Ehh, this is just OK for me, dog. I like that it is raw and rather rustic, but somehow doesn't work with merlot and CS. I found this one to have some bitter chocolate, green pepper, and burnt almond flavors. Tannins are still firm, but the fruit has become spare. I think this will keep but will be in decline in terms of the enjoyability factor.
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Not exactly my style, but it's improved in the cellar since I popped the first one in 08. Smooth. Dark plum bordering on prune with good acid that keeps it lively. Good long finish that grows on you.
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Decanted for aeration 3 hours. Dark ruby toward plum core with some signs of ageing. Very bright nose of cherries, dark chocolate, minerals and red floral. The high-toned nature of this wine is welcomed on this night, as there is considerable harmony. I've been reading the reviews on this medium+ bodied wine for several years, and in fact I've been drinking it since release, still, I wasn't sure when I wanted to open my last bottle. Needless to say, this is showing quite well now, with lots of intriguing perfume on the nose, lively acidity and solid purity to the fruit. A delicious blend, approx $20, drink thru 2014, 13,5% abv.
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Flavors of mineral, cherry, earth, cedar, herbs, anise or licorice, with toasty, savory, gamy and funky qualities. Acid seems soft and tannin moderate.
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Overall, I liked but didn't love this wine on night one. On the nose lots of plum with a bit of prune, currant, cedar, iron, and rock. Has a round, silky mouthfeel with current and plummy notes on the palate. Minimal tannin and acidity that is well integrated an keeps the richness in check. Will have to check back tomorrow.
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Initial smell was earthy, leather, dark berries. First taste (immediate) presents as muted spice and dark berries... This wine must be decantered for no less than an hour to get any sense of structure. Decent wine at $15 or less... but disappointing at $20 to $30.
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Merlot Cab blend. Merlot flavors dominate (not my favorite). Cherry-Plum fruit with some sweet vanilla, pepper and green-pepper. Tannins are a bit green; not harsh but definitely fuzzy. I'm not sure I really like this wine; although the fruit extraction is enormous, for my taste it is a bit too sweet-sour and unbalanced. I'd rather have more dark fruit toward the back of the mouth. Due to the decent extraction and rough-ish tannins, this may become more interesting with a few more years, or perhaps another day on the counter? [update] At 24 hours this smoothes out to fruit and soft tannins. The best I can hope for is to see what happens in five or eight years time. At $22 that is insufficient to recommend this wine. [update 2] At 48 hours, this finally moderates to a decent wine. The lesson might be that this wine requires waiting for another three or five years.
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60% merlot, 30% cabernet, 10% syrah. medium purple color with high viscosity. barn, horses, spices and black cherries on the nose. tons of sediment in this wine. spicy cherries, rich tobbacco, herbs, pepper and solid tannin structure on the palate. medium + finish.
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The wine is 60% merlot, 30% cabernet, 10% syrah. I was expecting more, but the wine is good for a $25 bottle. It has a relatively hgh alcohol content (15%) and the alcohol was very overpowering when first opened. The wine was very tight at first, smelled of wet earth and had a musty, funky, leathery smell which turned me off. The taste was very fruit forward with bright fruit and berries which I tend to not prefer.
I'm very happy to say that on the second day, after opening the bottle, the wine improved substantially with airing. The earthy smell gave way to more spice and dark berries, a hint of tobacco. Definitely much better on day two, showing improved complexity and structure. Tannins slightly grip, but are not overpowering and are much better integrated. The bright fruit became less pronounced and tasted more of cassis and dark cherries. I like this wine much better on day 2, next time it needs to be decanted for a few hours before drinking.
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12/18/2013 - Neurowine1 wrote: 82 Points
Ehh, this is just OK for me, dog. I like that it is raw and rather rustic, but somehow doesn't work with merlot and CS. I found this one to have some bitter chocolate, green pepper, and burnt almond flavors. Tannins are still firm, but the fruit has become spare. I think this will keep but will be in decline in terms of the enjoyability factor.
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11/24/2013 - SCMeyer Likes this wine: 88 Points
Same notes as last bottle, but it's gained some great debth. Good rustic dark fruit on the finish.
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10/30/2012 - SCMeyer wrote: 86 Points
Not exactly my style, but it's improved in the cellar since I popped the first one in 08. Smooth. Dark plum bordering on prune with good acid that keeps it lively. Good long finish that grows on you.
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1/3/2011 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Decanted for aeration 3 hours. Dark ruby toward plum core with some signs of ageing. Very bright nose of cherries, dark chocolate, minerals and red floral. The high-toned nature of this wine is welcomed on this night, as there is considerable harmony. I've been reading the reviews on this medium+ bodied wine for several years, and in fact I've been drinking it since release, still, I wasn't sure when I wanted to open my last bottle. Needless to say, this is showing quite well now, with lots of intriguing perfume on the nose, lively acidity and solid purity to the fruit. A delicious blend, approx $20, drink thru 2014, 13,5% abv.
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3/7/2010 - quatrevingts wrote: 86 Points
Modern, big, fruity, a bit hot.
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1/24/2010 - spo wrote: 88 Points
Flavors of mineral, cherry, earth, cedar, herbs, anise or licorice, with toasty, savory, gamy and funky qualities. Acid seems soft and tannin moderate.
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11/7/2009 - suthersm wrote:
Overall, I liked but didn't love this wine on night one. On the nose lots of plum with a bit of prune, currant, cedar, iron, and rock. Has a round, silky mouthfeel with current and plummy notes on the palate. Minimal tannin and acidity that is well integrated an keeps the richness in check. Will have to check back tomorrow.
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10/5/2009 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
Wizards Trade Tasting (Warehouse): Bright fruit. A little over the top, but not bad. 86-87
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3/29/2009 - anoveshen wrote: 88 Points
Lovely and rich - Good merlot with hints of syrah. Surprising quality for the price
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1/16/2009 - DanH wrote: 85 Points
Cherry, well pronounced acids, chickory, nice dark complexion, I say it is an 85 bottle.
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12/12/2008 - Cozmick wrote: 84 Points
Initial smell was earthy, leather, dark berries. First taste (immediate) presents as muted spice and dark berries... This wine must be decantered for no less than an hour to get any sense of structure. Decent wine at $15 or less... but disappointing at $20 to $30.
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5/5/2008 - ParkHill wrote: 88 Points
Merlot Cab blend. Merlot flavors dominate (not my favorite). Cherry-Plum fruit with some sweet vanilla, pepper and green-pepper. Tannins are a bit green; not harsh but definitely fuzzy. I'm not sure I really like this wine; although the fruit extraction is enormous, for my taste it is a bit too sweet-sour and unbalanced. I'd rather have more dark fruit toward the back of the mouth. Due to the decent extraction and rough-ish tannins, this may become more interesting with a few more years, or perhaps another day on the counter? [update] At 24 hours this smoothes out to fruit and soft tannins. The best I can hope for is to see what happens in five or eight years time. At $22 that is insufficient to recommend this wine. [update 2] At 48 hours, this finally moderates to a decent wine. The lesson might be that this wine requires waiting for another three or five years.
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4/20/2008 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 Points
60% merlot, 30% cabernet, 10% syrah. medium purple color with high viscosity. barn, horses, spices and black cherries on the nose. tons of sediment in this wine. spicy cherries, rich tobbacco, herbs, pepper and solid tannin structure on the palate. medium + finish.
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3/7/2008 - Rok wrote: 83 Points
The wine is 60% merlot, 30% cabernet, 10% syrah. I was expecting more, but the wine is good for a $25 bottle. It has a relatively hgh alcohol content (15%) and the alcohol was very overpowering when first opened. The wine was very tight at first, smelled of wet earth and had a musty, funky, leathery smell which turned me off. The taste was very fruit forward with bright fruit and berries which I tend to not prefer.
I'm very happy to say that on the second day, after opening the bottle, the wine improved substantially with airing. The earthy smell gave way to more spice and dark berries, a hint of tobacco. Definitely much better on day two, showing improved complexity and structure. Tannins slightly grip, but are not overpowering and are much better integrated. The bright fruit became less pronounced and tasted more of cassis and dark cherries. I like this wine much better on day 2, next time it needs to be decanted for a few hours before drinking.
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