Very tart at first, but mellows remarkably after an hour or so. Good depth of black fruit, a few tertiary flavours. Probably has a few years left in it!
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Pop/pour. Intially an interesting juxtaposition of a gamey stew against a sense of iodine / minerality. Some tannins still on the finish. Will be interesting to see if like last time (4 years ago), the stew note blows off. No rush to drink this, drink over the next couple years (by 2016)
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Pure varietal fruit, harmonious and delightful. No obvious tricks, and time in cellar has toned down the sharp edges. Enjoy now, if you've got any left. This is what Spanish wine used to be before over-extraction, designer yeasts and wood chips entered the picture. Serve it to those whose knowledge extends past those practices, and be grateful for the small triumphs of nature.
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Dry, earthy and brambly with good and balanced acidity. Nice cherry fruit. Nice by itself, but would pair well with grilled red meat. Great value at $10.00.
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The distinctiveness of the varietal stands out on this bottle; seems heavier than the last; nothing stellar, but completely drinkable and the unusual flavors make it more interesting than most -- seems similar to the distinctive reds from the heel of the boot, for some reason...
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This is a decent wine, but nothing more than I would expect for $10. Really not all that interesting and pretty muted. It does have good acidity and texture. will give my other bottle another 6 months.
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Decent nose with red berries, cherry, and green perfume. Decent enough on the palate after 15 minutes of air (an early stew note blows off). Medium weight with a fair amount of acidity. Probably better with food than on its own. Gets better with more air, with an obvious minerality showing up. 85 points at the outset, 87 points after 30 minutes. Nice if you like the style, and not bad for $10. G. hates it ("it tastes like grape juice, like a basement winemaking operation").
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mediocre. does not suffer the standard flaw of spanish wines (hot hot hot) but doesn't have anything going for it on the upside other. it's inoffensive, i guess that's progress.
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Another superb $10 Garagiste discovery. My first experience with the grape - this is like an imaginery cross of gamay and syrah. Nice and juicy purple fruit upfront with some pepper and spice on the back end. Good minerality. Very easy to drink.
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Brief decant, but blossomed with more air; a subtle and smooth wine with a hint of minerality at first but the red fruits (raspberries and strawberries) eventually shows up. Not a stunner but might benefit from laying down for another 6 months/year.
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Yes, vibrant and lively as Jancis Robinson put it. Although I would decant this next time as it became more rich and full after 3 hours. Red and dark red fruits with nice acidity and tannins that began to come to the surface after a few hours.
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An unsual wine bought from a new shop in London, Bottle Apostle who told me this won a gold medal at the IWC in 2009. Bright ruby in colour with an earthy, woody red fruit aroma to it. A very fresh minerality to it with lots of red fruits such as raspberries and redcurrants. Great balance, acidity and soft tannins. I suspect this will last a while. Refreshingly different.
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11/6/2015 - ADent wrote: 82 Points
Very tart at first, but mellows remarkably after an hour or so. Good depth of black fruit, a few tertiary flavours. Probably has a few years left in it!
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3/16/2015 - vanpe003 wrote: 88 Points
Pop/pour. Intially an interesting juxtaposition of a gamey stew against a sense of iodine / minerality. Some tannins still on the finish. Will be interesting to see if like last time (4 years ago), the stew note blows off. No rush to drink this, drink over the next couple years (by 2016)
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2/4/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 87 Points
Same notes as prior bottle, basic but more than serviceable
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9/6/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
I actually thought this was pretty darn good, it is bright, fresh, but with good concentration and a nice long silky finish. For the money, excellent.
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11/30/2012 - pfc wrote: 89 Points
Better on day three, improbably; give this one some real air. Pairs well with Pizza.
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8/18/2012 - prospero wrote:
Pure varietal fruit, harmonious and delightful. No obvious tricks, and time in cellar has toned down the sharp edges. Enjoy now, if you've got any left. This is what Spanish wine used to be before over-extraction, designer yeasts and wood chips entered the picture. Serve it to those whose knowledge extends past those practices, and be grateful for the small triumphs of nature.
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1/6/2012 - Reyman wrote: 88 Points
Dry, earthy and brambly with good and balanced acidity. Nice cherry fruit. Nice by itself, but would pair well with grilled red meat. Great value at $10.00.
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12/23/2011 - spo wrote: 86 Points
Stone, spicy raspberry and grapey. At one point seemed strongly acidic and then mellow and soft.
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10/28/2011 - ctbob wrote:
Completely drinkable
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10/16/2011 - ctbob wrote:
The distinctiveness of the varietal stands out on this bottle; seems heavier than the last; nothing stellar, but completely drinkable and the unusual flavors make it more interesting than most -- seems similar to the distinctive reds from the heel of the boot, for some reason...
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9/30/2011 - ctbob wrote:
V. pleasant light-weight red with v. good structure; priced right and ready now
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5/28/2011 - The New Alcoholic wrote: 85 Points
I don't remember much about this wine. And that says it all....
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4/28/2011 - Patches wrote: 85 Points
This is a decent wine, but nothing more than I would expect for $10. Really not all that interesting and pretty muted. It does have good acidity and texture. will give my other bottle another 6 months.
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3/16/2011 - winecharmer wrote: 89 Points
Similar to prior note, but run through a vinturi this time. More minerality and earth this time. Delicious and smooth. Easy drinking.
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3/6/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 87 Points
Decent nose with red berries, cherry, and green perfume. Decent enough on the palate after 15 minutes of air (an early stew note blows off). Medium weight with a fair amount of acidity. Probably better with food than on its own. Gets better with more air, with an obvious minerality showing up. 85 points at the outset, 87 points after 30 minutes. Nice if you like the style, and not bad for $10. G. hates it ("it tastes like grape juice, like a basement winemaking operation").
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12/13/2010 - cse wrote:
mediocre. does not suffer the standard flaw of spanish wines (hot hot hot) but doesn't have anything going for it on the upside other. it's inoffensive, i guess that's progress.
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12/13/2010 - pifcho wrote: 89 Points
Another superb $10 Garagiste discovery. My first experience with the grape - this is like an imaginery cross of gamay and syrah. Nice and juicy purple fruit upfront with some pepper and spice on the back end. Good minerality. Very easy to drink.
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11/6/2010 - winecharmer wrote: 88 Points
Brief decant, but blossomed with more air; a subtle and smooth wine with a hint of minerality at first but the red fruits (raspberries and strawberries) eventually shows up. Not a stunner but might benefit from laying down for another 6 months/year.
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9/29/2010 - redrhonewine wrote: 88 Points
Yes, vibrant and lively as Jancis Robinson put it. Although I would decant this next time as it became more rich and full after 3 hours. Red and dark red fruits with nice acidity and tannins that began to come to the surface after a few hours.
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2/19/2010 - grapefan wrote: 85 Points
An unsual wine bought from a new shop in London, Bottle Apostle who told me this won a gold medal at the IWC in 2009. Bright ruby in colour with an earthy, woody red fruit aroma to it. A very fresh minerality to it with lots of red fruits such as raspberries and redcurrants. Great balance, acidity and soft tannins. I suspect this will last a while. Refreshingly different.
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