I've sampled a bottle every year since my original purchase in 2009, waiting for it to mellow and improve. At ten years in, the 2016-17 samples were much better. More well rounded, fruity, some earthy tones are evident and it's quite nice to drink now. Notes of blackberries and currants with nice after-tones for finish.
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Vin intéressant, gardé en gave quelques années. Sans être un grand vin, il offre un beau fruit de mûres, bleuets et figue. Belle rondeur en bouche, belle longueur.
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The poor man's Super Tuscan - with a great QRP. Very approachable pre-dinner wine with lots of Tuscan characteristics. However this has a lighter texture and mouth feel, less tannins and shorter finish. Good dark fruit and spice taste!
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Day 1: Nice fruit. Reminded me of a wild, less refined grape. However, Day 2 was better, with rounder fruit, smoother tannins and better score (89). Definitely good QPR.
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I bought two cases to purposely cellar. In 2009 it was very young and tannic but letting it breathe for day helped. Still, too brusk and astringent for now. There is light sediment in the bottle. The body is full. The wine has bright texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity.
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color: dark clear violet/ruby. nose: currant, chocolate, a touch of hot antisceptic cherry, and a whiff of licorice. A bit young with woody tannins and some heat. Tobacco, earth and licorice vie with black currant, some cherry, woody tannins and a fair bit of heat. Will likely improve with time.
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Gear oil on the nose and palate that I didn't notice in previous bottle. It blew off after an hour leaving the same wine. Modern, ripe, good/very good.
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I was prepared to dislike this (gimmiky package, coop?) but it's very good. Nice deep flavors of dark fruit, earth and plum. Sangiovese evident but other grapes present as well. It's rich and balanced with a plush palate and finishes with minor, fine balancing tannin and medium acidity. Very good/excellent now but will improve for the next few years. The overall impression is modern, warm vintage and ripe grapes. Inexpensive at Costco.
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This is a very impressive wine, ruby in color, a full nose dominated by cherry, leaves and some alcohol. Strong flavors of spice, pepper, cherry and cola. An almost exuberant acidity and fleshy tannins round things out. It has an impressive length. A great bargain.
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This wine had abundant fruit on the nose and very smooth silky feel in the mouth with a linering finish of very light tannins. Great wine to just drink for happy hour or with a nice meal.
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3/23/2018 - cab blends wrote: 90 Points
Light fruity and cherry body. Tasted 4 days later and this has rounded nicely - improved from 87 to a 90.
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1/6/2018 - gajalaa wrote: 86 Points
nose of violets and spice on palate but its rather light and short
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1/29/2017 - Morgansrbest Likes this wine: 88 Points
I've sampled a bottle every year since my original purchase in 2009, waiting for it to mellow and improve. At ten years in, the 2016-17 samples were much better. More well rounded, fruity, some earthy tones are evident and it's quite nice to drink now. Notes of blackberries and currants with nice after-tones for finish.
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9/24/2016 - Edv wrote: 89 Points
Vin intéressant, gardé en gave quelques années. Sans être un grand vin, il offre un beau fruit de mûres, bleuets et figue. Belle rondeur en bouche, belle longueur.
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12/17/2009 - bin905 wrote: 88 Points
Cherry, spice, green pepper, and mocha flavors with fine tannins. A little hot on the nose.
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7/26/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 87 Points
The poor man's Super Tuscan - with a great QRP. Very approachable pre-dinner wine with lots of Tuscan characteristics. However this has a lighter texture and mouth feel, less tannins and shorter finish. Good dark fruit and spice taste!
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5/3/2009 - mrbill wrote: 81 Points
A very good, reasonably priced, table wine.
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3/6/2009 - neurovino wrote: 89 Points
Day 1: Nice fruit. Reminded me of a wild, less refined grape. However, Day 2 was better, with rounder fruit, smoother tannins and better score (89). Definitely good QPR.
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2/17/2009 - Morgansrbest wrote: 85 Points
I bought two cases to purposely cellar. In 2009 it was very young and tannic but letting it breathe for day helped. Still, too brusk and astringent for now.
There is light sediment in the bottle. The body is full. The wine has bright texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity.
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1/26/2009 - BillyT wrote: 89 Points
Nice floral notes on the nose, nice legs, some fruit and spice on the palate with robust tannins and some acidity.
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1/20/2009 - nwbackpacker wrote: flawed
I HOPE it was flawed, because it was very very very odd, and not in a pleasant way.
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1/18/2009 - sa66 wrote: 83 Points
color: dark clear violet/ruby.
nose: currant, chocolate, a touch of hot antisceptic cherry, and a whiff of licorice.
A bit young with woody tannins and some heat. Tobacco, earth and licorice vie with black currant, some cherry, woody tannins and a fair bit of heat. Will likely improve with time.
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11/30/2008 - esb wrote: 87 Points
Gear oil on the nose and palate that I didn't notice in previous bottle. It blew off after an hour leaving the same wine. Modern, ripe, good/very good.
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11/17/2008 - esb wrote:
I was prepared to dislike this (gimmiky package, coop?) but it's very good. Nice deep flavors of dark fruit, earth and plum. Sangiovese evident but other grapes present as well. It's rich and balanced with a plush palate and finishes with minor, fine balancing tannin and medium acidity. Very good/excellent now but will improve for the next few years. The overall impression is modern, warm vintage and ripe grapes. Inexpensive at Costco.
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11/7/2008 - Davidliss wrote: 89 Points
This is a very impressive wine, ruby in color, a full nose dominated by cherry, leaves and some alcohol. Strong flavors of spice, pepper, cherry and cola. An almost exuberant acidity and fleshy tannins round things out. It has an impressive length. A great bargain.
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10/26/2008 - BillyT wrote: 89 Points
This wine had abundant fruit on the nose and very smooth silky feel in the mouth with a linering finish of very light tannins. Great wine to just drink for happy hour or with a nice meal.
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