What a plush glycerine textured,dark fruit bomb. Love it! Others may like more delicate wines, which this is not ….but with red meat, it is a Jaffa! Not sure ratings from 4 and 5 years ago are relevant now but it is similar to some Orin Swift wines and The Prisoner…..as noted by one early tasting note. So pleased we have more.
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Needs prolonged decanting, even better overnight. The wine was rather harsh on the first day, & I was a bit disappointed. I tried it again the second evening and it powered on in full strides, Shiraz sweet spices, cloves, toffee, liquorice, vanilla & oaks, smooth tannin structure. Beautiful finish. Will be able aged for at least another 15 years .
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Impressed by the balance in which this wine was made. Fruit/acid balance very well done. All around nice experience with well integrated spice box involved in the finish.
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A blockbuster wine, with lots of ripe fruit and alcohol, like a dry liqueur. Nose of blackcurrant, kirsch, bourbon, and campfire smoke. Flavours of bourbon, cassis, charred sausage, and charred broccoli.
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Bold and intensive blend from Napa, but towards the fruity domain like black berries, raspberries and fig. Cabsav from the blend is clearly dominating. Oak is less dominate here, instead what I have is cold herb like eucalyptus, mint and cinnamon. Some earthy element in it as well but I can’t make out of it. Medium tannin and high acidity. Second night seem to have mellow down and more enjoyable than first night.
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Nose: An initial creamy red fruit that fades quickly followed by raspberries, bright red cherries, dried oak, slightly sour tobacco leaves, deep earth and silvery minerals.
Palate: Dark cool blue and dark purple fruits, intense earth, savory minerals and a good dose of oak.
Attributes: Clear, deep medium ruby. Dry with medium-plus to high amounts of strong, firm tannin. Medium-minus body with light acidity. Decent finish of about 10-12 seconds.
Thoughts: This has good fruit and earth flavors but the oak here is almost astringent, can be kinda harsh. Air time should help even though it doesn't seem to be helping it right now.. being rather stubborn. It has the things I enjoy like dark fruits and deep earth but there's a sense of attack from the astringency and some heat. If you need an everyday wine fix, this can do it and it's quite enjoyable but will probably need some decanting in advance before serving.. gonna say at least 4-6 hours.
Other notes: No decant, time in glass and bottle only. Bordeaux glass. Served ~67° and consumed over 1 hour.
Day 1: Low expectations for this wine however some nice qualities here. Pepper, blackberries, ripe plums and a sweet floral quality. Lacks acidity and balance but I see this as being a great wine for a party crowd. It is a guilty pleasure wine. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Sirah, 2% Malbec. 87 points Day 2: For $25 figured I would give this wine a chance. This is a perfect fit for the Prisoner wine drinker. Big fruit, low acidity and lacks balanced. It does have some interesting spice elements on the finish but is a simple wine. 85 points Day 4: This is better on day 4 but not good enough to recommend this wine. Sweetness is down and more earth and spice. This wine is an easy pass. 87+ Recommendation: Easy pass. This is a red wine that has too much sweetness and lacks acidity.
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Vanilla, dark fruits bouquet. Tasted dark fruits with a bitter and slight burnt palate with gravel / rocks aftertaste. Closed and rather one dimensional tonight. Prickly tannins. Still too young - Do keep for 5 more years at least.
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Needs air time- Decanted 3+ hours. Aromas show above moderate depth and complexity. Scents of warm gravel fill the glass followed by scents of cassis, blackberry liquor, dark cherry, chocolate sauce, vanilla, cigar box, spice and herbs with a hint of earth and espresso all with heat from the alcohol. The palate is concentrated and full with above moderate alcohol, firm tannins, acidity and mid-palate density. Flavors show smashed berry, cherry and cassis notes that come coated in vanilla bean, cocoa, leather, spice, tobacco, herbs, earth and espresso bean. The suave finish lingers.
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5/3/2024 - Risky Likes this wine: 93 Points
Heavy body, dark berries, smooth, slight spice, fruit forward
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2/26/2024 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a plush glycerine textured,dark fruit bomb. Love it!
Others may like more delicate wines, which this is not ….but with red meat, it is a Jaffa!
Not sure ratings from 4 and 5 years ago are relevant now but it is similar to some Orin Swift wines and The Prisoner…..as noted by one early tasting note.
So pleased we have more.
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12/17/2023 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice tannins are subdued, big and bold.
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6/30/2023 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very enjoyable Napa blend. Lovely dark fruit and great glycerine like texture.
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4/5/2023 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed again!
Smooth as silk, generous fruit and lovely texture.
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1/15/2023 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au wrote: 93 Points
Same views as prior three tasting notes.
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11/28/2022 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
No change from last note.
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7/7/2022 - Gemofwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needs prolonged decanting, even better overnight.
The wine was rather harsh on the first day, & I was a bit disappointed.
I tried it again the second evening and it powered on in full strides, Shiraz sweet spices, cloves, toffee, liquorice, vanilla & oaks, smooth tannin structure.
Beautiful finish.
Will be able aged for at least another 15 years .
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5/18/2022 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely texture, sweet dark fruit and just an easy full bodied drink.
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4/23/2022 - Kam1sama Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vanilla, a hint of pepper, black berries. Very good wine and great for a casual Saturday with lasagna.
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1/5/2022 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very enjoyable Napa Valley blend.
Massive dark fruit and lovely texture.
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12/5/2021 - Avid Wino wrote: 91 Points
Berries, cherry, cassis, some BBQ’d sausage, vanilla oak. Yum! Velvet tannin. Carries its 15% pretty well. Enough length.
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11/26/2021 - R.Jos.Valent wrote: 93 Points
Impressed by the balance in which this wine was made. Fruit/acid balance very well done. All around nice experience with well integrated spice box involved in the finish.
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7/14/2021 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very good Napa blend.
Big dark fruit, nice smooth texture that coats the palette.
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2/12/2021 - Tarheel98 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really terrific. Smooth and polished
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1/17/2021 - Drinking Trees wrote:
A blockbuster wine, with lots of ripe fruit and alcohol, like a dry liqueur. Nose of blackcurrant, kirsch, bourbon, and campfire smoke. Flavours of bourbon, cassis, charred sausage, and charred broccoli.
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12/27/2020 - Mdcajuns wrote:
Wonderful blend. A bit tight on the open. Must decant.
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6/4/2020 - alvinquah Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bold and intensive blend from Napa, but towards the fruity domain like black berries, raspberries and fig. Cabsav from the blend is clearly dominating. Oak is less dominate here, instead what I have is cold herb like eucalyptus, mint and cinnamon. Some earthy element in it as well but I can’t make out of it. Medium tannin and high acidity. Second night seem to have mellow down and more enjoyable than first night.
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4/26/2020 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nose: An initial creamy red fruit that fades quickly followed by raspberries, bright red cherries, dried oak, slightly sour tobacco leaves, deep earth and silvery minerals.
Palate: Dark cool blue and dark purple fruits, intense earth, savory minerals and a good dose of oak.
Attributes: Clear, deep medium ruby. Dry with medium-plus to high amounts of strong, firm tannin. Medium-minus body with light acidity. Decent finish of about 10-12 seconds.
Thoughts: This has good fruit and earth flavors but the oak here is almost astringent, can be kinda harsh. Air time should help even though it doesn't seem to be helping it right now.. being rather stubborn. It has the things I enjoy like dark fruits and deep earth but there's a sense of attack from the astringency and some heat. If you need an everyday wine fix, this can do it and it's quite enjoyable but will probably need some decanting in advance before serving.. gonna say at least 4-6 hours.
Other notes: No decant, time in glass and bottle only. Bordeaux glass. Served ~67° and consumed over 1 hour.
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4/17/2020 - Godjira1 wrote: 85 Points
Average
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2/1/2020 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
Day 1: Low expectations for this wine however some nice qualities here. Pepper, blackberries, ripe plums and a sweet floral quality. Lacks acidity and balance but I see this as being a great wine for a party crowd. It is a guilty pleasure wine. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Sirah, 2% Malbec. 87 points
Day 2: For $25 figured I would give this wine a chance. This is a perfect fit for the Prisoner wine drinker. Big fruit, low acidity and lacks balanced. It does have some interesting spice elements on the finish but is a simple wine. 85 points
Day 4: This is better on day 4 but not good enough to recommend this wine. Sweetness is down and more earth and spice. This wine is an easy pass. 87+
Recommendation: Easy pass. This is a red wine that has too much sweetness and lacks acidity.
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12/10/2019 - garygailkrivan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice blend some tannins but went well with a filet with mushrooms. Hints of cocoa and vanilla and tobacco.
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4/16/2019 - Sandy and Deb Galli Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent. Thank you Jared
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3/20/2019 - dnnk88 wrote: 86 Points
Vanilla, dark fruits bouquet. Tasted dark fruits with a bitter and slight burnt palate with gravel / rocks aftertaste. Closed and rather one dimensional tonight. Prickly tannins. Still too young - Do keep for 5 more years at least.
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12/22/2018 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Needs air time- Decanted 3+ hours.
Aromas show above moderate depth and complexity.
Scents of warm gravel fill the glass followed by scents of cassis, blackberry liquor, dark cherry, chocolate sauce, vanilla, cigar box, spice and herbs with a hint of earth and espresso all with heat from the alcohol.
The palate is concentrated and full with above moderate alcohol, firm tannins, acidity and mid-palate density. Flavors show smashed berry, cherry and cassis notes that come coated in vanilla bean, cocoa, leather, spice, tobacco, herbs, earth and espresso bean. The suave finish lingers.
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11/26/2018 - Double-A wrote: 88 Points
Dark and concentrated currant and cocoa nose. Full, focused and firm palate. Tight finish.
3.5/5
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