This is a wonderful bottle of wine. Had with a buddy last night and it was such a surprise. Dark cherry notes mild earthtones pure round. Long finish. Highly enjoyable. Wish I had more.
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Generous nose: A- Fruit forward palate with lots of dark cherry notes: B++ This is in a great place right now, but seems to have the potential to last for another 5+ years.
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extracted, a bit hot, and big fruit. To my taste too flabby for most foods and too much for after dinner sipping. This is clearly better balanced than previous vintages, but supports my previous assertion to remove from my yearly buy list...
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Strong 90pts, very nice balance and structure, Syrah coming through very nicely with meaty tones. Tannins are still a bit strong on its own but just perfect with grilled lamb.
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big extacted but not too sweet blackberry liqueur; spice, pepper and good mid palate but some heat at the finish; too potent even for the BBQ italian sausage and pizza; has some structure and could hold; i would have liked this better 10yr ago, but now looking for more subtlety and brightness; smoother on day 2 albeit still finishes with heat
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Over time, I become more convinced that this wine will never come around in a true sense. It may be tasty, and it is pretty tasty, but it doesn't exude that unique S. Rhone character. Rather, it is big, brawny, extracted, a little hot, and it doesn't show a lot of sense of place like a lot of Rhones exude. Like it or not, this is a Parkerized wine. Low acid, big extract, big fruit, ripe, and not overly interesting. That said, it is a bit hedonistic. This seems like it could easily be a knockoff from CA or Australia. The RP score is way high to my taste, but at least its pretty dry. 88-89. Day 2 after a bit of air, I probably would have guessed Aussie. I prefer many cheaper 07 rhones over this. Day 3: While still not showing any real overt sense of place, it still is drinking well(better than 2nd night) although more for extraction and hedonism than nuance. Should age OK for several years. 89 seems about right.
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This has mellowed out considerably since release, and is now hitting prime drinking window. Heavier on fruit than barnyard, this is calirhonication at its best.
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Continues to be an impenetrably dark, robust CdR that bears little resemblance to something I normally associate with Cotes du Rhone or even richer wines like Chateauneuf du Pape. This is a monstrous wine, and quite low acid, such that it really lacks energy, instead enveloping the palate in some kind of purplish glop. The closest I can come to in terms of a comparison is an Alban Grenache I had some time back. Sheesh.
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Again slightly disappointing nose, and a little extracted on the palate. Extended decanting is key for this wine, but the lfip side is that it is good for ageing.
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Huge disappointment. Almost black in color. Some dark fruit on the reticent nose. Full bodied on the palate with obvious signs of over extraction. Monolithic, alcoholic, and packed full of aggressive tannin. Why don't they move to Barossa if they want to make this style of wine? This doesn't work as a CdR.
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Just not ready to drink. Needs time to open up and mellow. Potential for 92 points. After some air more earthiness and pencil lead comes forward. Don't drink for 1-3 years and will hold 5-7.
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Slightly closed nose. Not sure if it was mine or the bottle, since it came from the cellar. I did pick up some black berries, pepper and minerals. This follows throught on the palate, which starts out velvety, with some nice acidty and tannins building up on the back end. It has enough structure to build and stay for a good many years. I suspect this may lead me to increase my rating over time.
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parker nailed the screaming value in this bottle! an intoxicating aroma soars from the glass consisting of, among other complexities, red and black fruits, provincial herbs, bacon fat, black pepper, eucalyptus, and and a striking minerality that just speak of the rhone. it gets better. this saturates the palate with a plush mouthfeel that soaks nearly every crevice of the oral cavity. medium/full body that dances rather gracefully on the tongue. my wife called it a bit "tangy", but i believe this is begging for food and, in fact, rather prefer a nice acidic support. the wine hits the palate with a good intensity and follows what the nose promises. finishes a strong as it started. and only here are the tannins prominent. i'm going out to buy a case tomorrow.
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12/1/2022 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a wonderful bottle of wine. Had with a buddy last night and it was such a surprise. Dark cherry notes mild earthtones pure round. Long finish. Highly enjoyable. Wish I had more.
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7/3/2019 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
Generous nose: A- Fruit forward palate with lots of dark cherry notes: B++
This is in a great place right now, but seems to have the potential to last for another 5+ years.
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3/21/2018 - BGK810 wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruit, earth. Drink now.
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11/4/2016 - napasoutherner wrote: 90 Points
Light and ripe. Expected more but it slowly evolved. This either is peaked or needs way more time
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8/18/2016 - djs Likes this wine: 89 Points
Has gotten much better with age.
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12/31/2015 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pulled from wine fridge. Very nice bottle, dark cherry notes, lush firm tannins. This bottle needs a couple of more years. Mild finish.
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9/29/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red. Excellent on the nose and palate. Dark cherry abounds. Long finish. Drinking well, but okay for several more years .
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7/18/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Reddish purple. Just tasted at my son's wedding rehearsal dinner with barbecue. In a good place . Went well with the food. Very nice wine.
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5/27/2013 - prufrocksabogado Likes this wine: 91 Points
consistent w prior note. in good window.
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1/12/2013 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine has entered its drinking window.
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7/29/2012 - prufrocksabogado wrote: 92 Points
good window right now. drinks like a wine at double the price point
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6/1/2012 - BGK810 wrote: 90 Points
Good, rich red, with dark fruits and earthiness. Excellent with a beef stew.
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11/5/2011 - chapel hill wino wrote:
extracted, a bit hot, and big fruit. To my taste too flabby for most foods and too much for after dinner sipping. This is clearly better balanced than previous vintages, but supports my previous assertion to remove from my yearly buy list...
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7/2/2011 - cmr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Strong 90pts, very nice balance and structure, Syrah coming through very nicely with meaty tones. Tannins are still a bit strong on its own but just perfect with grilled lamb.
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5/28/2011 - Lessthanzero wrote: 91 Points
Yummy.
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4/19/2011 - wabi47 wrote: 88 Points
big extacted but not too sweet blackberry liqueur; spice, pepper and good mid palate but some heat at the finish; too potent even for the BBQ italian sausage and pizza; has some structure and could hold; i would have liked this better 10yr ago, but now looking for more subtlety and brightness; smoother on day 2 albeit still finishes with heat
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2/10/2011 - winegr wrote: 89 Points
Over time, I become more convinced that this wine will never come around in a true sense. It may be tasty, and it is pretty tasty, but it doesn't exude that unique S. Rhone character. Rather, it is big, brawny, extracted, a little hot, and it doesn't show a lot of sense of place like a lot of Rhones exude. Like it or not, this is a Parkerized wine. Low acid, big extract, big fruit, ripe, and not overly interesting. That said, it is a bit hedonistic. This seems like it could easily be a knockoff from CA or Australia. The RP score is way high to my taste, but at least its pretty dry. 88-89. Day 2 after a bit of air, I probably would have guessed Aussie. I prefer many cheaper 07 rhones over this. Day 3: While still not showing any real overt sense of place, it still is drinking well(better than 2nd night) although more for extraction and hedonism than nuance. Should age OK for several years. 89 seems about right.
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10/23/2010 - Lessthanzero wrote: 90 Points
Softening, but still in need of decant. Still primary, but more open than earlier.
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7/11/2010 - Lessthanzero wrote: 92 Points
This has mellowed out considerably since release, and is now hitting prime drinking window. Heavier on fruit than barnyard, this is calirhonication at its best.
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5/21/2010 - etherscreen wrote:
not even close to as good as it was on release. a real mess.
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3/1/2010 - Rieslingfan wrote: 84 Points
Continues to be an impenetrably dark, robust CdR that bears little resemblance to something I normally associate with Cotes du Rhone or even richer wines like Chateauneuf du Pape. This is a monstrous wine, and quite low acid, such that it really lacks energy, instead enveloping the palate in some kind of purplish glop. The closest I can come to in terms of a comparison is an Alban Grenache I had some time back. Sheesh.
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11/1/2009 - Lessthanzero wrote: 91 Points
Again slightly disappointing nose, and a little extracted on the palate. Extended decanting is key for this wine, but the lfip side is that it is good for ageing.
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10/25/2009 - djs wrote:
Huge disappointment. Almost black in color. Some dark fruit on the reticent nose. Full bodied on the palate with obvious signs of over extraction. Monolithic, alcoholic, and packed full of aggressive tannin. Why don't they move to Barossa if they want to make this style of wine? This doesn't work as a CdR.
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8/27/2009 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Just not ready to drink. Needs time to open up and mellow. Potential for 92 points. After some air more earthiness and pencil lead comes forward. Don't drink for 1-3 years and will hold 5-7.
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7/12/2009 - Lessthanzero wrote: 92 Points
Slightly closed nose. Not sure if it was mine or the bottle, since it came from the cellar. I did pick up some black berries, pepper and minerals. This follows throught on the palate, which starts out velvety, with some nice acidty and tannins building up on the back end. It has enough structure to build and stay for a good many years. I suspect this may lead me to increase my rating over time.
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7/9/2009 - etherscreen wrote:
parker nailed the screaming value in this bottle! an intoxicating aroma soars from the glass consisting of, among other complexities, red and black fruits, provincial herbs, bacon fat, black pepper, eucalyptus, and and a striking minerality that just speak of the rhone. it gets better. this saturates the palate with a plush mouthfeel that soaks nearly every crevice of the oral cavity. medium/full body that dances rather gracefully on the tongue. my wife called it a bit "tangy", but i believe this is begging for food and, in fact, rather prefer a nice acidic support. the wine hits the palate with a good intensity and follows what the nose promises. finishes a strong as it started. and only here are the tannins prominent. i'm going out to buy a case tomorrow.
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