This wine needs a lot of air before it starts getting good. But when it does, it is a remarkably classy wine for 9 bucks!
Very vegetative aroma eventually burns off - a good thing , cause I hate bell pepper taste or aroma in Cabernet. On the palate, once properly aired, lots of cassis and nice darker fruit, with a very nice sense of elegance and balance.
If you make the mistake of not airing it you will want to rate it a 69 like the previous poster.
One great way with this one is to pour it through an aerator into a couple of splits, let em sit overnight, keep them at about 60 degrees and drink the next day. Voila, an 82 pt wine starts pushing 90 points.
At this price, it can be an excellent everyday wine and unlike many overfruited overoaked Cab bombs, this one is an elegant claret and pairs very well with a wide variety of foods.
Could stand a couple of years in the cellar IMO, and then be pretty nice for about 3 years after that. A very good QPR in my book.
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A got a very interesting smoky/bell pepper/tomatillo nose, almost reminiscent of a salsa. It had a good deal of blackberry going on as well. The body/tannin left something to be desired, on the lighter side. Finish was also lacking. Still an okay buy for the price.
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On Vacation Orlando Wine Wine Shops Stink!: Not good and oak chipped wine. On vacation in Orlando and brother-in-law new the name so bought. No fruit showing on this wine and all about the bitter, nasty taste. I am sorry but anyone who drinks this is a wine beginner. Terrible!!! Worst wine of the year canidate.
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Opaque garnet color with ripe red fruit, oak, and vanilla aromas. On the palate, it's light-bodied, smooth and easy with plum, cherry and vanilla flavors. Medium finish.
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On the nose there's cassis, green pepper, black liquorice & milk chocolate ~ On the palate its rather soft & round with flavors of blueberry, black cherry & a bit leathery ~Tightens up on the finish but a crowd pleasing simple style
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The wine is a medium ruby color, lighter at the edge. The fairly straight forward nose has cassis, baking spices, white pepper, dried herbs, cherry, toasty oak, and a slight herbal note in the background. This has medium body, nice acidity, and a bit of a tannic edge. The wine is a bit brighter on the palate with cherry and baking spices leading the way. The finish is a touch short with the herbal note from the nose making an appearance. All in all, much better than most of the $11 and under Cabernets I have had over the years. This is dry and would work well at a party with appetizers or would go well with a nice weeknight dinner of beef stew, meat loaf, or even a meaty pizza. There are much worse ways to spend your wine money.
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Pretty classic simple Cab Sauv ~ Nose of green pepper, menthol, black currant, liquorice, blackberry & wood ~ The palate is medium to full bodied with soft acidity & supple tannins ~ Simple but enjoyable everyday Cab
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Nothing much to remember. Ruby colored, medium body. Gives a very good smell on the nose but a bit too fruity. Very fruit-forward. Good for beginners or go along well with food. However, for those who have encounter plenty of wines, this might be nothing much to remember. It's good, but too fruit forward. Not my style.
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Robe de couleur: Grenat foncé; Bouquet: Fruit rouge, mûr confite, cerise, vanille, Acidité faible; Corsé; Arômes en bouche: Cerise, fruit rouge confit, prune, poivre, vanille, Bonne longueur, sur le fruit pour un cab americain, a decanter, cote cerise/prune du Zinfandel
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Classic aromas and flavors: cassis, plum, herbs, and green pepper. Smooth, well-integrated tannins. This will not necessarily appeal to fans of hugely fruity Cabernets, but if elegance and great varietal typicity is what you're after, you can't do better than this for $11.
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2/11/2018 - ByronCellar wrote:
DCI Book Club at Mendez
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8/16/2014 - Gpars wrote: 82 Points
Just ok...
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4/18/2014 - Brantparker wrote: 86 Points
Let breathe for 4 hours as it will accent the dark red fruits and slight oak taste. A bit of a thin finish.
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3/24/2014 - pakabear Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Quite thin, fruit and oak are both noticeable but just not a great effort. Not even sure it's worth the price...
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8/20/2013 - Barrygloec Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ok alone. Good with pasta. Ok but not as good with Thai food.
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6/13/2013 - Santiago53 Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine needs a lot of air before it starts getting good. But when it does, it is a remarkably classy wine for 9 bucks!
Very vegetative aroma eventually burns off - a good thing , cause I hate bell pepper taste or aroma in Cabernet. On the palate, once properly aired, lots of cassis and nice darker fruit, with a very nice sense of elegance and balance.
If you make the mistake of not airing it you will want to rate it a 69 like the previous poster.
One great way with this one is to pour it through an aerator into a couple of splits, let em sit overnight, keep them at about 60 degrees and drink the next day. Voila, an 82 pt wine starts pushing 90 points.
At this price, it can be an excellent everyday wine and unlike many overfruited overoaked Cab bombs, this one is an elegant claret and pairs very well with a wide variety of foods.
Could stand a couple of years in the cellar IMO, and then be pretty nice for about 3 years after that. A very good QPR in my book.
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4/20/2013 - williames Does not like this wine: 69 Points
Very commercial. Soft fruit reminiscent of overripe stewed plums. No discernible structure.
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3/29/2013 - Justin Bray wrote:
A got a very interesting smoky/bell pepper/tomatillo nose, almost reminiscent of a salsa. It had a good deal of blackberry going on as well. The body/tannin left something to be desired, on the lighter side. Finish was also lacking. Still an okay buy for the price.
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3/25/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 68 Points
On Vacation Orlando Wine Wine Shops Stink!: Not good and oak chipped wine. On vacation in Orlando and brother-in-law new the name so bought. No fruit showing on this wine and all about the bitter, nasty taste. I am sorry but anyone who drinks this is a wine beginner. Terrible!!! Worst wine of the year canidate.
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3/16/2013 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
nice rich bramble berry, relatively lush, good fruit. i wasnt expecting that much and wound up really liking this
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3/1/2013 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 85 Points
Opaque garnet color with ripe red fruit, oak, and vanilla aromas. On the palate, it's light-bodied, smooth and easy with plum, cherry and vanilla flavors. Medium finish.
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2/23/2013 - Yankee wrote: 85 Points
On the nose there's cassis, green pepper, black liquorice & milk chocolate ~ On the palate its rather soft & round with flavors of blueberry, black cherry & a bit leathery ~Tightens up on the finish but a crowd pleasing simple style
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1/18/2013 - Barrygloec Likes this wine: 89 Points
I used to order this at the Olive Garden. Lately I've been ordering Antinori Toscana. I still like Mondavei Cabernet but it seems a little too sweet.
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1/15/2013 - wineOK wrote: 84 Points
Nice simple cab. Great QPR.
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1/13/2013 - wade wrote: 82 Points
Fruity. It gives you a buzz for cheap.
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1/11/2013 - sniffy wrote:
Used for braising
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12/19/2012 - vin0vin0 wrote: 80 Points
Fairly mediocre cab with medium weight, fairly light tannins, some dark fruit on the front end and little finish.
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12/15/2012 - K is for Kate Does not like this wine:
This tasted exactly as generic as I expected and was a perfect example of industrialized wine for a Mondovino tasting.
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10/30/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 85 Points
The wine is a medium ruby color, lighter at the edge. The fairly straight forward nose has cassis, baking spices, white pepper, dried herbs, cherry, toasty oak, and a slight herbal note in the background. This has medium body, nice acidity, and a bit of a tannic edge. The wine is a bit brighter on the palate with cherry and baking spices leading the way. The finish is a touch short with the herbal note from the nose making an appearance. All in all, much better than most of the $11 and under Cabernets I have had over the years. This is dry and would work well at a party with appetizers or would go well with a nice weeknight dinner of beef stew, meat loaf, or even a meaty pizza. There are much worse ways to spend your wine money.
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10/14/2012 - eldiabloazul wrote: 86 Points
Above my expectations...solid value. It's got some oak, a little bite, enough fruit and tannin to make it enjoyable. would buy again...
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10/11/2012 - PodoPodoRyan wrote: 85 Points
Excellent everyday Cabernet. Slightly fruity but still complex.
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10/6/2012 - mike410 wrote: 80 Points
Nasty wine. Just awful,
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7/26/2012 - Kelleroni Does not like this wine: 76 Points
Watered down......aftertaste also spoils it.
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7/4/2012 - Yankee wrote: 86 Points
Pretty classic simple Cab Sauv ~ Nose of green pepper, menthol, black currant, liquorice, blackberry & wood ~ The palate is medium to full bodied with soft acidity & supple tannins ~ Simple but enjoyable everyday Cab
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5/23/2012 - nrad6949 wrote: 85 Points
Nothing much to remember. Ruby colored, medium body. Gives a very good smell on the nose but a bit too fruity. Very fruit-forward. Good for beginners or go along well with food. However, for those who have encounter plenty of wines, this might be nothing much to remember. It's good, but too fruit forward. Not my style.
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5/17/2012 - ddgd Likes this wine: 89 Points
surprisingly enjoyable. Bolder than expected and a great everyday choice.
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5/13/2012 - jicreixell wrote:
Still ayoung wine. Fresh and light. Deep red color with fruity aroma. PLum, cherry taste.
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3/10/2012 - flussier wrote: 87 Points
Robe de couleur: Grenat foncé; Bouquet: Fruit rouge, mûr confite, cerise, vanille, Acidité faible; Corsé; Arômes en bouche: Cerise, fruit rouge confit, prune, poivre, vanille, Bonne longueur, sur le fruit pour un cab americain, a decanter, cote cerise/prune du Zinfandel
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1/28/2012 - drdebs wrote: 88 Points
Classic aromas and flavors: cassis, plum, herbs, and green pepper. Smooth, well-integrated tannins. This will not necessarily appeal to fans of hugely fruity Cabernets, but if elegance and great varietal typicity is what you're after, you can't do better than this for $11.
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1/8/2012 - Vino fish wrote: 87 Points
Arome de cuir et boisé. Tannins souples a ec bonne finite on
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12/15/2011 - BALSB wrote: 85 Points
A little early, not bad for the price
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