Tasted first from bottle then decanted 2 hours in cellar before serving with dinner. Decanting lost the subtle fruit flavors & vibrancy so it was better before decanting. Neighbor loved it. Solid wine at fair price.
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- Garnet color and aromas of black currant and cherry. It's balanced and has flavours of raspberry, black currant and cherry with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.
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This is a well made wine. I could tell there was more here then what was showing upon opening. This is young, could be closed at this time. I let half of it sit a day and it really opened up on day 2. The fruit started to shine through. Dark fruit and dark red color, firm tannins, a slight barnyard funk, cedar. I'm looking forward to this one in a year or so.
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An acceptable bordeaux blend, esp given the modest price - neverthless, the flavors are a tad muted and the fruit doesn't shine. Nice entry taste of berries but the finish is short and undistinctive.
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dark/deep purple in color. perhaps a bit thin for a BDX but otherwise very good in every way. dry and tannic but in a manner that highlights the evolving flavors rather than assaulting your palate. pleasant and intriguing. wish I'd bought more than one bottle.
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This is an extraordinary wine for the price. Sharp bright dark red, with beautiful structure and balance, dark fruit but also nice subtle wood.Very long finish. A classic youthful Haut-Medoc, buy as much as you can to drink today.
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NOTE: If you like this wine and its low price tag, stock up now. All but 2ha of the vines were upgraded from Haut Medoc to Margaux in 2007.
Decanted for a couple of hours, continued to improve for hours. Dark reddish purple. Subtle candy/fruity nose. Tart cherry, basil, powdery tannins. Nice value.
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Classically styled left banker, with dark fruit, cedar, some earthy funk. I found it a bit light and thin but perfect for a weekday or general party wine. QPR is great especially since I found it for $6 at Costco.
At $12, this is the best QPR I've found in Bordeaux. This is a winner, exhibiting everything one expects from a left bank. Remarkable focused complexity. I can't tell you how many Bordeaux wines I've had costing four or five times as much but that don't deliver on the level of this wine.
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Earthy, currants, blackberries... alcohol is not noticeable. Nice amount of tannins. First few sips were very intense. Next seem to melllow out a bit. Not bad for $13
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Dusty cherry and strawberries on the nose. Some woodiness as well as a little cassis and oak. Equal parts fruit and terroir on the nose. Palate was a bit medicinal with little fruit. What fruit that is there is darker than the nose lets on. The tannins are still biting as to be expected. The mid-palate is kind of "watery". It is light to medium bodied with a short finish. Price for this Bordeaux doesn't lie.
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BillyT says it all in his tasting note. All the characteristics of a left bank Bordeaux in this wine. At $12.99 this one has a great QPR. I have poured this guy blind to three differencent groups and all have had the same reaction - "really good wine". It is time to stock up on this everyday Bordeaux and see how it develops. It is clear from the lable that Chateau d'Issan is proud of their 4th wine.
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Nice wine. Oddly, this tasted incredibly much like the '06 Naiara Malbec Riserva, as I recall -- which at about 30% less money is the superior deal. This needed a little time to open up but was fine in a half hour or so. Didn't have a long finish, but this is an under $15 bottle. All in all, we have been spoiled by so many excellent wines form this region lately, but this could go (in a typical year) toe to toe with wines costing double and triple.
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Deep purple in color with typical pop and pour Bordeaux nose. After 30 minutes in glass the fruit began to come through but the terroir was still dominating. Dark berries, graphite, cassis on the nose. The wine was soft and supple on the palate and tongue soft tannins and certain sweetness on the tip of the tongue but not complex or structured. Short finish but nice. Good everyday drinker.
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Dark ruby with a stupendous nose of raspberry, strawberry pie, cherry, and hints of oak and minerals. Just loads of berry goodness, maybe a bit over the top and primary but the aromas are so succulent you just want to eat the glass. The exuberant sweet berry notes carry over to the palate which is heady, concentrated, and tannic, yet approachable. With air there are some complicating flavors such as red licorice, savory oak, stones, and oil. This is quite Margaux like because of the exoticism but it is rough enough to suggest a lesser terroir. Somewhat primary and superficial at this stage but it is undeniably attractive and a stunning effort at this price point from the Cruse portfolio.
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12/7/2019 - Bordeaux Lady Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyed at Iowa room temperature
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11/12/2019 - Bordeaux Lady Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted first from bottle then decanted 2 hours in cellar before serving with dinner. Decanting lost the subtle fruit flavors & vibrancy so it was better before decanting. Neighbor loved it. Solid wine at fair price.
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3/31/2018 - JeremyBernton Likes this wine: 87 Points
Beautiful classic Bordeaux nose. Palate a bit one dimensional and acidic, but nice red fruit and few tannins at this stage.
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11/29/2015 - all4ya wrote: 81 Points
Drank w Grampy weekend of LSU and A&M
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2/24/2013 - jcsf420 wrote: 88 Points
This is not coming around as I hoped. It could be in a shut down phase or its fading fast. I'll take a chance and hold my remaining 2.
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12/21/2012 - jcsf420 wrote: 89 Points
Still needs some more time but drinking well enough now. Nice mix of fruit, funk and finesse.
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6/22/2012 - jcsf420 wrote: 89 Points
Over a year since my last bottle and this one is starting to come around. Still needs more time or a couple of hour decant if you must.
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3/18/2012 - cbporter wrote: 90 Points
while watching NCAA tourney, March 17, 2012
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1/12/2012 - tcufletch wrote: flawed
Second bottle from Costo this year that was corked and I've been suspicious on a couple of other occassions.
Upon opening, inside neck of bottle was very musty/wet dog. Poured and gave the glass 30 minutes. Some of the funk blew off, but highly astringent.
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10/25/2011 - WG198 wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of black currant and cherry. It's balanced and has flavours of raspberry, black currant and cherry with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.
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6/12/2011 - PDavisMarble wrote: 87 Points
Drinking well - only had a few sips -- with food. Excellent accompaniment.
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4/12/2011 - ToniTony wrote: 84 Points
Good bouquet but lacks body
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2/5/2011 - jcsf420 wrote: 88 Points
This is a well made wine. I could tell there was more here then what was showing upon opening. This is young, could be closed at this time. I let half of it sit a day and it really opened up on day 2. The fruit started to shine through. Dark fruit and dark red color, firm tannins, a slight barnyard funk, cedar. I'm looking forward to this one in a year or so.
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1/26/2011 - pgb67 wrote: 87 Points
An acceptable bordeaux blend, esp given the modest price - neverthless, the flavors are a tad muted and the fruit doesn't shine. Nice entry taste of berries but the finish is short and undistinctive.
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10/11/2010 - grayfont wrote: 89 Points
dark/deep purple in color. perhaps a bit thin for a BDX but otherwise very good in every way. dry and tannic but in a manner that highlights the evolving flavors rather than assaulting your palate. pleasant and intriguing. wish I'd bought more than one bottle.
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8/24/2010 - LopedeAguirre wrote: 90 Points
This is an extraordinary wine for the price. Sharp bright dark red, with beautiful structure and balance, dark fruit but also nice subtle wood.Very long finish. A classic youthful Haut-Medoc, buy as much as you can to drink today.
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6/27/2010 - Mark Brandon wrote: 87 Points
Not Bad... fair value
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6/20/2010 - jeremy_ross Likes this wine: 88 Points
NOTE: If you like this wine and its low price tag, stock up now. All but 2ha of the vines were upgraded from Haut Medoc to Margaux in 2007.
Decanted for a couple of hours, continued to improve for hours. Dark reddish purple. Subtle candy/fruity nose. Tart cherry, basil, powdery tannins. Nice value.
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5/10/2010 - Hazeo wrote:
Classically styled left banker, with dark fruit, cedar, some earthy funk. I found it a bit light and thin but perfect for a weekday or general party wine. QPR is great especially since I found it for $6 at Costco.
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3/21/2010 - THA wrote: 88 Points
At $12, this is the best QPR I've found in Bordeaux. This is a winner, exhibiting everything one expects from a left bank. Remarkable focused complexity. I can't tell you how many Bordeaux wines I've had costing four or five times as much but that don't deliver on the level of this wine.
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3/10/2010 - jszczerb wrote:
Earthy, currants, blackberries... alcohol is not noticeable. Nice amount of tannins. First few sips were very intense. Next seem to melllow out a bit. Not bad for $13
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2/6/2010 - Sauvyfan wrote: 84 Points
Dusty cherry and strawberries on the nose. Some woodiness as well as a little cassis and oak. Equal parts fruit and terroir on the nose. Palate was a bit medicinal with little fruit. What fruit that is there is darker than the nose lets on. The tannins are still biting as to be expected. The mid-palate is kind of "watery". It is light to medium bodied with a short finish. Price for this Bordeaux doesn't lie.
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1/28/2010 - drgrape wrote: 86 Points
Just an Ok wine. There was a little brett. I wasn't in the barnyard, but I could see it.
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1/17/2010 - Cliff A wrote: 90 Points
BillyT says it all in his tasting note. All the characteristics of a left bank Bordeaux in this wine. At $12.99 this one has a great QPR. I have poured this guy blind to three differencent groups and all have had the same reaction - "really good wine". It is time to stock up on this everyday Bordeaux and see how it develops. It is clear from the lable that Chateau d'Issan is proud of their 4th wine.
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1/14/2010 - sonofabacchus wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine. Oddly, this tasted incredibly much like the '06 Naiara Malbec Riserva, as I recall -- which at about 30% less money is the superior deal. This needed a little time to open up but was fine in a half hour or so. Didn't have a long finish, but this is an under $15 bottle. All in all, we have been spoiled by so many excellent wines form this region lately, but this could go (in a typical year) toe to toe with wines costing double and triple.
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12/8/2009 - BillyT wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple in color with typical pop and pour Bordeaux nose. After 30 minutes in glass the fruit began to come through but the terroir was still dominating. Dark berries, graphite, cassis on the nose. The wine was soft and supple on the palate and tongue soft tannins and certain sweetness on the tip of the tongue but not complex or structured. Short finish but nice. Good everyday drinker.
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11/6/2009 - Badfish wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby with a stupendous nose of raspberry, strawberry pie, cherry, and hints of oak and minerals. Just loads of berry goodness, maybe a bit over the top and primary but the aromas are so succulent you just want to eat the glass. The exuberant sweet berry notes carry over to the palate which is heady, concentrated, and tannic, yet approachable. With air there are some complicating flavors such as red licorice, savory oak, stones, and oil. This is quite Margaux like because of the exoticism but it is rough enough to suggest a lesser terroir. Somewhat primary and superficial at this stage but it is undeniably attractive and a stunning effort at this price point from the Cruse portfolio.
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