Wanted to like it more, but just never opened up and showed any character, even after decanting. Earthy on the palate, interesting almost metallic finish
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Quite a dark colour. Jammy rich fruitcake nose prune and vanilla. Delicious mouth with plum richness. Mouth consistent with the nose. This has a nice bit of raciness at the finish of stone. A bit chalky but not enough to get in the way. Nice tannins and fairly low acidity. With time on opening this became a bit medicinal on the nose. This is nice but does not have the stuffing to decant - open and drink.
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Decanted one hour. Similar notes to last time, although got a bit more ripe dark berry fruit on the palate this time. Finish was still a little hot. Nice, though.
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15% d'alcool Grenache noir 55%, Syrah 20%, Carignan 15%, Mourvèdre 10% Oeil : profond, opaque (presque), très forte viscosité en parois, larmes colorées Nez : projection d'intensité moyenne à forte, l'alcool transcende légèrement, grenache très mûre, prunes, épices, canelle, girofle, petit côté viandé et de cuir, plus ou moins frais, le nez annonce une bouche capiteuse, boisé bien présent mais sans déséquilibre, odeurs terreuses, à l'aveugle j'aurais été tenté de croire au nouveau monde... Bouche : sec, gras, amertume modérée, acidité plutôt faible, boisé, tannins charnus et très enrobés par la matière généreuse, rétro de glycérine, légère sensation d'alcool, rétro un brin médicamenteuse, l'ensemble laisse une impression plus ou moins harmonieuse, comme trop ambitieux. Conclusion : beaucoup de matière dans un ensemble trop lourd et qui manque de fraîcheur. Trop d'alcool. 85-86
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Dark ruby with purple rim, Blackberry on the nose. Dry dusty blackberry tannic mouth feel, with open time the fruit comes into balance with cherry flavors with one hour open time. Will see what night two brings, looking for more development. Night two, the nose has not changed, but the wine has definitely opened up with a red meet richness and full body with robust tannins, thick mouth feel, dusty ripe cherries and a little tartness on the finish. Up a point at least, like biting into a good steak. If the tannis mellow a bit, will score higher. Third night the tannins and acid are bold but not overpowering, but will enable the wine to age well. It call for food. While not OMG, it is quite nice, up another point. The last glass after five nights stoppered on the counter. It is better with a more subdued acid tannin structure with bold fruit emerging. More age and a long decant for a one night enjoyment. Very enjoyable, but you have to work to appreciate it, a little acid hits the back of the palate, or would have raised another point. 90+
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Day 1, pop and pour: Big dark cherry and plum nose with light green grape stems and chocolate. Medium-bodied. Well composed in the mouth, lots of red grape skins, the cherries here are slightly tart as well as the plum fruit being a little less ripe than the nose was letting on to believe. Dusty tannins, drys the mouth out gently. Medium length as others have said. A very nice wine overall, drinking very well now. Day 2 this is drinking even smoother than before, very light on it's feet and delicious.
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Vinturied. Medium-dark ruby. Really nice nose of black cherry, plum, clove, anise, and coffee. The palate has quite a bit of heat on it that detracts from the plummy fruit and spice - reminds me of Slivovitz (Serbian plum brandy). Fine tannins. Medium length finish. All in all, I like it and think it's drinking as well now as it's going to - though it'll probably cellar well for a couple more years.
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Another Roussillon success story. Initially almost grapey on the palate (which I normally don't admire) but so much else going on (spice, dirt, kirsh, etc.) that impression doesn't linger for long. Excellent grip with lovely tannins providing good structure. Yum.
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Another one where this note represents the sole bottle in CT inventory. This is a S. Rhone blend (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, with a little Mourvèdre) from an organic Roussillon domaine that dry farms for low yields. Inky purple. A syrupy density to the wine. Gardies wines have great organoleptic quality. This one is black fruit with dark chocolate and espresso, although I found the balance and overall harmony such that it resists individual descriptors. It's very big but still agile. Built for drinking now.
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1/13/2021 - brettay wrote: 75 Points
Incredibly alcoholic. Tastes fortified. Dark, deep and rich but the alcohol is overwhelming.
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5/15/2017 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Very fruit-laden even now. Quite soft. There's a chance that I wouldn't have enjoyed it in its youth, but seems drinkable now.
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6/15/2014 - Spencer wrote:
Excellent. Just a bit of heat on the nose, but otherwise well balanced, complex, long. Great value. Drink now.
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10/27/2012 - Bakek wrote: 87 Points
Wanted to like it more, but just never opened up and showed any character, even after decanting. Earthy on the palate, interesting almost metallic finish
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3/11/2012 - riskun wrote: 91 Points
Quite a dark colour. Jammy rich fruitcake nose prune and vanilla. Delicious mouth with plum richness. Mouth consistent with the nose. This has a nice bit of raciness at the finish of stone. A bit chalky but not enough to get in the way. Nice tannins and fairly low acidity. With time on opening this became a bit medicinal on the nose. This is nice but does not have the stuffing to decant - open and drink.
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8/27/2011 - dsgris Likes this wine: 89 Points
Inky dark, plums and cherries on the nose. Dry with good acid, tart tannins. Strong but zesty fruit. Good with spicy chicken kabobs.
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11/21/2010 - cartime wrote: 90 Points
Decanted one hour. Similar notes to last time, although got a bit more ripe dark berry fruit on the palate this time. Finish was still a little hot. Nice, though.
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10/20/2010 - pxstone wrote: 89 Points
Very big, dark fruits & cherry, light acid, drying tannins in balance.
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10/8/2010 - kosmik wrote: 86 Points
15% d'alcool
Grenache noir 55%, Syrah 20%, Carignan 15%, Mourvèdre 10%
Oeil : profond, opaque (presque), très forte viscosité en parois, larmes colorées
Nez : projection d'intensité moyenne à forte, l'alcool transcende légèrement, grenache très mûre, prunes, épices, canelle, girofle, petit côté viandé et de cuir, plus ou moins frais, le nez annonce une bouche capiteuse, boisé bien présent mais sans déséquilibre, odeurs terreuses, à l'aveugle j'aurais été tenté de croire au nouveau monde...
Bouche : sec, gras, amertume modérée, acidité plutôt faible, boisé, tannins charnus et très enrobés par la matière généreuse, rétro de glycérine, légère sensation d'alcool, rétro un brin médicamenteuse, l'ensemble laisse une impression plus ou moins harmonieuse, comme trop ambitieux.
Conclusion : beaucoup de matière dans un ensemble trop lourd et qui manque de fraîcheur. Trop d'alcool. 85-86
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9/25/2010 - dsgris wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby with purple rim, Blackberry on the nose. Dry dusty blackberry tannic mouth feel, with open time the fruit comes into balance with cherry flavors with one hour open time. Will see what night two brings, looking for more development. Night two, the nose has not changed, but the wine has definitely opened up with a red meet richness and full body with robust tannins, thick mouth feel, dusty ripe cherries and a little tartness on the finish. Up a point at least, like biting into a good steak. If the tannis mellow a bit, will score higher. Third night the tannins and acid are bold but not overpowering, but will enable the wine to age well. It call for food. While not OMG, it is quite nice, up another point. The last glass after five nights stoppered on the counter. It is better with a more subdued acid tannin structure with bold fruit emerging. More age and a long decant for a one night enjoyment. Very enjoyable, but you have to work to appreciate it, a little acid hits the back of the palate, or would have raised another point. 90+
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9/14/2010 - gripNsip wrote: 88 Points
Day 1, pop and pour: Big dark cherry and plum nose with light green grape stems and chocolate. Medium-bodied. Well composed in the mouth, lots of red grape skins, the cherries here are slightly tart as well as the plum fruit being a little less ripe than the nose was letting on to believe. Dusty tannins, drys the mouth out gently. Medium length as others have said. A very nice wine overall, drinking very well now. Day 2 this is drinking even smoother than before, very light on it's feet and delicious.
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4/14/2010 - cartime wrote: 90 Points
Vinturied. Medium-dark ruby. Really nice nose of black cherry, plum, clove, anise, and coffee. The palate has quite a bit of heat on it that detracts from the plummy fruit and spice - reminds me of Slivovitz (Serbian plum brandy). Fine tannins. Medium length finish. All in all, I like it and think it's drinking as well now as it's going to - though it'll probably cellar well for a couple more years.
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3/14/2010 - jim dixon wrote: 90 Points
Another Roussillon success story. Initially almost grapey on the palate (which I normally don't admire) but so much else going on (spice, dirt, kirsh, etc.) that impression doesn't linger for long. Excellent grip with lovely tannins providing good structure. Yum.
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3/13/2010 - RationalDenial wrote:
Looks like there's more of these around now. Opened another last night. Descriptors aside, this is just a very, very enjoyable red wine to drink.
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2/14/2010 - sadofsky wrote:
This was very good. Rich and densely flavored and a nice long finish.
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3/7/2009 - RationalDenial wrote: 91 Points
Another one where this note represents the sole bottle in CT inventory. This is a S. Rhone blend (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, with a little Mourvèdre) from an organic Roussillon domaine that dry farms for low yields. Inky purple. A syrupy density to the wine. Gardies wines have great organoleptic quality. This one is black fruit with dark chocolate and espresso, although I found the balance and overall harmony such that it resists individual descriptors. It's very big but still agile. Built for drinking now.
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