Cherry, charred beef, and dark flower petals on the nose. Really savoury on the palette. Reminds me of beef rib or shin ragu, tomato but in the context of the ragu. Really tasty
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Stood up for two weeks. Ullage in the top neck. Decanted for an hour. A medium ruby core fading to a deep garnet outer edge. Incredible intensity of Maraschino cherries, coupled with dried, almost dusty herbs, a touch of campfire smoke, and braised beef. A weightless wine that expertly integrates the high alcohol of the 2003 vintage.
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Decanted. Tasted maderized at pour, but I was worried it was the adhacent wines. I poured it back in the bottle, brought it home and waited. I expected this would be oxidized, but it tastes how I remember my last btl tasted. Roasted red and black fruit, game, loads of liqueur. Not my favorite vintage, but not bad. Drink up, it's not going to improve.
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Young red colour and still a bit of early tannin that will take five years to dissipate. Despite 15% and a very hot year the acidity and thus balance was outstanding and makes it well balanced and all enveloping. The only complaint would be that it is a bit one dimensional and clean. Maybe it will take on further interest and the acidity should help this but whether there is enough body and fruit i am not sure.
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Much better cork. Definitely taste the heat of the vintage, but this is still a very nice wine. On the.nose: black cherry liqueur, dried herbs, roasted olives, black raspberry. On the palate, good acidity, a medicinal note, black raspberry, cassis...soft tannin, some heat and a medicinal herbal bitterness. Good, but roasted.
Day 2: Good, but hides its heat less well today. Too roasted/hot now.
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Herbal intensity. Eucalyptus, liquorice, tobacco, cloves, & for fruit, tart strawberry. Totally integrated tannins, still vibrant acidity, overall profoundly rounded. Very sad to bid this vintage goodbye.
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2nd try: Palate of black cherries, raisins, plums. Purple, dense, powerful, yet not overwhelming. Wow. This is really something. Long, long warm finish. Velvety and hedonistic. This is in its prime. Open now
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Nose of red fruits, spices, earthy notes and old textbook funk. Tasted red fruits, cherries, raisins, spices, herbs. This is definitely ready to go. Enjoyed this thoroughly. Open sooner than later.
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Cork showed signs of seepage, so I opened this, not sure if it is representative. Pop and pour. Heady nose with loads of herbs and black raspberry, some dark menthol notes in the background. On the palate, good savory character with dried red fruit and a soft briny salinity. Tannin seemed largely attenuated, but some soft structure left over. Definitely shows the heat of the vintage, but somehow everything is still well-proportioned...but you definitely feel the alcohol.
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Still showing brilliantly. Aromas of tobacco, eucalyptus, & medicinal herbs, together with some alcohol, bit bretty. Nice acidity initially on the rich and complex palate, wild strawberry & light vanilla. Tobacco still present. Seriously extended finish...
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All of our previous observations+ Perhaps some barnyard & cherry showing in this stunningly balanced and rewardingly rich & complex wine. Getting close to optimum drinking window.
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Rich garnet in colour, lovely spicy fruity nose, hints of cigar box. This is a gloriously generous wine that reflects the heat & intensity of the 2003 European summer. Berries, currants, herbs & creamy vanilla. Lovely balance of acidity & minerality, integrated tannins, really very beautifully made. Needs a little time to open up after a careful decant. This will mellow well in the next few years - given the chance.
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Boys nite, first of fall/winter 2010/2011 (Reno, NV): This wine was disappointing and came off as being hot, out of balance, and lacking depth and finesse. 'Average' wine but very weak qpr and very weak for the appellation.
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5/28/2023 - Amberissey Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cherry, charred beef, and dark flower petals on the nose. Really savoury on the palette. Reminds me of beef rib or shin ragu, tomato but in the context of the ragu. Really tasty
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5/26/2023 - paintinginacave wrote: 90 Points
Stood up for two weeks. Ullage in the top neck. Decanted for an hour. A medium ruby core fading to a deep garnet outer edge. Incredible intensity of Maraschino cherries, coupled with dried, almost dusty herbs, a touch of campfire smoke, and braised beef. A weightless wine that expertly integrates the high alcohol of the 2003 vintage.
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1/14/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Decanted. Tasted maderized at pour, but I was worried it was the adhacent wines. I poured it back in the bottle, brought it home and waited. I expected this would be oxidized, but it tastes how I remember my last btl tasted. Roasted red and black fruit, game, loads of liqueur. Not my favorite vintage, but not bad. Drink up, it's not going to improve.
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12/26/2020 - Loathesome Likes this wine: 91 Points
Young red colour and still a bit of early tannin that will take five years to dissipate. Despite 15% and a very hot year the acidity and thus balance was outstanding and makes it well balanced and all enveloping. The only complaint would be that it is a bit one dimensional and clean. Maybe it will take on further interest and the acidity should help this but whether there is enough body and fruit i am not sure.
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12/15/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Much better cork. Definitely taste the heat of the vintage, but this is still a very nice wine. On the.nose: black cherry liqueur, dried herbs, roasted olives, black raspberry. On the palate, good acidity, a medicinal note, black raspberry, cassis...soft tannin, some heat and a medicinal herbal bitterness. Good, but roasted.
Day 2: Good, but hides its heat less well today. Too roasted/hot now.
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12/2/2019 - gazinho wrote: 93 Points
Herbal intensity.
Eucalyptus, liquorice, tobacco, cloves, & for fruit, tart strawberry.
Totally integrated tannins, still vibrant acidity, overall profoundly rounded.
Very sad to bid this vintage goodbye.
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11/1/2019 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
2nd try: Palate of black cherries, raisins, plums. Purple, dense, powerful, yet not overwhelming. Wow. This is really something. Long, long warm finish. Velvety and hedonistic. This is in its prime. Open now
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9/28/2019 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of red fruits, spices, earthy notes and old textbook funk. Tasted red fruits, cherries, raisins, spices, herbs. This is definitely ready to go. Enjoyed this thoroughly. Open sooner than later.
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12/19/2018 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Syrah Night with an Expanded Version of Our Tasting Group (Bear and Star, Los Olivos, CA): Straightforward, ripe and dense, but a bit too heavy all in all. Black fruits and mocha, a touch porty.
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10/10/2018 - gazinho Likes this wine: 95 Points
I will not waste too many words!
This bottle is in perfect condition; in complete and utter equilibrium.
This is simply sublime.
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9/30/2018 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Cork showed signs of seepage, so I opened this, not sure if it is representative. Pop and pour. Heady nose with loads of herbs and black raspberry, some dark menthol notes in the background. On the palate, good savory character with dried red fruit and a soft briny salinity. Tannin seemed largely attenuated, but some soft structure left over. Definitely shows the heat of the vintage, but somehow everything is still well-proportioned...but you definitely feel the alcohol.
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9/17/2017 - gazinho Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still showing brilliantly.
Aromas of tobacco, eucalyptus, & medicinal herbs, together with some alcohol, bit bretty.
Nice acidity initially on the rich and complex palate, wild strawberry & light vanilla.
Tobacco still present.
Seriously extended finish...
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11/22/2015 - gazinho Likes this wine: 94 Points
All of our previous observations+
Perhaps some barnyard & cherry showing in this stunningly balanced and rewardingly rich & complex wine.
Getting close to optimum drinking window.
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8/27/2014 - gazinho Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich garnet in colour, lovely spicy fruity nose, hints of cigar box.
This is a gloriously generous wine that reflects the heat & intensity of the 2003 European summer.
Berries, currants, herbs & creamy vanilla. Lovely balance of acidity & minerality, integrated tannins, really very beautifully made.
Needs a little time to open up after a careful decant.
This will mellow well in the next few years - given the chance.
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7/7/2013 - fdusonchet Likes this wine: 98 Points
Merveilleux confiture mais pas seulement. Epice fruit mure cendre fumé. .. et long! !!! Delicieux
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11/15/2010 - markjanes wrote:
Boys nite, first of fall/winter 2010/2011 (Reno, NV): This wine was disappointing and came off as being hot, out of balance, and lacking depth and finesse. 'Average' wine but very weak qpr and very weak for the appellation.
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