Definitely time to drink as this may be at end of its drinking window. Still enjoyable with smooth tannins and dark berries on the palate, but not a lot of depth left in this one.
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Still going strong at 15 years... dark, intense, fruit reminiscent of its youth. I remember younger bottles being even better. Modest fruit intensity now, fine tannins, balanced with acidity. Good with spicy chicken dishes.
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Much different from the 2004 in the bouquet. Beside the sweet fruits there is some coffee. On the palate a little less sweetness and more acidity. Is it the extra ageing? Not sure. The tannin is offering a little more bite, which I usually appreciate, but the acidity is less pleasant. My conclusion for the moment is that I like the 2004 better. Although still very much alive this 2002 possibly should have been drunk 1 or 2 years earlier.
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Three notes: 11/05 tannic, acid, fruity, too young; 11/06 still massively unready; 2/07 ditto. GF and her mother have been helping themselves to this one since my last taste and report it very big but good with food. Should they honor my request to leave a bottle, will rate later.
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This is a sturdy reliable Malbec. I have found some inconsistency between bottles even in the same vintage. The second bottle I opened this week had a superb velvety finish that's rare at this price point. The first bottle (both actually) was fruity and bold, with a tannic middle and crisp finish. I'd rate the first bottle an 88 and the second a 90. It's more consistently an 88.
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Starting to lose its jamminess. Crushed blackberry, bourbon, and spice on the nose. Blueberry and blackberry on the palate. Excellent finish with great acidity and sweet, fine grained tannins. I think that this can hold a couple more years. Great wine and a screaming value. Tremendous BBQ wine.
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Nicely balanced and elegant and not as old as the drinking window would suggest - Dark purple, notes of plum, cherry and vanilla on the nose, medium extraction with balancing acidity, very smooth on the finish with medium length (88 Points).
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My impression is that this wine is not evolving in any way except for its acidity softening. The result is a wine which taste almost as it did a couple years ago, just a sweeter and approaching flabby. That said, still tasty.
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Opened at a party, but didn't get a chance to taste. After two nights in the fridge i poured out a taste. Touch of veg on the nose, but it's all rich, ripe, sweet black fruit, mocha and vanilla on the palate, with good acidity for the style. Can't taste any alcohol but it does burn the throat slightly. Not something i find very interesting, but i can see this going over well with the barbecue crowd.
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Jammy blueberry fruit with bourbon and spice notes on the nose. Blueberry and crushed blackberry on the palate. Racy finish with excellent acidity and sweet tannins. Excellent bottle, much better than it was 2 years ago, probably at its best right now. 88 solid pts.
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Malbecs are one of my new favorites, so I'm biased. Lots of fruit on the nose. Hints of spice and lots of fruit. A very soft, but long tannic finish. Delicious.
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Dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. Rich mouthful of loamy fruit and chocolate, vanilla, and meaty tannins. Medium finish. Very sad this was the last of 2 purchased a couple years ago for $15. Drank with grilled strip steak. Was just perfect for the meal.
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First Malbec that I've had and really liked. Great nose, rich dark fruits a few loamy and and earthy notes. medium-full bodied and very smooth with a great punch of fruit. Smoothed out to a nice finish that lingered nicely. Great value.
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best taste out of the bottle; didn't open up much more ove 90 to 120 min. blackberry yum up front but somewhat harsher tannic finish as time went on. good with slab o beef.
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Had with Pork shoulder - very consistent tasting notes to my June posting - deep ruby red color and aromas of berries and currants. The wine is drinking very nicely, good fruit mixed with a fair amount of tannins and a hint of vanilla
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Lots of berries with a chocolate finish. I paired it with Ribeye Steaks marinated in Stubbs Beef Marinade. I recommend straining the wine due to sediment. The final glass was nice and smooth.
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Dinner with Rich we had it paired with leg of lamb. The wine had a deep ruby red color and aromas of berries and currants. The wine is drinking very nicely, good fruit mixed with a fair amount of tannins and a hint of vanilla.
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Purple-red with orange rims. Cassis. Spices. Toasty oak. Chocolate. "Sweet tannins". Dry, moderately long, finish. Not a complex wine, but a very enjoyable one.
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Very dark black-blue color. Full nose of dark berries w. vanilla & chocolate. Full-bodied with strong fruit. Structured with robust tannins and acidity. Somewhat closed immediately after opening.
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Tasting of Argie wines (Brussels, Belgium): Showing deep concentration and little evolution this wine has an appealing nose of chocolate (lots!), prunes and cassis. In the mouth it is full bodied and powerful with creamy tannins and a long chocolaty finish. Very well made.
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Good concentration and depth of color, showing no signs of evolution. The nose is open and powerful with aromas of ripe plums, jam, chocolate and a hint of tobacco. In the mouth it is powerful withs a firm attack and a very elegant mid palate concentrated in red fruit and chocolate. With silky tannins, this wine finishes in style. Very good and will keep for a while.
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Inky black/purple colour. Aromas of vanilla, alcohol, briar, blackberry, raspberry. Full-bodied, lush, with raspberry and blackberry notes. Moderate finish with some heat and black berry fruit.
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Dark violet. Robust nose with strange sour game aroma. Fruity well balanced, high acid, lower tannins, a little pointed, very dry. Medium to long finish. Nice for food whcih can support the power.
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Inky purple/black colour. Aromas of blackcurrant, black plums, black licorice, purple flowers, and vanilla. Full-bodied, with blackcurrant, plums, cherry, liquid black licorice, and black raspberry. Moderate finish, 30-35s, with black fruit and vanilla.
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Deep garnet; raspberries, black currants, anise; berry, chocolatey, slightly thin midpalate, firm tannins, decent finish. Decanted 3 hrs. Bordeaux style with some fruitiness. Needs aging. Good match for bbq pork chops.
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Intense purple/violet colour. Big, but well short of huge, nose: red berries, fresh, leafy, with a slight composty note. Palete is potent. Overflowing with very ripe boisenberry, blue- and blackberry. Composty edge to ripe tannins. Finish is strongly spiced (ginger, allspice) -- fades leaving impression of red fruit. Very potent, extracted and ripe in style. Had already thrown quite a bit of sediment.
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Dark ruby/burgundy colour. Aromas of cherry, blackberry, mineral. Medium-bodied, a bit too tannic. Showing a bit of black fruit. Short, acidic finish. Disappointing bottle.
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This Malbec started another wine trifecta with Chris. It was good but not the best malbec I have had. Not as fruit forward as some but a good start to a great evening.
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Nice bright ruby red color with light violet at the rim. Complex nose with hints of plum and mango as well as sweet and spicy notes. Dark berry flavors with sweet intense fruit. Boysenberry? Good short-medium finish. Drinking well right now.
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11/30/2019 - ChiBri Likes this wine: 90 Points
Definitely time to drink as this may be at end of its drinking window. Still enjoyable with smooth tannins and dark berries on the palate, but not a lot of depth left in this one.
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10/11/2017 - mac-eye Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still going strong at 15 years... dark, intense, fruit reminiscent of its youth. I remember younger bottles being even better. Modest fruit intensity now, fine tannins, balanced with acidity. Good with spicy chicken dishes.
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4/26/2014 - ACR16719 Does not like this wine: 75 Points
confirmed for me that I'm not a malbec fan.
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10/23/2012 - curc3141 wrote: 86 Points
a little past its prime, but still enjoyable with a skirt steak.
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10/16/2010 - Zweder wrote: 85 Points
Much different from the 2004 in the bouquet. Beside the sweet fruits there is some coffee. On the palate a little less sweetness and more acidity. Is it the extra ageing? Not sure. The tannin is offering a little more bite, which I usually appreciate, but the acidity is less pleasant. My conclusion for the moment is that I like the 2004 better. Although still very much alive this 2002 possibly should have been drunk 1 or 2 years earlier.
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10/16/2009 - Vinomane wrote:
Three notes: 11/05 tannic, acid, fruity, too young; 11/06 still massively unready; 2/07 ditto. GF and her mother have been helping themselves to this one
since my last taste and report it very big but good with food. Should they honor my request to leave a bottle, will rate later.
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3/25/2009 - jrf wrote: 90 Points
holding up well, good nose and fine flavours. a good year that shows the ageing potential of these wines. Not past its' prime.
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12/26/2008 - winegr wrote: 87 Points
Pretty nice. Not overly interesting, but solid.
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11/20/2008 - Mark in Seattle wrote: 84 Points
This bottle just didn't match up to previous bottles.
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11/11/2008 - Mark in Seattle wrote: 88 Points
Cork was dry, but wine was okay.
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10/30/2008 - Mark in Seattle wrote: 89 Points
Deep color. Great finish. Delicious.
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6/30/2008 - cpandmg wrote: flawed
The bottle was either corked or this has sat too long.
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6/4/2008 - pbarnet wrote: 88 Points
This is a sturdy reliable Malbec. I have found some inconsistency between bottles even in the same vintage. The second bottle I opened this week had a superb velvety finish that's rare at this price point. The first bottle (both actually) was fruity and bold, with a tannic middle and crisp finish. I'd rate the first bottle an 88 and the second a 90. It's more consistently an 88.
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4/18/2008 - markcvino wrote: 91 Points
Bacon on the palate and finish in a medium bodied wine. Great dark color. Very distinctive nose. Long finish.
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4/6/2008 - GalvezGuy wrote: 89 Points
Starting to lose its jamminess. Crushed blackberry, bourbon, and spice on the nose. Blueberry and blackberry on the palate. Excellent finish with great acidity and sweet, fine grained tannins. I think that this can hold a couple more years. Great wine and a screaming value. Tremendous BBQ wine.
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4/5/2008 - jrf wrote: 90 Points
aging wery well, noticable difference from release. nicely balanced, dark berry, one of catena's better years.
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1/30/2008 - jmh st louis wrote: 87 Points
a little dry yet opened to medium expression of blackberries
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1/17/2008 - Tarrant wrote: 88 Points
Nicely balanced and elegant and not as old as the drinking window would suggest - Dark purple, notes of plum, cherry and vanilla on the nose, medium extraction with balancing acidity, very smooth on the finish with medium length (88 Points).
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1/10/2008 - radish wrote: 83 Points
My impression is that this wine is not evolving in any way except for its acidity softening. The result is a wine which taste almost as it did a couple years ago, just a sweeter and approaching flabby. That said, still tasty.
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9/29/2007 - 5laton wrote:
Opened at a party, but didn't get a chance to taste. After two nights in the fridge i poured out a taste. Touch of veg on the nose, but it's all rich, ripe, sweet black fruit, mocha and vanilla on the palate, with good acidity for the style. Can't taste any alcohol but it does burn the throat slightly. Not something i find very interesting, but i can see this going over well with the barbecue crowd.
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9/20/2007 - yipen wrote: 90 Points
it is a full body big wine, cry to pair with ribeye, tasted Prune and chocolate tone. Not too strong noise.Mendoza style wine
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6/20/2007 - TwoDogs wrote: 91 Points
at a peak
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5/25/2007 - TwoDogs wrote: 90 Points
Still at peak. A great buy!
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5/13/2007 - yui wrote: 89 Points
had w/ grilled beef and grilled greek cheese
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5/11/2007 - GalvezGuy wrote: 88 Points
Jammy blueberry fruit with bourbon and spice notes on the nose. Blueberry and crushed blackberry on the palate. Racy finish with excellent acidity and sweet tannins. Excellent bottle, much better than it was 2 years ago, probably at its best right now. 88 solid pts.
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5/7/2007 - asb wrote: 90 Points
Superb wine. drinking well now!
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4/29/2007 - losvinhos wrote: 90 Points
Excelente Malbec. Excelente custo/benefício.
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4/27/2007 - jstrobel wrote: 88 Points
Malbecs are one of my new favorites, so I'm biased. Lots of fruit on the nose. Hints of spice and lots of fruit. A very soft, but long tannic finish. Delicious.
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4/1/2007 - stoly dog wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit and chocolate on the nose. Rich mouthful of loamy fruit and chocolate, vanilla, and meaty tannins. Medium finish. Very sad this was the last of 2 purchased a couple years ago for $15. Drank with grilled strip steak. Was just perfect for the meal.
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2/23/2007 - pmik wrote: 90 Points
Fairly concentrated, fruit-forward, clean with dark fruit and some spice. Very nice and clean. No funk. Medium finish. Very nice and drinkable.
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2/14/2007 - LotionInTheBasket wrote: 88 Points
First Malbec that I've had and really liked. Great nose, rich dark fruits a few loamy and and earthy notes. medium-full bodied and very smooth with a great punch of fruit. Smoothed out to a nice finish that lingered nicely. Great value.
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1/19/2007 - sakemakibug wrote: 85 Points
best taste out of the bottle; didn't open up much more ove 90 to 120 min. blackberry yum up front but somewhat harsher tannic finish as time went on. good with slab o beef.
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12/3/2006 - pbjosh wrote: 88 Points
Somewhat bitter roasted notes along with a lot of good dark fruit and nice balance/structure. Not exciting but quite good.
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10/8/2006 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
Had with Pork shoulder - very consistent tasting notes to my June posting - deep ruby red color and aromas of berries and currants. The wine is drinking very nicely, good fruit mixed with a fair amount of tannins and a hint of vanilla
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8/31/2006 - Berno wrote: 92 Points
Nose of plums and vanilla. Soft tannins, tons of ripe fruit. I've been 21 only 7 months and this is the best wine I've had.
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7/9/2006 - spidersva wrote:
loved it. Super hearty and went perfectly with rack of lamb. I'd get this again.
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6/24/2006 - WineyGirl wrote: 80 Points
Lots of berries with a chocolate finish. I paired it with Ribeye Steaks marinated in Stubbs Beef Marinade. I recommend straining the wine due to sediment. The final glass was nice and smooth.
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6/18/2006 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with Rich we had it paired with leg of lamb. The wine had a deep ruby red color and aromas of berries and currants. The wine is drinking very nicely, good fruit mixed with a fair amount of tannins and a hint of vanilla.
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6/8/2006 - Jan Schultink wrote: 89 Points
Purple-red with orange rims. Cassis. Spices. Toasty oak. Chocolate. "Sweet tannins". Dry, moderately long, finish. Not a complex wine, but a very enjoyable one.
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5/31/2006 - Berno wrote: 92 Points
Great, fruity red. Served with ribs, paired beautifully.
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4/29/2006 - vijayk416 wrote: 90 Points
Drank with Chris with grilled NY striploin and shrimp. Lovely nose, continued to evolve over the course of the meal.
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4/28/2006 - BonzelCassie wrote: 88 Points
Nice taste of blueberries, raspberries and sour berries.
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4/20/2006 - pmik wrote: 90 Points
Very dark black-blue color. Full nose of dark berries w. vanilla & chocolate. Full-bodied with strong fruit. Structured with robust tannins and acidity. Somewhat closed immediately after opening.
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4/10/2006 - samurai wrote: 91 Points
Very solid bottle of wine.
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3/24/2006 - claudio_bxl wrote:
Tasting of Argie wines (Brussels, Belgium): Showing deep concentration and little evolution this wine has an appealing nose of chocolate (lots!), prunes and cassis. In the mouth it is full bodied and powerful with creamy tannins and a long chocolaty finish. Very well made.
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3/18/2006 - pjhr wrote: 89 Points
Ripe blackberry & raspberry with chocolate and oaky spice notes. Smooth short dry tannic finish.
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3/16/2006 - claudio_bxl wrote:
Good concentration and depth of color, showing no signs of evolution. The nose is open and powerful with aromas of ripe plums, jam, chocolate and a hint of tobacco. In the mouth it is powerful withs a firm attack and a very elegant mid palate concentrated in red fruit and chocolate. With silky tannins, this wine finishes in style. Very good and will keep for a while.
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3/1/2006 - futronic wrote: 88 Points
Inky black/purple colour. Aromas of vanilla, alcohol, briar, blackberry, raspberry. Full-bodied, lush, with raspberry and blackberry notes. Moderate finish with some heat and black berry fruit.
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2/24/2006 - pmik wrote:
Dark violet. Robust nose with strange sour game aroma.
Fruity well balanced, high acid, lower tannins, a little pointed, very dry.
Medium to long finish.
Nice for food whcih can support the power.
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2/6/2006 - futronic wrote: 90 Points
Inky purple/black colour. Aromas of blackcurrant, black plums, black licorice, purple flowers, and vanilla. Full-bodied, with blackcurrant, plums, cherry, liquid black licorice, and black raspberry. Moderate finish, 30-35s, with black fruit and vanilla.
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1/31/2006 - ColinR wrote: 89 Points
Deep garnet; raspberries, black currants, anise; berry, chocolatey, slightly thin midpalate, firm tannins, decent finish.
Decanted 3 hrs. Bordeaux style with some fruitiness. Needs aging. Good match for bbq pork chops.
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1/19/2006 - swyang wrote: 91 Points
Very, very enjoyable. Very rich in fruit and very generous texture. Quite long after taste as well. A super value I would say.
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1/10/2006 - radish wrote: 90 Points
Intense purple/violet colour. Big, but well short of huge, nose: red berries, fresh, leafy, with a slight composty note. Palete is potent. Overflowing with very ripe boisenberry, blue- and blackberry. Composty edge to ripe tannins. Finish is strongly spiced (ginger, allspice) -- fades leaving impression of red fruit. Very potent, extracted and ripe in style. Had already thrown quite a bit of sediment.
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1/2/2006 - pjhr wrote: 89 Points
Ripe blackberry with light oaky spice. Relatively short dry tannic finish.
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11/20/2005 - jmp wrote: 86 Points
Deep black purple. Light vanilla and smoked almonds on the nose. Laid back vegetable fruit with dry astrigency and dry tannins.
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11/1/2005 - Michael Davis wrote: 87 Points
I love Malbecs and this one is very good. Not as good as the last time I tried it. More tannins, if possible. A day in the decanter helped a lot.
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10/16/2005 - Slipknot wrote: 89 Points
quite tasty. Complex aromas of fruit and earth maybe a bit of leather. Very nice finish. Great qpr.
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10/5/2005 - dougsmith wrote:
Wines of Argentina 2005 Grand Tasting (Cipriani Hotel, New York City): Deep red fruits, leather, sweet spices; blueberries on the finish. Nice wine.
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9/13/2005 - futronic wrote: 85 Points
Dark ruby/burgundy colour. Aromas of cherry, blackberry, mineral. Medium-bodied, a bit too tannic. Showing a bit of black fruit. Short, acidic finish. Disappointing bottle.
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8/13/2005 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 85 Points
This Malbec started another wine trifecta with Chris. It was good but not the best malbec I have had. Not as fruit forward as some but a good start to a great evening.
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5/28/2005 - Badfish wrote:
Nice bright ruby red color with light violet at the rim. Complex nose with hints of plum and mango as well as sweet and spicy notes. Dark berry flavors with sweet intense fruit. Boysenberry? Good short-medium finish. Drinking well right now.
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4/1/2005 - amax wrote: 92 Points
Rich, earthy, opened up after a few minutes to give a great finish.
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12/24/2004 - jwolf99 wrote:
ripe blackberry, boysenberry, hints of toast, spice, mineral, loam; dense, plush, finely stitched finish
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