Thick, dark ox-blood in color Black and red currents, loads of cedar and vanilla, and baking spices. Powerful nose. Thick and furious. Tastes like the nose. Longish finish. Ends with strong cedar notes. This wine still has loads of life left. It's a real powerhouse. Pair accordingly. This was the best bottle yet of this vintage. Almost 95 pts. One more bottle to go.
Did Italian takeout. veal shank, gnocchi etc.
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Shorter decant and consumption time for my last bottle of this vintage.
Ox blood in color, full bodied.
Light oak, baking spice, leather, pencil lead. Sweet jammy notes. Bold, but smooth. Integrated tannin. Tons of spice. Black tea. AMAZING!!!! This bottle seems to be getting even better. EXCELLENT wine. Sophisticated. Punches above its weight class. Case worthy.
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Decanted and drank over 12 hours. Day decant was worth it. Dark inky blackness Oak, baking spice, leather, pencil lead Bold, but smooth. Integrated tannin. Tons of spice. Black tea. AMAZING!!!! This bottle was much better than the one I had last year. EXCELLENT wine. Sophisticated. Punches above its weight class.
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Finally opening my 2002's, and it was worth the wait. Opened, decanted, and drank over seven hours.
Dense, ox-blood colored, big, and bold wine Dark fruit and prevalent menthol off the nose. Wet wool. Thick and viscous. Smooth tannin, super dry, fruit still very noticeable. Gamey characteristics. Well balanced. Longish finish. Wow! The whole package. Some Spanish cedar cigar box.
Absolutely a killer bottle of wine. I think its in its sweet spot now. Can't see it developing much more. Great producer.
Smoked a Romeo San Andrés
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Somewhere between Barossa and South of Spain... This is a massive wine that shows no sign of age. Lots of sediment and cork broke halfway. Not really a subtle wine but enjoyable nevertheless...
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Finally gotten the chance to try this El Nido, even nicer to share it with good drinking buddies. Big, hedonistic wine but not a fruit bomb like the new world. Even though the wine is predominantly cabernet sauvignon, it contains a very refreshing feel to it that's different from Bordeaux or Napa. Dark fruits, iron, menthol, floral created such a soothing breeze to the nose. Rich, dense, full month feel, with ripe dark fruits but tastes just right without getting to the region where there's a bitter sense like many new worlds give you, savoury touch is refreshing and tannins are chewy, perhaps could be finer but that's just being picky. I'd say this nice wine is somewhere between the old and the new worlds, a pleasant surprise and delicious treat.
Holding up so well. Nicely balanced with warm dark cherries upfront and a bit of orange peel or something slightly citrusy/acidic that gives this interesting play across the mid-palate and into the chocolaty finish with tongue twisting tannins. Delicious.
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An impressive wine , and despite its 16%, enjoyable and not tannic. A nicely intgegrated tannic structure, dark cherry, bramble, smoke/leather, mint, and distinct earthy tones are carried by a smooth, fruit-comes-first delivery. Drink now or for another 5 years. its greatest strength-- blended, still fresh forward fruit and cabernet mint with monastrell rusticity-- is also its weakness- a bit too much of the Australian New World touch. I love many of the over-the top- huge, heavy bottle--partially New World Spanish wines of the early to more recent 21st century, but ultimately a little more grace and evolving complexity would be my preference. Consider Moro's great wines against El Nido, Alabaster, and Acquilllon.
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Inaugural Great Steak-Off (Clarksville, Maryland): The bottles appearance tells it all, oversized everything with gaudy impression. Still noticeable oak, dark cherries, black fruits with a hint of red, caramel, bitter chocolate and vanilla. The palate displays impressive concentration, sweet sugary fruits, creamy texture and noticeable tannins. The finish has slight bitterness that is bothersome. This will require at least ten more years to resolve/subdue the oak. Although impressive, I am not a big fan. One must have high tolerance for oak to appreciate this massive wine. I can see why some may rate this in the middle 90s.
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As close to quinta quietude as we have had but more expensive;this beautiful wine had the essence of spanish earth with a nice balance of fruit;perhaps the early appearance of power could have lasted a little longer;however the rich softness at the end of the night was quite nice;save this bottle for later if you want to but drink now and I think you will be satisfied
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Different impression this time. Sweetness there but more in the background and less sticky. Modern and bombastic, but delineated well within its bounds and appealing.
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My first taste of this wine. Beautifully crafted wine with a sweet rich nose that you could smell a foot away. Although, still very young and primary the wine will be fun to watch evolve. Nice darkberry and cassis flavors that linger for a while.
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This was poured at a retailer tasting last week. Retails for $115. This was one of the surprises at the tasting for me as I had not heard of this producer before. This wine is made of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Monastrell (mouvedre). It is aged in new oak for 24 months and the oakiness was present on the finish although not overdone. The nose on this wine was concentrated and filled with violets and crushed blackberries. Rich berry and cassis notes with some asian spice on the finish. Full bodied. 93 points.
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Loads of vanilla, leather, and sweet black fruit liqueur. Full-bodied cabernet comes through with some characteristic Monastrell "waxyness". Bold tannins, some not-too-offensive heat. Chewy and well oaked. ***
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12/26/2021 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Thick, dark ox-blood in color
Black and red currents, loads of cedar and vanilla, and baking spices. Powerful nose.
Thick and furious. Tastes like the nose. Longish finish. Ends with strong cedar notes. This wine still has loads of life left. It's a real powerhouse. Pair accordingly. This was the best bottle yet of this vintage. Almost 95 pts. One more bottle to go.
Did Italian takeout. veal shank, gnocchi etc.
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6/2/2021 - Raizes Likes this wine: 91 Points
黑醋栗、黑莓，甘草、巧克力、皮革和烟草的香气，非常标志性的成熟赤霞珠气息。成熟、浓郁、丰满，在厚重的单宁中透出丝丝酸度，让酒没有落入无聊的沉重之中。后续发展和回味中略有一丝矿物的清凉感，将风格又向传统拉回了少许。
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12/24/2020 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Shorter decant and consumption time for my last bottle of this vintage.
Ox blood in color, full bodied.
Light oak, baking spice, leather, pencil lead. Sweet jammy notes.
Bold, but smooth. Integrated tannin. Tons of spice. Black tea. AMAZING!!!! This bottle seems to be getting even better. EXCELLENT wine. Sophisticated. Punches above its weight class. Case worthy.
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6/27/2020 - Genghis88 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over 12 hours. Day decant was worth it.
Dark inky blackness
Oak, baking spice, leather, pencil lead
Bold, but smooth. Integrated tannin. Tons of spice. Black tea. AMAZING!!!! This bottle was much better than the one I had last year. EXCELLENT wine. Sophisticated. Punches above its weight class.
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3/7/2020 - Utminafrica Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a wine.
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11/9/2019 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Finally opening my 2002's, and it was worth the wait. Opened, decanted, and drank over seven hours.
Dense, ox-blood colored, big, and bold wine
Dark fruit and prevalent menthol off the nose. Wet wool.
Thick and viscous. Smooth tannin, super dry, fruit still very noticeable. Gamey characteristics. Well balanced. Longish finish. Wow! The whole package. Some Spanish cedar cigar box.
Absolutely a killer bottle of wine. I think its in its sweet spot now. Can't see it developing much more. Great producer.
Smoked a Romeo San Andrés
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8/9/2018 - Seb-HK wrote: 90 Points
Somewhere between Barossa and South of Spain...
This is a massive wine that shows no sign of age.
Lots of sediment and cork broke halfway.
Not really a subtle wine but enjoyable nevertheless...
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4/11/2015 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Finally gotten the chance to try this El Nido, even nicer to share it with good drinking buddies. Big, hedonistic wine but not a fruit bomb like the new world. Even though the wine is predominantly cabernet sauvignon, it contains a very refreshing feel to it that's different from Bordeaux or Napa. Dark fruits, iron, menthol, floral created such a soothing breeze to the nose. Rich, dense, full month feel, with ripe dark fruits but tastes just right without getting to the region where there's a bitter sense like many new worlds give you, savoury touch is refreshing and tannins are chewy, perhaps could be finer but that's just being picky. I'd say this nice wine is somewhere between the old and the new worlds, a pleasant surprise and delicious treat.
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1/10/2015 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 93 Points
Holding up so well. Nicely balanced with warm dark cherries upfront and a bit of orange peel or something slightly citrusy/acidic that gives this interesting play across the mid-palate and into the chocolaty finish with tongue twisting tannins. Delicious.
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7/26/2014 - Sotto325 wrote: 92 Points
An impressive wine , and despite its 16%, enjoyable and not tannic. A nicely intgegrated tannic structure, dark cherry, bramble, smoke/leather, mint, and distinct earthy tones are carried by a smooth, fruit-comes-first delivery. Drink now or for another 5 years. its greatest strength-- blended, still fresh forward fruit and cabernet mint with monastrell rusticity-- is also its weakness- a bit too much of the Australian New World touch. I love many of the over-the top- huge, heavy bottle--partially New World Spanish wines of the early to more recent 21st century, but ultimately a little more grace and evolving complexity would be my preference. Consider Moro's great wines against El Nido, Alabaster, and Acquilllon.
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5/11/2012 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
Inaugural Great Steak-Off (Clarksville, Maryland): The bottles appearance tells it all, oversized everything with gaudy impression. Still noticeable oak, dark cherries, black fruits with a hint of red, caramel, bitter chocolate and vanilla. The palate displays impressive concentration, sweet sugary fruits, creamy texture and noticeable tannins. The finish has slight bitterness that is bothersome. This will require at least ten more years to resolve/subdue the oak. Although impressive, I am not a big fan. One must have high tolerance for oak to appreciate this massive wine. I can see why some may rate this in the middle 90s.
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7/31/2011 - bulldurham wrote: 94 Points
Huge, fruity, long finish and simply delicious. I wish I had more of this wine.
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8/30/2010 - bugdoced wrote: 93 Points
As close to quinta quietude as we have had but more expensive;this beautiful wine had the essence of spanish earth with a nice balance of fruit;perhaps the early appearance of power could have lasted a little longer;however the rich softness at the end of the night was quite nice;save this bottle for later if you want to but drink now and I think you will be satisfied
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6/7/2009 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Different impression this time. Sweetness there but more in the background and less sticky. Modern and bombastic, but delineated well within its bounds and appealing.
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12/24/2008 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Overwhelming sweetness was the dominant impresson of this wine. Yes, there is fruit and load of oak persuasion. But there is just too much sugar.
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12/28/2006 - burgcamel wrote: 95 Points
My first taste of this wine. Beautifully crafted wine with a sweet rich nose that you could smell a foot away. Although, still very young and primary the wine will be fun to watch evolve. Nice darkberry and cassis flavors that linger for a while.
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6/13/2006 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
This was poured at a retailer tasting last week. Retails for $115. This was one of the surprises at the tasting for me as I had not heard of this producer before. This wine is made of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Monastrell (mouvedre). It is aged in new oak for 24 months and the oakiness was present on the finish although not overdone. The nose on this wine was concentrated and filled with violets and crushed blackberries. Rich berry and cassis notes with some asian spice on the finish. Full bodied. 93 points.
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5/6/2006 - jhngo wrote: 94 Points
Big white chocolate cab. Soft sweet nose, big huge finish. A beautiful wieghty wine. Needs food to lighten is payload.
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10/4/2005 - psmith wrote:
Loads of vanilla, leather, and sweet black fruit liqueur. Full-bodied cabernet comes through with some characteristic Monastrell "waxyness". Bold tannins, some not-too-offensive heat. Chewy and well oaked. ***
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