4/10/2024 - Hawk94 wrote:

Did not have expectations for this wine. Thought it would be one of mass produced wines. Drink alongside with 2007 Duhart Milon, to my surprise, this wine holds its own. Of course it doesn’t have the same depth, complexity and nuance as the Duhart Milon. It is more drinkable than most of mass produced wines. Medium bodied,not heavy ,black berry, currant, a bit of oak, smooth tannins, a touch of gravel, medium length finish. A decent red table wine. I would not mind to be my daily drinker.

3/28/2024 - Hawk94 wrote:

Had high hope for this wine, but it is just mediocre. Nothing much to write home about it. Certainly there are many Spanish wines at the same price range would outperform this one. It has some black fruits, tannins, and others, relatively light body, but just doesn't feel it is well integrated. No desire to have another pull.

9/22/2023 - Hawk94 wrote:

A classic Bordeaux, sedative bouquet, earthy, crushed fresh blackberries, currant, cedar box, pencil lead, extremely charming and elegant, ultra smooth, keep sniffing it, couldn’t put down the glass, this wine is peaking and started developing secondary bouquet, it will drink well for next decade or so, what a lovely wine! It out-drinks the wines that cost more than double.

9/22/2023 - Hawk94 wrote:

Fresh, light, wild cherry, not much depth, an okay table wine, nothing special.

7/7/2023 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

An excellent Brunello, prunes, jammy, blueberry, complex, solid body, a bit of oak, silky smooth tannins, great depth, harmonious finish. Good value.

3/14/2023 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

This wine is in a good place right now. A modern style wine, fruit upfront, loaded with dark fruits, blackberry, currant, figs, complex, full body, soft tannins, some minerals, dark chocolate, and creamy long lasting finish. delicious to drink now.

12/6/2022 - Hawk94 wrote:

It is peaking, secondary bouquet fully developed, it is almost 1st growth like bouquet, penetrating floral nose mixed with dark fruits, beautiful acidity, pomegranate, raspberry, blueberry, tobacco, cedar box, hint of minerals, soft silky tannins, smooth like butter, very mellow and graceful, no rough edge, complex, and clean, but could have used a little more depth, delicious to drink, smooth harmonic finish.

12/2/2022 - Hawk94 wrote:

Pretty flat, not much going go, maybe a few years in cellar will improve. Will see.

11/23/2022 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

A Fabulous Brunello!

5/19/2022 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Perfume like nose, loaded with dark fruits, blackberries, currants, blueberries, a superb wine! Lush, silky tannins, well polished, very complex, with earthy, leathery, minerals, pencil lead, tobacco, cedar box, sandalwood, great depth, long and harmonious finish, this is first out of 6, likely going to enjoy the remaining 5 over next 5-10 years.

5/14/2022 - Hawk94 wrote:

The cork was fully soaked and broken into two pieces when trying to extract. Brick red, light in color, passing through a s.s. filter to get rid of broken cork into decanter, surprisingly very little sediments, afraid of this may be vinegar already, had a taste right after into the decanter, of course, acidic is dominate, but seems like still has plenty of life, so let is decanted for 2 hr. The color darkened a bit, mature bordeaux nose, very smooth, acidity subsided, in fact, it is pretty balanced although on acidic side, subtle complexity, still some fruits left, raspberry, cranberry, blackberry, leather, some minerals, medium length aftertaste. It may have passed its peak, but still enjoyable after 47 years! I will drink it now if you still have any.

3/16/2022 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

A heck of Brunello di Montalcino from 2012 vintage. Did not have much of expectation, but was quite surprised by it in a good way. It certainly rivals 2010 vintage. This wine is seriously delicious to drink now and should be drinking well in next 5-6 years. perfume like nose with blackberry, raspberry, elegant body with silky smooth tannins and complexity, cherry, currant, dates, minerals, earthy, leathery, balanced with delicious acidity, it is nuanced yet powerful, long aftertaste, quite an enjoyable drink.

3/28/2022 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

One of the best from this vintage. It is drinking very well now (reaching its potential). Sedative nose, elegant body, complex, and well balanced, loads of dark fruits, leather, some minerals, a touch of raspberry jam, delicious and lovely acidity to balance its sweetness, clean and precise. it is well priced, bought an additional case from JJB, and very happy with the purchase.

3/14/2022 - Hawk94 wrote:

Not much going on, some fruits, but lack of depth, lack of concentration and complexity, a mass produced wine, you get what you paying for.

1/29/2022 - Hawk94 Does not like this wine:

It was used to be one of my favorite go-to wines, but this latest vintage is just not there anymore. not only the price went up, but where is the taste? smoothness? and complexity? Cannot justify to pay at this price for a mediocre wine. Fruits upfront, lack of purity, funky middle palate, kind of more and more like a mass produced wine. Aftertaste? almost non-exist. I don’t even know if it is there. I am through with this one, periord.

9/6/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Wow! This is a fabulous wine. Aged 26 months in French oak barrels. A modern style wine, Loads of dark fruits, blackberries, cherries, purple deep red, hint of vanilla, milk chocolate, plum, figs, leather, some minerals, smooth & silky tannins, great depth, balanced, long harmonious aftertaste. Love it!

5/3/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

I like this wine a lot, it drinks like its big brother, unmistakable Margaux nose, very subtle, restrained, smooth tannins, pencil lead, nuanced long after taste making you wonder what’s in there, beautiful dark fruits, well balanced, very well done.

5/13/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

This wine is surprisingly good at its price point. Sure it outdrinks wines twice at its price. Robust body, big n bold, heavy dose of dark fruits, cedar box, hint of vanilla, creamy, dark chocolate, tannins is there but refined, a very enjoyable daily drinker. I went back and bought another half case. Buy it, you won’t be regretting.

5/13/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

I enjoyed this wine as a daily drinker, predictably good, never let me down, charming fruity nose, robust thick body, complex, modern style, dark fruits, some oakyness, dark chocolate finish. A very pleasant wine.

5/9/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Nose is prefect, wonderful blackberry, violet, perfume like penetrating bouquet. palate is smooth, balanced, cream chocolate, vanilla, well integrated tannins, dark fruits, cedar wood, earthy, nuanced, a bit on acidic side in mid palate, smooth and harmonious finish. It did fade away faster than I thought in about 2hr. It may have passed its prime but still wonderful.

4/27/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Fresh dark fruits bouquet, inky purple red, smooth tannins, good depth, full body, excellent complexity, balanced, pretty acidity, long aftertaste.

4/26/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

WOW! This wine is so good! I was blown away. Fabulous expressive bouquet with crashed black berry, blue berry, vanilla. Black chocolate, backed with cream, espresso, coffee mocha, huge body, yet so soft. It is so powerful but silky smooth tannins, layers after layers, coming back at you, lava chocolate cake, perfectly balanced, a touch of brown sugar, it has such a massive depth, but soft like a baby, this wine is unbelievable. Ultra long harmonious finish which reminds you everything you have just tasted. Bravo!

4/24/2021 - Hawk94 wrote:

First day, it smells, feels and tastes like One of mass produced wines. It is not a 97pt rated wine. But it is drinkable, however, nothing special there to give 97pt. There are reasons why so inexpensive. Some red fruits, fresh, lack of depth and complexity, a simple drink. For the price, it is not bad, but just don’t look at its score and expect more. Second day, this wine comes to life. Vibrant, delicious acid and tannins coming out, balanced with some sweetness, dark fruits, decent depth, complexity much improved, smooth tannins although a bit astringent, much much drinkable. I kind of like this wine at this price point. Obviously, I was wrong on first day. I revised the rating to 90pt from 85. Yes, this wine has a good PQR. Not disappointed at all. Make sure you decante for a few hours before you drink. Now I understand why decanter gave it 97pt, although it may not be that high. You Try it to see if you agree with me.

4/20/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Big, bold, penetrating nose, vanilla, fresh crashed dark fruits, very well balanced, good acidity, full body, complex, agar wood, fig, pencil shaving, delineated, but well integrated, lots of going on, long long aftertaste.

4/14/2021 - Hawk94 wrote:

Big and bold, modern and upfront style, very thick body, metallic, earthy, dark fruits, very sweet, almost like syrup, not enough acid to balance the heavy sweet, obvious tannins, heavy, a little muddy in mid palate, not delineated, could use of more refinement, seems like over-extraction, some bitterness at end, long aftertaste. A good wine but not great. Certainly expected more from this wine.

3/7/2021 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

This wine is stunning! I thought I was drinking a 1st growth. Wow! Unbelievable bouquet, perfume like, layers after layers of floral, violet, cherry, blackberry, black currant, pomegranate, cedar cigar box, graphite, limestone, can’t put down the glass, kept sniffing all night. Massive body, yet so refined, loads of black fruits, creamy, chocolate, silky velvet like tannins, delicious acidity, leather, pencil lead, very elegant, long & long aftertaste, so many things going on, it is definitely peaking. Too bad this was the last bottle. Didn’t know this one evolved so much better. Would have loaded more. Very well rewarded with my patient.

2/9/2021 - Hawk94 wrote:

It is way too early to tell if it has some potential. I was hesitating to give 88pt, but giving 92pt now is something I would not do. it is simply not there. An okay Bordeaux, nothing special to mention, but not bad either. It has some dark fruits, some funky taste showing a bit of out of balance, earthy, leathery, muddy, lack of focus and sharpness, not a lot of depth, but where is its freshness? Still young, I was a bit disapointted after seeing CT 92pt average rating, however, the price is right. I hope I was wrong on this one, since I have invested in other vintages of this wine.

12/21/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Kind of muted nose, lots of acidity, a bit overwhelming, underlying black fruits are there, however,not enough of fruits and sweetness to balance the acidity, very obvious and tight tannins, smooth and fine, but too much bitterness than expected. For sure, there are better Brunello other there, or it could be just me, being impatient.

9/30/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Very nice Barolo! Approachable, balanced, fruity, beautiful acidity, minerals, light pink in color, great price to quality ratio, will buy more for daily drinking. Love it.

8/15/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Easy drink, very approachable, not much rough edges, fresh dark fruits, pencillead, earthy, leathery, reasonable depth, body relatively light, not as complex as some good vintages. It is a pleasant wine with some nuances, an unmistaken Bordeaux, some acidity, balanced, however, it faded away relatively fast.

8/8/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Beautiful bouquet and lovely body, elegant, subtle, pure fresh strawberry, raspberry, fully mature, good sweetness, balanced with pretty acidity, very nice texture, some minerals, earthy, and nuanced, long and sedative aftertaste. Bought it at a wine shop in Burgundy in 2010 and been patient with it. Certainly rewarded.

7/26/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Purple red, expressive nose with dark fruits, currants, fresh blackberries, tobacco, firm but smooth tannins, lots of structure, nuanced, pencil lead, pleasant and long fruity finish, has potential to age another decade, an outstanding 2010 vintage Bordeaux wine for its price.

7/18/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

An Impressive Brunello! Dark ruby red, expressive nose with prunes, loads of dark fruits, coffee, mocha, chocolate, plum, currants, blackberry, dry, firm, but smooth tannins, polished, very enjoyable, wish I had more.

7/9/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Brick red with ruby red ring and some purple hues, nose is fabulous with secondary bouquets developed, raspberry, cranberry, cassis/blackcurrant, minerals, earthy, leathery, licorice, hint of cedar box, very subtle tannins - velvet like, light in body, not overly complex, balanced with beautiful acidity, plush mid-palate, with some herbal/pepper/earthy nuances, long and subtle aftertaste.

6/25/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

One of the best from Duhart-Milon, great bouquets, cedar, cigar box, super smooth, elegant, nuanced, earthy, crashed blackberries, blueberries, currants, chocolate-ish, leathery, coffee, just enough acidity to balance, refined tannins, complex, lingering aftertaste with milk chocolate finish. Wonderful!

6/22/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

It drinks very well, even when this young. Dark milk chocolate, fresh blueberries and blackberries, a hint of licorice, earthy, minerals, nuanced, pleasant complexity, long harmonious aftertaste. Well done!

6/22/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Nice bouquets with dark fruits and earthiness, blackberries, currants, pure, refined tannins, minerals, however, mouth feel is a bit dry and on acidic side, complex, but not much of nuances of its big brother, drinks very well, aftertaste is pleasant and long.

6/20/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2hr, secondary bouquets already developed, floral nose with tons of blackberries, blueberries, dates, creamy, dark chocolate, earthy tone, beautifuly balanced, drinks deliciously, mid palate could be more focused or more precise, just very slightly muddy, great efforts.

6/16/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

light ruby red, very fresh, obvious citrus, minerals, delight dark fruits, it is approachable right now, but not much of depth and complicity, perhaps it is still very young. A good daily drinking wine at a reasonable price.

6/6/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Dark red, fresh crashed blackberry, currants, strawberry, creamy, silky smooth tannins, balanced, delicious to drink, great value.

6/2/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Muted nose, pleasant initial palate, good acidity, plum, prune, medium to heavy body, a bit muddy, nothing spectacular, not bad either, a good table wine.

5/20/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Decanted for an hour, perfume like nose with dark fruits, blackberries, powerful powerful red, plum, prune, smoke, leathery, minerals, balanced with acidity, firm, strong & tingling yet smooth tannins, complex, long lasting complexity on your tongue with lots of going on. Still young. Be patient with it.

5/19/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2hr, dark garnet red, bouquet of dark fruits, very complex mid palate, black currants, strawberry, coffee, minerals, tannins is firm and silky, plush, elegant, still can feel its youthfulness, so much nuances, layered, balanced, lovely acidity, earthy, dry, aftertaste is long long and long, and complex. Like it a lot.

5/15/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Dark red, secondary bouquets already developed, blackberries, black currants, spices, fig, prune, big structure, smooth tannins, still young, long harmonious finish. A great value. 93-94 pts, drink now to 2025.

5/9/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

A modern style wine, stunning! upfront fruits, loads of black fruits, blueberries, black currants, big and bold, creamy, milk chocolate, smooth tannins, firm structure, powerful, balanced, still very young, great potential to age, soooo good to drink now. Delicious! Yes, it is amazing! It out-drinks twice of its price point wines. Great value.

5/9/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Clean and crispy, lime, citrus, honey, minerals, lovely.

5/7/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

Dark purple red, fresh dark fruits, blueberries, creamy, dark chocolate, dates, coffee, smooth but firm tannins, just enough acidity to balance the sweetness, complex and nuanced, long sweet aftertastes. A great Napa cab at an affordable price.

5/6/2020 - Hawk94 Likes this wine:

A Ridiculously good CDP! Crashed blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and strawberry, sublime tannins, super balanced with sweetness, jam, great depth, delicious, long harmonious finish.

4/30/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

This one is a sleeper for now. Kind of not much going on in first day, but 2nd day, it is showing off big time. Well balanced, big black fruits, smooth, soft, but enough complexity, well integrated, drinks very well. Be patient with it and you will be rewarded. Good value.

4/30/2020 - Hawk94 wrote:

Bought this one from winery directly. Good acidity, tar, crushed stone (really can taste her cement fermentation tanks in this wine), some plum, not overly complex, slightly bitterness, lingering aftertastes,