Dark, bold, with melted tannins balanced by dark fruits, a hint of raisins, long, a bit rustique. Amazing as always and immortal obviously thanks to 65% Mourvedre from old vines I suppose. Incredible PQR. Bottle conditions might vary increasingly, so drink up rather sooner than later.
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Dark, bold and fullbodied, a bit simple and straight forward but with an excellent QPR (bought it for less than 10 €), profits from a day in an opened bottle oder 2 hours in a decanter. 4 or 5 bottles were like this. One bottle was lighter and further developed but flawless nevertheless. So drink now.
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Sad to see this go since this is my last bottle. Incredible value at $13. Still a well balanced wine. Not an incredible amount of acidity but has good structure and nice red and black fruits. Has aged well, I do not think it will improve much from here but has at least 2 years left.
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Full bodied, dark wine. Somewhat muted at initial onset, but opened up some with time. Blackberry and some blueberry with an earthy tone, but not dusty in any way. Finishes with some spice and mild drying tannins. Interesting wine and good QPR. Good with grilled red meats.
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alone, aerated with vinturi - brought out fullness, before dinner -very rich The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Blackberry.
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I wish I would have bought more of this $13. It is objectively an excellent wine. Great nose of berries and cedar. Great depth of fruit that as developed some complexity with a bit of an earthen element and excellent mouth feel. I would say has at least 3-5 years left.
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The last bottle from 2005 and what a wine! Nose full of red and dark red fruits, slightly compoted. Very deep. Extremely full in the mouth, at this age nice low acidity but all very balanced. Very difficult with food since so heavy, possibly best with any sort of steak, cheese only dinner or just by itself. I cannot wait for my 2009 vintage to age a bit.
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For $8 price I paid, you would have an extremely hard time beating this wine. It is balanced, with bright fruit and full body. It is the only wine I have had from Yecla region, but I think I should find some more. There is a richness in the nose and palate that does not generally get captured in the winemaking until you reach >$20 price point. 2005 was the last really great year in Spain, so not sure how this one will translate to newer vintages, but if you can find '05, then buy this one up.
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very good showing for this wine. spicy,delivery with nice complexity. a bit drying on the finish. full bodies and would be a nice match to full flavored foods.
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Clear dark ruby purple color, Nose of black liquorice, eucalyptus, black berries, earth, american oak and spices. This wine is full bodied and mature. Medium acid and fairly balanced. Good value for the quality Very Good -Excellent
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Boy has this wine improved with a little age. Bought these as a QPR wine in '08. Had the first bottle in '09 and although nice it certainly did not seem a compelling QPR. Well things have certainly improved in the past three years. The bottle I opened this evening is delicious with everything integrated into a delicious drink. The color is inky garnet with just a little bit of brown tinge. Flavors are dark ripe fruit, smoke, earth, leather, tar, spice, and eucalyptus. Quite the package for $16 per. I would add that this is in the prime drinking window right now, If ya got em, drink em.
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Great table wine from a lesser known region. From my list of scores over 2.5 years, I conclude this wine peaked a little over a year ago. Still good, clean fun, but it doesn't quite have the pizzazz I noted in 2009.
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AMAZING! This wine was delicious. Needed some time to open up and when it did it sang. The nose had dark fruit, Blueberry. cassis, a touch of bacon fat and some smoke. On the palate it was very nice, vibrant, not tannic, lush mouthfeel. With the fruit still in tact, blueberry pie, and touch of black pepper lead the way. This wine needed a bit of time but drank very well.
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Pnp - threw a bit of medium gauge sediment. I don't remember this in previous bottles but you may want to decant or handle with care. Fair amount of black cherries and blackberries with some oak and spices within a substantial tannic frame. I'd give the flavor profile an 82 but the body and tannic structure raise the score. Lots of meat on these bones for $8.
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Similar to previous bottles though the structure and tannins seemed to dominate the fruit a bit in this one. Still very impressed by the frame and stuffing of this wine for the price.
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Pretty serious wine for $8. Blackberries, plums, soy sauce, iodine, mocha. Big frame. Ripe fruit is offset nicely by some bitterness to the tannins. Good acidity & dryness.
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Ripe plummy fruit, resinous pine needles, and Asian spices on the finish. Quite soft and gaining complexity but can probably hold a couple more years. Terrific value.
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One of my first forays into Spanish wine. I tend to stick to Pinots and Cabs, so it was nice to note the little bit of cab shining through while not dominating the flavor. This wine is a Monastrell red which carries with it a sweetness that leaves a slight flavor of pine needles. The nose carries that same light pine scent with some earthy undertones. This was a impulse $8 buy when I saw a 90 rating on the wine. I'm glad I ran across it. It's outside my normal comfort zone for wines, but does not disappoint. Especially high QPR. This would be an excellent wine to take to a dinner party serving lamb, steak or pasta. For the price, I would recommend this wine highly to anyone wanting to try a new red or to a person looking for a great wine deal.
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Been a while since I had this, but I would rank it up there with my favorite Spanish wines. The combination of dry & complex fruit flavors was awesome.
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Dark ruby color, nice bright nose with fresh fruit with darker fruit hiding in the background. There is some sort of moldy acid on the nose as well, but I cannot put my name on it...Maybe iodine? Taste is not as fresh as the nose, but still with lots of ripe fruit. The tannins have some edge to them, but yet easy drinkable. Enjoy now and some years to follow.
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Clear dark ruby purple color, Nose of black liquorice, eucalyptus, black berries, earth, american oak and spices. This wine is full bodied and mature. Medium acid and fairly balanced. Good value for the quality
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Didn't enjoy this quite as much as the last bottle -- the sweet oak seemed a bit more prominent and there was more heat on the finish. Is it just this bottle or is it my inconsistent palate? I'm not sure.
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OK @ $14, very nice at $8. Not the smoothest, but nice sweet tempranillo with some Cab for body. Age-wise, I think this might improve for another year, but it's close to peak.
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Crazy value at $7. There is really a lot to like about this wine. Generous aroma on the nose of ripe red fruit. On the palate, ripe and juicy with flavors of plum and tart red berry, perhaps a bit on the simple side. A little too ripe for me as well (I'm not crazy about the plum flavor profile), but I'm nitpicking here. Some oak, but very well integrated. Good body and decent finish with some ample tannins as well. Some heat on the finish, but not too bad. Overall, a very good wine and a steal for $7.
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I had forgotten how good this wine is and for a unbelievably low price ($8), now. The palate starts off with strong black pepper and spice flavors and the fruit follows. This bottle is quite consistent with notes on previous bottle (10/26/09). A year has not really changed the wine significantly and it is ready to drink up. Glad I found more of it on sale last week.
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fruity and some level of complexity... but faded quickly. My guess is that this wine has peaked, and it is not the same wine that was rated a 91. Still, a good wine to drink.
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Can't agree more with the other positive tasting notes for this wine. As many have said, this is a very well made wine that offers up strong aromatics of earth, smoke and dark fruits, mainly blueberry and black cherry.
On the palate I get an instant hit of those black cherries supported by a meatiness and a distinctive coffee flavor mingling with assorted dark fruits. Most interesting is the slightly sour finish to this wine. For me a big plus.
There is a level of sophistication to this wine that just doesn't line up with the price. This one is being offered in my area for $8 per bottle and I think I need to grab a case!
http://fearnowine.com
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Very strong floral nose. Nice dark fruits that burst out of the glass with good acidity. Good value and could easily confuse this with a wine that costs twice as much.
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Two days vacu-corked in the fridge and this wine became much smoother and better integrated with incredibly deep rich fruit and a better nose and heavier body. Balance favors the fruit for sure. More obvious chocolate and spice. Rustic, not elegant, wine but super tasty and rich without being sweet. I'm guessing the monastrell, to a lesser extend the cab sauv, benefit from the air time. Probably needs 4 to 8 hrs decanting at room temp for similar results. For the price I will buy again, maybe twice.
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Bottle aired 0 to 30 mins. Rustic, big, and somewhat complex. I think the cab sauv and monastrell and alicante mix in an odd way - a bit more noise than harmony, but not unpleasant. Wine reminds me of a French "Sud" wine only with bigger fruit. Nose of powdery cocoa, earth, and minty herb (or forest floor) with hints of spice and oak. On the attack has quite strong slightly sour fruit (cherry and plum and red currant), vegetal, spice (white pepper), and hints of stone (or mineral) which continue into the mid-palate. Finishes with a pucker factor of sour fruit, oak, and a hint of bitterness or acridness in a thin tannic wrapper. Medium plus body, acid, and tannin. Off dry. A big wine that would pair with hearty meat dishes, spicy but with only light tomato sauces. A hearty curry might work. 65% monastrell, 20% cab sauv, 15% alicante bouschet.
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I have to agree with the manipulation aspect of this wine. I've had a few Eric Solomon wines and they are good to very good, but I didn't get the traditional mourvedre taste. This is a good everyday wine, no real issues with it. It's just that when I want a cabernet, I want it to taste like cabernet. When I want a mourvedre blend, I want it to taste like that as well.
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Nose of dried cherries, red raspberry, smoke and a hint of spice. The fruit carried through to the palate with a nice subtle leather componant on the back end. Moderate dry finish with well integrated tanins. Nice. Would buy again.
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One of my favorite moderately priced wines with tremendous flavor, great complexity and depth, beatuful color and bouquet. 2005 was an especially nice year and I'll miss our slowly dwindling supply of this household staple for the last few years.
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~1.5 hours after opening the huge fruit nose poured out of the glass. There were tasty hints of chocolate, blueberry mingled with the powerful spice that showed from beginning to end. From the first taste, the pepper and spice were the trademark of this wine. The middle palate was full of fruit that lingered for a long time. Finally, the spice came back to finish it off. Early in the bottle the finish was a little harsh, but with time the total picture came together. Even with the initial unevenness, the wine was an excellent match to olives and the Italian sausage smothered in red peppers and tomato sauce. The son was more impressed than usual and pulled out one of his rare 90 ratings.
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Demonstrates that with Eric Solomon's expert marketing guidance and contemporary vinification techniques, a Yecla Monastrell can be made to taste just like a mid-grade Australian Shiraz. Not bad, but not what I was hoping for. It's sad to see so many regions and varieties sacrifice themselves to the wine publication rating sweepstakes, leaving us with the uniform mediocrity of "pretty good."
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Very good red. Excellent balance of red/dark fruit, smooth tannins and some acid to help it accompany a spicy pizza. Would love to buy about a case at $12 per bottle or so for an everyday drinker.
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Walker Trade Show (Providence): 10/2/09: Very concentrated. Touch of earth. Great acidity. Little in the way of tannins. I'm kind of a sucker for Monestrall from southeastern Spain, but this is tasty stuff.
9/14/09: Fruit forward. Soft tannins. Pretty delicious stuff.
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Coffee, herbs, and smoke dominate the aromas with mixed fruit of cassis, blueberry and dried cherry. A little meaty. Lower acid and medium tannin. Tons of coffee on the palate. Nice balance but not that complex.
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I had this final bottle with friends, accompanied by soft cheeses and light appetizers; it went very well. Still a bacon-y nose and smokey taste; less pruned than the last bottle. Enjoyable; certainly a great QPR; might buy again.
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This was quite hot and tart after opening, but on the next night it showed a mix of cassis and meaty elements, leading to a pleasant tar finish and much less hot than the first night. (night 1: 84, night 2: 88). The alcohol makes this less pleasurable, even though the taste was quite nice on the second night.
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My impressions on Day One: Simple, light, nose telegraphs the taste: pruney, in the manner of some Beaunes, and a little smokey. Recognizably Spanish, in a neutral way. Not much change after an hour. Unimpressed; and I figured that I would not buy this wine again. I rated it an 87. On Day Two, however, my impressions of this wine improved. Greater integration, the former pruney-ness gone, the smokeyness dissipated to a nice bacon-ey vibe, and it seemed to pick up weight as well. Now I would characterize this as an enjoyable wine, and a decent, though not stellar, QPR. I'll give this botle an 88-89, and be curious to see how the next bottle fares, but I'll definitely let it breathe for a couple of hours before imbibing.
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Deep dark purple color to it. A bit murky/unfiltered. Very smokey nose to go along with earth and some really dark fruit. Medium bodied wine, with a touch of sweetness (oak?) to it. Great structure to this for such a relatively affordable wine. Tannins that still need a little time to integrate to go along with great acidity that kept this wine really refreshing. Very Solid, if not wonderful
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Solid, well made wine. This bottle didn't show as well as the last, as the flavors were a bit muted and leathery. Still plenty of red raspberry and plum notes
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Big wine. A lot of dark fruit with some cherry, prune, and raisin notes. Jammy. Not my style, but will be a hit with folks who are more partial to this type of wine. Better after Day 1, indicating that a bit of cellar time could yield benefits.
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Great value for the money. Jammy scents of black cherry, plum and espresso. Great integration of tannins, oak and fruity. Plenty of black and red fruit. Should age gracefully for another few years.
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Still a very nice dark color all the way to the rim. Nose of campfire smoke, blueberries and earth. Medium bodied wine with a nice finish and good structure to back everything up. Solidly made wine for the money.
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Very tasty wine. There's a touch too much oak, but not way over the top. It also has lots of dark fruit and some black pepper. Soft yet present tannins. I like this; good value.
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The nose on Night One starts with bright red fruit, cherries mostly, with a slight watermelon background. There is also a secondary smell of burnt rubber.
There is greater complexity on the palate. The fruit is still red, but cherries are joined by tart cranberries and wild strawberries. Dusty leather tannins and some smokey meat join the attack. There are several flavors dancing around here, including coffee, cocoa, violets and licorice. Almond skins and cherry pits add a touch of bitterness on the finish. This is a very interesting wine, and an amazing QPR. I can hardly wait to see what happens over night and what it has to offer on Night Two.
Night Two
On Night Two, minerality leaps out of the glass with the first sniff. After than, cherries and a very clear strong smell of fresh-ground nutmeg follow the stones.
The palate is mostly red fruit, tiny translucent wild cherries and strawberries, some cranberries and yes, some watermelon still lurking in the background. There is some minerality and the charred well-done end of a nice prime rib. Tannins are still fine and dusty. The mid-palate again adds a few fleeting flavors, cocoa, flowers and fennel. The finish is sweet and a touch bitter, like fruit, maple and cherry pits all together.
This is good wine, amazingly deep and complex for under $10.
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This wine is good and very pleasant to drink. Does not impress as a copmelling QPR. Will let the others develop in the cellar a while and revisit in a year. I thing it will get better.
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Eric Solomon. From the Southeast of Spain, Yecla. 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Tintorera. If I were tasting this blind I would have guessed Australian Shiraz. $16.
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This turned out to be quite a nice bridge between a fruit and oak forward wine and the more earth and mineral wines that I tend to favor. Right off the bat, the inky black and purple color is mezmerizing. This has cedar, vanilla, coffee, and lush blackberries and blueberries on the nose. The front of the palate on this is a spicy earth and rich dark fruits, that transforms into softer fruit flavors, coffee, and vanilla on the mid and into the finish. Really surprising depth to the flavors that were nice to see in a >$15 wine. I enjoyed this quite a bit and will definitely be going back for more.
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Not as good as the last couple of bottles. Nice nose of blueberries, spice and tobacco leaf. Medium bodied wine that came off just a touch thin. Good tannic backbone with a nice finish.
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Nose of Raspberries, Blueberries, Smoke and just a bit of Cassis. This seemed a little more angular on the palate compared to what it's been in the past. Rather long finish with drying tannins and great acidity to back everything up. I really think this will last a while.
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Ruby-red in the glass, opaque. Plum, cherry, strawberry, and cassis on the nose, hinting at the loads of fruit to come. Powerful mouth, similar to the nose, with cedar and tobacco notes added. Fine-grained tannins, fairly firm. Very well-balanced, despite the fruity attack, with a very long finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
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Inky purple and opaque. A very minerally nose, crushed stone. Berries and black berries. Tastes of bright blueberries, tart red cherries with touches of pepper, coffee and even a little tobacco? Very nice acidy. This wine has a certain complexity to it. Medium bodied with limited tannins and very pleasant, lingering finish.
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I agree with the majority of reviews...great wine for less than $15. Meatty, approachable, long finish, black fruit on the rustic side and a velvet mouth feel. Fine recommendation from a small wine shop behind Pie n' Burger in Pasadena, CA
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Dark rich color. Nice legs. Nice fruit on the nose with some cedar box and tobacco. Nice fruit forward taste and secondary spice. Very nice wine. Will purchase again.
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The 2005 Solanera was truly a transitional wine. The wife and I had come back from an incredible wine tasting in Canada. This was just a Monday Night Wine. It was a gorgeous color, dork, purple, with a hint of garnet. We got some candied fruits, herbs, and a tad of smoke. We started tasting it after a few minutes and it was a pleasant surprise. Berries, cherries, and like a marmalade essence. We were snacking on some buffalo mozzarella cheese which was not the best match for this wine, but I had a few cashews with it and that made it special. A cute little fun wine. Glad I got a half a case.
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Spanish Zinfandel? Got a ton of black pepper, smoke and blueberries. Medium bodied wine that really comes together on the palate with a medium length, very spicey finish.
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Nice wine. A nose full of Blackberries, cassis, leather and a bit of cigar. The flavor is nice. It's not very complex, but there are quite a few flavors that play on the palate. The finish is relatively long with a nice tannic ending. Very good QPR. A keeper.
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Nose of Pepper, Smoke and blueberries. Medium to Fuill bodied with a ton of dark fruit and very spicey on the finish which was rather long. Good wine, I am definitely buying more.
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Definitely more of the rustic side of mourvedre, with leather and tobacco smoke over the blueberry fruit, somewhat meaty in the mouth. Nicely done for the price.
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Over 90 / Under 30 (Wine Exchange): WA 91. 14.5% alcohol. nice black and blue berries, plum, and fresh cracked black peppercorns. firm tannins and a long dry finish.
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Dark blood rose in color showing big black cherry notes with hints of baking spice. Although, I have a strange feeling that this wine is much like a clown car, where if you wait long enough, once th door opens, not just one clown (or flavor, in this sense) comes bounding out of the car, but dozens of aromas. In the mouth, the wine is thick and dense, showing straight-forward flavors of red black pepper, black cherry, prune and slate. Think big when you think of this wine, and while you're at it, plan on red meat or duck. You'll want something a little sweet and juicy to balance the big mineral overtones of the wine. 4/5
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Wow really inky dark in color. The nose on this is thick, meaning I really feel that there is a lot to it that is not showing right now. Dusty cinnamon mixes with liquorice root breezes all driven by the dark cherry backdrop. Meaty, the nose is meaty with a real richness that is dense, but not necessarily complex. In the mouth this is a dense thick wine with tannins that are in need of air and time. Rich and full of fruit that shows the deep cherry flavors of the nose. Light violet notes creep in towards the finish with a tongue coating minerality. This is a big wine, not complex, not thought provoking, but quite delicious. I do want to taste some of this in 5yrs or so, to see what develops. 4/5
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14.5% alc... Very intense nose of cocoa, leather, black pepper, a grapey component, black cherries... The palate mirrors many aspects of the nose, youthful, grapey, loads of fruit, medium weight, medium tannins, long and viscous on the finish - this finish easily lasts 30+ seconds...quite an admirable young wine. I wouldn't put this into the category of complex, but it certainly delivers the goods and QPR!
Day 2: now the funkiness of Mourvedre is coming out...the animal side, meaty...seems like it would be perfect with a slab of beef, tannins are starting to show more as well...
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12/10/2023 - Dancing with bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Now on decline. But Still very good. Drink up.
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3/20/2022 - halprewitt wrote:
Corinne liked it
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3/1/2021 - Dancing with bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, bold, with melted tannins balanced by dark fruits, a hint of raisins, long, a bit rustique. Amazing as always and immortal obviously thanks to 65% Mourvedre from old vines I suppose.
Incredible PQR.
Bottle conditions might vary increasingly, so drink up rather sooner than later.
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7/12/2017 - Dancing with bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another great bottle. Now definitely on its peak.
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3/18/2016 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 89 Points
Intense fruit. Soft tannins. Dark berries. Long finish. Very nice to sip as well as drink with food.
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11/8/2015 - Dancing with bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, bold and fullbodied, a bit simple and straight forward but with an excellent QPR (bought it for less than 10 €), profits from a day in an opened bottle oder 2 hours in a decanter. 4 or 5 bottles were like this. One bottle was lighter and further developed but flawless nevertheless. So drink now.
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10/3/2015 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
Nice depth, smooth, dark and stylish. This comes across as very serious now. The extra years of age have helped this wine.
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2/1/2015 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another case of the last bottle being the best. Nice balance and integration. Still plenty of fruit. Great QPR.
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1/30/2015 - Brsed Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sad to see this go since this is my last bottle. Incredible value at $13. Still a well balanced wine. Not an incredible amount of acidity but has good structure and nice red and black fruits. Has aged well, I do not think it will improve much from here but has at least 2 years left.
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5/15/2014 - Winiac wrote: 91 Points
Very good structure and adequate acidity that gave the wine a leg up above other wines from this region. Stood beautifully to food. Pretty good wine.
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8/13/2013 - Rhaub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple, dark fruit aroma, complex, dark fruit with remaining tannins, incredible for the price
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5/28/2013 - Kentw Likes this wine: 89 Points
Full bodied, dark wine. Somewhat muted at initial onset, but opened up some with time. Blackberry and some blueberry with an earthy tone, but not dusty in any way. Finishes with some spice and mild drying tannins. Interesting wine and good QPR. Good with grilled red meats.
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4/6/2013 - RCIrwin Likes this wine: 90 Points
alone, aerated with vinturi - brought out fullness, before dinner -very rich
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Blackberry.
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3/14/2013 - Brsed Likes this wine: 91 Points
I wish I would have bought more of this $13. It is objectively an excellent wine. Great nose of berries and cedar. Great depth of fruit that as developed some complexity with a bit of an earthen element and excellent mouth feel. I would say has at least 3-5 years left.
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2/9/2013 - Gekko78 wrote: 91 Points
The last bottle from 2005 and what a wine! Nose full of red and dark red fruits, slightly compoted. Very deep. Extremely full in the mouth, at this age nice low acidity but all very balanced. Very difficult with food since so heavy, possibly best with any sort of steak, cheese only dinner or just by itself. I cannot wait for my 2009 vintage to age a bit.
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1/13/2013 - up4wine wrote: 87 Points
For $8 price I paid, you would have an extremely hard time beating this wine. It is balanced, with bright fruit and full body. It is the only wine I have had from Yecla region, but I think I should find some more. There is a richness in the nose and palate that does not generally get captured in the winemaking until you reach >$20 price point. 2005 was the last really great year in Spain, so not sure how this one will translate to newer vintages, but if you can find '05, then buy this one up.
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1/7/2013 - guribh wrote:
very good showing for this wine. spicy,delivery with nice complexity. a bit drying on the finish. full bodies and would be a nice match to full flavored foods.
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10/18/2012 - profiler54 wrote: 86 Points
Clear dark ruby purple color, Nose of black liquorice, eucalyptus, black berries, earth, american oak and spices. This wine is full bodied and mature. Medium acid and fairly balanced. Good value for the quality Very Good -Excellent
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10/17/2012 - Food Daddy wrote: 88 Points
Showing nicely albeit aging rapidly. Modern style.
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9/13/2012 - dsimmons wrote: 91 Points
Boy has this wine improved with a little age. Bought these as a QPR wine in '08. Had the first bottle in '09 and although nice it certainly did not seem a compelling QPR. Well things have certainly improved in the past three years. The bottle I opened this evening is delicious with everything integrated into a delicious drink. The color is inky garnet with just a little bit of brown tinge. Flavors are dark ripe fruit, smoke, earth, leather, tar, spice, and eucalyptus. Quite the package for $16 per. I would add that this is in the prime drinking window right now, If ya got em, drink em.
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6/4/2012 - bradfriedlander wrote: 85 Points
It's still drinakble, but not as exciting as when we bought it.
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6/1/2012 - Leejgreen wrote: 92 Points
See previous tasting notes. My last bottle. Very sad. Will really miss this wonderful find...
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5/10/2012 - up4wine wrote: 87 Points
Great table wine from a lesser known region. From my list of scores over 2.5 years, I conclude this wine peaked a little over a year ago. Still good, clean fun, but it doesn't quite have the pizzazz I noted in 2009.
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4/14/2012 - guribh wrote:
could be mistaken for a bandol. well balanced with good acid backbone. drink now through 2018
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3/16/2012 - imissjerry wrote: 90 Points
AMAZING! This wine was delicious. Needed some time to open up and when it did it sang. The nose had dark fruit, Blueberry. cassis, a touch of bacon fat and some smoke. On the palate it was very nice, vibrant, not tannic, lush mouthfeel. With the fruit still in tact, blueberry pie, and touch of black pepper lead the way. This wine needed a bit of time but drank very well.
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2/17/2012 - Leejgreen wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well. Nice color, very smooth, good nose and decent finish. Really enjoyed this wine.
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2/17/2012 - ckeilah wrote: 84 Points
Good, but acid sharp notes stand out. Not as balanced as reported.
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12/2/2011 - wino_ali wrote: flawed
Chocolate, coffee, and leather. Continues to provide intense and interesting flavors throughout the bottle.
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12/1/2011 - kernelgt wrote: 86 Points
Great wine for the price. I'm going to have to look into Yecla in the future! Well balanced, and great lusciousness and earthy balance.
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10/26/2011 - Neurowine1 wrote: 82 Points
Over-ripe, sweet berries. Zin-like in some respects. Not a serious wine, but immenently drinkable.
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9/2/2011 - Redguy wrote: 85 Points
Pnp - threw a bit of medium gauge sediment. I don't remember this in previous bottles but you may want to decant or handle with care. Fair amount of black cherries and blackberries with some oak and spices within a substantial tannic frame. I'd give the flavor profile an 82 but the body and tannic structure raise the score. Lots of meat on these bones for $8.
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5/6/2011 - Redguy wrote: 86 Points
Similar to previous bottles though the structure and tannins seemed to dominate the fruit a bit in this one. Still very impressed by the frame and stuffing of this wine for the price.
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3/29/2011 - Redguy wrote: 88 Points
Pretty serious wine for $8. Blackberries, plums, soy sauce, iodine, mocha. Big frame. Ripe fruit is offset nicely by some bitterness to the tannins. Good acidity & dryness.
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3/25/2011 - graphite wrote: 90 Points
Ripe plummy fruit, resinous pine needles, and Asian spices on the finish. Quite soft and gaining complexity but can probably hold a couple more years. Terrific value.
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3/12/2011 - pbailey1980 wrote: 91 Points
One of my first forays into Spanish wine. I tend to stick to Pinots and Cabs, so it was nice to note the little bit of cab shining through while not dominating the flavor. This wine is a Monastrell red which carries with it a sweetness that leaves a slight flavor of pine needles. The nose carries that same light pine scent with some earthy undertones. This was a impulse $8 buy when I saw a 90 rating on the wine. I'm glad I ran across it. It's outside my normal comfort zone for wines, but does not disappoint. Especially high QPR. This would be an excellent wine to take to a dinner party serving lamb, steak or pasta. For the price, I would recommend this wine highly to anyone wanting to try a new red or to a person looking for a great wine deal.
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3/1/2011 - up4wine wrote: 88 Points
Continues to be a great value wine. Tasting is quite similar to past notes.
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2/15/2011 - djs wrote: 91 Points
Much better on 2nd night. Good acidity.
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2/2/2011 - wordsofglass wrote: 91 Points
Been a while since I had this, but I would rank it up there with my favorite Spanish wines. The combination of dry & complex fruit flavors was awesome.
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1/19/2011 - TAE wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby color, nice bright nose with fresh fruit with darker fruit hiding in the background. There is some sort of moldy acid on the nose as well, but I cannot put my name on it...Maybe iodine? Taste is not as fresh as the nose, but still with lots of ripe fruit. The tannins have some edge to them, but yet easy drinkable. Enjoy now and some years to follow.
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1/6/2011 - Vinomane wrote:
Now opening nicely. Good stuffing. Give it 3-6 months before rating.
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1/4/2011 - signotim wrote: 87 Points
not crazy about the flavor profile on this wine. But the texture and structure is really nice.
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12/18/2010 - profiler54 wrote: 88 Points
Clear dark ruby purple color, Nose of black liquorice, eucalyptus, black berries, earth, american oak and spices. This wine is full bodied and mature. Medium acid and fairly balanced. Good value for the quality
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11/30/2010 - VinoPKM wrote: 85 Points
Wasn't impressed- was good for a sub $15 wine- but was not wowed.
Was a good deal @ $8...
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11/21/2010 - jerrymcbrayer wrote: 90 Points
excellent qpr, full of fruit, balanced, delicious
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11/13/2010 - mocamro wrote:
decanted 30 min...nice black fruits and very good structure
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11/12/2010 - PIntag wrote: 86 Points
Didn't enjoy this quite as much as the last bottle -- the sweet oak seemed a bit more prominent and there was more heat on the finish. Is it just this bottle or is it my inconsistent palate? I'm not sure.
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11/10/2010 - cmlee7 wrote:
beautiful wine. distinct black pepper, berry, licoricie w/ some earthiness. beautifully balanced
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10/29/2010 - GGinSF wrote: 88 Points
OK @ $14, very nice at $8. Not the smoothest, but nice sweet tempranillo with some Cab for body. Age-wise, I think this might improve for another year, but it's close to peak.
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10/24/2010 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Crazy value at $7. There is really a lot to like about this wine. Generous aroma on the nose of ripe red fruit. On the palate, ripe and juicy with flavors of plum and tart red berry, perhaps a bit on the simple side. A little too ripe for me as well (I'm not crazy about the plum flavor profile), but I'm nitpicking here. Some oak, but very well integrated. Good body and decent finish with some ample tannins as well. Some heat on the finish, but not too bad. Overall, a very good wine and a steal for $7.
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10/12/2010 - Sauvyfan Does not like this wine: 85 Points
I just have to come to grips with the fact that Tempernillo is just not my grape.
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10/5/2010 - bmarshall wrote: 88 Points
Very solid. Not overly complex... dark fruits, decent finish.
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10/4/2010 - signotim wrote: 85 Points
stewed fruit, licorice, and a little raisin on the nose. very spicy, red fuits on the palate. a little hot maybe but good value.
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9/20/2010 - gjv115 wrote: 88 Points
Very good wine. Unbelievable QPR. RIch, rounded, fruity. Ready to drink.
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9/15/2010 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
I had forgotten how good this wine is and for a unbelievably low price ($8), now. The palate starts off with strong black pepper and spice flavors and the fruit follows. This bottle is quite consistent with notes on previous bottle (10/26/09). A year has not really changed the wine significantly and it is ready to drink up. Glad I found more of it on sale last week.
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9/11/2010 - NathanT wrote: 88 Points
fruity and some level of complexity... but faded quickly. My guess is that this wine has peaked, and it is not the same wine that was rated a 91. Still, a good wine to drink.
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9/6/2010 - jpinsb wrote: 88 Points
Excellent Value
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8/30/2010 - smokeshowing Likes this wine: 88 Points
Can't agree more with the other positive tasting notes for this wine. As many have said, this is a very well made wine that offers up strong aromatics of earth, smoke and dark fruits, mainly blueberry and black cherry.
On the palate I get an instant hit of those black cherries supported by a meatiness and a distinctive coffee flavor mingling with assorted dark fruits. Most interesting is the slightly sour finish to this wine. For me a big plus.
There is a level of sophistication to this wine that just doesn't line up with the price. This one is being offered in my area for $8 per bottle and I think I need to grab a case!
http://fearnowine.com
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8/23/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 87 Points
Pretty big and fruity with a few rough edges. Some time in the decanter helped out. A lot of complexity for an $8 bottle of wine.
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7/19/2010 - ajr wrote: 87 Points
too young? not as good as an earlier bottle. will wait a year before revisiting.
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7/14/2010 - Brsed wrote: 90 Points
Very strong floral nose. Nice dark fruits that burst out of the glass with good acidity. Good value and could easily confuse this with a wine that costs twice as much.
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7/11/2010 - cmlee7 wrote:
dark purple. mourvedre, cab, tintero blend. graphite, casis, bluberry, vanilla
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6/30/2010 - Nursing a Hangover wrote: 86 Points
Great QPR...cedar, fruit..great acidity/tannin
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6/20/2010 - dynowine wrote: 90 Points
Two days vacu-corked in the fridge and this wine became much smoother and better integrated with incredibly deep rich fruit and a better nose and heavier body. Balance favors the fruit for sure. More obvious chocolate and spice. Rustic, not elegant, wine but super tasty and rich without being sweet. I'm guessing the monastrell, to a lesser extend the cab sauv, benefit from the air time. Probably needs 4 to 8 hrs decanting at room temp for similar results. For the price I will buy again, maybe twice.
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6/18/2010 - dynowine wrote: 88 Points
Bottle aired 0 to 30 mins. Rustic, big, and somewhat complex. I think the cab sauv and monastrell and alicante mix in an odd way - a bit more noise than harmony, but not unpleasant. Wine reminds me of a French "Sud" wine only with bigger fruit. Nose of powdery cocoa, earth, and minty herb (or forest floor) with hints of spice and oak. On the attack has quite strong slightly sour fruit (cherry and plum and red currant), vegetal, spice (white pepper), and hints of stone (or mineral) which continue into the mid-palate. Finishes with a pucker factor of sour fruit, oak, and a hint of bitterness or acridness in a thin tannic wrapper. Medium plus body, acid, and tannin. Off dry. A big wine that would pair with hearty meat dishes, spicy but with only light tomato sauces. A hearty curry might work. 65% monastrell, 20% cab sauv, 15% alicante bouschet.
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6/5/2010 - bcmatthias wrote: 89 Points
Took a bit to open, but was good when it did. Cedar, cherry. Good value for the money.
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5/21/2010 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine:
Cedar. Herbs. Medium to light bodied. I like the weight of this wine - lithe. Dark fruits but a bit hollow.
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4/10/2010 - balkmr@hotmail.com wrote: 85 Points
I have to agree with the manipulation aspect of this wine. I've had a few Eric Solomon wines and they are good to very good, but I didn't get the traditional mourvedre taste. This is a good everyday wine, no real issues with it. It's just that when I want a cabernet, I want it to taste like cabernet. When I want a mourvedre blend, I want it to taste like that as well.
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4/7/2010 - tbailey540 wrote: 89 Points
Nose of dark fruit, cherries and raspberry. Mouth same and hint of fig. Fiknish with little spice.
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3/24/2010 - kod wrote: 86 Points
Just OK. Not offensive or harsh. Nothing to savor. For $11 it tasted its price.
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3/22/2010 - bmarshall wrote: 87 Points
Solid everyday quaffer... well made.
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3/13/2010 - dblbogey wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful nose of dark fruit and some earth. Very smooth and silky finish with cherry and chocolate. Liked it a lot!
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3/6/2010 - Tuffdawg wrote: 89 Points
Nose of dried cherries, red raspberry, smoke and a hint of spice. The fruit carried through to the palate with a nice subtle leather componant on the back end. Moderate dry finish with well integrated tanins. Nice. Would buy again.
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3/6/2010 - ggkemp wrote: 84 Points
Ok with nothing memorable.
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2/12/2010 - RogerG wrote:
Juicy as usual
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1/28/2010 - jwilkey Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of my favorite moderately priced wines with tremendous flavor, great complexity and depth, beatuful color and bouquet. 2005 was an especially nice year and I'll miss our slowly dwindling supply of this household staple for the last few years.
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1/13/2010 - ggkemp wrote: 87 Points
Deep dark with fruity nose carried to palate with a nice finish. Decanted this one, much improved.
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10/26/2009 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
~1.5 hours after opening the huge fruit nose poured out of the glass. There were tasty hints of chocolate, blueberry mingled with the powerful spice that showed from beginning to end. From the first taste, the pepper and spice were the trademark of this wine. The middle palate was full of fruit that lingered for a long time. Finally, the spice came back to finish it off. Early in the bottle the finish was a little harsh, but with time the total picture came together. Even with the initial unevenness, the wine was an excellent match to olives and the Italian sausage smothered in red peppers and tomato sauce. The son was more impressed than usual and pulled out one of his rare 90 ratings.
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10/18/2009 - Mimesis wrote: 87 Points
Demonstrates that with Eric Solomon's expert marketing guidance and contemporary vinification techniques, a Yecla Monastrell can be made to taste just like a mid-grade Australian Shiraz. Not bad, but not what I was hoping for. It's sad to see so many regions and varieties sacrifice themselves to the wine publication rating sweepstakes, leaving us with the uniform mediocrity of "pretty good."
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9/27/2009 - oldsailor wrote: 88 Points
Very good red. Excellent balance of red/dark fruit, smooth tannins and some acid to help it accompany a spicy pizza. Would love to buy about a case at $12 per bottle or so for an everyday drinker.
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9/14/2009 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Walker Trade Show (Providence): 10/2/09: Very concentrated. Touch of earth. Great acidity. Little in the way of tannins. I'm kind of a sucker for Monestrall from southeastern Spain, but this is tasty stuff.
9/14/09: Fruit forward. Soft tannins. Pretty delicious stuff.
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9/7/2009 - RogerG wrote:
Delicious
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8/16/2009 - Blue Shorts wrote:
My last bottle, but leave this wine alone for at least 2 years.... it really needs it.
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8/7/2009 - Patches wrote: 87 Points
Coffee, herbs, and smoke dominate the aromas with mixed fruit of cassis, blueberry and dried cherry. A little meaty. Lower acid and medium tannin. Tons of coffee on the palate. Nice balance but not that complex.
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8/2/2009 - RogerG wrote:
Yum, rich and deep
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8/2/2009 - Brsed wrote: 91 Points
Very enjoyable. Nice nose of black fruit with bit of citrus. Lush black fruit and black cherries on the palate with nice minerality and acidity.
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7/19/2009 - John McCabe wrote: 87 Points
Needs more time to evolve.
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7/9/2009 - stocksandbondage wrote: 87 Points
Lighter and more restrained than other bottles of this. Perhaps it was a bit off. Red raspberry flavors with racy acidity and a mineral note.
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6/23/2009 - tommyvernieri wrote:
Nice and plumy.
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6/12/2009 - Blue Shorts wrote: 90 Points
same notes as before.
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6/10/2009 - snaff wrote: 90 Points
Ditto on Jdunnuck's review -- a rich, multi-layered wine drinking well beyond its price.
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6/7/2009 - Snoman wrote: 85 Points
Enjoyable, but simple without particularly distinguishing flavors or finish.
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6/4/2009 - tayto wrote: 89 Points
Drank at Pizza Art Cafe - solid red.
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5/25/2009 - prism wrote: 88 Points
I had this final bottle with friends, accompanied by soft cheeses and light appetizers; it went very well. Still a bacon-y nose and smokey taste; less pruned than the last bottle. Enjoyable; certainly a great QPR; might buy again.
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5/16/2009 - dke wrote: 86 Points
This was quite hot and tart after opening, but on the next night it showed a mix of cassis and meaty elements, leading to a pleasant tar finish and much less hot than the first night. (night 1: 84, night 2: 88). The alcohol makes this less pleasurable, even though the taste was quite nice on the second night.
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5/16/2009 - prism wrote: 88 Points
My impressions on Day One: Simple, light, nose telegraphs the taste: pruney, in the manner of some Beaunes, and a little smokey. Recognizably Spanish, in a neutral way. Not much change after an hour. Unimpressed; and I figured that I would not buy this wine again. I rated it an 87.
On Day Two, however, my impressions of this wine improved. Greater integration, the former pruney-ness gone, the smokeyness dissipated to a nice bacon-ey vibe, and it seemed to pick up weight as well. Now I would characterize this as an enjoyable wine, and a decent, though not stellar, QPR. I'll give this botle an 88-89, and be curious to see how the next bottle fares, but I'll definitely let it breathe for a couple of hours before imbibing.
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5/6/2009 - dirtyharry wrote: 88 Points
Decant will mellow tannins. See my 1st note
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4/28/2009 - ggkemp wrote: 84 Points
Good flavor, but with astringent, hot edge. Try decanting next bttl.
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4/17/2009 - yonster24 wrote: 89 Points
Deep dark purple color to it. A bit murky/unfiltered. Very smokey nose to go along with earth and some really dark fruit. Medium bodied wine, with a touch of sweetness (oak?) to it. Great structure to this for such a relatively affordable wine. Tannins that still need a little time to integrate to go along with great acidity that kept this wine really refreshing. Very Solid, if not wonderful
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4/10/2009 - soyhead wrote: flawed
corked
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3/23/2009 - stocksandbondage wrote: 87 Points
Solid, well made wine. This bottle didn't show as well as the last, as the flavors were a bit muted and leathery. Still plenty of red raspberry and plum notes
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3/17/2009 - fsteckler wrote: 89 Points
A very nice complex wine
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3/15/2009 - RogerG wrote:
Delicious
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3/11/2009 - dirtyharry wrote: 87 Points
Highly tannic, heavy wine full of fruit. Mellowed out after air time. Give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised
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3/9/2009 - nietzschephilosopher wrote: 86 Points
Jammy. Smooth. Pretty standard quality Spanish wine but doesn't have the complexity, tannins or finish to move it to the next level.
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2/10/2009 - Armando B wrote: 85 Points
Big wine. A lot of dark fruit with some cherry, prune, and raisin notes. Jammy. Not my style, but will be a hit with folks who are more partial to this type of wine. Better after Day 1, indicating that a bit of cellar time could yield benefits.
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2/5/2009 - stocksandbondage wrote: 90 Points
Great value for the money. Jammy scents of black cherry, plum and espresso. Great integration of tannins, oak and fruity. Plenty of black and red fruit. Should age gracefully for another few years.
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2/1/2009 - yonster24 wrote: 88 Points
Still a very nice dark color all the way to the rim. Nose of campfire smoke, blueberries and earth. Medium bodied wine with a nice finish and good structure to back everything up. Solidly made wine for the money.
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1/28/2009 - MarcInDSM wrote: 90 Points
Very tasty wine. There's a touch too much oak, but not way over the top. It also has lots of dark fruit and some black pepper. Soft yet present tannins. I like this; good value.
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1/25/2009 - dhonig wrote:
from 2 Days per Bottle.
Night One
The nose on Night One starts with bright red fruit, cherries mostly, with a slight watermelon background. There is also a secondary smell of burnt rubber.
There is greater complexity on the palate. The fruit is still red, but cherries are joined by tart cranberries and wild strawberries. Dusty leather tannins and some smokey meat join the attack. There are several flavors dancing around here, including coffee, cocoa, violets and licorice. Almond skins and cherry pits add a touch of bitterness on the finish. This is a very interesting wine, and an amazing QPR. I can hardly wait to see what happens over night and what it has to offer on Night Two.
Night Two
On Night Two, minerality leaps out of the glass with the first sniff. After than, cherries and a very clear strong smell of fresh-ground nutmeg follow the stones.
The palate is mostly red fruit, tiny translucent wild cherries and strawberries, some cranberries and yes, some watermelon still lurking in the background. There is some minerality and the charred well-done end of a nice prime rib. Tannins are still fine and dusty. The mid-palate again adds a few fleeting flavors, cocoa, flowers and fennel. The finish is sweet and a touch bitter, like fruit, maple and cherry pits all together.
This is good wine, amazingly deep and complex for under $10.
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1/24/2009 - dsimmons wrote: 88 Points
This wine is good and very pleasant to drink. Does not impress as a copmelling QPR. Will let the others develop in the cellar a while and revisit in a year. I thing it will get better.
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1/6/2009 - benny wrote: 91 Points
Great wine the money. Good drinking now.
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12/31/2008 - snaff wrote: 88 Points
Refined and enjoyable with red fruit and a bit of dustiness. The finish is muted with a little jamminess however.
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12/13/2008 - vardaman wrote: 90 Points
Eric Solomon. From the Southeast of Spain, Yecla. 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Tintorera. If I were tasting this blind I would have guessed Australian Shiraz. $16.
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12/1/2008 - jhannah27 wrote: 87 Points
This turned out to be quite a nice bridge between a fruit and oak forward wine and the more earth and mineral wines that I tend to favor. Right off the bat, the inky black and purple color is mezmerizing. This has cedar, vanilla, coffee, and lush blackberries and blueberries on the nose. The front of the palate on this is a spicy earth and rich dark fruits, that transforms into softer fruit flavors, coffee, and vanilla on the mid and into the finish. Really surprising depth to the flavors that were nice to see in a >$15 wine. I enjoyed this quite a bit and will definitely be going back for more.
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11/10/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 86 Points
Not as good as the last couple of bottles. Nice nose of blueberries, spice and tobacco leaf. Medium bodied wine that came off just a touch thin. Good tannic backbone with a nice finish.
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10/16/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 88 Points
Nose of Raspberries, Blueberries, Smoke and just a bit of Cassis. This seemed a little more angular on the palate compared to what it's been in the past. Rather long finish with drying tannins and great acidity to back everything up. I really think this will last a while.
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10/12/2008 - THaas wrote: 91 Points
Ruby-red in the glass, opaque. Plum, cherry, strawberry, and cassis on the nose, hinting at the loads of fruit to come. Powerful mouth, similar to the nose, with cedar and tobacco notes added. Fine-grained tannins, fairly firm. Very well-balanced, despite the fruity attack, with a very long finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
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9/28/2008 - umazz wrote: 85 Points
tastes like a big rhone,
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9/26/2008 - ScottGoodwin wrote: 87 Points
Inky purple and opaque. A very minerally nose, crushed stone. Berries and black berries. Tastes of bright blueberries, tart red cherries with touches of pepper, coffee and even a little tobacco? Very nice acidy. This wine has a certain complexity to it. Medium bodied with limited tannins and very pleasant, lingering finish.
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9/16/2008 - biggwater wrote: 90 Points
I agree with the majority of reviews...great wine for less than $15. Meatty, approachable, long finish, black fruit on the rustic side and a velvet mouth feel. Fine recommendation from a small wine shop behind Pie n' Burger in Pasadena, CA
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8/2/2008 - mactheripper wrote:
Thought it was excellent - berries, char, leather, and a nice finish.
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7/17/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 87 Points
nose: solid nose with dark cherry, ash, anise, and black currants
taste: nice and firm, but with little depth providing notes of dark cherries, anise, and dark raspberries
overall: very good and firm with a black cherry attack and black raspberry finish
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7/12/2008 - Blue Shorts wrote: 90 Points
As good as before. It's a wonderfully fun wine with a great QPR. I have to get more of this.
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7/11/2008 - ocattorney wrote: 89 Points
Dark rich color. Nice legs. Nice fruit on the nose with some cedar box and tobacco. Nice fruit forward taste and secondary spice. Very nice wine. Will purchase again.
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6/30/2008 - ksmith wrote: 89 Points
Lots of fruit, meaty, smooth and enjoyable with dinnner
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6/20/2008 - ksmith wrote: 89 Points
Meaty, solid mouthfeel. Black pepper, smoke and black fruit. Great QPR!
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6/8/2008 - Shawna Benson wrote: 88 Points
A strong meaty nose with black pepper and blackberries. Nice mouthfeel and finish. Very good bottle for the price. Recommend!
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6/2/2008 - ewineguy wrote: 89 Points
The 2005 Solanera was truly a transitional wine. The wife and I had come back from an incredible wine tasting in Canada. This was just a Monday Night Wine. It was a gorgeous color, dork, purple, with a hint of garnet. We got some candied fruits, herbs, and a tad of smoke. We started tasting it after a few minutes and it was a pleasant surprise. Berries, cherries, and like a marmalade essence. We were snacking on some buffalo mozzarella cheese which was not the best match for this wine, but I had a few cashews with it and that made it special. A cute little fun wine. Glad I got a half a case.
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5/18/2008 - climonge wrote: 91 Points
Very good bottle of wine...will buy much more of this.
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5/8/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 89 Points
Spanish Zinfandel? Got a ton of black pepper, smoke and blueberries. Medium bodied wine that really comes together on the palate with a medium length, very spicey finish.
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5/8/2008 - shapsplace wrote: 87 Points
Easy drinking bottle of wine. Not complex but still has a lot of character to it. The longer it was in the glass, the better it tasted.
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5/7/2008 - Blue Shorts wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine. A nose full of Blackberries, cassis, leather and a bit of cigar. The flavor is nice. It's not very complex, but there are quite a few flavors that play on the palate. The finish is relatively long with a nice tannic ending. Very good QPR. A keeper.
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4/30/2008 - yonster24 wrote: 91 Points
Nose of Pepper, Smoke and blueberries. Medium to Fuill bodied with a ton of dark fruit and very spicey on the finish which was rather long. Good wine, I am definitely buying more.
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4/14/2008 - pgm wrote: 88 Points
Definitely more of the rustic side of mourvedre, with leather and tobacco smoke over the blueberry fruit, somewhat meaty in the mouth. Nicely done for the price.
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3/28/2008 - marcb7 wrote: 89 Points
Solid QPR. Full nose of dark fruit and spice. Flavors of blackberry, pepper and earth. For 12$ hard to pass up
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3/15/2008 - wcacern wrote: 89 Points
Over 90 / Under 30 (Wine Exchange): WA 91. 14.5% alcohol. nice black and blue berries, plum, and fresh cracked black peppercorns. firm tannins and a long dry finish.
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2/12/2008 - gabriella wrote:
Dark blood rose in color showing big black cherry notes with hints of baking spice. Although, I have a strange feeling that this wine is much like a clown car, where if you wait long enough, once th door opens, not just one clown (or flavor, in this sense) comes bounding out of the car, but dozens of aromas. In the mouth, the wine is thick and dense, showing straight-forward flavors of red black pepper, black cherry, prune and slate. Think big when you think of this wine, and while you're at it, plan on red meat or duck. You'll want something a little sweet and juicy to balance the big mineral overtones of the wine. 4/5
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2/8/2008 - obiscoito wrote:
Wow really inky dark in color. The nose on this is thick, meaning I really feel that there is a lot to it that is not showing right now. Dusty cinnamon mixes with liquorice root breezes all driven by the dark cherry backdrop. Meaty, the nose is meaty with a real richness that is dense, but not necessarily complex. In the mouth this is a dense thick wine with tannins that are in need of air and time. Rich and full of fruit that shows the deep cherry flavors of the nose. Light violet notes creep in towards the finish with a tongue coating minerality. This is a big wine, not complex, not thought provoking, but quite delicious. I do want to taste some of this in 5yrs or so, to see what develops. 4/5
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1/26/2008 - CO CHRIS wrote:
14.5% alc...
Very intense nose of cocoa, leather, black pepper, a grapey component, black cherries...
The palate mirrors many aspects of the nose, youthful, grapey, loads of fruit, medium weight, medium tannins, long and viscous on the finish - this finish easily lasts 30+ seconds...quite an admirable young wine. I wouldn't put this into the category of complex, but it certainly delivers the goods and QPR!
Day 2: now the funkiness of Mourvedre is coming out...the animal side, meaty...seems like it would be perfect with a slab of beef, tannins are starting to show more as well...
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1/22/2007 - VinLancaster wrote: 84 Points
100% Monastrell (Mourvedre). A bit candied, however...easy drinking, palate pleasing w/food.
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