Didn't think I had another of these -- was happy to find it. Still drinking great, though probably doesn't have a ton of life left. Dank; minerally; a bit of green to it. I recommend drinking this chilled -- it was vastly more interesting that way.
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Medium ruby, light sweet plum nose. Dry, light fruit and body with a little vegetable note. More like a Cab Franc than Malbec. Smooth and easy drinking. Nice place now for drinking.
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I think this is cresting its hill right about now. Not as good as I remember its twin brother being a few months back, but the arc was the same: 5-10 minutes of nervousness as the wine opens and blooms into a fruit leathery, earthy decent dinner companion. My score's low, but I'd happily find the Vilain back in my cellar again some day.
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Fantastic for what it is. The first five minutes are sketchy as the funk blows off; you'll wonder whether the wine's gone off. 20, 30 minutes in, though, the greenness fades and the wine becomes quite luscious. Lots of round fruit, tanned leather. Nice acidity, would drink well with anything you'd pair a nice Beaujolais cru with.
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This wine has a nice old meets new world profile--not a fruit bomb, not overwhelmingly interesting, but layered and it leaves you wanting another glass. On the nose, there is a mix of cherry and blueberry liqueur, with floral and mineral notes. More cherries and leather on the palate. It is at once full and palate coating, but also somewhat rustic. I could drink this any time.
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Gets good marks for delivering exactly what I was expecting - an authentic, slightly rustic drink with a grainy tannic structure and earthy characteristics. Fruit is not in the foreground, but it had good minerality and some Rhonish meat and Burgundian forest floor going on ...
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On first opening the nose is showing some bright dark berry with a bit of leather and must with a slightly chewy tannin dark fruit body that leads to an acidic tart cedar finish. With air the nose takes on some more dark fruit, sour mineral, leather and some grapefruit citrus that extends into the palate and finish. Quite different (in a not good way) from the first bottle I had.
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PnP through Nuance Wine Finer. Great nose - fresh cherries and with hints vegetables and minerals. On the palate, though, the cherry flavors were just too tart for my palate. Mild tannins, a little wood on the finish. Taste something that resembles limestone as well. The lack of balance threw me a bit, but a fine week night drinker. Aloha!
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Med red, light oak and brett no the nose. Dry, medium body, red fruits, slight petrol, vegetable notes, tartness. An easy drinking, not too complex wine.
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Didn't take specific notes, but my recollection was cran-/raspberry flavors and minerals. Some cherry on the palate too with air. I would've scored in the 86pt range.
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A nice mid-weight wine with a lot of character. It has the aura of an unpretentious country wine, kind of a farmer's daughter in a sack dress. But sit down and get to know it, and there's more than meets the eye. Red cherries on the palate along with a bit of resin for depth and some good acidity. Very nicely balanced, particularly if left to evolve in the glass for an hour or so. I prefer this with a bit of air, as it becomes rounder and more pleasant for my tastes. I like this better than the 88pts would indicate, perhaps because the 12.5% alcohol is such a pleasant change of pace.
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Just what it sounds like, a touch of Loire greenness blended with the greater intensity and tannic grip of malbec. Well-balanced, fresh and elegant, not complex and thought-provoking, just delicious.
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Purple color with a nose of blueberry, raspberry and currant with overtones of smoke, peat and hints of pepper. The palate is dark red fruit accented by cedar and leather that leads to a long finish.
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Rustic in character. A bit of light funk initially on the nose keeps the score from being higher for me. On the palate, fairly simple but very pleasant with a hint of pine resin that adds character and interest. A bottle that is what it is....a delightful everyday drink for $12. One I enjoy more than the score might indicate. This has a lot of flexibility as a food wine. A "luncheon wine" with character.
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11/14/2013 - wormfarmer Likes this wine: 86 Points
Didn't think I had another of these -- was happy to find it. Still drinking great, though probably doesn't have a ton of life left. Dank; minerally; a bit of green to it. I recommend drinking this chilled -- it was vastly more interesting that way.
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11/5/2012 - dsgris Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium ruby, light sweet plum nose. Dry, light fruit and body with a little vegetable note. More like a Cab Franc than Malbec. Smooth and easy drinking. Nice place now for drinking.
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9/15/2012 - Antfugue@yahoo.com wrote: 89 Points
If you like the old world, barnyardy, cut grass style wines this one is terrific.
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7/8/2012 - wormfarmer wrote: 85 Points
I think this is cresting its hill right about now. Not as good as I remember its twin brother being a few months back, but the arc was the same: 5-10 minutes of nervousness as the wine opens and blooms into a fruit leathery, earthy decent dinner companion. My score's low, but I'd happily find the Vilain back in my cellar again some day.
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7/1/2012 - spo wrote: 87 Points
Raspberry, plum, funk, leather, spice and stony. Overall sour and dry.
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4/20/2012 - wormfarmer wrote: 87 Points
Fantastic for what it is. The first five minutes are sketchy as the funk blows off; you'll wonder whether the wine's gone off. 20, 30 minutes in, though, the greenness fades and the wine becomes quite luscious. Lots of round fruit, tanned leather. Nice acidity, would drink well with anything you'd pair a nice Beaujolais cru with.
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2/29/2012 - Patches wrote: 89 Points
This wine has a nice old meets new world profile--not a fruit bomb, not overwhelmingly interesting, but layered and it leaves you wanting another glass. On the nose, there is a mix of cherry and blueberry liqueur, with floral and mineral notes. More cherries and leather on the palate. It is at once full and palate coating, but also somewhat rustic. I could drink this any time.
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10/16/2011 - pgb67 wrote: 88 Points
Gets good marks for delivering exactly what I was expecting - an authentic, slightly rustic drink with a grainy tannic structure and earthy characteristics. Fruit is not in the foreground, but it had good minerality and some Rhonish meat and Burgundian forest floor going on ...
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4/30/2011 - luchavino wrote: 84 Points
On first opening the nose is showing some bright dark berry with a bit of leather and must with a slightly chewy tannin dark fruit body that leads to an acidic tart cedar finish. With air the nose takes on some more dark fruit, sour mineral, leather and some grapefruit citrus that extends into the palate and finish. Quite different (in a not good way) from the first bottle I had.
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2/21/2011 - bg3034 wrote: 86 Points
PnP through Nuance Wine Finer. Great nose - fresh cherries and with hints vegetables and minerals. On the palate, though, the cherry flavors were just too tart for my palate. Mild tannins, a little wood on the finish. Taste something that resembles limestone as well. The lack of balance threw me a bit, but a fine week night drinker. Aloha!
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1/24/2011 - aussie05 wrote: 86 Points
Great night capper after all the good stuff has been drunk
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12/24/2010 - dsgris Likes this wine: 88 Points
Med red, light oak and brett no the nose. Dry, medium body, red fruits, slight petrol, vegetable notes, tartness. An easy drinking, not too complex wine.
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12/16/2010 - Atlantean wrote: 88 Points
nice country wine hints of black cherry
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12/8/2010 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
Such a charming little devil! Fantabulous value. Bright cherry fruit, and a tiny bit of herby/stony quality make it a touch more complex. Yum.
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10/29/2010 - bg3034 wrote:
Didn't take specific notes, but my recollection was cran-/raspberry flavors and minerals. Some cherry on the palate too with air. I would've scored in the 86pt range.
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9/1/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 88 Points
A nice mid-weight wine with a lot of character. It has the aura of an unpretentious country wine, kind of a farmer's daughter in a sack dress. But sit down and get to know it, and there's more than meets the eye. Red cherries on the palate along with a bit of resin for depth and some good acidity. Very nicely balanced, particularly if left to evolve in the glass for an hour or so. I prefer this with a bit of air, as it becomes rounder and more pleasant for my tastes. I like this better than the 88pts would indicate, perhaps because the 12.5% alcohol is such a pleasant change of pace.
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8/31/2010 - jkwatson wrote: 89 Points
Really, really good. Just at the right intersection of minerals, low alchohol and delicious fruit. Wish I had bought more than one bottle!
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8/22/2010 - mattemmo Likes this wine:
Rock, soil, mineral, terroir.
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8/18/2010 - SteveG wrote: 89 Points
Just what it sounds like, a touch of Loire greenness blended with the greater intensity and tannic grip of malbec. Well-balanced, fresh and elegant, not complex and thought-provoking, just delicious.
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6/29/2010 - luchavino wrote: 85 Points
Purple color with a nose of blueberry, raspberry and currant with overtones of smoke, peat and hints of pepper. The palate is dark red fruit accented by cedar and leather that leads to a long finish.
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5/21/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 87 Points
Rustic in character. A bit of light funk initially on the nose keeps the score from being higher for me. On the palate, fairly simple but very pleasant with a hint of pine resin that adds character and interest. A bottle that is what it is....a delightful everyday drink for $12. One I enjoy more than the score might indicate. This has a lot of flexibility as a food wine. A "luncheon wine" with character.
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3/30/2010 - hemanwine Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice little wine. Grapes taste of cold weather with hints of pepper and lilac.
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