The herbal and gamy notes have really come to the fore at this point, making this an interesting wine to pair with food, but definitely more of a wine geeky beverage than something that most people would appreciate. I liked it--brought new understanding to the terms "garrigue" and barnyard!
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Throws a very heavy sediment. Slight browning and lightening in colour which is now a very dark pinky red. Meaty nose, very soft leather, strong floral notes (lilac?!). Fairly full body, meaty again, bell peppers, leather. This seems to have aged well, but I suspect that it has been well cellared for many years. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan.
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Very earthy and herbal on the PnP, but after an hour of air some nice ripe red and blue berries came forward. Medium finish, acidity still fine. Drink in the near term.
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My last bottle of this, and it was probably the best of the half case. This thing was full of spice, dark fruit, barnyard, and funk. This wasn't overly complex, but the flavors were perfectly forward in the mouth to do the job. And under $10, its hard to beat.
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Nose of barnyard & underbrush, with undertones of soft black fruits. Nice balance of funky herb & black fruits on the palate. Smoothed out, but with rustic edges of tannin & earthy tones to keep it interesting.
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This is the fourth bottle of this wine that I have reviewed.
At first pour, this one was too bretty, even for my tastes. However, 7 or 8 minutes of swirling in the glass cured that; the Brett blew off, to reveal something remarkable.
This wine exhibits lovely flavors and aromas of saddle leather, horse, smoke, nutmeg, dried catnip, earth, and perhaps a bit of chamomile or wormwood, all wrapped around a core of plum and blackberry. Tannins and acidity are generous without being overbearing or inharmonious. Surely one of the best $11 wines I've tasted. The only fault is the finish, which is rather short.
This, sadly, is my last bottle. I wish I had a case of this stuff.
Addendum: after more aeration, this wine develops very pleasant lilac floral aromas and flavors, and the finish lengthens. Boy this stuff is good.
2nd addendum: We only drank 1/2 the bottle on the 13th, and put the remainder in the fridge. I reopened it on the afternoon of the 19th, and the wine was even better...just delicious, very perfumy. It tasted like a much more expensive Rhone. Wish I could find some more of this stuff.
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A pretty good table wine, but nothing special. Lots of ripe fruit if you are a valley-floor Cab fan, soft tannins, just a hint of syrah--warm weather type. Not bad for the money, but I don't see why Chapoutier is Parker's darling, or maybe I do.
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PnP, had with grilled sausage. Red fruit, perhaps a little floral and barnyard / poop on nose. Notes carry over to the palate. Pretty nice red fruit with perhaps plus acidity. Totally agree with previous reviewer that notes "horse blanket bitterness", except that I do not find it pleasing as he/she does. The pureness of the fruit saves it from being too bad, but too much bretty-ness prevents it from being too good. Also, should note that it was too powerful for the sausage. Does not fit my sweet spot of flavor profile. Overall, not a big fan...
Mrs. Coupe thought it was ok.
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2nd bottle of this reviewed. This one is even more pleasing than the first bottle; nice horse-blankety nose, in a delicate Burgundian way. Palate is restrained red and black fruits with a very pleasing, balancing horse-blanket bitterness. Finish is a bit short; otherwise would be a 90-point wine. Overall, very pleasing, and great QPR from WTSO.
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Nose is faintly Burgundian; restrained raspberry and blackberry, wood, rock dust, faint hint of Brettanomyces. Very charming.
Palate is similar to the nose, very well balanced although restrained, with fine-grained well-integrated tannins and just the right amount of acidity. Little bit of tobacco at the end.
Finish is just a bit short; would have added a couple of extra points for a longer finish.
All in all, pleasant and a very good QPR; $9.99 from WTSO.
Edited to add: this one gets more perfumy and floral with air. May have to revise the score upwards a point or two. Wish I'd bought more.
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Barnyard nose. Reminiscent to me of a Bordeaux nose. Barnyard funk on the palate as well. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Balanced throughout its funk. Nice fruit underneath. High tannin finish. medium body. I found it slightly one-dimensional but it was not a bad dimension to stay in.. 4/4/19/19/18/17/4/4 - 89pts
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3/22/2017 - IlonaN wrote: 87 Points
The herbal and gamy notes have really come to the fore at this point, making this an interesting wine to pair with food, but definitely more of a wine geeky beverage than something that most people would appreciate. I liked it--brought new understanding to the terms "garrigue" and barnyard!
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5/3/2016 - derekjohn Likes this wine: 88 Points
Throws a very heavy sediment. Slight browning and lightening in colour which is now a very dark pinky red. Meaty nose, very soft leather, strong floral notes (lilac?!). Fairly full body, meaty again, bell peppers, leather. This seems to have aged well, but I suspect that it has been well cellared for many years. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan.
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4/22/2016 - IlonaN wrote: 86 Points
Very earthy and herbal on the PnP, but after an hour of air some nice ripe red and blue berries came forward. Medium finish, acidity still fine. Drink in the near term.
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9/22/2014 - fredfromny wrote: 90 Points
Needed a few minutes to air out. Time to drink up.
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6/23/2014 - Kesslerc14 Likes this wine: 90 Points
My last bottle of this, and it was probably the best of the half case. This thing was full of spice, dark fruit, barnyard, and funk. This wasn't overly complex, but the flavors were perfectly forward in the mouth to do the job. And under $10, its hard to beat.
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4/11/2014 - cobbpa Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of barnyard & underbrush, with undertones of soft black fruits. Nice balance of funky herb & black fruits on the palate. Smoothed out, but with rustic edges of tannin & earthy tones to keep it interesting.
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11/16/2013 - fredfromny Likes this wine: 91 Points
What a well made special wine. Blows away many CDP's with rich fruit and a balanced elegant finish. Drink now.
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11/13/2013 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine:
This is the fourth bottle of this wine that I have reviewed.
At first pour, this one was too bretty, even for my tastes. However, 7 or 8 minutes of swirling in the glass cured that; the Brett blew off, to reveal something remarkable.
This wine exhibits lovely flavors and aromas of saddle leather, horse, smoke, nutmeg, dried catnip, earth, and perhaps a bit of chamomile or wormwood, all wrapped around a core of plum and blackberry. Tannins and acidity are generous without being overbearing or inharmonious. Surely one of the best $11 wines I've tasted. The only fault is the finish, which is rather short.
This, sadly, is my last bottle. I wish I had a case of this stuff.
Addendum: after more aeration, this wine develops very pleasant lilac floral aromas and flavors, and the finish lengthens. Boy this stuff is good.
2nd addendum: We only drank 1/2 the bottle on the 13th, and put the remainder in the fridge. I reopened it on the afternoon of the 19th, and the wine was even better...just delicious, very perfumy. It tasted like a much more expensive Rhone. Wish I could find some more of this stuff.
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7/27/2013 - Not647f wrote:
A pretty good table wine, but nothing special. Lots of ripe fruit if you are a valley-floor Cab fan, soft tannins, just a hint of syrah--warm weather type. Not bad for the money, but I don't see why Chapoutier is Parker's darling, or maybe I do.
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6/4/2013 - Kesslerc14 wrote: 89 Points
This was $9? Great value. Tons of barnyard and spice. Big hit this evening with a grilled strip. Glad I remembered I owned a few of these.
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6/1/2013 - Zappaisalive Likes this wine: 89 Points
Agree on other notes on the barnyard / horse blanket nose. Good fruit, medium finish. Overall great qpr, would buy again.
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5/20/2013 - tschneid Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank with pizza and wings. Opened up with time. Good everyday drinker and qpr.
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4/20/2013 - Coupe 60 wrote:
Less funk than last bottle, but still not memorable. Others also did not love it. On a good day...meh...
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4/6/2013 - Coupe 60 wrote: 84 Points
PnP, had with grilled sausage. Red fruit, perhaps a little floral and barnyard / poop on nose. Notes carry over to the palate. Pretty nice red fruit with perhaps plus acidity. Totally agree with previous reviewer that notes "horse blanket bitterness", except that I do not find it pleasing as he/she does. The pureness of the fruit saves it from being too bad, but too much bretty-ness prevents it from being too good. Also, should note that it was too powerful for the sausage. Does not fit my sweet spot of flavor profile. Overall, not a big fan...
Mrs. Coupe thought it was ok.
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4/5/2013 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine: 89 Points
2nd bottle of this reviewed. This one is even more pleasing than the first bottle; nice horse-blankety nose, in a delicate Burgundian way. Palate is restrained red and black fruits with a very pleasing, balancing horse-blanket bitterness. Finish is a bit short; otherwise would be a 90-point wine. Overall, very pleasing, and great QPR from WTSO.
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3/4/2013 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine: 86 Points
Pop and pour review.
Nose is faintly Burgundian; restrained raspberry and blackberry, wood, rock dust, faint hint of Brettanomyces. Very charming.
Palate is similar to the nose, very well balanced although restrained, with fine-grained well-integrated tannins and just the right amount of acidity. Little bit of tobacco at the end.
Finish is just a bit short; would have added a couple of extra points for a longer finish.
All in all, pleasant and a very good QPR; $9.99 from WTSO.
Edited to add: this one gets more perfumy and floral with air. May have to revise the score upwards a point or two. Wish I'd bought more.
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11/10/2012 - DanTheRhoneFan wrote: 89 Points
Barnyard nose. Reminiscent to me of a Bordeaux nose. Barnyard funk on the palate as well. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Balanced throughout its funk. Nice fruit underneath. High tannin finish. medium body. I found it slightly one-dimensional but it was not a bad dimension to stay in.. 4/4/19/19/18/17/4/4 - 89pts
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8/23/2011 - alamoave wrote: 88 Points
Decent quaffer with philly cheesesteaks. Probably lasts 3 years or so from here.
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9/9/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Around the World in 80 Wines (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Nice, earth and funky. Unique terroir. Balanced finish.
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