Opened 90 minutes in advance. Aroma of garden herbs and black fruit. Rich flavors of cassis with hints of lemon, blackcurrants and licorice in the finish. Robust, hearty, firm backbone, some complexity. Plenty of room for development. Excellent wine at an outstanding price.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tasty but still a bit on the young side. Some dark red fruits started to come alive as time passed - and the fine tannins added nice mouthfeel. Much better on the second night - I suggest another two years of cellaring for this to fully develop.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After a wait of about half a year, this wine is now much more ready to drink. It is not as ripe and soft as the 2015 was, and will never be. It has a bit of a green edge to it. Nevertheless, this is still a nice drink. I'll give the next bottle another 6-months wait to let it mellow some more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Darn good wine, plain and simple, heck of a value here and just all around great dry dark cherry-vanilla cola fruit with a kiss of spice and licorice on the smooth round finish. Definite re-buy any time if it delivers like this at mid-teens price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I can't say enough about this wine. It gushes with blackberries, violets, graphite, and a hint of black olives, all in beautiful poise and proportion. Polished, structured, and completely engaging, this delivers tons of pleasure, while youthful grip etches the long, succulent finish. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The first bottle of this was quite a chock after the very pleasant, easy-going 2015 vintage. It was a bit harsh, green, clearly less ripe. With a bit more bottle age, this is showing much better now. But the slightly under-ripe edge remains. Not good QPR at 15 €.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think I was very harsh on the previous bottles, or it really has come together in the last year.
Cool red berry smell, cherry, raspberry, a bit of earth. Crunchy and fresh in the mouth, light to medium bodied but with good fruit concentration and quite a bit of dusty tannin. Lovely. Like a cross between Beaujolais and Chianti.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing for the price and can compete with anything. Multi-layered complex medium bodied wine with nice fruit, spice and earth accents. Can't wait to get more!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ever so slightly cork tainted, so not rated. Needs more time, tannins are pretty rough when you open the bottle. After two-three hours open, the wine softens a bit. Wait and see.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of things to love about this, even if it doesn't stand out in any particular way. Very much like a syrah-heavy Cotes du Rhone. Dark berry fruit, definitely brambly with peppery accents. Same peppery fruit on palate with an unusual savory finish- almost like cured meat, but really only a suggestion of it. Almost more like a good quality cheese. Tannins present but surprisingly soft.
Needed time to open in decanter, and still remained fairly tight after a couple hours. Enjoyed it, although I wish it was more ready to drink at this stage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory: Pretty nose with hints of black fruit, floral perfume, spices and sea breeze. Medium bodied, fresh and well balanced. Displays a pronounced saline minerality on both nose and palate that elevates it just above the “nice enough, but easily forgotten” category.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rebu en succ lors des arrivages du TOP 100. Pire que l`autre bu, encore une fois ce côté chimique ou teinture selon le conseiller. Jamais trippé sur cette cuvée même si elle est relativement abordable!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Duft av mørke bær. Bjørnebær. Veldig modne. Krydder og noe treverk.
Fyldig med middels syre og tanniner. Modne mørke bær på smak. Over middels lengde. Bærene fremstår for meg som i overkant modne. Forventet en litt friskere vin.
87/100
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP. Medium red color with no sediment apparent. Tart cherry, cranberry, note of stems and nice medicinal aroma. On palate, bright cherry, cranberry - still fruit primary. Medium+ body, medium acidity/tannins and medium+ finish. Nice overall balance.
91+
Would buy again.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of dark fruit, plums, and blackberries. Flavor is fairly mild, though the wine has body. It's a little astringent and very mildly sour. Oaky flavor comes through in the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first mencia... analogous in structure and nose to decent cru Beaujolais with m body, m tannin and m(+) acid. Red fruits with dark undertones. On day one, the nose was not particularly remarkable but on day two (after double decanting and refrigerating overnight) the nose really opened up. I recommend this bottle as a Mencia entry point but strongly suggest decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious wine. Nose and palate of bright cherries with an aftertaste of slight earthiness and spiciness. Definitely punches above its price point to get to 4 *s
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby red, opaque. On the nose dark briar patch style fruits with wet leather and moist earth. Palate was fairly tannic with dark cherry fruit, sage, decent drying tannins with good acids. Amazingly decent and lingering with sage and dried black cherry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose showed a mix of dusty cherry and strawberry fruits, with savory smokiness and admirable richness, as notes of sage and floral undergrowth developed. On the palate, I found soft yet vibrant textures giving way to zesty acids, with spicy red and black berries, violet-tinged inner florals and saturating minerality. The finish was long, spicy, and staining to the senses, with notes of mineral-soaked raspberry and hints of fine tannin. To think that this is their entry-level wine is amazing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe red fruit smell, quite powerful, some earthy and menthol smells too. Medium bodied and quite a lot of acid. The wood sticks out a bit at the moment in the form of a roundness in the mouth once the acid has subsided. Dry and dusty tannin. This is good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bierzo. Black coloring. Much more opaque than others. Ripe, juicy aromas. Rounder and full. New world. Lots of juicy fruit. Very Grenache-like. Bright acids, gravelly finish. 10 months on wood. Not much spice, but tasty. I can feel chalky soils.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich red and dark red fruit up front. Interesting fruity nose with a touch savory and earthy notes. On the palate this is easy and fruity but balanced. If you want to teach someone to like red wine start here it’s like the chicken fingers of wine or wine with training wheels.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fairly dark, but semi-transparent around the edge. Nose reminesent of Cab, but the mouth is light, and tobacco predominates. Tannins are present, but not overly aggressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Broad and muscular. Recommend decanting or Vinturi. Blackberry black cherry, and black olive, hint of anise and other dusky spices and herbs, a bit of graphite, balanced minerality and fresh acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
N: Ripe berries, poss with undertones of pyrazines? Intensity lurking
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which pretty much holds into the LONG, still very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a fairly elegant swtness to the still more or less considerable, dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 92 pts ea Suckling & WS as their #35/Top 100 of '18 @ $21, 91+ John Gilman, & Silver_Points_93 @ '18 Int'l Wine Challenge. [This vendor's $16.99 puts it in the TOP 20% of wine-searcher's extensive listings!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
N: Slightly closed; Straws, flowers (violets?) with notes of minerals & smoke?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, BRIGHT, almost swtish frt met by astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the frt, slowly evolves into a LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish, slightly tangy finish with a burgeoning swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, then drinking for 3 yrs more. VERY nicely done, but a lean style that MIGHT not please all. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 92 pts ea Suckling & WS as their #35/Top 100 of '18 @ $21, 91+ John Gilman, & Silver_Points_93 @ '18 Int'l Wine Challenge. [This vendor's $16.99 puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's extensive listings!]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit early, nice matter and substance with tar, polished tannins , fresh liccorice stick. Medium bodied, simple, very well made need three more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe berry fruit with lots of acetone. Some herbal or medicinal smells as well as very smokey and spicy. In the mouth there's lots of juicy fruit, black tea, and very dry dusty tannins. A savoury finish, suitable for many different foods. This is enjoyable young and fresh but slightly unbalanced. Nevertheless very good wine and value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bu en succ. Jamais vraiment apprécié les derniers milllésime de ce vin et ce 2016 n`aidera pas sa cause. Nez sur le chimique et la teinture. En bouche, simple et unidimensionnel, assez acide et un brin fluide. Surtout des fleurs et des épices. Court en finale. Pas de défaut mais auncun intéret pour moi. Note to self: Pour moi, voila un vin qui n`a pas sa place dans le top 100 de WS!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
90% Mencía, 6% Valenciana, Jerez, Godello, 3% Alicante bouschet, 1% otras. Nariz intensa madura, con recuerdos a fruta negra en sazón, algo de monte bajo, regaliz negra y carne ahumada. En boca tiene buen ataque, cuerpo medio, notable peso de fruta, tanino dulce y pulido, no anda mal de acidez, con estructura media, largo y bien definido.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Forest floor, herbs and red fruit (hard to distinguish any particular). Nice complexity. Dry tannins and fresh acidity. Also some cedar notes. My first experience of mencia. Definitely going to explore this more. Should evolve with cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The weakest vintage of this wine thus far. Despite the new packaging this entry level cuvee has been slipping. Monolithic and one dementional, I remember the 09 vintage of this wine as rock star... now only a mediocre Mencia. Perhaps this is a question of the varietal becoming more and more prevalent, and this house focusing on their excellent higher end wines. Still, it is a fair example of mencia and a benchmark producer and will give the uninitiated an excellent introduction to the grape and Bierzo. By all means no faults, any buy all means not offensive, it's just not what it used to be.
Just opened an 09 Moncerbal a few days ago.... holy shit people... what a ludicrous value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/13/2023 - callmeacab22 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needed time upon opening to bring out flavors. Nicely integrated flavors although a bit lighter than I was expecting.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2023 - wineshlub wrote: 92 Points
Opened 90 minutes in advance. Aroma of garden herbs and black fruit. Rich flavors of cassis with hints of lemon, blackcurrants and licorice in the finish. Robust, hearty, firm backbone, some complexity. Plenty of room for development. Excellent wine at an outstanding price.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2023 - larseman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sval, slank men med karaktär. Syrlig och matvänlig med bra längd.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2022 - Brockster303 wrote: 88 Points
Meh. Zinfandel notes but everything was much too muted
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2022 - Hover low 64 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very tasty but still a bit on the young side. Some dark red fruits started to come alive as time passed - and the fine tannins added nice mouthfeel. Much better on the second night - I suggest another two years of cellaring for this to fully develop.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2022 - joet626 Likes this wine: 89 Points
dark in color. Leather and meaty flavors. Better with food
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2022 - SadEdjo Likes this wine: 91 Points
dark, brooding, pine, forest floor, savoury dark fruit. well integrated but firm tannins; good lift
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2021 - Merrit wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry, cherry, cola, vanilla, licorice, black olive and pepper. This is powerful and enjoyably mouth-coating.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2021 - awever Likes this wine: 90 Points
Schon sehr gut trinkbar, wird nicht mehr besser, hervorragendes PLV
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2020 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
After a wait of about half a year, this wine is now much more ready to drink. It is not as ripe and soft as the 2015 was, and will never be. It has a bit of a green edge to it. Nevertheless, this is still a nice drink. I'll give the next bottle another 6-months wait to let it mellow some more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2020 - Laz4wine wrote: 90 Points
Darn good wine, plain and simple, heck of a value here and just all around great dry dark cherry-vanilla cola fruit with a kiss of spice and licorice on the smooth round finish. Definite re-buy any time if it delivers like this at mid-teens price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2020 - Baron Slick wrote: 93 Points
I can't say enough about this wine. It gushes with blackberries, violets, graphite, and a hint of black olives, all in beautiful poise and proportion. Polished, structured, and completely engaging, this delivers tons of pleasure, while youthful grip etches the long, succulent finish. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2020 - Levinsb Does not like this wine:
Dry tannic wall of tar. Some blackberry licorice, hint of vanilla and plum skin. Bigger wine lots of acid. Needs a charred steak on a cold night.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2020 - CWilliam wrote:
Not as good as last bottle tasted in 6/2019 - PNP. Paired with grilled swordfish. Didn't take notes. 89+/-
Maybe off bottle?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2020 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
The first bottle of this was quite a chock after the very pleasant, easy-going 2015 vintage. It was a bit harsh, green, clearly less ripe. With a bit more bottle age, this is showing much better now. But the slightly under-ripe edge remains. Not good QPR at 15 €.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2020 - KaupCava Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium oak vanilla dark fruit nose. Blackberry licorice and vanilla taste. Good fruit acid balance Lingering finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2020 - cevans129 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great full bodied red. Dark fruit, spice, hint if leather. Great value - sings with the right food pairing as well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2020 - Levinsb wrote:
Big spicy dark fruits. A large wine for meat. Hefty but balanced tannins , acid and fruit. Will last a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2020 - Hans Rytterbrant Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good medium bodied wine. Red fruits.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2020 - jonathanknowles Likes this wine: 89 Points
I think I was very harsh on the previous bottles, or it really has come together in the last year.
Cool red berry smell, cherry, raspberry, a bit of earth. Crunchy and fresh in the mouth, light to medium bodied but with good fruit concentration and quite a bit of dusty tannin. Lovely. Like a cross between Beaujolais and Chianti.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2020 - richshoes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing for the price and can compete with anything. Multi-layered complex medium bodied wine with nice fruit, spice and earth accents. Can't wait to get more!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2019 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: flawed
Ever so slightly cork tainted, so not rated. Needs more time, tannins are pretty rough when you open the bottle. After two-three hours open, the wine softens a bit. Wait and see.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2019 - Pebben wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2019 - JasonG Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium dark ruby red. Clean and pure dark fruits, balanced finished, a touch of spice and forest on finish. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2019 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
A wine of substantial value. Serious palate impression and presence. Unusual but very tasty, and plenty of structure. I'd buy again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2019 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of things to love about this, even if it doesn't stand out in any particular way. Very much like a syrah-heavy Cotes du Rhone. Dark berry fruit, definitely brambly with peppery accents. Same peppery fruit on palate with an unusual savory finish- almost like cured meat, but really only a suggestion of it. Almost more like a good quality cheese. Tannins present but surprisingly soft.
Needed time to open in decanter, and still remained fairly tight after a couple hours. Enjoyed it, although I wish it was more ready to drink at this stage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2019 - sduraybito wrote: 89 Points
Middle of the road, not outstanding at anything. $16 at Costco, not sure I would buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2019 - Pebben wrote: 89 Points
From memory: Pretty nose with hints of black fruit, floral perfume, spices and sea breeze. Medium bodied, fresh and well balanced. Displays a pronounced saline minerality on both nose and palate that elevates it just above the “nice enough, but easily forgotten” category.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2019 - maxima wrote: 85 Points
Rebu en succ lors des arrivages du TOP 100.
Pire que l`autre bu, encore une fois ce côté chimique
ou teinture selon le conseiller.
Jamais trippé sur cette cuvée même
si elle est relativement abordable!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2019 - Danneskjöld wrote: 87 Points
Mørk rød.
Duft av mørke bær. Bjørnebær. Veldig modne. Krydder og noe treverk.
Fyldig med middels syre og tanniner. Modne mørke bær på smak. Over middels lengde. Bærene fremstår for meg som i overkant modne. Forventet en litt friskere vin.
87/100
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2019 - Kbentley007 Likes this wine: 92 Points
From my local wine shop:
Do you like the nuance and earthiness of Pinot Noir from Oregon or Burgundy? Pétalos is for you.
A fan of Grenache/Syrah/Cinsault wines from the Rhône or Languedoc? You need to check it out.
Or maybe you enjoy the chewy tobacco flavors of Bordeaux? You guessed it, Pétalos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2019 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
PNP. Medium red color with no sediment apparent. Tart cherry, cranberry, note of stems and nice medicinal aroma. On palate, bright cherry, cranberry - still fruit primary. Medium+ body, medium acidity/tannins and medium+ finish. Nice overall balance.
91+
Would buy again.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2019 - NateR Likes this wine: 87 Points
Aromas of dark fruit, plums, and blackberries. Flavor is fairly mild, though the wine has body. It's a little astringent and very mildly sour. Oaky flavor comes through in the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2019 - MikeJK Likes this wine: 91 Points
My first mencia... analogous in structure and nose to decent cru Beaujolais with m body, m tannin and m(+) acid. Red fruits with dark undertones. On day one, the nose was not particularly remarkable but on day two (after double decanting and refrigerating overnight) the nose really opened up. I recommend this bottle as a Mencia entry point but strongly suggest decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2019 - Merrit Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of cherry, plum, perfume and floral notes. Very fruity and bright acidity. Lots of black olive, cherry, herbs, and leather.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2019 - lovanc@outlook.com wrote:
Delicious wine. Nose and palate of bright cherries with an aftertaste of slight earthiness and spiciness. Definitely punches above its price point to get to 4 *s
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2019 - cobbpa wrote: 89 Points
I was impressed by this--fresh acid & enough structure to balance out the nice dark red fruit profile, wrapped up in a nice medium weight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2019 - redhead6971 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Dark ruby red, opaque. On the nose dark briar patch style fruits with wet leather and moist earth. Palate was fairly tannic with dark cherry fruit, sage, decent drying tannins with good acids. Amazingly decent and lingering with sage and dried black cherry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2019 - David J Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Clear medium light red. Nice berry and new leather nose. Nice dry berry and earth flavours and a very tannic finish.
Decent future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2019 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was very enjoyable. Loved the acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2019 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose showed a mix of dusty cherry and strawberry fruits, with savory smokiness and admirable richness, as notes of sage and floral undergrowth developed. On the palate, I found soft yet vibrant textures giving way to zesty acids, with spicy red and black berries, violet-tinged inner florals and saturating minerality. The finish was long, spicy, and staining to the senses, with notes of mineral-soaked raspberry and hints of fine tannin. To think that this is their entry-level wine is amazing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2019 - jonathanknowles Likes this wine: 86 Points
Ripe red fruit smell, quite powerful, some earthy and menthol smells too. Medium bodied and quite a lot of acid. The wood sticks out a bit at the moment in the form of a roundness in the mouth once the acid has subsided. Dry and dusty tannin. This is good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Some earth on the nose, red fruits, and some mint. Depth on the mid palate. Not as much oak as it once had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2019 - MarcEBeaudoin wrote:
Bierzo. Black coloring. Much more opaque than others. Ripe, juicy aromas. Rounder and full. New world. Lots of juicy fruit. Very Grenache-like. Bright acids, gravelly finish. 10 months on wood. Not much spice, but tasty. I can feel chalky soils.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2019 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine:
Rich red and dark red fruit up front. Interesting fruity nose with a touch savory and earthy notes. On the palate this is easy and fruity but balanced. If you want to teach someone to like red wine start here it’s like the chicken fingers of wine or wine with training wheels.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2019 - NavyVet6874 wrote: 86 Points
Day 2 sees the tannin bite gone, decent acid finish. Nice with dinner, but not complex or worth the high ranking, IMHO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2019 - NavyVet6874 wrote:
Fairly dark, but semi-transparent around the edge. Nose reminesent of Cab, but the mouth is light, and tobacco predominates. Tannins are present, but not overly aggressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2019 - eric lemieux Likes this wine: 89 Points
Beau Bierzo bien structuré
Bon Q/P***$$$
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2019 - davewr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Broad and muscular. Recommend decanting or Vinturi. Blackberry black cherry, and black olive, hint of anise and other dusky spices and herbs, a bit of graphite, balanced minerality and fresh acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 7 *shared* Reds] from 01/04/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 27,000 cs made
N: Ripe berries, poss with undertones of pyrazines? Intensity lurking
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which pretty much holds into the LONG, still very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a fairly elegant swtness to the still more or less considerable, dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 92 pts ea Suckling & WS as their #35/Top 100 of '18 @ $21, 91+ John Gilman, & Silver_Points_93 @ '18 Int'l Wine Challenge. [This vendor's $16.99 puts it in the TOP 20% of wine-searcher's extensive listings!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - Tony Tiger Likes this wine: 87 Points
Lidt tør
Let vin med kraftig smag
God til de tunge retter grundet vinens lethed.
Kan også gå til et godt ostebord, da vinen har en god kraftig smag.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2018 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 88 Points
Interesting Northern Spanish wine 2016 Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo Pétalos $17. Mid-ruby; strawberry jam, floral, wood nose; mid-body; berry flavor; long semi-chewy, woody finish. w/pastas, pizza, light beef dishes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste Wines from the '18 "Wine Spectator's" Top 100 (San Diego Wine Co.): 27,000 cs made
N: Slightly closed; Straws, flowers (violets?) with notes of minerals & smoke?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, BRIGHT, almost swtish frt met by astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the frt, slowly evolves into a LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish, slightly tangy finish with a burgeoning swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, then drinking for 3 yrs more. VERY nicely done, but a lean style that MIGHT not please all. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 92 pts ea Suckling & WS as their #35/Top 100 of '18 @ $21, 91+ John Gilman, & Silver_Points_93 @ '18 Int'l Wine Challenge. [This vendor's $16.99 puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's extensive listings!]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2018 - Thor hegg Likes this wine: 84 Points
God Vin, relativ lett
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2018 - dead puddle wrote: 87 Points
A bit early, nice matter and substance with tar, polished tannins , fresh liccorice stick. Medium bodied, simple, very well made need three more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2018 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 88 Points
Opened last night. Purple-magenta; opaque. Soft floral nose. Soft, gentle, feminine in the mouth. Fairly complex with anise nose; somewhat complex finish. Drinkable now. 4-11-16-7: 88/100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2018 - jonathanknowles Likes this wine: 87 Points
Ripe berry fruit with lots of acetone. Some herbal or medicinal smells as well as very smokey and spicy. In the mouth there's lots of juicy fruit, black tea, and very dry dusty tannins. A savoury finish, suitable for many different foods. This is enjoyable young and fresh but slightly unbalanced. Nevertheless very good wine and value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2018 - swade wrote: 85 Points
Maroon color. Forest berry aromas. Plump entry. Edgy palate with berries. Weird. Tightened up over time, so may need to stretch. Pass. 85
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2018 - maxima wrote: 86 Points
Bu en succ.
Jamais vraiment apprécié les derniers milllésime de ce vin
et ce 2016 n`aidera pas sa cause.
Nez sur le chimique et la teinture.
En bouche, simple et unidimensionnel, assez acide et un brin fluide.
Surtout des fleurs et des épices.
Court en finale. Pas de défaut mais auncun intéret pour moi.
Note to self: Pour moi, voila un vin qui n`a pas sa place dans le top 100 de WS!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2018 - PacoHigon Likes this wine:
90% Mencía, 6% Valenciana, Jerez, Godello, 3% Alicante bouschet, 1% otras. Nariz intensa madura, con recuerdos a fruta negra en sazón, algo de monte bajo, regaliz negra y carne ahumada. En boca tiene buen ataque, cuerpo medio, notable peso de fruta, tanino dulce y pulido, no anda mal de acidez, con estructura media, largo y bien definido.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2018 - Sebastian80 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Forest floor, herbs and red fruit (hard to distinguish any particular). Nice complexity. Dry tannins and fresh acidity. Also some cedar notes. My first experience of mencia. Definitely going to explore this more. Should evolve with cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2018 - bjecjohnson Likes this wine: 94 Points
At this price point, this is the best Spanish wine I’ve ever had. Over four different vintages, I’ve never been disappointed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - amcooleen Likes this wine: 87 Points
Not bad for the price. Can’t remember if I bought at Rye Cellerage or TriBeCa
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2018 - Julius Squeezer wrote: 85 Points
The weakest vintage of this wine thus far. Despite the new packaging this entry level cuvee has been slipping. Monolithic and one dementional, I remember the 09 vintage of this wine as rock star... now only a mediocre Mencia. Perhaps this is a question of the varietal becoming more and more prevalent, and this house focusing on their excellent higher end wines. Still, it is a fair example of mencia and a benchmark producer and will give the uninitiated an excellent introduction to the grape and Bierzo. By all means no faults, any buy all means not offensive, it's just not what it used to be.
Just opened an 09 Moncerbal a few days ago.... holy shit people... what a ludicrous value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment