This second, and thankfully last, bottle is tired af. Dense coloring with garnet edges. Aromas of black fruits, veering stewed, licorice, maple syrup, dried spice drawer, and slight mineral. Medium body, acid, and finish, with flavors of dark fruits, maple syrup, spice and minerals. Won't score, but it'd be low 80s.
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Decanted for 90 minutes; moderate sediment. Garnet color. Subdued nose of black cherries. Based on other tasting notes, perhaps it needs more air time. Medium-bodied cherries on the palate with ample acids, low level of tannins, and some heat on a medium length finish. OK for a $10 wine, but nothing to get excited about.
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DECANT TIME: Night #1 - Bottle opened, sealed with a Vacu-Vin and stored at room temperature. Night #2 - Bottle waited patiently. Night #3 - 1/2 was tasted, and the remainder was vacuumed sealed. Stored at room temperature. Night #4 - Notes taken.
APPEARANCE Color: 4/4 pts. Very dark purple.
Legs: 3/3 pts. Legs run in groups. The first ones form and run instantly, Then after 30 seconds, there are some more that form and run very slowly. How interesting!
Clarity: 3/3 pts. Very dark, but it looks clear.
Total Appearance Score: 10/10 points.
AROMA Nose Intensity: 3/5 pts. I wouldn't say it's intense. But it is very aromatic and appealing.
Bouquet: 13/15 pts. The first aromas I get are cherry and chocolate. I smell sweet spice, vanilla, tobacco, The aromas aren't layered and complex, but they are very, very enjoyable.
Total Aroma Score: 16/20 points.
FLAVOR Balance: 4/5 pts. A little on the sweet side, but other than that I think the flavors, tannins, alcohol, dryness, etc are balanced very well.
Taste/Flavors detected: 23/25 pts. The aromas had me thinking the flavors would be simple and not very complex. But there are very nice layers. Initially I taste ripe cherry, and then some chocolate. There is a layer of dark fruit. Then some toasted oak mixed with vanilla. During the mid-to-end palate, I get notes of earth and nuttiness. Every other sip I think I get tastes of tobacco.
Taste Intensity: 9/10 pts. The intensity is powerful. It's bold, and still very flavorful, enjoyable, and smooth.
Total Flavor Score: 36/40 points.
BODY AND FINISH Body/Texture: 19/20 pts. Very full bodied, and yet extremely velvety and smooth.
Length of Finish: 9/10 pts. The finish is enjoyed up to the 1 minute mark.
Total Finish Score: 28/30 points.
TOTAL SCORE: 90 points.
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It seems to be going through a funky phase or this is bottle variation. Contrary to my prior bottle this took hours to open up. More vegetal and nutmeg. Did not have with food this time so it may have made a difference.
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I really hated this wine on the pop—fake, confectionary fruit on nose and palate that was really not enjoyable. Fortunately, air time considerably helped this out, however. Deep ruby coloring, with aromas of dark fruit, smoke, light floral, and a bit of oak. Medium body, acid, and finish, with dark fruit and some oak on the palate. Even with mentions of oak on nose and palate, I don't find it offensive or OTT. Solid at $10, but give it air. Worked well with pepper steak.
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- Ruby color with a medium body - Enjoyed more than previous bottle which in retrospect I think was corked. Still on the ripe side but not as ott as my take on the last bottle. Solid value at sub $10.
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I'm relatively in line with DBG's note below... this is VERY ripe for a bordeaux IMO, and I'd be surprised if anyone picked this as bordeaux in a blind sample, while California is a good call, I almost lean toward Australia, as its that ripe and close to being over the top, borderline raisiny. I also agree it has a good dose of oak.
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I would say this is a good wine, but not great, and at 12.99 I'm not really feeling like we should stock up on it. When first opened it had a light nose and started mellow, grew with a peppery taste and then lingered pleasantly for some time. I was impressed at first, but after breathing for a while the flavors mellowed, becoming slightly bland, though not at all unpleasant. I did not taste the strong oak of the review below.
I'm not at all disappointed, but neither was I greatly impressed and probably would not purchase this one a second time.
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Dark red/purple to rim. Forward nose of sweet ripe dark fruits and toasty oak. Fruit forward, medium body on the palate, very ripe, noticeable oak, smooth polished mouthfeel and tannins, a bit low acid, short-medium finish. This could pass as a California Merlot selling for 2-3 times the $14 tariff. Simple and pleasing unless you are oak-averse, nothing complex. Very good.
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3/1/2019 - studleytrey wrote:
This second, and thankfully last, bottle is tired af. Dense coloring with garnet edges. Aromas of black fruits, veering stewed, licorice, maple syrup, dried spice drawer, and slight mineral. Medium body, acid, and finish, with flavors of dark fruits, maple syrup, spice and minerals. Won't score, but it'd be low 80s.
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10/15/2017 - Viking 61 wrote: 88 Points
Good value simple Bordeaux. Still plenty of fresh dark and blue berry that pairs nice with pepperjack cheese.
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12/29/2015 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 87 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes; moderate sediment. Garnet color. Subdued nose of black cherries. Based on other tasting notes, perhaps it needs more air time. Medium-bodied cherries on the palate with ample acids, low level of tannins, and some heat on a medium length finish. OK for a $10 wine, but nothing to get excited about.
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3/22/2014 - vinniemontoni wrote: 89 Points
In line with previous bottles.
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1/22/2014 - RedWine512 Likes this wine: 90 Points
DECANT TIME:
Night #1 - Bottle opened, sealed with a Vacu-Vin and stored at room temperature.
Night #2 - Bottle waited patiently.
Night #3 - 1/2 was tasted, and the remainder was vacuumed sealed. Stored at room temperature.
Night #4 - Notes taken.
APPEARANCE
Color:
4/4 pts. Very dark purple.
Legs:
3/3 pts. Legs run in groups. The first ones form and run instantly, Then after 30 seconds, there are some more that form and run very slowly. How interesting!
Clarity:
3/3 pts. Very dark, but it looks clear.
Total Appearance Score: 10/10 points.
AROMA
Nose Intensity:
3/5 pts. I wouldn't say it's intense. But it is very aromatic and appealing.
Bouquet:
13/15 pts. The first aromas I get are cherry and chocolate. I smell sweet spice, vanilla, tobacco, The aromas aren't layered and complex, but they are very, very enjoyable.
Total Aroma Score: 16/20 points.
FLAVOR
Balance:
4/5 pts. A little on the sweet side, but other than that I think the flavors, tannins, alcohol, dryness, etc are balanced very well.
Taste/Flavors detected:
23/25 pts. The aromas had me thinking the flavors would be simple and not very complex. But there are very nice layers. Initially I taste ripe cherry, and then some chocolate. There is a layer of dark fruit. Then some toasted oak mixed with vanilla. During the mid-to-end palate, I get notes of earth and nuttiness. Every other sip I think I get tastes of tobacco.
Taste Intensity:
9/10 pts. The intensity is powerful. It's bold, and still very flavorful, enjoyable, and smooth.
Total Flavor Score: 36/40 points.
BODY AND FINISH
Body/Texture:
19/20 pts. Very full bodied, and yet extremely velvety and smooth.
Length of Finish:
9/10 pts. The finish is enjoyed up to the 1 minute mark.
Total Finish Score: 28/30 points.
TOTAL SCORE: 90 points.
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10/7/2013 - vinniemontoni wrote: 88 Points
It seems to be going through a funky phase or this is bottle variation. Contrary to my prior bottle this took hours to open up. More vegetal and nutmeg. Did not have with food this time so it may have made a difference.
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7/21/2013 - wine&roses wrote: 86 Points
Too sweet, could come from anywhere, not even a hint of France. But largely inoffensive, & we contentedly drank a case here in the White Mountains.
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5/4/2013 - studleytrey wrote: 86 Points
I really hated this wine on the pop—fake, confectionary fruit on nose and palate that was really not enjoyable. Fortunately, air time considerably helped this out, however. Deep ruby coloring, with aromas of dark fruit, smoke, light floral, and a bit of oak. Medium body, acid, and finish, with dark fruit and some oak on the palate. Even with mentions of oak on nose and palate, I don't find it offensive or OTT. Solid at $10, but give it air. Worked well with pepper steak.
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3/26/2013 - Grape_ape wrote: 88 Points
- Ruby color with a medium body - Enjoyed more than previous bottle which in retrospect I think was corked. Still on the ripe side but not as ott as my take on the last bottle. Solid value at sub $10.
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3/19/2013 - vinniemontoni wrote: 89 Points
Not great notes. Goes well with veggie pizza and friends. Very satisfying Bordeaux for the price.
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3/12/2013 - Grape_ape wrote: 85 Points
I'm relatively in line with DBG's note below... this is VERY ripe for a bordeaux IMO, and I'd be surprised if anyone picked this as bordeaux in a blind sample, while California is a good call, I almost lean toward Australia, as its that ripe and close to being over the top, borderline raisiny. I also agree it has a good dose of oak.
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1/24/2013 - NecessarilyFrugal wrote: 84 Points
I would say this is a good wine, but not great, and at 12.99 I'm not really feeling like we should stock up on it. When first opened it had a light nose and started mellow, grew with a peppery taste and then lingered pleasantly for some time. I was impressed at first, but after breathing for a while the flavors mellowed, becoming slightly bland, though not at all unpleasant. I did not taste the strong oak of the review below.
I'm not at all disappointed, but neither was I greatly impressed and probably would not purchase this one a second time.
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2/4/2012 - dbg wrote:
Dark red/purple to rim. Forward nose of sweet ripe dark fruits and toasty oak. Fruit forward, medium body on the palate, very ripe, noticeable oak, smooth polished mouthfeel and tannins, a bit low acid, short-medium finish. This could pass as a California Merlot selling for 2-3 times the $14 tariff. Simple and pleasing unless you are oak-averse, nothing complex. Very good.
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