14.5% alcohol, heavy-weight foil, real cork; (my note on the label shows that it was bought at the winery 9/2/2011, during a tasting, for $26) short to medium legs, very dark purple; nose is fruit forward, notes of buttered vegetables, vanilla, alcohol; tasted at ca 16 degrees C, full bodied, presence of citrus, sour cherries, rhubarb, buttered vegetables like limas, butternut squash; the sourness cum alcohol predominates, tannins are more muted, slight trace of bitterness, finish is short to medium; pair with medium to rare red meat, or with extra aged hard cheese; this wine was probably cellared too long, but it still has character and is good to enjoy in its own right
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Deep purple color. Aromas of plum and vanilla. On the palate the oak is much better integrated and subtle than the nose would suggest with a nice mellow vanilla flavor. The rest of the flavor profile is dark fruit Medium finish. There are tannins that provide structure. With food it goes down fairly smooth but they were much less pleasant when we finished the bottle after dinner. It could use a few more years in the cellar or a decanting.
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Quite a bit of oak on the nose right after opening, but went away after a few minutes and revealed nice blend of leather, allspice, and black cherry. Nose was much better than the mouth. Medium bodied, but rather simple and fruit-forward but not quite jammy. Tannins were nice and finish was reasonably long-lived but a little hot.
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Clear, medium ruby with a clean nose of medium intensity that offers aromas of sweet red fruits, minerals, mocha, and toasty vanilla. The palate reveals a merlot with a medium-plus body, medium-plus silky tannins, and medium acidity. The dry red fruits at carnberry, pomegranate, sherries, and red plums with hints of cocoa and toasty oak accents. The finish is of medium-plus length. This is a very good wine that has time to spare in the cellar and will likely take on some darker fruits as it ages.
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Wow, so delicious. The aroma smells of sweet wood, scotch cask, fruity....and, well, love. The taste is smooth, light in the tannens,extremely bright. The aftertaste is almost buttery, but not in a bad way. Not buttery in the the flavor of the taste, but in how it feels on your tongue/back of your mouth. One of the best wines I've had in the past year.
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7/13/2023 - Brian Glas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking great. Savory red berry fruit with a hint of spice
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5/14/2019 - Glenn Gilbert Likes this wine: 86 Points
14.5% alcohol, heavy-weight foil, real cork; (my note on the label shows that it was bought at the winery 9/2/2011, during a tasting, for $26) short to medium legs, very dark purple; nose is fruit forward, notes of buttered vegetables, vanilla, alcohol; tasted at ca 16 degrees C, full bodied, presence of citrus, sour cherries, rhubarb, buttered vegetables like limas, butternut squash; the sourness cum alcohol predominates, tannins are more muted, slight trace of bitterness, finish is short to medium; pair with medium to rare red meat, or with extra aged hard cheese; this wine was probably cellared too long, but it still has character and is good to enjoy in its own right
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3/16/2018 - ldehayr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big bold and well balanced. Drinking well even at 10 years.
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1/29/2015 - Duderino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly right now. Heady nose with lots of anise. Great fruit, with chocolate notes, and a nice finish. Wish I had a case left!
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6/20/2014 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 90 Points
Midsummer Night's Celebration (Pagan Way) (1 star L'Effervescence (Tokyo)): To my palate, a typical Cali Merlot with aromas of sundried fruits (raisins, figs, dates) and some deep spicey aromas towards cacao and Heliotrope. Close to full bodied. Quite delicious. In the zone!
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1/15/2014 - Janstan Likes this wine: 90 Points
cedar box, dark fruits that, blackberry changed to mocha at finish. Long lasting
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9/20/2012 - Wine Gopher wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple color. Aromas of plum and vanilla. On the palate the oak is much better integrated and subtle than the nose would suggest with a nice mellow vanilla flavor. The rest of the flavor profile is dark fruit Medium finish. There are tannins that provide structure. With food it goes down fairly smooth but they were much less pleasant when we finished the bottle after dinner. It could use a few more years in the cellar or a decanting.
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9/5/2012 - scottnmand wrote: 86 Points
Quite a bit of oak on the nose right after opening, but went away after a few minutes and revealed nice blend of leather, allspice, and black cherry. Nose was much better than the mouth. Medium bodied, but rather simple and fruit-forward but not quite jammy. Tannins were nice and finish was reasonably long-lived but a little hot.
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9/3/2012 - deschamp52 wrote: 90 Points
Supple, velvety, smooth. Nice complexity and long finish. Earthy and cocoa like fruit.
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7/20/2012 - oropeza wrote: 89 Points
The Ecole 41 smoothness. Cherry, earth, cocoa. A tiny bit jammy, not quite as good as previous years. Nice wine though.
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3/13/2012 - WillSka Likes this wine:
Clear, medium ruby with a clean nose of medium intensity that offers aromas of sweet red fruits, minerals, mocha, and toasty vanilla. The palate reveals a merlot with a medium-plus body, medium-plus silky tannins, and medium acidity. The dry red fruits at carnberry, pomegranate, sherries, and red plums with hints of cocoa and toasty oak accents. The finish is of medium-plus length. This is a very good wine that has time to spare in the cellar and will likely take on some darker fruits as it ages.
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2/18/2012 - gdistort wrote: 93 Points
Wow, so delicious. The aroma smells of sweet wood, scotch cask, fruity....and, well, love. The taste is smooth, light in the tannens,extremely bright. The aftertaste is almost buttery, but not in a bad way. Not buttery in the the flavor of the taste, but in how it feels on your tongue/back of your mouth. One of the best wines I've had in the past year.
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12/20/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 91 Points
quite approachable. Well made with good fruit and some nice oak. Not and exciting wine, but a capable one. PDQ91
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