/25/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
South American Tasting (Jan's House): Amazing wine and almost everyone loved this. Aromatic with blueberries, blackberries, floral, spice and coffee beans. Powerful on the palate and finish and long in length. This should improve over time and is still quite tannic. Drink now through 2018.
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6/11/2012 - Mkopfman wrote: 96 Points
Holy fruit batman! Such an amazing wine. Drank with some friends in New Orleans as a special treat with diner. Dark cherry. Ripe black berry. Very juicy. Have 3 more and am just jonesing to open the next one.
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6/4/2012 - TheFarmerInUsAll wrote: 92 Points
Our group popped this much ballyhoo'd WS wine of the year this afternoon at the wine meeting. The last time I got this excited to taste a new wine was when we broke out the Amon Ra for Sarah's going away party. The bouquet on this guy started to hit me when my nose was still about a foot and a half feet away with black pepper, liquorish, cassis and loads of black fruit leaping out of the glass. Deep ruby in color with just a hint of rim variation, well extracted juice. The mouth feel wasn't quite as full bodied as I expected, but there was no shortage of complexity, from dark fruit to baking spice to vanilla to tobacco and then finally some leather, but the fruit was mostly in the drivers seat. Medium to long finish, especially towards the back of the throat. We all agreed that this was an exceptional wine from a great vintage, but no one in our group would have named it wine of the year.
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5/29/2012 - mactheknife wrote: 92 Points
Still big and youthful; very dark and brooding. The Carmenere provides a slight greeness to the wine, but not in a bad way. More like green olives. We decanted for an hour and drank for another hour. It was still slightly disjointed but there is lots of potential to improve. I think my next one to drink a couple or so years more of waiting.
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5/28/2012 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark crimson color with purplish hues. Just from the nose, it was clear that this wine was in a league of its own - black cherry, vanilla, fig, plum, violets, and almonds. The texture is silky and smooth. Palate has dark cherry, blueberries, mocha, slight cedar. Mild graphite tannins that coat a long finish with a remembrance of wallnut. Drink from 2011 to 2021.
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5/4/2012 - facchair wrote: 93 Points
Dark color, silky, great nose well balanced. It deserved it's rating by WS.
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4/29/2012 - garambler wrote: 93 Points
I opened this after a steak dinner with friends on 4/29/12. It had a big, deep, strong bouquet of smoke, black currant, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, spice and mineral aromas. The palate was very concentrated and full bodied with flavors that followed the nose. A great wine with a long finish.
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4/15/2012 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Inky black color. Dense, intensely aromatic cassis. Full bodied, with plenty of concentration. There is a smoky, creosote like flavor on the long, long finish. this opened significantly over the 2-3 hours it was open. WOTY- not for me, but a really nice version of Bordeaux blending.
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4/15/2012 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 91 Points
DArk color and dark fruit aromatics, fairly big bodied, the tannins were a little harsh on night one, but relaxed more so on night two.
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3/24/2012 - brouigu1 wrote: 92 Points
Big nose of leather, pencil lead, dark fruits and a whiff of spices. Well intergrated for bold wine.
Very smooth on the palate and the dark fruits are playing well with the other organics and spice.
May not be Wine of the Year for me but this wine is drinking well and very good.
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3/18/2012 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 91 Points
took this to dinner with tiffany and the Fisher's... had had this wine with them several years back at a dinner in Cabo and wanted to trigger those memories, wine was still good (but not great), this is carmeniere/cab/merlot/PV blend and done well, grippy from the carmeniere (as it should be), more spice than fruit with some smoky traces on nose and palate... good / enjoyable dinner wine, probably wouldn't buy again at this price point ($65)
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3/5/2012 - phlegls wrote: 93 Points
A little better than the last one 18 mos. ago - will wait about that before the next one
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3/5/2012 - wren460 wrote: 93 Points
Very good, velvety. NEEDS decanting, at least 2 hours. Not wine of the year for me, but it was very good. Decent QPR.
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3/3/2012 - msilver wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Reserved on the nose, but very nice with velvet finish.
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2/2/2012 - Red Mountain Man wrote: 93 Points
Tasted over two days, and was better on day two. Very well made wine, but could be from anywhere. A little VA on the nose, but the interplay of the raspberry and balckberry fruit takes center stage. Deserves a place at the dinner table with some great steak cuts,and could make old bones if held longer, but not really Wine of the Year material for my tastes.
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1/21/2012 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Intoxicating nose full of warm spices, black cherry liquor, and a hint of menthol all of which elegantly flow onto the palate. Chewy texture, fine tannins, well proportioned acidity, and a sexy lightly-smokey finish balance out this charming wine. Ready now but should drink well for several years. Exceptional. A winner.
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1/5/2012 - bencafil wrote: 91 Points
Whithin 3 years it will be perfect
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12/26/2011 - dionysis wrote: 94 Points
Opened and let sit for 2-3 hours. Definitely improved with air.
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11/20/2011 - mbenz wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This seemed to be holding something back. Perhaps a decant would have helped. It certainly was enjoyable, but I expected a bit more.
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9/19/2011 - redman77 wrote: 92 Points
Needs more time in bottle.
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9/19/2011 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 95 Points
Great wine that still needs more time, or a long decant to soften the tannins.
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8/16/2011 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 92 Points
Don't like where this wine is right now. Opened and drank. Too much tannins at first thought it did dissipate after a half hour--obviously must decant in the future. Seemed unbalanced. Will wait.
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8/2/2011 - Zoltán Németi wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind. This was one of those rare cases when no one could recognise the Chilean origin of a Chilean red wine (which is pretty obvious in most cases, IMHO). I guessed Argentina, or that it was a modern wine from the Old World. Blackberry, sweet plum on the nose, with oak spices, lavender, and a touch of earthiness. Slightly sweet on the palate, but there is great acidity and a serious, almost Bordeaux-like structure which makes it appealing. Six years old and quite unevolved, this will last. 93-94 points
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7/17/2011 - danielbleier wrote: 95 Points
Aromas of grilled pork and tar when opened. After a 1 hour decant, I tasted blackberry, leather, earth and grilled meat. Well integrated and very long. Excellent wine.
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7/15/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for two and a half hours. See previous notes. I can't get over the menthol, sage and licorice stick development in this lustrous Chilean Bordeaux-styled blend. This is more like Martha's Vineyard-meets-Pessac Leognan. A yummy palate, and even more harmony. Drinking rather well. The plum, oak and mocha are still present with more finesse, and what a finish...... Wish I had more. Classic. You must decant for at least two hours before enjoying. Drink now - 2020.
After a few more hours and an olive tapenade quality starts to make itself present. Evolving and really draws you in.
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6/24/2011 - CabIsKing wrote: 96 Points
Big nose of currant, dark fruits, leather and a bit of earth. Very juicy in the mouth with the dark fruits holding on into the finish. Tannins still a bit strong at this point but what a delightful wine. I think this will get a bit better in time.
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6/24/2011 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
RUSSK WW@Cielo Top tier. Best Chilean to date. Very smooth and complex. Improving in the glass
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6/15/2011 - salil wrote: 85 Points
Leo's Blind Tasting Group - June '11 edition (Restaurant Saul, Brooklyn): I liked this a lot more on release. There's not much in terms of flavour development; the fruit's taken a bit of a step back, the oak and herbal flavour elements here are more prominent and it finishes with some alcoholic warmth.
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5/18/2011 - UROMD wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Not bad at all. Long finish. Wait another 3 years or so.
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4/23/2011 - Neuman wrote: 92 Points
brought to psarks..
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4/7/2011 - Viini-Viren wrote: 96 Points
Rich, still elegant with nuances of cherry, currant and fruit. Lots of oak and tannins. Extremely long aftertaste.The best wine from Chile I ever tasted.
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2/10/2011 - DTWOB wrote: 96 Points
It don't get much better than this!
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2/8/2011 - herberto wrote: 83 Points
Honestly, this was not good. It was poor. It is horribly over-oaked. It tastes like bitter wood. There is some intensity of blue fruit there, and a hint of sweetness under the bitter oak, but overall this is a heavy, joyless wine. I just don't understand the raves.
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1/31/2011 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
Initial heat seemed to smooth with air and time. Very pleasant flavors, a bit of acidity for food.
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1/2/2011 - TD2Irish wrote: 93 Points
Big fruit forward wine, dark sweet cherries, berries, leather, tabacco, and spice. Great mouth feel and a long finish that leaves you wanting more.
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1/2/2011 - Henman wrote: 93 Points
Decanted more than one hour and drank it during two days.Initially a little restrained but opened up after two hours.Vibrant fruity nose.On the palate very vibrant smooth dark toned fruit with obvious currant flavors.Full bodied and very delicious.On the second day still very primary,smooth and balanced with great fruit.A real treat.
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12/30/2010 - Pointchaser wrote: 96 Points
Lovely perfumed nose. On the palate, I find semi-dry and restrained dark fruit on the palate with a hint of crushed stone. The structure is elegant and refined, and biting tannins dominate the lengthy finish. Really a beautiful wine experience and a refreshing change of pace from the fruit bombs from the southern rhone and CA that I've been having too much of lately.
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12/26/2010 - ricko wrote: 95 Points
2005 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta (WS96/WA91) 15%. Michel Rolland consults; mostly carmenere-based Bdx blend. This was WS 2008 WOTY! Surprisingly tight at first (no decanting); improved with time to show pronounced cranberry/currant flavors, some earth/minerality. Revisited 2 days later on Xmas afternoon, finished prior to the (very late) meal, but much more enjoyable. Really a baby still, it needs plenty of air time at this point to show it's stuff. Good, not great; one remaining. RF95.
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12/11/2010 - DTWOB wrote: 97 Points
Fantastic! Bob brought it to The Old Stone Inn for a corkage fee of $20. This 2008 WOTY did not disappoint! Opened and vin-aerated into a decanter table side and consumed with a beef Wellington dinner. Great pairing! I agree with most notes below and am elated that I have two more bottles in my cellar to enjoy on future celebrations!
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12/5/2010 - RSTAR4 wrote: 96 Points
An amazing wine. Everything you want in a New World Bordeaux-style wine. Deep violet-purple in color, but not inky. Wonderful nose with scents of cherry, berryfruit and spice. Fruity but not jammy. Plum, cocoa and cherry dominate, with a soft but well defined tannic backbone. Hints of tobacco and spice on the mid-palate and the after, which goes on and on. This wine should hold up well for a number of years, and likely will continue to soften and integrate with age. Competes well with the elite Napa blends at 1/2 the price or less. I plan to hold for at least another year before trying next bottle.
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11/19/2010 - King JR wrote: 95 Points
WOTN for me! So smooth and refined. The fruit is quite forward, but not overpowering. Very elegant, quite complex, was changing every 15 minutes in the glass. Chocolate, truffles, fruit, spices, everything going on - yet all in balance. This is special, and for the price!
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11/7/2010 - the godfather wrote:
pretty decent
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10/9/2010 - 2Travel wrote: 94 Points
Oh the joy. Still a baby, with tannins to go a long ways. A clean, pure nose. Full body. The Carmenère was really evident, more than I expected. The earth of Chile also very evident. Just wonderful.
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8/28/2010 - botrytisvirtuoso1819 wrote: 93 Points
nose; mocha, truffels, blackberreis, plums, and spice.
palate; cassis, minerals, black cherries, herbs, and milk chocolate.
medium bodied.
medium plus tannin.
medium acidity.
medium length finish.
a let down for a wine of the year.
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6/3/2010 - elbosco wrote: 93 Points
Dusty black and blue fruits. Artisinal characteristics. Still mouthpuckering and a little rough edged. Hold for the medium term.
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5/22/2010 - Weinlakai wrote:
Mit Sanne und Joe in MG
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5/8/2010 - psmith wrote:
Tastes like syrah, and a big, alcoholic one at that. Dense red, meaty, and spicy fruits. Lacking in structure. Some chocolate elements. Enjoyable enough.
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5/4/2010 - drbill wrote:
formal notes lacking because it was at the end of the party. too young. will definitely cellar the other 2 bottles for a number of years.
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4/16/2010 - SLOPPYdeCHAO wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for about an hour and a half but not sure it needed it. Ready to drink now. The fruit is at its peak, ripe berries. Smooth and polished from start through finish.
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4/10/2010 - DTWOB wrote: 96 Points
This was my contribution to a celebratory dinner at the Old Stone Inn with the leadership of Roncelli- in recognition of our award of an $80 million construction project for LG Chem.
This is a dynamic wine that is over the top in bouquet, mouth feel, taste, structure and finish. One of my personal top 10 wines of all time.
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1/30/2010 - AMM3RD wrote: 93 Points
93+ Pts. This is just a baby, it will improve for 3-5 years easy, and drink over 10+. Very tight upon opening, then decanted for 2 hours. It really opened up, but was only showing primary flavors. Some smooth oak that was well integrated and should mellow over time. Super pure dark fruits with some balance, but it's still early to see what this will become...AMM
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1/30/2010 - Battleship wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes and I will start by saying its too early to drink this wine, but if you do, go at least 2+ hours decanting. That said this really took a great roller coaster ride over the next 90 minutes with some Porterhouse steaks. Big and bold enough to compliment the food and has many of the great Bordeaux nose and palate attributes, but it still is a bit disjointed and slightly hot. after the food was done and there was some left to sip alone, it got very tannic on the finish, so I think it was evolving in the decanter, but not in a good direction - maybe e few more hours needed? If someone else poured one tomorrow, i'd happily drink it, but for my other 5, I'm waiting a few more years - the caliber of this wine earns it the right to drink when really ready!
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1/13/2010 - willthethrill wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Merlot blend which is really two wines depending on whether you are eating food or not. Alone, this wine is peppery and full of tannins, especially at the end; with food it is smooth and a perfect partner with beef.
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12/28/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 97 Points
Hands down one of the Best wines I ever had from Chile. Dark color, with bold aromas of truffles, meat, ripe berries, tobacco, licorice and tar notes. Full-bodied, with super polished tannins. The serious structure is still hiding behind the fruit of the wine. Tightly wound and beautiful. Drinking well now, but give it a bit more time if you can - Hard to resist. - JD97+
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12/4/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
taken to a holiday party, decanted one hour prior to tasting, and then run thru a vinturi (sic?), which (gulp!) actually helped smooth out some edgy tannin. very ripe, super bold wine which i liked well enough, it was just dwarfed by the 03 bressler. not as balanced to my palate as the 97 or 01 drunk at about the same age, i.e. a bit ramped up, but not totally spoofilated. drink or hold. 2008 WS WOTY.
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11/26/2009 - Matt Scott wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for three hours. Beautiful purple and a nice chrytal rim. The plum, mocha and toasted oak just periminates the senses. The tannins are silky and velvety at the same time. The finish just sales on and on. What a complex work of art. This is the best Clos Apalta that I have ever had. The nose and palate are soooooo harmonious. This seems like Pessac meets Red Mountain. I still don't feel like this should be WOTY during the same year that the historic 2005 Bordeaux came out, however, still magnificent. Opulent and complex, without being too pretntious. This will reward cellaring. Drink 2011- 2021.
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11/25/2009 - cadamson wrote: 92 Points
A massive wine. Dark purple, almost black. Oodles of fruit on the nose, along with some light smoke and tar. Very full bodied. Layers of dark, creamy fruit on the palate, especially fig and plum. Lots of spiciness. Very interesting wine with lots of stuffing, will be interesting to see if this evolves positively with many years in bottle. Wine of the Year? No way. But very good, especially for the release price.
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11/23/2009 - monkeylug wrote: 96 Points
Truly a blockbuster that we tried alongside the Phelps 2002 Insignia. A great contrast. This blend is outstanding and drinking very well right now with rich ripe fruit and dark current mixed with red ripe berries. Not at all stewed, just decadent. Almost makes you want to pour it over ice cream. The finish is unending. Drink now through 2014, but don't hold too long.
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11/7/2009 - Wrighty wrote: 90 Points
Danny's 95+ wine night (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Tasted blind
Lean, dry tannins. Just too tight.
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10/25/2009 - spineguy wrote: 92 Points
Very niicely structured but not a unique wine. Definitely a good helping of fruit. Was drinkable with mimimal decanting. Nice finish. Very enjoyable to the new world wine lovers @ party.
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10/22/2009 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
2009 Wine Spectator NYWE Grand Tasting (Marriott Marquis, Times Square, NYC): Nice. Very beautiful fruit profile with black cherry and plum. A little heat on the late mid-palate detracts slightly. medium(+) sour finish is quite enjoyable.
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10/13/2009 - Dale451 wrote: 93 Points
upon opening, very rich and luscious, with great dark fruits. Good long finish with pretty significant tannins (obviously). Within one hour, though, this had pretty much shut down and the fruit was gone, hidden behind strong tannins. Finished the next night, and had opened back up some, but not all the way. more black fruit and nice length on the finish. A very good wine but will not touch the next bottle for several years.
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9/23/2009 - dannyk8232 wrote: 95 Points
Delicious fruit...big and brooding. A young monster, with lots of stuffing for the future. I will let my others sit for a couple years. Easy 95 pts for me.
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8/11/2009 - dannyk8232 wrote: 96 Points
Developing very nicely. More open for business than previous tasting...the fruit is just amazing and this baby has a loooooooooooooooooong way to go!
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8/8/2009 - Joelene wrote: 95 Points
wotn out of 7wines, in a Wine Spec. any thing ever in the top 10 blind taste, was fun
Very good, would have guessed cali cab, great nose long finish, balanced and nuanced,cant remeber much else except a bit of a raisiny thing going on that I liked
overhyped? yeh a bit but very solid
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8/1/2009 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 97 Points
Made my head spin with aromas of grape and berries. We were going to decant it, but when we tasted it there seemed no reason. I swear there was a heady, delicious taste in my mouth after two minutes. It just kept on going and going.
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7/21/2009 - jeffm_fla wrote: 93 Points
Very good. A big rich wine. Lush but not fruity. Should get even better with more time.
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7/19/2009 - brucebar wrote: 92 Points
Good but not great yet. I'll try another in 2012.
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7/6/2009 - Ted Aronson wrote: 93 Points
Ruby red with dark fruits. Well balanced acidity. Decanted for 1 hour but needs more time in the bottle. Still, a great wine.
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6/27/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
DAWGS June 2009 - South America (bigred_seeker's house in University Park, Dallas, TX): WIML91
Tasted June 27, 2009 at an offline.
Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of bell pepper, nail polish, plum and currant. Flavors of currants and berries. Medium acidity, firm tannins and medium to full body. Drink over the medium term. If drinking now be sure and decant a bit to blow off the nail polish. I'm thinking this wine is fairly consistent with my previous rating of WIML92 so we'll call it WIML91 for the moment.
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5/25/2009 - RationalDenial wrote:
This is beautiful wine, elegant and unique. Talc, red fruit, mirabelle plum and a vegetal note. This shows a tightly packed architecture of refined fruit (cherry and green plums), bright acid, a delicate and fully integrated minerality, and a bittersweet chocolate finish. That said, scores here seem a tad inflated, like giving a talented little leaguer a Gold Glove. At the moment, the tannins are still quite sharp and the wine needs time in the cellar or a lot of air. I would think about opening this first thing in the AM (if you can resist the obvious temptations).
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5/16/2009 - abi9 wrote: 93 Points
Dark plum color, complex palate of blackberry, tobacco, minerals, fairly long finish. Very well rounded wine.
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4/25/2009 - pgm wrote: 93 Points
A very elegant showing, without the tarry, smoky character that I noted in my two tastings from 2008: this bottle struck me as having quite an affinity with the Right Bank, with cherry and currant and a slightly green but nevertheless nicely rich earthiness. A little coffee on the finish. Not as enthusiastic as I have been, but plenty enthusiastic still.
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4/19/2009 - mattjohnson_78 wrote: 95 Points
no notes, just amazing. will write a note in a year or so.
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4/11/2009 - Wine Sparty wrote: 94 Points
Drank with steak at Smith & Wollensky. Dark purple with ruby hint on the rim. Nose had chocolate and spice, along with earthiness and some green pepper. The taste is tobacco, chocolate and cassis. Light tannins on the finish with some spice. Overall, enjoyable wine with good complexity that is still tight and needs more time. Intense dark fruit and chocolate flavors that is rich and bold.
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3/24/2009 - dron_ap wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours, better to have it decanted 1-2 hours more. Extremely rich nose of black berries and fruits. Spices, oak and berries in the mouth. Tanins are ok after 2 hours of decanting. High acidity. Long and intetresting finish. I think it will be much better drinkable already next year with peak in 3 years. 93-94
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3/15/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 93 Points
Very delicious, incredibly rich, full-bodied, begged for a fatty steak. Had an acidic streak that took away from the overall enjoyment. Nice length in the finish. Over all the wine is very, very good, just not a buy for me.
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3/14/2009 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points
2000 and previous Barolo and Barbaresco (My House (Portland, OR)): Definitely a different animal than all the Barbaresco and Barolo we were tasting this night, but quite a wine. My palate doesn't usually tend to this part of the world, but this one was good. Nothing was heavy or overdone about this wine. It's definitely very fruit forward, but it's not in your face at all. This went phenomenally with dark chocolate, as it really brought out some of the second tier, earthy flavors on the palate. This is a very even keel wine, not over-extracted, but harmonious throughout showing a good combination of fruit and chalky, sweet soil flavors.
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3/7/2009 - jbearr wrote: 95 Points
Delicious with the structure and tannic backbone to really shine in the future.
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2/28/2009 - cobbpa wrote: 92 Points
Classic Values (My Apartment): Dark, dark fruit, dark red fruits, dried tobacco hints, wet/soft wood tones on the nose. Rich mouthfeel that is slightly juicy but not as dense as I would have expected. Slightly spicy with dried red & dark fruits on the finish with strong tannins and acid nicely in balance. Certainly seems built to maintain this balance & get better with age.
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2/28/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
"Classic Values" night (Phillip's apt, Chicago IL): nose: great layered nose filled with fruits along with red and dark cherries, anise, bits of herbs and spice. Good depth, but not really kicking it up another notch at this time. Good fruit seperates it in the tasting with a good lush quality too
taste: very well balanced with good medium+ tannins with a nice lush medium/full feel of red and dark cherries, anise, spice tones and a good amount of mixed berries
overall: an excellent wine. Really good feel with nice firm tannins. Seemed to be holding back a bit at this time, but has a really good lushness to it on both the nose and palate that make it very attractive
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2/22/2009 - mye wrote: 95 Points
wow.. it is indeed exceptional bottle.
big nose of vanilla, anise, black currant, berries, earth..
perfectly balanced tannins, given its youth.
big fruit forward on the palate, smooth, LONGGGGG finish
exceptional
had with a duck confit.
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2/14/2009 - piyeh wrote: 90 Points
Dropped, very youthful...
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2/12/2009 - pgm wrote:
Consistent with previous notes, this showed nice currant and plum, vanilla smoke and earth. Not quite as exciting as previous bottles, but that's probably my head cold getting in the way. Our dinner guests found it quite exciting. No score this time on account of my temporary disability.
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2/8/2009 - carlwhat wrote:
juicy, big up front kind of wine. long length... suppose its good...
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2/5/2009 - Outplaying wrote:
Friends sharing good wines (Ann's, Avondale, PA): Rich wine with dark fruits, slight bell pepper, bacon fat, and coffee? It is hard to imagine that it is WS wine of the year but it was very good.
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1/9/2009 - poptart_nyc wrote: 89 Points
SL staff friday night- non-american reds (casa de aaron, NYC): rated 5/10 of our tasting. actually group average 2-3/10. my notes were of density and richness. certainly has stuffing. a nice bitter coffee finish. i like the plummy notes. would love to see it in 10 yrs. who's buying? one of 2 wines decanted this night.
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1/8/2009 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 93 Points
Hard to judge this wine now...decanted for 2.5 hours and tasted and it was much more evolved at 4 hours...huge fruit, dense and complex. I will cellar my other bottles for a few more years before opening another...has incredible potential but too young at this point. Revisit in 2011-12
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12/28/2008 - CMz wrote: 96 Points
Tasted alongside 2001 Clos Apalta, 45 minutes open bottle, 30 minutes in glass (Snowbound 2008 Tasting). Initially somewhat tight with a blueberry, black raspberry nose; dark berry, plum & spice that slowly opens into an amazing wine. This became a very rich, complex wine with layers of plum, black raspberry, and blueberry all lightly spiced. There was also a mineral taste that seemed to come and go over the pour. Amazing balance for a wine that is clearly very young; great integration between tannins & fruit.
I buy the Clos Apalta every year and i find a very evident evolution in this vintage. IMO this wine is built to mature over a much longer time horizon than previous vintages; you can enjoy it now decanted with generous air-time (and i am going to open a bottle from my cellar in Jan to taste over an extended period) but this is a wine to cellar. it is still amazing to me how a few wine makers have transformed the Chilean wines so far, so fast. While not a 100 pt wine today, this is a world class wine today and worth some effort to acquire (WS noise aside).
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12/28/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92-93?
Tasted December 28, 2008 at an offline.
Wine was opened and allowed to "slow-O" for about 3 hours before it was poured into a decanter and allowed to decant for about 2 additional hours. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roses, sandlewood, lots of florals with a mixed bag of red fruits. Mostly flavors of red berries and red currants at this early stage of the game. Medium acidity, fairly firm tannins, medium more toward full bodied. Can be drank now with an extended decant but I'd recommend holding myself. Seems to have the stuff to be a fairly long lived wine so no rush here. Might pick up some points with more time in bottle. Drinking around the WIML92-93 point mark for me at the moment.
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12/28/2008 - Clarkmeister wrote: 92 Points
Holiday wine/food party (Home): Wine of the Night by consensus, though I suspect that the whole WOTY thing biased the ladies. Still, this is a highly drinkable very balanced effort that is just not going to disappoint your average wine drinker.
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12/27/2008 - Patsdynasty wrote:
Had on Christmas Eve. It assaulted my mouth (after decanting an hour plus). There is a lot going on but no nearly ready to drink. Wait several years on the others.
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12/21/2008 - fcarrano wrote: 92 Points
Initially disappointed, the wine was very closed, although I thought it might have been due to the spicy food I had just eaten. After an hour, however, it really opened up, with rich fruit and spice. Excellent, but decant it for at least an hour.
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12/20/2008 - cormyr wrote: 93 Points
thick deep purple color. a bit reticent at first. smokey, floral and evergreen aromas. dark fruit. medium-full bodied. fine grained tannins. way too young, was better on day 2 and 3. nice wine but definately not woty.
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12/7/2008 - lussier.rob@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Deep, red, ruby. Don't spill it on the dog. Stuff will stain.
Decanted for three hours.....could have used a day to open up. Big tight wine.
Good nose of fruit, great mouth feel, great taste.
Let it sit for 10 years.
I had to try one tho....
Enjoy
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11/25/2008 - bigdogflow wrote:
Tasting some of WS 2008 Top 100 (20nine Restaurant, San Antonio, TX): WS#1. Very nice wine! Big tannins and long finsih. Lots of dark fruit here. Really enjoyed this. 92-94
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11/24/2008 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
Wineflock - Recent Acquisitions (Caro Mio): Big forward nose of toasty vanilla oak black fruit. Lifted with coffee and mocha notes as well. Huge juicy mouthful of coffee black fruit with sweet chocolate undertones on the palate. Just the slightest hint of green as well. Very nice with upside. 94+ pts.
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11/24/2008 - Nanda wrote: 96 Points
Flock - Recent Acquisitions (Chicago, IL): Wow - a seriously, expressive, powerful and delicious nose. Rich red and black fruits, coffee, mocha, vanilla and green herbs (was thinking a Foley Cab Franc all the way). Palate is rich and decadent while bright and lifted. Not a simple fruit bomb as it has balance and youthful complexity. Full flavored and long finish has cocoa, black currants, toast, spice and herbs. A stellar wine.
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11/24/2008 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Complex and layered with plenty of dark fruits, spices, mint, toast, earth, green herbs and floral elements across the nose and palate. Very well balanced and elegant with good acidity, chewy tannins on the back end and a long smooth finish. Really enjoyable, and a wine I would have loved to explore further with time or several years from now.
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11/21/2008 - dannyk8232 wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for about an hour and a half.
Dark, translucent ruby-red in the glass. A fabulous nose highlighted by potent raspberry and crushed violet. Classy, yet not-so-subtle flavors of sweet and tart cherry, cassis and plum drive the front end. A silky-smooth transition of mint and chocolate lead to the finish supported by a touch of acidity and tannin, with a decent amount of soft oak. Elegant and classy, yet racy at the same time. I am happy to have had this at such a young stage.
40+5+5+19+18+8=95
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11/15/2008 - Adelaporte wrote: 97 Points
Tasted the '05 (ws #1) and the '01 (ws #2) side by side, decanted both for 90 mins. The '05 was tight, but opened up to a luscious wine with a long finish and beautiful oaky vanilla with strong tannins. Definitely very young but still drinkable now with the open bottle time. Very understandable as the WS WOTY, good rating (deservedly); high production and availability. Glad I bought a case when it was released, going to hold on to the rest for a few years! As far as the '01, it was quite the opposite. Great at first but declined over the evening. It took on that organic, green pepper flavor that tells me it has peaked. Don't get me wrong, it was still very good, but drink it now with less decant time. I feel the '05 is built for the longer haul, more so than the '01.
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11/15/2008 - Clarkmeister wrote: 94 Points
Dinner last night. Saw it on the wine list at Delmonico for $155 and couldn't resist buying it just to buy it since it had been announced as WoTY earlier that day. Very impressive, showing a lot of maturity for a wine this young. Earthy, balanced and nice. Would buy again.
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10/31/2008 - dke wrote: 93 Points
Nose is a bit reserved with slight hint of oak and dark berries. The body is full of blueberries. After some time it gained complexity and strengthen the finish full of tannins and chocolate . Creamy mouth-feel and very enjoyable. Still young but joy to drink. We finish the bottle very fast and at around 60F, which made the nose too subdued. This leaves me with 92-93 impression but it could be even better if decanted and served slightly warmer. One of the best wines if not the best I had this year.
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10/15/2008 - ManjuDaddy Likes this wine: 93 Points
I bought six bottles even before it was named WOTY in 2008. I immediately opened and drank the first bottle upon receipt and was a little disappointed since I thought it was a little harsh, high in acid, and high in tannins. I drank another bottle in 2010 and it was better, and a third bottle in 2011 and it was still a little better. I think I will cellar my last three bottle for consumption in about 2 years.
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10/12/2008 - rdma wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby. Berries, chocolate, long tannins.
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10/9/2008 - pgm wrote: 95 Points
Quite different from my previous tasting of a single glass, which, though I found it enjoyable, was very dominated by oak. This bottle was decanted over two hours with dinner, and went through a number of phases. Initially quite reserved, then tarry, smoky, and creamy with oak, and finally blossoming into a wonderfully balanced, juicy, and spicy wine with lots of power and loads of cassis, plum, and raspberry, relatively unencumbered by oak. It wasn't until this last phase that you could recognize its earthy and herbal Chilean character. Really quite remarkable. I like it a shade better than the '05 Melchor. 95
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9/26/2008 - cgrimes wrote: 91 Points
Purple opaque. Nose of dark berries, tar, oak. Similar palate with dark chocolate and velvety tannins. Hedonistic wine. Will likely mellow a bit in 5 years but may lose some character as well.
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9/17/2008 - cab blends wrote: 93 Points
Smooth and balanced. Moderate tannins
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8/22/2008 - hudamang wrote:
Tasted blind. I thought this smelled New World with blackberries, chocolate, cocoa, some heat. Nutty and some soy sauce flavors too.
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8/16/2008 - pgm wrote:
A glass poured as a sample by my retailer. I'd been looking forward to trying this for awhile.
It wasn't the usual elegant, balanced, juicy wine the Clos Apalta has been for years now: this was dark, rich, charred, smoky and powerful, loaded with currant and earth, very similar to the bruising '05 Melchor. Very provocative, indulgent, and worth a buy. Estimating 93-95, but I'll wait to score it on a more complete opportunity to taste...
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8/4/2008 - smahk wrote: 93 Points
**
Color: deep purple
Aroma: Dark Berries, minerals/earth and mocha
Flavor: Plum, fig minerals, blackberry with spice box undertones
Enjoyed this more than Montes M. It had smooth soft tannins and was a deeper, richer wine - almost creamy. Not sure how this will cellar, being so drinkable so young - but I have a few more bottles I will let age in the cellar.
(50+5+12+17+9)
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7/25/2008 - pian0_player wrote: 97 Points
Wow, what a beautiful wine. Rich cabernet, chocolate, coffee. Tremendous depth and extraction. Mineral and dark fruit. Stunning.
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6/17/2008 - keelegl wrote: 94 Points
Off the wine list at 7, in the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. Surprisingly open despite its youth, this wine was popped and poured and enjoyed over a couple of hours. Gorgeous nose of mocha, dark berries, cassis and welcome earthy/mineral notes. Big and bold fruit on the palate, but so balanced and smooth. Again a welcome earthy note on the palate showed the complexity here. Really impressive.
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6/16/2008 - hcampana wrote: 86 Points
Several Chilean wines while in Chile (05 Almaviva, 05 Clos Apalta, 04 Folly, 05 Manso de Velasco, 05 Terrnunyo Carmenere, etc.); 6/14/2008-6/22/2008 (Santiago, Chile): Had at Restaurant Tierra Noble in Santiago, Chile
This was way too oaky to be pleasurable. The wood obliterated the substantial fruit that lurked beneath. This is the worst tasting young Clos Apalta I have ever tasted. It may come around in years once the oak subsides, but for now this is not pleasurable.
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6/9/2008 - GreenDrazi wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hr’s. Red currants, cherry and a touch of anise spice on the nose. Ripe and racy red currant, plum and tar flavors along with notes of coffee and a nice mineral streak. Slick and supple tannins from the start that never yield until the showy finish.
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5/3/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 95 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour (Las Vegas): Man these Chilean 05's are good. Another blockbuster with huge raspberry fruit and that typical chilean loam. very ripe flavorful fruit with creamy undertones and an unreal finish.
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3/4/2008 - Double-A wrote:
Cassis, mineral, smoke and toast nose. Firm smoky palate; big to heavy body; dry, earthy, tannic finish.
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