This could pretty accurately be called 'generic red wine.' Not offensive, but there isn't much to recommend it, either. Seems like the varieties don't mesh well; there's no sense of harmony to the blend. Just feels like blended leftovers.
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This wine has a nose of red jam, white pepper, leather, and pencil shavings. The wine is very smooth with a slight sweetness in the finish. Tannins are subtle. Very good for the price point.
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This is such an odd bottle. It's made with the traditional Bordeaux varietals, and the grapes are sourced from vineyards in the Roussillon, Rhone, and Bordeaux regions. But according to the back label, it's bottled in Spain. This is the F-3 version, it's non-vintage (by law they say, but not entirely sure why...they do state that all grapes used in the blend are of the same vintage) And because it's a Dave Phinney project, it's got ample alcohol...in this case, 15% ABV. It's delicious. Big, bold, opulent, decadent, over-the-top, muscular, soaring, delicious. But despite the solid spine, it's relatively simple, easy drinking (once it gets some air for about an hour) and I'm probably going to buy another bottle because I'm feeling good as I drink it. So many things about the packaging and marketing of the Locations series fly in the face of so many stodgy wine standards, it's bemusing. This is a mighty fine wine, if you enjoy wines that mince no words and don't hold back. And because I can't afford a bottle of Palermo, Machete, or Papillon, this will suffice, and I am grateful to have consumed it. Yet I can't help thinking, despite the "Locations" branding, there is nothing distinctively French about this creation. It's from the land of Phinney, and I like visiting that place.
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PnP. Didn't care for it at first. All tart fruit, abrupt acidity, and heat.
2 hrs later. It got better. Still tart fruit on the nose, underripe strawberry, and this candy note like red skittles. Tastes pretty similar, with tart fruit, dark cherries, sweet plum, blackberry. Acidity comes and goes fast, no tannin. Medium finish. It wants to be balanced, but it's really not.
Not sure how this would pair with food. Maybe a saucy BBQ dish?
Not a re-buy for me. Didn't care for Locations E either. I would pick up Locations AR or CA again if I saw either under $15.
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Grenache, syrah and others blend from the Roussillon, moderately dense purple/red, cherry and blackberry aromas, medium mouth feel, moderately long finish, nice but a little simple without much backbone
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Popped and poured, dark fruit, a bit of heat (alcohol 15%) followed by anise, dark chocolate. After a decant snd 30 minutes, settled down. Fruit flavors more prominent and layered terroir and spice followed. Heat disappeared. Anise still present but diminished. I would guess this wine is Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Decant before drinking!
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Aerated into decanter. On initial taste, the alcohol was a bit overwhelming. Over time however it started to calm down and show complexity. After 2 hours (last glass unfortunately!) it really started to show floral notes, and was more enjoyable. For the next bottle we will just let it have plenty of air and wait for the good stuff!
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Rich cola and dark fruits on the nose. Front shows very dark fruits with a few astringent tones. Mid palate is full and solid dissolving into a bit of a disjointed finish. Overall a solid wine and a good bargain at $15 or so.
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Color: Deep, dark, purple. No translucency. Nose: Sight blue or blackberry jam, bark from the vine, and dark chocolate. Flavor: Bark, minerality, pepper notes, and slightest hint of dark chocolate on the forward. The blending of flavors is very well balanced into the middle and finish which is smooth (little bit of alcohol heat - not overbearing) and lingers for half-a-minute.
Update: had this bottle again on 6/15 and still really impressed with this bottle. Decided to change rating from 90 to 92.
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Meaty black currant nose displays incense, camphor, and a hint of walnut shell. Fresh, full-bodied, and ripe, but not over the top. This is long, with nice bones, and an open-knit personality. Spice box on the finish. Tasty.
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12/27/2017 - redz wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyable medium body cab/Shiraz tasting.
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12/16/2017 - redz wrote: 88 Points
interesting floral nose, medium-to -light bodied drinker.
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12/8/2017 - Kentw wrote: 88 Points
Just a very nice easy drinking mid-week red with dark fruits, touch of spice in the middle and very mild finishing tannin.
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9/9/2017 - Colorado3G wrote: 89 Points
Solid 89 - not complex, but smooth.....a good red for summer time!
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12/28/2016 - EMTAME wrote: 82 Points
This could pretty accurately be called 'generic red wine.' Not offensive, but there isn't much to recommend it, either. Seems like the varieties don't mesh well; there's no sense of harmony to the blend. Just feels like blended leftovers.
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11/26/2016 - zbeeb Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasty upon opening. Didn't last long enough to tell if it opened further with air. Would definitely buy again.
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10/23/2016 - scarce10 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Inky and fruit forward. Enjoyable and good value.
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8/24/2016 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
good value
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8/19/2016 - Swekman wrote: 91 Points
This wine has a nose of red jam, white pepper, leather, and pencil shavings. The wine is very smooth with a slight sweetness in the finish. Tannins are subtle. Very good for the price point.
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8/13/2016 - Lothar Durktle Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is such an odd bottle. It's made with the traditional Bordeaux varietals, and the grapes are sourced from vineyards in the Roussillon, Rhone, and Bordeaux regions. But according to the back label, it's bottled in Spain. This is the F-3 version, it's non-vintage (by law they say, but not entirely sure why...they do state that all grapes used in the blend are of the same vintage) And because it's a Dave Phinney project, it's got ample alcohol...in this case, 15% ABV. It's delicious. Big, bold, opulent, decadent, over-the-top, muscular, soaring, delicious. But despite the solid spine, it's relatively simple, easy drinking (once it gets some air for about an hour) and I'm probably going to buy another bottle because I'm feeling good as I drink it. So many things about the packaging and marketing of the Locations series fly in the face of so many stodgy wine standards, it's bemusing. This is a mighty fine wine, if you enjoy wines that mince no words and don't hold back. And because I can't afford a bottle of Palermo, Machete, or Papillon, this will suffice, and I am grateful to have consumed it. Yet I can't help thinking, despite the "Locations" branding, there is nothing distinctively French about this creation. It's from the land of Phinney, and I like visiting that place.
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6/27/2016 - Eric.S wrote: 85 Points
PnP. Didn't care for it at first. All tart fruit, abrupt acidity, and heat.
2 hrs later. It got better. Still tart fruit on the nose, underripe strawberry, and this candy note like red skittles. Tastes pretty similar, with tart fruit, dark cherries, sweet plum, blackberry. Acidity comes and goes fast, no tannin. Medium finish. It wants to be balanced, but it's really not.
Not sure how this would pair with food. Maybe a saucy BBQ dish?
Not a re-buy for me. Didn't care for Locations E either. I would pick up Locations AR or CA again if I saw either under $15.
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6/26/2016 - snarfglk wrote: 90 Points
Started out well and ended a bit "confused" and harsh at the end of day 1. Day 2 it became well integrated and drank well until it was gone :(
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5/23/2016 - ShadowIII Likes this wine: 88 Points
Grenache, syrah and others blend from the Roussillon, moderately dense purple/red, cherry and blackberry aromas, medium mouth feel, moderately long finish, nice but a little simple without much backbone
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5/18/2016 - pmk wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured, dark fruit, a bit of heat (alcohol 15%) followed by anise, dark chocolate. After a decant snd 30 minutes, settled down. Fruit flavors more prominent and layered terroir and spice followed. Heat disappeared. Anise still present but diminished. I would guess this wine is Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Decant before drinking!
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3/18/2016 - RBHendrick Likes this wine: 89 Points
Aerated into decanter. On initial taste, the alcohol was a bit overwhelming. Over time however it started to calm down and show complexity. After 2 hours (last glass unfortunately!) it really started to show floral notes, and was more enjoyable. For the next bottle we will just let it have plenty of air and wait for the good stuff!
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2/25/2016 - msikes84 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good smooth French blend for $14. Drinks like a $30 bottle.
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2/18/2016 - VANSOLK wrote:
X
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2/9/2016 - TK Mastres wrote: 89 Points
Rich cola and dark fruits on the nose. Front shows very dark fruits with a few astringent tones. Mid palate is full and solid dissolving into a bit of a disjointed finish. Overall a solid wine and a good bargain at $15 or so.
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1/27/2016 - Birkmeier wrote: 89 Points
Nice nose, jammy old world style, so-so finish. Great qpr
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1/23/2016 - orlypann wrote: 90 Points
Very expressive and complex offering from Swift. Full mouthfeel with fruit and spice nicely balanced. Great QPR!
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1/12/2016 - IPT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color: Deep, dark, purple. No translucency.
Nose: Sight blue or blackberry jam, bark from the vine, and dark chocolate.
Flavor: Bark, minerality, pepper notes, and slightest hint of dark chocolate on the forward. The blending of flavors is very well balanced into the middle and finish which is smooth (little bit of alcohol heat - not overbearing) and lingers for half-a-minute.
Update: had this bottle again on 6/15 and still really impressed with this bottle. Decided to change rating from 90 to 92.
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12/29/2015 - cork breath Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice easy drinking wine. Good QPR
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12/12/2015 - ecola Likes this wine: 88 Points
Juicy dark fruit with soft tannins. Easy to drink and is a great qpr. Drink now.
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10/24/2015 - Mrbuttons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Would definitely buy again for the price point
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8/28/2015 - Baron Slick wrote: 89 Points
Meaty black currant nose displays incense, camphor, and a hint of walnut shell. Fresh, full-bodied, and ripe, but not over the top. This is long, with nice bones, and an open-knit personality. Spice box on the finish. Tasty.
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