Probably my least favorite Pretty Horses to date. No real evolution yet (not surprising; all of John’s wines have been ageworthy), but there also doesn’t seem to be a ton of acidity here for the long haul. Lots of stemmy character, with another reviewer noting the ripe stem notes well - vanilla and what I’d call black walnut. There’s been some interesting research into the effects of whole cluster on acidity, and its inclusion here is noticeable. There’s not a ton of depth to this, and it is rather tannic. Luckily, every other vintage has been both affordable and delicious, and his other tempranillos have been excellent with a little age.
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Liked this better than 8 months ago. Crunchy red fruit, a touch of creamy oak, more delineation of flavors in the midpalate, and sneaky formidable tannins. A light touch with the winemaking, in a very un-crianza Rioja way, but an altogether different and enjoyable expression of tempranillo.
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Energetic, lighter bodied expression of Tempranillo. Crunchy bright red cherry fruit, a bit herb and tobacco, and friendly tannins. Could use a bit more depth, especially in the midpalate, but very enjoyable - great picnic wine!
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A little coconut on the nose (apparently the vanilla/lactoney aromatics come from the stems, as there's no new oak here), as I think I've observed in some of the other vintages of this wine. Lots of dark fruit on the nose and palate, with a big dose of tannin here. Earthy with black fruit, but at the same time, good lift from the acidity. Another relatively easy to drink wine, especially with this kind of intensity and tannic structure.
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Interesting wine. Bright red fruits (cherry and cranberry). A mix of both spiciness and some green notes. Not as “warm” or as earthy as a Spanish Tempranillo, but enjoyable and nice with dinner.
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Popped and poured. Medium ruby color. Really nice nose of mixed red berry fruits, a bit of citrus or orange peel, some floral/perfume notes and a touch of oak coming through. Similar flavors on the palate with juicy red fruits and spice. Medium+ acid, medium tannin with a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a bit of oak coming through on the finish. Drinks like a baby Rioja. From California. With a splash of pinot noir added. Great wine.
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Hard to place. Nose is tart cherry and cola, vanilla, graphite, cherry pit. Unremarkable.
Lots of oak (probably American) on the palate, teeth-coating tannins up front that outlast any other aspect of the wine. Tart red fruit, spice. Hollow. Something wrong with the bottle? I'd like to share the other good reviews--their Syrahs are great. But this is a candidate for Sangria.
No info on their website beyond the 2014 vintage.
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I liked this wine quite a bit. The nose has a bit of green notes, presumably from stem inclusion. The 2014 appears to have had 50% whole cluster, but I couldn't find any info on 2017. In any case, it has red fruits, medium to light weight, nice balanced acidity, with full fruit presence. I didn't find it as spicy as some of the other notes here but to each their own. A very good buy under $30.
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Initially quite bright and juicy, with light rose scented strawberries and cherries. With air and time it completely transforms into quite a dense unctuous blend of coulis berries and preserved cherries, though retaining a youthful freshness. Lots of fun with seriously gum coating tannins, but not quite enough acid to keep things zooming.
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Dark red fruits, there’s a black walnut note I find very consistently in this wine across vintages, ripe but very cool in feel, tons of spice, grippy but fine tannic structure. Needs typical Tempranillo time, probably entering its peak drinking window around 2023-4.
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Cranberry red with inviting strawberry, red cherry, rose petal , damp earth and pink peppercorns. On the palate, it's light-bodied with very fresh, juicy acidity and firm velvety tannins and red currant, strawberry, sour cherry, and savory spice flavors with a hint of graphite. Long finish. 12.9% abv|SRP-$30. Blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Pinot Noir
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6/26/2023 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 88 Points
Holding steady
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1/12/2023 - Jackieintoronto wrote:
Much better than expected
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5/20/2022 - Velobici Likes this wine: 89 Points
Red berry. Tannin. Slight acid. Stemmy. Herb and a bit of mineral. Light body. Thin. Minimal length. Easy to drink.
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11/23/2021 - willschenk wrote:
Probably my least favorite Pretty Horses to date. No real evolution yet (not surprising; all of John’s wines have been ageworthy), but there also doesn’t seem to be a ton of acidity here for the long haul. Lots of stemmy character, with another reviewer noting the ripe stem notes well - vanilla and what I’d call black walnut. There’s been some interesting research into the effects of whole cluster on acidity, and its inclusion here is noticeable. There’s not a ton of depth to this, and it is rather tannic. Luckily, every other vintage has been both affordable and delicious, and his other tempranillos have been excellent with a little age.
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11/19/2021 - ohne_musik wrote: 90 Points
Liked this better than 8 months ago. Crunchy red fruit, a touch of creamy oak, more delineation of flavors in the midpalate, and sneaky formidable tannins. A light touch with the winemaking, in a very un-crianza Rioja way, but an altogether different and enjoyable expression of tempranillo.
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6/10/2021 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Picked some ripe berries from the side of a dusty trail. Got back up on the horse, and rode on in the late summer evening.
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3/12/2021 - ohne_musik wrote: 88 Points
Energetic, lighter bodied expression of Tempranillo. Crunchy bright red cherry fruit, a bit herb and tobacco, and friendly tannins. Could use a bit more depth, especially in the midpalate, but very enjoyable - great picnic wine!
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1/22/2021 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
A little coconut on the nose (apparently the vanilla/lactoney aromatics come from the stems, as there's no new oak here), as I think I've observed in some of the other vintages of this wine. Lots of dark fruit on the nose and palate, with a big dose of tannin here. Earthy with black fruit, but at the same time, good lift from the acidity. Another relatively easy to drink wine, especially with this kind of intensity and tannic structure.
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11/5/2020 - smorris291 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Interesting wine. Bright red fruits (cherry and cranberry). A mix of both spiciness and some green notes. Not as “warm” or as earthy as a Spanish Tempranillo, but enjoyable and nice with dinner.
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10/7/2020 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Medium ruby color. Really nice nose of mixed red berry fruits, a bit of citrus or orange peel, some floral/perfume notes and a touch of oak coming through. Similar flavors on the palate with juicy red fruits and spice. Medium+ acid, medium tannin with a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a bit of oak coming through on the finish. Drinks like a baby Rioja. From California. With a splash of pinot noir added. Great wine.
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8/13/2020 - hckschr40 Does not like this wine:
Hard to place. Nose is tart cherry and cola, vanilla, graphite, cherry pit. Unremarkable.
Lots of oak (probably American) on the palate, teeth-coating tannins up front that outlast any other aspect of the wine. Tart red fruit, spice. Hollow. Something wrong with the bottle? I'd like to share the other good reviews--their Syrahs are great. But this is a candidate for Sangria.
No info on their website beyond the 2014 vintage.
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7/5/2020 - The Wine Write Likes this wine:
Enticing red fruit aromatics. Savory fruit flavors with a nice lift on the finish. Really nice.
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6/27/2020 - domco wrote:
Drinking great right from the jump. Paired really well with C’s skirt steak with chimichurri. A lot of wine for the price.
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5/13/2020 - jviz Likes this wine: 91 Points
I liked this wine quite a bit. The nose has a bit of green notes, presumably from stem inclusion. The 2014 appears to have had 50% whole cluster, but I couldn't find any info on 2017. In any case, it has red fruits, medium to light weight, nice balanced acidity, with full fruit presence. I didn't find it as spicy as some of the other notes here but to each their own. A very good buy under $30.
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5/9/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 90 Points
Initially quite bright and juicy, with light rose scented strawberries and cherries. With air and time it completely transforms into quite a dense unctuous blend of coulis berries and preserved cherries, though retaining a youthful freshness. Lots of fun with seriously gum coating tannins, but not quite enough acid to keep things zooming.
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3/25/2020 - RiddlingRack Likes this wine:
Not much on the nose, lots of acid, and fine-grain tannin. serious hipster juice.
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3/11/2020 - diggydan wrote: 91 Points
Nice light red-fruited wine with a touch of tempranillo earthiness.
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1/10/2020 - willschenk wrote:
Dark red fruits, there’s a black walnut note I find very consistently in this wine across vintages, ripe but very cool in feel, tons of spice, grippy but fine tannic structure. Needs typical Tempranillo time, probably entering its peak drinking window around 2023-4.
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11/11/2019 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruit, leather, mineral, dusty tannin
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11/9/2019 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cranberry red with inviting strawberry, red cherry, rose petal , damp earth and pink peppercorns. On the palate, it's light-bodied with very fresh, juicy acidity and firm velvety tannins and red currant, strawberry, sour cherry, and savory spice flavors with a hint of graphite. Long finish. 12.9% abv|SRP-$30. Blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Pinot Noir
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11/3/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 88 Points
Quite spicy for 12.9%.
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