5/5/2024 - ben7210 wrote:

Deep ruby. Cloudy appearance. On the nose strawberries and brett. On the palate high acid, va, funk kind of overtakes everything else. Maybe an off bottle.

5/5/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Truffles and tobacco on the nose. On the palate pure elegance. Incredibly balanced. Blue and black fruits. Everything in harmony. Leans deep and brooding but simultaneously vibrant and racy. Old vines at their best.

5/3/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Pours a pale gold, the color of michelob ultra. On the nose pears, almonds, and honey. Palate high acid, medium alcohol, a lot of texture. Fruit forward, lychee, delicious apple skin, and more pear, breadiness on the finish. Improves with air. Nothing crazy, but packs a deceiving complexity. Good QPR. Would buy agian.

4/28/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Improved considerably since the last one. Deep ruby, Forest floor on the nose. On the palate rich blue fruits, cedar, cigar box. Medium finish. Very good. I will be buying more in future releases.

4/21/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium ruby. Brett and sour cherries on the nose. On the palate more brett though not overpowering, high acid, cranberries and raspberries, long finish. I like it, but more natty than I prefer.

Updated to add this is way better and firing on all cylinders on day 2. Still brings the funk, but lush fruit is much more out front balancing the acidity. Definitely give this one a good decant.

4/19/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium gold. Pronounced nose of brioche some funk, on the palate high acid, medium alcohol, full body. Apples almonds, ginger, more oxidized than I prefer, very restrained bubbles, long finish. It packs intensity on the palate but also finishes kind of soft. Good.

4/17/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

This is a killer wine. Tasted blind. Had it pegged as CDP on the nose. On the palate high acid, high alcohol, full body. Cherries, blueberries, cinnamon, cloves. Long finish. Got better over the course of a few hours. Drinking incredibly but still young and likely to continue to improve. Outstanding.

4/19/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Cinnamon and eucalyptus on the nose. On the palate medium acid high tannin, high alcohol, high tanning. Brooding dark fruit. Rich and powerful. Tannin still in control. Hold.

4/19/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Med lemon. Chalk and vanilla on the nose. Dry medium acid med body med alcohol, crisp and clean, medium+ intensity honeydue melon, wet stones, minerality. Oak is prominent but well integrated, not overpowering. Long finish. Good solid chenin in line with the price point. Drinking well but no rush. Very good.

4/13/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium purple. Sour cherries on the nose. On the palate high acid full body, medium alcohol. Balsamic and cherries. Medium plus finish. Has good depth of fruit which balances the acidity well, very primary. Good pizza wine.

4/5/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Med Ruby. Red fruit and reduction on the nose. On the palate high acid medium alcohol, cherries, raspberries, some earthy notes on the long finish. Depth complexity freshness on the upswing.

4/2/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Pale lemon. Light intensity citrus on the nose. On the palate high acid low alcohol, lemon zest, medium finish. Simple. Much better on day two which bodes well.

3/30/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Pale pink. Grapefruit and grass on the onose. On the palate medium+ acid, peach a lot of salinity and herbal notes, long finish. So easy to drink, crushable is probably the appropriate word, with complexity which will likely grow. Best Ode to Lulu yet. Very excited for the 2023 vintage.

3/22/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Pale lemon. Lemon peel on the nose. On the palate medium acid low alcohol some residual sugar, lemon rind, peach, lychee. Long finish. Man this is good for $23.

3/22/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Med Ruby. Cranberries and earth on the nose. On the palate very high acid nice lush red fruit, white pepper, bell pepper some cinnamon notes on the long finish.

3/16/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Med lemon. Honey and tropical fruit on the nose. On the palate pronounced passion fruit and melon, medium acid, low alcohol full body, almonds on the long finish. Good but young.

3/15/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep garnet. Truffles and wet leaves on the nose. On the palate medium acid, medium alcohol, medium body, fully integrated tannins still a decent amount of red fruit with some tertiary earthiness in the mix, sweet tarts on the finish. Not super complex but still a delicious and well balanced wine. For my palate slightly past peak but still drinking well 22 years on.

3/10/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Blue fruit and some vanilla on the nose. On the palate medium acid, full body, integrated chalky tannins, nice depth of fruit cherries, strawberries and tobacco. Medium finish. Drinking well but no rush may continue to improve. Doesn't disappoint, but there are better values at this price point.

3/4/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Reticent nose with some cherries and cedar. On the palate high acid, full body, medium+ alcohol strawberries, black cherries and black pepper, medium finish. Bright, energetic, very good if a little tight. My only bottle, would be interested to see what it does in 5-10 years.

3/2/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep lemon. Pronounced honey and hazelenut on the nose. On the palate medium acid, low alcohol, full body, more pronounced honey green apples, very sweet, has decent acid backing it up but not quite fully balanced, long finish.

2/27/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium straw. Tropical notes on the nose. On the palate dry high acid, pineapple and passion fruit, apples. Tart and bright. Medium finish. No rush on this one. Very good wine, fairly complex. Good QPR.

2/25/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Orange. Honey and orange peel. Still drinking very young I would give this another decade or two at least.

2/25/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium ruby. Brett on the nose. On the palate medium acid, high alcohol, medium body, cherries and blueberries, long finish. Needs an extended decant and alcohol is a bit in the way at this point. Good QPR. Give it time to mellow.

2/21/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Strawberries and some funky notes on the nose. On the palate tart, high acid medium alcohol medium body, very mild tannins. cherries and balsamic. Long finish.

2/16/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Needs time.

2/10/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Well made, potential but needs more time.

2/6/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

In a great place. Leather and red fruit on the nose. Very high acid (almost a trademark for this wine.) Rich red cherries, strawberries, sage, some earthy grittiness. Very long finish.

2/5/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Pale ruby. A lot of initial reduction on opening most of which blew off fairly fast. Leather and white pepper on the nose. On the palate high acid, medium to low alcohol, not much tannin. but guessing some whole cluster. Initially a bit thin but rounds out after a 30 minutes decant. Cranberries, well balanced. Very good.

1/26/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Hay and sour apples. Solid QPR.

1/21/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Pale ruby. Restrained floral notes on the nose. On the palate high acid, white pepper, raspberries, strawberries, earth, long finish. Young light and fresh, enjoyable as always.

1/19/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium purple. Cassis leather and licorice on the nose. On the palate medium acid, full body high tannin. Pepper, plums, blueberries, black cherries, anise. Extremely long finish. Best merlot I've ever had and this is still drinking very young, will only get better. Incredible wine.

1/16/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Cigar box nose. On the palate rich cherries and chocolate, medium acid, high tanning, full body long finish. This packs a punch with the tannin in control, still drinking young and in no way showing signs of age. That said, a bit muddled and it may need more time to come together and show what it can be. Great QPR and my last 2019 but if you're still holding onto a few, maybe wait.

1/11/2024 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Platinum reserves can be hit or miss but this is is excellent for $15. Medium ruby, raspberries, cedar and cinnamon on the nose. On the palate high acid, medium alcohol, high tannin, red fruit. licorice chocolate and tobacco. Long finish. Drinks well young but has the stuff to cellar. Will likely buy a few more bottles next time in TJ's.

12/27/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium ruby. Cedar and red fruit on the nose. On the palate high acid medium alcohol medium body. Lush raspberries and cranberries, long finish. Great food wine.

12/23/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Really nice nose of violets cinnamon and cherries. On the palate medium acid, medium alcohol fully integrated tannins. Blueberries. Long finish. Drinking incredibly well with no sign of decline. Outstanding wine.

12/23/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep purple blue and black fruit, high alcohol fully integrated tannins. Maybe a bit lacking in complexity but drinking well and likely at peak.

12/20/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Leather on the nose. On the palate medium acid, high alcohol full body. Blue fruits and tobacco, the tannin is in control. Punches above its price point, drinking pretty well but still primary and has the stuffing to improve further. Very good.

12/20/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Leather on the nose. On the palate medium acid, high alcohol full body. Blue fruits and tobacco, the tannin is in control. Punches above its price point, drinking pretty well but still primary and has the stuffing to improve further. Very good.

12/18/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Very mild funky floral nose with Blue fruit and herbal notes in the mix. On the palate medium acid, medium alcohol, strawberries and raspberries, medium finish. A bit closed down, best on day 4.

12/16/2023 - ben7210 wrote:

Deep ruby and pronounced nose deep red fruit. But the VA on this was aggressive out of the gate. After about 6 hours it mellowed and became far more enjoyable. Fun wine as expected from Radikon. Good depth and complexity given some time.

12/12/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

No formal notes but this drank great over three days. Depth and richness without being over the top, great wine for a steak but drinks well on its own. Great QPR, will seek out more.

11/23/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Very mild nose, bright cherries wet stones.
On the palate high acid, medium body, high tannin long finish. Very light touch but balanced. I prefer more fruit.

11/23/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Cigar box on the nose. On the palate high acid, high tannin, full body blue fruits and new oak, long finish. In a great place but for my palate it needs more time.

11/22/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium garnet. Restrained nose. On the palate high acid medium alcohol light body, cranberries and white pepper. Very long finish. Light on its feet but complex. This is a great wine, drinking well now but looking forward to checking back in a year or two.

11/18/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium garnet. Strawberries and wet leaves on the nose. On the palate high acid medium alcohol, stewed strawberries, leather, mushrooms, a gaminess, noticeable sediment as it’s unfiltered, not much tannin left but lot of life. Long finish. A bit of a musty muddled quality but overall an interesting wine.

11/6/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Smoke meat and earth on the nose. On the palate very high acid, ripe cherries blueberries and blackberries, high tannin, medium+ body long finish. Agree with prior notes on the bracing acidty but Evangelho can hold this better than most and doesn't disappoint - best with a 60 minute decant. Great food wine.

11/4/2023 - ben7210 wrote:

Too soon. Medium ruby. Initial notes of bret and sour cherries and mint on the nose. On the palate high acidity high tannin full body. Tannin and acid driving it and doesn't leave much room for fruit or anything else. Bodes well for drinking in 15-20 years.

11/2/2023 - ben7210 wrote:

Lemon peel on the nose. On the palate high acid low alcohol, bright, citrus, apple vegetal notes, simple and typical be but not very interesting.

10/31/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Deep purple. Cinnamon and cocoa on the nose. On the palate high acid, full body, huge depth, black cherries, cranberries, coffee, sage on the finish. Drinking great shows complexity but still young.

10/30/2023 - ben7210 Likes this wine:

Medium ruby. Forest floor and mushrooms on the nose. On the Palate high acidity medium alcohol medium body cranberries and white pepper, long finish. Outstanding and well made wine, Impressively held up well over 4 days.