Bottle #2 of 2. Cork in very good condition. Decanted one hour. Some sediment left in the bottle. Deep purple in colour with a watery rim. Aromas of red fruits, dark fruits, cedar, mocha, green stems. On the palate: replays but more savoury, leather. Full body, high acid, XD, m/m+ tannin, m-h alcohol (14.5%). Long finish. Shared with Nic and Lara.
Evolution since my first bottle in 2019 (i.e. over five years): nothing crazy, but more savoury now, and more enjoyable in my opinion. Overall, this is maturing nicely and is in a good place. Can drink now, but will cruise for another ten years I figure. From a 750 ml bottle, so if you have a magnum, I would wait a bit yet. Excellent RQP at only $29 (in 2015).
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Last bottle was end of 2019 — was OK, but nothing more. How much the world has changed since then, and also this wine. It's in a impressive stage currently where fruit still has power to impress, but also tertiary elements shine through just enough to elevate this to the next level. Impressive wine, great point in time to indulge.
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Super yummy out of the gate, on its own without food. However it definitely shows to be a bit of a modern "cocktail" wine in some ways. I'm torn about it. Great QPR for sure, but not classic or a food wine.
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Continues to improve with time. The overwrought woody note has really faded, and there’s lots of saddle leather and forest floor here, particularly in the nose. There’s also a rich core of dark currant fruit, which is pretty impressive in the mouth. All in all, classic bordeaux stuff, if not first or second- growth level delineation or purity . I’d say this is two-years from peak, but it’s really good right now.
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Warm and spicy with rich and savoury cassis fruit developing silk and richness on the mid-palate. The finish is unsurprisingly quite hot, bearing in mind an abv of 14.5%. Plush and polished but overall a little heavy handed. CHP 88 pts
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Nose: Thick and rich cassis, petrichor, autumnal earth. Palate: Pure cassis with a very faint cool mintiness; firmly polished tannins; dusty earth and fallen leaves.; well-integrated heat and light bitter spiciness on the finish. On day two, the alcohol asserts itself a bit more and the fruit takes on a creme de cassis and mildly sweet cherry liqueur vibe.
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Color: very dark, almost black (ruby)-purple. Nose: plum and blackberry with herbs like mint, a hint of cedar and leather, and an elegant complexity and depth; really nice! Taste: plum and blackberry with still some astringent tannins and (with 14,5%) quite a lot of burning alcohol. Already a pleasure to drink, I guess that this wine will benefit of some more keeping. Next bottle after at least one year. Potentially 90+.
Still vibrant and youthful, with bold fruit statement tempered with cigar box and leaded pencil characters. Loved the tannins and structure and if I had a little carp there was a little too much heat and spice. Nonetheless, a stolid bourgeois gent. CHP 91 pts
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Gorgeous on both the nose and the palate, especially for the EP price. From memory, this seems a bit better than the 2010 was. Great style St. Estèphe, all nicely balanced. In a very good spot but will be great for several years more. Agree with the previous two tasting notes.
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Elegant Bordeaux. Nice full dark fruit with good structure. Well balanced and in a good drinking window now. Subtle leather and smoke notes. Tannins are well integrated, paired well with pork chops.
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Intense dark fruits - ripe blackberry, cassis and black cherry with vanilla oak notes and some cedar, tobacco notes. Good acidity and structure - what’s not to like!?
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My last note said "see you again in a couple of years". That was June this year. Oops. That advice seems fair, too bad I didn't realise I had consumed one so recently.
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Well much the same as last more, but the maturity had budgeted on a little further. Far better on day 2. Also very good day 3. See you again in a couple of years.
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Confirmation of my note of a year ago: this wine is developing very well indeed. Very deep colour, spicy/peppery on the nose, with excellent concentration on the palate. The tannins are softening nicely and it's ready to go, but there's plenty of substance here and I think it will continue to get better and better for some years yet. Really very good indeed for a non-classed growth in a year which is generally regarded as light, and very good value. 91 for now, but one to keep an eye on as I think it may well justify a higher score in time.
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Gorgeous, classic claret. With none of the feminine softness you'd expect from a St. Estephe, this is an assertively masculine wine, as if each grape had two little grapes hanging off it. Rich, complex, viscous--I love this wine.
CS: 78% M: 19% PV: 3% 60% new oak. I agree most with Richard Nabavi's note on this site, as well as PETERMETZNER's recent note. Enjoyed with friends today at the Travellers in London, decanted for a good hour. Shows that St Estèphe is the commune in 2014. Colour: v deep red, v thin rim, purple tinge. Nose: full, fresh, excellent fruit and complexity, spice, great cassis flavours. Taste: med body, well rounded, tannins well resolved but good structure, definitely led by the CS notes, long finish with good fruit and ripeness. Overall, wears its alcohol (14.5%) lightly, is elegant yet very St Estèphe in an old school way.
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Higher Alc than I remember at 14.5%. Still a quality wine for the QPR for sure. The 2016 is better but i'll be curious to see if this smooths out. Dark fruit and some pepper, decent acidity.
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Dark and opaque, even with decant. Good nose of a rich Bordeaux approaching maturity, but not there yet - saddle starting to emerge. Very charry on the flavor profile — heavily charred wood, though the oak flavor itself is not overwrought. Black fruits entirely. Low medium tannin and acid, so can be enjoyed now. Overall a pretty decent if heavy handed Bordeaux. Peak in 3 -4 years.
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First of a case bought on release. Decanted for about 90 minutes (there's some sediment, so decanting is recommended).
Dense colour. Excellent on the nose, with plenty of fruit, and a little spiciness/pepper. Classy on the palate: juicy and with very good concentration for a claret of this level. Despite its relative youth, it's already very enjoyable, although the finish is still quite tannic.
This is really rather good. It should last well and continue to improve for at least ten years, despite being very approachable already.
The 2014s are shaping up well in my experience - better than the reputation of the vintage would lead you to expect. This one provides high quality at a modest price.
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A Bordeaux wine as it should be. Hard spicy taste. A bit of leather and ripe fruit. Not a slight bitterness left, round tannines. At it's top to drink. A round body. Some nice tears in the glass and an dark red color almost dark. Herb, spicy nose. The wine finishes medium. The wine looks tawny colored. The legs are slow. It smells like raisin and forest floor. It tastes like raisin and forest floor. The wine has low acidity.
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Working my way through some of the "lesser" 2014 St Estephe wines, this had more colour and density than any others. Fruit is in the dark spectrum with prominent but not over-powering charred oak. Approachable now but perhaps at its best in other 3-5 years.
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Nose of plum, cherry, spick, and oak. Black currant ab blck cherry fruit with dark chocolate, charcoal, and a strong quartz/mica mineral note. Smoky finish with chewy tannins, black plum, bittersweet chocolate, silty earth, and oak. Nice now and may develop a bit further.
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Deep purple colour, A little fading at the rim. Lots of oak on the nose, spicy, toasty, and vanilla with red fruit. Oak doesn't overpower too much. Very floral, strangely floral, lots of sweet fruit, lavender, nice ripe powdery tannins, none of that St. Estephe grip. High quality but still a bit disjointed. Drunk from Coravin so might be better after a decant. Keep. 14.5% ABV
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Tasted 1/1/21 having been opened several days earlier but stored in bottle under argon gas. Meaty, sturdy and robust, with sweet fruit flavours of blackcurrant, smoke and leather seasoned with spice. The tannins had softened down pleasingly and there was now a lovely silky texture and mouthfeel. The length of finish was excellent and I really liked the structure and balance. All in all, a delicious treat. Score 90 points.
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From demi, this wine is in a young but already approachble stage. The colour is youthful and the nose offers cassis, sweet vanilla which fades with some air. The Capbern is very well balanced with grained tannins, fine acidity, medium plus body and a chewy, persistant final. It combines power with finsse - very very promising!
Good fruit, cassis flavour and plenty of structure. A little chewy but already good with food. Seems ready earlier than a lot of other 14s and also more full bodied. Delicious and need to make sure I keep a couple back to see how they evolve.
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I didn't think I would be drinking another of these so soon, but hey, I had done nice steak that demanded tannin. Decanted for 90 minutes Lovely classic but complex nose of blackcurrant, pencil lead, leather and Oak. The palate shows rich blackcurrant, and sweet Oak which needs some more time to integrate. Form medium finish with a mineral edge. Very good.
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The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis), oak and black pepper. It tastes like blackberry, black currant (cassis), fig, oak, vanilla and cinnamon. The body is full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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Nose of silty earth, wood smoke, and stewed raspberry. Raspberry and cherry wrapped in tannins, granite, and asphalt. Firm, tight tannins with tobacco, dry cherry, earth, and leather.
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Young. Almost purple. Jammy black fruit nose. Fruity taste, with tannins already integrated but still detectable at the back of the tongue. Still pretty acidic. Great future.
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superb QPR. drink and hold. Will improve with time. As a matter of personal taste or is it the one extra year, I actually prefer the 2014 to the 2015. I have yet to try the 2016
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Purple hue, blueberries and dark fruits, soft, luscious tannins. Concentrated, earthy and well balanced. Overall, its all very pleasant and I cant really fault it, that said, its also all a bit 'ho hum' and unexciting. Strangely, it feels all a bit too polished and dare I say it, manufactured …? Day 2 and this has settled down further but is still very bold and deeply concentrated. Vanilla, chocolate and raspberries more prevalent. In retrospect, this does indeed need more time to soften and integrate further.
First of two bottles. Very long cork (a full 2") in perfect condition. Decanted 90 minutes. Dark ruby with some sediment left in the bottle. Aromas and flavours of toast, herbs, licorice, caramel, dried red fruits, cassis. M body, m-h acidity, XD, m tannin. Medium-long finish of red apple. More plum on the second day. Pleasant but nothing special. Will hold onto my second bottle until 2024.
Popped and poured, and boy is it impressive out of the gate. Totally opaque inky purple. Nose filled with blueberries and blackberries. Lavender and lilacs. Rich and powerful fruit in the mouth, extremely concentrated. Yes it is young and a little raw, but this tastes wonderful and has incredible potential—if you can keep your hands off of it. I’m flabbergasted: this is a blockbuster, shockingly great! Wow! 5-13-18-9: 95/100.
Very attractive bordeaux, with fine earthy, smokey nose with cassis, but also fine dark berries from the high proportion of Merlot in the blend. On the palate fresh, with young tannin. Perfect foodwine, but also delicious on it´s own.
Tart dark berries on the palate, with strong and slightly bitter tannins. A bit out of balance right now but I expect good things in a few years. OTOH, if you don't mind the tannins, its pretty enjoyable with the right food now.
Rich aromas of coffee, earth, leather, tobacco, and dark fruit. Tastes of cassis, blackberry, raspberry, coffee, and dark chocolate. Structured tannins, full bodied. Decant and least 2 - 3 hours; still developing, could have laid down a couple more years. Very nice! 4,22,8,4,5;50=93
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Deep red colour with black/purple hues. A firm and brooding wine straight from the bottle, a several hour decant eventually reveals mocha, coffee bean, tar, plum, blackberry, chokecherry, moss, pencil lead. Room for improvement. Fantastic QPR.
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Wow. This really delivers. Great St Estephe nose of coffee, earth, and spice. Palate is still austere, but nice ripe black fruits. Nice concentration. I really like this for the price. Approachable, with nice typicity.
Very dark red. Mineral and black fruit in the nose. Very pure in the mouth, with smooth, grainy, chewy tannins, and black fruits. Seems very St. Estephe-like in flavor, but still smooth and rich enough to be enjoyable, even though somewhat on the rustic side. Very good value, and should only get better. 5-11-15-9: 90/100.
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Opened one of these as a bit of a preview, too early really. This showed in the oak and fruit not being fully integrated. The wine itself is dark and opaque. The nose ous full of chocolate, coffee, smoke and dark berries. The palate is smooth, showing classic dark fruits with a vanilla oak veneer over the top which needs a little more time to integrate fully. Tannins are ripe, integrated and smooth, showing very nicely on the finish. Quite a luscious wine and very satisfying, even at this very early stage. Could be consumed now if you like a more modern style.
Cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, smoke, oak. With some air already accessible. Tannins still pronounced but not harsh in any way. Good length with some minty finish.
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Why wait? Tannins are integrated & fresh. Fruit is ripe & clean without over ripe Merlot character. A little bit modern in that you don't find that leafy green pepper character, but this is solid and drinking very well right now.
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A short decant helps bring out the best character. Ripe fruit on the nose. Medium full bodied. Black cherry and blackberry on the palate along with smooth, dusty tannins. Good acidity. A bit of spice on the finish. Very accessible now. 14.5% abv.
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Nice core of red fruits. Fine rather prominent tannins. Has a hint of the smokiness of St Estephe. Less open than the other 14’s I’ve had. More “serious” and introverted. Looks like a solid QPR in a few years as there seems to be enough fruit to let the tannins integrate. One to hold.
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Sometimes you come across a Bordeaux that you know is just going to be great in 2-3 years. All the parts are there. Quality fruit, great craftsmanship. So hard to find a wine of this quality for the price
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Out of the bottle was too harsh with flavors masked. Decanted for hours and drank the next day and it opened up to a wine that was still too young to drink. Has potential a couple years down the road.
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Überraschung: ohne Dekantierung zeigt sich der Wein schon aufgeschlossen. Am zweiten Tag noch besser. Edler Bordeaux , ausbalanciert mit langem Abgang und herrlichen Tanninen . 91+
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Russk. TW French class with Pablo and Marido. My 2nd WOTN and I bought a bottle. Nice juicy mouth but wait a couple of yrs (or give long decant ) as it was a bit young.
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Tasted at Vive le France class at Total Wine in Towson, MD on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Earthy with notes of tobacco, licorice and dark fruit. Beautiful deep color. 14.5% alcohol. $24.99
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Loved this, it somehow came across as an unusually "happy" wine. Opened an hour before tasting. Deep, inky purple in color, with long, narrow legs. Lively, round nose of black plum and ozone. On the palate, licorice, plum, pound cake, balanced and not too sweet. Medium finish, light tannins. Great value, nothing fancy, but a lovely, real old world crowd pleaser. Immensely food friendly.
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Feels tight and compact right out of the bottle. Unlike some of the '14s this may need a few more years to show at its best. Shows some potential though.
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Dry, medium-bodied, slightly astringent with dark fruit notes (perhaps plum skin?) This has nice balance and Left Bank typicity, but I don't feel it has enough fruit or character to make it a particularly good value for around $20. Still, one could do a lot worse at this price point.
The alcohol weighs in at a hefty 14.5%, suggesting that ripeness was not a problem. I suspect this could improve with another 2 or 3 years of age.
From the smoky fruits and softness in the tannins to the allure of the finish, there’s much to like about this polished, medium-bodied delight. Ripe and dark, this wine reached 14.2% alcohol. 88-91 Pts
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4/21/2024 - Dave Dewar Likes this wine:
Bottle #2 of 2. Cork in very good condition. Decanted one hour. Some sediment left in the bottle. Deep purple in colour with a watery rim. Aromas of red fruits, dark fruits, cedar, mocha, green stems. On the palate: replays but more savoury, leather. Full body, high acid, XD, m/m+ tannin, m-h alcohol (14.5%). Long finish. Shared with Nic and Lara.
Evolution since my first bottle in 2019 (i.e. over five years): nothing crazy, but more savoury now, and more enjoyable in my opinion. Overall, this is maturing nicely and is in a good place. Can drink now, but will cruise for another ten years I figure. From a 750 ml bottle, so if you have a magnum, I would wait a bit yet. Excellent RQP at only $29 (in 2015).
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3/23/2024 - CompleterZRH Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle was end of 2019 — was OK, but nothing more. How much the world has changed since then, and also this wine. It's in a impressive stage currently where fruit still has power to impress, but also tertiary elements shine through just enough to elevate this to the next level. Impressive wine, great point in time to indulge.
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1/31/2024 - Mahoney_jr wrote: 91 Points
This is hitting right now. Very straight Bordeaux, highly drinkable.
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1/19/2024 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 92 Points
So enjoyable
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12/20/2023 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Super yummy out of the gate, on its own without food. However it definitely shows to be a bit of a modern "cocktail" wine in some ways. I'm torn about it. Great QPR for sure, but not classic or a food wine.
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12/19/2023 - racerchris Likes this wine: 91 Points
I quite enjoyed this bottle over two evenings with dinner.
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12/10/2023 - Shrages wrote: 91 Points
Continues to improve with time. The overwrought woody note has really faded, and there’s lots of saddle leather and forest floor here, particularly in the nose. There’s also a rich core of dark currant fruit, which is pretty impressive in the mouth. All in all, classic bordeaux stuff, if not first or second- growth level delineation or purity . I’d say this is two-years from peak, but it’s really good right now.
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11/28/2023 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 88 Points
Warm and spicy with rich and savoury cassis fruit developing silk and richness on the mid-palate. The finish is unsurprisingly quite hot, bearing in mind an abv of 14.5%. Plush and polished but overall a little heavy handed. CHP 88 pts
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11/5/2023 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 93 Points
I love this modern BDX style. Intense cassis notes.
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8/22/2023 - stamperb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose: Thick and rich cassis, petrichor, autumnal earth. Palate: Pure cassis with a very faint cool mintiness; firmly polished tannins; dusty earth and fallen leaves.; well-integrated heat and light bitter spiciness on the finish. On day two, the alcohol asserts itself a bit more and the fruit takes on a creme de cassis and mildly sweet cherry liqueur vibe.
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8/20/2023 - Smahlatz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very plush and full. Maybe a tad too much so. Enjoyable none the less
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8/12/2023 - Stemvers wrote: 91 Points
Great P/Q! Strong, a real powerhouse. Lots of dark fruit, does need some air to open up, but does so beautifully.
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7/31/2023 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another good bottle of this. Nice spices. Very good QPR. Curious to see where these go.
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7/3/2023 - euroyup wrote:
Color: very dark, almost black (ruby)-purple. Nose: plum and blackberry with herbs like mint, a hint of cedar and leather, and an elegant complexity and depth; really nice! Taste: plum and blackberry with still some astringent tannins and (with 14,5%) quite a lot of burning alcohol. Already a pleasure to drink, I guess that this wine will benefit of some more keeping. Next bottle after at least one year. Potentially 90+.
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6/11/2023 - khmark7 wrote:
Consistent with my prior note from 5 years ago. Still vibrant and robust red.
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5/22/2023 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a great spot right now. High alcohol, dark fruits but enough freshness
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4/9/2023 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened 3hrs before drinking. Really good showing. Dark brooding fruit, lots of body.
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3/29/2023 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still vibrant and youthful, with bold fruit statement tempered with cigar box and leaded pencil characters. Loved the tannins and structure and if I had a little carp there was a little too much heat and spice. Nonetheless, a stolid bourgeois gent. CHP 91 pts
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3/12/2023 - Zorba Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gorgeous on both the nose and the palate, especially for the EP price. From memory, this seems a bit better than the 2010 was. Great style St. Estèphe, all nicely balanced. In a very good spot but will be great for several years more. Agree with the previous two tasting notes.
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1/8/2023 - ccarter5181 wrote: 90 Points
Elegant Bordeaux. Nice full dark fruit with good structure. Well balanced and in a good drinking window now. Subtle leather and smoke notes. Tannins are well integrated, paired well with pork chops.
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11/25/2022 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Intense dark fruits - ripe blackberry, cassis and black cherry with vanilla oak notes and some cedar, tobacco notes. Good acidity and structure - what’s not to like!?
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11/14/2022 - Smahlatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
My last note said "see you again in a couple of years". That was June this year. Oops. That advice seems fair, too bad I didn't realise I had consumed one so recently.
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11/13/2022 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank over two nights, second night very silky, delicious.
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11/11/2022 - racerchris Likes this wine:
3 years since my last bottle of this. Very nice, especially the second half - saved overnight.
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9/18/2022 - scheune wrote: 91 Points
noch liegen lassen !
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9/11/2022 - vide wrote: 91 Points
A well-built wine, with good fruit and soft tannin. Nothing to get excited about, but none the less very acceptable.
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6/27/2022 - Smahlatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well much the same as last more, but the maturity had budgeted on a little further. Far better on day 2. Also very good day 3. See you again in a couple of years.
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5/14/2022 - rupertg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Heavy sediment. Red rim, black centre. Full of fruit and lots to age. Great
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3/22/2022 - Richard Nabavi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Confirmation of my note of a year ago: this wine is developing very well indeed. Very deep colour, spicy/peppery on the nose, with excellent concentration on the palate. The tannins are softening nicely and it's ready to go, but there's plenty of substance here and I think it will continue to get better and better for some years yet. Really very good indeed for a non-classed growth in a year which is generally regarded as light, and very good value. 91 for now, but one to keep an eye on as I think it may well justify a higher score in time.
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3/17/2022 - wine&roses Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gorgeous, classic claret. With none of the feminine softness you'd expect from a St. Estephe, this is an assertively masculine wine, as if each grape had two little grapes hanging off it. Rich, complex, viscous--I love this wine.
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2/3/2022 - Michael Mackenzie Likes this wine: 93 Points
CS: 78%
M: 19%
PV: 3%
60% new oak.
I agree most with Richard Nabavi's note on this site, as well as PETERMETZNER's recent note. Enjoyed with friends today at the Travellers in London, decanted for a good hour. Shows that St Estèphe is the commune in 2014.
Colour: v deep red, v thin rim, purple tinge.
Nose: full, fresh, excellent fruit and complexity, spice, great cassis flavours.
Taste: med body, well rounded, tannins well resolved but good structure, definitely led by the CS notes, long finish with good fruit and ripeness.
Overall, wears its alcohol (14.5%) lightly, is elegant yet very St Estèphe in an old school way.
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1/15/2022 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Higher Alc than I remember at 14.5%. Still a quality wine for the QPR for sure. The 2016 is better but i'll be curious to see if this smooths out. Dark fruit and some pepper, decent acidity.
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1/2/2022 - nymetz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully with full body and well rounded balance of fruit and tannin. Very smooth and velvety with several years to still evolve.
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9/22/2021 - Shrages wrote: 90 Points
Dark and opaque, even with decant. Good nose of a rich Bordeaux approaching maturity, but not there yet - saddle starting to emerge. Very charry on the flavor profile — heavily charred wood, though the oak flavor itself is not overwrought. Black fruits entirely. Low medium tannin and acid, so can be enjoyed now. Overall a pretty decent if heavy handed Bordeaux. Peak in 3 -4 years.
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4/22/2021 - Richard Nabavi Likes this wine: 91 Points
First of a case bought on release. Decanted for about 90 minutes (there's some sediment, so decanting is recommended).
Dense colour. Excellent on the nose, with plenty of fruit, and a little spiciness/pepper. Classy on the palate: juicy and with very good concentration for a claret of this level. Despite its relative youth, it's already very enjoyable, although the finish is still quite tannic.
This is really rather good. It should last well and continue to improve for at least ten years, despite being very approachable already.
The 2014s are shaping up well in my experience - better than the reputation of the vintage would lead you to expect. This one provides high quality at a modest price.
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4/18/2021 - Steven84 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A Bordeaux wine as it should be. Hard spicy taste. A bit of leather and ripe fruit. Not a slight bitterness left, round tannines. At it's top to drink. A round body. Some nice tears in the glass and an dark red color almost dark. Herb, spicy nose.
The wine finishes medium.
The wine looks tawny colored. The legs are slow. It smells like raisin and forest floor. It tastes like raisin and forest floor. The wine has low acidity.
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3/6/2021 - rwpalmer wrote: 89 Points
Working my way through some of the "lesser" 2014 St Estephe wines, this had more colour and density than any others. Fruit is in the dark spectrum with prominent but not over-powering charred oak. Approachable now but perhaps at its best in other 3-5 years.
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2/25/2021 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of plum, cherry, spick, and oak. Black currant ab blck cherry fruit with dark chocolate, charcoal, and a strong quartz/mica mineral note. Smoky finish with chewy tannins, black plum, bittersweet chocolate, silty earth, and oak. Nice now and may develop a bit further.
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2/17/2021 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
Deep purple colour,
A little fading at the rim.
Lots of oak on the nose, spicy, toasty, and vanilla with red fruit. Oak doesn't overpower too much.
Very floral, strangely floral, lots of sweet fruit, lavender, nice ripe powdery tannins, none of that St. Estephe grip.
High quality but still a bit disjointed. Drunk from Coravin so might be better after a decant. Keep.
14.5% ABV
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1/1/2021 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted 1/1/21 having been opened several days earlier but stored in bottle under argon gas.
Meaty, sturdy and robust, with sweet fruit flavours of blackcurrant, smoke and leather seasoned with spice. The tannins had softened down pleasingly and there was now a lovely silky texture and mouthfeel. The length of finish was excellent and I really liked the structure and balance. All in all, a delicious treat. Score 90 points.
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12/23/2020 - rm97 wrote: 90 Points
Still way too young
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12/1/2020 - schneesurfer Likes this wine: 92 Points
From demi, this wine is in a young but already approachble stage. The colour is youthful and the nose offers cassis, sweet vanilla which fades with some air. The Capbern is very well balanced with grained tannins, fine acidity, medium plus body and a chewy, persistant final. It combines power with finsse - very very promising!
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9/25/2020 - LDNWN1 wrote: 90 Points
Good fruit, cassis flavour and plenty of structure. A little chewy but already good with food. Seems ready earlier than a lot of other 14s and also more full bodied. Delicious and need to make sure I keep a couple back to see how they evolve.
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9/21/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Much better than the one I tried over three years ago. This was quite open and balanced, with some structure too. Excellent value.
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9/20/2020 - Smahlatz Likes this wine: 90 Points
I didn't think I would be drinking another of these so soon, but hey, I had done nice steak that demanded tannin.
Decanted for 90 minutes Lovely classic but complex nose of blackcurrant, pencil lead, leather and Oak. The palate shows rich blackcurrant, and sweet Oak which needs some more time to integrate. Form medium finish with a mineral edge. Very good.
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9/7/2020 - tunaguy Likes this wine: 90 Points
cassis, black cherry tobacco, sage, iron. needs a 1 hour decant and a steak if possible. a nice qpr and will benefit from more time in the cellar
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8/11/2020 - Androurse Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis), oak and black pepper. It tastes like blackberry, black currant (cassis), fig, oak, vanilla and cinnamon. The body is full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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7/23/2020 - floating_cellar wrote: 89 Points
decanted 1 hour, still quite tannic and muted fruits. Put 1/2 bottle back in fridge and tannins were more mellow on 2nd night, but fruit faded too.
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5/14/2020 - Krakonos wrote: 90 Points
Compared to the 2012 vintage, it's a bit disappointing.
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5/1/2020 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Full, tannic, minerals, long.
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3/13/2020 - quicklunarcop wrote: 88 Points
Very big bold taste, but still very high on tannins. Would wait a couple of more years to open another one.
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3/11/2020 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of silty earth, wood smoke, and stewed raspberry. Raspberry and cherry wrapped in tannins, granite, and asphalt. Firm, tight tannins with tobacco, dry cherry, earth, and leather.
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2/17/2020 - kronfeld Likes this wine:
Young. Almost purple. Jammy black fruit nose. Fruity taste, with tannins already integrated but still detectable at the back of the tongue. Still pretty acidic. Great future.
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1/10/2020 - MonkeyBiz101 wrote: 88 Points
Quite tight, and dark. Needs more time, I assume.
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12/25/2019 - Song103 Likes this wine: 90 Points
superb QPR. drink and hold. Will improve with time. As a matter of personal taste or is it the one extra year, I actually prefer the 2014 to the 2015. I have yet to try the 2016
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12/21/2019 - Ianjaig wrote: 88 Points
Purple hue, blueberries and dark fruits, soft, luscious tannins. Concentrated, earthy and well balanced. Overall, its all very pleasant and I cant really fault it, that said, its also all a bit 'ho hum' and unexciting. Strangely, it feels all a bit too polished and dare I say it, manufactured …?
Day 2 and this has settled down further but is still very bold and deeply concentrated. Vanilla, chocolate and raspberries more prevalent.
In retrospect, this does indeed need more time to soften and integrate further.
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7/4/2019 - ccarter5181 wrote: 90 Points
Nice Bordeaux. Nice full bodied fruit, some smoke on the finish. A bit young but drinking well now.
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6/10/2019 - Dave Dewar wrote:
First of two bottles. Very long cork (a full 2") in perfect condition. Decanted 90 minutes. Dark ruby with some sediment left in the bottle. Aromas and flavours of toast, herbs, licorice, caramel, dried red fruits, cassis. M body, m-h acidity, XD, m tannin. Medium-long finish of red apple. More plum on the second day. Pleasant but nothing special. Will hold onto my second bottle until 2024.
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6/1/2019 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Oak now integrated. Good bottle of relatively basic Bordeaux
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5/28/2019 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped and poured, and boy is it impressive out of the gate. Totally opaque inky purple. Nose filled with blueberries and blackberries. Lavender and lilacs. Rich and powerful fruit in the mouth, extremely concentrated. Yes it is young and a little raw, but this tastes wonderful and has incredible potential—if you can keep your hands off of it. I’m flabbergasted: this is a blockbuster, shockingly great! Wow! 5-13-18-9: 95/100.
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5/3/2019 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very attractive bordeaux, with fine earthy, smokey nose with cassis, but also fine dark berries from the high proportion of Merlot in the blend.
On the palate fresh, with young tannin. Perfect foodwine, but also delicious on it´s own.
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9/8/2018 - racerchris Likes this wine:
Better on the second day.
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8/15/2018 - racerchris Likes this wine:
Tart dark berries on the palate, with strong and slightly bitter tannins.
A bit out of balance right now but I expect good things in a few years.
OTOH, if you don't mind the tannins, its pretty enjoyable with the right food now.
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8/11/2018 - Tim & Kathy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich aromas of coffee, earth, leather, tobacco, and dark fruit. Tastes of cassis, blackberry, raspberry, coffee, and dark chocolate. Structured tannins, full bodied. Decant and least 2 - 3 hours; still developing, could have laid down a couple more years. Very nice!
4,22,8,4,5;50=93
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8/8/2018 - MonkeyBiz101 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Oak not fully integrated yet, will leave 12 months and try again.
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7/26/2018 - Winefeld wrote: 90 Points
Deep red colour with black/purple hues. A firm and brooding wine straight from the bottle, a several hour decant eventually reveals mocha, coffee bean, tar, plum, blackberry, chokecherry, moss, pencil lead. Room for improvement. Fantastic QPR.
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7/10/2018 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow. This really delivers. Great St Estephe nose of coffee, earth, and spice. Palate is still austere, but nice ripe black fruits. Nice concentration. I really like this for the price. Approachable, with nice typicity.
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6/12/2018 - MicklethePickle wrote: 90 Points
Very dark red. Mineral and black fruit in the nose. Very pure in the mouth, with smooth, grainy, chewy tannins, and black fruits. Seems very St. Estephe-like in flavor, but still smooth and rich enough to be enjoyable, even though somewhat on the rustic side. Very good value, and should only get better. 5-11-15-9: 90/100.
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4/30/2018 - Danhallgren Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ung, sträv med svarta bär. Tydlig cassis. Stram/stringent.blåbär.
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4/28/2018 - Smahlatz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened one of these as a bit of a preview, too early really.
This showed in the oak and fruit not being fully integrated.
The wine itself is dark and opaque. The nose ous full of chocolate, coffee, smoke and dark berries.
The palate is smooth, showing classic dark fruits with a vanilla oak veneer over the top which needs a little more time to integrate fully.
Tannins are ripe, integrated and smooth, showing very nicely on the finish.
Quite a luscious wine and very satisfying, even at this very early stage. Could be consumed now if you like a more modern style.
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4/23/2018 - Vertigo wrote: 90 Points
Cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, smoke, oak. With some air already accessible. Tannins still pronounced but not harsh in any way. Good length with some minty finish.
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3/26/2018 - chanote44 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine was overly oaked and fruity on day one. After a night it blossomed into a smooth delicious Bordeaux (90 pts on day 2). Rest it or decant it.
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3/18/2018 - khmark7 wrote: 90 Points
Why wait? Tannins are integrated & fresh. Fruit is ripe & clean without over ripe Merlot character. A little bit modern in that you don't find that leafy green pepper character, but this is solid and drinking very well right now.
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3/13/2018 - racerchris Likes this wine: 90 Points
A short decant helps bring out the best character.
Ripe fruit on the nose. Medium full bodied. Black cherry and blackberry on the palate along with smooth, dusty tannins. Good acidity. A bit of spice on the finish.
Very accessible now.
14.5% abv.
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3/7/2018 - racerchris Likes this wine: 90 Points
I really liked this,
and was pleasantly surprised that it was ready to go with just a short decant.
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2/9/2018 - Todd French wrote:
Great QPR as always, but wait - 2024-2030 ideal drinking windows.
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12/20/2017 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Nice core of red fruits. Fine rather prominent tannins. Has a hint of the smokiness of St Estephe. Less open than the other 14’s I’ve had. More “serious” and introverted. Looks like a solid QPR in a few years as there seems to be enough fruit to let the tannins integrate. One to hold.
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10/26/2017 - Danvinoatx Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sometimes you come across a Bordeaux that you know is just going to be great in 2-3 years. All the parts are there. Quality fruit, great craftsmanship. So hard to find a wine of this quality for the price
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7/26/2017 - webreg wrote: 87 Points
Out of the bottle was too harsh with flavors masked. Decanted for hours and drank the next day and it opened up to a wine that was still too young to drink. Has potential a couple years down the road.
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6/22/2017 - scheune Likes this wine: 91 Points
Überraschung: ohne Dekantierung zeigt sich der Wein schon aufgeschlossen. Am zweiten Tag noch besser. Edler Bordeaux , ausbalanciert mit langem Abgang und herrlichen Tanninen . 91+
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5/22/2017 - purefeel Likes this wine:
Had to decant for 2 hrs, lots of cedar/mint as one expects from st.estephe. Black fruits, good smooth conservative wine. Too early.
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4/21/2017 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. TW French class with Pablo and Marido. My 2nd WOTN and I bought a bottle. Nice juicy mouth but wait a couple of yrs (or give long decant ) as it was a bit young.
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4/20/2017 - cltean Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasted at Vive le France class at Total Wine in Towson, MD on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Earthy with notes of tobacco, licorice and dark fruit. Beautiful deep color. 14.5% alcohol. $24.99
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3/17/2017 - finlero Likes this wine: 90 Points
Loved this, it somehow came across as an unusually "happy" wine. Opened an hour before tasting. Deep, inky purple in color, with long, narrow legs. Lively, round nose of black plum and ozone. On the palate, licorice, plum, pound cake, balanced and not too sweet. Medium finish, light tannins. Great value, nothing fancy, but a lovely, real old world crowd pleaser. Immensely food friendly.
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3/9/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 90 Points
Feels tight and compact right out of the bottle. Unlike some of the '14s this may need a few more years to show at its best. Shows some potential though.
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2/14/2017 - Joe the Critic Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dry, medium-bodied, slightly astringent with dark fruit notes (perhaps plum skin?) This has nice balance and Left Bank typicity, but I don't feel it has enough fruit or character to make it a particularly good value for around $20. Still, one could do a lot worse at this price point.
The alcohol weighs in at a hefty 14.5%, suggesting that ripeness was not a problem. I suspect this could improve with another 2 or 3 years of age.
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4/13/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
From the smoky fruits and softness in the tannins to the allure of the finish, there’s much to like about this polished, medium-bodied delight. Ripe and dark, this wine reached 14.2% alcohol. 88-91 Pts
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