Super fruit forward wine, youthful stage. Beautiful dark color. Nose is dominated by red fruits, red cherries, and an overall sweetness. The 15% alcohol are well integrated. Overall impression is a muscular, strong wine with a long finish. Goes very well with lamp chops. The wine garantiees a wonderful evening for red wine Lovers.
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Robust pepper, wood, ash, rose and alcohol aroma. Rich, full-bodied, cherry, mocha, tobacco and mint flavor with serious grip and a long finish. Big, but not clumsy or heavy-handed.
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Violet and raspberry scent. Cherry, coffee and mineral flavor with plenty of grip on the finish. The palate is elegant in a way that almost teases you to want more. On day two, more spice, herb and vanilla flavors came to the fore.
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I've had good luck with this wine. Always seems to deliver. Actually opened thinking it had some sangiovese in it to pair with some chicken, but it was very dark and showed its merlot and cab. There is a clear italian bent to this wine though, the earthy herbal note on the nose has a little edge to it, and the fruit while ripe and nicely sweet, maintain a really fine grained tannic edge with a decent amount of acidity. Overall a nice package, drinking well but no rush.
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Grenat profond, presque opaque, avec disque rubis et début de briqué. Au nez, petits fruits rouges des champs, épices, cuire léger. En bouches, attaque de fuirts rouges, mis et fin de bouche chaude, bonne longueur, légère astringence en fin de bouche. Correct.
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Dark garnet color. Aromas of dark cherry and leather. Dark cherry and brambly flavors with good acidity and medium length finish. Softened with more coco flavors after days being open.
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A Holiday Weekend BBQ (or "How I milked my birthday an extra few days") (Rancho de Los Olivos): More balanced than bold, as was the case with bottles consumed about two years ago. Dark fruits on the nose along with notes of leather and espresso. Intense berries and a touch of earth on the palate, with a touch of anise on the medium finish. The tannins are integrating well and rounding out here. No hurry.
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PnP and drank half bottle, recorked, this TN is 2 days later upon return to the bottle. This wine is clear, showing a deep ruby color at the core, fading to a med ruby rim. The nose is in good condition, offering up developing aromas that are medium in intensity, including almost sur maturite black cherry upfront, closely followed by leather, moist soil notes, espresso, and a tad bit of heat. On the palate, this is a dry wine, full in body and high in alcohol (15% listed), with med intensity flavors including black cherry, cassis, licorice, tobacco, and soil notes. There are med(+)/heavy tannins still apparent on this 8 year old wine, but they are becoming more rounded now, rather than astringent and harsh. The wine then shows med(+) acidity that ushers in a med length, black currant and licorice finish that goes on nicely for about 30 secs. This is a big and bold Italian wine that deserves a thick stew or heavier meal to balance the bold flavors and heavy tannins. There is nice fruit on this wine, which is nicely balanced with the other earthy flavors to give great complexity and depth. This is a very good quality wine that is just starting to drink well now, and will continue to soften and improve in bottle over the next 8-10 years, although I doubt the tannins will ever round out enough to fully integrate and not overrun the balance of the wine.
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Easy to like, balanced, in harmony and with dark fruit (70% merlot). Still a bit tannic, but after a 90 minutes of air this is very drinkable. Give it another 2-4 years and this could be a great merlot, hopefully a bit lighter and less fruity than today, competing with some good wines from Pomerol, or maybe rather St Emilion. Day 4 this wine shows signs of complexity and maturity. Upgrade to 92.
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Competes well with most Supertuscans. In many ways, it's a great Pomerol in disguise: beautiful herbal and menthol notes, sweet tannins and impressive balance.
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Interesting take on Bordeaux by Italy, however I didn't feel anythingmitalian on this wine, it has a lot going on considering is 7 year old, mix of berries with menthol / eucalyptus taste
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Dark garnet color. Once it opened a bit had fresh, eucalyptus aromas. Big, dark berry, tobacco and leather flavors. Quite tannic with short finish. May improve with time. I would never guess this was Italian.
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Dark - with just the slightest hint of orange at the rim. Menthol on the nose, medium bodied but with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, smooth but present tanins, quite frankly this is a wine that happens to have been made in Italy, rather than a typical Italian wine.
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klar mogenröd intensiv färg. ren stor utvecklad fruktig kryddig doft med fatkaraktär och inslag av svarta vinbärsblad, kaffe och choklad. fyllig sträv fruktig kryddig eldig smak med fatkaraktär med insalg av svarta vinbär, choklad och läder. eftersmaken är lång och eldig.
ett underbart fruktigt balanserat vin som med fördel kan drickas nu men på grund av den stora frukten även om 20 år
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mörk röd färg med viss mognad stor syltig doft av mörka bär, läder, choklad, fat och viol. underbar syra fyllig fatig smak med strävmjuka tanniner och inslag av choklad. lång svans
ett mycket gott vin
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These were consumed earlier so I don't have any notes for this tasting. We thought this did have some funky smells when initially opened but that seemed to blow off quickly. Spice and dark fruit flavors on the palate with a tannic finish. It's good but I think there are probably better examples for less money.
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Initially a little funk on the nose, which changed to spice and eucalyptus after breathing for an hour. Dark berry, coffee, and tobacco flavors with ample tannins.
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4/1/2022 - shafer1994 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Super fruit forward wine, youthful stage. Beautiful dark color. Nose is dominated by red fruits, red cherries, and an overall sweetness. The 15% alcohol are well integrated. Overall impression is a muscular, strong wine with a long finish. Goes very well with lamp chops. The wine garantiees a wonderful evening for red wine Lovers.
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10/11/2021 - MObiker wrote:
Popped and poured straight from the bottle. Still quite tannic. I wish I had given it a proper decant, as separating the sediment would have helped.
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6/13/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 89 Points
Thick and juicy, chewy tannins and black fruited. Earthy and dark. Drink now through 2022.
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5/9/2015 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Robust pepper, wood, ash, rose and alcohol aroma. Rich, full-bodied, cherry, mocha, tobacco and mint flavor with serious grip and a long finish. Big, but not clumsy or heavy-handed.
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3/1/2015 - davidspieker wrote: 88 Points
Consistent notes from a year and a half ago. Dark cherry, leather and brambly flavors with good acidity and medium length finish.
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12/24/2014 - wine&roses Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Awful--but my bottles were received spoiled.
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12/17/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Had recently - no formal notes - but again an outstanding wine - lovely balance - seems to show more like sangiovese, no complaintsfrom me.
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4/29/2014 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Violet and raspberry scent. Cherry, coffee and mineral flavor with plenty of grip on the finish. The palate is elegant in a way that almost teases you to want more. On day two, more spice, herb and vanilla flavors came to the fore.
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4/11/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
I've had good luck with this wine. Always seems to deliver. Actually opened thinking it had some sangiovese in it to pair with some chicken, but it was very dark and showed its merlot and cab. There is a clear italian bent to this wine though, the earthy herbal note on the nose has a little edge to it, and the fruit while ripe and nicely sweet, maintain a really fine grained tannic edge with a decent amount of acidity. Overall a nice package, drinking well but no rush.
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11/6/2013 - jorivesud wrote: 86 Points
Grenat profond, presque opaque, avec disque rubis et début de briqué.
Au nez, petits fruits rouges des champs, épices, cuire léger. En bouches, attaque de fuirts rouges, mis et fin de bouche chaude, bonne longueur, légère astringence en fin de bouche. Correct.
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9/23/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 88 Points
Dark garnet color. Aromas of dark cherry and leather. Dark cherry and brambly flavors with good acidity and medium length finish. Softened with more coco flavors after days being open.
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5/27/2013 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
A Holiday Weekend BBQ (or "How I milked my birthday an extra few days") (Rancho de Los Olivos): More balanced than bold, as was the case with bottles consumed about two years ago. Dark fruits on the nose along with notes of leather and espresso. Intense berries and a touch of earth on the palate, with a touch of anise on the medium finish. The tannins are integrating well and rounding out here. No hurry.
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1/12/2013 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
PnP and drank half bottle, recorked, this TN is 2 days later upon return to the bottle.
This wine is clear, showing a deep ruby color at the core, fading to a med ruby rim.
The nose is in good condition, offering up developing aromas that are medium in intensity, including almost sur maturite black cherry upfront, closely followed by leather, moist soil notes, espresso, and a tad bit of heat.
On the palate, this is a dry wine, full in body and high in alcohol (15% listed), with med intensity flavors including black cherry, cassis, licorice, tobacco, and soil notes. There are med(+)/heavy tannins still apparent on this 8 year old wine, but they are becoming more rounded now, rather than astringent and harsh. The wine then shows med(+) acidity that ushers in a med length, black currant and licorice finish that goes on nicely for about 30 secs.
This is a big and bold Italian wine that deserves a thick stew or heavier meal to balance the bold flavors and heavy tannins. There is nice fruit on this wine, which is nicely balanced with the other earthy flavors to give great complexity and depth.
This is a very good quality wine that is just starting to drink well now, and will continue to soften and improve in bottle over the next 8-10 years, although I doubt the tannins will ever round out enough to fully integrate and not overrun the balance of the wine.
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1/12/2013 - Sundbyberg wrote: 92 Points
Easy to like, balanced, in harmony and with dark fruit (70% merlot).
Still a bit tannic, but after a 90 minutes of air this is very drinkable.
Give it another 2-4 years and this could be a great merlot, hopefully a bit lighter and less fruity than today, competing with some good wines from Pomerol, or maybe rather St Emilion.
Day 4 this wine shows signs of complexity and maturity. Upgrade to 92.
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12/30/2012 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Competes well with most Supertuscans. In many ways, it's a great Pomerol in disguise: beautiful herbal and menthol notes, sweet tannins and impressive balance.
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12/28/2012 - Oldworlddrinker wrote: 89 Points
Interesting take on Bordeaux by Italy, however I didn't feel anythingmitalian on this wine, it has a lot going on considering is 7 year old, mix of berries with menthol / eucalyptus taste
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10/30/2012 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet color. Once it opened a bit had fresh, eucalyptus aromas. Big, dark berry, tobacco and leather flavors. Quite tannic with short finish. May improve with time. I would never guess this was Italian.
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4/4/2012 - Jasper May wrote: 88 Points
Dark - with just the slightest hint of orange at the rim. Menthol on the nose, medium bodied but with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, smooth but present tanins, quite frankly this is a wine that happens to have been made in Italy, rather than a typical Italian wine.
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1/28/2012 - lembkes Likes this wine: 93 Points
klar mogenröd intensiv färg.
ren stor utvecklad fruktig kryddig doft med fatkaraktär och inslag
av svarta vinbärsblad, kaffe och choklad.
fyllig sträv fruktig kryddig eldig smak med fatkaraktär med insalg av svarta vinbär, choklad och läder. eftersmaken är lång och eldig.
ett underbart fruktigt balanserat vin som med fördel kan drickas nu men på grund av den stora frukten även om 20 år
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12/20/2011 - lembkes Likes this wine: 91 Points
mörk röd färg med viss mognad
stor syltig doft av mörka bär, läder, choklad, fat och viol. underbar syra
fyllig fatig smak med strävmjuka tanniner och inslag av choklad. lång svans
ett mycket gott vin
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4/24/2011 - PBG wrote: 86 Points
These were consumed earlier so I don't have any notes for this tasting. We thought this did have some funky smells when initially opened but that seemed to blow off quickly. Spice and dark fruit flavors on the palate with a tannic finish. It's good but I think there are probably better examples for less money.
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1/12/2011 - bin905 wrote: 90 Points
Initially a little funk on the nose, which changed to spice and eucalyptus after breathing for an hour. Dark berry, coffee, and tobacco flavors with ample tannins.
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11/2/2010 - sebastienjm wrote: 88 Points
Un vin qui imite les bordeaux avec un côté plus mur, plus riche, plus puissant, plus ensoleillé... 15/20
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2/25/2010 - Sundbyberg wrote:
Had this wine way too early. Very tannic. Let it rest. Can not really score it at this point.
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