Brought this bottle to Trattoria, a rustic Italian restaurant. I had lamb and my wife had lasagna. We let the bottle breath and decanted it for about an hour. We really enjoyed the bottle as it was a great compliment to both meals. Medium bodied and not over powering, but very tasteful. Dry as it hits your tongue with just enough fruit on the back end and a lightly tannic finish. It was just the right bottle!
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still drinking really well with a little more bricking and age elements present than the last bottle i had 2 + years ago. A nice expression of cab based wine with more elegance and nuance then is typical. Enjoyed.
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This is in a nice spot, though fruit is starting to fade a bit. Still a pretty wine at this point, very mellow and easy to enjoy. Note of blueberries and sweet raspberries across the nose. Fruit meets greenery on the palate, with some subtle cocoa notes through the finish.
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After a 45 min decant the nose shows herbs, cassis, sweet tarts, and a sort of cream of mushroom soup like the smell of green bean casserole. Some menthol and sweet tobacco too if you don't really swirl it.
Palate is delicious, a pleasure in the mouth. Refined tannins give it a balance that makes it taste like a buttered roll on thanksgiving. Shows blackberry fading to plum and has a touch of spice on a long finish. Fantastic right now!
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A nose of wonderful flowers and vanilla, with a medium body and rich taste. Chocolate and dark berries complete a very nice finish. After some time to breathe, the nose becomes more candied and a slate finish emerges. Enjoyable, and drinking well right now. Some tannins remain, so I suspect that the aging on this one will meet the far end of the window at 2016. But, it's about complete - recommend to drink up in the next 18 months. Score [50 + 5 + 12 + 17 + 7] = 91.
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Ages well! I have also had it immediately and it was still lovely. Fruity smells with taste of vanilla and a little smoky surprise. Full bodied. You will love it from the uncorking until the last drop is gone. Enjoy!
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Excellent, mature red wine with well balanced mix of red cherry, damson and blackberry flavours with gentle tannins and well integrated acidity. Bordeaux style with Napa twist.
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Definitely not in the fruit forward California style but more typical of an old world Bordeaux. Understated dark fruit coupled with firm tannins and notable acidity. As the Brits would say, "Not my cup of tea".
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One of the most compelling wine I've ever tasted. We opened this bottle for my girlfriend's Mother's Day celebration lunch at Fleming's. The wine is dark garnet color and almost Pinot-like in color. A very seductive and sexy nose full of peppermint, rosemary, blackcurrants blueberries and a hint of coffee notes. Very fruity upfront with a bitter coffee finish initially. As it spent more time in the glass, the palate became more juicy and definitely loosened up to red fruits instead of black fruits with the same minty and warming aromas present on the nose. The tanning are well-integrated along with the fruit, the acidity and the oak playing aw background role. The wine finishes long with a hint of roasted coffee lingering. It was such a pleasure to savor and enjoy. I believe the wine is at its peak now, but should last for at least 3 more years. Drink up and make sure to share. This wine should not be missed!
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Popped & poured @ Houston's Restaurant. Black & Red berries, strong Licorice, sweet cocoa on the Nose. Obvious... Dry, medium finish with Fresh baked bread. Well balanced tannin. Paired very well with Filet M. Can see aging potential. Wish I have some more.
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Well balanced Bordeaux Blend. Nice dark purple in color. Nice smooth tannin structure that was enjoyable. Black cherry mixed with a hint of cigar smoke and vanilla. A really nice enjoyable bottle. Highly recommended but it could easily go another 3-4 years before you will need to drink them.
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Gave 4+ hours in decanter. Brick-ish dark red in the glass. Nice dusty wood on the nose along with some musty funk, burnt caramel, cocoa, stones, and cool ripe red berries. The palate is lush and ripe with more subtle chocolate, matured mellow tannin, and chewy ripe yet tart raspberry. There is a touch of dryness to the finish where things somewhat shut down. But this isn't as present with food. This is good, not great. Would drink more at the right price.
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Had at Ruth's Chris in Minneapolis. Really nice blend that accompanied my NY strip perfectly. Balanced with red fruit and smother tannins and a hint of pepper. Nice!
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Decanted through a vinturi (is becoming a habit...), this wine has the tiniest touch of barnyard adding complexity to the black cherry, plum, blackberry, and cassis fruit notes. Moderate oak and some cocoa hints found on the finish which becomes a bit acidic while the fruit fades. Still pretty enjoyable and a pleasant surprise from the Vino Volo wine club. Has about 2-3 more years.
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First night. Tight, but super elegant and fairly understated and sophisticated. Nice understated dark cherry fruit somewhat covered by some fine grained waxy tannins. The only thing that bothered me at first is that the oak is prominent at first in almost a coconutty american oak kind of way, but i assume this saw french oak? The oak dissipated with air and the very dry, elegant profile really clicked with me. If the oak disspates with air/time, this will be very good. May be too subtle for some who prefer a more in your face profile. Nice acidity and tannins.
Second Night: Hmm, the american oak is still prominent, which worries me a bit. The new oak portion of the oak was clearly american here, which with the elegant style of the wine may not work out as well. Downgrade to 89-90. I would hold this and drink the next in 2013 or 2014 and hope the oak is retreating. A full tariff, this wine would just be a bad QPR. They should go 100% french oak IMO.
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2/20/2022 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Elegant, stylish, mature and well balanced bordeaux style red wine with red fruit flavours, stylish oak and soft tannins. Long finish.
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1/25/2020 - tmaher029 wrote: 92 Points
Brought this bottle to Trattoria, a rustic Italian restaurant. I had lamb and my wife had lasagna. We let the bottle breath and decanted it for about an hour. We really enjoyed the bottle as it was a great compliment to both meals. Medium bodied and not over powering, but very tasteful. Dry as it hits your tongue with just enough fruit on the back end and a lightly tannic finish. It was just the right bottle!
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4/3/2019 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 92 Points
still drinking really well with a little more bricking and age elements present than the last bottle i had 2 + years ago. A nice expression of cab based wine with more elegance and nuance then is typical. Enjoyed.
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12/23/2016 - travelme wrote: 91 Points
See previous notes. Best bottle of the batch so far.
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3/1/2016 - Ewhite30 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is in a nice spot, though fruit is starting to fade a bit. Still a pretty wine at this point, very mellow and easy to enjoy. Note of blueberries and sweet raspberries across the nose. Fruit meets greenery on the palate, with some subtle cocoa notes through the finish.
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7/31/2015 - travelme Likes this wine: 90 Points
See previous notes. Another excellent bottle. Great QPR and looking forward to my final few of these over the next few months.
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5/15/2015 - Furry Goat wrote: 91 Points
Nose is: candied fruit, licorice, menthol, eucalyptus. Pallet is: vegetal, cherry, dirt, chocolate, tobacco, spice.
The wine has that smooth, milk chocolatey, thin but thick, balanced elegance, that makes you want to drain your glass a little too fast.
Medium finish. Drink up.
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11/14/2014 - Furry Goat wrote: 93 Points
After a 45 min decant the nose shows herbs, cassis, sweet tarts, and a sort of cream of mushroom soup like the smell of green bean casserole. Some menthol and sweet tobacco too if you don't really swirl it.
Palate is delicious, a pleasure in the mouth. Refined tannins give it a balance that makes it taste like a buttered roll on thanksgiving. Shows blackberry fading to plum and has a touch of spice on a long finish. Fantastic right now!
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4/18/2014 - roybivens Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nose of wonderful flowers and vanilla, with a medium body and rich taste. Chocolate and dark berries complete a very nice finish. After some time to breathe, the nose becomes more candied and a slate finish emerges. Enjoyable, and drinking well right now. Some tannins remain, so I suspect that the aging on this one will meet the far end of the window at 2016. But, it's about complete - recommend to drink up in the next 18 months. Score [50 + 5 + 12 + 17 + 7] = 91.
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4/5/2014 - bryplease wrote:
Ages well! I have also had it immediately and it was still lovely. Fruity smells with taste of vanilla and a little smoky surprise. Full bodied. You will love it from the uncorking until the last drop is gone. Enjoy!
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3/27/2014 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich, oak laden wine with damson and blackcurrent flavours in abundance. Drinking well now but will last another 5 years
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2/11/2014 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 96 Points
Excellent, mature red wine with well balanced mix of red cherry, damson and blackberry flavours with gentle tannins and well integrated acidity. Bordeaux style with Napa twist.
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10/28/2013 - Raja wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with other reviews. Excellent blend from St. Supery
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6/21/2013 - oenophilemoose wrote: 89 Points
Definitely not in the fruit forward California style but more typical of an old world Bordeaux. Understated dark fruit coupled with firm tannins and notable acidity. As the Brits would say, "Not my cup of tea".
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5/12/2013 - mibuwolf83 Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the most compelling wine I've ever tasted. We opened this bottle for my girlfriend's Mother's Day celebration lunch at Fleming's. The wine is dark garnet color and almost Pinot-like in color. A very seductive and sexy nose full of peppermint, rosemary, blackcurrants blueberries and a hint of coffee notes. Very fruity upfront with a bitter coffee finish initially. As it spent more time in the glass, the palate became more juicy and definitely loosened up to red fruits instead of black fruits with the same minty and warming aromas present on the nose. The tanning are well-integrated along with the fruit, the acidity and the oak playing aw background role. The wine finishes long with a hint of roasted coffee lingering. It was such a pleasure to savor and enjoy. I believe the wine is at its peak now, but should last for at least 3 more years. Drink up and make sure to share. This wine should not be missed!
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12/21/2012 - Wineshington wrote: 90 Points
Decent, but has shown better. Not sure if it was bottle variation or something else. Will restate tomorrow.
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12/15/2012 - shaian Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped & poured @ Houston's Restaurant. Black & Red berries, strong Licorice, sweet cocoa on the Nose. Obvious...
Dry, medium finish with Fresh baked bread. Well balanced tannin. Paired very well with Filet M. Can see aging potential. Wish I have some more.
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12/10/2012 - travelme Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well balanced Bordeaux Blend. Nice dark purple in color. Nice smooth tannin structure that was enjoyable. Black cherry mixed with a hint of cigar smoke and vanilla. A really nice enjoyable bottle. Highly recommended but it could easily go another 3-4 years before you will need to drink them.
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9/27/2012 - GlenviewGSW wrote: 92 Points
Very well balanced wine. Not a huge wine with 14.3% alcohol but a strong licorice nose with a long finish and a well integrated tannin profile.
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7/26/2012 - winepog wrote: 89 Points
Nice and bright, not too much fruit, not too tanic, nice and balanced....
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6/24/2012 - Hop1028 wrote: 90 Points
One of my favorite wines. Deep and smooth. Second and third glasses were better then first.
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6/23/2012 - noahbw Likes this wine: 89 Points
Gave 4+ hours in decanter. Brick-ish dark red in the glass. Nice dusty wood on the nose along with some musty funk, burnt caramel, cocoa, stones, and cool ripe red berries. The palate is lush and ripe with more subtle chocolate, matured mellow tannin, and chewy ripe yet tart raspberry. There is a touch of dryness to the finish where things somewhat shut down. But this isn't as present with food. This is good, not great. Would drink more at the right price.
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5/23/2012 - MarkMich wrote: 90 Points
Had at Ruth's Chris in Minneapolis. Really nice blend that accompanied my NY strip perfectly. Balanced with red fruit and smother tannins and a hint of pepper. Nice!
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5/20/2012 - Wineshington wrote: 91 Points
Second bottle of the night. Drinking very well.
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3/22/2012 - Grinner wrote: 89 Points
Decanted through a vinturi (is becoming a habit...), this wine has the tiniest touch of barnyard adding complexity to the black cherry, plum, blackberry, and cassis fruit notes. Moderate oak and some cocoa hints found on the finish which becomes a bit acidic while the fruit fades. Still pretty enjoyable and a pleasant surprise from the Vino Volo wine club. Has about 2-3 more years.
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2/19/2012 - cjsavino wrote: 90 Points
Had this bottle at Ruth's Chris, nice color, and flavors. Tannins have blended nicely with the drk fruits.
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12/29/2011 - winegr wrote: 90 Points
First night. Tight, but super elegant and fairly understated and sophisticated. Nice understated dark cherry fruit somewhat covered by some fine grained waxy tannins. The only thing that bothered me at first is that the oak is prominent at first in almost a coconutty american oak kind of way, but i assume this saw french oak? The oak dissipated with air and the very dry, elegant profile really clicked with me. If the oak disspates with air/time, this will be very good. May be too subtle for some who prefer a more in your face profile. Nice acidity and tannins.
Second Night: Hmm, the american oak is still prominent, which worries me a bit. The new oak portion of the oak was clearly american here, which with the elegant style of the wine may not work out as well. Downgrade to 89-90. I would hold this and drink the next in 2013 or 2014 and hope the oak is retreating. A full tariff, this wine would just be a bad QPR. They should go 100% french oak IMO.
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12/4/2011 - East of Napa wrote: 90 Points
very nice
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11/19/2011 - pagejshawjr wrote: 89 Points
Extremely tight with supple tannins. Nose and body are very green. Wine needs several years to develop but has some nice structure layered in.
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11/17/2011 - East of Napa wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful wine with lots of fruit and great finish. some vanilla and chocolate. will finish tomorrow and expect it to be even better
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8/27/2011 - hr3 wrote: 91 Points
The third day it was hitting it's stride.
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