Hour and a half decant, this opens up on the nose with dark fruit, oak and light leather. The palate is a little skewed to the tannic side but not overly so, with more air it balanced out. Blueberry/currant leather and red licorice are apparent but not overstated. Medium in mouthfeel, this can age a while longer in the cellar.
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Camphor and prune on the nose. On the palate, currant, plum, black cherry, and notes of anise, blueberry, and something resinous, with moderate tannins and strong acidity on the medium to long finish. This says "Vi de Guarda," and it tastes like one, although it leans toward a modern style with powerful ripe fruit. It's still young, and it's almost too powerful; it needs a few more years to finish absorbing its tannins. Even so it's excellent, with the potential to be outstanding in a few more years, and an excellent value for the money at about $40.
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Remarkably youthful at 12 years. Solid garnet, with just a little bricking. Blackberries, cooked cherries, smoky on the nose. Dark fruits and earthy palate, good balance, solid tannins on the palate. This is an enjoyable wine, and seems capable of cellaring for another few years to let the tannins resolve and soften a bit more.
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Medium ruby, watery rim. Opens with scorched earth, hot stones. Underneath, brier, blackberries, game, a hint of black licorice. Solid, lively first attack; fresh acids, really lively, fresh tannins. Red fruits with air, full(-) bodied. This is built to last. A touch of warmth before it leads to a full, lingering finish. Sadly, the last of a case purchased on release. I say sadly, because I wish I had another case right behind it for the upcoming decade. highly recommended
Aerated for (very fine) sediment, returned to bottle and served 4 hours later (Audoze).
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Outstanding Priorat. Relatively rich fruit but nice balance. Could be said to trend toward "New World". Drinking well 10 years after vintage. More refined and a bit toned down as compared to my experience 2 years ago. All-in-all, a better wine this time around.
limited notes, slightly lighter and less fruit bomby than the 2004 Vall Llach, though nevertheless drinking deliciously, and with better acidity potentially making this a better food wine.
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Pop/pour. Like the tasting 2.5 years ago, this continues to convey youth and a modern character. Big and juicy fruit on the palate, with a hint of sweetness, and little in the way of earth / sauvage. On opening, not particularly complex. Will check back in later. Update: after 3 hours open, no decant, this does improve. More integrated and additional complexity on the palate. It remains very modern in style, almost a bit "spoofed", which could be a turnoff for some, and for me on a different night. But for what it is, this is a well made wine, though probably not a great QPR. This style could probably be had at half the price or less. I'm thinking a good vintage of Juan Gil Jumilla @$14. While I think this wine would win a head-to-head tasting, I'm not sure it's worth 3x.
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2004 vs. 2005 in Spain with Helio San Miguel (New York): Black with deep ruby rim. Opened as quite musty and earthy on the nose, aromas that were similar to cork taint. At the beginning I didn't care for it at all; there was something unclean in the nose. But in time it resolved with more of a dry spice and tobacco aroma, and notes of floor wax. Medium bodied on the palate with lots of macerated red berries, big tannins. Quite a complex and interesting wine. Group's #12, which is to say their least favorite, due to its apparent faults. My #1, although originally I'd rated it significantly lower.
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Beautiful dark purple color and a complex nose of red and black fruits. Complex flavors and powerful, long finish. Used a Vinturi after waiting an hour from opening. It continued to open up and get better and better. This is a wine with years of life ahead of it but great now if you decant well in advance.
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New Year's Week 2008/9; 12/28/2008-1/4/2009 (Northwoods): From FBM. Didn't show much early on. After an hour or so, this really came into its own. Nicely balanced on both nose and palate. I was surprised at how well this was drinking in its relative youth. Struck me as more modern than some other Priorats I've had (less meaty / game, slightly sweeter).
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Been drinking a bunch of this lately, and I really should be waiting - it only gets better from here. This family-run project in the Priorat is an outstanding effort that combines all hand-harvesting, old vines, unforgiving growing conditions (think crushed shale stone and NO topsoil) and skillful winemaking that is a terrific marriage of tradition and international preference. Great table wine that drinks best on day 2, 3 or 4. Dynamite! Approx $40. Drink thru 2017
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A magnificent bottle. It takes a bit of time to open up, but once it does the nose is full of elegant red and black fruits, cream, red flowers, scorched earth and vanilla. A medium + bodied wine with tremendous integration, purity and perfectly weighted mouthfeel. 14.5% abv. A real joy to have around. Decant 1-2 hours.
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4/27/2019 - wiscgrad wrote: 93 Points
decanted for 2 hours. excellent red blend. plenty of life left
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3/24/2017 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hour and a half decant, this opens up on the nose with dark fruit, oak and light leather. The palate is a little skewed to the tannic side but not overly so, with more air it balanced out. Blueberry/currant leather and red licorice are apparent but not overstated. Medium in mouthfeel, this can age a while longer in the cellar.
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2/4/2016 - RichardP wrote: 93 Points
Camphor and prune on the nose. On the palate, currant, plum, black cherry, and notes of anise, blueberry, and something resinous, with moderate tannins and strong acidity on the medium to long finish. This says "Vi de Guarda," and it tastes like one, although it leans toward a modern style with powerful ripe fruit. It's still young, and it's almost too powerful; it needs a few more years to finish absorbing its tannins. Even so it's excellent, with the potential to be outstanding in a few more years, and an excellent value for the money at about $40.
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1/23/2016 - JuniorSamples Likes this wine: 92 Points
Remarkably youthful at 12 years. Solid garnet, with just a little bricking. Blackberries, cooked cherries, smoky on the nose. Dark fruits and earthy palate, good balance, solid tannins on the palate. This is an enjoyable wine, and seems capable of cellaring for another few years to let the tannins resolve and soften a bit more.
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1/28/2015 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Medium ruby, watery rim. Opens with scorched earth, hot stones. Underneath, brier, blackberries, game, a hint of black licorice. Solid, lively first attack; fresh acids, really lively, fresh tannins. Red fruits with air, full(-) bodied. This is built to last. A touch of warmth before it leads to a full, lingering finish. Sadly, the last of a case purchased on release. I say sadly, because I wish I had another case right behind it for the upcoming decade. highly recommended
Aerated for (very fine) sediment, returned to bottle and served 4 hours later (Audoze).
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7/1/2014 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding Priorat. Relatively rich fruit but nice balance. Could be said to trend toward "New World". Drinking well 10 years after vintage. More refined and a bit toned down as compared to my experience 2 years ago. All-in-all, a better wine this time around.
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9/27/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Dark and brooding with leather and tobacco. Nice balance with ample acidity.
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9/2/2012 - andtheodor wrote: flawed
TCA.
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9/1/2012 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
limited notes, slightly lighter and less fruit bomby than the 2004 Vall Llach, though nevertheless drinking deliciously, and with better acidity potentially making this a better food wine.
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7/21/2012 - soyhead wrote: flawed
corked, sadly
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4/29/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Pop/pour. Like the tasting 2.5 years ago, this continues to convey youth and a modern character. Big and juicy fruit on the palate, with a hint of sweetness, and little in the way of earth / sauvage. On opening, not particularly complex. Will check back in later. Update: after 3 hours open, no decant, this does improve. More integrated and additional complexity on the palate. It remains very modern in style, almost a bit "spoofed", which could be a turnoff for some, and for me on a different night. But for what it is, this is a well made wine, though probably not a great QPR. This style could probably be had at half the price or less. I'm thinking a good vintage of Juan Gil Jumilla @$14. While I think this wine would win a head-to-head tasting, I'm not sure it's worth 3x.
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3/26/2012 - gesusser wrote: 92 Points
fully agree w/ Nola Bob
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7/23/2011 - chefpete wrote: 90 Points
Starts off tight, opened up nicely.
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10/29/2010 - dougsmith wrote: 93 Points
2004 vs. 2005 in Spain with Helio San Miguel (New York): Black with deep ruby rim. Opened as quite musty and earthy on the nose, aromas that were similar to cork taint. At the beginning I didn't care for it at all; there was something unclean in the nose. But in time it resolved with more of a dry spice and tobacco aroma, and notes of floor wax. Medium bodied on the palate with lots of macerated red berries, big tannins. Quite a complex and interesting wine. Group's #12, which is to say their least favorite, due to its apparent faults. My #1, although originally I'd rated it significantly lower.
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10/9/2010 - NOLA Bob wrote: 93 Points
This is a full bodied wine, ready to drink with nice complexity. An enjoyable wine.
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9/12/2010 - NOLA Bob wrote: 94 Points
An amazing wine! Last tasted in April and enjoyed it equally this time. Full-bidied, complex, dark. I really loved this wine.
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4/30/2009 - NOLA Bob wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful dark purple color and a complex nose of red and black fruits. Complex flavors and powerful, long finish. Used a Vinturi after waiting an hour from opening. It continued to open up and get better and better. This is a wine with years of life ahead of it but great now if you decant well in advance.
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1/2/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
New Year's Week 2008/9; 12/28/2008-1/4/2009 (Northwoods): From FBM. Didn't show much early on. After an hour or so, this really came into its own. Nicely balanced on both nose and palate. I was surprised at how well this was drinking in its relative youth. Struck me as more modern than some other Priorats I've had (less meaty / game, slightly sweeter).
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11/27/2008 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Been drinking a bunch of this lately, and I really should be waiting - it only gets better from here. This family-run project in the Priorat is an outstanding effort that combines all hand-harvesting, old vines, unforgiving growing conditions (think crushed shale stone and NO topsoil) and skillful winemaking that is a terrific marriage of tradition and international preference. Great table wine that drinks best on day 2, 3 or 4. Dynamite! Approx $40. Drink thru 2017
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11/16/2008 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
A magnificent bottle. It takes a bit of time to open up, but once it does the nose is full of elegant red and black fruits, cream, red flowers, scorched earth and vanilla. A medium + bodied wine with tremendous integration, purity and perfectly weighted mouthfeel. 14.5% abv. A real joy to have around. Decant 1-2 hours.
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