For a $12 wine in 2006 - this was amazing. I had 6 of these and just kept stretching it our and was rewarded. Held up so well, great fruit and balance. Loved it.
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Rich dark fruit nose of blackberry cassis and black cherry. These fruits carry through into the full fruit forward palate in perfect balance with tannins and acidity resulting in a rounded mouthfeel that persists in a moderately long finish. Yum!
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Blackberry, cassis and rose perfume nose. Rich dark fruit with nicely balanced acidity and fine grained tannins that smooth out further with time in the glass. One hour decant has helped. Another hour might have been even better.
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4h after opening, the wine showed well (a bottle of this vintage tasted 4 years ago was undrinkable at first but came round beautifully after a few hours and was good next day). Berries and plums on the pronounced nose. Very rich palate with a touch of raspberry ice cream at first. This soon gave way to dark cherries, plums, and cherry brandy. Spices were there throughout but difficult to identify ('all-spice'?). Soft leather tannins on the late palate. Still good - Clos improves with age and lasts for well over a decade.
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Wow. Surprised at how good this was. Deep garnet color with soft tannins. Costumed the bottle over the course of the day and it just got better. Wish I had bought more of this.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of cedar. It's overly tannic and has flavours of tobacco and alcohol with a full body. Flabby texture with a medium finish - "Found" this bottle in the cellar, wasn't expecting much, got what I expected. Wasn't great a few years ago, didn't get better with age. As others have said, it's quite unbalanced. The fruit is mostly gone, tanning still going strong.
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Dark purple color. Nose and palate changed pretty quickly from initial pour and on each sip through the first 2 pours. Initially very green nose and palate. Also very hot on the palate and out of balance. It then showed more pencil shavings on the palate, but the heat and awkward and uneven finish continued. I believe that this wine is falling apart. It has consistently scored lower and lower each bottle / year.
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Classic Vaynerchuck "Oak Monster" where the wood is outliving the fruit. Shame on me for even buying this knowing that this might happen with a Rolland wine. Tannins are still unresolved but by the time they do there will only be a ghost of a wine left. I will not be buying any more of this.
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C - bright red, purple hues, long legs N - plum, leather, coffee, chocolate, au jus, sweet tobacco, tar P - plum, full mouth feel, tobacco, coffee, tar, leather, truffles, dark black fruit, dark chocolate O - very dry wine, sucks your mouth dry, very dusty wine, dark black fruit, truffles, but generally well-balanced and a nice combination of fruit and earth, long palette
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I held this bottle for years, expecting a Bordeaux like experience but instead this wine tasted like an extracted Aussie shiraz. It had a deep inky purple color and the nose was dark berry fruit. I did not detect any secondary graphite or cedar notes. On the palate it seemed one-dimensional with decent fruit but not much else going on. Even after a couple of hours the last glass of the night did not change much. For the price this was not a bad wine at all and I think I expected something more complex.
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Looking through the cellartracker notes confirms my thoughts. I bought two bottles of this wine in 2007 and opened one immediately. It was an undrinkable tight, tannic monster. Two years later, what a difference. A beautiful Bordeaux notes of tobacco and cherry and pepper. Well balanced palate, more cherry and a very spicy lingering finish of white pepper and anise. Lots of life remaining. Great value for the cellar.
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Full colour; rich fruit and some mineral on the nose, mulberry and blueberry but reasonable definition and focus. Obviously big in the mouth but this didn't seem overblown. Hides the (high?) abv well, but even with a chargrilled steak it is probably only a couple of glasses before one get tired. Ripe, creamy fruit, some minerality and interest, good length and doesn't finish hot. Delivers what it promises. Pleased to have aged this for a couple of years from purchase and will leave my remaining bottle another couple of years. ***
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We did a vertical of 03,04,05 and this one stood out. Wish I could find more. I agree this has more aging left. I think out of 03-06, this is the best.
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Had a bottle of this exactly a year ago, and it just gets better and better and has years to go (5 years at least), my 5th vintage, this is my vote for the top wine under $25 time and again, awesome - Black, well concentrated with notes of extreme plum, cherry, blackberry and vanilla on the nose, very well structured, balanced/complex with a strong tannic backbone, silky smooth finish and fabulous length, tastes like $100 to me, awesome (92 Points).
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I should have held onto this longer. Tannins were still pretty intense after more than an hour in decanter. Not that it wasn't good-- it's a big concentrated new world wine that always delivers. But still, I do wish I had held onto this last bottle of the 04 a couple more years.
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Drunk with baked sausage. Very heavy duty wine, but the Malbec softens the Shiraz making it more approachable. I enjoyed it although I prefer more subtlety. I think this will still be good for another few years and I will probably hang on to my last bottle. The community rates this as drink by 2008 - however, other web sites from suppliers have this as a fifteen year drinking window. I can quite believe this based on tonight's tasting
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Much improved from earlier tastings. It accompanied an "English" lasagne although this wine is not so much a food accompaniment as a bottle that jumps up and down shouting "PLEASE LOVE ME." Full bodied and bursting with black and red fruit. If you have some, now is the time to drink it, but not if you are seeking subtlety and finesse.
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Nose: a bit closed with plums, mint and mild oak. On the palate, it's very surprising that it does not show the 15.2% alcohol. Full bodied, low astringency, firm tannins, medium aftertaste.....but heavy. Even though I didn't notice the 15.2% in my mouth, I could feel it in my stomach....it's too heavy and not food friendly.....too much alcohol.
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Decanted three hours. This big wine has aromas of blackberry and plum, which follow on the palate with briary dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, and smoky oak. Bold, dry, and tannic, CdlS has many redeeming qualities. It is hard to be disappointed with this wine in this price range.
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The nose and initial taste is an exceptional burst of red and black fruit. If I tasted this blind, I would buy a crate just for that first sip. After that, it just overwhelms me and not in a pleasant way. It was a real struggle to get through a couple of glasses. If I was a cynic I would say it was deliberately manufactured to create that initial "wow" impact. I hope this will mellow out in time and I have not given up on it yet
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Wines by Michel Rolland (FOF): Clear dark red color. Fresh nose with strawberry in milk and sugar and some tobaco and coffee. Very fleshy mouthfell with lots of fruit, and gaining some tobaco and dark chocolate on the midpalate. Medium length ending with a good deal of tannins. Drinking nicely right now, although it might open up a bit more with some age.
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In true Bordeaux style, this Argentinean red is subtle, well structured and tasty. Deep purple in colour I found dark berry fruit, cream and cigar box characters on the nose. The palate is rich and full with toasty oak and a long clean finish.
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Very big wine. Old world style with lead pencil, earth and dark fruit. Each bottle we've tried has been different and evolving / improving. They seem to be softening up a bit to show more character. Try another in 6 mos to 1 year.
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The alcohol although dominant on the nose, it is not overwhelming on the palate. Creamy toffee, mocha, dark fruits and toasty notes of oak. Great concentration and very good structure. Slightly dusty tannins on the long finish, went great with Peruvian Seco de Cordero. (lamb stew)
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Medicinal nose of cough mixture. Stewed fruit and hot. Didn't seem integrated at first but got better. Herbal bitters on the finish and lingering liquorice.
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Opaque deep purple color, nose has black fruit and spice. You get a riff of green vegetal too, although slight. Medium bodied with good acidity that helped with the food. Tannins are still pretty pronounced 4 hours after decanting. Sweet fruit flavor leaning toward plums. Definitely hot on the finish. It's enjoyable. I'll hold the other 2 bottles for another year or two.
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I agree with other notes commenting on too much alcohol. I don't mind big wines, but this was not well integrated. Had some hints of dark fruit, chocolate, but too much heat.
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One-dimensional, but pleasant nose of dark fruit...I already was weary as the alcohol was noticeable. On the palate, thin mouthfeel, again one-dimensional dark fruit. alcohol shows through even though it was slightly chilled from the wine fridge. bitter finish w/ mild but harsh tannin.
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First day, deep purple-black. Chocolate, cardboard, earth and oak on the nose and some dried blackcurrant fruit. The palate attacks with weighty, soupy alcoholic chocolate and oak. Too much alcohol, too little fruit but tannin is very fine. Second day brought out more fruit on the nose and better fruit balance on the palate. Definitely needs plenty of air time at the moment.
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Very Dark Purple in color. I drank this in 3 days. The first night there was too much oaky, brown, cocoa, briar/earthiness coming through(the Malbec-merlot combo?). it was almost overwhelming. I re-corked, placed it in the wine-frige and opened 2 nights later. Some of the "brown" aromas were gone, and the fruit came through a bit more. Blackberries, black plum, with a hint of oak and earth. it was still quite smooth in texture, soft tannins with a rather nice finish. the alcohol did shine through a bit much. Nice wine. A solid 88. I look forward to the 2005. Would repurchase.
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Wine was too tannic and not overly impressive at first, but the second and third day it really softened and opened up. Definitely let this wine breath.
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There are several reviews of this wine on Cellartracker, many of them dismissive of the Michel Rolland involvement, so it was quite difficult to approach this with an open mind. Certainly the style is Bordeaux Superieur, although I think it showed a little more complexity, particularly on the aftertaste which to me was a pleasant liquorice
I found the 15% alcohol a little too much. I drink wine for the taste, not to end up in a coma.
It is certainly not a wine that excites me and unless anyone thinks it will dramatically improve with time I imagine the other five bottles in my cellar will be accompanying me to friends’ dinner parties. I would expect more for the price.
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Dark purple. Black fruit nose with a little funk/stable. Very concentrated black berries, hints of tobacco and chocolate, lots of oak. Powerful, modern, but not complex. Begs for attention, but interest quickly fades - over the top? 2nd night: much better, opened up, less oaky. Increased rating from 88 to 90!
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Wow, what a wine - Cannot believe concentration and quality for such a low price, it was dark purple, very rich and full bodied, fruit forward on the nose with a touch of oak, medium tannins with a smooth and long finish (92 Points).
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Deep, dark color. Big fruity nose. Full, creamy body. Ripe berries, plum. Slight minerality to it. Moderate finish. Good wine for the price. Worth buying again.
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50% Malbec, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah. Very dark purple. Nose of dark plum and blackberries. A very nice bottle of wine that tastes like you might have spent twice as much. Every grape in this blend shines and contributes in a meaningful way. The balance is perfect. Good dark berry fruit. Nice dryness. Good earthiness. All in just the right amounts. A real pleasure. 15% alcohol but doesn't have the hotness of some high alcohol wines. Biodynamic. I have a friend who won't drink Michel Rolland wines. I say "it's wine, not a marriage." This is good wine at a good price.
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@ Philip Marie, with Kimberly Turner, Mary Jacobs, Mei-Ping, Tricia and Jen: Much better than the last time I had this wine (which was by the glass, not the bottle, and so perhaps open too long ... or maybe the wine is showing better, now). Some very good, sweet, red fruit, a little bit of earthiness (a la Michael Rolland), and fine tannins on the finish. Went very well with our food (and, again, with my wild boar). A great $15-$17 bottle (retail).
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Violáceo, límpido e brilhante. Aromas intensos, adocidados, de ameixa, framboesa, especiarias e bastante madeira, que se confirmam na boca. Taninos marcantes mas macios, muita fruta madura, doçura e boa acidez. Indisfarçável estilo 'novo mundo'. Final médio a longo com ligeiro amargor. Muito bom.
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Purpura fechado. No nariz traz ameixa, café ,alcaçuz e especiarias. No boca bastante concentrado, trazendo fruta vermelha madura, cacau e pimenta. Taninos macios e média acidez. Um vinho com características claras do novo mundo, equilibrado, sedoso, encorpado , intenso e com um bom retrogosto de especiarias e fruta. Ótimo.
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A big, strapping prop row forward of a wine. Nose of tar and leather but also juicy raspberries. As one would expect from a wine by Michel Rolland, this is ripe, lush and full of fruit. It is dense, with soft tannins and lots of backbone - great use of Malbec, better than any Cahors I've ever tasted. Raspberries all the way. There is nothing subtle about this but it manages to avoid tasting rustic. Great with lasagne.
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Tasted at Frank's winetasting in Oslo, Norway at Hotell Continental Got very good remarks from a (famous) norwegian winetaster (standing in front of us ;-) Hence, bought two bottles.
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Purple like Welch's. Initially somewhat bitter and tannic, with thin fruit. Improved somewhat with time in glass. Recorked bottle and had 1 day later, a bit warmer now, but unidimensional dark fruits. Boring and commercial. Artificial.
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Solid structure, with the cab and shiraz adding some extra spice. Plenty of nose, from the minute the cork was pulled. Will definitely look for more of this red.
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@ Philip Marie for dinner. Lots of black fruit and some tannins. Paired well with the wild boar, and the grilled vegetables. But nothing special, on its own.
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A brooding, beast of a wine. Thick, inky purple colors in the glass with a fruit-filled nose. Loads of ripe black fruits pop from the glass accompanied by a dose of heat. The palate is also very concentrated and plump. A very singular wine - big time fruit. Not as interesting as the 03, which demonstrated more earth, tobacco, etc. I'll revisit on day two and hope for some evolution.
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Big nose with anise and tortured fruit. Prickly on the tongue with density. Busted fruit, sweet, flat and dull tannins. Of little interest and pretty much a cliché wine. First complimented by others, but quickly tossed over when presented with a more balanced wine to drink with dinner.
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Dark violet. Robust nose, fruity, spicy, licorice. Somewhat pointed. Perfumed? Well-balanced, powerful body, medium acids and tannins, but balanced by fruit. Some sweetness. Long spicy finish. Almost too powerful for food...
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11/7/2020 - Bourgognefreak Likes this wine: 89 Points
Holding up well and disguising its 15% alcohol very well. Good fruit and still some tannins - excellent with red meat. Good value.
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12/11/2016 - Barry Raterink Likes this wine: 92 Points
For a $12 wine in 2006 - this was amazing. I had 6 of these and just kept stretching it our and was rewarded. Held up so well, great fruit and balance. Loved it.
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2/6/2016 - extrafd Likes this wine: 93 Points
har måske toppet, men stadig et godt glas
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11/7/2015 - VinVet Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich dark fruit nose of blackberry cassis and black cherry. These fruits carry through into the full fruit forward palate in perfect balance with tannins and acidity resulting in a rounded mouthfeel that persists in a moderately long finish. Yum!
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8/27/2015 - VinVet Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberry, cassis and rose perfume nose. Rich dark fruit with nicely balanced acidity and fine grained tannins that smooth out further with time in the glass. One hour decant has helped. Another hour might have been even better.
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6/13/2015 - johnrm Likes this wine: 89 Points
4h after opening, the wine showed well (a bottle of this vintage tasted 4 years ago was undrinkable at first but came round beautifully after a few hours and was good next day).
Berries and plums on the pronounced nose. Very rich palate with a touch of raspberry ice cream at first. This soon gave way to dark cherries, plums, and cherry brandy. Spices were there throughout but difficult to identify ('all-spice'?). Soft leather tannins on the late palate.
Still good - Clos improves with age and lasts for well over a decade.
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9/27/2014 - VinVet Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice complex Bordeaux nose with well balanced palate. Tannins are muted and fruit not very prominent. Perhaps this wine is past its best.
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8/28/2013 - apmarques Does not like this wine: 80 Points
probably too late to be drink.
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8/27/2011 - WineShark wrote: 92 Points
Wow. Surprised at how good this was. Deep garnet color with soft tannins. Costumed the bottle over the course of the day and it just got better. Wish I had bought more of this.
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6/20/2011 - Bobbo29 wrote: 87 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of cedar. It's overly tannic and has flavours of tobacco and alcohol with a full body. Flabby texture with a medium finish - "Found" this bottle in the cellar, wasn't expecting much, got what I expected. Wasn't great a few years ago, didn't get better with age. As others have said, it's quite unbalanced. The fruit is mostly gone, tanning still going strong.
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1/7/2011 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 85 Points
Dark purple color. Nose and palate changed pretty quickly from initial pour and on each sip through the first 2 pours. Initially very green nose and palate. Also very hot on the palate and out of balance. It then showed more pencil shavings on the palate, but the heat and awkward and uneven finish continued. I believe that this wine is falling apart. It has consistently scored lower and lower each bottle / year.
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1/16/2010 - cob wrote:
Classic Vaynerchuck "Oak Monster" where the wood is outliving the fruit. Shame on me for even buying this knowing that this might happen with a Rolland wine. Tannins are still unresolved but by the time they do there will only be a ghost of a wine left. I will not be buying any more of this.
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12/26/2009 - jimkay21 wrote: 85 Points
Not much going on with this one. Should have drunk sooner
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12/5/2009 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
C - bright red, purple hues, long legs
N - plum, leather, coffee, chocolate, au jus, sweet tobacco, tar
P - plum, full mouth feel, tobacco, coffee, tar, leather, truffles, dark black
fruit, dark chocolate
O - very dry wine, sucks your mouth dry, very dusty wine, dark black fruit,
truffles, but generally well-balanced and a nice combination of fruit and earth,
long palette
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11/6/2009 - walsh9698 wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle - still good.
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10/26/2009 - C. Castenskiold wrote:
No points - past its peaks
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9/20/2009 - dst wrote: 88 Points
Past it's peak, but still drinkable. This wine does not age well, it should be drank early.
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8/29/2009 - jsevland wrote: 88 Points
On the nose: lots of berries and heather and pepper.
Black berries and lots og tannins
Can keep storing
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8/2/2009 - Arch57 wrote: 86 Points
I held this bottle for years, expecting a Bordeaux like experience but instead this wine tasted like an extracted Aussie shiraz. It had a deep inky purple color and the nose was dark berry fruit. I did not detect any secondary graphite or cedar notes. On the palate it seemed one-dimensional with decent fruit but not much else going on. Even after a couple of hours the last glass of the night did not change much. For the price this was not a bad wine at all and I think I expected something more complex.
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7/31/2009 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Dark purple color. Nose and palate seemed simple. It was a big wine, but one dimensional.
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7/25/2009 - Plusvini wrote: 92 Points
Looking through the cellartracker notes confirms my thoughts. I bought two bottles of this wine in 2007 and opened one immediately. It was an undrinkable tight, tannic monster. Two years later, what a difference. A beautiful Bordeaux notes of tobacco and cherry and pepper. Well balanced palate, more cherry and a very spicy lingering finish of white pepper and anise. Lots of life remaining. Great value for the cellar.
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3/11/2009 - SimonG wrote:
Full colour; rich fruit and some mineral on the nose, mulberry and blueberry but reasonable definition and focus. Obviously big in the mouth but this didn't seem overblown. Hides the (high?) abv well, but even with a chargrilled steak it is probably only a couple of glasses before one get tired. Ripe, creamy fruit, some minerality and interest, good length and doesn't finish hot. Delivers what it promises. Pleased to have aged this for a couple of years from purchase and will leave my remaining bottle another couple of years. ***
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2/11/2009 - Terroirist wrote:
We did a vertical of 03,04,05 and this one stood out. Wish I could find more. I agree this has more aging left. I think out of 03-06, this is the best.
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1/18/2009 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Had a bottle of this exactly a year ago, and it just gets better and better and has years to go (5 years at least), my 5th vintage, this is my vote for the top wine under $25 time and again, awesome - Black, well concentrated with notes of extreme plum, cherry, blackberry and vanilla on the nose, very well structured, balanced/complex with a strong tannic backbone, silky smooth finish and fabulous length, tastes like $100 to me, awesome (92 Points).
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9/13/2008 - laparka wrote: 89 Points
I should have held onto this longer. Tannins were still pretty intense after more than an hour in decanter. Not that it wasn't good-- it's a big concentrated new world wine that always delivers. But still, I do wish I had held onto this last bottle of the 04 a couple more years.
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8/8/2008 - Steve A wrote: 88 Points
Drunk with baked sausage. Very heavy duty wine, but the Malbec softens the Shiraz making it more approachable. I enjoyed it although I prefer more subtlety. I think this will still be good for another few years and I will probably hang on to my last bottle. The community rates this as drink by 2008 - however, other web sites from suppliers have this as a fifteen year drinking window. I can quite believe this based on tonight's tasting
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5/5/2008 - Steve A wrote: 88 Points
Much improved from earlier tastings. It accompanied an "English" lasagne although this wine is not so much a food accompaniment as a bottle that jumps up and down shouting "PLEASE LOVE ME." Full bodied and bursting with black and red fruit. If you have some, now is the time to drink it, but not if you are seeking subtlety and finesse.
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4/28/2008 - vsbastosx wrote: 87 Points
Nose: a bit closed with plums, mint and mild oak.
On the palate, it's very surprising that it does not show the 15.2% alcohol. Full bodied, low astringency, firm tannins, medium aftertaste.....but heavy.
Even though I didn't notice the 15.2% in my mouth, I could feel it in my stomach....it's too heavy and not food friendly.....too much alcohol.
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2/17/2008 - scott davis wrote: 90 Points
Decanted three hours. This big wine has aromas of blackberry and plum, which follow on the palate with briary dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, and smoky oak. Bold, dry, and tannic, CdlS has many redeeming qualities. It is hard to be disappointed with this wine in this price range.
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12/9/2007 - Steve A wrote:
Used to make mulled wine so no comments
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11/23/2007 - Steve A wrote: 85 Points
The nose and initial taste is an exceptional burst of red and black fruit. If I tasted this blind, I would buy a crate just for that first sip. After that, it just overwhelms me and not in a pleasant way. It was a real struggle to get through a couple of glasses. If I was a cynic I would say it was deliberately manufactured to create that initial "wow" impact. I hope this will mellow out in time and I have not given up on it yet
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11/20/2007 - Terkel wrote: 88 Points
Wines by Michel Rolland (FOF): Clear dark red color. Fresh nose with strawberry in milk and sugar and some tobaco and coffee. Very fleshy mouthfell with lots of fruit, and gaining some tobaco and dark chocolate on the midpalate. Medium length ending with a good deal of tannins. Drinking nicely right now, although it might open up a bit more with some age.
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10/22/2007 - jamieirving wrote: 86 Points
In true Bordeaux style, this Argentinean red is subtle, well structured and tasty. Deep purple in colour I found dark berry fruit, cream and cigar box characters on the nose. The palate is rich and full with toasty oak and a long clean finish.
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10/21/2007 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Very big wine. Old world style with lead pencil, earth and dark fruit. Each bottle we've tried has been different and evolving / improving. They seem to be softening up a bit to show more character. Try another in 6 mos to 1 year.
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10/8/2007 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 90 Points
The alcohol although dominant on the nose, it is not overwhelming on the palate. Creamy toffee, mocha, dark fruits and toasty notes of oak. Great concentration and very good structure. Slightly dusty tannins on the long finish, went great with Peruvian Seco de Cordero. (lamb stew)
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8/15/2007 - GraemeBell wrote: 84 Points
Medicinal nose of cough mixture. Stewed fruit and hot. Didn't seem integrated at first but got better. Herbal bitters on the finish and lingering liquorice.
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7/11/2007 - jimkay21 wrote: 88 Points
Opaque deep purple color, nose has black fruit and spice. You get a riff of green vegetal too, although slight. Medium bodied with good acidity that helped with the food. Tannins are still pretty pronounced 4 hours after decanting. Sweet fruit flavor leaning toward plums. Definitely hot on the finish. It's enjoyable. I'll hold the other 2 bottles for another year or two.
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6/4/2007 - MichaelF wrote: 85 Points
I agree with other notes commenting on too much alcohol. I don't mind big wines, but this was not well integrated. Had some hints of dark fruit, chocolate, but too much heat.
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5/29/2007 - frqntflyr wrote: 80 Points
One-dimensional, but pleasant nose of dark fruit...I already was weary as the alcohol was noticeable. On the palate, thin mouthfeel, again one-dimensional dark fruit. alcohol shows through even though it was slightly chilled from the wine fridge. bitter finish w/ mild but harsh tannin.
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3/30/2007 - rumpole wrote:
Maybe a bad bottle, but over-extracted and tannic. Unpleasant surprise.
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2/7/2007 - gravelld wrote: 86 Points
First day, deep purple-black. Chocolate, cardboard, earth and oak on the nose and some dried blackcurrant fruit. The palate attacks with weighty, soupy alcoholic chocolate and oak. Too much alcohol, too little fruit but tannin is very fine. Second day brought out more fruit on the nose and better fruit balance on the palate. Definitely needs plenty of air time at the moment.
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1/17/2007 - Johnboy wrote: 88 Points
Very Dark Purple in color. I drank this in 3 days. The first night there was too much oaky, brown, cocoa, briar/earthiness coming through(the Malbec-merlot combo?). it was almost overwhelming. I re-corked, placed it in the wine-frige and opened 2 nights later. Some of the "brown" aromas were gone, and the fruit came through a bit more. Blackberries, black plum, with a hint of oak and earth. it was still quite smooth in texture, soft tannins with a rather nice finish. the alcohol did shine through a bit much. Nice wine. A solid 88. I look forward to the 2005. Would repurchase.
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1/15/2007 - sailingstu05 wrote: 89 Points
Wine was too tannic and not overly impressive at first, but the second and third day it really softened and opened up. Definitely let this wine breath.
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1/12/2007 - Steve A wrote:
There are several reviews of this wine on Cellartracker, many of them dismissive of the Michel Rolland involvement, so it was quite difficult to approach this with an open mind. Certainly the style is Bordeaux Superieur, although I think it showed a little more complexity, particularly on the aftertaste which to me was a pleasant liquorice
I found the 15% alcohol a little too much. I drink wine for the taste, not to end up in a coma.
It is certainly not a wine that excites me and unless anyone thinks it will dramatically improve with time I imagine the other five bottles in my cellar will be accompanying me to friends’ dinner parties. I would expect more for the price.
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1/11/2007 - pmik wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple. Black fruit nose with a little funk/stable. Very concentrated black berries, hints of tobacco and chocolate, lots of oak. Powerful, modern, but not complex. Begs for attention, but interest quickly fades - over the top?
2nd night: much better, opened up, less oaky. Increased rating from 88 to 90!
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1/9/2007 - Gulelin wrote: 88 Points
Very nice QPR.
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1/6/2007 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Wow, what a wine - Cannot believe concentration and quality for such a low price, it was dark purple, very rich and full bodied, fruit forward on the nose with a touch of oak, medium tannins with a smooth and long finish (92 Points).
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12/22/2006 - MichaelF wrote: 89 Points
Deep, dark color. Big fruity nose. Full, creamy body. Ripe berries, plum. Slight minerality to it. Moderate finish. Good wine for the price. Worth buying again.
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12/18/2006 - nubbin wrote: 90 Points
50% Malbec, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah. Very dark purple. Nose of dark plum and blackberries. A very nice bottle of wine that tastes like you might have spent twice as much. Every grape in this blend shines and contributes in a meaningful way. The balance is perfect. Good dark berry fruit. Nice dryness. Good earthiness. All in just the right amounts. A real pleasure. 15% alcohol but doesn't have the hotness of some high alcohol wines. Biodynamic.
I have a friend who won't drink Michel Rolland wines. I say "it's wine, not a marriage." This is good wine at a good price.
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12/17/2006 - amateurwino wrote: 87 Points
Tastes like a Bdx-Superieur level Bordeaux blend. Serviceable, nothing special.
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12/15/2006 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
@ Philip Marie, with Kimberly Turner, Mary Jacobs, Mei-Ping, Tricia and Jen: Much better than the last time I had this wine (which was by the glass, not the bottle, and so perhaps open too long ... or maybe the wine is showing better, now). Some very good, sweet, red fruit, a little bit of earthiness (a la Michael Rolland), and fine tannins on the finish. Went very well with our food (and, again, with my wild boar). A great $15-$17 bottle (retail).
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12/9/2006 - Northern wrote: 90 Points
Big, vanilla, red fruits.
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12/2/2006 - pontac wrote: 85 Points
WWS - Welwyn Wine Society - Annual Wine Fair (Woolmer Green Village Hall): Good fruit, pleasnt but whack of acidity on finish.
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11/26/2006 - losvinhos wrote: 88 Points
Mesmas impressões anteriores. Bomba do novo mundo.
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11/26/2006 - Wrighty wrote: 89 Points
Big, dark and brooding. Over extracted with lots of ripe fruit. An interesting wine but not a great wine.
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11/18/2006 - SimonK wrote: 87 Points
As you would expect a very fruit forward wine that is pleaeant to drink but not complex enough and a little dull in the background
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11/2/2006 - Vinho wrote: 89 Points
Violáceo, límpido e brilhante. Aromas intensos, adocidados, de ameixa, framboesa, especiarias e bastante madeira, que se confirmam na boca. Taninos marcantes mas macios, muita fruta madura, doçura e boa acidez. Indisfarçável estilo 'novo mundo'. Final médio a longo com ligeiro amargor. Muito bom.
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10/19/2006 - losvinhos wrote: 88 Points
Purpura fechado. No nariz traz ameixa, café ,alcaçuz e especiarias. No boca bastante concentrado, trazendo fruta vermelha madura, cacau e pimenta. Taninos macios e média acidez. Um vinho com características claras do novo mundo, equilibrado, sedoso, encorpado , intenso e com um bom retrogosto de especiarias e fruta. Ótimo.
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9/19/2006 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
A big, strapping prop row forward of a wine. Nose of tar and leather but also juicy raspberries. As one would expect from a wine by Michel Rolland, this is ripe, lush and full of fruit. It is dense, with soft tannins and lots of backbone - great use of Malbec, better than any Cahors I've ever tasted. Raspberries all the way. There is nothing subtle about this but it manages to avoid tasting rustic. Great with lasagne.
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8/31/2006 - jsevland wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at Frank's winetasting in Oslo, Norway at Hotell Continental
Got very good remarks from a (famous) norwegian winetaster (standing in front of us ;-)
Hence, bought two bottles.
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8/31/2006 - lumpkins wrote: 84 Points
dark inky colour. big fruit driven nose. harsh, tannic and unbalanced taste - just doesn't come together. overpriced.
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8/23/2006 - respfinch wrote: 90 Points
Can't go wrong at this price - refined tannins, smooth drinker, and beautiful label to boot
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8/17/2006 - gordoyflaca wrote: 84 Points
Purple like Welch's. Initially somewhat bitter and tannic, with thin fruit. Improved somewhat with time in glass. Recorked bottle and had 1 day later, a bit warmer now, but unidimensional dark fruits. Boring and commercial. Artificial.
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8/11/2006 - MCrawford wrote: 88 Points
Solid structure, with the cab and shiraz adding some extra spice. Plenty of nose, from the minute the cork was pulled. Will definitely look for more of this red.
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7/29/2006 - TashNYC wrote: 88 Points
@ Philip Marie for dinner. Lots of black fruit and some tannins. Paired well with the wild boar, and the grilled vegetables. But nothing special, on its own.
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6/23/2006 - Nanda wrote: 87 Points
A brooding, beast of a wine. Thick, inky purple colors in the glass with a fruit-filled nose. Loads of ripe black fruits pop from the glass accompanied by a dose of heat. The palate is also very concentrated and plump. A very singular wine - big time fruit. Not as interesting as the 03, which demonstrated more earth, tobacco, etc. I'll revisit on day two and hope for some evolution.
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6/4/2006 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Big nose with anise and tortured fruit. Prickly on the tongue with density. Busted fruit, sweet, flat and dull tannins. Of little interest and pretty much a cliché wine. First complimented by others, but quickly tossed over when presented with a more balanced wine to drink with dinner.
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5/19/2006 - 97mjr wrote: 88 Points
very sweet. rose pedal, licorice, tannic. very modern not bad but would not repurchase
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3/18/2006 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Better than previous bottle. Lead pencil & terroir with underlying fruit. Very Bordeaux in style.
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2/24/2006 - pmik wrote:
Dark violet. Robust nose, fruity, spicy, licorice. Somewhat pointed. Perfumed?
Well-balanced, powerful body, medium acids and tannins, but balanced by fruit. Some sweetness.
Long spicy finish.
Almost too powerful for food...
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