While dense and hearty, this is not quite the fruit bomb of other Inkblots I have had, which made it much more enjoyable. It somewhat reminded me of Chinon French Cab Francs that are equally hearty and tannic. (https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-chinon) I think the fact that this is almost 5 years old allowed everything to mellow and integrate a tad, Inkblot can be a mouthful when young,14.9% alcohol. Believe this will be at its prime in 2018 and 19.
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Huge body, deep purple color and pretty darn complex. A lot of dark fruit, oak and graphite. Quite enjoyable. I actually purchased this at the winery, wish I'd bought a few more bottles.
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Mine. Inserted into Loire tasting as a joke as both producer and origins promised a 180 degree oppositeness to what we hold dear about the LV. It wasn't "Will they think it's a ringer?", just how fast they'd ask. And in that sense, it did not disappoint. Huge concentration, big oak. But what did surprise is that the tannins were just as big and the wine wasn't at all jammy. Under other circumstances, I could actually drink this.
This was the second bottle I have tasted. Bottle one was six months ago and I have to say the second was way better. The flavors have melded better with the age. I would guess that the one of the blending agents was petit Verdot witch gives it that strong color and finish. I grapple with the idea this would be what I would call a good showing for Cab Franc. The wine has nice balance the nose is small at best. Nice dark inky color funny with the name. Finish is stronger than most Cab Francs that I have had in California. In turn leading me to believe that Verdot being the blending agent. Over all not a bad wine would be better categorized as a red blend than Cab Franc
Has rich very ripe fruit in the black berry spectrum which appear furthe extracted with ripe skin colour and tannins. A touch of rosemary and eucalyptus in the palate but not intrusive. Supported by a good dose of cedary oak with a coconut nuance (American oak). THere's also licorice and cocoa deep flavours to prolong the length. Benefits from breathing for hours indicating a great cellaring potential as its a strong intense wine desperately needing food accompaniment right now. It has great length with a grippy finish which should settle a bit in 5 yrs.
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Decanted. Aromas of medium-plus intensity show bold, rich fruit aromas of blackberry, plum, dried fig and dark cherry backed strongly by the trademark Lodi black licorice notes along with cassis, camphor, rosemary, eucalyptus, cedar, vanilla, dark chocolate, espresso, porter and baking spice. Consistant on the palate with prior vintages. This wine is dense, highly extracted and throwing some serious weight for the varietal. Bold, rich and hedonistic on the palate and extremely Lodi. Flavors of rich fig paste, plum sauce and blackberry pastilles are dripping with black licorice, charcoal and vanilla along with cedar, herbs, menthol, baking spice, espresso and sassafras all wrapped in full satiny tannins. Full across the mid-palate and juicy medium/medium-plus acidity keeps balance. The finish is long and grippy lingering on the decadent fruit and black licorice notes.
Overall should be interesting to see how this comes together. Drinks well now with air.
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Large scaled very structure wine. A vibrant mix of red and black fruits on the nose and palate, with very prominent drying tannins on the back end. Good, just not a lot of complexity. The scale and tannins reminded me of a petite syrah.
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11/19/2018 - manny651 Likes this wine: 91 Points
excellent....not a traditional cab franc, has the michael-david style
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8/5/2018 - Risky Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great heavy, tart, dark berry, dry
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2/11/2018 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 91 Points
While dense and hearty, this is not quite the fruit bomb of other Inkblots I have had, which made it much more enjoyable. It somewhat reminded me of Chinon French Cab Francs that are equally hearty and tannic.
(https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-chinon)
I think the fact that this is almost 5 years old allowed everything to mellow and integrate a tad, Inkblot can be a mouthful when young,14.9% alcohol.
Believe this will be at its prime in 2018 and 19.
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1/2/2018 - Scott Harbison Likes this wine: 91 Points
Huge body, deep purple color and pretty darn complex. A lot of dark fruit, oak and graphite. Quite enjoyable. I actually purchased this at the winery, wish I'd bought a few more bottles.
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10/16/2017 - blabbott wrote: 90 Points
This is a really good with dark fruit, lots of earth and nice tannins. Really good value, we still have one bottle left, could happily drink more.
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8/9/2017 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Mine. Inserted into Loire tasting as a joke as both producer and origins promised a 180 degree oppositeness to what we hold dear about the LV. It wasn't "Will they think it's a ringer?", just how fast they'd ask. And in that sense, it did not disappoint. Huge concentration, big oak. But what did surprise is that the tannins were just as big and the wine wasn't at all jammy. Under other circumstances, I could actually drink this.
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1/7/2017 - brian_r93 wrote: 88 Points
This was the second bottle I have tasted. Bottle one was six months ago and I have to say the second was way better. The flavors have melded better with the age. I would guess that the one of the blending agents was petit Verdot witch gives it that strong color and finish.
I grapple with the idea this would be what I would call a good showing for Cab Franc.
The wine has nice balance the nose is small at best. Nice dark inky color funny with the name. Finish is stronger than most Cab Francs that I have had in California. In turn leading me to believe that Verdot being the blending agent.
Over all not a bad wine would be better categorized as a red blend than Cab Franc
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12/26/2016 - Mark Patricoski wrote:
Very very good
I am buying a case now
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10/16/2016 - Mark V wrote: 85 Points
OK CF. had much better
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9/25/2016 - GrapeTank Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Great balance of fruit and tannin. Long finish.
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9/24/2016 - southpaw25 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank at 20/20 grill. Excellent juice. Went well with lamb chops and chocolate cake.
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8/3/2016 - cabrnay Likes this wine: 92 Points
Does not taste like a cab franc at all. Good tannins and fruit balance, dry but with a fruit forward tilt.
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4/1/2016 - F1NUT Likes this wine: 91 Points
Has rich very ripe fruit in the black berry spectrum which appear furthe extracted with ripe skin colour and tannins. A touch of rosemary and eucalyptus in the palate but not intrusive. Supported by a good dose of cedary oak with a coconut nuance (American oak). THere's also licorice and cocoa deep flavours to prolong the length. Benefits from breathing for hours indicating a great cellaring potential as its a strong intense wine desperately needing food accompaniment right now. It has great length with a grippy finish which should settle a bit in 5 yrs.
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1/18/2016 - jnocera Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really good structure good floral nose but thick heavy tannins
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1/6/2016 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Decanted.
Aromas of medium-plus intensity show bold, rich fruit aromas of blackberry, plum, dried fig and dark cherry backed strongly by the trademark Lodi black licorice notes along with cassis, camphor, rosemary, eucalyptus, cedar, vanilla, dark chocolate, espresso, porter and baking spice.
Consistant on the palate with prior vintages. This wine is dense, highly extracted and throwing some serious weight for the varietal. Bold, rich and hedonistic on the palate and extremely Lodi. Flavors of rich fig paste, plum sauce and blackberry pastilles are dripping with black licorice, charcoal and vanilla along with cedar, herbs, menthol, baking spice, espresso and sassafras all wrapped in full satiny tannins. Full across the mid-palate and juicy medium/medium-plus acidity keeps balance. The finish is long and grippy lingering on the decadent fruit and black licorice notes.
Overall should be interesting to see how this comes together. Drinks well now with air.
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7/25/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Large scaled very structure wine. A vibrant mix of red and black fruits on the nose and palate, with very prominent drying tannins on the back end. Good, just not a lot of complexity. The scale and tannins reminded me of a petite syrah.
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