In a really good spot right now. Notes of plum, fig, earth, tobacco, and spice. Supple on the palate with good grip on the finish. Balanced. Not a super complex wine, but very food friendly and enjoyable to drink.
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This is mature looking - a dark, semi-opaque purple in color, lightening at the edge, with some slight bricking. Really attractive on the nose. Powerful aromas of spice, cedar and ripe dark fruits fill the glass. Full-bodied and rich, but not heavy in weight. Very, very smooth in texture and bursting with ripe, juicy boysenberry and dark currant fruit. The Syrah in the blend is very evident. Shows excellent depth and intensity. The long, polished finish is silky smooth and loaded with mouthwatering fruit and hints of oak and spice. The tannins have integrated perfectly, giving this a sleek, velvety mouthfeel. So gorgeous and delicious. Wish I had more of this. 50+5+13+17+7=92
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Writing this the next day, so no detailed notes. No barnyard funk this time around. Decanted for an hour, and lots of delicious fruit right off the bat. Very nicely balanced, full bodied (but supple), and delicious.
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Undoubtedly the best of my three, sulfur odors had largely disappeared revealing ripe juicy fruit underneath a dulling tannin. I think the fruit is receding and this should be on a short leash.
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Had with lasagna and was a wonderful mwtch. I find that this is drinking very well now and would not wait much longer. Last bottle I am afraid but it died a valiant death!
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Really stunk on opening but this dissipated some with air. It never quite disappeared but the nez did open some to blueberry and mineral notes. The wine seemed a bit stunted, sour iron, mineral and a bit of cherry. A certain sourness also entered in. Drink soon.
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Paired very well with risotto with cheese and mushrooms. Wine was very smooth showing good dark fruit and is still lively. Would not much longer to drink.
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A bit sour, nondescript with a candied, lingonberry nose (ok, I don't really know what a lingonberry is except they use it on latkes), but some berry in the nose. A little smoke and charred wood. Not horrible but just about vaguely pleasant.
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Learned from last bottle and gave this a 4 hr. decant. Very aromatic, one of those wines that you can feel the bouquet 1 or 2 feet away from the decanter. Red fruits, dry cherry, vanilla, dark chocolate, spice and a hint of green pepper toward the end of the bouquet. Medium to heavy palate. Red fruits, very intensive, cherry, dark chocolate & spice with some vanilla, some green pepper right before the finish. Well integrated tannins that gently coat the mouth toward the finish. Excellent. Definitely will seek more of a more recent vintage.
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Opened poured in glasses and waited about 30 minutes before first glass. Definitely needed some time to open up. When it opened up, it was nice. Nose of dark fruit, and a touch of green. On the palate the wine was smooth, with a nice mothfeel.
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Decanted. It took many hours for the barnyard and animal funk to blow off. Once it did, the wine showed nicely. Didn't take detailed notes while sipping, but found it to be very balanced during dinner.
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Heeded others' advice - and swirled vigorously in decanter. This is a fairly muted effort, although it paired nicely with italian lasagne without being too dry - which is the usual turnoff [more hers than mine]. You've got to get your nose down far in the tumbler before those mellow hints of balsalmic & lighter fruit elements arise. Nice, pleasant palate, which oddly doesn't mimic the nose one bit - albeit succinct, which actually feels right.
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This was recommended to me by someone at a wine shop I usually find very reliable. It must have been an off-day. Disappointing, overly made, oak and over-extracted fruit. This is clearly made with the American palate in mind and, to me, was just as bad as any mass-produced bargain bin wine by the glass you'd find in an road-side chain restaurant.
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3 bouteilles très similaires bues sur 2 ans. J'ai exactement le même commentaire que mon précédent: Un vin honnête qui n'en donne pas plus que le client en demande. Bel équilibre, pas de défaut apparent, mais pas de "wow".
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Staff Favorites (Farpointe Cellar): Roasted meats with herbs greet the nose, with hints of black currant and black cherry. There's a hint of pencil lead at the end. The palate is slightly tannic, but has good acidity. The fruit is dark, but with a floral tinge.
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Color: Deep and dark. Nose: Pleasant nose of leather, dark fruits and plumb. Palate: Licorice, plumb, leather, spice and dark fruits. Weak, disjointed and dry mid palate. Medium body. Finish: Medium length and somewhat disjointed with tannins that needed a hour or so to resolve themselves. Also, this had an agglomerated cork, although tight and in good shape, I was surprised to see it in a wine of this quality. Not a re-buy.
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The tannins are still slightly on the harsh side though there is plenty of fruit. This wine is still coming together, wait 6 months before opening another.
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Decanted 1 hour. Dark fruit, leather, earth, and some chocolate on the finish. Very tasty. Paired nicely with home made red gravy with meatballs and sausage. Would buy again for $16.
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Very good weekday wine that showed good dark fruit, great acidity, nice weight, & suprisingly good tannins. Not overly complex but tasty and very good with food
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I thought this was pretty good in a polished yet still honest Italiian sort of way. There is a definite depth to the fruit and some nice complexity with the cabernet, but it remains balanced and tasty with enough sangiovese to be a great food match.
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Fulsome nose, that starts off with tar and shows plum. Tobacco and berry on palate. Round flavors and smooth, with just slight tannic notes on finish. Dramatic improvements over time as my first impressions immediately upon opening were not very positive. Need to buy more
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Stellar value. One of the better QPRs I have ever had. Loads of tart red fruit on the palate with tobacco earth notes and a long delicious finish. Wish I had purchased more for the $20 price point. Would should coulda. Seek this stuff out, truly a diamond in the rough.
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Decanted 1 hour, but still better on day 2. Serious plums on the nose, with a bit of vanilla oak. Some nice structure...good acidity too. Plum, tobacco, and some cherry on the finish. Tasty stuff.
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Really nice wine. Very different from first night (popped & poured 1/2 bottle) and night two. First day it was very closed but showed great potential. Medium weight and nice red fruit with some spice and a long but not very complex finish. Night two was mellowed but much more balanced. Flavors of red fruit, currants andsour cherry with a hint of chocolate towards the end. Long finish. Will let other bottle rest for a couple of years.
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I agree with my previous tasting notes but I think this taste more French than anything else. The dominant flavor profile comes from the Syrah but the backbone and structure of this wine are definitely from the Cab. Good wine.
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Opened to enjoy with spaghetti and meatballs (and grilled sausage). Just fine. Didn't finish the bottle - will bring to Karl's tonight (meeting him at Truro house).
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Saturday - first night on the Cape - with grilled sausage. Surprisingly not a great pairing - or could have been the high humidity. Anyway didn't finish the bottle - and the remainder showed better the next day.
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This wine was very interesting in that on the first night it was dark and tannic, with blackberry, plum, black cherry, cocoa, coffee, tobacco and some barnyard funk. Drank pretty well and definitely could age for a few more years. On the second night, it was a totally different wine with markedly mellowed tannins and mostly red fruits and herbs. Very interesting wine
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Dark purple. Sour cherries and spice on the nose. Light tannins and medium acid levels asked for some food.the fruit was a little concentrated suggesting a few more years to go. I'm waiting one year till next time. Decant is a must.
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Tight at first, better with some decant, persimmon, red bell pepper, licorice, beef stock, rhubarb, current, nice complexity, but it doesn't show its head till 2-4 hrs of decanting, good tannic structure. Perhaps another point or two in the next 3-4 yrs
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A elegant nose of berry and chocolate, dark amber in color. A smooth easy drinking red, dark fruit, earth, a juicy wine that was flat out enjoyable. This is the third time I have had this wine in the past few months, all with similar results.
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Pop and poured this with some anticipation due to a blend which I typically enjoy (Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Savignon) and some hype (Wine Spectator 92). Nose was expressive with spice and some fruit. Front palate showed a fairly full bodied wine with some character, but nothing dramatic or overwhelming. Mid palate showed some well integrated tannins. Being sensitive to overly tannic wines, I was pleasantly surprised. Finish was pleasant and reasonably long lasting but did not bring out anything new in the wine.
I paid just under $20 and for the money I think it is priced fairly. I would try this wine again, but would not go out of my way. In fairness, I think this wine may have something more to it if decanted for an hour or more, so it's possible I didn't give this a fair shot. (another caveat; WS suggested drinking after 2010)
Note: After initial tasting, I paired this with some smoked Gouda and Italian salami with pepper, so these strong flavors quickly overwhelmed the wine and may not have allowed me to see if the wine had more potential to evolve into something special.
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I did not give this wine too much time to open up. Based on the pop and pour drinking quality, it was good but did not wow me. It was relatively subdued in the nose and flavours and nothing special. Will try again in a few weeks after letting it decant.
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This is a pretty big boy and dark. Black currants and black cherries. Loads of earth, pencil shavings and some chocolatey aromas. Very long on the finish. Almost slutty in the oppulance of the fruit not no over the top at all. New world all the way but has some rusty nail that reminds you where you are. A bit time floral element on the nose. Candied fruit. Finsh is all graphite. This is an even more beautiful wine on Day 2.
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Very nice bottle. Very fruity on the nose with a touch of Tuscan earth. Very rich and concentrated aromas, which was very pretty. Tasted similar to many Washington red blends and did not represent a traditional Tuscan wine. Overall, I think many will enjoy this wine but this is definitely a "modern" Italian producer. Good fruit and well made.
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WOTN at a blind tasting. Lovely potpourri spices, cherries and red berries on the nose. Very balanced, modern style wine. Pure fruit flavors with some spice box thrown into the mix. Nice acid on the lengthy finish. Great QPR.
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Medium body, sour cherry, minerals, veggies.......I love vegetables, but not in my wine. Day two was improved, the greenness had burnt off. But it still did not meet the hype in my opinion. Hopefully the next bottle will be better.
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Upon opening, lots of fruit on the nose with a little leather or maybe tobacco. Dark fruit flavors mixed together - cherries and plums. Very yummy but may need to air to open up, especially on the nose. After an hour in the decanter it is starting to open up. Same notes as before, but the flavor and finish last longer. This is turning out to be a high quality everyday wine. After two hours the nose is opening but the taste hasn't changed on my palate.
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Smell: spicy dark fruit, a little bit of asparagus Taste: medium fruit nicely matched with pine bark and earth flavor. Dark and chewy with a medium-long finish and gritty mouthfeel. Needed 30-60 min of air but did not improve after that.
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Some cherry, blackberry and tobacco on the nose, bit of funkiness. Very smooth and solid blackberry finish. vinturied to a 2 hour decant. Have 1 screw cap and 2 corks left (anyone know why they have two different enclosures?) Would guess Italian but hard to pick out the grade varietals. Very nice wine, glad to have 3 more.
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Awesome QPR. Very concentrated dark fruits with just a bit of Tuscan terroir and some green bell pepper acidity to further distinguish this unique effort. While delicious on its own, I kept thinking what a great sauce that this wine could make. Lovely, and will seek more under 20USD.
Drink now or hold. 90+ -JRS
((An additional note, mine had a cork, not a screwtop, as others have mentioned))
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Displays aromas of chocolate and berry, with hints of cedar. Full, soft and round, with plenty of juicy fruit. Long and beautiful, with a lovely finish.
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Dark red hue, almost inky. Blackcurrant nose with some oak and some sense of new world ripeness and alcohol. Full-bodied, fruity with sandy tannins and some vanilla. Feels more new world than bordeaux, but a delightful wine if you like the style. Drink 09-11.
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Medium body, nice berry notes. Good acid-tannin balance, a little bit of tannic grip at the end. A good QPR. I think it's still a little young but quite drinkable. A good cellar-saver, even for my modest cellar.
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I was really quite happy with this wine. Simple overall, and nose is very light, but great acidic/tannic balance, easy and well integrated oak, and overall quite enjoyable. not spectacular qpr at $16, but a nice weekday drinker.
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Decanted 5 hours. Since this has a Stelvin (screwcap) closure, I figured it isn't going to age the way it would if sealed with cork, so I thought I'd try one of my bottles. Upon pouring into my glass, right away I can smell sweet blackberry fruit, earth and tobacco wafting out of the glass. Sticking my nose in there, I smell some definite oaky/wood aromas as well. In the mouth, very full-bodied, with sweet blackberries, cherries, tobacco and a touch of earthiness. Tannins are very well-integrated, most likely due to the 5 hour decant. Acidity is in check, with a bit of nice 'bite' on the long finish of cherries and tobacco. Not sure the percentage of each varietal in the blend (Syrah, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon), as none of them really stand out to me, but this is tasty for sure. I think the Spectator hit this one on the head...
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2/27/2023 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
In a really good spot right now. Notes of plum, fig, earth, tobacco, and spice. Supple on the palate with good grip on the finish. Balanced. Not a super complex wine, but very food friendly and enjoyable to drink.
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11/12/2015 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is mature looking - a dark, semi-opaque purple in color, lightening at the edge, with some slight bricking. Really attractive on the nose. Powerful aromas of spice, cedar and ripe dark fruits fill the glass. Full-bodied and rich, but not heavy in weight. Very, very smooth in texture and bursting with ripe, juicy boysenberry and dark currant fruit. The Syrah in the blend is very evident. Shows excellent depth and intensity. The long, polished finish is silky smooth and loaded with mouthwatering fruit and hints of oak and spice. The tannins have integrated perfectly, giving this a sleek, velvety mouthfeel. So gorgeous and delicious. Wish I had more of this.
50+5+13+17+7=92
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12/31/2014 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Writing this the next day, so no detailed notes. No barnyard funk this time around. Decanted for an hour, and lots of delicious fruit right off the bat. Very nicely balanced, full bodied (but supple), and delicious.
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11/16/2014 - guitarguy wrote: 86 Points
Undoubtedly the best of my three, sulfur odors had largely disappeared revealing ripe juicy fruit underneath a dulling tannin. I think the fruit is receding and this should be on a short leash.
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5/25/2014 - jayrod wrote: 91 Points
Had with lasagna and was a wonderful mwtch. I find that this is drinking very well now and would not wait much longer. Last bottle I am afraid but it died a valiant death!
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4/6/2014 - joet626 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely perfect. Rich purple color. Lush and wonderful mouthfeel. Lots of dark fruit and a wonderful finish. Really liked this.
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3/18/2014 - guitarguy wrote: 84 Points
Really stunk on opening but this dissipated some with air. It never quite disappeared but the nez did open some to blueberry and mineral notes. The wine seemed a bit stunted, sour iron, mineral and a bit of cherry. A certain sourness also entered in. Drink soon.
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2/12/2014 - jayrod wrote: 90 Points
Paired very well with risotto with cheese and mushrooms. Wine was very smooth showing good dark fruit and is still lively. Would not much longer to drink.
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12/29/2013 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very dark purple color. Flavor rich and smooth, mostly dark fruit. Soft and lush feel, well integrated great value.
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11/1/2013 - guitarguy wrote: 85 Points
A bit sour, nondescript with a candied, lingonberry nose (ok, I don't really know what a lingonberry is except they use it on latkes), but some berry in the nose. A little smoke and charred wood. Not horrible but just about vaguely pleasant.
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10/1/2013 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dark purple color. Flavor rich and smooth, mostly dark fruit. Soft and lush feel, well integrated great value.
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6/30/2013 - jayw wrote:
More Rhone than Bordeaux-like. Muted nose and varnish aftertaste make me think this wine is marred by VA.
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6/1/2013 - jayrod wrote: 91 Points
Wine is drinking exceptionally well right now, paired well with eggplant parmesan.
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5/24/2013 - Sijan Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of the best values in Italian red wine, IMO. Rich & complex. Tastes like it cost at least twice as much
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4/13/2013 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 92 Points
I don't remember much about the details of the wine, but everyone loved it, as I did. Drinking well right now
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11/14/2012 - CCestaro wrote: 92 Points
Rich, dark, and full of nose and flavor of dark fruit. It has a velvet plush mouthfeel and a nice finish.....great QPR
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10/14/2012 - joet626 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes before drinking. Wonderfully dark color that was loaded with dark fruit taste. Rich and lush.
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9/16/2012 - vinniemontoni wrote: 92 Points
Learned from last bottle and gave this a 4 hr. decant. Very aromatic, one of those wines that you can feel the bouquet 1 or 2 feet away from the decanter. Red fruits, dry cherry, vanilla, dark chocolate, spice and a hint of green pepper toward the end of the bouquet. Medium to heavy palate. Red fruits, very intensive, cherry, dark chocolate & spice with some vanilla, some green pepper right before the finish. Well integrated tannins that gently coat the mouth toward the finish. Excellent. Definitely will seek more of a more recent vintage.
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3/12/2012 - robnmo wrote: 88 Points
Opened poured in glasses and waited about 30 minutes before first glass. Definitely needed some time to open up. When it opened up, it was nice. Nose of dark fruit, and a touch of green. On the palate the wine was smooth, with a nice mothfeel.
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1/29/2012 - pinoteer wrote: 90 Points
Decanted. It took many hours for the barnyard and animal funk to blow off. Once it did, the wine showed nicely. Didn't take detailed notes while sipping, but found it to be very balanced during dinner.
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12/18/2011 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
Beauty
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12/8/2011 - Sijan wrote: 88 Points
Restrained dark fruit w/ spice and earthiness. Good complexity, moderate tannins. Reminds me of N. Rhone. Nicely balanced.
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12/4/2011 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
Great balance with great nose ...really like this
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11/22/2011 - jdoakpark wrote: 89 Points
Nice....I still like it
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9/26/2011 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 90 Points
Heeded others' advice - and swirled vigorously in decanter. This is a fairly muted effort, although it paired nicely with italian lasagne without being too dry - which is the usual turnoff [more hers than mine]. You've got to get your nose down far in the tumbler before those mellow hints of balsalmic & lighter fruit elements arise. Nice, pleasant palate, which oddly doesn't mimic the nose one bit - albeit succinct, which actually feels right.
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9/1/2011 - Bumbanian wrote: 88 Points
Syrah dominates this one for me. Smooth, dark, peppery, full, and ripe, but with an interesting touch of something green in there, too.
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8/24/2011 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 90 Points
Very consistent wine. As good as every other bottle I have had. 90pts.
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6/14/2011 - thebonnydooner wrote:
a little high toned - maybe a tinge of VA - did not taste as dark and ripe as the prior bottle - maybe flawed
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5/21/2011 - ekenneth wrote: 79 Points
This was recommended to me by someone at a wine shop I usually find very reliable. It must have been an off-day. Disappointing, overly made, oak and over-extracted fruit. This is clearly made with the American palate in mind and, to me, was just as bad as any mass-produced bargain bin wine by the glass you'd find in an road-side chain restaurant.
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5/16/2011 - martcouz wrote: 87 Points
3 bouteilles très similaires bues sur 2 ans. J'ai exactement le même commentaire que mon précédent: Un vin honnête qui n'en donne pas plus que le client en demande. Bel équilibre, pas de défaut apparent, mais pas de "wow".
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5/14/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 90 Points
Staff Favorites (Farpointe Cellar): Roasted meats with herbs greet the nose, with hints of black currant and black cherry. There's a hint of pencil lead at the end. The palate is slightly tannic, but has good acidity. The fruit is dark, but with a floral tinge.
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4/2/2011 - RDHudak wrote: 86 Points
Color: Deep and dark. Nose: Pleasant nose of leather, dark fruits and plumb. Palate: Licorice, plumb, leather, spice and dark fruits. Weak, disjointed and dry mid palate. Medium body. Finish: Medium length and somewhat disjointed with tannins that needed a hour or so to resolve themselves. Also, this had an agglomerated cork, although tight and in good shape, I was surprised to see it in a wine of this quality. Not a re-buy.
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3/26/2011 - prof b Likes this wine: 91 Points
Notes consistent with previous bottles. dark fruits abound with hints of secondary flavors. still needs a solid hour plus in the decanter.
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3/8/2011 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Drank over several nights - not quite as good as previous bottles - a bit thin & green
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3/4/2011 - syrahz wrote: 91 Points
Used half for beef stew and the rest we drank with the stew. Yum.
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2/22/2011 - nogohawk wrote: 92 Points
Drank over several nights - VG syrah blend
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2/11/2011 - prof b Likes this wine: 89 Points
The tannins are still slightly on the harsh side though there is plenty of fruit. This wine is still coming together, wait 6 months before opening another.
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1/27/2011 - syrahz wrote: 90 Points
Except for a scant glass for tasting, this bottle was used for short rib braise. And it did its job wonderfully.
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1/12/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote: 90 Points
Consistent w/ first note. Great bottle. Dark, ripe, full, and nicely balanced.
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12/20/2010 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Dark fruit, leather, earth, and some chocolate on the finish. Very tasty. Paired nicely with home made red gravy with meatballs and sausage. Would buy again for $16.
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12/15/2010 - Redguy wrote: 90 Points
Very good weekday wine that showed good dark fruit, great acidity, nice weight, & suprisingly good tannins. Not overly complex but tasty and very good with food
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12/15/2010 - thebonnydooner wrote: 89 Points
I thought this was pretty good in a polished yet still honest Italiian sort of way. There is a definite depth to the fruit and some nice complexity with the cabernet, but it remains balanced and tasty with enough sangiovese to be a great food match.
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12/12/2010 - jfd717 wrote: 85 Points
Gas potential, but young. Hqang on to for a while.
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11/28/2010 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Fulsome nose, that starts off with tar and shows plum. Tobacco and berry on palate. Round flavors and smooth, with just slight tannic notes on finish. Dramatic improvements over time as my first impressions immediately upon opening were not very positive. Need to buy more
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11/25/2010 - roblise wrote: 88 Points
Medium-bodied and very pleasant. Fine Wednesday wine, priced right, but I don't consider this a wine I would open with great anticipation.
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11/13/2010 - junglejuice wrote: 92 Points
Stellar value. One of the better QPRs I have ever had. Loads of tart red fruit on the palate with tobacco earth notes and a long delicious finish. Wish I had purchased more for the $20 price point. Would should coulda. Seek this stuff out, truly a diamond in the rough.
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10/23/2010 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
love this stuff. Fruity and flowery in a complex way. great finish.
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10/8/2010 - eastover wrote:
Friday night after a Long Week. Enjoyed with pizza. Bottle went quickly - though Jill complained of a headache the next day.
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9/30/2010 - RPerro wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1 hour, but still better on day 2. Serious plums on the nose, with a bit of vanilla oak. Some nice structure...good acidity too. Plum, tobacco, and some cherry on the finish. Tasty stuff.
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9/17/2010 - vinniemontoni wrote: 90 Points
Really nice wine. Very different from first night (popped & poured 1/2 bottle) and night two. First day it was very closed but showed great potential. Medium weight and nice red fruit with some spice and a long but not very complex finish. Night two was mellowed but much more balanced. Flavors of red fruit, currants andsour cherry with a hint of chocolate towards the end. Long finish. Will let other bottle rest for a couple of years.
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9/11/2010 - gmbdds wrote: 89 Points
Big on the nose. Notes of chocolate and dark fruit. Good acidity and feel. Matched well with pasta and red sauce.
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9/7/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote: 90 Points
Consistent w/ prior notes.
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8/17/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 90 Points
I agree with my previous tasting notes but I think this taste more French than anything else. The dominant flavor profile comes from the Syrah but the backbone and structure of this wine are definitely from the Cab. Good wine.
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8/5/2010 - martcouz wrote: 87 Points
Un vin honnête qui n'en donne pas plus que le client en demande. Bel équilibre, pas de défaut apparent, mais pas de "wow".
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7/29/2010 - eastover wrote:
Opened to enjoy with spaghetti and meatballs (and grilled sausage). Just fine. Didn't finish the bottle - will bring to Karl's tonight (meeting him at Truro house).
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7/23/2010 - eastover wrote:
Saturday - first night on the Cape - with grilled sausage. Surprisingly not a great pairing - or could have been the high humidity. Anyway didn't finish the bottle - and the remainder showed better the next day.
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7/19/2010 - Dillo wrote: 89 Points
This wine was very interesting in that on the first night it was dark and tannic, with blackberry, plum, black cherry, cocoa, coffee, tobacco and some barnyard funk. Drank pretty well and definitely could age for a few more years. On the second night, it was a totally different wine with markedly mellowed tannins and mostly red fruits and herbs. Very interesting wine
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7/18/2010 - eastover wrote:
At home Sunday night - chiciken Greve with (Jess, Lucy, Sam), (Ben, Mark, Phil) and Danny and Jilly. Nice QPR wine - nice pairing with the chicken.
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7/12/2010 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
very nice. great wine.
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7/5/2010 - JerzeyJohn wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable - med bodied, light tannins. Needs some time to breathe and held up very well in day 2
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6/25/2010 - Lessthanzero wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple. Sour cherries and spice on the nose. Light tannins and medium acid levels asked for some food.the fruit was a little concentrated suggesting a few more years to go. I'm waiting one year till next time. Decant is a must.
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6/14/2010 - Joelene wrote: 90 Points
Tight at first, better with some decant, persimmon, red bell pepper, licorice, beef stock, rhubarb, current, nice complexity, but it doesn't show its head till 2-4 hrs of decanting, good tannic structure. Perhaps another point or two in the next 3-4 yrs
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5/31/2010 - corkscrews wrote: 91 Points
A elegant nose of berry and chocolate, dark amber in color. A smooth easy drinking red, dark fruit, earth, a juicy wine that was flat out enjoyable. This is the third time I have had this wine in the past few months, all with similar results.
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5/15/2010 - laxman wrote: 89 Points
Pop and poured this with some anticipation due to a blend which I typically enjoy (Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Savignon) and some hype (Wine Spectator 92). Nose was expressive with spice and some fruit. Front palate showed a fairly full bodied wine with some character, but nothing dramatic or overwhelming. Mid palate showed some well integrated tannins. Being sensitive to overly tannic wines, I was pleasantly surprised. Finish was pleasant and reasonably long lasting but did not bring out anything new in the wine.
I paid just under $20 and for the money I think it is priced fairly. I would try this wine again, but would not go out of my way. In fairness, I think this wine may have something more to it if decanted for an hour or more, so it's possible I didn't give this a fair shot. (another caveat; WS suggested drinking after 2010)
Note: After initial tasting, I paired this with some smoked Gouda and Italian salami with pepper, so these strong flavors quickly overwhelmed the wine and may not have allowed me to see if the wine had more potential to evolve into something special.
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5/13/2010 - roblise wrote: 88 Points
I did not give this wine too much time to open up. Based on the pop and pour drinking quality, it was good but did not wow me. It was relatively subdued in the nose and flavours and nothing special. Will try again in a few weeks after letting it decant.
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5/5/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote: 90 Points
Fairly consistent with prior note. Fruits seemed a little more plummy, with some dusty cocoa powder joining the mix. Very nice.
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5/3/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous notes
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5/1/2010 - prof b wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for three hours, made all the difference. Fruit had mellowed and came into balance. Otherwise consistent with previous bottle.
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4/17/2010 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
loved it....wonderful nose and mouth of fruit and flowers
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4/9/2010 - ScottGoodwin wrote: 91 Points
This is a pretty big boy and dark. Black currants and black cherries. Loads of earth, pencil shavings and some chocolatey aromas. Very long on the finish. Almost slutty in the oppulance of the fruit not no over the top at all. New world all the way but has some rusty nail that reminds you where you are. A bit time floral element on the nose. Candied fruit. Finsh is all graphite. This is an even more beautiful wine on Day 2.
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3/24/2010 - kidujp Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 45 mins. Floral notes, dark berries and a bit of earth.
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3/22/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 90 Points
Very nice bottle. Very fruity on the nose with a touch of Tuscan earth. Very rich and concentrated aromas, which was very pretty. Tasted similar to many Washington red blends and did not represent a traditional Tuscan wine. Overall, I think many will enjoy this wine but this is definitely a "modern" Italian producer. Good fruit and well made.
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3/21/2010 - Wine Pair wrote: 88 Points
Decant for 45min to an hour is a must. Turns in to what you expect from a Super Tuscan Blend. Very nice.
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3/14/2010 - pete s. wrote: 90 Points
WOTN at a blind tasting. Lovely potpourri spices, cherries and red berries on the nose. Very balanced, modern style wine. Pure fruit flavors with some spice box thrown into the mix. Nice acid on the lengthy finish. Great QPR.
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3/6/2010 - jdoakpark wrote: 90 Points
opened for 1 hr before pouring.....excellent...
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3/1/2010 - pavel_p wrote: 90 Points
Very good balance of structure and fruit, and complex palate. Holds up well next day, still some years left for cellaring
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2/26/2010 - GuruofAV wrote: 88 Points
Nose has a slight floral component behind the berries. Fruit forward with some spice on the mid palate. Short finish. Not bad at all.
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2/25/2010 - mprosser wrote: 87 Points
Medium body, sour cherry, minerals, veggies.......I love vegetables, but not in my wine. Day two was improved, the greenness had burnt off. But it still did not meet the hype in my opinion. Hopefully the next bottle will be better.
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2/24/2010 - prof b wrote: 88 Points
Upon opening, lots of fruit on the nose with a little leather or maybe tobacco. Dark fruit flavors mixed together - cherries and plums. Very yummy but may need to air to open up, especially on the nose. After an hour in the decanter it is starting to open up. Same notes as before, but the flavor and finish last longer. This is turning out to be a high quality everyday wine. After two hours the nose is opening but the taste hasn't changed on my palate.
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2/24/2010 - Bumbanian wrote: 90 Points
Smell: spicy dark fruit, a little bit of asparagus
Taste: medium fruit nicely matched with pine bark and earth flavor. Dark and chewy with a medium-long finish and gritty mouthfeel.
Needed 30-60 min of air but did not improve after that.
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2/14/2010 - Bdbrutus wrote: 90 Points
Some cherry, blackberry and tobacco on the nose, bit of funkiness. Very smooth and solid blackberry finish. vinturied to a 2 hour decant. Have 1 screw cap and 2 corks left (anyone know why they have two different enclosures?) Would guess Italian but hard to pick out the grade varietals. Very nice wine, glad to have 3 more.
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2/13/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
My last bottle - still drinking well; pop & pour - VG syrah blend
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2/12/2010 - jdoakpark wrote: 90 Points
nice
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2/12/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote: 90 Points
Awesome QPR. Very concentrated dark fruits with just a bit of Tuscan terroir and some green bell pepper acidity to further distinguish this unique effort. While delicious on its own, I kept thinking what a great sauce that this wine could make. Lovely, and will seek more under 20USD.
Drink now or hold. 90+ -JRS
((An additional note, mine had a cork, not a screwtop, as others have mentioned))
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1/31/2010 - rhps00 wrote: 89 Points
1 hour decant, then drank over two days. Blackberry, earth and dust on the nose. Black pepper, cherry and tobacco on the tongue and finish.
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1/8/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG syrah blend; nice dark ruby color w/ berry & spice
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12/8/2009 - incident wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with prior bottles, however shows some added complexity. Streak of pepper and herbs on the red berry driven finish.
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11/25/2009 - zoulodi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Displays aromas of chocolate and berry, with hints of cedar. Full, soft and round, with plenty of juicy fruit. Long and beautiful, with a lovely finish.
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11/22/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 91 Points
VG syrah blend; drank over 4 hours watching football; loads of berry & spice
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11/21/2009 - Mats_L wrote: 89 Points
Dark red hue, almost inky. Blackcurrant nose with some oak and some sense of new world ripeness and alcohol. Full-bodied, fruity with sandy tannins and some vanilla. Feels more new world than bordeaux, but a delightful wine if you like the style. Drink 09-11.
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11/20/2009 - incident wrote:
Consistent with prior bottle.
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11/18/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as before - drank over 2 nights
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11/1/2009 - incident wrote: 91 Points
Clear ruby. Aromas of berry, spice, cherry, raspberry. Medium acid, light/medium tannin, medium finish. Drink or hold.
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10/29/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as before - drank over 2 nights; opened up a bit more on 2nd night; very good blend of syrah, cab, etc. Loads of berry!
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10/24/2009 - syrahz wrote: 91 Points
Medium body, nice berry notes. Good acid-tannin balance, a little bit of tannic grip at the end. A good QPR. I think it's still a little young but quite drinkable. A good cellar-saver, even for my modest cellar.
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10/16/2009 - martcouz wrote: 87 Points
Belle Syrah
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9/21/2009 - CaliCab wrote: 87 Points
I was really quite happy with this wine. Simple overall, and nose is very light, but great acidic/tannic balance, easy and well integrated oak, and overall quite enjoyable. not spectacular qpr at $16, but a nice weekday drinker.
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8/27/2009 - Hazeo wrote: 88 Points
Soft and a bit fruity, nice bite at the end though. Otherwise smooth and pleasant, but not outstanding.
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7/24/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Very nice blend - same notes as before
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7/23/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as before - drank over 2 nights; opened up a bit more on 2nd night; very good blend of syrah, cab, etc. Loads of berry!
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7/20/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Very nice blend - opened up nicely - good berry and ruby color
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6/30/2009 - RPerro wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 5 hours. Since this has a Stelvin (screwcap) closure, I figured it isn't going to age the way it would if sealed with cork, so I thought I'd try one of my bottles. Upon pouring into my glass, right away I can smell sweet blackberry fruit, earth and tobacco wafting out of the glass. Sticking my nose in there, I smell some definite oaky/wood aromas as well. In the mouth, very full-bodied, with sweet blackberries, cherries, tobacco and a touch of earthiness. Tannins are very well-integrated, most likely due to the 5 hour decant. Acidity is in check, with a bit of nice 'bite' on the long finish of cherries and tobacco. Not sure the percentage of each varietal in the blend (Syrah, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon), as none of them really stand out to me, but this is tasty for sure. I think the Spectator hit this one on the head...
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6/24/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Very nice for a syrah blend - loads of berry and nice tannins, although not over-powering. VG for the $
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6/1/2009 - Mats_L wrote: 90 Points
Inky red with a blue touch. Potent bouquet of dark berries and some oak, still slightly closed. Full-bodied with tannins. Drink 2010-12.
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4/15/2009 - nytiger wrote: 85 Points
pretty disappointing. hollow, nothing bad though
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