A very good inexpensive everyday wine. A mixture of Zin, Merlot and Cab, it's pleasing to a lot of palates. Light and floral, new wine drinkers would enjoy this one.
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As others have noted, not a very complex wine. It's almost too smooth without the character of any of its roots (zin, cab, merlot). All that said, it is smooth and a good sub $10 value at Costco - a good midweek drink.
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Not a complex wine, but one that is consistent from vintage to vintage. This is one of our stand-in sub$10 choices and it's a pleasant drinking wine, but very heavy on the fruit and a touch sweet. Avoid if overpowering fruit isn't your thing, but this is an easy drinker otherwise, no alcohol bite and drinks well with or without food.
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Vibrant red purple color. Restrained nose of plums and tar. Bold fruit flavors with black cherries, plums and blackcurrant and some toasty oak followed by a decent spicy finish.
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Nothing special. From what I'm reading on some other reviews, I probably should have given it some time in the decanter. Not a bad bottle for the price, though.
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Perfect with braised short ribs. Almost an extension of the sweet braising liquid. Big fruitiness on the front. Black cherries, a little pepper. Not much complexity or structure. Short finish. The sweetness lingers more than the tannins. Again, great with food. Would not stand up to a ribeye.
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Color and body not noted. Bouquet of blackberry and cherry preserves, and a little black pepper. Black and red fruits blitz the tongue with cloying sweetness, along with pepper, alcohol, and oak. Complexity is box-wine simple, the acid barely has a pulse, and there is a small speed bump of tannins toward the end of the short finish. Overall it tastes like it's made for drinking fast (before a menage a trois?), only the task is challenged by the sweetness of the fruit and simplicity of the flavors. Value is ordinary for less than 10, given there are hundreds of other CA wines that duplicate its facade.
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I found this Zinfandel blend to be quite enjoyable, especially for the $8 price. The taste and smell were of a medium Zin (not very bold and rich, but no harshness either).
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Very pleasent. Went well with pizza. The wine looks Purple colored. It smells like Blackberry, and Black Pepper. It tastes like Blackberry, and Black Pepper. The body is Light/Medium. The wine is textured Smooth. The wine finishes Short.
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Served with a nice grilled ribeye. Not quite bold enough to compliment the steak. Would go nice with grilled vegetables or heirloom tomatoes with olive oil and cheese
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15/20 V: Rubis cerise avec quelques reflets violacés. O: Nez racé, boissé, épicé. Charmeur et presque racoleur comme nez. Après 3/4 heure de carafe, il il quelques notes d'odeur de chien mouillé. C'est pas un défaut pour moi : j'aime bien. G: En bouche, c'est véritablement le côté vin d'ado qui ressort le plus. Salade de fruits et sucre résiduel. La Bouche est ronde avec des tannins de velours et bien fondus. C'est généreux et éclatant. Finalement très bien malgré ce côté franchement sucré. Tout de même apprécié pour un BBQ. Ce Ménage à Trois est dans le TOP 10 des ventes au Québec pour 2009-2010 !
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This is a fairly priced, very generic, forgettable wine. Big fruit and oak flavors typical of California zinfindel and not much else. Decent QPR, but I feel like I've had this wine hundreds of times before.
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What more can you ask for in a wine that costs less than $10. We love it, and all of our friends love it, and the name initiates some very interesting conversations amongst curious friends. Certainly not the best wine in our cellar, but for the price we believe it "can't be beat". Enjoy :)
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Interesting blend of three vatietals Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Savignon, very simple, and fruity. The nose lots of cherry and other dark fruit - blackberry, blueberry. Not alot of structure to this wine. I also taste some brown sugar some sweetness, it falls short on tannins, acidity, structure, and complexity. But at this price point $7 it goes well with BBQ and burgers.
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Ok, I need to disclose that I love fruit forward, intense wines. This is a blend, which according to the winemakers website is: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet.
Before I get to the tasting notes, there are a couple of other red blends that, in my view, fall under this Cali fruit-forward-red-blend category: 1) Old Vine Red Lot number 51 (by Marietta Cellars) which can be had for $10, but has a more Zinfandel character to it. and 2) "The Sum" blended by The Seventy-Five Wine Company (about $20 by 75wine.com). I am sure there are others, but all three of these wines are fruit forward (not Bordeaux style, where I think Ten Mile Road by ninenorthwines.com - the makers of Twenty Bench is enjoyable)
Ok,now to the tasting notes. The nose on this wine shows a lot of fruit, primarily cherry and other dark fruit - blackberry, blueberry. the front palate shows explosive fruit, which seems to come from the Cabernet, with the mid palate also fruity, but not over whelming. The back end palate and finish show the zinfandel character, with good somewhat intense spice. Wow! I love how this blend brings out the best in each varietal, while complimenting the others.
Ok, so why do I like this wine so much? Similar to what has been done with Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 51, I think the winemaker has created a wine that is very approachable for the i-dont-care-about-wine-but-i-know-what-i-like drinker to the intermediate wine lover (where I put myself). This does not require hours of decanting or some love of "funk" , it is a pop-n-pour that is consistent and enjoyable. This is shows more Cab and Merlot than Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 51, but I like both very much.
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Drank this over a few nights with different meals. Quite enjoyable each time. Will definitely buy more. A great choice for friends that like wine but know nothing about wine.
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Bottle really needs some time before it opens. Found that it opened up nicely and was balanced after storing for night with just an air seal. Very fruit forward and full.
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Very sweet, almost as if a sugar syrup was added. Has a thickness feel on the palette. Too much work to drink this. No structure. Seems like this may be good red for someone who does not like reds to get started on. Not for me.
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Color is light garnet, about 80% saturated. Unexpressive nose is pretty much a straight Zinfandel profile with brown sugar and light oak scents. Palate is light, flabby, syrupy sweet and lots of cherry-vanilla cola with candied fruit. Lacking of tannins, acidity, structure, and complexity. This wine was made in the winery, not the vineyard. I surmise that this is what teenager wine looks like nowadays. Should at least have a screwcap. It's not that it's offensive or sickening, it just doesn't deserve 80+ imho (4+7+11+4) = 76
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This is pleasant drinking but seems candy-fied and manipulated with no real structure. Ripe raspberry nose and juicy, jammy berry on the palate with some sweetness on the tip of the tongue. Smooth, almost oily mouth-feel.
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Lots of personality in this bottle, interesting to say the least. Nose is cherry, palate is medium bodied and finish is where the moneys at.... spice and silk. Special of the week at my store for $7.99, gonna have to pick up a few more.
One of my favorite quotes from James Herriot is "All horns and balls" - spoken by a farmer about a bull. This class of California Red reminds me of that quote.
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The color is so beautiful...burgundy with a deep purple undertone. It has a spicy afterbite, but it's mellow. Totally yummy and a little sweet. Full boquet!
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Black cherry and lots of it. A little bit of spice. Very nice deep purple color and pretty good mouth feel. Unfortunately, it finishes with a distinct sweetness. Not bad for the price, though.
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Drank this before dinner with friends and some cheese and bread...very delicious i must say. Deep dark purple with some light cherry and subtle oak on nose. Mouth feel is smooth, fruit forward no doubt - cherry/strawberry ect...finish is a little oak and nice duration. Fruit bomb yes, but i'm liking this solo and not a bad match with food. Nice QPR. I think i need to buy a few for the shelf and use as a great party wine.
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Ratings: 1-5 Color (clear to ink) 3 Clarity 4 Sweetness 4 Acidity 4 Tannin 3 Body 3 Balance 2 Intensity 3 Complexity 2 Alcohol 3 Finish 3 A nice simple wine with more on the palate than the nose. Lots of strawberry, blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry upfront with a strong caramel finish.
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This is the twelth bottle of this wine I have had since early December. For the price it's a perfect two glass a night wine for the middle of the week - my definition of a daily drinker. It has quite a bit of strawberry fruit, and not a lot of spice. At the same time, it does have enough complexity and heft to go with mid-week food dishes. No change in my initial rating from December - right at the top of the 'Good' portion of the scale.
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Very strong fruit aroma. Could smell from across room when first poured. This wine is just a good solid everyday wine that is excellent with food. Pretty simple when first opened as the fruit dominates. Medium body with mild tannins, it became more complex later with touch of vanilla and cocoa to go along with the dark berry and strawberry. Medium finish. Could do a lot worse for $9.
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Nose of candied fruit. Medium bodied with lots of ripe fruit. Initialy a little too sweet but began to develop some added complexity several hours afer opening. Moderate finish. Overall, this is quite nice and decent value for around $9. Better than the '07. Zinfandel seems to predominate in this blend. Probably best with food.
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Really good, dense cork, lightly stained almost a light raspberry color. Blend. Not heavily fruit forward, mostly all the components balance and soften the hard edges of each other. Actually opened to use a cup for a soup I was making, then finished the rest. first impression was not really over done in any one area, and actually a little light on flavor. But reasonably balanced. About 2-3 days later, revisited bottle which had been corked and sitting on counter at room temperature. More fruit now apparent, think I taste some individual components such as Zin. When swished in mouth tannins present in front of cheeks and sides of tongue, not overbearing. As previous reviewer noted, acidity on the weak side. Overall, an average to better than average table wine. Drink now.
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Robe de couleur: Rouge; Acidité très faible, Sucré, Astringence faible, Amertume très faible; Arômes en bouche: Cerise, confiture, vanille, Trop sucrer, gout porto, fruit trop mûr, fruit confit, a un potentiel, mais mauvaise récolte
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A bit of a fruit bomb. Easy to drink with some tannins still present. Sweet cherries with some strawberry. Overall kinda nice for a not too expensive bottle.
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This was a pleasant, fruity, inoffensive red wine. Both the nose and taste were primarily of red berry - raspberry and strawberry - with a bit of cocoa. It was not particularly memorable but certainly easy drinking.
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13.5% ABV. Translucent dark ruby. Reticent clove and zinberry nose. Medium bodied with a noticeable amount of residual sugar and spicy berry fruit with a suggestion of cocoa. Not horrible, easy drinking if a bit sweet. Probably would work well with pizza or some other casual food.
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Terrible. Sour and sugary. No complexity. Flabby. No nose. Didn't even bother drinking a glass. Maybe it was a bad bottle given the other reports (and the fact that I've had this wine before and found it to be more than ok), but this one was not good.
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Fresh strawberry and whipped cream on the nose. Vibrant raspberry, strawberry, and sweet cherry on the attack. Very juicy but fruit is definitely in the over ripe category -- too sweet and a bit cloying. Abundant sweet tannins and some alcohol on the finish. Not enough balancing acidity for my tastes. Kudos to Folie à Deux for not over oaking. Better than most of the previous vintages of this wine that I have had.
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Don't think I can give the 08 quite as big a score as the 05 that I loved. I like this nose - dirty, vegetal with some vanilla.
Nice fruit: raspberries and cherries. Nice mouth feel. Flavors are simpler than previous efforts. Mild tannins, not much on the finish, but there is a nice caramel there. This one is a stalwart in my rotation - they always seem to do a solid job.
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Bright red/purple with a light purple rim. Cherries, a bit of funk and some vanilla and heat on the nose. Light and soft on the tongue. Not as fruity as the 2007. Good tannins.
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Gorgeous nose. Rich, velvet chocolate. Creamy caramel. Blueberry. It smells like a bakery. Black raspberry. Smells very yummy.
BIG fruit. Blueberries, raspberries, cherries, plums. Creamy and oaky, but not overly oaked. It doesn't cover up the fruit. Mild tannins, good on the midpalate and a full, long finish. A bit of caramel/chocolate on the midpalate. It could be a bit fuller and rounder, but the flavors are so nice that I don't mind that so much.
Very nice wine for $9.
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A strong nose, a bit sulfuric. Dark fruits, black cherry, plum. A bit of turpentine. Smoky.
Strongest on the midpalate. Dark fruits again, like black cherry, blackberries. A bit of wood and smoke. It's a bit fruitier than the '07, a tad less earthy tasting. A bit of bacon fat. Light tannins. Decent finish.
For an $8 bottle of wine, I certainly can't complain. This company is one of my staples for everyday wine. Decent and reliable.
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3/28/2014 - Vatch Does not like this wine:
Still not good, too much sweetness
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2/14/2014 - Klainetal wrote: 84 Points
Very fruity nose once the wine was allowed to open up. Hints of cherry and smoke. Light on tannin.
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3/23/2013 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 85 Points
Very fruity. Some thought it was too fruity, but i enjoyed it.
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1/12/2013 - sambuca wrote: 84 Points
Sweet. Crowd pleasing. Great introductory red for a non-red-wine drinker.
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6/15/2012 - sambuca wrote: 84 Points
It is what it is, simple, crowd pleasing, smooth & slightly sweet.
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1/1/2012 - sfarina wrote: 90 Points
May have been inexpensive but was delicious!
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12/3/2011 - anaugle wrote: 83 Points
Used for cooking. The sauce was a disappointment, but the wine made me feel better. Peppery; smooth; good value for <10 bucks.
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11/26/2011 - No Punt Intended wrote: 75 Points
Decent wine
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11/23/2011 - Rich.Herbs wrote: 75 Points
Average. I found it fruity and of little interest. After a small glass I sampled other wines.
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8/9/2011 - sshaw906 wrote: 88 Points
A very good inexpensive everyday wine. A mixture of Zin, Merlot and Cab, it's pleasing to a lot of palates. Light and floral, new wine drinkers would enjoy this one.
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8/7/2011 - sshaw906 wrote: 90 Points
Deep berry taste with a hint of pepper. Very good
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7/8/2011 - scampbell wrote: 83 Points
Great everyday wine. Fruity, smooth and matches well with everyday food like burgers and pizza. An enjoyable glass.
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6/13/2011 - DCSteve wrote: 86 Points
As others have noted, not a very complex wine. It's almost too smooth without the character of any of its roots (zin, cab, merlot). All that said, it is smooth and a good sub $10 value at Costco - a good midweek drink.
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5/1/2011 - dblanton wrote: flawed
This is an amazingly delicious wine.
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4/30/2011 - dblanton wrote: 95 Points
Delicious wine. One of my favorites.
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4/24/2011 - LuisACantu wrote: 93 Points
One of the best wines to buy at the Costco. Blend of Zinfadel, Merlot and Cab Sauvignon!
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2/18/2011 - mikevince wrote: 86 Points
Not a complex wine, but one that is consistent from vintage to vintage. This is one of our stand-in sub$10 choices and it's a pleasant drinking wine, but very heavy on the fruit and a touch sweet. Avoid if overpowering fruit isn't your thing, but this is an easy drinker otherwise, no alcohol bite and drinks well with or without food.
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1/7/2011 - Annie1 wrote: 83 Points
Very jammy but nice every day wine
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12/30/2010 - trastevere wrote: 85 Points
Vibrant red purple color. Restrained nose of plums and tar. Bold fruit flavors with black cherries, plums and blackcurrant and some toasty oak followed by a decent spicy finish.
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12/8/2010 - dc914 wrote: 79 Points
Nothing special. From what I'm reading on some other reviews, I probably should have given it some time in the decanter. Not a bad bottle for the price, though.
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11/30/2010 - ckinv368 wrote: 85 Points
A nice, pleasant bottle of red wine
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11/14/2010 - Annie1 wrote: 80 Points
Very fruity and sweet...actually quite big, or maybe the fruit was overwhelming me. Not bad but too sweet for me.
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10/17/2010 - brettf1 wrote: 86 Points
Needs time to open up
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10/13/2010 - garytest wrote: 86 Points
Bought it at the foodland
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9/11/2010 - osodoro wrote: 84 Points
Perfect with braised short ribs. Almost an extension of the sweet braising liquid. Big fruitiness on the front. Black cherries, a little pepper. Not much complexity or structure. Short finish. The sweetness lingers more than the tannins. Again, great with food. Would not stand up to a ribeye.
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9/6/2010 - PIntag wrote: 83 Points
Big juicy red with plenty of sweet fruit and sweet oakiness. More like a wine cocktail.
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9/3/2010 - Vinacull wrote: 80 Points
Color and body not noted. Bouquet of blackberry and cherry preserves, and a little black pepper. Black and red fruits blitz the tongue with cloying sweetness, along with pepper, alcohol, and oak. Complexity is box-wine simple, the acid barely has a pulse, and there is a small speed bump of tannins toward the end of the short finish. Overall it tastes like it's made for drinking fast (before a menage a trois?), only the task is challenged by the sweetness of the fruit and simplicity of the flavors. Value is ordinary for less than 10, given there are hundreds of other CA wines that duplicate its facade.
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8/28/2010 - mrbtobin wrote: 89 Points
Good and tasty with big flavor. Ate after dinner with sweet nuts.
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8/27/2010 - mtred wrote: 88 Points
I found this Zinfandel blend to be quite enjoyable, especially for the $8 price. The taste and smell were of a medium Zin (not very bold and rich, but no harshness either).
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8/25/2010 - hende14 wrote: 87 Points
Certainly not complex. Very one dimensional, but still tasty and enjoyable.
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8/11/2010 - jfinke wrote: 85 Points
Very pleasent. Went well with pizza.
The wine looks Purple colored.
It smells like Blackberry, and Black Pepper.
It tastes like Blackberry, and Black Pepper.
The body is Light/Medium.
The wine is textured Smooth.
The wine finishes Short.
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8/7/2010 - trisalsa wrote: 85 Points
Served with a nice grilled ribeye. Not quite bold enough to compliment the steak. Would go nice with grilled vegetables or heirloom tomatoes with olive oil and cheese
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7/30/2010 - BoireBio wrote: 85 Points
15/20 V: Rubis cerise avec quelques reflets violacés. O: Nez racé, boissé, épicé. Charmeur et presque racoleur comme nez. Après 3/4 heure de carafe, il il quelques notes d'odeur de chien mouillé. C'est pas un défaut pour moi : j'aime bien. G: En bouche, c'est véritablement le côté vin d'ado qui ressort le plus. Salade de fruits et sucre résiduel. La Bouche est ronde avec des tannins de velours et bien fondus. C'est généreux et éclatant. Finalement très bien malgré ce côté franchement sucré. Tout de même apprécié pour un BBQ. Ce Ménage à Trois est dans le TOP 10 des ventes au Québec pour 2009-2010 !
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7/13/2010 - Apearce wrote: 75 Points
Mediocre. God for general drinking.
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7/10/2010 - Mr.Grimm wrote: 96 Points
Distinct carmel like flavor, light tannen, moderate fruit
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7/10/2010 - rhps00 wrote: 84 Points
This is a fairly priced, very generic, forgettable wine. Big fruit and oak flavors typical of California zinfindel and not much else. Decent QPR, but I feel like I've had this wine hundreds of times before.
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7/5/2010 - pdelange wrote:
Good wine. Eating with Tess and Kim
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6/28/2010 - dfarley wrote: 86 Points
For the price this is a decent blend. Good fruit and a bit of spice, fairly big finish. Great QPR.
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6/28/2010 - pekuper wrote: 87 Points
Drank with kabobs. Was very good.
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6/27/2010 - RobbnAmy wrote: 87 Points
What more can you ask for in a wine that costs less than $10. We love it, and all of our friends love it, and the name initiates some very interesting conversations amongst curious friends. Certainly not the best wine in our cellar, but for the price we believe it "can't be beat". Enjoy :)
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6/20/2010 - Wine Concert Guy wrote:
one of our favorite easy drinking wines
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6/18/2010 - teenaging wrote: 81 Points
Odd blend of zin, cab, and merlot, this is big, and by no means elegant. Rich and fruity, with a mildly bitter finish
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6/13/2010 - Apecrab wrote: 85 Points
Great wine for the price. Sweet and somewhat smooth.
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6/3/2010 - AllThingsWine wrote: 86 Points
Consistently good staple wine.
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6/2/2010 - Smashedgrapes wrote: 85 Points
Went well with a spicy Brooklyn Pizza
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6/1/2010 - JCheek wrote: 86 Points
this is our favorite cheap wine to date. very drinkable!
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6/1/2010 - Apecrab wrote:
Removed from cellar.
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5/24/2010 - Ballsbrook wrote: 89 Points
Sweet, smooth, very enjoyable...buy again.
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5/20/2010 - cortisj2 wrote: 86 Points
Interesting blend of three vatietals Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Savignon, very simple, and fruity. The nose lots of cherry and other dark fruit - blackberry, blueberry. Not alot of structure to this wine. I also taste some brown sugar some sweetness, it falls short on tannins, acidity, structure, and complexity. But at this price point $7 it goes well with BBQ and burgers.
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5/15/2010 - bkadlec wrote: 76 Points
lots of fruit, which is good, but a little sweet for my taste. this is why I rate average.
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5/15/2010 - AllThingsWine wrote: 86 Points
Always a good staple. Pepper an dark fruit. Great with steak.
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5/2/2010 - laxman wrote: 91 Points
Ok, I need to disclose that I love fruit forward, intense wines. This is a blend, which according to the winemakers website is: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet.
Before I get to the tasting notes, there are a couple of other red blends that, in my view, fall under this Cali fruit-forward-red-blend category: 1) Old Vine Red Lot number 51 (by Marietta Cellars) which can be had for $10, but has a more Zinfandel character to it. and 2) "The Sum" blended by The Seventy-Five Wine Company (about $20 by 75wine.com). I am sure there are others, but all three of these wines are fruit forward (not Bordeaux style, where I think Ten Mile Road by ninenorthwines.com - the makers of Twenty Bench is enjoyable)
Ok,now to the tasting notes. The nose on this wine shows a lot of fruit, primarily cherry and other dark fruit - blackberry, blueberry. the front palate shows explosive fruit, which seems to come from the Cabernet, with the mid palate also fruity, but not over whelming. The back end palate and finish show the zinfandel character, with good somewhat intense spice. Wow! I love how this blend brings out the best in each varietal, while complimenting the others.
Ok, so why do I like this wine so much? Similar to what has been done with Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 51, I think the winemaker has created a wine that is very approachable for the i-dont-care-about-wine-but-i-know-what-i-like drinker to the intermediate wine lover (where I put myself). This does not require hours of decanting or some love of "funk" , it is a pop-n-pour that is consistent and enjoyable. This is shows more Cab and Merlot than Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 51, but I like both very much.
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4/20/2010 - Clay70 wrote: 80 Points
A great inexpensive wine.
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4/10/2010 - brettf1 wrote: 87 Points
Drank this over a few nights with different meals. Quite enjoyable each time. Will definitely buy more. A great choice for friends that like wine but know nothing about wine.
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4/5/2010 - DKonkus wrote: 87 Points
A perfect party wine you'll rarely hear an objection to. Very smooth, though not at all complex. Chewy and supple. Not much of a nose.
At its best after sitting for a few hours.
The '08 seems a bit sweeter than the '07.
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4/3/2010 - PIntag wrote: 83 Points
Consistent with last bottle. Sweet, simple, and fruity. Not really my favorite style, but goes fairly well with BBQ and burgers.
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4/3/2010 - c.skoll@verizon.net wrote: 92 Points
1st bottle drank at Passover 2010.
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4/2/2010 - Beba1010 wrote: 80 Points
Good with meat
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3/28/2010 - Neilc wrote: 88 Points
Crisp, tangy with a hint of berry. Wonderfully refreshing varietal.
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3/27/2010 - pagejshawjr wrote: 85 Points
Bottle really needs some time before it opens. Found that it opened up nicely and was balanced after storing for night with just an air seal. Very fruit forward and full.
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3/27/2010 - bdublu wrote: 82 Points
Very sweet, almost as if a sugar syrup was added. Has a thickness feel on the palette. Too much work to drink this. No structure. Seems like this may be good red for someone who does not like reds to get started on. Not for me.
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3/26/2010 - fingers Does not like this wine: 76 Points
Color is light garnet, about 80% saturated. Unexpressive nose is pretty much a straight Zinfandel profile with brown sugar and light oak scents. Palate is light, flabby, syrupy sweet and lots of cherry-vanilla cola with candied fruit. Lacking of tannins, acidity, structure, and complexity. This wine was made in the winery, not the vineyard. I surmise that this is what teenager wine looks like nowadays. Should at least have a screwcap. It's not that it's offensive or sickening, it just doesn't deserve 80+ imho (4+7+11+4) = 76
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3/20/2010 - K is for Kate wrote: 84 Points
This is pleasant drinking but seems candy-fied and manipulated with no real structure. Ripe raspberry nose and juicy, jammy berry on the palate with some sweetness on the tip of the tongue. Smooth, almost oily mouth-feel.
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3/19/2010 - boyajian wrote: 88 Points
Lots of personality in this bottle, interesting to say the least. Nose is cherry, palate is medium bodied and finish is where the moneys at.... spice and silk. Special of the week at my store for $7.99, gonna have to pick up a few more.
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3/17/2010 - RyanF Does not like this wine: 82 Points
One of my favorite quotes from James Herriot is "All horns and balls" - spoken by a farmer about a bull. This class of California Red reminds me of that quote.
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3/16/2010 - TwinWino wrote:
The color is so beautiful...burgundy with a deep purple undertone. It has a spicy afterbite, but it's mellow. Totally yummy and a little sweet. Full boquet!
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3/14/2010 - underwds wrote: 86 Points
Black cherry and lots of it. A little bit of spice. Very nice deep purple color and pretty good mouth feel. Unfortunately, it finishes with a distinct sweetness. Not bad for the price, though.
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3/13/2010 - jwalker1140 wrote: 82 Points
Sweet and sort of clownish, like red wine for people who don't like red wine. Not my thing.
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3/13/2010 - Apage2 wrote: 88 Points
A surprise when tasted, not too sweet, perfect with our Italian food!
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3/12/2010 - cassel wrote: 88 Points
Lot of fruit, little spice, great value.
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3/12/2010 - YWG Wine Guy wrote: 89 Points
Drank this before dinner with friends and some cheese and bread...very delicious i must say. Deep dark purple with some light cherry and subtle oak on nose. Mouth feel is smooth, fruit forward no doubt - cherry/strawberry ect...finish is a little oak and nice duration. Fruit bomb yes, but i'm liking this solo and not a bad match with food. Nice QPR. I think i need to buy a few for the shelf and use as a great party wine.
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3/11/2010 - jjlobi wrote: 85 Points
Too sweet for me. More of a fruit bomb. 2nd. day sweetness dissipates somewhat and is actually better tasting. Keep in mind it's $8.
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3/6/2010 - winedinners wrote: 86 Points
Ratings: 1-5
Color (clear to ink) 3
Clarity 4
Sweetness 4
Acidity 4
Tannin 3
Body 3
Balance 2
Intensity 3
Complexity 2
Alcohol 3
Finish 3
A nice simple wine with more on the palate than the nose. Lots of strawberry, blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry upfront with a strong caramel finish.
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3/3/2010 - GregGH wrote: 87 Points
good for the price
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2/24/2010 - ssimpsonjr wrote: 84 Points
This is the twelth bottle of this wine I have had since early December. For the price it's a perfect two glass a night wine for the middle of the week - my definition of a daily drinker. It has quite a bit of strawberry fruit, and not a lot of spice. At the same time, it does have enough complexity and heft to go with mid-week food dishes. No change in my initial rating from December - right at the top of the 'Good' portion of the scale.
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2/23/2010 - hende14 wrote: 87 Points
Very strong fruit aroma. Could smell from across room when first poured. This wine is just a good solid everyday wine that is excellent with food. Pretty simple when first opened as the fruit dominates. Medium body with mild tannins, it became more complex later with touch of vanilla and cocoa to go along with the dark berry and strawberry. Medium finish. Could do a lot worse for $9.
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2/23/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 86 Points
Nose of candied fruit. Medium bodied with lots of ripe fruit. Initialy a little too sweet but began to develop some added complexity several hours afer opening. Moderate finish. Overall, this is quite nice and decent value for around $9. Better than the '07. Zinfandel seems to predominate in this blend. Probably best with food.
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2/19/2010 - LisaA wrote: 85 Points
Nice table wine; caramel and berry nose, light tannins, big fruity palate
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2/15/2010 - WineGym wrote: 88 Points
Still our favorite standby wine
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2/14/2010 - Jens22 wrote: 84 Points
Sweet. Not my favorite.
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2/12/2010 - ufmatt wrote: 86 Points
Tasting great with chili and corn bread muffins on a cold, rainy nights.
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2/11/2010 - philoserf wrote:
Fruit bomb. Perfect for the days you want an easy, fruity bottle.
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2/8/2010 - trayhumphrey wrote: 85 Points
A bit fruity and almost sweet. Not much depth. Pleasant to drink, though.
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2/2/2010 - pmarlo wrote: 88 Points
Really good, dense cork, lightly stained almost a light raspberry color. Blend. Not heavily fruit forward, mostly all the components balance and soften the hard edges of each other. Actually opened to use a cup for a soup I was making, then finished the rest. first impression was not really over done in any one area, and actually a little light on flavor. But reasonably balanced. About 2-3 days later, revisited bottle which had been corked and sitting on counter at room temperature. More fruit now apparent, think I taste some individual components such as Zin. When swished in mouth tannins present in front of cheeks and sides of tongue, not overbearing. As previous reviewer noted, acidity on the weak side. Overall, an average to better than average table wine. Drink now.
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1/17/2010 - flussier wrote: 79 Points
Robe de couleur: Rouge; Acidité très faible, Sucré, Astringence faible, Amertume très faible; Arômes en bouche: Cerise, confiture, vanille, Trop sucrer, gout porto, fruit trop mûr, fruit confit, a un potentiel, mais mauvaise récolte
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1/16/2010 - tommers207@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
A bit of a fruit bomb. Easy to drink with some tannins still present. Sweet cherries with some strawberry. Overall kinda nice for a not too expensive bottle.
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1/15/2010 - dayoff53 wrote: 82 Points
This was a pleasant, fruity, inoffensive red wine. Both the nose and taste were primarily of red berry - raspberry and strawberry - with a bit of cocoa. It was not particularly memorable but certainly easy drinking.
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1/13/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 85 Points
13.5% ABV. Translucent dark ruby. Reticent clove and zinberry nose. Medium bodied with a noticeable amount of residual sugar and spicy berry fruit with a suggestion of cocoa. Not horrible, easy drinking if a bit sweet. Probably would work well with pizza or some other casual food.
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1/3/2010 - joannevicious wrote: 70 Points
Terrible. Sour and sugary. No complexity. Flabby. No nose. Didn't even bother drinking a glass. Maybe it was a bad bottle given the other reports (and the fact that I've had this wine before and found it to be more than ok), but this one was not good.
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12/24/2009 - bbigelow wrote: 85 Points
A nice everyday red for the price.
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12/23/2009 - PIntag wrote: 84 Points
Fresh strawberry and whipped cream on the nose. Vibrant raspberry, strawberry, and sweet cherry on the attack. Very juicy but fruit is definitely in the over ripe category -- too sweet and a bit cloying. Abundant sweet tannins and some alcohol on the finish. Not enough balancing acidity for my tastes. Kudos to Folie à Deux for not over oaking. Better than most of the previous vintages of this wine that I have had.
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12/20/2009 - therealdrizzle wrote: 84 Points
Great second bottle blend. Not much depth, a little to light for a blend but drinkable.
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12/10/2009 - RazzRajen wrote: 87 Points
enjoyable wine with a good body and refreshing taste. Went wekk with ris a veau and sauteed salsify
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12/4/2009 - ssimpsonjr wrote: 84 Points
Not bad, just fun every night bottle of wine.
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10/23/2009 - Nesto wrote: 89 Points
Don't think I can give the 08 quite as big a score as the 05 that I loved. I like this nose - dirty, vegetal with some vanilla.
Nice fruit: raspberries and cherries. Nice mouth feel. Flavors are simpler than previous efforts. Mild tannins, not much on the finish, but there is a nice caramel there. This one is a stalwart in my rotation - they always seem to do a solid job.
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10/12/2009 - Justin B wrote: 89 Points
This wine isn't super complex, but it is definitely delicious. Smells like a raspberry souffle and drinks like a smooth fruit bomb. GREAT QPR.
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9/19/2009 - Grovlet wrote: 89 Points
Peppery upfront, then finished with fruity / berry finish. Had some tannins as well. Flavors merged a little more as the wine aired.
Should be on par with the 2007, but needs to sit for at least 6 months.
01/02/2010: As we've consumed more of this case it's really coming to life. Simply can't go wrong for ~$11 a bottle. (raised Rating to 89)
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9/14/2009 - awinejourney wrote: 85 Points
Bright red/purple with a light purple rim. Cherries, a bit of funk and some vanilla and heat on the nose. Light and soft on the tongue. Not as fruity as the 2007. Good tannins.
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8/30/2009 - wyldwoman wrote: 90 Points
Pretty dark plum color.
Gorgeous nose. Rich, velvet chocolate. Creamy caramel. Blueberry. It smells like a bakery. Black raspberry. Smells very yummy.
BIG fruit. Blueberries, raspberries, cherries, plums. Creamy and oaky, but not overly oaked. It doesn't cover up the fruit. Mild tannins, good on the midpalate and a full, long finish. A bit of caramel/chocolate on the midpalate. It could be a bit fuller and rounder, but the flavors are so nice that I don't mind that so much.
Very nice wine for $9.
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8/25/2009 - wyldwoman wrote: 89 Points
A strong nose, a bit sulfuric. Dark fruits, black cherry, plum. A bit of turpentine. Smoky.
Strongest on the midpalate. Dark fruits again, like black cherry, blackberries. A bit of wood and smoke. It's a bit fruitier than the '07, a tad less earthy tasting. A bit of bacon fat. Light tannins. Decent finish.
For an $8 bottle of wine, I certainly can't complain. This company is one of my staples for everyday wine. Decent and reliable.
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