This bad boy was absolutely singing and very different than the last bottle. Bright bing cherry and strawberries on the front with some scorched earth behind it. Stack alongside a Carlisle zin and this was everyone's favorite.
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Popped and poured, consumed over 3 hours. Nose: Medium-plus expressiveness, marzipan, red licorice, rock candy, red flowers, and black cherry with undertones of tobacco and bacon fat - wow! Palate: Full bodied, sweet dark red and blue fruit and spice attack, good balance, sweet fruit is balanced nicely by a solid acidic back-bone through the mid-palate, earthy undertones appear in the back-end along with a little alcoholic burn. Finish: Length minute+ finish of spicy dark red fruit and earth. This is a graceful heavyweight that will be over the top for timid palates but delicious for some - closer to delicious for me.
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PNP, drank over 2 nights. Oh, boy. This is really nice. Lush dark fruit aromatics. Dense dark color. Creamy texture. Big dark fruit and a long finish. Top shelf.
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This was the first wine of the night. It was bright and vibrant with lots of blueberries and raspberries. It was a great foil to the other wine of the night, a 2003 Neal Family "Second Chance Vineyard" cabernet. The Nicora wore its youth proudly! The Neal graced the meal with the wisdom of its aging. Both were excellent and the wonderful aspect was that they were distinctly different! The joy of sharing excellent wine with dear friends is truly special!!
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Whoa, was this stuff much better than I anticipated. Dark, dense fruit without most of the Grenache overtones I was expecting. Very well integrated for a young wine. Black fruit with cherry undertones and the clove and vanilla show nicely, smooth and developed through the mid-palate. Not the most complex wine but definitely highly enjoyable and if I can acquire more I will. Cheers!
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Drank over two nights and was much more enjoyable on the second night. Decanted for 5 hours the first night but given how complete and cohesive it was on the second night I would hold these bad boys. Plenty of black and purple fruit with some cocoa dust and roasted meats. The texture and acidity keep things lively and decadent.
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9/26/2021 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened and decanted. Funky nose that blows off. Dark saturated fruit; medium weight in body; noticeable heat; dry tannic and powdery finish. Fair
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7/27/2020 - STM82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bad boy was absolutely singing and very different than the last bottle. Bright bing cherry and strawberries on the front with some scorched earth behind it. Stack alongside a Carlisle zin and this was everyone's favorite.
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3/15/2020 - lou13 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great, right out of the bottle. Did not even need any aeration.
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12/25/2019 - r4Cali Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big rich and enjoyable
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11/29/2019 - STM82 wrote: 91 Points
A bit past it's prime. Perhaps not the best cellaring but there was an overripe plum and raisiny profile which detracted a bit.
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12/18/2018 - prasm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over 3 hours. Nose: Medium-plus expressiveness, marzipan, red licorice, rock candy, red flowers, and black cherry with undertones of tobacco and bacon fat - wow! Palate: Full bodied, sweet dark red and blue fruit and spice attack, good balance, sweet fruit is balanced nicely by a solid acidic back-bone through the mid-palate, earthy undertones appear in the back-end along with a little alcoholic burn. Finish: Length minute+ finish of spicy dark red fruit and earth. This is a graceful heavyweight that will be over the top for timid palates but delicious for some - closer to delicious for me.
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1/13/2018 - The Wine Write Likes this wine: 94 Points
PNP, drank over 2 nights. Oh, boy. This is really nice. Lush dark fruit aromatics. Dense dark color. Creamy texture. Big dark fruit and a long finish. Top shelf.
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7/30/2017 - The Wine Write Likes this wine: 93 Points
PNP at dinner party. Rich, meaty aromatics and taste. Plum fruit, lush texture, spicy finish. A special bottle.
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4/16/2017 - r4Cali Likes this wine: 94 Points
WOTN. Roughly 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah. Very well integrated and balanced with round mouth feel. Blue and Black fruits with a hint of smoke.
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3/11/2017 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lush and complex. The Paso Grenache shines through. Drink it up and enjoy.
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1/22/2017 - JERB Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was the first wine of the night. It was bright and vibrant with lots of blueberries and raspberries. It was a great foil to the other wine of the night, a 2003 Neal Family "Second Chance Vineyard" cabernet. The Nicora wore its youth proudly! The Neal graced the meal with the wisdom of its aging. Both were excellent and the wonderful aspect was that they were distinctly different! The joy of sharing excellent wine with dear friends is truly special!!
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12/9/2016 - Jimmy Chitwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Whoa, was this stuff much better than I anticipated. Dark, dense fruit without most of the Grenache overtones I was expecting. Very well integrated for a young wine. Black fruit with cherry undertones and the clove and vanilla show nicely, smooth and developed through the mid-palate. Not the most complex wine but definitely highly enjoyable and if I can acquire more I will. Cheers!
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5/2/2016 - STM82 wrote: 94 Points
Drank over two nights and was much more enjoyable on the second night. Decanted for 5 hours the first night but given how complete and cohesive it was on the second night I would hold these bad boys. Plenty of black and purple fruit with some cocoa dust and roasted meats. The texture and acidity keep things lively and decadent.
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