This was okay, but not as interesting as I'd hoped. Lackluster but not outright bad. Served with baked ham and potatoes. Complexity was lacking and balance was only fair.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop/pour. A little shy on the nose. Dark fruits, a bit of cassis, hints of florals and a bit of sour that thankfully doesn't really carry over to the palate. On the palate, this is significantly smoother than when I last had it almost 5 years agos. The dark fruit and cassis lead the way on a medium to medium heavy palate. Fruit balanced against acidity, maybe a bit more of the latter than I care for, resulting in a mouthfeel that isn't terribly lush. A tinge of bitter green, but not at a level that's distracting or off-putting. Tannins still relatively pronounced. If the acids and fruits ever resolve and marry, this will be a pretty compelling wine for the price. I really don't know if that will happen. I'll probably try to see how half a bottle of this drinks on Day 2 with some further air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had been on the road for the last couple of days, and wanted something to make me feel warm and at home. I cooked a Moscovy Duck, and made a salad from Farmer's Market Greens. This wine paired nicely with the food. Open for business. I doubt this will improve with additional bottle age. Nice underlying fruit. A tad bit of green in the finish. But all-in-all, not bad for an off vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Dusty, damp earth with some red fruit hints. Palate: Still very firm tannins. Good acid levels. Flavors of red fruit and earth. Lean styled and a little quick on the finish this wine is more about front palate attack. Decent wine for the money. If you can buy it for mid teens it would represent a good buy. Good pairing with NY Strip Steaks on the charcoal grill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really dark red. No real comments here other than it was pretty smooth drinking with a lot of fruit and very little oak. I'd drink it now. Would pair well with any good steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This had an absolutely fantastic nose on it. There was definetly fruit here, but it was still quite tanic. I am hoping that the fruit remains when the tannins are gone. I don't have any reason to believe they won't; it doesn't seem to be declining at all to me. I have another bottle, and I'll give it 2 years. This was extraordinary for the price. I would decant this next time, as there was excessive sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice, with a balanced Meritage approach. I've always like the Hedges 3 vineyards. Compared with the more expensive 2003 meritages from Estancia and Franciscan Magnificant, which emphasize fruit extraction, chocolate, but are completely lack any tannic support. I much prefer the Hedges. [edit] I had to drop this a few points, after drinking again, and I sensed weaker extraction, a bit of bitterness as the wine sets. Still likeable for a $20 wine, and this Cab-blend still has more rustic-elegance than those too-fruity merlot-blends have.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark purple opaque with red flashes, dark berry fruit with spice and earth (rocks & dirt), upfront fruit with a core of minerality, big tannic structure with stuffing to age, opens with some air, blackberry, currant fruit with cedar, cinnamon/vanilla and chocolate mocha, great complexity and a long persistent finish. Excellent value, will hang with wines twice the price. filet, rack of lamb, Bdx style cuisine. 2RG (Prestige, 16.00)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a nice wine, it paired nicely with the ribeyes we served it with. Well made, balanced and approachable now, this wine is hard not to like. Still, there's not a lot of comeplexity here outside of a slightly black-pepperish note perhaps coming in from the syrah, and it's not particularly lengthy on the finish either. A solid value if it can be picked up for $15ish. At anything over $25 it's a pass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Highly extracted, inky wine, the color of the skins of dark cherries; rim variation goes to garnet. Reflects day bright. Aroma - fruit hits first, baked fruit, like blackberry pie, dark cherry, a little acetone that dissipates after a couple of swirls. A touch hot. Perhaps chocolate or coffee notes, some vanilla. Strong tannins, this wine seems tight. Fruit not as present on the palate as I prefer, but great body, a mouthful. My opinion - this wine needs more time in the bottle, but shows real promise. Long finish - dry mouth up to 5 minutes after a taste. Would be great with grilled steaks, lamb, elk medallions, liver, venison, etc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tight the first night. 2nd night a different story. Cherry fruit on both the nose and the palate. Medium - heavy body, moderate length on the finish. Tannins integrated relatively well, but could still use more time. I think this will continue to improve, and at this price (around $20), it's a bargain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/28/2015 - jlimberg Likes this wine: 88 Points
Cellared well from magnum. Still bright in flavor. Tannins took backstage. Easy drinker
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2013 - wino121 wrote: 88 Points
Revisit'd after 5 years...way better, but still lacks the finish.
Typical for the weather that vintage...cold!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2012 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
This was okay, but not as interesting as I'd hoped. Lackluster but not outright bad. Served with baked ham and potatoes. Complexity was lacking and balance was only fair.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 89 Points
Pop/pour. A little shy on the nose. Dark fruits, a bit of cassis, hints of florals and a bit of sour that thankfully doesn't really carry over to the palate. On the palate, this is significantly smoother than when I last had it almost 5 years agos. The dark fruit and cassis lead the way on a medium to medium heavy palate. Fruit balanced against acidity, maybe a bit more of the latter than I care for, resulting in a mouthfeel that isn't terribly lush. A tinge of bitter green, but not at a level that's distracting or off-putting. Tannins still relatively pronounced. If the acids and fruits ever resolve and marry, this will be a pretty compelling wine for the price. I really don't know if that will happen. I'll probably try to see how half a bottle of this drinks on Day 2 with some further air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2009 - A&C wrote: 90 Points
I had been on the road for the last couple of days, and wanted something to make me feel warm and at home. I cooked a Moscovy Duck, and made a salad from Farmer's Market Greens. This wine paired nicely with the food. Open for business. I doubt this will improve with additional bottle age. Nice underlying fruit. A tad bit of green in the finish. But all-in-all, not bad for an off vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2009 - cwaltonhouse wrote: 88 Points
Nice Red Mountain meritage: Still good fruit in the opening phases, but turning more mineral oriented as the wine opened up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2009 - Mattshank wrote: 88 Points
Nose: Dusty, damp earth with some red fruit hints. Palate: Still very firm tannins. Good acid levels. Flavors of red fruit and earth. Lean styled and a little quick on the finish this wine is more about front palate attack. Decent wine for the money. If you can buy it for mid teens it would represent a good buy. Good pairing with NY Strip Steaks on the charcoal grill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2008 - BigGer wrote: 86 Points
A good red table wine but nothing spectacular. A bit stiff, leaning toward bitter. The fruit doesn't quite overcome the Red Mountain minerality.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2008 - Stealthwine wrote: 89 Points
Really dark red. No real comments here other than it was pretty smooth drinking with a lot of fruit and very little oak. I'd drink it now. Would pair well with any good steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2008 - team-blackburn wrote: 87 Points
Pretty good, moderate tannis would have liked more fruit forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2008 - Gulelin wrote: 90 Points
This had an absolutely fantastic nose on it. There was definetly fruit here, but it was still quite tanic. I am hoping that the fruit remains when the tannins are gone. I don't have any reason to believe they won't; it doesn't seem to be declining at all to me. I have another bottle, and I'll give it 2 years. This was extraordinary for the price. I would decant this next time, as there was excessive sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2008 - Magnolian wrote: 84 Points
Very tannic and drying. Decent fruit now, but I doubt there will be much flavor left by the time the tannins resolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2007 - dfitzg2 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice meritage. Soft beginning with lots of complexity. Excellent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2007 - ParkHill wrote: 87 Points
Very nice, with a balanced Meritage approach. I've always like the Hedges 3 vineyards. Compared with the more expensive 2003 meritages from Estancia and Franciscan Magnificant, which emphasize fruit extraction, chocolate, but are completely lack any tannic support. I much prefer the Hedges. [edit] I had to drop this a few points, after drinking again, and I sensed weaker extraction, a bit of bitterness as the wine sets. Still likeable for a $20 wine, and this Cab-blend still has more rustic-elegance than those too-fruity merlot-blends have.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2007 - Barberolo wrote:
dark purple opaque with red flashes, dark berry fruit with spice and earth (rocks & dirt), upfront fruit with a core of minerality, big tannic structure with stuffing to age, opens with some air, blackberry, currant fruit with cedar, cinnamon/vanilla and chocolate mocha, great complexity and a long persistent finish. Excellent value, will hang with wines twice the price. filet, rack of lamb, Bdx style cuisine. 2RG (Prestige, 16.00)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2007 - epml wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at N9NE Steakhouse while waiting for dinner. Dark Purple ink color, with lots of dark fruit and mocha. nice overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2007 - mikecase00 wrote: 88 Points
This was a nice wine, it paired nicely with the ribeyes we served it with. Well made, balanced and approachable now, this wine is hard not to like. Still, there's not a lot of comeplexity here outside of a slightly black-pepperish note perhaps coming in from the syrah, and it's not particularly lengthy on the finish either. A solid value if it can be picked up for $15ish. At anything over $25 it's a pass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2007 - leloupedevin wrote: 90 Points
Highly extracted, inky wine, the color of the skins of dark cherries; rim variation goes to garnet. Reflects day bright. Aroma - fruit hits first, baked fruit, like blackberry pie, dark cherry, a little acetone that dissipates after a couple of swirls. A touch hot. Perhaps chocolate or coffee notes, some vanilla. Strong tannins, this wine seems tight. Fruit not as present on the palate as I prefer, but great body, a mouthful. My opinion - this wine needs more time in the bottle, but shows real promise. Long finish - dry mouth up to 5 minutes after a taste. Would be great with grilled steaks, lamb, elk medallions, liver, venison, etc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 89 Points
Very tight the first night. 2nd night a different story. Cherry fruit on both the nose and the palate. Medium - heavy body, moderate length on the finish. Tannins integrated relatively well, but could still use more time. I think this will continue to improve, and at this price (around $20), it's a bargain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2006 - vanpe003 wrote:
Had with DGreen in Seattle at Smash. No detailed notes, but this one still needs some time to settle down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2006 - tomp wrote: 86 Points
It was okay at $14, but not getting any more at $18. Nice fruit and a spicy finish, but an oddly missing midpalette.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2006 - hutch wrote:
Nice soft, red fruit. This has a touch of elegance. Very drying, however. But there's structure as well. This is a pretty amazing wine for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2006 - timng wrote:
TttNW 3 of 54: intense vanilla and fruit that really develops once it is in the mouth, tannins=3, a well balanced wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2006 - kstoddard wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2006 - tomp wrote: 89 Points
gotta get more. More then enough going on for th eprice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment