Decanted, mod debris, immediate and 2 hours. Benefitted from the 2 hours (did not test how long needed). Initially rough tannins and a bit awkward, later very smooth and delicious. Nose of dark fruit and earth. Mature wine with medium, smooth, almost velvety mouth feel with persistent fruit and some spice, pepper. Probably at peak, improved from 2015 and 2016.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open 2 hours, room temp. Could decant - moderate debris. Nice nose of blackberry and some forest floor, even mild barnyard. Very smooth with gentle tannins holding everything together to moderate finish. Again red/black fruit on palate with some complexity, mild spice and earth. Good with grilled ribeyes. Well liked by crowd. I think this is improving with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted thru Vinturi direct from cellar where it has been for 4.5 years, very dark, great nose of damp old leaves/black fruit. Waited 10-15 minutes to warm up a bit and the nose and palate showed even more fruit with a back flavor of wet stones/river gravel. Smooth on the palate. Glad to have one more in my cellar. Paired nicely with some mini-quiche.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Room temp. Opened 1 hour, no decant. Much different experience than other tasting notes. Deep blackish red. Nice nose of forest floor and fruit. Fair amount of mellowed blue/black/plum fruit on palate with some dirt and mineral. Full bodied, tending toward fat but with just a few tannins holding it all together. Mature now, not sure what will happen to it now. No acid. Medium finish. Maybe better than other bottles reviewed by luck or in cellar since bought in 2010. Great with grilled burgers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark. Nice aroma. It is interesting that it is a little thin,but has a long finish. Berry, plum, light smoke. My wife says that it disappoints at first and then redeems itself with the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A decent QPR - it's not really doing anything wrong. But I was a little disappointed at the lack of distinctiveness - could really have been from anywhere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Smoky berry aromas. Plums, leather and a bit of heat up front. Smooth plum vanilla finish. Light on its feet and balanced, this is simple, straightforward, and excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smoke, modest green pepper, plums and vanilla(?) on the nose. Smooth, but somewhat thin, takes some time to open, but better after 20 mins with more dark fruits coming thru.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This took a bit of time to open up. Red raspberry and crushed dry leaves on the nose. The flavors matches the nose perfectly. Fairly light bodied, very light tannins, high acid. Not a bad wine though this bottle didn't impress me as much as my previous two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark garnet coloration. Upon opening in your face aromas of blackberries. Nose also is a bit beefy or meaty and after a few minutes opens up with scents found walking through the woods to the blueberry patch. Even after breathing one can tell this wine needs more time. Flavors include cassis, slight ceder, mouth coating smooth tannin and finally a bit of earth on the finish. Somewhat lean. Leaves mineral deposit on ones lips.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Love this style. There is old world and new world love here. I think the fruit is delicious and in your face but the earth, chalk and gaminess helps to round it out into a great food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: earthy, some raspberry with other red fruits. Taste: big tannins, palate mirrors nose, with fruit combined with earthiness and minerality. You can almost taste the limestone. More interesting than Malbecs from Argentina. (80 percent Malbecs 20 percent Merlot). Possibly could be a good everyday. Drinking wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
If you are looking for a Malbec outside of S.A. this is a good place to start at a nice affordable price. You can taste the difference in this French Malbec as compared to Argentinean vineyards. Pleasant on the nose, fairly complex on the palate with a medium finish. Nice compliment with red meats.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inky dark. Full bodied. Rich, creamy, and smooth. Mild but sufficient acidity. Lots of fruits and tannins, yet restrained and elegant. Nice mineral notes. Impressive for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inky purple. Effusive, delightful nose, licorice, toffee, mild leather, dark fruit. Mid-palate fails to back up the nose: too light, diluted. Finish is tannic, with notes similar to others' comments: vanilla, mild spice, light acidity, mild dark chocolate. This is a great effort for the price. Less ripe and fruity than the Argentine version of Malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Southern France (Farpointe Cellar): Lots of bitter chocolate and dark black fruit on the nose. There's also hints of braised cabbage and tomatos. The backend has some spice and vanilla. The palate starts off with pepper and black fruit, and slowly adds in green vegetables and dark chocolate, and finishes with spice notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big wine, merlot mineral nose up front. Nice chewy long earthy finish. Some dark fruit notes. A little heat upon opening the bottle, but this cooled down nicely after 1 hr or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I bought two bottles after my very positive experience with this wine last week. This bottle was nowhere near the caliber of the last, though still nice for the price. Tar and blackberry notes came through on both the nose and palate. A bit of an empty midpalate, but full pleasant tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm surprised there is only one 90 point score here! I had this towards the end of a lineup of 12 of Kermit Lynch's wines and this was my Wine of the Night, beating out two CdPs and the Tempier. Meaty nose with just a hint of fruit. The palate, however blew me away- full, rich, big tannins, fruity, earthy, L-O-N-G delicious finish. Incredible for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: clean, medium, youthful, fruit (cherry) and some secondary – a spice like “minerality”.
Palate is dry, no alcohol noticeable. Body is medium, tannins are medium, acidity is medium, fruit is medium. Fruit is slightly lower than the acidity, especially for the American market. Flavor follows nose with fruit and minerality. The intensity of flavors is medium. The finish rides along its acids, so is short.
Overall this wine is of good quality for its “freshness” of acidic and fruit balance. It is youthful and will develop further. $20.
Coutale
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice aromas of dark fruits and some cherry with a little spicy alcohol. The palate is quite dry and cedary with a minty edge that gives it a cold feel. There is some fruit but not lots. In terms of value for money I think this delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
La robe est rubis très sombre. Au nez, fruits rouges, un peu de figues et de dattes avec un beau côté épicé et une touche de bois. En bouche le fruit est expansif, goûteux et couvre une large palette d'arômes. Un peu d'épice et de bois viennent agrémenter le tout. Un pur délice pour le prix. Pour le moment meilleur que le 2007 (qui vieillira sûrement plus longtemps) qui a été un coup de coeur cette année
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened yesterday with a quarter of the bottle left on the counter until today. Still going strong, nice rasberry on the nose, although not hugely expressive. Tannins have mellowed out, nice subtle red fruits on the palate, very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not bad, had a strong pepper component that im not crazy about. well made. i like the length and finish of this 12 dollar bottle. some sweet fruit, and earthy flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It start with a malbec nose of dark fruits and minerals and coffee but it changes into a much more interesting wine after being opened for a days or two (or after a long decant). Graphite, black fruits, some green pepper, almost bordeaux like, good medium body palate with green pepper, blackberries and nice minerals. medium finish, quite enjoyable after it opens up, but quite cheap malbec like at the beginning. 87-88 worth a re-purchase and likely a good pairing with grilled red meat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark and grippy in appearance. A full blast of vegetation, earth, and pepper on the nose, along with some dry, dark, briar-y berries. On the palate, opens with the barest hint of a heavy, ever-so-slightly sweet core moving almost instantly into dry dark berries, cherries, some very dry, dusty vegetation, a little spice from the Merlot in the blend (20%), and a little green bell pepper aspect - these grapes were just a bit underripe. The midpalate is short and smooth, but shows a terrific, tongue-numbing minerality and moves silkily into tight but not overwhelming tannins on the finish, but there's just a little bit of clingy muddiness that hangs on afterwards. Well-balanced overall, though, and great at this price point. Definitely an interesting weeknight wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerate to decanter, serve. Color red overrun with purple tones, very dark in the center, magenta at the rim, medium-plus body. Bouquet of dark fruit largely composed of blackberries, along with some dark damp earth, licorice, and tar. On the palate this is savory if not rustic, with lots of earth, charcoal, and minerals mixed with blackberries and a few brighter notes of currants underneath, along with black pepper in the finish. Moderate acid, strong tannins, and a short finish laden with earth, charcoal, minerals and lingering bits of dark fruit. Overall, this is decent and food-friendly, but based on this experience not nearly as good as last year, as it is lacking in fruit and the acidity that goes with it to counteract the other qualities. OK value at 12.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature dark fruit nose with good intensity and a dry, tannic yet integrated palate. The aromas, if not complex, are natural and of good quality and makes the wine enjoyable on its own. With good strength and devoid of anything out of place, this is a very good table wine. [3.5/5]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My experience with this wine is consistent with tarheel17's and drwine2001's notes. Good summary, guys. This wine is a real pleasure to drink -- not a "wow" wine, but a well-balanced wine that goes well with food or on its own. Prominent tannins suggest a couple more years of age would benefit this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I found this to be quite pleasant. A bit rustic, the acidity was pleasingly sturdy and the fruit healthy. Some greenery, but not an overabundance. Light tannin, medium body weight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/25/2019 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Sur la terre et le cuir avec des mures et
du goudron, tanique et long mais avec un peu
de chauffe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2018 - chifred Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted, mod debris, immediate and 2 hours. Benefitted from the 2 hours (did not test how long needed). Initially rough tannins and a bit awkward, later very smooth and delicious. Nose of dark fruit and earth. Mature wine with medium, smooth, almost velvety mouth feel with persistent fruit and some spice, pepper. Probably at peak, improved from 2015 and 2016.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2016 - chifred wrote: 89 Points
Open 2 hours, room temp. Could decant - moderate debris. Nice nose of blackberry and some forest floor, even mild barnyard. Very smooth with gentle tannins holding everything together to moderate finish. Again red/black fruit on palate with some complexity, mild spice and earth. Good with grilled ribeyes. Well liked by crowd. I think this is improving with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2015 - gcarl wrote: 90 Points
Decanted thru Vinturi direct from cellar where it has been for 4.5 years, very dark, great nose of damp old leaves/black fruit. Waited 10-15 minutes to warm up a bit and the nose and palate showed even more fruit with a back flavor of wet stones/river gravel. Smooth on the palate. Glad to have one more in my cellar. Paired nicely with some mini-quiche.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2015 - chifred wrote: 88 Points
Room temp. Opened 1 hour, no decant. Much different experience than other tasting notes. Deep blackish red. Nice nose of forest floor and fruit. Fair amount of mellowed blue/black/plum fruit on palate with some dirt and mineral. Full bodied, tending toward fat but with just a few tannins holding it all together. Mature now, not sure what will happen to it now. No acid. Medium finish. Maybe better than other bottles reviewed by luck or in cellar since bought in 2010. Great with grilled burgers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2015 - Toujour Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Very acidic with no outstanding characteristics. Just a cheap red table wine! Paid $22.00 for it & I've had $2.00 wine that is much better!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2014 - samoss wrote: 87 Points
Dark. Nice aroma. It is interesting that it is a little thin,but has a long finish. Berry, plum, light smoke. My wife says that it disappoints at first and then redeems itself with the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2014 - BouzyRouge Likes this wine:
Made a better impression than the 09. Good acid, well balanced, fine tannins. Not much fruit to be found, though, even at 6 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2013 - mda7 wrote: 89 Points
nice value
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2013 - pm94 wrote: 87 Points
- Crimsom color. It's balanced with a light/medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2013 - christyler wrote: 88 Points
A decent QPR - it's not really doing anything wrong. But I was a little disappointed at the lack of distinctiveness - could really have been from anywhere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2012 - wineshlub wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Smoky berry aromas. Plums, leather and a bit of heat up front. Smooth plum vanilla finish. Light on its feet and balanced, this is simple, straightforward, and excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2012 - vatausae wrote: 88 Points
Still a little green on the palate despite a nice earth and dark fruit nose. Opens up and smooths out with some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2012 - McGonigle1 wrote: 89 Points
Smoke, modest green pepper, plums and vanilla(?) on the nose. Smooth, but somewhat thin, takes some time to open, but better after 20 mins with more dark fruits coming thru.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2012 - David_T wrote: 85 Points
This took a bit of time to open up. Red raspberry and crushed dry leaves on the nose. The flavors matches the nose perfectly. Fairly light bodied, very light tannins, high acid. Not a bad wine though this bottle didn't impress me as much as my previous two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2012 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Smoothing out and drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2012 - Edbom wrote: 90 Points
Good tannins, raspberry, hint of pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2012 - Nyindallas wrote: 88 Points
Very dark garnet coloration. Upon opening in your face aromas of blackberries. Nose also is a bit beefy or meaty and after a few minutes opens up with scents found walking through the woods to the blueberry patch. Even after breathing one can tell this wine needs more time. Flavors include cassis, slight ceder, mouth coating smooth tannin and finally a bit of earth on the finish. Somewhat lean. Leaves mineral deposit on ones lips.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2012 - Obalde wrote:
medium plus ruby. aromas of fresh blueberries and blackberries with a good minerality. flavors of cherries and black pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2011 - TheBosWineGuy wrote: 89 Points
Love this style. There is old world and new world love here. I think the fruit is delicious and in your face but the earth, chalk and gaminess helps to round it out into a great food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2011 - naforbes wrote: 88 Points
Nose: earthy, some raspberry with other red fruits. Taste: big tannins, palate mirrors nose, with fruit combined with earthiness and minerality. You can almost taste the limestone. More interesting than Malbecs from Argentina. (80 percent Malbecs 20 percent Merlot). Possibly could be a good everyday. Drinking wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2011 - margolism wrote: 86 Points
Enjoyable but not memorable. Light to medium bodied. Probably too light for an 80% Malbec. Not complex at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2011 - tooch wrote:
Winebow Trade Tasting (Palomar Hotel): Lean, smokey, and delicious! Nice dark fruit on the palate...enjoyed this very much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2011 - jesimessiah wrote: 85 Points
80% malbec 20% merlot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2011 - donsimpson15 wrote: 91 Points
Let it decant about 45 min. Nice round and silky mouthfeel. Good balance of fruit and minerality. Very enjoyable!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2011 - cgstocks wrote: 84 Points
Light to medium body. Earthy undertones with a hints of berry. Smooth and easy everyday bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2011 - ddawkins wrote: 89 Points
If you are looking for a Malbec outside of S.A. this is a good place to start at a nice affordable price. You can taste the difference in this French Malbec as compared to Argentinean vineyards. Pleasant on the nose, fairly complex on the palate with a medium finish. Nice compliment with red meats.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2011 - Mike Ritner wrote:
Inky dark. Full bodied. Rich, creamy, and smooth. Mild but sufficient acidity. Lots of fruits and tannins, yet restrained and elegant. Nice mineral notes. Impressive for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2011 - winetennis wrote: 88 Points
Inky purple. Effusive, delightful nose, licorice, toffee, mild leather, dark fruit. Mid-palate fails to back up the nose: too light, diluted. Finish is tannic, with notes similar to others' comments: vanilla, mild spice, light acidity, mild dark chocolate. This is a great effort for the price. Less ripe and fruity than the Argentine version of Malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2011 - bklynmws wrote: 84 Points
Really solid nose but the taste doesnt live up to the expectations. Good value for the money
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2011 - jdrach wrote:
A bit watery but nice finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2011 - whits wrote: flawed
corked, found a bad one
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2011 - Domfrenette wrote:
Très correct pour la semaine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2011 - ihavezinned wrote: 86 Points
nose of licorice and candied raspberries. on the palate raspberry and charcoal. very tannic. very dry. short finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 88 Points
Southern France (Farpointe Cellar): Lots of bitter chocolate and dark black fruit on the nose. There's also hints of braised cabbage and tomatos. The backend has some spice and vanilla. The palate starts off with pepper and black fruit, and slowly adds in green vegetables and dark chocolate, and finishes with spice notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2011 - kstoddard wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple color. Black fruit nose. Tastes of blackberry and black pepper. Soft rustic finish with chewy tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2011 - Philthebum wrote: 89 Points
Big wine, merlot mineral nose up front. Nice chewy long earthy finish. Some dark fruit notes. A little heat upon opening the bottle, but this cooled down nicely after 1 hr or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2011 - David_T wrote: 88 Points
I bought two bottles after my very positive experience with this wine last week. This bottle was nowhere near the caliber of the last, though still nice for the price. Tar and blackberry notes came through on both the nose and palate. A bit of an empty midpalate, but full pleasant tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2011 - bouchase wrote: 84 Points
Bon Cahors bien corsé. Nez cuivré, goût intéressant mais qui ne se prolonge pas très longtemps. Lyne n'a pas beaucoup aimé.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2011 - David_T wrote: 93 Points
I'm surprised there is only one 90 point score here! I had this towards the end of a lineup of 12 of Kermit Lynch's wines and this was my Wine of the Night, beating out two CdPs and the Tempier. Meaty nose with just a hint of fruit. The palate, however blew me away- full, rich, big tannins, fruity, earthy, L-O-N-G delicious finish. Incredible for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2011 - ICanHasWine wrote: 87 Points
Our first Cahors Malbec. Quite good, but certainly not what we are used to. More earthy and green than the Argentinian Malbecs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2011 - Ctsimons wrote: 90 Points
Nice big red. It went well with manicotti. Chewy fruit up front, with a spicy tobacco finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Wine as tasted blind.
Color: clear, medium, ruby
Nose: clean, medium, youthful, fruit (cherry) and some secondary – a spice like “minerality”.
Palate is dry, no alcohol noticeable. Body is medium, tannins are medium, acidity is medium, fruit is medium. Fruit is slightly lower than the acidity, especially for the American market. Flavor follows nose with fruit and minerality. The intensity of flavors is medium. The finish rides along its acids, so is short.
Overall this wine is of good quality for its “freshness” of acidic and fruit balance. It is youthful and will develop further. $20.
Coutale
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2011 - WinePT wrote: 86 Points
Dark fruit, earth and minerality, some spice, moderate tannins. Smooths out over time. A little thin in the middle. 85
After ~ 4 hours the wine was smoother, fuller, with some mint on the finish. 87
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2011 - christhewino Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nice aromas of dark fruits and some cherry with a little spicy alcohol. The palate is quite dry and cedary with a minty edge that gives it a cold feel. There is some fruit but not lots. In terms of value for money I think this delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2010 - dzitt wrote: 90 Points
La robe est rubis très sombre. Au nez, fruits rouges, un peu de figues et de dattes avec un beau côté épicé et une touche de bois. En bouche le fruit est expansif, goûteux et couvre une large palette d'arômes. Un peu d'épice et de bois viennent agrémenter le tout. Un pur délice pour le prix. Pour le moment meilleur que le 2007 (qui vieillira sûrement plus longtemps) qui a été un coup de coeur cette année
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2010 - AngelicWines wrote: 82 Points
Spice, ripe dark fruit and licorice on the nose. Tart cherry taste and a bit imbalanced. Would not purchase again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2010 - NiklasW wrote: 87 Points
Opened yesterday with a quarter of the bottle left on the counter until today. Still going strong, nice rasberry on the nose, although not hugely expressive. Tannins have mellowed out, nice subtle red fruits on the palate, very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2010 - jsimmons wrote: 87 Points
Not quite what I remember, but still pretty good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2010 - wino_tim wrote: 85 Points
Relatively fruity for the appelation with plum and black olive flavors that are light, but enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2010 - slywka7 wrote: 89 Points
Some nice upfront fruit with a nice touch of mocha of the finish. 80% Malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2010 - pian0_player wrote: 88 Points
Not bad, had a strong pepper component that im not crazy about. well made. i like the length and finish of this 12 dollar bottle. some sweet fruit, and earthy flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 87 Points
Very earthy and rustic. Medium+ structure, good concentration. Very dusty. Slightly underripe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2010 - ithacork Does not like this wine:
hot raspberry jam. finish non-existent. not worth $8, let alone $15
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2010 - dke wrote: 88 Points
It start with a malbec nose of dark fruits and minerals and coffee but it changes into a much more interesting wine after being opened for a days or two (or after a long decant). Graphite, black fruits, some green pepper, almost bordeaux like, good medium body palate with green pepper, blackberries and nice minerals. medium finish, quite enjoyable after it opens up, but quite cheap malbec like at the beginning. 87-88 worth a re-purchase and likely a good pairing with grilled red meat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2010 - jsimmons wrote: 89 Points
Dark and grippy in appearance. A full blast of vegetation, earth, and pepper on the nose, along with some dry, dark, briar-y berries. On the palate, opens with the barest hint of a heavy, ever-so-slightly sweet core moving almost instantly into dry dark berries, cherries, some very dry, dusty vegetation, a little spice from the Merlot in the blend (20%), and a little green bell pepper aspect - these grapes were just a bit underripe. The midpalate is short and smooth, but shows a terrific, tongue-numbing minerality and moves silkily into tight but not overwhelming tannins on the finish, but there's just a little bit of clingy muddiness that hangs on afterwards. Well-balanced overall, though, and great at this price point. Definitely an interesting weeknight wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2010 - Vinacull wrote: 85 Points
Aerate to decanter, serve. Color red overrun with purple tones, very dark in the center, magenta at the rim, medium-plus body. Bouquet of dark fruit largely composed of blackberries, along with some dark damp earth, licorice, and tar. On the palate this is savory if not rustic, with lots of earth, charcoal, and minerals mixed with blackberries and a few brighter notes of currants underneath, along with black pepper in the finish. Moderate acid, strong tannins, and a short finish laden with earth, charcoal, minerals and lingering bits of dark fruit. Overall, this is decent and food-friendly, but based on this experience not nearly as good as last year, as it is lacking in fruit and the acidity that goes with it to counteract the other qualities. OK value at 12.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2010 - monotone Likes this wine: 86 Points
Mature dark fruit nose with good intensity and a dry, tannic yet integrated palate. The aromas, if not complex, are natural and of good quality and makes the wine enjoyable on its own. With good strength and devoid of anything out of place, this is a very good table wine. [3.5/5]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2010 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
My experience with this wine is consistent with tarheel17's and drwine2001's notes. Good summary, guys. This wine is a real pleasure to drink -- not a "wow" wine, but a well-balanced wine that goes well with food or on its own. Prominent tannins suggest a couple more years of age would benefit this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2010 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 86 Points
Simplistic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 87 Points
I found this to be quite pleasant. A bit rustic, the acidity was pleasingly sturdy and the fruit healthy. Some greenery, but not an overabundance. Light tannin, medium body weight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Assorted Malbecs from Here and There (San Francisco Wine Trading Company): Dark color. Graphite and blackberry on the nose. Medium weight, some berry fruit, terrific intensity and focus. Tannic but not overly so. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 86 Points
Simple black fruit nose. Smooth, simple, modern style. Light dirt. Medium tannins and acid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2010 - Rochester wrote: 81 Points
For the price it is reasonable. Simple wine with some fruits but too much acid though, not much of tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment