Semi-translucent brickish red. Strawberry, earth, and cedar nose. Medium bodied, raspberries, pepper, cherry pie, fully integrated tannins, smoke, leather, a bit of heat, and a dry, medium to long finish. The cliff for this is probably close, but it's still pretty good now.
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The fact that it's mountain fruit with high alcohol kept this together up until this point. Still has good color. Pepper on the nose with a touch of fruit left. Palate is again pepper and dull fruit with the acid imbalance peering through because the fruit is tired. Definitely needs food but still very drinkable though. Interesting to taste these big dog cult zins when they are on the downside because it lets you see the structure that made them just scrumptious when hitting on all cylinders.
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Light crimson in color. 16.5% ABV. Brambly red fruits, cracked pepper and wet stones on the nose. Medium body with nice acidity. Well balanced with just a touch of heat on the back of the palate. Surprisingly restrained and elegant with flavors of raspberry, cherry, iodine and pepper. Resolved tannins on a long finish. Ready to drink.
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I thought this was a very good bottle with zinberry and smoke notes in the nose. Light red for a zin but still plenty dark spicy, ripe prune, but not overly Pruney, with hints of pepper and ample acid to give it a tang.
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Nose of oak and spicy berry with a hint of pruned fruit. Ripe but tamed raspberry, blueberry and cracked pepper notes. I actually felt this wasd pretty restrained for Turley.
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Okay I'll dare to go against the grain here. The wine is a sledgehammer, which is to be expected with Turley. The problem really is that it's a wall of stewed fruit and some pepper w/ cloying heft and alcohol a-go-go. It lists 16.5% and drinks about like a cheap, lowish-RS port with a Zin finish. In all seriousness, why not drink even a moderate quality port wine instead, which would have a much wider spectrum of flavors and some subtlety too?
There are certainly better Zin's out there, including most of Turley's lower-end bottles. I know many love this stuff, and many loved very similar huge, muddled Shiraz's in the late-90's. Still drinking those too?
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No detailed notes. Had with FBM upon arrival in Northern WI. Pepper on a fairly rich palate. All I can say for sure is that it didn't last long. Unfortunately, my one and only bottle, so no chance to review in more detail. 92+ points.
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Even better than a wonderful bottle 18 months ago. Intoxicating perfume of raspberry, blackberry, limestone and wet rock. Palate is a melange of raspberry, currant, wild berry, licorice and black pepper. Pure, clean fruit, great acidity, and still some balanced tannin. Dare I say it, a perfect zin?
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Notes from 2nd day open. Color is medium ruby with slow and clear legs, about 80% opaque and a clear meniscus. Modest sediment. Petite but seductive aroma and the nice balance lifts the candied red fruit over the oak and spice. Palate is not as promiscuous but I think it is impressive with it's composure and persistency of flavor. A little light on acidity, but coupled with the low tannins this made a great match to the seared Ahi, crunchy Halibut, risotto infused with braised short ribs, filet mignon, and chocolate souffle that was on the tasting menu. A pinot probably would have been the Somm recommend, but this was great, too. Drink nearer term. 5+11+16+8 = 90
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Bottles like this help keep the faith. While working through the annual Turley "rotation." Damn bottles don't fit anywhere but the bottom of the cabinets. So a couple times a year I have to yank them all out and reshuffle so the older ones are closer to the top. This bottle caught my eye as I had some good quality wings all set for the grill that night. I was a bit down on Turley during the last year or so, just not getting the unique expression I like from single vineyard zins. And yes, I'm into Zin enough to be actually treating it intellectually! Is that so wrong? Well, two bottles recently have given me hope. This one and the '05 Uebberoth. This '06 Mead was in top shape and we drank it quickly! Great fresh zin nose, not overly spicy so the fruit was the hero. Full flavored and delicious. Proves that a couple years bottle age can really work on good zin.
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Pop and pour. Sour cherries on the palate. As this wine was opened longer I seemed to like it less. The alcohol became a bit more prevalent and the finish seemed to pick up a bit of a metallic finish. Wierd - at first I really seemed to like this, now not so much. I'll have to figure out how to drink my last bottle within 20 minutes of opening
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Loved this. On the nose, a melange of raspberry, blackberry, black pepper, jalepeno, pine needles, and leather. Palate unfolds with sweet raspberry, stewed strawberry, black pepper and clove. Nicely acidic, with firm tannic grip. I didn't get the heat that you would expect from a 16.5% abv wine.
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Drank with a friend. Ruby red with some purple. Fuschia rim. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, dried fruit and lots of vanilla and spice: black pepper and nutmeg. Med - high alcohol. Flavors are similar with the addition of eucalyptus. Wine was quite hot, but with 16.5% alcohol it's not surprising. Finish was long. Overall this wine was overwhelmed by the alcohol.
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Wow, this is one crazy good Zin for $25. Almost perfect medium towards heavy body, but really light on its feet mid palate. The initial palate reminds me of a riper styled cdp as an example, so not overblasted for Zin certainly. Red fruit galore and a nice seemless palate. Just a touch of Vanilla, but not oak, with some zest and spiceon the lengthy finish. Maybe it was just the bottle but this Turley really impressed me for its complete package.
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Good--very solid Zinfandel. A bit of spicy black pepper, red fruits, decent balance, some barrique, and a decent finish. Somewhat atypical for Turley, and I would have had a hard time picking this out of a blind lineup. (PE: 90)
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When first opened origiinally there was a bit of heat. After 30 minutes heat is gone and great smooth texture is left with deep, black fruit and earth.
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Decanted for 3 hours, showing raspberry fruit, white pepper and nice acidity. No heat, but after a couple of glasses the room spins at 16.5%, likely higher.
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dark fruit on the nose and the peppery finish actually complements quite well any, you guessed it, peppery foods one might be pairing with this poster-boy Turley.
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Drank after running through a Vinturi aerator. Nice nose of earth, currant and a touch of pepper. Palate was very tight. Earth and currant, but very little raspberry, black berry and no noticeable bramble, which I've come to take assume I'll have in a Turley. Finish was short and a bit hot.
Tasted the next day, there was a little blue fruit, but still very restrained. This might have been simply too young, but I would be surprised if this wine ever really puts it all together. Definitely a nice wine, but one of the weaker Turley's I've had.
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May not win any points for profound complexity, but this sure is a tasty wine. I was pleasantly surprised at the bright berry flavors and juicy acidity, not marred by being over-oaked or overtly alcoholic. A bit of lead pencil on the (short) finish. Tannins are well balanced - this is a good effort, but the finish is its weak spot. Still, I'm sorry I poured a cup in the chili.
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Medium ruby color. Nose of smoky herbs, oak, red currant and pine nuts. On the palate it has that Turley touch, but it's on the hard side for a Turley with a relatively short finish, and the alcohol does poke through. Still, it's a pretty wine with flaws.
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I have to say, it was a bit dissapointing. Maybe we opened this a little early, but it wasn't what I thought it could be. Great nose of Pepper, blackberry and some mocha, but that was the best part of the wine. It was a huge wine that kind of tasted a little syrupy with a very hot finish. Although the nose was wonderful and the body of the wine very good, the finish seemed to ruin this a bit.
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Big, big and EXPENSIVE Zin tasted blind against Green and Red, 2004 zinfandel - also a big, big Zin. My nose and palate could not distinguish these wines. Same for day 2, 3, 4, etc.
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Smells like a cedar closet. Mouth numbing alcohol. Either mellowed with opening, or the 16.5% alcohol anesthetized my palate. We didn't enjoy this much.
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6/26/2023 - merryberry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Semi-translucent brickish red. Strawberry, earth, and cedar nose. Medium bodied, raspberries, pepper, cherry pie, fully integrated tannins, smoke, leather, a bit of heat, and a dry, medium to long finish. The cliff for this is probably close, but it's still pretty good now.
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1/1/2023 - SacAxeman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still hanging on but drink now; classic zin, paired nicely with short ribs
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3/3/2017 - FullPolicyLimits wrote: 88 Points
The fact that it's mountain fruit with high alcohol kept this together up until this point. Still has good color. Pepper on the nose with a touch of fruit left. Palate is again pepper and dull fruit with the acid imbalance peering through because the fruit is tired. Definitely needs food but still very drinkable though. Interesting to taste these big dog cult zins when they are on the downside because it lets you see the structure that made them just scrumptious when hitting on all cylinders.
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3/3/2015 - tomlee wrote: 90 Points
Light crimson in color. 16.5% ABV. Brambly red fruits, cracked pepper and wet stones on the nose. Medium body with nice acidity. Well balanced with just a touch of heat on the back of the palate. Surprisingly restrained and elegant with flavors of raspberry, cherry, iodine and pepper. Resolved tannins on a long finish. Ready to drink.
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1/16/2014 - wgcrites wrote: 92 Points
Showing strong berry flavors and medium tannins
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11/29/2013 - Outplaying wrote:
This has softened some but this is still a big 'un. Lots of ripe fruit, spice, cedar and alcohol. Fun to try a small taste, but not for me anymore.
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5/13/2013 - jwalker1140 wrote: 91 Points
Gracefully sliding into middle age. Very enjoyable.
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2/9/2013 - andyrowe wrote: 92 Points
Fully ready, a delight; tar up front, dark cherries.
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10/20/2012 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Mocha, blackcherry; bright and juicy with cherry in the mouth and good acidity. 16.5%
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7/28/2012 - raiderwes wrote: 91 Points
spicy; drinking well
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7/23/2012 - andyrowe wrote: 88 Points
Fully ready, allspice, overripe cherries. Pleasant and good accompaniment to a coffee pot roast
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5/7/2012 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
I thought this was a very good bottle with zinberry and smoke notes in the nose. Light red for a zin but still plenty dark spicy, ripe prune, but not overly Pruney, with hints of pepper and ample acid to give it a tang.
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4/23/2012 - raiderwes wrote: 90 Points
peppery and spicy; drink it now!
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2/16/2012 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Nose of oak and spicy berry with a hint of pruned fruit. Ripe but tamed raspberry, blueberry and cracked pepper notes. I actually felt this wasd pretty restrained for Turley.
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11/25/2011 - hankj wrote: 80 Points
Okay I'll dare to go against the grain here. The wine is a sledgehammer, which is to be expected with Turley. The problem really is that it's a wall of stewed fruit and some pepper w/ cloying heft and alcohol a-go-go. It lists 16.5% and drinks about like a cheap, lowish-RS port with a Zin finish. In all seriousness, why not drink even a moderate quality port wine instead, which would have a much wider spectrum of flavors and some subtlety too?
There are certainly better Zin's out there, including most of Turley's lower-end bottles. I know many love this stuff, and many loved very similar huge, muddled Shiraz's in the late-90's. Still drinking those too?
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11/22/2011 - vanpe003 wrote:
No detailed notes. Had with FBM upon arrival in Northern WI. Pepper on a fairly rich palate. All I can say for sure is that it didn't last long. Unfortunately, my one and only bottle, so no chance to review in more detail. 92+ points.
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11/20/2011 - JOJ wrote: 95 Points
Even better than a wonderful bottle 18 months ago. Intoxicating perfume of raspberry, blackberry, limestone and wet rock. Palate is a melange of raspberry, currant, wild berry, licorice and black pepper. Pure, clean fruit, great acidity, and still some balanced tannin. Dare I say it, a perfect zin?
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9/29/2011 - fingers wrote: 90 Points
Notes from 2nd day open. Color is medium ruby with slow and clear legs, about 80% opaque and a clear meniscus. Modest sediment. Petite but seductive aroma and the nice balance lifts the candied red fruit over the oak and spice. Palate is not as promiscuous but I think it is impressive with it's composure and persistency of flavor. A little light on acidity, but coupled with the low tannins this made a great match to the seared Ahi, crunchy Halibut, risotto infused with braised short ribs, filet mignon, and chocolate souffle that was on the tasting menu. A pinot probably would have been the Somm recommend, but this was great, too. Drink nearer term. 5+11+16+8 = 90
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7/16/2011 - btock wrote: 92 Points
Bottles like this help keep the faith. While working through the annual Turley "rotation." Damn bottles don't fit anywhere but the bottom of the cabinets. So a couple times a year I have to yank them all out and reshuffle so the older ones are closer to the top. This bottle caught my eye as I had some good quality wings all set for the grill that night. I was a bit down on Turley during the last year or so, just not getting the unique expression I like from single vineyard zins. And yes, I'm into Zin enough to be actually treating it intellectually! Is that so wrong? Well, two bottles recently have given me hope. This one and the '05 Uebberoth. This '06 Mead was in top shape and we drank it quickly! Great fresh zin nose, not overly spicy so the fruit was the hero. Full flavored and delicious. Proves that a couple years bottle age can really work on good zin.
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5/12/2011 - cookie7 wrote:
Pop and pour. Sour cherries on the palate. As this wine was opened longer I seemed to like it less. The alcohol became a bit more prevalent and the finish seemed to pick up a bit of a metallic finish. Wierd - at first I really seemed to like this, now not so much. I'll have to figure out how to drink my last bottle within 20 minutes of opening
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4/29/2011 - denisontb wrote: 90 Points
Lovely Zin. This is a lighter Turley than typical! But very nice. Slightly spicy note, smooth palate, very nice drinking right now. Enjoyed emmensely.
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3/8/2010 - glg wrote: 87 Points
Not my favorite Turley. Didn't have the typical zin profile and seemed a little light on fruit.
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3/7/2010 - JOJ wrote: 94 Points
Loved this. On the nose, a melange of raspberry, blackberry, black pepper, jalepeno, pine needles, and leather. Palate unfolds with sweet raspberry, stewed strawberry, black pepper and clove. Nicely acidic, with firm tannic grip. I didn't get the heat that you would expect from a 16.5% abv wine.
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2/23/2010 - pinotsandy wrote: 89 Points
Drank with a friend. Ruby red with some purple. Fuschia rim. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, dried fruit and lots of vanilla and spice: black pepper and nutmeg. Med - high alcohol. Flavors are similar with the addition of eucalyptus. Wine was quite hot, but with 16.5% alcohol it's not surprising. Finish was long. Overall this wine was overwhelmed by the alcohol.
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1/11/2010 - Ekoostik wrote: 92 Points
Wow, this is one crazy good Zin for $25. Almost perfect medium towards heavy body, but really light on its feet mid palate. The initial palate reminds me of a riper styled cdp as an example, so not overblasted for Zin certainly. Red fruit galore and a nice seemless palate. Just a touch of Vanilla, but not oak, with some zest and spiceon the lengthy finish. Maybe it was just the bottle but this Turley really impressed me for its complete package.
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12/26/2009 - MarkC wrote: 90 Points
Good--very solid Zinfandel. A bit of spicy black pepper, red fruits, decent balance, some barrique, and a decent finish. Somewhat atypical for Turley, and I would have had a hard time picking this out of a blind lineup. (PE: 90)
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10/15/2009 - SFCleo wrote: 92 Points
Agree completely with Brsed!
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10/13/2009 - kenthargis wrote: 87 Points
A bit too over the top with the alcohol. Out of balance. Enjoyed the peppery component, but it was just too hot a wine for my taste.
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8/29/2009 - JSPuskar wrote: 88 Points
The nose had a rich, ripe plummy aroma; it was somewhat sharp to my taste, although it was definitely tasty.
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8/22/2009 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
When first opened origiinally there was a bit of heat. After 30 minutes heat is gone and great smooth texture is left with deep, black fruit and earth.
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8/18/2009 - Outplaying wrote: 87 Points
Loads of blackberry and blueberry fruit with some spicy white pepper and very faint licorice notes. Crazy high alcohol. Enjoyable but not worth $35.
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8/13/2009 - MJTed wrote: 87 Points
Pleasant black fruit, spice and some vanillin oak but not much power or complexity. Acidic structure and OK with food.
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3/8/2009 - spacewrangler wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 3 hours, showing raspberry fruit, white pepper and nice acidity. No heat, but after a couple of glasses the room spins at 16.5%, likely higher.
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3/7/2009 - gershwin wrote: 90 Points
dark fruit on the nose and the peppery finish actually complements quite well any, you guessed it, peppery foods one might be pairing with this poster-boy Turley.
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2/16/2009 - T.J.Burn wrote: 88 Points
Drank after running through a Vinturi aerator. Nice nose of earth, currant and a touch of pepper. Palate was very tight. Earth and currant, but very little raspberry, black berry and no noticeable bramble, which I've come to take assume I'll have in a Turley. Finish was short and a bit hot.
Tasted the next day, there was a little blue fruit, but still very restrained. This might have been simply too young, but I would be surprised if this wine ever really puts it all together. Definitely a nice wine, but one of the weaker Turley's I've had.
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1/31/2009 - Deb293 wrote: 89 Points
May not win any points for profound complexity, but this sure is a tasty wine. I was pleasantly surprised at the bright berry flavors and juicy acidity, not marred by being over-oaked or overtly alcoholic. A bit of lead pencil on the (short) finish. Tannins are well balanced - this is a good effort, but the finish is its weak spot. Still, I'm sorry I poured a cup in the chili.
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12/17/2008 - buckeye76 wrote: 91 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, CHOCOLATE AND LICORICE IN THE NOSE WITH BLACK CHERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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11/6/2008 - garthbernstein wrote: 89 Points
A nice combination of new world/old world flavors- lots of fruit at the beginning, and old world earth and sophistication in the middle and finish.
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9/17/2008 - Tintin wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied with notes of dark cherry fruit and earth. Medium tannins. Very tasty.
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8/12/2008 - dougsmith wrote: 88 Points
Medium ruby color. Nose of smoky herbs, oak, red currant and pine nuts. On the palate it has that Turley touch, but it's on the hard side for a Turley with a relatively short finish, and the alcohol does poke through. Still, it's a pretty wine with flaws.
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7/6/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 86 Points
I have to say, it was a bit dissapointing. Maybe we opened this a little early, but it wasn't what I thought it could be. Great nose of Pepper, blackberry and some mocha, but that was the best part of the wine. It was a huge wine that kind of tasted a little syrupy with a very hot finish. Although the nose was wonderful and the body of the wine very good, the finish seemed to ruin this a bit.
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6/25/2008 - mplsbruin wrote:
Big, big and EXPENSIVE Zin tasted blind against Green and Red, 2004 zinfandel - also a big, big Zin. My nose and palate could not distinguish these wines. Same for day 2, 3, 4, etc.
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5/23/2008 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 83 Points
Smells like a cedar closet. Mouth numbing alcohol. Either mellowed with opening, or the 16.5% alcohol anesthetized my palate. We didn't enjoy this much.
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