Dense, very evolved and almost fully opaque hazy maroon color. Old, tertiary and somewhat oxidative nose with aromas of beef jerky, some soy sauce, a little bit of wizened dark berries and dried dates, light earthy notes, a hint of savory smoke and a touch of old leather. The wine feels quite full-bodied, ripe and sweet-toned on the palate with tertiary flavors of soy sauce, beef jerky, some leathery funk, light wizened fig tones, a little bit of cherry marmalade, a hint of earth and a touch of old leather. Quite high in acidity with textural medium tannins. The overall impression is quite balanced but very tertiary and tired. The developed finish is gently grippy, dry and moderately oxidative with rather long flavors of leather, somewhat cooked fruit tones and dried dates, a little bit of leather and beef jerky, light meaty umami tones, a hint of soy sauce and a touch of earth.
Tired, moderately oxidative and past its peak. Either the wine was not built to age this long or it has suffered from poor provenance before purchase. Based on how youthful the vintage 2008 was a few years ago, I suspect the wine was cooked or its cork had leaked some oxygen. This wine was still somewhat drinkable, but rather unremarkable and not particularly enjoyable anymore. A shame. At 45€ this was waste of money.
Regular dinner group (By JvT @ Fitzgerald): Concentrated bouquet with leather, herbs, licorice and some celery. On the palate licorice and dark berries, beautiful acidity and round, soft tannin with a pleasant bite.
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Superb. Shouldn't have opened this bottle - so much further to go (open 2021+). Tannins still chunky and oak too prevalent.
Nose: a come-hither waft of rose, then clobbered by blood and meat. Then black cherry, alcohol burn and iodine.
Palate: Some depth/beauty in the graphite/ink/iodine spectrum hinted at on the nose but delivered on the palate. So long. But lacking finesse. Time may cure.
Complex, but still a teenager.
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Opened 9 hours before drinking. Beautifull dark youthfull color with a purple rim. Rich drak red fruit,vanilla, full bodied, soft tannins. Fabulous wine.
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Funky nose - meat juice and hints of red fruit. Fresh palate - herbal, almost salty, pomerol creamyness. Medium finish. Not for everyone but this is fresh, interesting, beautifully made, and tastes and especially smells of the place it was made. Drinking well now. 92
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Deep ruby with a very aromatic and forward nose of red fruit, pungent spices, herbal notes with well blended in oak. Silky and refined on palate with polished tannins, medium full body and fairly long finish. Drinking beautifully now, dont see why it can't be enjoyed over the next 6 years.
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Pure grape juice!!. Really good right now. Black fruit and also some menthol note?! makes it fresh. Good body and medium/long finish. Really really good.
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Closed. Oak, some red fruit and cocoa on the nose. Creamy, dark and tannic with a chalkiness on the palate - fruit mainly hidden. Needs a lot more time. Agree with others: well made but generic. 88 for now.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Super stinky. Floral, fungus flowers, dark cocoa. Black vegetation, root vegetables, reductive stewed fruit. Rusty, figs, black olive and coal. A big palate. Tannic backbone with lots of layers. A blockbuster brooding bottling. Unique and different styling. Well made and super young. Lots of promise.
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Fine bottle of wine, though nothing thrilling about it. Deep dark red/purple. Obvious oak on the nose and in the mouth. Overall a well made, though completely generic tasting wine. Clearly new world throughout.
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España Tasting (Wine Exchange. Orange, CA): Purple color and very leggy on the glass. Porty smell with some heavy plum. Heavy mouth feel, strong tannins, and concentrated. length of 20+ secs. Not very nuanced. Would be good with roast beef or stew.
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4/30/2021 - javierbb wrote: 88 Points
Muy evolucionado...... puede ser la botella
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2/13/2021 - forceberry wrote: flawed
14,5% alcohol.
Dense, very evolved and almost fully opaque hazy maroon color. Old, tertiary and somewhat oxidative nose with aromas of beef jerky, some soy sauce, a little bit of wizened dark berries and dried dates, light earthy notes, a hint of savory smoke and a touch of old leather. The wine feels quite full-bodied, ripe and sweet-toned on the palate with tertiary flavors of soy sauce, beef jerky, some leathery funk, light wizened fig tones, a little bit of cherry marmalade, a hint of earth and a touch of old leather. Quite high in acidity with textural medium tannins. The overall impression is quite balanced but very tertiary and tired. The developed finish is gently grippy, dry and moderately oxidative with rather long flavors of leather, somewhat cooked fruit tones and dried dates, a little bit of leather and beef jerky, light meaty umami tones, a hint of soy sauce and a touch of earth.
Tired, moderately oxidative and past its peak. Either the wine was not built to age this long or it has suffered from poor provenance before purchase. Based on how youthful the vintage 2008 was a few years ago, I suspect the wine was cooked or its cork had leaked some oxygen. This wine was still somewhat drinkable, but rather unremarkable and not particularly enjoyable anymore. A shame. At 45€ this was waste of money.
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9/20/2019 - PE Harju Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best wine at vertical tasting 2003-2008. Out beat Flor de Pingus 2003, 93 pts. Highly recommended!
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10/7/2017 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Regular dinner group (By JvT @ Fitzgerald): Concentrated bouquet with leather, herbs, licorice and some celery. On the palate licorice and dark berries, beautiful acidity and round, soft tannin with a pleasant bite.
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8/15/2016 - Johnthewino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Superb. Shouldn't have opened this bottle - so much further to go (open 2021+). Tannins still chunky and oak too prevalent.
Nose: a come-hither waft of rose, then clobbered by blood and meat. Then black cherry, alcohol burn and iodine.
Palate: Some depth/beauty in the graphite/ink/iodine spectrum hinted at on the nose but delivered on the palate. So long. But lacking finesse. Time may cure.
Complex, but still a teenager.
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3/25/2016 - Glauberlp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big, big wine....
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2/20/2015 - Oh Dae-su wrote: 92 Points
What a beautiful beast! No need to rush at all. Sorry no useful notes taken.
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2/24/2014 - uncle al Likes this wine: 89 Points
A very nice and reasonably priced wine from Bierzo. Very well balanced and good fruit for a Spanish wine
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5/11/2013 - mtnbarry Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an amazing wine and stole the show at last nights tasting dinner at La Cave. Needs a few hours to open up. Can easily go another 7-10 years.
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12/27/2012 - gven wrote: 93 Points
Opened 9 hours before drinking. Beautifull dark youthfull color with a purple rim. Rich drak red fruit,vanilla, full bodied, soft tannins. Fabulous wine.
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12/1/2012 - alion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Funky nose - meat juice and hints of red fruit. Fresh palate - herbal, almost salty, pomerol creamyness. Medium finish. Not for everyone but this is fresh, interesting, beautifully made, and tastes and especially smells of the place it was made. Drinking well now. 92
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10/7/2012 - Dokken wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby with a very aromatic and forward nose of red fruit, pungent spices, herbal notes with well blended in oak. Silky and refined on palate with polished tannins, medium full body and fairly long finish. Drinking beautifully now, dont see why it can't be enjoyed over the next 6 years.
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9/4/2012 - bonjovibon wrote: 92 Points
Pure grape juice!!. Really good right now. Black fruit and also some menthol note?! makes it fresh. Good body and medium/long finish. Really really good.
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3/9/2012 - lagrein wrote: 90 Points
Full bodied red with fine tannins, well balanced, really fine to drink now.
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9/4/2011 - alion wrote: 88 Points
Closed. Oak, some red fruit and cocoa on the nose. Creamy, dark and tannic with a chalkiness on the palate - fruit mainly hidden. Needs a lot more time. Agree with others: well made but generic. 88 for now.
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3/12/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Super stinky. Floral, fungus flowers, dark cocoa. Black vegetation, root vegetables, reductive stewed fruit. Rusty, figs, black olive and coal.
A big palate. Tannic backbone with lots of layers. A blockbuster brooding bottling. Unique and different styling. Well made and super young. Lots of promise.
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12/27/2009 - Traxx wrote:
Fine bottle of wine, though nothing thrilling about it. Deep dark red/purple. Obvious oak on the nose and in the mouth. Overall a well made, though completely generic tasting wine. Clearly new world throughout.
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9/26/2009 - LBCportagee wrote: 89 Points
Chatters got this one right on.
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8/22/2009 - djdaqm wrote: 89 Points
España Tasting (Wine Exchange. Orange, CA): Purple color and very leggy on the glass. Porty smell with some heavy plum. Heavy mouth feel, strong tannins, and concentrated. length of 20+ secs. Not very nuanced. Would be good with roast beef or stew.
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7/20/2009 - chatters wrote: 89 Points
Berry Bros & Rudd - Iberian Treasures - A Fine Spanish & Portuguese Wine Walkaround Tasting (Berry Bros, London): Nose: Cherry Ripe (cherry/chocolate), perfumed nose - perhaps rose water?, smoke
Mouth: light fruit, plenty of tannin, chocolate, long, dry finish. Very nice
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1/1/2009 - achim_m wrote: 93 Points
Full bodied but not too heavy as e.g. Australien wines. Good dose of oak. This was a pleasant surprise.
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3/15/2008 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Retailer tasting (@ LBV): Full bodied and concentrated. Loaded with ripe black fruits. Well dosed oak. Very well composed wine.
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