Last bottle of a case we bought 10 years ago. Each bottle progressively got better-and-better over the past few years, and this may be entering (or in) a peak window. Consistent with past notes: rich, rustic, and balanced. This has never been the most complex wine, but it has been one of the most consistently graceful wines as it has aged in our collection. We will miss this one. Drink 2023-2028. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 93.
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What a powerful wine now! Improved since my last bottle, 1.5 years ago. I double decanted about 3 hours before drinking. Extremely dark wine, masculin, full bodied. Iˋm pretty sure it can be drank over the next 10 years.
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Colour: Dark purple / black reddish brown edge Nose: Blackberries, menthol, pencil shavings / cigar box, lavender, star anise Palette: Blackberries, lavender, menthol, chocolate, liquorice, pepper, star anise
Very rich palette and nice long finish that still has an acidic backbone making the wine seem younger than it's years. Probably means it has a good life ahead of it as well.
Very nice wine.
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This is throwing a good bit of sediment, some quite fine, so a decant is in order. Smooth and pleasant, drinking well. Very merlot. This bottle showed less development and was a bit less distinctively Bordeaux than a bottle last year.
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Consistent with past tastings - this keeps improving. Decanted an hour ahead of leftover mixed grill. A deep core of blackberries, chocolate cherries, green pepper, and coffee mocha is encapsulated by persistent acidity and gritty tannins. Not super complex but well done in the rustic style. Will be best 2023-2028. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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Well, these are generous scores below. 94 points? I don't think so. Good refinement on nose, but the palate (which does take a while to open up) is not quite there. It is pleasant in its spice but just too meagre. Probably in terms of quality on the same level as a good bourgeois from the left bank. This is not to put the wine down, because the latter, particularly in St. Estephe, can be wonderful. But this wine is on the same level as those, in my opinion.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Aromas of leather, tomato leaf, burning embers and dark cherry. Flavors of plum, melted chocolate, cherry, iron and earth. Ends with a long finish of 35-30 seconds with graphite and cherry notes. Not sure if it was the long decant or additional age but this is drinking much better than the last bottle. Excellent!
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This was very good but needed time to open up. All the pieces came together after a good hour. Still dark for age. Dark plums, vanilla, cigar box, chocolate. Fruit and tannins in harmony very smooth. Good wine from a good year. Final third still very good the following day. Kept in refrigerator overnight.
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Gets better and better. On 2nd day of opening develops great bouquet of dark berries. Very elegant structure with really good balance of acidity, merlot shows its class.
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Decanted in AM. Delightful old school, right bank Bordeaux. Definitely got cigar box. Left most in decanter with stopper overnight and was even better next evening.
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This just keeps getting better with age. Still on the upward slope. The aromatics on the nose really impressed this time. Did not need to decant, was accessible in 20-min. Drink 2021-2026. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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- Garnet color - After 2 hour decant, this bottle was fully ready. Red fruit and pencil shavings on the nose, full mouth feel, long taste with sufficient tannins to be interesting. Still similar 24 hours later.
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So fresh and alive upon opening, almost a minty, menthol surge on the nose. Decanted and settled into soft leather. Cigar box? Tobacco? Dark fruits somewhere within. Some acid in the finish. Enjoyable.
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Popped and enjoyed a few glasses while saving the leftovers for day 2. Soft and forward with notes of sweet blue fruit, compote, and coffee. If you are after a good value modern styled right bank Bordeaux, this is it. Drink now or over the next ten years.
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Opened and decanted 3+ hours ahead of grilled pork chops and roasted veggies. Nose has improved dramatically over the past year, bringing floral notes of violets, roses, lavender, cherry blossoms, green peppers, and mushroom gravy. The palate is rounding out and adding weight and the finish is now quite refined with air. Drink 2020-2030. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 92.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of saddle leather, iron, tomato leaf, cherry and plum. Flavors of black cherry, plum, iron, earth and smoke. Ends with a 25+ second finish with notes of iron and plum. This is still drinking like a baby and has some fat to shed. Probably needs another 4-5 years.
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Despite initial attractive aroma, was undrinkable 2 hours after decant. Astringent aroma and very bitter taste. Began to improve about 3 hours later, and by next day, after 24 hours in decanter, had mellowed allowing flavors of berries and chocolate to come through with full mouthfeel. Dont know if one off bottle or whether remainder of half case needs to age longer.
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Very nice nose, fresh berries and dark cherry, initially small explosion in the mouth but not long enough aftertaste, a bit shallow. Got better with time. Looking forward to next bottle in a years time.
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Opened and decanted 2 hours ahead of meatloaf. This has opened up and added good fat and fleshiness since last tastings. Not much nose, but it brings a brambly core of blackberry, blackcurrant, and ripe cherries with tobacco leaf and olives on the finish. Will get better. Drink 2020-2030. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 91.
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Purple hue that opens with violet and anise aromas. Black cherry and blueberry dominate the front palate while clay pot and coffee notes finish on a lingering finish. Great balance of acidity/fruit on a full-bodied right bank Bordeaux.
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An easy afternoon with close friends (@ PdV): Dark berries, some laurel and graphite in the bouquet. On the palate dark berries, beautiful acidity and well dosed oak. Laurel and round, slightly sticky tannin. Full bodied and some pleasant sweetness. Good length and a delicious wine.
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Double decanted one hour before serving, nose of ripe dark fruit, boysenberry and blackcurrant and plum follow on to the palate, fine grain tannin still present but softened, delicious even on day 2 with half bottle ullage
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Still closed, even after 3+ hours in the decanter. Mute nose, just hints of blackberry, blackcurrant, and cassis on the palate, and a tannic wall on the finish. Hold until after 2020. Technical score: 89. Enjoyment score: 87.
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{At M&B's house, decanted, with cheese} Dark red cherries, smooth tannins, good mouth feel and an attractive wine. M. paid $40, good value for a Bordeaux!
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First of a dozen of this great vintage - decanted 3 hrs, big Riedel - dark ruby color - long legs - nose with strong fruits especially dark berries and wet oak - flavor well balanced between aromes of dark berries and hints of cherries and smooth tanins, fine at the palate - good finish
Could not find the bitterness in that bottle
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At Emirates lounge. Dark garnet lightening to the rim. Dark fruit and wood spices on the nose. Some dark fruit on the palate but perhaps a bit closed as it's not showing that much at this point in time. Medium (-) tannins. Slight bitterness towards the finish. Hold. 88+
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Still quite austere, but it has good concentration, weight, and character. Nice brambly blackberries on the nose, palate, and into the finish. Will be best after 2018.
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Quite surprisingly good! Darkest Red colour with violet rim. On the palate very smoky with Word and leather supported with black fruit. Pretty good and almost noble. Nice. But on day 2 it is quite visible that the balance is not that good as on day 1.
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Rich, savory, with good red and dark fruit on the palate with lingering minerality, herbs, leather, espresso, chocolate, and baking spices. This is still thin and hollow on the mid-palate, but should improve with time. The Cab Franc really shines in this wine.
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Popped and poured. Dark fruit and slightly aggressive tannin on day 1. On day two this wine transformed into a plush, silky, densely concentrated, delicious wine. Hold for three or more years. Tremendous value for $19 from Premier Cru.
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Decanted 30-min prior to dinner of rich chicken pasta-minestrone soup, bread, butter, and salad. Dark, sappy purple color. Slightly hot nose of fresh raspberries, tart cherries, menthol, and baking spices. Full-bodied palate brings candied strawberries, roasted cherries, raspberry Fruit Roll-Ups, red licorice, garden herbs, and hints of spicy dark chocolate, which lead into a very dusty finish that brings a wonderful cherry/raspberry candied pucker lasting a good 30-45 seconds. This guy is still young, but the concentration/depth of texture makes it drinkable with food after a good decant.
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Saturday Smorgasbord of Tastings (San Francisco): Less saturated than others. Chocolatey, ripe nose. Pretty large scaled with a silky feel, a dash of herbs, sweet cassis and a finish which features powerful acidity more than tannic clout. Impressive.
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10/5/2023 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle of a case we bought 10 years ago. Each bottle progressively got better-and-better over the past few years, and this may be entering (or in) a peak window. Consistent with past notes: rich, rustic, and balanced. This has never been the most complex wine, but it has been one of the most consistently graceful wines as it has aged in our collection. We will miss this one. Drink 2023-2028. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 93.
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3/26/2023 - King_Arthur Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a powerful wine now! Improved since my last bottle, 1.5 years ago. I double decanted about 3 hours before drinking. Extremely dark wine, masculin, full bodied. Iˋm pretty sure it can be drank over the next 10 years.
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12/31/2022 - corkus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Colour: Dark purple / black reddish brown edge
Nose: Blackberries, menthol, pencil shavings / cigar box, lavender, star anise
Palette: Blackberries, lavender, menthol, chocolate, liquorice, pepper, star anise
Very rich palette and nice long finish that still has an acidic backbone making the wine seem younger than it's years. Probably means it has a good life ahead of it as well.
Very nice wine.
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8/14/2022 - thalver wrote:
This is throwing a good bit of sediment, some quite fine, so a decant is in order. Smooth and pleasant, drinking well. Very merlot. This bottle showed less development and was a bit less distinctively Bordeaux than a bottle last year.
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5/16/2022 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with past tastings - this keeps improving. Decanted an hour ahead of leftover mixed grill. A deep core of blackberries, chocolate cherries, green pepper, and coffee mocha is encapsulated by persistent acidity and gritty tannins. Not super complex but well done in the rustic style. Will be best 2023-2028. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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5/2/2022 - vide Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well, these are generous scores below. 94 points? I don't think so. Good refinement on nose, but the palate (which does take a while to open up) is not quite there. It is pleasant in its spice but just too meagre. Probably in terms of quality on the same level as a good bourgeois from the left bank. This is not to put the wine down, because the latter, particularly in St. Estephe, can be wonderful. But this wine is on the same level as those, in my opinion.
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4/3/2022 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Aromas of leather, tomato leaf, burning embers and dark cherry. Flavors of plum, melted chocolate, cherry, iron and earth. Ends with a long finish of 35-30 seconds with graphite and cherry notes. Not sure if it was the long decant or additional age but this is drinking much better than the last bottle. Excellent!
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11/4/2021 - black fruits Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was very good but needed time to open up. All the pieces came together after a good hour. Still dark for age. Dark plums, vanilla, cigar box, chocolate. Fruit and tannins in harmony very smooth. Good wine from a good year. Final third still very good the following day. Kept in refrigerator overnight.
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8/2/2021 - King_Arthur Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gets better and better. On 2nd day of opening develops great bouquet of dark berries. Very elegant structure with really good balance of acidity, merlot shows its class.
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7/10/2021 - Sacramento Geezer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted in AM. Delightful old school, right bank Bordeaux. Definitely got cigar box. Left most in decanter with stopper overnight and was even better next evening.
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6/9/2021 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
This just keeps getting better with age. Still on the upward slope. The aromatics on the nose really impressed this time. Did not need to decant, was accessible in 20-min. Drink 2021-2026. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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11/22/2020 - B & B wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color - After 2 hour decant, this bottle was fully ready. Red fruit and pencil shavings on the nose, full mouth feel, long taste with sufficient tannins to be interesting. Still similar 24 hours later.
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11/22/2020 - B & B wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color.
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9/5/2020 - cugel_saga Likes this wine: 89 Points
So fresh and alive upon opening, almost a minty, menthol surge on the nose.
Decanted and settled into soft leather. Cigar box? Tobacco?
Dark fruits somewhere within. Some acid in the finish.
Enjoyable.
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8/29/2020 - Brunovino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruitige neus, geconfronteerd pruim, braam. Helder rode kleur Lichte Ramones, lange afdronk. Gewoon erg lekker. Kan nog aantal jaren mee, 5-7jr.
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6/23/2020 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine:
Popped and enjoyed a few glasses while saving the leftovers for day 2. Soft and forward with notes of sweet blue fruit, compote, and coffee. If you are after a good value modern styled right bank Bordeaux, this is it. Drink now or over the next ten years.
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3/29/2020 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and decanted 3+ hours ahead of grilled pork chops and roasted veggies. Nose has improved dramatically over the past year, bringing floral notes of violets, roses, lavender, cherry blossoms, green peppers, and mushroom gravy. The palate is rounding out and adding weight and the finish is now quite refined with air. Drink 2020-2030. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 92.
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3/8/2020 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of saddle leather, iron, tomato leaf, cherry and plum. Flavors of black cherry, plum, iron, earth and smoke. Ends with a 25+ second finish with notes of iron and plum. This is still drinking like a baby and has some fat to shed. Probably needs another 4-5 years.
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2/16/2020 - B & B wrote:
Despite initial attractive aroma, was undrinkable 2 hours after decant. Astringent aroma and very bitter taste. Began to improve about 3 hours later, and by next day, after 24 hours in decanter, had mellowed allowing flavors of berries and chocolate to come through with full mouthfeel. Dont know if one off bottle or whether remainder of half case needs to age longer.
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1/21/2020 - King_Arthur Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice nose, fresh berries and dark cherry, initially small explosion in the mouth but not long enough aftertaste, a bit shallow. Got better with time. Looking forward to next bottle in a years time.
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4/14/2019 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and decanted 2 hours ahead of meatloaf. This has opened up and added good fat and fleshiness since last tastings. Not much nose, but it brings a brambly core of blackberry, blackcurrant, and ripe cherries with tobacco leaf and olives on the finish. Will get better. Drink 2020-2030. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 91.
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12/31/2018 - iDrum4Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purple hue that opens with violet and anise aromas. Black cherry and blueberry dominate the front palate while clay pot and coffee notes finish on a lingering finish. Great balance of acidity/fruit on a full-bodied right bank Bordeaux.
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12/29/2018 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
An easy afternoon with close friends (@ PdV): Dark berries, some laurel and graphite in the bouquet. On the palate dark berries, beautiful acidity and well dosed oak. Laurel and round, slightly sticky tannin. Full bodied and some pleasant sweetness. Good length and a delicious wine.
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2/11/2018 - Vinopolis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Double decanted one hour before serving, nose of ripe dark fruit, boysenberry and blackcurrant and plum follow on to the palate, fine grain tannin still present but softened, delicious even on day 2 with half bottle ullage
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1/12/2018 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 88 Points
Still closed, even after 3+ hours in the decanter. Mute nose, just hints of blackberry, blackcurrant, and cassis on the palate, and a tannic wall on the finish. Hold until after 2020. Technical score: 89. Enjoyment score: 87.
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11/5/2017 - Musigny1955 Likes this wine: 90 Points
{At M&B's house, decanted, with cheese} Dark red cherries, smooth tannins, good mouth feel and an attractive wine. M. paid $40, good value for a Bordeaux!
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2/3/2017 - thomasjjackson Likes this wine: 90 Points
First of a dozen of this great vintage - decanted 3 hrs, big Riedel - dark ruby color - long legs - nose with strong fruits especially dark berries and wet oak - flavor well balanced between aromes of dark berries and hints of cherries and smooth tanins, fine at the palate - good finish
Could not find the bitterness in that bottle
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1/21/2017 - mike410 wrote: 88 Points
I agree with Pavel_p that bitterness in the finish spoiled what I thought had good fruit and oak. Too bad.
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7/9/2016 - pavel_p wrote: 88 Points
At Emirates lounge. Dark garnet lightening to the rim. Dark fruit and wood spices on the nose. Some dark fruit on the palate but perhaps a bit closed as it's not showing that much at this point in time. Medium (-) tannins. Slight bitterness towards the finish. Hold. 88+
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4/13/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still quite austere, but it has good concentration, weight, and character. Nice brambly blackberries on the nose, palate, and into the finish. Will be best after 2018.
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1/30/2016 - Bradetti wrote: 90 Points
Quite surprisingly good! Darkest Red colour with violet rim. On the palate very smoky with Word and leather supported with black fruit. Pretty good and almost noble. Nice.
But on day 2 it is quite visible that the balance is not that good as on day 1.
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12/30/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with notes last month. Still astringent on the finish.
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11/15/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich, savory, with good red and dark fruit on the palate with lingering minerality, herbs, leather, espresso, chocolate, and baking spices. This is still thin and hollow on the mid-palate, but should improve with time. The Cab Franc really shines in this wine.
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5/19/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 87 Points
Medium bodied and sightly rustic, with black cherry, plum and espresso bean notes throughout.
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3/20/2014 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Dark fruit and slightly aggressive tannin on day 1. On day two this wine transformed into a plush, silky, densely concentrated, delicious wine. Hold for three or more years. Tremendous value for $19 from Premier Cru.
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12/1/2013 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 30-min prior to dinner of rich chicken pasta-minestrone soup, bread, butter, and salad. Dark, sappy purple color. Slightly hot nose of fresh raspberries, tart cherries, menthol, and baking spices. Full-bodied palate brings candied strawberries, roasted cherries, raspberry Fruit Roll-Ups, red licorice, garden herbs, and hints of spicy dark chocolate, which lead into a very dusty finish that brings a wonderful cherry/raspberry candied pucker lasting a good 30-45 seconds. This guy is still young, but the concentration/depth of texture makes it drinkable with food after a good decant.
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10/2/2012 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great fruit forward nose. Dark red fruit on the palate. Falls a bit flat at the end.
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7/21/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Saturday Smorgasbord of Tastings (San Francisco): Less saturated than others. Chocolatey, ripe nose. Pretty large scaled with a silky feel, a dash of herbs, sweet cassis and a finish which features powerful acidity more than tannic clout. Impressive.
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