Medicinal, cough syrupy nose and palate. Unpleasant from start to finish. Since earlier reviews were not so bad, I let it sit overnight and tried some the next morning, a bit better, but still not worth the calories. The wine was not damaged or corked or too old, so either I got an off bottle or my palate is very different from previous reviewers here.
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Vinturied into decant, consumed over several hours. I have to admit I was surprised, it started a little hot, which disapaited after 30 mins or so. Ripe and new world in style, plush with just enough funk to make it interesting. I liked it. Drink now thru 2022. And if this thing is under $15 still..by the holy case outa it.
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Deep purple color. Dark fruit and lead pencil on the nose. The wine is balanced and dry. The palate shows blackberry, dark cherry, boysenberry, black plum, black currant, graphite, earth, and spices. Still drinking well despite the window here on Cellar Tracker. I wish I had bought a case of this stuff!
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Not great on the nose at first, but opened up a bit after a couple hours decanting. Lots of earthy notes: mushrooms, leather, cured meat, black pepper. Not too much fruit. However, a lot of black fruit and spice on the palate.
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Simple bouquet of red currants. The taste though is complex. Balance in layers of fruit and earth, with morel standing out. Medium finish with a pleasant linger. The tannins have smoothened to give a pleasant experience.
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A blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah, 14.5% ABV. Glossy black fruit, generous and spicy, floral lift, mineral depth, warmth from the wood, harmonious, hint of garrigue, full and flavoursome but fresh, complete finish with notes of vanilla and cocoa, good length. A well made wine, on its plateau of maturity, with time in hand - until 2023 at least. But it is essential to serve it at 16°C, above that it quickly becomes dull and alcoholic. At restaurant The Royal Oak *, Paley Street, UK.
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Three hour decant. Dark. Black cherry nose. Black fruits, some earth. Full body, nicely balanced with medium length finish. Paired with beef and broccoli stir fry.
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i thought this 2011 bottle was way past it's prime...but is it?...initial pour was awful medicine taste...you can really taste the concrete vat that they store it in...harsh, bitter, cherry cough syrup...and i'm someone that can eat bitter...but it was so bad i wanted to pour it down the drain...but instead, i left it in the fridge vacuum sealed. surprisingly after more than a week this wine evolved and opened up tonight . i had it vacuumed the entire time...took a little sip every other night and didn't enjoy it. But for some odd reason, tonight tasted totally different. It's still tannic, but i can taste some fruits, cream, complexity and now it tastes like wine. The color is still good. Maybe it needs 3 hours of breathing??
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Boysenberry nose is pleasant Hot and tannic at opening, hot ripe berries and oak Would not drink on its own really for pleasure But the price is right and it has a personality Agree with drink with a pizza and friends, wine is hearty and interesting but not the focus
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Not too strong on this. It may have spent too much time in the bottle. Nose was almost corked, quite a sharp edge. Very hot, syrupy. One bottle left so we'll see how that one is.
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Wanted to wash down pizza. Wasn't in the mood to drink an expensive wine that would deserve focus. This did the trick. Decent stuff - under twenty bucks. If you drank Quilceda Creek or Ch. Margaux every night you would lose appreciation for it.
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Medium bodied, dark purple ruby. 15% abv but doesn't come through too strongly.
After 90 minute decant the nose seemed yeasty, but moved to mushrooms, fondant icing, and plenty of red fruit. Some people noted a lot of alcohol, not sure why that didn't strike me. Palate adds charcoal, plum, black cherry, and then came the alcohol. Not a huge distraction but certainly present and showing. Aging won't be an assist, drink now. Acceptable QPR for $13.
Average+ or good-.
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Purple with a hint of dark red at the edges. Looks clean/filtered? Brooding ripe dark fruit aromas, plum? Some earthy elements deep inside, but not overly expressive at this point. Seems like it could open up over time. Not overly alcoholic, just rich dark fruit. Black raspberry ganache scent. Black raspberry (chambord) flavors. Elegant light-medium body, decent mid-palate and finish with nicely refined tannins. Has a sophisticated approach, delivers on multiple levels. Not jammy, but plenty of fruit to enjoy. Well balanced and will continue to improve.
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See notes of 3/15/15... Reliably good Rhone blend from Languedoc, great value, drinking exceptionally well right now, though we got a lot more out of it by decanting.
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Nice value. The wine needs some air, my final glass was at 2 hours and it was improving steadily up to that point. A Languedoc wine done in a Rhone style blend, if you like Rhone blends this will check all the boxes for you. It is a well done wine that is retailing at $15 inc. tax at my local Costco. I will add a few more bottles to my collection.
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I'm not too familiar with languedoc but this actually impressed. It was very drinkable and fairly light while still being concentrated and flavourful. Lots of light red berry (think strawberry and raspberry), a bit of vanilla oak, and that syrah spice. Medium-light bodied with medium acid, and soft tannins.
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Very aromatic nose of lavender, backing spice, underbrush, and charcoal. Full bodied, fruit forward, veering towards a new world profile. But very nice. Full & rich; just delicious. Will hold for some time, but with air drinking quite well now. 90-91pts.
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Interesting for a cheap Bordeaux. Musty raising nose. Rich palate, got birch bark and overripe cherries and oak. I'm still making up my mind....I do like it, but I don't think I could drink a whole bottle of it (HEY, for me, that's not a lot).
French wines tasting at local retailer: Garnet with translucent rim, fruit is not rich. still good balance as the tannins are fine, gently done without much extraction, still a touch of bitterness, short.
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Decanted via a vinturi. Rich, concentrated and dark. A little tight initially suggesting a few years would help. Some herbs (Languedoc), fruit and nice complexity. Good QPR < $20
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Delicious. Wonderful nose of cassis and spice with some floral notes. The alcohol (15%) definitely comes through on the nose but is well-balanced on the palate. Incredibly well-balanced with blackberry and spice. Slightly sweet but nicely evened out by herbaceous, vanilla, tobacco notes.
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Decanted. Dark purple in the glass. Nose of black and blue fruit and stone. Palate of dense blueberries and blackberry jam. Somewhat extracted, but balanced. Nice acidity and tannin structure. I continue to be impressed with this wine. Great QPR.
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A consistent QPR winner made up of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grapes. According to my web research (Wine Searcher): (1)ranked second for number of awards won among wines from the region, (2) among the top 10 most highly rated Saint-Drezery wines (based on critic scores), (3) it is the highest-priced wine made from Carignan - Grenache - Syrah in Saint-Drezery. The Cargnignan does impart some tannin, the Grenache the bright fruit flavor and somehow the Syrah pulls it all together and bundles it up as a slightly assertive red wine. Drinking well now, but I would guess this is worth trying again in a year and then two years. Normally a Cotes du Rhone blend, but this is from Languedoc, southern France. Should be widely available. We paid $19 and I have seen the price both sides of that mark.
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A hint of sulfur, rustic and game on the nose reminiscent of a Languedoc. However, concentrated dark fruits more reminiscent of modern wine making. As with other TN's this did improve over several days. Overall enjoyable, not sure I'd buy again though and needs a few years to develop.
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This wine is so much better after being open for 3-5 nights in the fridge. Definitely can age. The smell and taste becomes rich, more ripe, and smoother. Let it breathe. This is one of my favorites. Initial impression may not be all that but just wait.
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Dark inky black red in color. Dark fruits, cassis, plum and kirsch aroma. Medium bodied and smooth tannins. On the palate, it is filled with dark fruits and cassis. Some sweetness and some barnyard taste on the mid palate together with herbaceous, vanilla, tobacco, and cedar notes. The finish is quite warm and is filled with chocolate notes. Decant for 1-2 hours.
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Opened another bottle. So dark and complex. Second night tasting has smoother tannins and just overall great taste, really shows the potential for aging this wine. Love this bottle. Maybe time for 2nd case.
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Black cherry cola, spice, dry, good fruit, plenty of flavor, not muted like many French wines. Nice length. Can feel the heat a bit, warm going down (a rare note on a French wine, right?!). Enjoyable. A perennial good buy. Eric Solomon rarely misses. 87-88 pts.
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Has potential. Very dark oaky. Not complex. But pleasant with cheese. **2nd Night Update*** Wow, much better. Glad I've got 4 left. Will get more. Very rich rhone with good minerals and flavors. Very dark. Medium tannins, wood, minerals, good lingering finish. Much more interesting than first night. Lotsa potential.
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Short decant, very dark in the glass and epic legs, this has a high alcohol content. Great nose with dark fruit, cassis, a touch of floral and very tarry, reminds me of a barolo. Definitely hot! the palate is spicy and potent, with solid, slightly grippy tannins and acidity. Excellent balance between the grenache and syrah here, I agree with others, this is a big bodied wine with a lot of longevity in the finish, a few more years of cellar time will make it even better, give it a couple hours of decant time to allow the alcohol to thin out a little.
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Grenat avec disque rubis. Au nez, poivre, animal, fruits noires (mures, bleuets), ranins fondus, très biens et pourrait surement sameliorer avec un peu de temps de repos(1 a 3 ans), mais deja tres bien.
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Exceptional big boy wine- Grenache (aged in concrete vats) & Syrah (aged in a little oak). Strong, fruity wine with an amazing amount of balance considering its youth and alcohol content (15%). It was actually better the second night, tells me another year would do this wine wonders--decant after breathing if you drink now. It threw off a tremendous amount of sediment; in my experience that is usually the sign of a superior, robust wine. This may be a little strong for those who like their red wines a little more on the timid side. At $20 or under for a bottle, an incredible value. It is only medium-bodied if it doesn't get a chance to open up.
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Dinner at Edwins (Edwins): Off the list at Edwins for around $40. Drinking well and a nice value at a restaurant. Ruby in color. The nose has raspberries, floral notes and a slight crushed leaves quality to it. Medium bodied. On the palate, there is more weight than color and nose would lead one to believe. Dark cherries, raspberries and forest floor. There is some complexity. Very food friendly. Nice finish.
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Big wine; smoothed out after a few minutes; a Parker special, high alcohol, lots of fruit but acid provides good balance. enjoyed the wine with ribs; very good value. Might drink again since the alcohol content at 15% is very high and makes the wine tough to enjoy.
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Dark red color, almost black. Floral + tar in the nose. Nice acidity, moderate to slightly chewy tannins, very fine finish. Lovely by itself or with food.
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I just checked the price and Im shocked it was this low. This is a big huge wine, much more that I was expecting. Great flavors of dark fruit, earth and strong tannins. Lovely.
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Wow - I need to find more of this, it was my only bottle. PnP, very deep, dark colors; nose takes little while to open up bit lots of dark fruit from the beginning. Blackberry, a little plum; merlot and can shine through but I need to research what else is there - perhaps petite Verdot?
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This one is a fantastic pop-and-pour option. Do NOT buy the 2009 vintage, as you'll have to wait a while for it to open up... but 2010 / 2011 is a guaranteed positive experience. No decanting necessary, but it does help to let it breathe even more. I'd say, 89 pts. Pop-and-pour... 91 pts. decanted.
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This one only gets better and better... Already have a case in the cellar. I may need to order up another just to have on hand. 2010 and 2011 are the vintages of choice. 2009 is hit / miss...
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Delightful ripe fruit and terroir on the nose. Ultra ripe dark berry fruit on the attack, followed by a big hit of mineral, earthiness, and smokehouse. One of the ripest French wines I recall. Lots of fun, backed by a bit of seriousness. 90-91.
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Popped and poured. Aroma is tar, graphite and blackberry. Also has some red meat smell. Taste is very fruit forward with the blackberry and plum. There is a low to moderate level of tannin.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has polished texture. I missed out on the 2009/2010 vintages, but 2011 doesn't disappoint.
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Really enjoyed this paired with a nice NY strip. Fantastic QPV, great nose, cherry plum, pencil shavings, relatively linear but finishes easy, will buy more for under $20.
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Three wines tasted from WIT tubes (Stockholm): Nose with blackberries, cherries, a hint of sweet berry notes, some liquorice, some animal notes, rather flowery with violets. A bit more than medium bodied, with cherries, noticeable acidity and fresh tartness from attack to aftertaste, liquorice, medium tannins and a bit of alcoholic fire throughout. Comes across as rather young at present, 87(+) p. This wine shows rather much Syrah character in the pleasant nose, but the “Languedoc warmth” and the Grenache component can be noted in the somewhat fiery character, so the wine is not at all similar to a typical Syrah from Rhône. In a way this is a paradoxical wine with both alcoholic fire (“hot”) and very pronounced acidity (“cool”). Although it is by no mean extreme in this case, a too prominent alcoholic feeling always means a reduced score from me. The explanation for the small plus sign is that I actually believe that this wine, thanks to its fresh acidity, may become a bit more balanced if more spice notes develop with, say, 1-3 years of cellaring. Those who don’t mind a bit of extra alcoholic feeling can drink it straight way.
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Dark crimson in color, this wine showed raspberry liqueur, anise, game and lavender on the nose. The mouth feel was rich and well textured with additional notes of cassis, more gamey notes and red fruits. The finish was long and the acidity, fruits and tannins came together very well, keeping the 15% abv in check with no heat.
Purchased for $19.99US, this is a very well made wine that paired well with my braised short ribs tonight. I believe this wine will improve over time and recommend holding future bottles to 2015+.
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Bright crimson red in color. 15% ABV. Red fruits, lavender, iodine and game on the nose. Great texture and mouthfeel. Still somewhat primary. Raspberry liqueur, licorice and cassis on the palate. Perfect balance and a long, lush finish. The wine should continue to evolve and improve with a few years in the cellar.Simply a great wine for the price.
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Pitch black color, some yeast and black raspberry, Palate improves with some time from decanting but still a little short. 15% alc gives a porty tinge to the finish
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Stalwart, weighty, and with an impression of viscosity. Dark purple to black in color. Nose of tar and dark berries. Very good palate that is substantive and fresh. Nice finish. Good balance and grip. 89-90.
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Popped and poured. Aroma is quite dark with blackberry and coffee. Taste has a very enjoyable blackberry that is complemented by a bit of the coffee, but not any bitterness. This is a great value and one I'll be on the lookout for.
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Opaque purple. Rose and allspice on the nose. Concentrated dark cherry jam and mocha on the palate with a hint of lavender. Chewy black truffle with velvet finish of pine / arbor. Classic Languedoc. Drink within next 3-5 years.
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8/27/2022 - GJVines Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Medicinal, cough syrupy nose and palate. Unpleasant from start to finish. Since earlier reviews were not so bad, I let it sit overnight and tried some the next morning, a bit better, but still not worth the calories. The wine was not damaged or corked or too old, so either I got an off bottle or my palate is very different from previous reviewers here.
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6/25/2020 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Vinturied into decant, consumed over several hours.
I have to admit I was surprised, it started a little hot, which disapaited after 30 mins or so.
Ripe and new world in style, plush with just enough funk to make it interesting.
I liked it.
Drink now thru 2022.
And if this thing is under $15 still..by the holy case outa it.
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1/23/2020 - Stephen.Somm Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep purple color. Dark fruit and lead pencil on the nose. The wine is balanced and dry. The palate shows blackberry, dark cherry, boysenberry, black plum, black currant, graphite, earth, and spices. Still drinking well despite the window here on Cellar Tracker. I wish I had bought a case of this stuff!
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1/4/2020 - kmolson12 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Not great on the nose at first, but opened up a bit after a couple hours decanting. Lots of earthy notes: mushrooms, leather, cured meat, black pepper. Not too much fruit. However, a lot of black fruit and spice on the palate.
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8/1/2019 - Bsharmastl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Simple bouquet of red currants. The taste though is complex. Balance in layers of fruit and earth, with morel standing out. Medium finish with a pleasant linger. The tannins have smoothened to give a pleasant experience.
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9/19/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
A blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah, 14.5% ABV. Glossy black fruit, generous and spicy, floral lift, mineral depth, warmth from the wood, harmonious, hint of garrigue, full and flavoursome but fresh, complete finish with notes of vanilla and cocoa, good length. A well made wine, on its plateau of maturity, with time in hand - until 2023 at least. But it is essential to serve it at 16°C, above that it quickly becomes dull and alcoholic. At restaurant The Royal Oak *, Paley Street, UK.
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5/13/2018 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Three hour decant. Dark. Black cherry nose. Black fruits, some earth. Full body, nicely balanced with medium length finish. Paired with beef and broccoli stir fry.
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4/19/2018 - km5 wrote:
i thought this 2011 bottle was way past it's prime...but is it?...initial pour was awful medicine taste...you can really taste the concrete vat that they store it in...harsh, bitter, cherry cough syrup...and i'm someone that can eat bitter...but it was so bad i wanted to pour it down the drain...but instead, i left it in the fridge vacuum sealed. surprisingly after more than a week this wine evolved and opened up tonight . i had it vacuumed the entire time...took a little sip every other night and didn't enjoy it. But for some odd reason, tonight tasted totally different. It's still tannic, but i can taste some fruits, cream, complexity and now it tastes like wine. The color is still good. Maybe it needs 3 hours of breathing??
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2/8/2018 - Ericp0326 wrote: 85 Points
too much alcohol in the nose. Not much fruit, heavy on earthy, woody, spiciness.
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1/20/2018 - MdeCarabas Likes this wine: 89 Points
Boysenberry nose is pleasant
Hot and tannic at opening, hot ripe berries and oak
Would not drink on its own really for pleasure
But the price is right and it has a personality
Agree with drink with a pizza and friends, wine is hearty and interesting but not the focus
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1/14/2018 - dwaynelm Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark cherry, blueberry, low to moderate tannin and oak, balanced acidity, long finish.
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7/22/2017 - peolsf wrote: 80 Points
Not too strong on this. It may have spent too much time in the bottle. Nose was almost corked, quite a sharp edge. Very hot, syrupy. One bottle left so we'll see how that one is.
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5/26/2017 - Simoncino wrote: 92 Points
Fine wine for $20. Optimal drinking window. Would have pegged it as a good-quality wine from the Southern Rhone. I suppose we're close enough.
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3/25/2017 - John from GR wrote: 88 Points
Wanted to wash down pizza. Wasn't in the mood to drink an expensive wine that would deserve focus. This did the trick. Decent stuff - under twenty bucks. If you drank Quilceda Creek or Ch. Margaux every night you would lose appreciation for it.
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2/19/2017 - revanness wrote: 92 Points
I tried everything with this stuff including blending it with other juice.
Give this a 24 hour decant. Amazing result, but I found out too late.
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1/9/2017 - aero wrote:
Medium bodied, dark purple ruby. 15% abv but doesn't come through too strongly.
After 90 minute decant the nose seemed yeasty, but moved to mushrooms, fondant icing, and plenty of red fruit. Some people noted a lot of alcohol, not sure why that didn't strike me. Palate adds charcoal, plum, black cherry, and then came the alcohol. Not a huge distraction but certainly present and showing. Aging won't be an assist, drink now. Acceptable QPR for $13.
Average+ or good-.
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9/10/2016 - umazz Likes this wine: 87 Points
big, fruity, little harsh.
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9/5/2016 - Gmandybur Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well balanced.
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2/11/2016 - lelandinmichigan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Purple with a hint of dark red at the edges. Looks clean/filtered?
Brooding ripe dark fruit aromas, plum? Some earthy elements deep inside, but not overly expressive at this point. Seems like it could open up over time. Not overly alcoholic, just rich dark fruit. Black raspberry ganache scent.
Black raspberry (chambord) flavors. Elegant light-medium body, decent mid-palate and finish with nicely refined tannins. Has a sophisticated approach, delivers on multiple levels. Not jammy, but plenty of fruit to enjoy. Well balanced and will continue to improve.
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2/2/2016 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 90 Points
See notes of 3/15/15... Reliably good Rhone blend from Languedoc, great value, drinking exceptionally well right now, though we got a lot more out of it by decanting.
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1/24/2016 - TJ1967 Likes this wine: 90 Points
well made Rhone blend, in its drinking window!
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12/31/2015 - TJ1967 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice value. The wine needs some air, my final glass was at 2 hours and it was improving steadily up to that point. A Languedoc wine done in a Rhone style blend, if you like Rhone blends this will check all the boxes for you. It is a well done wine that is retailing at $15 inc. tax at my local Costco. I will add a few more bottles to my collection.
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12/24/2015 - Rmjchen Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fabulous wine for the price. Definitely a case purchase
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11/26/2015 - Mhubbard Likes this wine: 89 Points
I'm not too familiar with languedoc but this actually impressed. It was very drinkable and fairly light while still being concentrated and flavourful. Lots of light red berry (think strawberry and raspberry), a bit of vanilla oak, and that syrah spice. Medium-light bodied with medium acid, and soft tannins.
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8/28/2015 - BigWineMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good everyday wine and great QPR.
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8/14/2015 - Petek26 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just as Delicious as the other bottles I've had! Wonderful value!
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7/14/2015 - bigredPA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very aromatic nose of lavender, backing spice, underbrush, and charcoal. Full bodied, fruit forward, veering towards a new world profile. But very nice. Full & rich; just delicious. Will hold for some time, but with air drinking quite well now. 90-91pts.
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7/3/2015 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 89 Points
Interesting for a cheap Bordeaux. Musty raising nose. Rich palate, got birch bark and overripe cherries and oak. I'm still making up my mind....I do like it, but I don't think I could drink a whole bottle of it (HEY, for me, that's not a lot).
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6/24/2015 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same as notes of 3/5/15 and 9/12/14.
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5/16/2015 - pavel_p wrote: 88 Points
French wines tasting at local retailer: Garnet with translucent rim, fruit is not rich. still good balance as the tannins are fine, gently done without much extraction, still a touch of bitterness, short.
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5/10/2015 - MattJ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted via a vinturi. Rich, concentrated and dark. A little tight initially suggesting a few years would help. Some herbs (Languedoc), fruit and nice complexity. Good QPR < $20
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4/30/2015 - kmacd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Wonderful nose of cassis and spice with some floral notes. The alcohol (15%) definitely comes through on the nose but is well-balanced on the palate. Incredibly well-balanced with blackberry and spice. Slightly sweet but nicely evened out by herbaceous, vanilla, tobacco notes.
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4/30/2015 - BigWineMan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted. Dark purple in the glass. Nose of black and blue fruit and stone. Palate of dense blueberries and blackberry jam. Somewhat extracted, but balanced. Nice acidity and tannin structure. I continue to be impressed with this wine. Great QPR.
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3/30/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Big and powerful with fruit. Done in concrete for the US market, apparently other markets get oak. Pretty good. Works it out at $20.
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3/7/2015 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
Juicy, plump, blackberry/blueberry, bitter anise/licorice; rich, tannic, ripe, packs a punch with a nice wild streak (probably the carignan).
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3/5/2015 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 90 Points
A consistent QPR winner made up of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grapes. According to my web research (Wine Searcher):
(1)ranked second for number of awards won among wines from the region, (2) among the top 10 most highly rated Saint-Drezery wines (based on critic scores), (3) it is the highest-priced wine made from Carignan - Grenache - Syrah in Saint-Drezery.
The Cargnignan does impart some tannin, the Grenache the bright fruit flavor and somehow the Syrah pulls it all together and bundles it up as a slightly assertive red wine. Drinking well now, but I would guess this is worth trying again in a year and then two years. Normally a Cotes du Rhone blend, but this is from Languedoc, southern France. Should be widely available. We paid $19 and I have seen the price both sides of that mark.
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3/3/2015 - MattJ wrote: 89 Points
A hint of sulfur, rustic and game on the nose reminiscent of a Languedoc. However, concentrated dark fruits more reminiscent of modern wine making. As with other TN's this did improve over several days. Overall enjoyable, not sure I'd buy again though and needs a few years to develop.
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2/8/2015 - km5 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine is so much better after being open for 3-5 nights in the fridge. Definitely can age. The smell and taste becomes rich, more ripe, and smoother. Let it breathe. This is one of my favorites. Initial impression may not be all that but just wait.
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2/7/2015 - Wardyn Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark inky black red in color. Dark fruits, cassis, plum and kirsch aroma. Medium bodied and smooth tannins. On the palate, it is filled with dark fruits and cassis. Some sweetness and some barnyard taste on the mid palate together with herbaceous, vanilla, tobacco, and cedar notes. The finish is quite warm and is filled with chocolate notes. Decant for 1-2 hours.
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1/11/2015 - wizardofcrowds wrote:
Too sweet cheesy
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12/8/2014 - km5 wrote:
Opened another bottle. So dark and complex. Second night tasting has smoother tannins and just overall great taste, really shows the potential for aging this wine. Love this bottle. Maybe time for 2nd case.
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11/27/2014 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote: 88 Points
Black cherry cola, spice, dry, good fruit, plenty of flavor, not muted like many French wines. Nice length. Can feel the heat a bit, warm going down (a rare note on a French wine, right?!). Enjoyable. A perennial good buy. Eric Solomon rarely misses. 87-88 pts.
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11/20/2014 - km5 wrote:
Has potential. Very dark oaky. Not complex. But pleasant with cheese.
**2nd Night Update*** Wow, much better. Glad I've got 4 left. Will get more. Very rich rhone with good minerals and flavors. Very dark. Medium tannins, wood, minerals, good lingering finish. Much more interesting than first night. Lotsa potential.
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10/21/2014 - Robert Walters wrote: 90 Points
dark dark color. really nice aroma of dark berries and some chocolate. Nice balance. really enjoyed it for the price.
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10/13/2014 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 92 Points
Short decant, very dark in the glass and epic legs, this has a high alcohol content. Great nose with dark fruit, cassis, a touch of floral and very tarry, reminds me of a barolo. Definitely hot! the palate is spicy and potent, with solid, slightly grippy tannins and acidity. Excellent balance between the grenache and syrah here, I agree with others, this is a big bodied wine with a lot of longevity in the finish, a few more years of cellar time will make it even better, give it a couple hours of decant time to allow the alcohol to thin out a little.
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9/17/2014 - jorivesud Likes this wine: 89 Points
Grenat avec disque rubis.
Au nez, poivre, animal, fruits noires (mures, bleuets), ranins fondus, très biens et pourrait surement sameliorer avec un peu de temps de repos(1 a 3 ans), mais deja tres bien.
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9/12/2014 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Exceptional big boy wine- Grenache (aged in concrete vats) & Syrah (aged in a little oak). Strong, fruity wine with an amazing amount of balance considering its youth and alcohol content (15%). It was actually better the second night, tells me another year would do this wine wonders--decant after breathing if you drink now. It threw off a tremendous amount of sediment; in my experience that is usually the sign of a superior, robust wine. This may be a little strong for those who like their red wines a little more on the timid side. At $20 or under for a bottle, an incredible value. It is only medium-bodied if it doesn't get a chance to open up.
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9/6/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Edwins (Edwins): Off the list at Edwins for around $40. Drinking well and a nice value at a restaurant. Ruby in color. The nose has raspberries, floral notes and a slight crushed leaves quality to it. Medium bodied. On the palate, there is more weight than color and nose would lead one to believe. Dark cherries, raspberries and forest floor. There is some complexity. Very food friendly. Nice finish.
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9/3/2014 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 89 Points
Black cherries and herbs, medium full bodied, fairly rich long finish
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8/29/2014 - mwneil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big wine; smoothed out after a few minutes; a Parker special, high alcohol, lots of fruit but acid provides good balance. enjoyed the wine with ribs; very good value. Might drink again since the alcohol content at 15% is very high and makes the wine tough to enjoy.
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7/12/2014 - Winehawken Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark red color, almost black. Floral + tar in the nose. Nice acidity, moderate to slightly chewy tannins, very fine finish. Lovely by itself or with food.
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6/25/2014 - bajayngo wrote:
Agree with Motz on this about the ripeness. Ultra ripe, sunripened dark and red berries, herbs, chalk and earth. Fun stuff.
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6/22/2014 - rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great wine. Powerful, strong red fruit. Improves with decanting. Good value from France.
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6/14/2014 - StageOneRacing Likes this wine: 91 Points
I just checked the price and Im shocked it was this low. This is a big huge wine, much more that I was expecting. Great flavors of dark fruit, earth and strong tannins. Lovely.
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6/13/2014 - Thomas B wrote: 91 Points
Wow - I need to find more of this, it was my only bottle.
PnP, very deep, dark colors; nose takes little while to open up bit lots of dark fruit from the beginning. Blackberry, a little plum; merlot and can shine through but I need to research what else is there - perhaps petite Verdot?
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6/10/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine: 90 Points
This one is a fantastic pop-and-pour option. Do NOT buy the 2009 vintage, as you'll have to wait a while for it to open up... but 2010 / 2011 is a guaranteed positive experience. No decanting necessary, but it does help to let it breathe even more. I'd say, 89 pts. Pop-and-pour... 91 pts. decanted.
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6/8/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine: 91 Points
This one only gets better and better... Already have a case in the cellar. I may need to order up another just to have on hand. 2010 and 2011 are the vintages of choice. 2009 is hit / miss...
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6/8/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine:
Gave to neighbors to expand their horizons
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5/14/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine: 91 Points
paired with Vienna Beef Salami and Espresso Cheese
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4/27/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine: 94 Points
No food pairing. Long, medium-fast legs, ruby in color. Pop and Pour, with only 15 minutes decanting. Keeps getting better with each glass.
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4/23/2014 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
Delightful ripe fruit and terroir on the nose. Ultra ripe dark berry fruit on the attack, followed by a big hit of mineral, earthiness, and smokehouse. One of the ripest French wines I recall. Lots of fun, backed by a bit of seriousness. 90-91.
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4/17/2014 - Spajnky wrote: 95 Points
Red blend. Very nice, mellow taste. Smooth, smooth, smooth.
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3/10/2014 - Wine Sparty wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Aroma is tar, graphite and blackberry. Also has some red meat smell. Taste is very fruit forward with the blackberry and plum. There is a low to moderate level of tannin.
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3/3/2014 - mpholiday Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has polished texture. I missed out on the 2009/2010 vintages, but 2011 doesn't disappoint.
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2/16/2014 - Jonnysul wrote: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this paired with a nice NY strip. Fantastic QPV, great nose, cherry plum, pencil shavings, relatively linear but finishes easy, will buy more for under $20.
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2/9/2014 - schottster wrote: 90 Points
I really liked this bottle. It's hard for me to find a French red that I really like, and this is a great one for the price!
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1/26/2014 - Vintomas wrote: 87 Points
Three wines tasted from WIT tubes (Stockholm): Nose with blackberries, cherries, a hint of sweet berry notes, some liquorice, some animal notes, rather flowery with violets. A bit more than medium bodied, with cherries, noticeable acidity and fresh tartness from attack to aftertaste, liquorice, medium tannins and a bit of alcoholic fire throughout. Comes across as rather young at present, 87(+) p.
This wine shows rather much Syrah character in the pleasant nose, but the “Languedoc warmth” and the Grenache component can be noted in the somewhat fiery character, so the wine is not at all similar to a typical Syrah from Rhône. In a way this is a paradoxical wine with both alcoholic fire (“hot”) and very pronounced acidity (“cool”). Although it is by no mean extreme in this case, a too prominent alcoholic feeling always means a reduced score from me. The explanation for the small plus sign is that I actually believe that this wine, thanks to its fresh acidity, may become a bit more balanced if more spice notes develop with, say, 1-3 years of cellaring. Those who don’t mind a bit of extra alcoholic feeling can drink it straight way.
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1/22/2014 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark crimson in color, this wine showed raspberry liqueur, anise, game and lavender on the nose. The mouth feel was rich and well textured with additional notes of cassis, more gamey notes and red fruits. The finish was long and the acidity, fruits and tannins came together very well, keeping the 15% abv in check with no heat.
Purchased for $19.99US, this is a very well made wine that paired well with my braised short ribs tonight. I believe this wine will improve over time and recommend holding future bottles to 2015+.
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11/27/2013 - tomlee wrote: 91 Points
Bright crimson red in color. 15% ABV. Red fruits, lavender, iodine and game on the nose. Great texture and mouthfeel. Still somewhat primary. Raspberry liqueur, licorice and cassis on the palate. Perfect balance and a long, lush finish. The wine should continue to evolve and improve with a few years in the cellar.Simply a great wine for the price.
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11/22/2013 - jimkay21 wrote: 87 Points
Pitch black color, some yeast and black raspberry, Palate improves with some time from decanting but still a little short. 15% alc gives a porty tinge to the finish
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11/5/2013 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
Stalwart, weighty, and with an impression of viscosity. Dark purple to black in color. Nose of tar and dark berries. Very good palate that is substantive and fresh. Nice finish. Good balance and grip. 89-90.
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10/31/2013 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very pleasant wine. Good balance of fruit and acid/tannin-a little light on the later. Good cheese and cracker wilne
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9/28/2013 - Wine Sparty wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Aroma is quite dark with blackberry and coffee. Taste has a very enjoyable blackberry that is complemented by a bit of the coffee, but not any bitterness. This is a great value and one I'll be on the lookout for.
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9/6/2013 - jmark747 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opaque purple. Rose and allspice on the nose. Concentrated dark cherry jam and mocha on the palate with a hint of lavender. Chewy black truffle with velvet finish of pine / arbor. Classic Languedoc. Drink within next 3-5 years.
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9/2/2013 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 85 Points
Very quick note, saturated dark fruit on the nose and palate, concentrated mid-palate with moderate tannins, this is a big wine.
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7/12/2013 - JasonA wrote: 90 Points
No formal tasting notes. Just noticed that after 5 days vacu vin with just enough for one glass it was just as good as day 2
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