60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% C.F., 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec, & 3% Other Varietals; "Grapes were crushed at 30% whole-berry; Fermentation lasted 6-10 days on the skins using various yeasts; Malolactic fermentation occurred in s/s tanks & oak barrels. Blending occurred shortly after malolactic fermentation. Barrel aged in a combination of AM & FR oak, 1/3 new, for 18 mos;" 14.5% ABV, 0.57g/100ml T.A., & 3.77 pH;
N: Vanilla, poss choc, with smoke, atop pyrazines with notes of cherries & earth
P: MF body; Ripe, ALMOST swtish frt met by a firm middle which slowly morphs into a LONG, slightly spicy, ult very, VERY slightly bitterswt choc finish; 91 pts & "Best Buy" WE @ $15, 90 WS, & 5 contest medals as per wine-searcher's "Tasting Notes" pg. [As of late Apr '19, wine-searcher still shows 3 vendors from $10-$16.]
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60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% C.F., 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec, & 3% Other Varietals; "Grapes were crushed at 30% whole-berry; Fermentation lasted 6-10 days on the skins using various yeasts; Malolactic fermentation occurred in s/s tanks & oak barrels. Blending occurred shortly after malolactic fermentation. Barrel aged in a combination of AM & FR oak, 1/3 new, for 18 mos;" 14.5% ABV, 0.57g/100ml T.A., & 3.77 pH;
N: Slightly closed; Blk cherries atop oak
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt on the front with some mid-P firmness which pretty much resolves by the long, very, VERY slightly harsh finish. Likely @ or near its peak, & should continue drinking nicely into '19, poss a tad longer. // Day 2: No significant falloff; 91 pts & "Best Buy" WE @ $15, 90 WS, 85 (3x) winealign.com (1/’16), & 5 contest medals as per Wine-Searcher's "Tasting Notes" pg. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 3 vendors from $10-$16.]
Addendum: Also tasted 1/9/16 & 8/31/17.
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Even after checking Columbia Crest's website, I'm still not sure I'd guess the varietal content. Columbia Crest does a nice job of informing buyers. Even their lower line, but great QPR, Grand Estates has technical info. And back to our blend here, and I do mean blend when you read the list. "3% others"???!!!
Dark red/purple artificial color; rather shy nose with some dark fruit and tobacco(?); full throttled body of ripe dark and red fruit, a hint of green/herbs, and lots of acidity and alcohol. A very good price at the $10 I paid. According to their pdf fact sheet, 1/3 new french and american oak for 18 months. Impressive for a $10 bottle of wine.
This is a great wine for the office party. Its not expensive and all will enjoy it, including you the hardened euro-cetric wine snob.
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Last bottle was reasonably enjoyable, this was a disappointment
Full bodied wine with flavors of blueberry, cherry and green peppers. Somewhat flabby and unbalanced with some green vegetal flavors. Flavors were not well integrated.
Purchased these for a basic wine for when having a non-wine crowd over. Some others in the group enjoyed the wine, but didn't do much for me.
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Has a strong artificial Mega Purple taste. Light bodied and short finish. Unremarkable. Seriously for the same price, you're better off buying Juan Gil Silver or Heartland Spice Trader instead.
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Don't know how many thousands of cases they make of this each year but after drinking a few bottles it seems like there is a wide range of wine in the bottle--even in the same vintage. Have had bottles I would rate in the low 90s and this effort at 86. It is a blend largely of syrah and merlot. Lot of black cherry fruit and smooth tannin but this bottle showed a lot of alcohol and chalk in the finish.
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Big fruit and tasty . It had the misfortune to be the last (6th) wine of the night and no food. Seems a bit wanton on balance. I would be interested in seeing this in about 2 years.
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Starts off with a hint of mocha and raspberry on the nose. Creamy texture filled with bright fruit, herbs mid-palate leading to a dry, floral finish. Excellent value!
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Cherries and plums followed by oak, peppery spice, and a hint of cocoa. Fruit forward and a little sweetness that is held in check by the oak and and some acidity. Good QPR.
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Dark plum color with medium clarity. Strawberry, cherry and tobacco nose. Smooth and dry with flavors of black cherry, some tobacco tones and some chocolate on the finish. A good medium body wine. A great wines at this price point.
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Rich, dark cherry with balanced tannins and acidity. Full bodied with a pleasant finish. Held its own beautifully, maybe even better on day two. Served with barbecued ribs.
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There is great QPR - (Quality Price Ratio-aka value) in this full bodied, full throttled complex red blend that is unsettled by a slightly flabby structure and some 'heat' on the finish, but this still provides a big pleasant drinking affordable every day red that sets up well with food such as beefsteak or bbq ribs.
Garnet colored, medium-full bodied, bold black berry and black cherry fruits accented by a pronounced layer of sweet mocha with tones of clove spice and vanilla on the mid-palate through the finish of smooth tannins.
Nicely balanced wine. Serve with beef, lamb, or by the glass for Cabernet drinkers. Tannins and acid provide nice body and decent finish. Alcohol is present but, again, in balance. Dark fruits dominate. A better palate might detect notes I can't. Significant more for its lack of flaws.
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Tasty with good balance; fruity with a bit of oak and a light tannin. It is a little sweeter than I would prefer. This is not likely a long-lived wine.
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Good value weekday wine--slightly fruity, but not as jammy as most in this category. a hint of oak adds complexity, well balanced with controlled tannins
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N: Fairly closed, but some blueberries, plums, & blackberries; Intensity lurking -- i.e., in a dumb phase?
P: Med body; Tight, yet with a nice entry; Quite long on the finish with some astringency, which also shows up on the early mid-palate.
Day 2: The astringency is WAY down, with the fruit more notable ALL the way through.
Conclusion: As a result of the MARKED improvement on Day 2, I bought 2 based upon the QPR of COSTCO's $8.79 special, though I'm not planning on cracking the next one until 2018.
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I have always loved the H3 series of wines. This one did not disappoint. Great nose. Dark fruits and a bit of earthiness and chocolate on a med-full body, but with good acidity and freshness for our meal (pork). Tremendous QPR, which gets an extra point from me. My (<$20) WOTN. Xmas eve dinner. 89-90.
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A nose of dark fruit and tobacco, dark black in color. A medium to full bodied Bordeaux blend, with cassis, black and blueberries, a bit dull compared to previous years. www.winelx.com
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Pas mauvais dans le genre. Surmaturité. confituré. Manque de fraîcheur. Jus de planche. Sans être mauvais, vraiment sans intérêt. WS 90, WE 91 : come on...
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Fruit bomb with great QPR! Nothing too complex, but easy drinking, smooth, good amount of oak and fruit. For $9 at Costco, it's up there with the best of the QPR offerings.
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3.5 Lush aromas of blackberry, vanilla, chocolate, and spice are followed by velvety smooth mouthfeel. Fine-grained, sandy tannins. Medium to full body. A rich and ripe wine with significant oak influence. Delightful.
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first columbia crest ive had in a long time that doesnt taste like flamed oak. it's there for sure, but gives the sensation of high-end rather than mass-appeal. the fruit is vibrant, the balance exemplary all across. nothing wows but nothing really lets you down either. add a lovely texture + finish and you have something rather beautiful. and it's cheap.
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You can definitely feel the Syrah influence in the black and blue fruit, plum, and chocolate aromas. It's soft, showing good weight, flavors that are smooth and balanced, with pit fruit picking up steam on the moderate finish. This is well put together, showing you don't have to spend a pretty penny to get a good bottle of wine.
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Yum! 8.99 at costco... bought a case after trying one. This is a ROCKING red blend for daily consumption to keep you out of your high end stuff or a great way to have a good wine when friend who wont appreciate a high end bottle come over. Nice fruit, nice acidity, nice finish, some layers but not crazy complex... but its 8.99! I would definitely buy this before spending 2.00 more/btl at costco for the 2012 h3 cab. Just a thought, and yes I'm feeling frugal!
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This opaque crimson/ruby wine is an impressive offering at any price, much less its very modest sticker. A blend of 60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec and 3% other varietals, it serves up aromas and flavors of dark bramble fruits, plums, smoke and chocolate. Full-bodied and freshly acidic, it is easy to drink by virtue of its silky tannins, nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%) and well-woven oak. The flavors are layered and build in the middle. Closing with medium length, this is yet another Washington State wine which would, if it had "Napa Valley" on the label, sell for 2-3 times the price. This is produced in sufficient quantity to buy by the case...to be enjoyed over the next five years and/or serve at a party. Drink now-2020.
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10/11/2018 - madvitale Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really pleasant everyday wine. Versatile.
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6/1/2018 - kimobo wrote: 90 Points
A very drinkable and enjoyable red blend. Mild tannins and a smooth finish. Would buy again.
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3/14/2018 - Ralphie1 wrote: 90 Points
So good for the money!
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1/8/2018 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
A little thin. May be past it’s prime. Nice for the money.
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8/31/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% C.F., 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec, & 3% Other Varietals; "Grapes were crushed at 30% whole-berry; Fermentation lasted 6-10 days on the skins using various yeasts; Malolactic fermentation occurred in s/s tanks & oak barrels. Blending occurred shortly after malolactic fermentation. Barrel aged in a combination of AM & FR oak, 1/3 new, for 18 mos;" 14.5% ABV, 0.57g/100ml T.A., & 3.77 pH;
N: Vanilla, poss choc, with smoke, atop pyrazines with notes of cherries & earth
P: MF body; Ripe, ALMOST swtish frt met by a firm middle which slowly morphs into a LONG, slightly spicy, ult very, VERY slightly bitterswt choc finish; 91 pts & "Best Buy" WE @ $15, 90 WS, & 5 contest medals as per wine-searcher's "Tasting Notes" pg. [As of late Apr '19, wine-searcher still shows 3 vendors from $10-$16.]
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5/16/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Private Preserve after Day 1
60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% C.F., 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec, & 3% Other Varietals; "Grapes were crushed at 30% whole-berry; Fermentation lasted 6-10 days on the skins using various yeasts; Malolactic fermentation occurred in s/s tanks & oak barrels. Blending occurred shortly after malolactic fermentation. Barrel aged in a combination of AM & FR oak, 1/3 new, for 18 mos;" 14.5% ABV, 0.57g/100ml T.A., & 3.77 pH;
N: Slightly closed; Blk cherries atop oak
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt on the front with some mid-P firmness which pretty much resolves by the long, very, VERY slightly harsh finish. Likely @ or near its peak, & should continue drinking nicely into '19, poss a tad longer.
// Day 2: No significant falloff; 91 pts & "Best Buy" WE @ $15, 90 WS, 85 (3x) winealign.com (1/’16), & 5 contest medals as per Wine-Searcher's "Tasting Notes" pg. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 3 vendors from $10-$16.]
Addendum: Also tasted 1/9/16 & 8/31/17.
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1/2/2017 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great wine for the money
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12/8/2016 - Firflet wrote: 84 Points
Decent flavor but very flat/one note
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10/24/2016 - Racer117 wrote: 87 Points
Even after checking Columbia Crest's website, I'm still not sure I'd guess the varietal content. Columbia Crest does a nice job of informing buyers. Even their lower line, but great QPR, Grand Estates has technical info. And back to our blend here, and I do mean blend when you read the list. "3% others"???!!!
Dark red/purple artificial color; rather shy nose with some dark fruit and tobacco(?); full throttled body of ripe dark and red fruit, a hint of green/herbs, and lots of acidity and alcohol. A very good price at the $10 I paid. According to their pdf fact sheet, 1/3 new french and american oak for 18 months. Impressive for a $10 bottle of wine.
This is a great wine for the office party. Its not expensive and all will enjoy it, including you the hardened euro-cetric wine snob.
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10/2/2016 - Redrunners Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Seems to be a fair amount of bottle variation.
Last bottle was reasonably enjoyable, this was a disappointment
Full bodied wine with flavors of blueberry, cherry and green peppers. Somewhat flabby and unbalanced with some green vegetal flavors. Flavors were not well integrated.
Purchased these for a basic wine for when having a non-wine crowd over. Some others in the group enjoyed the wine, but didn't do much for me.
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8/23/2016 - PimpDaddy2Kool wrote: 86 Points
Has a strong artificial Mega Purple taste. Light bodied and short finish. Unremarkable. Seriously for the same price, you're better off buying Juan Gil Silver or Heartland Spice Trader instead.
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7/14/2016 - steve_and_mary Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice blend. Mary liked better than Steve. Reasonably complex, but a little green upon opening.
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5/30/2016 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Don't know how many thousands of cases they make of this each year but after drinking a few bottles it seems like there is a wide range of wine in the bottle--even in the same vintage. Have had bottles I would rate in the low 90s and this effort at 86. It is a blend largely of syrah and merlot. Lot of black cherry fruit and smooth tannin but this bottle showed a lot of alcohol and chalk in the finish.
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4/25/2016 - wtianseter wrote: 86 Points
Big fruit and tasty . It had the misfortune to be the last (6th) wine of the night and no food. Seems a bit wanton on balance. I would be interested in seeing this in about 2 years.
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4/13/2016 - Dionysusx Likes this wine: 90 Points
Starts off with a hint of mocha and raspberry on the nose. Creamy texture filled with bright fruit, herbs mid-palate leading to a dry, floral finish. Excellent value!
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3/26/2016 - Jobu wrote: 89 Points
Cherries and plums followed by oak, peppery spice, and a hint of cocoa. Fruit forward and a little sweetness that is held in check by the oak and and some acidity. Good QPR.
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3/25/2016 - redbrix Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark plum color with medium clarity. Strawberry, cherry and tobacco nose. Smooth and dry with flavors of black cherry, some tobacco tones and some chocolate on the finish. A good medium body wine. A great wines at this price point.
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3/13/2016 - Rwsmith5 wrote: 90 Points
Rich, dark cherry with balanced tannins and acidity. Full bodied with a pleasant finish. Held its own beautifully, maybe even better on day two. Served with barbecued ribs.
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3/7/2016 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
There is great QPR - (Quality Price Ratio-aka value) in this full bodied, full throttled complex red blend that is unsettled by a slightly flabby structure and some 'heat' on the finish, but this still provides a big pleasant drinking affordable every day red that sets up well with food such as beefsteak or bbq ribs.
Garnet colored, medium-full bodied, bold black berry and black cherry fruits accented by a pronounced layer of sweet mocha with tones of clove spice and vanilla on the mid-palate through the finish of smooth tannins.
Blend: 60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec, 3% Other Varietals
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2016/03/horse-heaven-hills-2012-h3-les-chevaux.html
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2/26/2016 - mkslater Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nicely balanced wine. Serve with beef, lamb, or by the glass for Cabernet drinkers. Tannins and acid provide nice body and decent finish. Alcohol is present but, again, in balance. Dark fruits dominate. A better palate might detect notes I can't. Significant more for its lack of flaws.
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2/25/2016 - jigones Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great everyday drinker, plus it gets better after two or three days. A bit on the sweet/fruit forward side, but we'll balanced and structured.
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2/22/2016 - JRoman23 wrote: 87 Points
Solid for the price but was honestly expecting more.
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2/14/2016 - Angle Gold Likes this wine: 89 Points
Vanilla, lots of dark fruit and texture, a delicious everyday drinker and great QPR.
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2/10/2016 - wtianseter wrote: 86 Points
Tasty with good balance; fruity with a bit of oak and a light tannin. It is a little sweeter than I would prefer. This is not likely a long-lived wine.
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1/23/2016 - Tomportwine Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good value weekday wine--slightly fruity, but not as jammy as most in this category. a hint of oak adds complexity, well balanced with controlled tannins
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1/9/2016 - srh Likes this wine:
N: Fairly closed, but some blueberries, plums, & blackberries; Intensity lurking -- i.e., in a dumb phase?
P: Med body; Tight, yet with a nice entry; Quite long on the finish with some astringency, which also shows up on the early mid-palate.
Day 2: The astringency is WAY down, with the fruit more notable ALL the way through.
Conclusion: As a result of the MARKED improvement on Day 2, I bought 2 based upon the QPR of COSTCO's $8.79 special, though I'm not planning on cracking the next one until 2018.
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12/30/2015 - noshvegas Likes this wine: 88 Points
Smooth blend ... Reasonably priced. Drink again
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12/24/2015 - Decanthor Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have always loved the H3 series of wines. This one did not disappoint. Great nose. Dark fruits and a bit of earthiness and chocolate on a med-full body, but with good acidity and freshness for our meal (pork). Tremendous QPR, which gets an extra point from me. My (<$20) WOTN. Xmas eve dinner. 89-90.
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10/29/2015 - corkscrews wrote: 85 Points
A nose of dark fruit and tobacco, dark black in color. A medium to full bodied Bordeaux blend, with cassis, black and blueberries, a bit dull compared to previous years. www.winelx.com
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10/21/2015 - sauermf@outlook.com wrote: flawed
Liked less than the merlot and cab sauv
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9/16/2015 - Marshall&Leslie wrote: 82 Points
Not as good as I had hoped based upon the rating.
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9/7/2015 - kosmik wrote: 83 Points
Pas mauvais dans le genre.
Surmaturité.
confituré.
Manque de fraîcheur.
Jus de planche.
Sans être mauvais, vraiment sans intérêt.
WS 90, WE 91 : come on...
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6/5/2015 - gravedee Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit bomb with great QPR! Nothing too complex, but easy drinking, smooth, good amount of oak and fruit. For $9 at Costco, it's up there with the best of the QPR offerings.
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5/7/2015 - wagonwine wrote:
3.5 Lush aromas of blackberry, vanilla, chocolate, and spice are followed by velvety smooth mouthfeel. Fine-grained, sandy tannins. Medium to full body. A rich and ripe wine with significant oak influence. Delightful.
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4/30/2015 - wintergreen Likes this wine: 91 Points
first columbia crest ive had in a long time that doesnt taste like flamed oak. it's there for sure, but gives the sensation of high-end rather than mass-appeal. the fruit is vibrant, the balance exemplary all across. nothing wows but nothing really lets you down either. add a lovely texture + finish and you have something rather beautiful.
and it's cheap.
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4/25/2015 - cultdrinker Likes this wine: 89 Points
Spicy and blackberry to teh taste. Nice smooth wine that complemented well the veal marsala with mushrooms and mashed potatoes.
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4/1/2015 - Baron Slick wrote: 89 Points
You can definitely feel the Syrah influence in the black and blue fruit, plum, and chocolate aromas. It's soft, showing good weight, flavors that are smooth and balanced, with pit fruit picking up steam on the moderate finish. This is well put together, showing you don't have to spend a pretty penny to get a good bottle of wine.
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3/10/2015 - WaWineFan in TX wrote: 90 Points
Yum! 8.99 at costco... bought a case after trying one. This is a ROCKING red blend for daily consumption to keep you out of your high end stuff or a great way to have a good wine when friend who wont appreciate a high end bottle come over. Nice fruit, nice acidity, nice finish, some layers but not crazy complex... but its 8.99! I would definitely buy this before spending 2.00 more/btl at costco for the 2012 h3 cab. Just a thought, and yes I'm feeling frugal!
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3/4/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 90 Points
This opaque crimson/ruby wine is an impressive offering at any price, much less its very modest sticker. A blend of 60% Syrah, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Viognier, 2% Malbec and 3% other varietals, it serves up aromas and flavors of dark bramble fruits, plums, smoke and chocolate. Full-bodied and freshly acidic, it is easy to drink by virtue of its silky tannins, nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%) and well-woven oak. The flavors are layered and build in the middle. Closing with medium length, this is yet another Washington State wine which would, if it had "Napa Valley" on the label, sell for 2-3 times the price. This is produced in sufficient quantity to buy by the case...to be enjoyed over the next five years and/or serve at a party. Drink now-2020.
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3/22/2013 - JRoman23 wrote: 88 Points
Was expecting more from a H3.
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