It has been a while since we have opened a Carlisle. Our middle kid who is more of a beer drinker, but likes trying wine, tends to like lots of fruit, so I grabbed this. Sweetish black cherry with savory accents. There is something about this that reminds me of some bigger Pinots. There is solid acidity here though, that offsets the fruit. Pretty good and a nice change of pace. Brian liked it.
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A little disappointed. Have liked these very much in the past. Supposedly can age forever - but this was 10 years old, somewhat light, a bit of cherry pinot taste, not my cup of tea.
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Looking back on my note from 2016 I might have enjoyed it more 6 or 7 years after the vintage While mature, it has not faded. Red with no bricking and medium extraction. Savory notes to the nose with moderated dark fruit. Good balance and medium finish.
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Two Acres does it again. Don't often use the phrase beguiling for domestic reds,but there's something about this one that just works for me. Silky red fruits shining through and smooth tannins. This was the right amount of bottle age, really enjoyable. Served against a cassoulet and that really paired well.
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An excellent blend of Mourvédre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Carignane, Alicante, Bouschet and Peloursun, all from 110 year old vines in RRV! This wine is in a great spot now, drinking very smooth with a rich brambly and spicy palate. It drinks a lot like a Roussillon wine with it's warm weather fruit and spice flavors. Went great with the roasted root vegetables, but a little too big for the grilled salmon. Has a good 5+ years ahead of it, but no reason to wait!
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A crazy and wonderful blend of Mourvédre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Carignane, Alicante, Bouschet and Peloursun, all from 110 year old vines in RRV! It is very smooth drinking with a rich brambly and spicy palate. It drinks a lot like a southern Rhone wine with it's fruit and spice flavors. Went great with the roasted root vegetables, but not so well with the grilled salmon; still delivered great enjoyment.
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Vertical Madness (Prior Lake, MN): Small tasting pour - vertical of 2012-2014 Two Acres. Not much difference in the wines visually. Smooth, purple fruit. Fruit-forward - ripe fruit, cherry, red berries. Spice + leather on finish. Would be good w/food. A bit chewy. Me - 92, Wife - 90
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Paired this with short ribs and scalloped potatoes and it was a superb pairing. Finished the bottle after dinner and it seemed as though the fruit is at the very beginning of drying out as the oak tannin became more prominent. My last bottle, so I won't be able to find out, but I'll keep an eye on the notes going forward to see if this is the case.
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No frame of reference - sole bottle. Started opening up after about an hour. Touch of fresh manure, sweet black raspberry, herbs, and a medicinal note on the nose. Bitter cherry cough syrup palate evolving to sweet blackberry with a bit of cocoa powder and rich, chalky, mouth filling tannin. Full bodied, dark, and velvety. Drank unpaired, but all I can think of is pairing with black olive tapenade.
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Another great bottle from my favorite winery. Had my first bottle of the 2012 Two Acres a year and half back and this has barely changed--maybe a little softer on the finish and I can't find as much herb. If I had more I wouldn't be afraid to hold for years but not sure it will get any better than it is now
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Served with pork chops, squash, salad. Cork: first impression is a bit jammy, touch of tobacco. Look: deep ruby, perhaps garnet, inviting. Smell: nice nose, fruit forward, aromatic, a bit indistinct. Taste: a spicy bite, some tannin & acid, tobacco and smoke still in play. Enjoyable.
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A well made wine. Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and five other old vine (circa 1910) grapes blend perfectly--but no Zin or Cab. Deep black fruit with some herb that holds up well over two days--don't think it needs to be decanted. Have one more bottle and don't know how long I will be able to keep it. Will buy more of this in the next allotment.
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Decanted and sampled over a couple hours. Medium purple color, aromas unfolding with time - big black and blue fruits with cinnamon spice and hints of alcohol. Flavors of big black and blue fruits but medium not heavily weighted; Slightly bitter with fine tannins on the finish. Decent wine, decent price, but nothing to run toward. Definitely decant and let open up. I did not try with food (BBQ, steak, etc.)
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P&P, brought to Sunday Dinner. Really nice, smooth Rhone blend, although not as lush and full bodied as the Syrahs, I'm sure due to the % of Grenache in the blend. Red fruit, cigar box, earthy notes, nice acidity, tannins well-resolved, not a lot of apparent oak. Quite tasty and still just a youngster. Drink now - 2025+.
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Bought this in 2014, hadn't tried it yet. Opened about 45 mins ago. Floral nose. Immediate impression are 2 things--juicy, plump fruit and a nice finishing tang. Around this core, think blue and red fruit. Some people mention tree bark when they talk Mourvedre (this wine is 3/4ths that varietal), but I just don't have a reference for tree bark. What I get is a flavor that has a savory quality, kind of black tea with mushroom, along with a loamy component. In reading Mike's notes on the Carlisle website, he makes a mention of orange peel. That is a great descriptor, as it adds to the savory component. This is quite an electric wine, with a medium to plus weight, held up by the earthier/zingy qualities. Listed alc is 14.8%, don't smell any here. Unique wine, one that gives Mike's range a chance to show. Plenty of acid here, and some light tannin....a day later, this picks up a chocolate note in the finish, drinks with a more polished, red fruited, juicy core. What I like about this wine is the mix of fruit, earth...Day 3, drinking perfectly. Juicy, earthy, with some CA fruit and acidity, too. Very good.
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My limited experience with Carlisle wines is that they are well made and delicious. This wine, unfortunately, is my least favorite of the ones I've tried. Not bad at all, but the blend underwhelms me. Glad this was our last bottle. Drink now or hold.
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Tasted two days after opening with vacuum vin seal. The nose was filled with blue fruits and a touch of garrigue. Good balance fruit balanced by acid and soft tannins. Good finish. Loved this wine.
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A red, blue fruit melange. Fruit forward with vanilla. Soft tannins initially leading to sharp and drying with air. I think these will probably improve as things evolve and integrate better. I would try it again in 2 - 3 years. Hold. Day 2, more black fruit oriented. Still drinks young with drying tannins. I would cellar for a minimum of 2-3 more years. Hold.
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This is pretty good - but not up to Carlisle's lofty standards. Good structure, but a little austere and reticent, even on day two. Hopefully some cellar time will help.
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Decant alert... This is a dark brooding wine at this point, and needs either more time or serious access to air to really open and shine. Lots to like here, with dark color, smoldering nose of vanilla, tobacco, and dark berries crushed over hot stone. But this could sleep for a while longer before truly shining.
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A nice field blend, though the tannins are a bit gritty and dry this time. Hopefully that smooths out. Flavor wise we have black raspberry, blueberry, a touch of meatiness from the Mourvedre and some sweet flowers. Great with BBQ #mightyquinns
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Poured very slightly chilled after a brief, vigorous decant . On the nose fig and raspberry. Immediate excellent flavor that gradually built through floral, pine, cola and anise notes. Soft mouth feel for so much flavor. Long finish. Yummy
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Decanted. Nice floral nose which had me hopeful. On the palate, medium fruit and a lot of alcohol. I was disappointed - expected better. Not bad, but not great. Will sit on my remaining bottle. GOOD.
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Lots of primary fruit, fairly ripe, but balanced by abundant acidity. Love the field blend character of this wine. There are so many flavors going on throughout the palate. My first taste of a Two Acres bottling and I'm not disappointed, though I think this will really improve with a few years on it at least.
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Garnet red, medium bodied. Nice complexity and bright acidity with an intriguing sour cherry note. This is an early drinking Two Acres, compared to some previous vintages.
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Needed a long time in the decanter to begin to open up. A lot of interest here, really concentrated, but should probably hold off for the best experience.
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Really nice expression of Mourvedre. Vibrant fruit for the varietal. Some spice. Notable acidity (surprising) but then dusty tannins on the finish. Should improve with another couple years in the bottle, but enjoyable today.
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5/29/2023 - Outplaying wrote:
It has been a while since we have opened a Carlisle. Our middle kid who is more of a beer drinker, but likes trying wine, tends to like lots of fruit, so I grabbed this. Sweetish black cherry with savory accents. There is something about this that reminds me of some bigger Pinots. There is solid acidity here though, that offsets the fruit. Pretty good and a nice change of pace. Brian liked it.
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2/7/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A little disappointed. Have liked these very much in the past. Supposedly can age forever - but this was 10 years old, somewhat light, a bit of cherry pinot taste, not my cup of tea.
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7/19/2022 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 90 Points
Looking back on my note from 2016 I might have enjoyed it more 6 or 7 years after the vintage While mature, it has not faded. Red with no bricking and medium extraction. Savory notes to the nose with moderated dark fruit. Good balance and medium finish.
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4/14/2021 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful, balanced wine, nuanced and a pleasure to drink. The eight years of age have added complexity.
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12/15/2020 - btock Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two Acres does it again. Don't often use the phrase beguiling for domestic reds,but there's something about this one that just works for me. Silky red fruits shining through and smooth tannins. This was the right amount of bottle age, really enjoyable. Served against a cassoulet and that really paired well.
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12/14/2020 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour. Became smoother throughout 5 hours. Best at the end. Beautiful, try aging these more!
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10/15/2020 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 92 Points
An excellent blend of Mourvédre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Carignane, Alicante, Bouschet and Peloursun, all from 110 year old vines in RRV! This wine is in a great spot now, drinking very smooth with a rich brambly and spicy palate. It drinks a lot like a Roussillon wine with it's warm weather fruit and spice flavors. Went great with the roasted root vegetables, but a little too big for the grilled salmon. Has a good 5+ years ahead of it, but no reason to wait!
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4/13/2020 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 90 Points
A crazy and wonderful blend of Mourvédre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Carignane, Alicante, Bouschet and Peloursun, all from 110 year old vines in RRV! It is very smooth drinking with a rich brambly and spicy palate. It drinks a lot like a southern Rhone wine with it's fruit and spice flavors. Went great with the roasted root vegetables, but not so well with the grilled salmon; still delivered great enjoyment.
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4/12/2020 - Tubulus wrote: 92 Points
Perfect pairing for a braised brisket. Mixed fruits, thick mouthfeel, zero heat out of grassl 1855s, great balance.
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9/28/2019 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Vertical Madness (Prior Lake, MN): Small tasting pour - vertical of 2012-2014 Two Acres.
Not much difference in the wines visually.
Smooth, purple fruit. Fruit-forward - ripe fruit, cherry, red berries. Spice + leather on finish. Would be good w/food. A bit chewy.
Me - 92, Wife - 90
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9/21/2019 - PIntag wrote:
Paired this with short ribs and scalloped potatoes and it was a superb pairing. Finished the bottle after dinner and it seemed as though the fruit is at the very beginning of drying out as the oak tannin became more prominent. My last bottle, so I won't be able to find out, but I'll keep an eye on the notes going forward to see if this is the case.
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11/22/2018 - Smatk Likes this wine: 92 Points
No frame of reference - sole bottle. Started opening up after about an hour. Touch of fresh manure, sweet black raspberry, herbs, and a medicinal note on the nose. Bitter cherry cough syrup palate evolving to sweet blackberry with a bit of cocoa powder and rich, chalky, mouth filling tannin. Full bodied, dark, and velvety. Drank unpaired, but all I can think of is pairing with black olive tapenade.
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11/12/2018 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great bottle from my favorite winery. Had my first bottle of the 2012 Two Acres a year and half back and this has barely changed--maybe a little softer on the finish and I can't find as much herb. If I had more I wouldn't be afraid to hold for years but not sure it will get any better than it is now
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11/2/2018 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Served with pork chops, squash, salad.
Cork: first impression is a bit jammy, touch of tobacco.
Look: deep ruby, perhaps garnet, inviting.
Smell: nice nose, fruit forward, aromatic, a bit indistinct.
Taste: a spicy bite, some tannin & acid, tobacco and smoke still in play.
Enjoyable.
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6/10/2017 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A well made wine. Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and five other old vine (circa 1910) grapes blend perfectly--but no Zin or Cab. Deep black fruit with some herb that holds up well over two days--don't think it needs to be decanted. Have one more bottle and don't know how long I will be able to keep it. Will buy more of this in the next allotment.
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4/26/2017 - khmark7 wrote: 90 Points
No need to decant my bottle. Dark, meaty, aromatic and balanced. Ideal red with ribeye. Love the minty red fruits.
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4/2/2017 - BornToRhone wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and sampled over a couple hours. Medium purple color, aromas unfolding with time - big black and blue fruits with cinnamon spice and hints of alcohol. Flavors of big black and blue fruits but medium not heavily weighted; Slightly bitter with fine tannins on the finish. Decent wine, decent price, but nothing to run toward. Definitely decant and let open up. I did not try with food (BBQ, steak, etc.)
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1/22/2017 - RPerro Likes this wine: 91 Points
P&P, brought to Sunday Dinner. Really nice, smooth Rhone blend, although not as lush and full bodied as the Syrahs, I'm sure due to the % of Grenache in the blend. Red fruit, cigar box, earthy notes, nice acidity, tannins well-resolved, not a lot of apparent oak. Quite tasty and still just a youngster. Drink now - 2025+.
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1/6/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Bought this in 2014, hadn't tried it yet. Opened about 45 mins ago. Floral nose. Immediate impression are 2 things--juicy, plump fruit and a nice finishing tang. Around this core, think blue and red fruit. Some people mention tree bark when they talk Mourvedre (this wine is 3/4ths that varietal), but I just don't have a reference for tree bark. What I get is a flavor that has a savory quality, kind of black tea with mushroom, along with a loamy component. In reading Mike's notes on the Carlisle website, he makes a mention of orange peel. That is a great descriptor, as it adds to the savory component. This is quite an electric wine, with a medium to plus weight, held up by the earthier/zingy qualities. Listed alc is 14.8%, don't smell any here. Unique wine, one that gives Mike's range a chance to show. Plenty of acid here, and some light tannin....a day later, this picks up a chocolate note in the finish, drinks with a more polished, red fruited, juicy core. What I like about this wine is the mix of fruit, earth...Day 3, drinking perfectly. Juicy, earthy, with some CA fruit and acidity, too. Very good.
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10/14/2016 - BigTex22 wrote: 89 Points
My limited experience with Carlisle wines is that they are well made and delicious. This wine, unfortunately, is my least favorite of the ones I've tried. Not bad at all, but the blend underwhelms me. Glad this was our last bottle. Drink now or hold.
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7/17/2016 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted two days after opening with vacuum vin seal. The nose was filled with blue fruits and a touch of garrigue. Good balance fruit balanced by acid and soft tannins. Good finish. Loved this wine.
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6/2/2016 - Mootsie wrote: 90 Points
A red, blue fruit melange. Fruit forward with vanilla. Soft tannins initially leading to sharp and drying with air. I think these will probably improve as things evolve and integrate better. I would try it again in 2 - 3 years. Hold.
Day 2, more black fruit oriented. Still drinks young with drying tannins. I would cellar for a minimum of 2-3 more years. Hold.
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3/12/2016 - Robwild Likes this wine: 90 Points
Purple color. Fruit forward, with berries and cherries. Medium bodied. Soft tannins, well balanced and very approachable. . A nice paring with meat
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2/19/2016 - daniel.jay wrote: 89 Points
This is pretty good - but not up to Carlisle's lofty standards. Good structure, but a little austere and reticent, even on day two. Hopefully some cellar time will help.
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1/18/2016 - JLPwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sweet! A classic Carlyle.
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12/20/2015 - Tom Warden Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little young still but bursting with intensity and flavor. Decant an hour ahead.
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12/1/2015 - mpricher wrote: 89 Points
Decant alert... This is a dark brooding wine at this point, and needs either more time or serious access to air to really open and shine. Lots to like here, with dark color, smoldering nose of vanilla, tobacco, and dark berries crushed over hot stone. But this could sleep for a while longer before truly shining.
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9/6/2015 - fisk15 wrote: 87 Points
This wine is better on day two, but I have to admit for my palate, this one does not do it for me. Love Carlisle otherwise.
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8/25/2015 - tkoby11 wrote: 88 Points
A nice field blend, though the tannins are a bit gritty and dry this time. Hopefully that smooths out. Flavor wise we have black raspberry, blueberry, a touch of meatiness from the Mourvedre and some sweet flowers. Great with BBQ #mightyquinns
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7/28/2015 - Old Gray Hare Likes this wine: 92 Points
Poured very slightly chilled after a brief, vigorous decant . On the nose fig and raspberry. Immediate excellent flavor that gradually built through floral, pine, cola and anise notes. Soft mouth feel for so much flavor. Long finish. Yummy
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7/17/2015 - BigTex22 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted. Nice floral nose which had me hopeful. On the palate, medium fruit and a lot of alcohol. I was disappointed - expected better. Not bad, but not great. Will sit on my remaining bottle. GOOD.
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6/9/2015 - fisk15 wrote: 86 Points
Clearly not ready yet, closed and not showing its potential. Hold and hope for the best, not scored on potential but on current status.
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6/9/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just really delicious. Full of fruit and nice earthy component. Drinking well now but likely better in time.
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5/23/2015 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Lots of primary fruit, fairly ripe, but balanced by abundant acidity. Love the field blend character of this wine. There are so many flavors going on throughout the palate. My first taste of a Two Acres bottling and I'm not disappointed, though I think this will really improve with a few years on it at least.
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5/5/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Garnet red, medium bodied. Nice complexity and bright acidity with an intriguing sour cherry note. This is an early drinking Two Acres, compared to some previous vintages.
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3/18/2015 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Best to give it at least an hour after opening.
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2/28/2015 - Ilikadajuice wrote: 93 Points
Two day tasting. Just lovely on day 2. Suggest decant or two day tasting.
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2/9/2015 - MillerRoad Likes this wine:
Lots of raspberry.
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1/29/2015 - GrapesRGreat wrote: 91 Points
Needed a long time in the decanter to begin to open up. A lot of interest here, really concentrated, but should probably hold off for the best experience.
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12/19/2014 - fournet wrote:
Really nice expression of Mourvedre. Vibrant fruit for the varietal. Some spice. Notable acidity (surprising) but then dusty tannins on the finish. Should improve with another couple years in the bottle, but enjoyable today.
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12/10/2014 - Silveradoup wrote: 92 Points
This is tight but you can taste that this will be great in a few years. Keep your hands off it if you can!
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