Very dark red color. PNP, drank a couple glasses over 2 hours. This starts out on the nose with black raspberry and cassis, charcoal, pencil, and hints of black licorice which evolves further to reveal a nice bit of damp forest floor and cured meats - really a nice nose. The palate is medium full to full bodied, modern, yet really well balanced and not overdone. Black raspberry, deep cherry, pencil, oak, lots of minerality, licorice, and earth with a polished texture and tannins. This took on some weight as it opened. Very good, should drink well for another decade.
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Drinking fantastically. Dense, opaque coloring with ruby edges. Beautiful nose of dark and dark red fruits, cedar, cinnamon, flowers, black tea, earth, mushroom, orange peel, and graphite. Medium body, acid, and finish, with flavors of sour cherry, black cherry, black raspberry, cassis, licorice, and minerals. This is great.
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Bouquet of blackberries, vanilla (american oak?) and spices. Fullbodied wine with still demanding tannins. More balanced than in its youth evolving to become an excellent Ribera. Should hold for another decade.
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Brought to Football party along with the 2006 Astrales Christina. I have had many of the 07/08 Astrales and have been sitting on the Christina for some time so thought it would be good to try them side by side. This has really mellowed out of the years into less of a monster and more of a focused and refined RdD. Compared to the Christina, this had a a little bit better nose that was showing more bright fruit. The palate is smooth, although where this fell short is the mid-palate seemed a little thinner. The finish was strong
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With one foot firmly planted in the traditional camp, and the other on more polished ground, this is a wine that seems be many things for many people. That said, for my palate, I'd love to see it in 8-10 years, but if you give it several hours of air today, you will be rewarded. Soil-filled nose, with ripe red and black fruits, dusty herbs, a dash of vanilla. Very sapid and full, but sufficiently lifted to allow good delineation. Best at 18C, drink or hold. recommended
Served double-blind, I really enjoyed this guilty pleasure.
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Gorgeous clear dark ruby red. Green onions and celery leaves on this rather bizarre nose - and no, I wasn't cooking when I wrote this note. Black pepper and some dark fruits on the nose at a secondary level. Tart, sweet raspberries dominate this wine on the front palate with notes of coffee, and intense blueberries quickly taking over at the mid palate. The finish is pure intensely sweet, almost artificial, blueberries.
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Coravin #2 - Gave this a lot more time in the glass and it did wonders. It is still very thin and still not giving a score as I think this bottle is somewhat flawed. The nose is mint and oregano which I don't think I have experienced that in a wine. Much cleaner than last try. The palate begins thin but then the mid-palate give some nice red fruit and the finish is much longer than before
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Coravin - One before this was corked which I was expecting because it was not stored properly for over a year. This one isn't as bad, although there is something not quite right. Very thin, though nothing is off-putting, just not the monster that I remember. I have three other bottles so will most likely dump this one as well, though I will see if it evolves in the glass
After about an hour this did get better and added some weight. Will try this again soon and see where it goes with some more air.
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This is really good. Dark ruby. Not very powerful on the nose but pleasant dark fruit comes through. Great palate of dark fruit with leather and tobacco very present. A long smooth finish, but tannins still promise this will last and maybe get better for several more years. Surprisingly good buy.
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Two hour decant. Exploding dark smokey fruits with a touch of funk. Very dark in color and brooding on the palate. Still has a nice future, with fine tannins and decent acidity. Very tasty.
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I have come down on this bottle from 2012. Not sure this is going to get any better, frankly if was becoming a bit more pulpy fruit than clean, fresh fruit. Decant is a must, massive sedimentation, took two efforts to tame. Profile is similar to me, but the volume has been turned way down, like a transition from a silk cloaked steel fist to a suede iron fist, it is all a bit heavier to me.
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I think this could still age further, given the overpowering fresh oak on uncorking. After a bit of decant (~30 minutes in glass) oak aroma gives way to a little spice and tobacco, with some red fruit on the palate. Nice acidity balances out some fatty hors oeuvres (cured duck prosciutto).
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Very hot on opening, but a little black cherry and leather comes through. After about a 2-hour decant, some tart red fruit comes through, and the palate is dominated with red licorice.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Solera, Mpls, MN): Very dark red color. Decanted for 2hrs, small pour over an hour. Modern, big wine, ripe black fruits, oak and some dry earth. The palate is full bodied, round moderate tannins, blackberry, blueberry, earth, oak and spice on the finish. Needs 3 years. 91(+)pts.
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Had this back to back w/ the '08, and we found the '08 the clear winner, with a bit more complexity and some nice additional herbal and coffee notes, but this is still certainly nice. Deep ruby coloring. Earthier nose than the '07, with soil, funk, mushroom, licorice, and dark and dark red fruits coming through. Medium body with good acidity and medium+ finish. Flavors of dark red and tart black fruits coming through, with some vanilla and oak spice showing as well. Nice wine, and certainly well made, but the '08 is notably better IMO.
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Very dark, but with just a little bit of translucent ruby. The nose is mostly fruity, but some depth of wood and leaves plus a little bit of funkiness. The palate starts a bit weak, but rises to a an impressively big mid-palate, with lots of blackberry. It is tasty, if a touch simple, with a medium-length finish at best. The mouthfeel is a little edgy, and it just isn't as well made as the Lindaflor that preceded it. If the Lindaflor was not a QPR at $40, this wine is certainly not a QPR at the $35 CT average value.
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This wine is drinking wonderfully right now. I tasted it shortly after opening and it was a little tight, but the bouquet was fantastic and the tannin well integrated. It was even better the next day after recording and refrigerating. One bottle left. I will wait a bit, but look forward to enjoy it immensely.
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Needs a lot of time to really show its stuff. A few hours after opening, it's starting to show it's potential. Very dark and classically structured Tempranillo, with dark fruits, leather and tobacco on the palate. Nicely structured, it should age and improve effortlessly for at least a couple of more years. Nice, but likely better in a year or two.
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Made w/100% Tinto Fino grapes (old-vine Tempranillo varietal). Had with dinner 2 nights over 4 days. Structured and still young, in need of substantial time in bottle IMHO. Has potential, and best to decant this for at least 2+ hours or more if drinking now.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Spain and Portugal (Rincon 38, Mpls, MN): Very dark red color. This had around a 2 hour decant. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Didn't take detailed notes on this, but it was drinking surprisingly well given its youth. Dark fruits, full body, spices, graphite, not too much oak. This deserves more attention in the future.
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Very perfumed from the get go. Red licorice, wet rose petals, some nutmeg and mashed green coffee bean. Voluminous entry, gamey attack subsides to firm black fruits with cinnamon and white smoke. Anise laced game and graphite at the finish. Tempered acidity throughout made for an easy companion before, during, and after dinner. Firm yet silken in entirety. Stellar companion to a red meat dinner. This bottle is a space-shot at a soapbox derby racer price point. A/94 = 50/5/13/8/9/9
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Still a bit primary and sweetly purple at this stage, but there's clearly a lot of there there: should be terrific a few years hence. Try again in 2014.
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very nice. might be a little young. Needs very long decant. At three hours it not very hot with nice tannins but two hours later at room temperature the finish was very smooth and some chocolate blended well with the red fruit. Although good on it s own it could not compete with the Gran Elias Mora that was also at the table. Good night of wine drinking.
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A Monster and Amazing. Nose was cinnamon, spices, black licorice, red meat (tenderloin). Taste was layers and layers of red and black fruit. Very easy drinking and also extremely complex. Long, beautiful finish. I can not wait to try the Christina designation that I have been sitting on.
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We opned this at a Thai resturaunt for dinner and it was very tight. The fruit was there, but the finish was tight, smoke and tar. After two hours, it was a different bottle of wine. Much smoother, black fruit came out nicely, and the finish was smooth. Would buy again.
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A big powerful Ribera del Duero, showing blackberry, currant, smoke, graphite, tar. Full-bodied and layered, that gains complexities as in the glass. The finish is silky and long. (Drink 2010 - 2018) JD92
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Opened for an hour. Dark cherry color, purple rim. Initial nose of red currants, a bit sparse, primary. Given some time, aromas of blackberries, black fruit liquor, spicy (black pepper), menthol, some vanilla, and smoked aromas. Nose is very alluring.
Palate is initially a bit aggressive, shows a lot of acidity. Tannins very present on palate. I like that. Medium body. Very slight astringency on the tongue, not in upper-palate. Wood is already quitel integrated, I understand that the astringency is due more to his youth than the absence of integration, although this still may need a year to be ready. After some time, palate is more fresh, fruity, liquorize, a tad sweet for my taste. The final returns to be a little aggressive but tempers with time as well. Quite long finish. Will be more ready than previous vintages, according to the Astrales manager. Give it a year. Promising future.
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4/11/2023 - bin905 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still firm and energetic.
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10/29/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Very dark red color. PNP, drank a couple glasses over 2 hours. This starts out on the nose with black raspberry and cassis, charcoal, pencil, and hints of black licorice which evolves further to reveal a nice bit of damp forest floor and cured meats - really a nice nose. The palate is medium full to full bodied, modern, yet really well balanced and not overdone. Black raspberry, deep cherry, pencil, oak, lots of minerality, licorice, and earth with a polished texture and tannins. This took on some weight as it opened. Very good, should drink well for another decade.
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6/21/2021 - wiscgrad wrote: 92 Points
very elegant wine. aging gracefully. still plenty of fruit. Oak is there but not overpowering
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6/1/2021 - stantheman Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was still very vibrant and fruit forward. Lots of backbone still and exquisite nose
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6/29/2020 - bin905 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly rich, yet defined.
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3/9/2020 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking fantastically. Dense, opaque coloring with ruby edges. Beautiful nose of dark and dark red fruits, cedar, cinnamon, flowers, black tea, earth, mushroom, orange peel, and graphite. Medium body, acid, and finish, with flavors of sour cherry, black cherry, black raspberry, cassis, licorice, and minerals. This is great.
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12/17/2019 - Klugi Wine wrote: 92 Points
Bouquet of blackberries, vanilla (american oak?) and spices. Fullbodied wine with still demanding tannins. More balanced than in its youth evolving to become an excellent Ribera. Should hold for another decade.
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8/19/2018 - stevenjstein wrote: 89 Points
Big dark fruit, with tons of oak. Very much a moderns style Spanish wine Good for what it is, but not really my style any more.
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1/21/2018 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
Brought to Football party along with the 2006 Astrales Christina. I have had many of the 07/08 Astrales and have been sitting on the Christina for some time so thought it would be good to try them side by side. This has really mellowed out of the years into less of a monster and more of a focused and refined RdD. Compared to the Christina, this had a a little bit better nose that was showing more bright fruit. The palate is smooth, although where this fell short is the mid-palate seemed a little thinner. The finish was strong
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1/6/2018 - BrunelloBob wrote: 90 Points
Smooth. Plush, Good fruit balance. Nice buy at price
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7/30/2017 - BrunelloBob wrote: 90 Points
Big, smooth, ready to drink. PnP, over two nights.
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3/1/2017 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
With one foot firmly planted in the traditional camp, and the other on more polished ground, this is a wine that seems be many things for many people. That said, for my palate, I'd love to see it in 8-10 years, but if you give it several hours of air today, you will be rewarded. Soil-filled nose, with ripe red and black fruits, dusty herbs, a dash of vanilla. Very sapid and full, but sufficiently lifted to allow good delineation. Best at 18C, drink or hold. recommended
Served double-blind, I really enjoyed this guilty pleasure.
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7/7/2016 - TexasBob wrote: 89 Points
Gorgeous clear dark ruby red. Green onions and celery leaves on this rather bizarre nose - and no, I wasn't cooking when I wrote this note. Black pepper and some dark fruits on the nose at a secondary level. Tart, sweet raspberries dominate this wine on the front palate with notes of coffee, and intense blueberries quickly taking over at the mid palate. The finish is pure intensely sweet, almost artificial, blueberries.
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6/12/2016 - bablues wrote:
Coravin #2 - Gave this a lot more time in the glass and it did wonders. It is still very thin and still not giving a score as I think this bottle is somewhat flawed. The nose is mint and oregano which I don't think I have experienced that in a wine. Much cleaner than last try. The palate begins thin but then the mid-palate give some nice red fruit and the finish is much longer than before
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4/9/2016 - Quarked wrote:
Outstanding, even out of plastic cups.
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3/24/2016 - bablues wrote:
Coravin - One before this was corked which I was expecting because it was not stored properly for over a year. This one isn't as bad, although there is something not quite right. Very thin, though nothing is off-putting, just not the monster that I remember. I have three other bottles so will most likely dump this one as well, though I will see if it evolves in the glass
After about an hour this did get better and added some weight. Will try this again soon and see where it goes with some more air.
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3/24/2016 - bablues wrote: flawed
Corked
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1/18/2016 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is really good. Dark ruby. Not very powerful on the nose but pleasant dark fruit comes through. Great palate of dark fruit with leather and tobacco very present. A long smooth finish, but tannins still promise this will last and maybe get better for several more years. Surprisingly good buy.
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1/17/2016 - Duderino23 wrote:
Gift Baba&Steff
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12/21/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
Same as previous note.
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7/18/2015 - gesusser wrote: 92 Points
One plus hour decant, smooth spice,cherry, nice colour
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7/11/2015 - ewsds Likes this wine: 92 Points
Two hour decant. Exploding dark smokey fruits with a touch of funk. Very dark in color and brooding on the palate. Still has a nice future, with fine tannins and decent acidity. Very tasty.
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7/6/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
I have come down on this bottle from 2012. Not sure this is going to get any better, frankly if was becoming a bit more pulpy fruit than clean, fresh fruit. Decant is a must, massive sedimentation, took two efforts to tame. Profile is similar to me, but the volume has been turned way down, like a transition from a silk cloaked steel fist to a suede iron fist, it is all a bit heavier to me.
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1/30/2015 - brianmik wrote:
I think this could still age further, given the overpowering fresh oak on uncorking. After a bit of decant (~30 minutes in glass) oak aroma gives way to a little spice and tobacco, with some red fruit on the palate. Nice acidity balances out some fatty hors oeuvres (cured duck prosciutto).
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1/9/2015 - Jay Win Likes this wine:
Good but hold as the best is yet to come.
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1/3/2015 - scott w Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black cherry dark fruit, good acidity and sticky tannins, enjoyed this bottle.
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12/18/2014 - brianmik wrote:
Very hot on opening, but a little black cherry and leather comes through. After about a 2-hour decant, some tart red fruit comes through, and the palate is dominated with red licorice.
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11/23/2014 - TampaMark wrote: 93 Points
Excellent with my steak.
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7/29/2014 - Janstan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Raspberry, bing cherry tobacco. Had with grilled rib roast which was a little too heavy for this velvety wine.
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5/1/2014 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Lacks typicity. Modern. Young.
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4/27/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Solera, Mpls, MN): Very dark red color. Decanted for 2hrs, small pour over an hour. Modern, big wine, ripe black fruits, oak and some dry earth. The palate is full bodied, round moderate tannins, blackberry, blueberry, earth, oak and spice on the finish. Needs 3 years. 91(+)pts.
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4/25/2014 - nlassow wrote:
Delicious! Great complexity, acidity and fruit will try to hold off on the last bottle for a year or more.
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4/12/2014 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had this back to back w/ the '08, and we found the '08 the clear winner, with a bit more complexity and some nice additional herbal and coffee notes, but this is still certainly nice. Deep ruby coloring. Earthier nose than the '07, with soil, funk, mushroom, licorice, and dark and dark red fruits coming through. Medium body with good acidity and medium+ finish. Flavors of dark red and tart black fruits coming through, with some vanilla and oak spice showing as well. Nice wine, and certainly well made, but the '08 is notably better IMO.
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3/8/2014 - TastesGoodToMe wrote: 91 Points
A year since my last bottle. Still excellent. 1 left -Wish I had more.
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2/15/2014 - Phredd wrote: 89 Points
Very dark, but with just a little bit of translucent ruby. The nose is mostly fruity, but some depth of wood and leaves plus a little bit of funkiness. The palate starts a bit weak, but rises to a an impressively big mid-palate, with lots of blackberry. It is tasty, if a touch simple, with a medium-length finish at best. The mouthfeel is a little edgy, and it just isn't as well made as the Lindaflor that preceded it. If the Lindaflor was not a QPR at $40, this wine is certainly not a QPR at the $35 CT average value.
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1/26/2014 - Wineson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good nose. Great on the palate. Very nice.
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1/23/2014 - stantheman Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is drinking wonderfully right now. I tasted it shortly after opening and it was a little tight, but the bouquet was fantastic and the tannin well integrated. It was even better the next day after recording and refrigerating. One bottle left. I will wait a bit, but look forward to enjoy it immensely.
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1/1/2014 - ewsds wrote: 91 Points
Needs a lot of time to really show its stuff. A few hours after opening, it's starting to show it's potential. Very dark and classically structured Tempranillo, with dark fruits, leather and tobacco on the palate. Nicely structured, it should age and improve effortlessly for at least a couple of more years. Nice, but likely better in a year or two.
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12/26/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Too much wine by this time. Not as robust as I would like
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11/28/2013 - skibum819 Likes this wine: 93 Points
stunning
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11/15/2013 - DRS-Inc wrote: 89 Points
Made w/100% Tinto Fino grapes (old-vine Tempranillo varietal). Had with dinner 2 nights over 4 days. Structured and still young, in need of substantial time in bottle IMHO. Has potential, and best to decant this for at least 2+ hours or more if drinking now.
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10/17/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruits, balanced had alone after 2 Pinot Noirs with dinner. a great finish
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4/7/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain and Portugal (Rincon 38, Mpls, MN): Very dark red color. This had around a 2 hour decant. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Didn't take detailed notes on this, but it was drinking surprisingly well given its youth. Dark fruits, full body, spices, graphite, not too much oak. This deserves more attention in the future.
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2/7/2013 - TastesGoodToMe wrote: 92 Points
2nd Bottle of this vintage. Confirms my previous assessment. Just a fantastic tempranillo. Drinking wonderfully right now. Plenty of years to go.
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11/27/2012 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just a fantastic Tempranillo.
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11/16/2012 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
Similar to previous notes. An amazing value..
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7/29/2012 - Lord Rodney wrote: 90 Points
Good solid Spanish. Dark brooding Tempranillo. Juicy and easy to drink.
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7/28/2012 - Xfactor wrote: 94 Points
Very perfumed from the get go. Red licorice, wet rose petals, some nutmeg and mashed green coffee bean. Voluminous entry, gamey attack subsides to firm black fruits with cinnamon and white smoke. Anise laced game and graphite at the finish. Tempered acidity throughout made for an easy companion before, during, and after dinner. Firm yet silken in entirety. Stellar companion to a red meat dinner. This bottle is a space-shot at a soapbox derby racer price point. A/94 = 50/5/13/8/9/9
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7/13/2012 - Charlie Pendejo wrote: 90 Points
Still a bit primary and sweetly purple at this stage, but there's clearly a lot of there there: should be terrific a few years hence. Try again in 2014.
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4/18/2012 - APatHB wrote: 92 Points
Still a solid 92. It's starting to change and mature a bit. One of the better bottles of the year so far.
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4/16/2012 - Johnny C NYC wrote: 93 Points
Big wine that is nothing but appealing. No dizzying complexity here, just a bright well-spoken effort. 50/5/13/17/8
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11/4/2011 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 91 Points
A little bit young but a ton of potential.
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8/13/2011 - APatHB wrote: 92 Points
Packs a punch! We look forward to drinking this over the years, if it gets much better it will compete for wine of the year.
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6/4/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote: 91 Points
very nice. might be a little young. Needs very long decant. At three hours it not very hot with nice tannins but two hours later at room temperature the finish was very smooth and some chocolate blended well with the red fruit. Although good on it s own it could not compete with the Gran Elias Mora that was also at the table. Good night of wine drinking.
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5/14/2011 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
A Monster and Amazing. Nose was cinnamon, spices, black licorice, red meat (tenderloin). Taste was layers and layers of red and black fruit. Very easy drinking and also extremely complex. Long, beautiful finish. I can not wait to try the Christina designation that I have been sitting on.
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4/20/2011 - mjsherwin68 Likes this wine: 91 Points
We opned this at a Thai resturaunt for dinner and it was very tight. The fruit was there, but the finish was tight, smoke and tar. After two hours, it was a different bottle of wine. Much smoother, black fruit came out nicely, and the finish was smooth. Would buy again.
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4/17/2011 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 92 Points
A big powerful Ribera del Duero, showing blackberry, currant, smoke, graphite, tar. Full-bodied and layered, that gains complexities as in the glass. The finish is silky and long. (Drink 2010 - 2018) JD92
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2/3/2011 - Camozzi wrote: 90 Points
Braucht noch etwa 2 j. Schoggi. Leicht fruchtig.
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11/30/2010 - Periko wrote: 91 Points
Opened for an hour. Dark cherry color, purple rim.
Initial nose of red currants, a bit sparse, primary. Given some time, aromas of blackberries, black fruit liquor, spicy (black pepper), menthol, some vanilla, and smoked aromas. Nose is very alluring.
Palate is initially a bit aggressive, shows a lot of acidity. Tannins very present on palate. I like that. Medium body. Very slight astringency on the tongue, not in upper-palate. Wood is already quitel integrated, I understand that the astringency is due more to his youth than the absence of integration, although this still may need a year to be ready. After some time, palate is more fresh, fruity, liquorize, a tad sweet for my taste. The final returns to be a little aggressive but tempers with time as well. Quite long finish. Will be more ready than previous vintages, according to the Astrales manager. Give it a year. Promising future.
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11/30/2010 - samwe wrote: 90 Points
nice stuff
well integrated oak, lots of red plum, and spices
needs at least a year more to fully balance out but very good now
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10/25/2010 - jorge48 wrote: 90 Points
Nose was subdued even after one hour of decant, but palate exuded notes of vanilla, coffee and chocolate bon bon; velvety smooth tanins.
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