PnP, which was a mistake. This wine seems to have a ton of life ahead. Really nice now, but will try to hold my last bottle for at least five more years.
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Thru vinturi into decanter for 1 hour..... Nose was reticent but provided some fruit aromas.... All I can say is palate was underwhelming....decent fruit Decent minerality and salinity....leaned toward minerality/salinity vs fruit.....a wine I will never remember and terrible QPR...
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Not nearly as closed up as other recent reviews. But, big, dark, bold, and a beast. Not hot or alcoholic, just a wall of big dark fruit. Closest nose I could compare is an aged Saxum Booker syrah. Just dark and brooding. Not for everyone, or every night, but really good.
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this wine has improved a lot in the last year. Last year, it was a tannic mess. After a 1 hour decant (and it needed it), the fruit is showing much better. Aromas of black berry, cherry, vanilla, plum and spice. Blackberry, cherry, spice, plum and cedar flavors. The tannins are starting to soften, but still on the harsh side. while better, still not worth the price of entry, YMMV.
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PnP, tasted over the next 5 hours. Started out brutally closed with crushing tannins burying the fruit. Over the next 5 hours, the fruit struggled to come out, but continually got beat down by the tannin. There is black berry, cherry, vanilla, plum that starts to show. Those notes are crushed by harsh tannins. I would like to give this the benefit of the doubt and think that with time, the tannins will soften and the fruit will show up. But i just don't think it will happen. Makes me glad I dropped off this list long ago. Still have a few to work through. Probably won't open the rest for anothe 5 years, but not hopeful that it will make a difference.
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Well, it has been 1.5 years since last tasting. It is still very tannic and bound up like a dominatrix with a roll of Flex tape. Probably should wait another two years....or more.
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Decanted 60 min, could have used more. Drank over 2 hrs. Got much better with more air. Tannins were silky and kept substantial fruit hidden. Nice oak compliment, but a little acidic right now. Asphalt, pine notes. Early purple fruit, but evolved into black and blue. Good, but not seeking out more. Potential for 1-2 more points with 5 years in the cellar.
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Consistent with prior note. This is better after it gets some air. But that said, I don't really see the characteristics to make me think this wine needs lots of bottle age. While a bit contradictory, I won't hesitate to pop in the near future with a healthy dose (2+ hours?) of air.
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Decanted 3 hours. This is a dark red/purple little beast of a wine. Certainly needs time for the flavors to integrate. At this point, the spicy oak is showing but the longer it sits, the more blue fruit emerges. Totally blueberry all the way, with a little dark cherry action. No sediment. No cloying tannins. Love it!
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During PNV week, Sub-AVA tasting at Round Pond. STC has been consistently good in last few tastings (IMO). Thomas Rivers Brown wine.
Still very primary, was tight at the tasting. Given age and varietal, it would need air to show better. Picked up some blueberry, red/cherry, earth notes. Strong tannic structure suggesting this will age nicely - this needs 3+ years to settle, hard to score at this time, plugging at 93++ with upside as it ages. I think this will be very nice with time
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Gave this about 2 hours of air. Was still tight, with some heat and wet oak on the finish - dumped into decanter for almost an hour. Drank over 2.5 hours.
Showed great improvement the longer it was open. Had some rough edges from the start, but really smoothed out. Fruit was dark purple, towards plum. Medium + weight. Medium + finish. Be patient, or give this ample air.
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Had to peek. Very primary. Loads of stuffing. Cool, tight blue fruits. Nice supportive acid. Solid tannins. All there. Wait a year or two for number 2.
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6/30/2023 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP, which was a mistake. This wine seems to have a ton of life ahead. Really nice now, but will try to hold my last bottle for at least five more years.
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2/19/2023 - TheoIV Likes this wine: 98 Points
Mmmmm. Nose: Oak, over ripe fruit. Palate: blackberry, oak and a hint of vanilla. Well balanced wine. Incredibly smooth. Lots of life left.
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4/10/2022 - bkay Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking really well right now. Only needed to decant for 30 minutes or so
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6/12/2021 - KJD45$ wrote: 89 Points
Thru vinturi into decanter for 1 hour.....
Nose was reticent but provided some fruit aromas....
All I can say is palate was underwhelming....decent fruit
Decent minerality and salinity....leaned toward minerality/salinity vs fruit.....a wine I will never remember and terrible QPR...
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5/1/2021 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not nearly as closed up as other recent reviews. But, big, dark, bold, and a beast. Not hot or alcoholic, just a wall of big dark fruit. Closest nose I could compare is an aged Saxum Booker syrah. Just dark and brooding. Not for everyone, or every night, but really good.
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9/18/2020 - gharter wrote: 88 Points
this wine has improved a lot in the last year. Last year, it was a tannic mess. After a 1 hour decant (and it needed it), the fruit is showing much better. Aromas of black berry, cherry, vanilla, plum and spice. Blackberry, cherry, spice, plum and cedar flavors. The tannins are starting to soften, but still on the harsh side. while better, still not worth the price of entry, YMMV.
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6/10/2019 - gharter Does not like this wine: 85 Points
PnP, tasted over the next 5 hours. Started out brutally closed with crushing tannins burying the fruit. Over the next 5 hours, the fruit struggled to come out, but continually got beat down by the tannin. There is black berry, cherry, vanilla, plum that starts to show. Those notes are crushed by harsh tannins.
I would like to give this the benefit of the doubt and think that with time, the tannins will soften and the fruit will show up. But i just don't think it will happen. Makes me glad I dropped off this list long ago. Still have a few to work through. Probably won't open the rest for anothe 5 years, but not hopeful that it will make a difference.
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8/28/2018 - Rktekt3 wrote:
Well, it has been 1.5 years since last tasting. It is still very tannic and bound up like a dominatrix with a roll of Flex tape. Probably should wait another two years....or more.
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3/3/2017 - Rktekt3 wrote: 88 Points
Tannic beast.
Seriously, i probably wont open another of these for a few years. Fruit is burried under a ton of structure.
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10/19/2016 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 60 min, could have used more. Drank over 2 hrs. Got much better with more air. Tannins were silky and kept substantial fruit hidden. Nice oak compliment, but a little acidic right now. Asphalt, pine notes. Early purple fruit, but evolved into black and blue. Good, but not seeking out more. Potential for 1-2 more points with 5 years in the cellar.
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9/5/2016 - ageverett Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with prior note. This is better after it gets some air. But that said, I don't really see the characteristics to make me think this wine needs lots of bottle age. While a bit contradictory, I won't hesitate to pop in the near future with a healthy dose (2+ hours?) of air.
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3/21/2016 - Mech-E Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 3 hours. This is a dark red/purple little beast of a wine. Certainly needs time for the flavors to integrate. At this point, the spicy oak is showing but the longer it sits, the more blue fruit emerges. Totally blueberry all the way, with a little dark cherry action. No sediment. No cloying tannins. Love it!
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2/19/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
During PNV week, Sub-AVA tasting at Round Pond. STC has been consistently good in last few tastings (IMO). Thomas Rivers Brown wine.
Still very primary, was tight at the tasting. Given age and varietal, it would need air to show better. Picked up some blueberry, red/cherry, earth notes. Strong tannic structure suggesting this will age nicely - this needs 3+ years to settle, hard to score at this time, plugging at 93++ with upside as it ages. I think this will be very nice with time
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1/3/2016 - ageverett Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gave this about 2 hours of air. Was still tight, with some heat and wet oak on the finish - dumped into decanter for almost an hour. Drank over 2.5 hours.
Showed great improvement the longer it was open. Had some rough edges from the start, but really smoothed out. Fruit was dark purple, towards plum. Medium + weight. Medium + finish. Be patient, or give this ample air.
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12/5/2015 - CCSchlaepfer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Balanced taste of red fruit and earthy notes. Smooth with nice finish.
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12/3/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Had to peek. Very primary. Loads of stuffing. Cool, tight blue fruits. Nice supportive acid. Solid tannins. All there. Wait a year or two for number 2.
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