60 minute decant. Dark purple color with an almost iridescent rim. Juicy nose of red fruits and orange with spruce and cedar notes. Palate delivers a mix of bright cherry, darker red fruits, and lots of damp earth. Smoke, oak, and beef jerky on the palate with red plum and notes of red bell pepper following.
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Wow, what an exceptional wine for $34. First bottle of a half case, and it delivered spectacularly at 8 years of age. This is all about terroir, not extracted juicy fruit. In particular, it reminds me of Irish peat from our year living there. It looks and smells of it. Blackberry is the main fruit. Plus tar, moist soil, maybe a bit of pure cacao. I thought it tasted great fresh from bottle opening in a raw, rough way. After two hours, it was smooth and rich. Enjoyed the full evolution. This will surely last another decade or more, but I warmly encourage anyone with multiple bottles not to hesitate to enjoy some now.
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opened at 6:30, small glass, big, juicy. Decanted set aside for about 2 hr, certainly too young, even with decanting. This needs time to come around. Wasn’t too exciting at this point, may have missed it initially during the decant.
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(at Cosima - Baltimore) I’ve always liked these wines. This is no exception. Black cherry and lots of minerals. Youthful and fun and absolutely drinkable. Though I think 5 to 7 years of aging will be beneficial. Versatile, juicy and fun. Excellent restaurant selection. (92)
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4/7/2024 - Ruubious wrote:
Decanted and drank over 3hr, most fragrant and lovey in the first half.
Certainly has plenty of years ahead
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12/1/2023 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 92 Points
60 minute decant. Dark purple color with an almost iridescent rim. Juicy nose of red fruits and orange with spruce and cedar notes. Palate delivers a mix of bright cherry, darker red fruits, and lots of damp earth. Smoke, oak, and beef jerky on the palate with red plum and notes of red bell pepper following.
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8/22/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, what an exceptional wine for $34. First bottle of a half case, and it delivered spectacularly at 8 years of age. This is all about terroir, not extracted juicy fruit. In particular, it reminds me of Irish peat from our year living there. It looks and smells of it. Blackberry is the main fruit. Plus tar, moist soil, maybe a bit of pure cacao. I thought it tasted great fresh from bottle opening in a raw, rough way. After two hours, it was smooth and rich. Enjoyed the full evolution. This will surely last another decade or more, but I warmly encourage anyone with multiple bottles not to hesitate to enjoy some now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2023 - Ruubious wrote:
opened at 6:30, small glass, big, juicy. Decanted set aside for about 2 hr, certainly too young, even with decanting. This needs time to come around. Wasn’t too exciting at this point, may have missed it initially during the decant.
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5/6/2022 - dbkitc wrote: 92 Points
(at Cosima - Baltimore) I’ve always liked these wines. This is no exception. Black cherry and lots of minerals. Youthful and fun and absolutely drinkable. Though I think 5 to 7 years of aging will be beneficial. Versatile, juicy and fun. Excellent restaurant selection. (92)
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