Upon opening this was all earthy funky town. After 15-20m in the glass, it resolved and was drinking well. High-toned, lots of acid, mint and menthol to go with the dark fruit and bracing tannins. Lots of sediment.
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I had this with fried chicken on 3/14/14 (not the best pairing). It had a rich, fragrant bouquet of bay leaf, anise, dried herb, cherry, blackberry and plum aromas. The palate was smooth and integrated with bitter flavors of dried herb, cherry, blackberry, plum and mocha.
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Very dark purple color. Dark fruit nose, with red notes intermingled. Blueberry and tart blackberry dominate the palate with a purity of fruit and acidic backbone.
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Very dark purple color. Dark fruit nose, with red notes intermingled. Blueberry and tart blackberry dominate the palate with a purity of fruit and acidic backbone.
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From memory....Day 1 - A little hairy. Acidity seemed to be wacky and it reminded me of unfocused Syrah. Opaque and deftly dense. Nevertheless, knocked off 2/3 of the bottle with AmeriItalian Pasta dinner. Corked and left for 3 days in room temperature room. Day 4 - Dark fruits into savouriness on the nose, Mouthfeel a tremendous plus...very rich blackberry compote with notes of balsalmic. Medium finish with nice mellow arc of finishing acidity.
Franky, was shocked at the improvement given extreme oxygen exposure. Put this in the Italian multi-day drink category. Scoring this is beyond my capabilities. I'm glad I have another bottle.
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We drank this with steak puttanesca on 7/5/10. When it was first poured into the decanter, it had strong violet, black cherry and licorice aromas. An hour later it had a more subdued bouquet of plum, black cherry, licorice, bay leaf and dried herbs. The palate had well integrated tannins, was smooth, balanced and dusty dry with flavors of black cherry, plum, licorice, cocoa and dried herbs. The transformation this went through during the first hour was phenomenal. It needed a solid hour of decanting. 91+
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Somewhat similar to a Mencia. Nose of waxy, perfumed sweet dried fruit with a hint of nail polish. Very ripe not sweet but savory slightly sour fruit, almost chewy, with smoked meat notes. Seems a bit watery mid-palate but has a chewy depth to the wine. Unremarkable finish of fruit and meat notes. Body medium, acid medium. Dry.
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Closed, good acidity, beautiful nose after 20 minutes....cherries with a little spice. Tannic....will give it time to open. probably drinking too early. food friendly
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9/23/2023 - jjct Does not like this wine:
Medicinal, faded fruit, over the hill.
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7/28/2021 - UMRich Likes this wine: 90 Points
Was concerned that I'd held this too long and all that would be left was the acid. No worries because it remained well-balanced.
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12/21/2019 - jjct Likes this wine:
Less funk and menthol than the last bottle; this showed some pure dark fruit today along with tertiary flavors.
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6/29/2019 - jjct wrote:
Upon opening this was all earthy funky town. After 15-20m in the glass, it resolved and was drinking well. High-toned, lots of acid, mint and menthol to go with the dark fruit and bracing tannins. Lots of sediment.
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3/14/2014 - garambler wrote: 90 Points
I had this with fried chicken on 3/14/14 (not the best pairing). It had a rich, fragrant bouquet of bay leaf, anise, dried herb, cherry, blackberry and plum aromas. The palate was smooth and integrated with bitter flavors of dried herb, cherry, blackberry, plum and mocha.
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3/22/2013 - borneman wrote: 91 Points
Well-balanced, silky, versatile.
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3/8/2013 - patsox wrote: 60 Points
Death by VA.
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6/15/2012 - holon wrote: 89 Points
very subtle black berries, dense but no jam; still very balanced and good length
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11/4/2011 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 91 Points
Very dark purple color. Dark fruit nose, with red notes intermingled. Blueberry and tart blackberry dominate the palate with a purity of fruit and acidic backbone.
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11/4/2011 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 90 Points
Very dark purple color. Dark fruit nose, with red notes intermingled. Blueberry and tart blackberry dominate the palate with a purity of fruit and acidic backbone.
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9/5/2011 - bcc725 wrote:
Good experience...wouldn't purchase again....volatility of the acidity made the wine too unbalanced..clumsy. Biggest plus was the mouthfeel.
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5/14/2011 - bcc725 wrote:
From memory....Day 1 - A little hairy. Acidity seemed to be wacky and it reminded me of unfocused Syrah. Opaque and deftly dense. Nevertheless, knocked off 2/3 of the bottle with AmeriItalian Pasta dinner. Corked and left for 3 days in room temperature room. Day 4 - Dark fruits into savouriness on the nose, Mouthfeel a tremendous plus...very rich blackberry compote with notes of balsalmic. Medium finish with nice mellow arc of finishing acidity.
Franky, was shocked at the improvement given extreme oxygen exposure. Put this in the Italian multi-day drink category. Scoring this is beyond my capabilities. I'm glad I have another bottle.
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9/24/2010 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Intrigue and balance at each turn, this dances on the edge of acidity, then minerality, then ripe undertones; a slalom that toys with its own ridge.
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9/8/2010 - holon wrote: 86 Points
nose: subtle dark berries palate: blueberry, well integrated acidity
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7/5/2010 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
We drank this with steak puttanesca on 7/5/10. When it was first poured into the decanter, it had strong violet, black cherry and licorice aromas. An hour later it had a more subdued bouquet of plum, black cherry, licorice, bay leaf and dried herbs. The palate had well integrated tannins, was smooth, balanced and dusty dry with flavors of black cherry, plum, licorice, cocoa and dried herbs. The transformation this went through during the first hour was phenomenal. It needed a solid hour of decanting. 91+
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6/29/2010 - dynowine wrote: 89 Points
Somewhat similar to a Mencia. Nose of waxy, perfumed sweet dried fruit with a hint of nail polish. Very ripe not sweet but savory slightly sour fruit, almost chewy, with smoked meat notes. Seems a bit watery mid-palate but has a chewy depth to the wine. Unremarkable finish of fruit and meat notes. Body medium, acid medium. Dry.
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11/10/2009 - jkline wrote: 90 Points
Closed, good acidity, beautiful nose after 20 minutes....cherries with a little spice. Tannic....will give it time to open. probably drinking too early. food friendly
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