With additional age this wine has continued to improve since my last bottle, tasted aprox 15 months ago. Subtle nose of fruit (but I get TONYSMITH72's comment about ethyl acetate - there is something there, I'm not just sure its that, but its something). Its still smooth, with a nice dusty red fruit and earthy palate. Not particularly savory or tobacco-y. Balanced, medium weight. Easy to drink and like. The restraint here is notable.
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This drops a point from my last ratings. Still a fine quaff. Not quite as complex as I remember, but the cherries, smoothness and balance are still spot on. Just wish it had a bit longer length. Must try this with food. I always seem to drink this solo. A great QPR for sure.
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Used mainly for cooking, while this still has some ncie sweetness, it is beginning to dry out. Showing some brick on rim, sweet blackcherry nose, some vegetal hints. Medium bodied on the palate, drying, but still nice sweetness, blackcherry, currant, green herbs on finish. Very tasty, but losing edge.
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Not as good as the 2005 Ulyssess. This was very one dimensional, quite sweet, but soft and lacking complexity. Lots of blackcherry fruit but not much else. Needs to be drunk up. Whatever does not get drunk tonight will be used tomorrow for cooking.
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Red-violet, cool and dark, full of bramble, balsamic compote, and whiffs of cedar. Long flavor, keeps on the cool side and rarely shows signs of excess alcohol. Maybe lacks some polish, but it's raw, intense, and clear of Red Mountain.
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Garnet coloured in the glass; getting ripe crushed cherries and blueberries on the nose. The palate is very friendly with some more red and blue fruits along with some hints of coffee. Smooth and the tannins are just about non-existent. Drinking very well as it is.
A well balanced smooth wine, the Cab Sav is a prominent taste (though not the greatest content) but the mix of other grape makes for a wine with nice tannins and a slight taste of cherry and maybe blueberry.
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Dark red with a medium body. Fruity nose. Berries come through strongly on the palate, especially cherries and blueberries. Tastes like a cherry pie. Beautiful balance and smooth fruit forward with nice tannins to carry it through. The 70% Merlot smoothness with the 30% backbone of Cab Sav make me say, "Ya gotta be kidding me" on this $17.00 wine. I'd give it an even higher score if the length was just a tad longer.
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Deep, garnet color. An aromatic wine with hints of dark fruit, berries, green pepper and anise. A dry, full bodied wine with smooth acidity and high, round tannins. Flavorful and spicy fruit burst with hints of black currant, plum, green pepper and anise. This is a very nice, drinkable wine with a good balance of spicy and fruit! Long finish. Stood up well with a meal of smoky, BBQ lamb ribs.
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Notes consistent with prior bottle, but gets another point because it was terrific with gnocchi in puttanesca sauce. The fruit in the wine was nicely balanced by the astringency of the capers, anchovies, and tomatoes in the sauce. Delicious.
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Supple and lively, this has a refreshingly light feel to it that begs one to come right back for another sip. One of the most interesting wines I've had in awhile. Ridiculous QPR.
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A juicy Right Bank Bordeaux style (70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon), very nicely done. Redcurrants, graphite, black pepper, and perfectly integrated 14.7% alcohol; lively, enticing nose with hints of eucalyptus or tea tree and some faint black pepper, with plush tannins, and a medium+ finish. Went very well with a whole wheat pappardelle with a red wine and meat sauce; will probably pair best with rich and not too acidic dishes. A joy on its own -- delicious indeed (after 20+ minutes). 90-91
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Solid casual drinking wine. Nicely balanced, mixed fruit (berries, cherries), some earth, medium tannins, decent finish. Popped and poured after a long day outside and pleased folks with widely divergent ideas about wine.
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Pnp through Nuance Wine Finer. Dark purple color. On the nose, sweet cherry with a hint of spice and cedar. On the palate, wonderful balance. Light cherry flavors, a little wood and vanilla (but not over the top). Med-light mouthfeel. Wonderful wine, alone or with food. Really enjoyed this. While it leans new world, it is still has old world roots. Great compromise for my wife and I and our divergent palates. 91+ Aloha!
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Lots of cherry flavors in this one, with tobacco and raspberry, long finish of vanilla and mocha. No TCA or funkiness as with previous bottle. Quite tasty, and a good pairing with lasagna.
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Quite delicious. No TCA taint as referenced by previous reviewer. Big and round on the entry with lots of black and blueberries. More complexity arrives on he finish with some smoke and earth. Fine grained tannins. Another winner for the mystery series.
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Just a hint of TCA, but covered by the intense fruit and earth properties of this wine. The TCA added a nice "funk" quality to everything that was actually kind of interesting. Big black fruit here, with a generous helping of tobacco and earth, underlined by the TCA funk. Seriously good stuff, and I enjoyed every drop, even though I'm very sensitive to TCA. Looking forward to my 2nd bottle from Garagiste.
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6/2/2015 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
With additional age this wine has continued to improve since my last bottle, tasted aprox 15 months ago. Subtle nose of fruit (but I get TONYSMITH72's comment about ethyl acetate - there is something there, I'm not just sure its that, but its something). Its still smooth, with a nice dusty red fruit and earthy palate. Not particularly savory or tobacco-y. Balanced, medium weight. Easy to drink and like. The restraint here is notable.
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5/17/2015 - OhioNerd Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great nose. Smooth. Not big but well structured. Drinking very well.
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12/5/2014 - tonysmith72 wrote: 87 Points
Possibly some ethyl acetate
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10/14/2014 - tonysmith72 wrote: 88 Points
Hits the spot after a weekend of Oregon Pinot.
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9/9/2014 - PinotAge-Weetree Likes this wine: 91 Points
This drops a point from my last ratings. Still a fine quaff. Not quite as complex as I remember, but the cherries, smoothness and balance are still spot on. Just wish it had a bit longer length. Must try this with food. I always seem to drink this solo. A great QPR for sure.
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8/15/2014 - Francophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very smooth with deep plum flavors and lovely fruit
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4/6/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 87 Points
Used mainly for cooking, while this still has some ncie sweetness, it is beginning to dry out. Showing some brick on rim, sweet blackcherry nose, some vegetal hints. Medium bodied on the palate, drying, but still nice sweetness, blackcherry, currant, green herbs on finish. Very tasty, but losing edge.
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3/23/2014 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
Smooth, rich, nice with a dusty touch of dark fruit. Definitely in the new world style but not so over the top like too many Californian brutes.
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3/2/2014 - edgar Likes this wine: 89 Points
solid WA cab, agree with other notes, black fruits and cedar, drinking well now.
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11/27/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 86 Points
Not as good as the 2005 Ulyssess. This was very one dimensional, quite sweet, but soft and lacking complexity. Lots of blackcherry fruit but not much else. Needs to be drunk up. Whatever does not get drunk tonight will be used tomorrow for cooking.
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11/6/2013 - Francophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really good full bodied with a nice amount of fruit.
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6/5/2013 - Francophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty nice full bodied wine with a nice fruit and low acid. I think this wine is probably at its peak.
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5/28/2013 - JasonG Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red-violet, cool and dark, full of bramble, balsamic compote, and whiffs of cedar. Long flavor, keeps on the cool side and rarely shows signs of excess alcohol. Maybe lacks some polish, but it's raw, intense, and clear of Red Mountain.
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5/24/2013 - AMC Eagle wrote: 91 Points
Garnet coloured in the glass; getting ripe crushed cherries and blueberries on the nose. The palate is very friendly with some more red and blue fruits along with some hints of coffee. Smooth and the tannins are just about non-existent. Drinking very well as it is.
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4/27/2013 - Francophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
A well balanced smooth wine, the Cab Sav is a prominent taste (though not the greatest content) but the mix of other grape makes for a wine with nice tannins and a slight taste of cherry and maybe blueberry.
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4/4/2013 - Francophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
very nice Cab Sav smooth and good balance of tannin and acidity
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3/21/2013 - PinotAge-Weetree Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red with a medium body. Fruity nose. Berries come through strongly on the palate, especially cherries and blueberries. Tastes like a cherry pie. Beautiful balance and smooth fruit forward with nice tannins to carry it through. The 70% Merlot smoothness with the 30% backbone of Cab Sav make me say, "Ya gotta be kidding me" on this $17.00 wine. I'd give it an even higher score if the length was just a tad longer.
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3/18/2013 - Fuzzyblues wrote: 90 Points
Deep, garnet color. An aromatic wine with hints of dark fruit, berries, green pepper and anise. A dry, full bodied wine with smooth acidity and high, round tannins. Flavorful and spicy fruit burst with hints of black currant, plum, green pepper and anise. This is a very nice, drinkable wine with a good balance of spicy and fruit! Long finish. Stood up well with a meal of smoky, BBQ lamb ribs.
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2/24/2013 - HungryMother Likes this wine: 89 Points
Notes consistent with prior bottle, but gets another point because it was terrific with gnocchi in puttanesca sauce. The fruit in the wine was nicely balanced by the astringency of the capers, anchovies, and tomatoes in the sauce. Delicious.
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2/16/2013 - Tintin Likes this wine: 91 Points
A fat fruit bomb of a wine. Well-integrated. Very tasty.
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1/17/2013 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Supple and lively, this has a refreshingly light feel to it that begs one to come right back for another sip. One of the most interesting wines I've had in awhile. Ridiculous QPR.
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1/17/2013 - joraesque Likes this wine: 91 Points
A juicy Right Bank Bordeaux style (70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon), very nicely done. Redcurrants, graphite, black pepper, and perfectly integrated 14.7% alcohol; lively, enticing nose with hints of eucalyptus or tea tree and some faint black pepper, with plush tannins, and a medium+ finish. Went very well with a whole wheat pappardelle with a red wine and meat sauce; will probably pair best with rich and not too acidic dishes. A joy on its own -- delicious indeed (after 20+ minutes). 90-91
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1/16/2013 - tonysmith72 wrote: 91 Points
Opened and poured. This is in a great spot with fruit and soft tannin in nice balance. Great on a Wednesday night.
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12/29/2012 - HungryMother Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid casual drinking wine. Nicely balanced, mixed fruit (berries, cherries), some earth, medium tannins, decent finish. Popped and poured after a long day outside and pleased folks with widely divergent ideas about wine.
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12/19/2012 - BHP1994 wrote: 90 Points
Consistent notes.
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11/29/2012 - bg3034 wrote: 91 Points
Pnp through Nuance Wine Finer. Dark purple color. On the nose, sweet cherry with a hint of spice and cedar. On the palate, wonderful balance. Light cherry flavors, a little wood and vanilla (but not over the top). Med-light mouthfeel. Wonderful wine, alone or with food. Really enjoyed this. While it leans new world, it is still has old world roots. Great compromise for my wife and I and our divergent palates. 91+ Aloha!
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11/21/2012 - RPerro wrote: 92 Points
Lots of cherry flavors in this one, with tobacco and raspberry, long finish of vanilla and mocha. No TCA or funkiness as with previous bottle. Quite tasty, and a good pairing with lasagna.
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11/18/2012 - BHP1994 wrote: 90 Points
Quite delicious. No TCA taint as referenced by previous reviewer. Big and round on the entry with lots of black and blueberries. More complexity arrives on he finish with some smoke and earth. Fine grained tannins. Another winner for the mystery series.
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9/20/2012 - RPerro wrote: 91 Points
Just a hint of TCA, but covered by the intense fruit and earth properties of this wine. The TCA added a nice "funk" quality to everything that was actually kind of interesting. Big black fruit here, with a generous helping of tobacco and earth, underlined by the TCA funk. Seriously good stuff, and I enjoyed every drop, even though I'm very sensitive to TCA. Looking forward to my 2nd bottle from Garagiste.
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