I have had this wine in three vintages, usually 3-5 years after the birthday. This is the oldest bottle of Solanera I have had to date. Brookie and I drank this undecanted with spicy enchiladas and guacamole. Contrary to my usual habit, I read all of the reviews on this site prior to sharing my thoughts. I don't have a lot to add that has not already been stated. This is a nice bottle of Spanish mourvedre, that is capable of aging well and pairs well with Spanish food, roast, barbecue, and Mexican food. Dark, brooding, black fruit, Brookie says cedar, I say black pepper, and decent balance and tannins. Ages well for a $12 bottle. Buy a couple of cases of this. The previous comments about this not being well defined are accurate. But for shit sake, who has ever had a well defined, clearly delineated bottle of mourvedre?! That's not what this grape is all about. It's a blending grape that occasionally is allowed to take center stage. Saying a bottle of mourvedre is not "well defined" is like saying the drum solo at the Motley Crue concert was lacking in musicality and melodic intonation.
I didn't assign a numerical score to this wine because I don't drink a lot of mourvedre dominant wine, and I doubt that any of the people who read this review will have a lot of experience with mourvedre dominant wines, so any attempt to associate my experience with a rating would not be accurate. This is a solid "table wine" and should occupy a place in any cellar.
This bottle has held up well, and is a nice expression of the varietal. Better than other bottles of Spanish wine at the same price point, and although I didn't get all the notes identified in other reviews, it clearly speaks well of this wine that there is so much to find in a wine of such humble pedigree.
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Deep ruby coloring. Aromas of blue, black, and purple fruits, violet, mineral, and paint. Medium body, acid, and finish, and flavors of fruits on the black end of the spectrum, along with a mineral core throughout. As before, not the most complex wine, but you could do much worse for ten bones.
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Cab S seemed to dominate--herbaceous and muddled black fruit, like a high production Bdx variety based red. Middle-weight on the palate, mild tannins and good acidity. There is some nice silkiness to the mid palate along with chocolate on the finish. I didn't perceive much character from the Mourvedre component. Good enough wine, but lacking in definition and clarity.
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Nose predominantly of blackcurrants and black raspberry jam. Medium bodied with similar dark flavors initially; changes to a savory mid-palate of mixed stewed fruit and tomato-laden beef stock.
New world expression with not much clarity of flavors. At $15, there are better options from Spain (e.g good entry level tempranillo can be had under $15; for a few dollars more, entry-level Priorat would offer more complexity).
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Solid ten dollar red with good structure and balance; medium weight, not a new-world style Spanish slurper, which to me is a good thing; drinking well, no rush
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A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied red blend, with black currant, blackberry, chocolate and spice on long finish. A smooth easy drinking red, a fantastic QPR. www.winelx.com
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Interesting Spanish red blend of Monastrell (Mourvedre), Cab and Tintorera. Dark black fruits, plum, fig, a touch of something sweet that is wrapped up in some fairly drying tannins. Not overly complex but not bad for an inexpensive mid-week drinker.
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A vivid nose of fig, herbs, wood, and vanilla. The pallet is slightly sour, with savory beef, balk currant, cedar and minerals. This wine has a lot to offer but it seemed as though it could benefit from a few more years in the cellar.
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2/5/2017 - epiphany wrote: flawed
From Corvin. Very poor, possibly corked? Will give another try later.
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11/17/2016 - Magnum PI Likes this wine:
I have had this wine in three vintages, usually 3-5 years after the birthday. This is the oldest bottle of Solanera I have had to date. Brookie and I drank this undecanted with spicy enchiladas and guacamole. Contrary to my usual habit, I read all of the reviews on this site prior to sharing my thoughts. I don't have a lot to add that has not already been stated. This is a nice bottle of Spanish mourvedre, that is capable of aging well and pairs well with Spanish food, roast, barbecue, and Mexican food. Dark, brooding, black fruit, Brookie says cedar, I say black pepper, and decent balance and tannins. Ages well for a $12 bottle. Buy a couple of cases of this. The previous comments about this not being well defined are accurate. But for shit sake, who has ever had a well defined, clearly delineated bottle of mourvedre?! That's not what this grape is all about. It's a blending grape that occasionally is allowed to take center stage. Saying a bottle of mourvedre is not "well defined" is like saying the drum solo at the Motley Crue concert was lacking in musicality and melodic intonation.
I didn't assign a numerical score to this wine because I don't drink a lot of mourvedre dominant wine, and I doubt that any of the people who read this review will have a lot of experience with mourvedre dominant wines, so any attempt to associate my experience with a rating would not be accurate. This is a solid "table wine" and should occupy a place in any cellar.
This bottle has held up well, and is a nice expression of the varietal. Better than other bottles of Spanish wine at the same price point, and although I didn't get all the notes identified in other reviews, it clearly speaks well of this wine that there is so much to find in a wine of such humble pedigree.
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4/14/2016 - studleytrey wrote: 87 Points
Deep ruby coloring. Aromas of blue, black, and purple fruits, violet, mineral, and paint. Medium body, acid, and finish, and flavors of fruits on the black end of the spectrum, along with a mineral core throughout. As before, not the most complex wine, but you could do much worse for ten bones.
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2/28/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cassis, vanilla and burnt toast on the nose. Plums, chocolate and tobacco pallet, respectable finish. Good stuff for $15
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7/17/2015 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 83 Points
Cab S seemed to dominate--herbaceous and muddled black fruit, like a high production Bdx variety based red. Middle-weight on the palate, mild tannins and good acidity. There is some nice silkiness to the mid palate along with chocolate on the finish. I didn't perceive much character from the Mourvedre component. Good enough wine, but lacking in definition and clarity.
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3/6/2015 - jackaroo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite nice and peak drinking.
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11/2/2014 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Good structure and balance, drinking well; solid mid-weight red at ten bones
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10/24/2014 - budosyu wrote: 82 Points
Nose predominantly of blackcurrants and black raspberry jam. Medium bodied with similar dark flavors initially; changes to a savory mid-palate of mixed stewed fruit and tomato-laden beef stock.
New world expression with not much clarity of flavors. At $15, there are better options from Spain (e.g good entry level tempranillo can be had under $15; for a few dollars more, entry-level Priorat would offer more complexity).
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9/27/2014 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Solid ten dollar red with good structure and balance; medium weight, not a new-world style Spanish slurper, which to me is a good thing; drinking well, no rush
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9/24/2014 - jackaroo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Peak drinking, and a peak value. Quite pleasant; an over achieving gem. 90++
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5/10/2014 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied red blend, with black currant, blackberry, chocolate and spice on long finish. A smooth easy drinking red, a fantastic QPR. www.winelx.com
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4/28/2014 - ctbob Likes this wine:
A lightish red with some complexity and good structure -- what more do you want for ten bones? Ready.
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3/26/2014 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Fresh, lively with some structure; ready
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3/22/2014 - studleytrey wrote: 87 Points
Deep ruby color. Aromas and flavors of blueberry and vanilla. Not the most complex wine, but fine if you're into the new world thing.
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2/17/2014 - vin0vin0 wrote: 85 Points
Interesting Spanish red blend of Monastrell (Mourvedre), Cab and Tintorera. Dark black fruits, plum, fig, a touch of something sweet that is wrapped up in some fairly drying tannins. Not overly complex but not bad for an inexpensive mid-week drinker.
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2/10/2014 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine: 89 Points
A vivid nose of fig, herbs, wood, and vanilla. The pallet is slightly sour, with savory beef, balk currant, cedar and minerals. This wine has a lot to offer but it seemed as though it could benefit from a few more years in the cellar.
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