So, I bought several bottles of this wine like 10 years ago because I was invited to a wine tasting party in which everyone was asked to bring a bottle of red wine under $20. We put all the wines into brown bags and blind tasted.
I was already an Owen Roe fan, and this was pretty much all they had under $20. Turns out, I "won" the blind tasting with this bottle, and since I was on a budget at the time, I picked up a few as my table wine at home.
On a lark, I decided to stash one away and forget about it just to see how it would age. I didn't have much hope, just kind of an experiment.
Well I opened it today and - pretty cool result! Definitely much more than I expected. Fruit still alive, not overly oxidized, not pruney, stewed, or cooked. Some nice floral notes.
The only thing about it that makes it obviously not a "great" wine is kind of a hollow, short finish. But there's absolutely nothing about it to actively dislike. Well played David O'reilly!
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Had one of these over two years ago and it was a complete mess that was poured down the drain. After some time to mellow out, this bottle was surprisingly tasty and now I wish i had a couple more!
The wine is much better balanced, the flavors of licorice and dark fruit more supple, and the mouthfeel elegant, particularly for a sub-$20 wine. This is one of the most dramatic turnarounds I've experienced over just a two year span and wouldn't hesitate to buy a few more for $15 or so.
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Really not good at all. Out of balance with bitter tannins and the alcohol spikes quite a bit giving it a hot finish. This wine simply does not deliver pleasure.
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50+5+14+12+8 Fiery red color with orange edges. A compelling nose that draws me in with earthy oak, anise, apple and butterscotch. A young but buttery taste of dark fruit, balanced acidity, and healthy tannins. The finish is short and this one would benefit from more time in your cellar.
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Very deep cranberry color. Violet, smoke, sweet doughy oak, mixed berries on the nose -- very inviting. High toned berry palate, chewy dark fruit, turning a bit stemmy thorough the shortish finish. Quite warm, with sticky tannins, but overall a surprisingly nice value for drinking now or over the next several years. Off the end-of-bin list at JD's, with E&D.
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2 bottles purchased at restaurant. The first was much more expressive, being closer to room temperature (the second was at cellar temp). Violets, blackberry fruit, with some earthiness. Vanilla/oak on the finish. Tasty stuff, but will be better in 2 years.
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pop and pour, was better with a little air, drank well with the upfront fruit notes then a bit of tannin on the palette, not too over powering, but not a smooth exit either.
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My wife and I both think this is one of the best values in Washington cabs. We have consumed quite a few bottles and have not been disappointed. Good nose, great palate and nice long finish.
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I like this wine. It is very young. Nose is very sweet and the tannins are present, but there is a sense of balance. I think that in a year or so this wine will score in the high 80s.
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Very clean and bright nose of black fruits. Grippy tannins, but well balanced with the acidity. Clean, crisp black fruit flavors. Definitely not a rich CA cab. Smooth mouthfeel with long finish of black olives. Very approachable and drinkable for it's age.
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Fresh out of the gates! Like spicy rye and wheat crackers. This is the problem with writing a tasting note when the bottle was just opened. Palate is rich and succulent. Fairly low acid and tannin for something so young. Actually, wait a minute. The tannins come up stronger after a little while. This would be something to watch as the bottle opens. We shall see. Nose is a bit hard to get over.
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10/19/2020 - Jack Cranley Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well this was interesting.
So, I bought several bottles of this wine like 10 years ago because I was invited to a wine tasting party in which everyone was asked to bring a bottle of red wine under $20. We put all the wines into brown bags and blind tasted.
I was already an Owen Roe fan, and this was pretty much all they had under $20. Turns out, I "won" the blind tasting with this bottle, and since I was on a budget at the time, I picked up a few as my table wine at home.
On a lark, I decided to stash one away and forget about it just to see how it would age. I didn't have much hope, just kind of an experiment.
Well I opened it today and - pretty cool result! Definitely much more than I expected. Fruit still alive, not overly oxidized, not pruney, stewed, or cooked. Some nice floral notes.
The only thing about it that makes it obviously not a "great" wine is kind of a hollow, short finish. But there's absolutely nothing about it to actively dislike. Well played David O'reilly!
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8/27/2016 - thebeaver wrote:
Awesome - loved it
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11/5/2015 - Nyron wrote: 80 Points
The body is medium.
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10/18/2013 - Bperlma wrote: 84 Points
Mellow mouth feel, dark fruit, concerned it'd be past it's prime but was serviceable.
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10/19/2012 - jrkennedy37 wrote: 89 Points
Had one of these over two years ago and it was a complete mess that was poured down the drain. After some time to mellow out, this bottle was surprisingly tasty and now I wish i had a couple more!
The wine is much better balanced, the flavors of licorice and dark fruit more supple, and the mouthfeel elegant, particularly for a sub-$20 wine. This is one of the most dramatic turnarounds I've experienced over just a two year span and wouldn't hesitate to buy a few more for $15 or so.
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12/23/2011 - AccaDacca wrote: 85 Points
Average at best.
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10/12/2011 - Jeka Likes this wine: 87 Points
A little rough around the edges, but robust with good fruit. Should age well by 2013.
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5/29/2011 - lizeneca wrote: 86 Points
mediocre smooth full bodied wine
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4/11/2011 - Ahirsch116 wrote: 70 Points
Really not good at all. Out of balance with bitter tannins and the alcohol spikes quite a bit giving it a hot finish. This wine simply does not deliver pleasure.
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4/7/2011 - CasaHernandez wrote:
I wasn't that impressed by this wine actually. Didn't have anything to it at all. good price, but not worth it.
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2/16/2011 - Ou7475 wrote: 81 Points
Dry mild nose with tart ending
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2/4/2011 - Mlyles wrote: 87 Points
NICE! great violet/cherry nose. Good mouthfeel and a little hot on opening the mellows out. 12+20+22+33=87.
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1/26/2011 - Tiltrotorguy wrote: 79 Points
Full body aroma. Flavor average.
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12/20/2010 - AngelicWines wrote: 89 Points
50+5+14+12+8 Fiery red color with orange edges. A compelling nose that draws me in with earthy oak, anise, apple and butterscotch. A young but buttery taste of dark fruit, balanced acidity, and healthy tannins. The finish is short and this one would benefit from more time in your cellar.
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12/17/2010 - petitblanc wrote: 90 Points
Very deep cranberry color. Violet, smoke, sweet doughy oak, mixed berries on the nose -- very inviting. High toned berry palate, chewy dark fruit, turning a bit stemmy thorough the shortish finish. Quite warm, with sticky tannins, but overall a surprisingly nice value for drinking now or over the next several years. Off the end-of-bin list at JD's, with E&D.
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12/15/2010 - nlassow wrote:
Not sure if bottle was flawed, but came across somewhat astringent. Two of us did not get past half a glass.
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11/27/2010 - rritchey wrote: 86 Points
More full bodied and fruit forward than the 07. Smooth and rich. Could use some additional time to round out flavors.
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11/18/2010 - RPerro wrote: 89 Points
2 bottles purchased at restaurant. The first was much more expressive, being closer to room temperature (the second was at cellar temp). Violets, blackberry fruit, with some earthiness. Vanilla/oak on the finish. Tasty stuff, but will be better in 2 years.
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11/15/2010 - jdblum40 wrote: 84 Points
Young; would've liked it a bit spicier Let it breathe for an hour--was better with food (chicken) than on its own. Fig, licorice, a bit earthy.
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9/23/2010 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
Owen Roe is in Rhode Island! (Conference room): Medium bodied. Good fruit. Nice structure. Solid cab, and at a good price. I like the structure here, this ain't no fruit bomb. 87-88
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7/28/2010 - td7340 wrote: 85 Points
pop and pour, was better with a little air, drank well with the upfront fruit notes then a bit of tannin on the palette, not too over powering, but not a smooth exit either.
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7/5/2010 - DanaSr wrote: 88 Points
Gift from my nephew from Florida; We shared it on the July 4th weekend - Liked by all, very easy and low bite (tannins)
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6/25/2010 - dleaf wrote: 89 Points
My wife and I both think this is one of the best values in Washington cabs. We have consumed quite a few bottles and have not been disappointed. Good nose, great palate and nice long finish.
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5/15/2010 - PourSomeRed wrote: 85 Points
I like this wine. It is very young. Nose is very sweet and the tannins are present, but there is a sense of balance. I think that in a year or so this wine will score in the high 80s.
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4/25/2010 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Slide!! (Waterford Wine Co., Milwaukee): fun nose with green popping out. lush chilis. more research needed.
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4/25/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A nasty, sweaty beast of a wine. And I liked it.
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4/23/2010 - Beavis77 wrote:
Very clean and bright nose of black fruits.
Grippy tannins, but well balanced with the acidity. Clean, crisp black fruit flavors. Definitely not a rich CA cab. Smooth mouthfeel with long finish of black olives.
Very approachable and drinkable for it's age.
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4/15/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Fresh out of the gates! Like spicy rye and wheat crackers. This is the problem with writing a tasting note when the bottle was just opened. Palate is rich and succulent. Fairly low acid and tannin for something so young. Actually, wait a minute. The tannins come up stronger after a little while. This would be something to watch as the bottle opens. We shall see. Nose is a bit hard to get over.
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