2/7/2024 - macaujames Likes this wine:

91/92. One of the last real elegant chalky juicy food friendly vanillary red fruits Vina Alberdi before it became a Chateauneuf du Pape. 13.5%. Drink in next 2-5 years. You can PnP this. The Cork was dead on this. LRA should improve their corks there is a 25% chance of them crumbling with ageing. The most versatile red Spanish wine with food as it has cutting zingy acidity which leaves you want to try it as it never overpowers but matches the food superbly.

2/5/2024 - vlzat wrote:

75% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc
14.5% abv

Full body, deep garnet colour. Delicate aroma of dried dark fruits, cigar box, sweet spices, and toasted oak. Predominantly plummy palate, dark chocolate, following by silky tannins, lovely acidity and lingering, hot finish. Rich, powerful and saturated, bold texture, complex and balanced, young but already so enjoyable. Food friendly, well pairing to veal chops with cabbage stew. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Opened two hours ahead. Drink now and next 8/10 years

12/31/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot
13% abv

Medium body, mature garnet color. Impressive aroma of ripe black and blue fruits, black pepper, cedar wood and spices’ box. Plum and black currant on dainty palate, following by juicy acidity, ripe tannins and lingering, still fresh and charm finish. Complex and rich, but delicate, harmonies and perfectly balanced. Gorgeous wine. Food friendly, well pairing to medium rare entrecote. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Open one hour ahead. Drink now and for the next 4/6 years, perhaps longer.

12/6/2023 - macaujames wrote:

The best wine from the South West ever! V.impressive and worth 27 Euros. Lay down 5-10 years+. Needs two hours aeration. An honest wine! 13%.

11/25/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

Medium body, 13.5% abv, deep garnet to purple colour. Intense aroma of black fruits, flowers, black pepper, cedar wood and leaser notes. Cassis, sour plum and dark chocolate palate following by rounding, grippy tannins, wild berries' acidity and lingering, still fresh, juicy and a bit earthy finish. Complex but delicate and well balanced wine, benchmark of Malbec. Food friendly, well pairing to veal stew. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Open one hour ahead. Drink now and for the next 8 years.

10/9/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

Full body, deep purple colour. Intense, fruit forward aroma of ripe, black and blue fruits, sweet tobacco, black pepper and leather. Blueberry and plum palate following by young tannins, juicy acidity and bitter cherry finish of good length. Very impressive wine, complex and rich, albeit well balanced. Food friendly, well pairing to coq au vin. Serve 16ºC - 18ºC. Open three hours ahead or better start drink in a couple of years.

10/28/2023 - vlzat wrote:

69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc
13.5% abv

Medium body, deep garnet colour. Delicate aroma of red and blue fruits, leather, oak and spices. Black currant and sour plum palate, following by lovely acidity, grippy tannins and juicy finish of good length. Complex, charm an well balanced. Food friendly, well pairing to beef stew. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Open two hours ahead. Drink now while young and the next six/eight years, perhaps longer.

10/15/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

Bought in Enoteca Constantini (Piazza Cavour 16, Rome) in 2014. Opened during family dinner by occasion of my son birthday. Full body, transparent, mature brick-garnet colour. Intense and complex but delicate aroma of red fruits, flowers, cedar tar, spices’ box and truffles complemented by forest floor background. Wild strawberry and juicy palate following by muscular tannins, lovely acidity and long finish. Rich but silky, harmonious and well balanced, gorgeous wine. Food friendly, well paring to medium rare, veal entrecote. Open half hour ahead. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Drink now and the next ten/twelve years.

10/3/2023 - macaujames wrote:

A light and nicely minerally chalky forest fruits wine with mediumish finish. 13%. Lay down a couple of years or drink now. Can be PnP'd.

11/16/2021 - macaujames Likes this wine:

94/95. Has aromas of shale infused raspberries, plums, cherries +strawberries+ clovey hints. This has impressive depth on the full medium bodied solid multi dimensional zingy lightly clovey blue and red fruits palate and ends with very long length. 14.5%. Excellent value at 24 Euros. Needs 9-12 hrs aeration. Lay down 10/15 years+. This is as good as the 2010 or even better! I would prefer for this to be at 13/13.5% alcohol. I can drink this a glass at a time! Went well with lamb fillet done rare and patatas bravas.

5/27/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano from Brinas, Labastida and Villalba vineyards

Medium to full body, mature ruby colour. Impressive and complex aroma of red and black fruits, vanilla and sweet tobacco complemented by liquorice, balsamic and musky background. Rich palate of sweet cherry, blueberry and plum following by lingering juicy finish. Outstanding wine, concentrated but velvety, elegant and still very fresh, rounding, silky tannins and wild berries acidity. Food friendly, well pairing to chicken puchero. Open one hour ahead. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Drink now and the next eight/ten years, perhaps longer.

5/14/2023 - vlzat wrote:

90% Malbec and 10% Merlot

Medium body, deep ruby colour. Intense aroma of black and blue fruits flowers and sweet spices. Dominant plum and black cherry palate following by liquorice finish of good length. Gentle acidity and grippy tannins, complex enough and balanced wine. Food friendly, well pairing to cabbage rolls. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Open half hour ahead. Drink now and the next four years.

4/28/2023 - macaujames Likes this wine:

91/92. Needs 3-4 hrs to become a 92. Has fragrant aromas of blueberries, cherries, sandstone, mint, cassis and coffee. Its youthful medium bodied nicely oaked freshly fruited minerally blue, black and red fruits palate ends longish, freshly fruited and a bit gripping. 13.5%. Lay down 5-10 years+ easily. Excellent value at under 16 Euros! Will buy more!

3/17/2023 - macaujames Likes this wine:

92/93. Superb value at under 16 Euros. Typical aromatic spherical, fresh, well oaked smooth red, blue and black fruits linear 2016 with lovely length. 13.5%. Needs 2-3 hrs aeration. Lay down 5-10 years easily.

3/17/2023 - vlzat wrote:

80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Full body, deep garnet to purple colour. Highly intense aroma of black and blue fruits liquorice and toasted oak. Rich palate of plum and blackberry following by dark chocolate and long hot finish. Powerful, bold and complex enough but too high alcohol slightly affect balance, grippy tannins and lovely acidity. Food friendly, well pairing to carpaccio. Serve 16ºC - 18ºC. Open four hours ahead. Drink now and next six/eight years.

2/25/2023 - macaujames Likes this wine:

Love the funky aromas. A Bit youthful chunky and introverted with highish acidity. 13%. Drink in 5-10 years. Needs 60-90 mins aeration. A Cassoulet wine.

2/24/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

90% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino and Canaiolo

Medium body, deep ruby colour. Intense but delicate aroma of black and blue fruits, leather and spices combined with flowers and toasted oak background. Black cherry and plummy palate, black olives, grippy tannins and wild berries acidity following by long, rounding finish. Rich and complex but juicy, balanced, harmonies and easy drinking. Food friendly, well pairing to risotto ai funghi. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Open two hours ahead, next day after vacuum corking even better. Early mature and will benefit from advanced aging. Drink now and the next nine/ten years or longer.

1/18/2023 - vlzat Likes this wine:

87% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha

Last bottle from case. Medium to full body, deep garnet color. Highly intense aroma of ripe fruits, integrated oak and spices’ box. Ripe blackberry and currants palate following by juicy finish of good length. Rich, bold and complex, well balanced, polished tannins and wild beries’ acidity. Food friendly, well pairing to mushrooms soup. Open one hour ahead. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Drink now and the next six/eight years.

9/29/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

Trade tasting: 92/93. Has lifted flowery aromas of leather, violets, coffee hints iron, cassis and black currants. A lovely elegant spherical elegant well oaked blue red and black fruits palate has lovely depth and ends longish, fresh and tapering. 13%. A no brainer at around 34 Euros.

12/29/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

A traditional gutsy earthy iron infused forest fruits Cantemerle with lovely nicely oaked freshly fruited and excellent length. 13%. Lay down 10-20 years. Needs 6-7 hrs aeration.

12/9/2022 - vlzat wrote:

Full body, deep garnet to purple color. Intense aroma of black and blue fruits, flowers complemented by leather background. Blueberry and plum palate, balanced berries’ acidity and juicy finish of good length. Rich, bold and complex, grippy tannins and saturated texture. Food friendly, well pairing to locro. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Open one hour ahead. Drink now and next six years.

1/14/2022 - vlzat wrote:

70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano

Full body, deep ruby to purple color. Intense, harmonies and complex aroma of black and blue ripe fruits, tobacco and flowers. Predominantly plummy palate with balsamic notes following by liquorice but juicy finish of good length. Impressive, rich and bold but well balanced. As well reveals wild berries’ acidity and fine grained, still young tannins. Food friendly, wall pairing spinach and basil ravioli with mozzarella. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Open three hours ahead. Drink now while young and next six/eight years, perhaps longer.

10/27/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

91/92. I gave this 10 hrs aeration. Has aromas of chalk bing cherries, roses, blackberries and spice. Its medium bodied spherical blue, red and black fruits palate has nice tangy vanillary/ chocolatey deliniation and ends longish, tangy and gripping. 14%. Excellent value at 18 Euros. Lay down 3-5 years.

10/18/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

92/93. Loves air needs between 2-3 hrs aeration! Has lifted aromas of violets, earth, leathery chalky cherries+raspberries. Its medium bodied supple and stylish decently oaked, red and black fruits palate has lovely depth, freshness and length, ends with some grip. 13.5%. Excellent value at 16 Euros. Lay down 5-10 years.

10/15/2022 - vlzat Likes this wine:

30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault and 15% Vaccarese, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul and Bourboulenc

Full body, deep garnet color. Exciting, black fruits and pepper aroma complemented by truffles notes. Black currants and blackberry palate, following by wild berries but gentle acidity, rounding, liquorice and mineral on lingering finish. Rich, bold and complex, powerful but well balanced, completely integrated tannins, gorgeous wine. Food friendly, well pairing to stewed beef in red wine sauce. Serve 16ºC - 18ºC. Open one hour ahead. Drink now to middle of the next decade.

7/30/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

91/92. I prefer the old lower alcohol Alberdi. However this is tasty but only a glass a night. Has typical aromas of leather, cherries, vanilla and raspberries. Its medium bodied tasty zingy+juicy red and blue fruits palate has got lovely depth and impressive length. 14.5%. Lay down 5 years+. You can drink this PnP or after 30 mins aeration.

7/29/2022 - vlzat wrote:

Mostly Sangiovese blended with Merlot

Medium to full body, bright ruby color. Impressive aroma of red and blue fruits, toasted oak, spices’ box and leathery background. Complex palate of cherry, sour plum and balsamic notes following by lingering juicy finish. Rich but silky and balanced, lovely berries acidity and grippy tannins. Food friendly, well pairing to medium rare sirloin steak. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Open two hours ahead. Drink now while young and next eight/ten years.

7/7/2022 - macaujames wrote:

88/89. I thought this would be better given the year but maybe it was too hot. Has aromas of blackberries, chalk, stable and vanilla+pepper hints. Its a bit rustic lightly oaked solid black fruits palate has decent depth+freshness. It ends mediumish a bit hot and unknit. 14.5%. Needs 60-90 mins aeration. Lay down 2-5 years.

6/25/2022 - vlzat wrote:

Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo

Bottles 143,326 and 143,450 of 236,880. Medium body, bright garnet to purple color. Intense leather, tobacco and balsamic aroma on first attac, complemented by wild fruits and spices with aeration. Fresh cherry, blackberry and plummy palate following by dark chocolate and long, rounding finish. Concentrated and complex but fresh and juicy, velvety texture, elegant, harmonious and well balanced, wild berries acidity and ripe tannins. This wine is brilliant for its price, don’t miss it. Food friendly, well pairing to beef paella. Open three hours ahead, next day after vacuum corking even better. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Drink now and beginning of next decade.

3/3/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

92/93. Like the 2009 a 92 this has evolved nicely in the last 6 months. Has aromas of gravel, leather, blueberries, vanilla hints, flowers and strawberries. Its medium bodied nicely spherical zingy plush vanilla flecked blue and red fruits palate has lovely depth and very good length. 13.5%. Excellent value at 16 Euros. Lay down 5-10 years.

12/4/2021 - macaujames wrote:

90/91. Has lifted aromas of leather, vaniila hints, minerals, raspberries, plums and strawberries. Its medium bodied spherical tangy+chewy nicely clovey plush velvety blue and red fruits palate has got lovely depth and finishes longish, fresh and zingy. 13.5%. Needs 5-6 hrs aeration. Lay down 5/10 years. I think this will fill out in a year or so to a 92. Excellent value at 16 E 50. Keeps on developing with every sip.

5/7/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

91/92 Has nice aromas of cedary, earthy iron ,plums, blackberries+cassis. Its medium bodied nicely oaked solid+chewy blue, black and red fruits palate has lovely depth, nice freshness and very good length with lovely grip. 14.5%. Needs 5-6 hrs aeration. Lay down 10-20 years. Excellent QPR at under 20 Euros.

5/5/2022 - vlzat Likes this wine:

51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot

Medium body, deep garnet color. Intense ripe, black fruits, tobacco leaves and spices’ box aroma. Complex palate of black currants, plum, dark chocolate and liquorice background following by lingering finish. Rich but elegant and balanced wine, wild berries’ acidity and grippy tannins. Food friendly, well pairing to pilaf. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Open one hour ahead. Drink now and next eight/ten years.

3/27/2022 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine:

Beautiful light red color with a fantastic bricking.
The scent takes one directly to Tuscany, with both the right kind of cherries and the perfect earthiness.

In the mouth, this is terribly young, yet accessible. Recommendation: Save!

Beautiful acidity and polished tannins play over a platform of beautiful fruit that oozes of both cherries and that sun-ripened component that is not always good. In this case . . Mjae .. Maybe. Guess they should have harvested a little earlier. The finish has a food-loving bitterness that is lovely with anything tomato and ruccola…

Our recommendation is very different from Vlzat, as they will surely suggest you must drink it now. *pft*

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Vacker lätt röd färg med fantastiskt tegel i brimmen.
Doften tar en direkt till Toscana, med både körsbär och jordighet.
I munnen är detta ungt, men accessbart. Rekommendation: Spara!
Vackra syror och slipade tanniner spelar över en plattform av vacker frukt som osar av både körsbär och den där solövermogna komponenten som inte alltid är bra. I detta fallet . . Mjae.. Kanske. Gissar att de borde ha skördat lite tidigare.

4/27/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

92/93. A very elegant traditional gutsy, zingy red fruits Viña Ardanza with lovely layers, depth and freshness. Ends long and tangy. Had this with tapas and goats cheese and this was perfect. Needed 5-6 ihrs aeration. Lay down 10-20 years easily. A half case of this.

4/20/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

Blue fruited + foresty fruited tobacco-ey leathery earthy chunky silky wine with medium finish. 13%. Drink in 2-5 years.

4/15/2022 - vlzat wrote:

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc

Weakest Forest that I drank, extremal hot of 2015 made wines too alcoholic and affected a balance. Full body, deep purple color. Intense aroma of black fruits and Mediterranean spices. Meanwhile complex enough palate of black currants, blackberry, black olives and earthy background following by mineral finish, Rich, powerful and bold but far from elegance, unbalanced and heavy, albeit nice acidity and grippy tannins. Food friendly, well pairing to foie gras in white whine sauce. Serve 16ºC - 18ºC. Still young, open 2 hours ahead. Drink now and next six/seven years.

4/8/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

Got this for 15 Euros 50 a good price! Has lifted aromas of raspberries, coffee plums, sandstone, cassis and mint. Its medium bodied linear yet fullish nicely oaked blue, black and red fruits has got nice depth, lovely freshness and ends longish with some dry food friendly tannin. 13.5%. Lay down for 5-10 years+. Needs 3-4 hrs aeration.

3/16/2022 - vlzat Likes this wine:

80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo

Excellent developed for past nine years. Medium to full body, beautiful, deep ruby color. Impressive red and blue fruits aroma complemented by pepper and spices box. Still fresh palate, in spite so solid age, of blackberry, blueberry, currants and sweet spices background following by lingering finish of juicy acidity and polished, completely resolved tannins. Rich, concentrated and complex but very elegant, perfectly balanced and harmonious wine. Food friendly, well pairing to grilled poultry. Open one hour ahead. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Drink now to end of the decade, perhaps longer.

3/1/2022 - macaujames wrote:

91/92. First time I have tried this. A bit unknit at the moment. Has muted earthy aromas of tea, tar, strawberries, sandstone, licorice and cherries. Its meaty medium bodied freshly fruited longilinear minerally red, blue fruits palate has got excellent depth and ends longish, fresh and a bit tannic and with a burning sensation. 14.5%. Needs a 2/3 hrs aeration. Lay down 10-20 years. Juvenile. Improves in the glass. Could improve to a 93/94 with more aeration.

2/6/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

92/93. One glass. Has full aromas of leather, raspberries, roses, vanilla hints, sandstone and cherries. Its medium bodied spherical plush, silky+zingy lightly vanillary layered blue and red fruits palate ends very long, tangy and food friendly. Had this with Chorizo sausage and hard goat's cheese + this was perfect. Lay down 10-15 years+. This ages well! I have the 1989 and its lovely! 14%.

1/22/2022 - macaujames Likes this wine:

91/92. Has aromas of iron fillings, earthy minerals, coffee, blueberries, plums, cassis and mint. Its medium bodied plush a bit solid nicely oaked blue+red fruits palate has lovely depth, good freshness and excellent length, ending on a food friendly dry note. 13%. Needs 3-4 hrs aeration to open out. Lay down 5-10 years+ easily. Excellent value at 14 Euros 50. I will buy a 6 pack of this! This is worth buying!

12/27/2021 - macaujames Likes this wine:

89/90. This has good deep aromas of coffee infused barnyard, terracotta strawberries, coffee hints, plums, mint and forest fruits. Its medium bodied plush elegant nicely oaked terracotta, red and blue fruits palate has got excellent depth, freshness and good length. 13.5%. Lay down 5-10 years. Needs 90 mins aeration. Very good value at 16 Euros! At start it is very Chianti-like and becomes more Bordeaux and International with aeration.

12/23/2021 - macaujames Likes this wine:

92/93. Has lifted aromas of sandstone, leather,, raspberries, plums,vanilla hints+ cherries. Its juicy medium bodied spherical nicely oaked plush+chewy freshly fruited red and blue fruits palate has impressive depth and has a long zingy finish. 14%. Excellent value at under 20 Euros. Lay down 10 years+. Needs 3-4 hrs aeration. This could be a 93 with more aeration. On day 2 is a 93+. This is impressive!

1/19/2021 - vlzat wrote:

87% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha

Medium to full body, deep garnet color. On first attack, intense aroma of ripe red and black fruits, with aeration following by smoky oak and sweet spices. Complex palate of blackberry, currants, bitter cherry background and juicy finish. Rich and bold but more elegant than 2015, excellent balance between alcohol, vital acidity and polished tannins. Food friendly, well pairing to Sopa de Gato. Open three/four hours ahead. Serve 16ºC - 20ºC. Drink in year or two and should be enjoyable to begin of next decade.

12/4/2021 - Motz wrote:

So enjoyable that it did not last to a second day.

Let us first point to two elements of modernity here, which detract from an otherwise exceptional, bordering on extraordinary, wine. These are extraction and oak treatment. Both are excessive, although neither is offensive. Without one or both, this offering would merit 96-97 points.

Compelling expression of blueberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, and açaí, with pomegranate top notes. With the noteworthy exception of pomegranate, this is all about blue, purple, and black berries. Indeed, the saturation might qualify this as ink for a dip pen. Underlying the fruit, are powerful notes of beets, purple carrots, rutabaga, etc. Mint and hints of Crème de cassis add nuance.

Expression of place rates off-the-charts! This could only be Left Bank, and most likely Graves, although certain accents put the mind to Saint-Julien (with shades of Margaux). Scorched earth, drying tobacco, lit cigar, light roast coffee beans, carob, unsweetened cacao powder, gravel, graphite, and coal essences announce and re-announce their presence in riveting waves!

At the core, lies a titillating (I love this word!) amalgam of pomegranate, camphor, and coal. Damn! This wine brings it! The tension, precision, cut, and lift rock! As does all the gravel and coal (pun intended)! The middle touches the entire palate. The back reveals the excessive grittiness, typical of over extraction. The oak, while heavy, actually stands a good chance of integrating over the next five years or so.

This vintage is highly underrated! A young wine, quite fresh. This bottle had 12 to 15 years of life in it. For all it delivers, it could have been even better had the winemaker employed a more traditional approach.

10/29/2021 - macaujames Likes this wine:

93/94. Half Bottle. Has full on aromas of leather, shale, parchment ,diesel oil, raspberries, plums, mint +kirsch and clove hints. Its spectacular punchy nicely oaked juicy,chewy medium bodied palate has wonderful depth, lovely texture and layers and ends longish, lightly zingy and tapering. I would love to try the 904 2010 but it is probably a 95 pointer and this is half the price and almost as good currently. The value on this is insane at around 26 Euros. 13.5%. Lay down 5-10 years+. Needs 6/7 hrs aeration. Lacks refinement compared to my favourite vintage the 2005 which is zingy, red fruited beautifully concentrated, satiny nicely vaniila oaked and ultra long, tangy and beautiful with Rare Lamb fillet dishes and patatas bravas with Mediterranean salad.

10/15/2021 - vlzat Likes this wine:

Medium body, greenish straw color. Impressive aroma of stone fruits, melon and flowering acacia complemented by citrus notes. Complex but delicate palate, apricots, pears and almond following by green apples and lime background, lingering mineral and creamy finish. Very charm wine, still fresh, good balance between oiliness and gentle acidity. Food friendly, well pairing to shrimps in wine sauce. Open half hour ahead. Don’t cool it too much, serve 12ºC - 14ºC. Drink now and next three years, perhaps longer.

9/28/2021 - vlzat Likes this wine:

Full body, bright golden color. Intense but elegant aroma of garden fruits and herbs. Complex palate of apricot, pears, almond and mineral notes following by soft and creamy finish of good length. Well balanced and delicate wine, gentle acidity. Food friendly, well pairing to salads and pink salmon caviar. Serve 12ºC - 14ºC. Open half hour ahead. Drink now and next couple years.

10/2/2021 - vlzat Likes this wine:

Medium to full body, bright ruby color. Excellent developed for last three years. Intense red fruits, flowers, cedar wood and mushrooms aroma. Dominant raspberry, cherry palate complemented by forest floor, pine tar and long spicy finish. Rich, complex and balanced, vital acidity and muscular tannins. Food friendly, well pairing with eggplant’s stew and veal chop. Serve 18ºC - 20ºC. Open two hours ahead. Drink now and next five/seven years.