A big jammy nose of crushed raspberry, some grilled meat and freshly cut hardwood. Somewhat medicinal and volatile. Full bodied with plumy fruit, raspberry preserves and game. The finish is rather hot, with that Paso limestone minerality and cherry cool-aid fruit. A better drink now than a couple of years ago but I find it crude and over-ripe. I am surprised how far diverged my take is from the rest of the CT notes and Tanzer/Parker.
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Definitely prefer this over the Linne Calodo Nemesis we opened the night before. It's a big, fruit-forward GSM, but doesn't come across as hot and there's more complexity on the nose and mid-palate. Villa Creek doesn't seem to get the press that some of the other Paso Robles wineries do, but Cris Cherry is making some truly fabulous wines. (Thanks in large part to having access to some of the best fruit Paso has to offer.)
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An absolutely delicious syrah blend that seems to be at it's peak now. I love wines made from the James Berry vineyard and this wine was no exception. Villla Creek is a master at making great blends.
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Same as the last bottle - nose of overripe cherry, raspberry and citrus. Hot on the palate. The finish is pure cherry cool aid. I have enjoyed the Villa Creek Avenger blend but I just do not get much enjoyment from this wine.
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wow what a powerful and yet beautiful wine cherries sweet tannins although light in nature. deep color and full flavor finnish is long lasting really great fruit all the way along. hard to say if it gets any better with age as i mentioned the tannins are very light.
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Don't let the approachability of this wine fool you! While it's "easy drinking," for a relativelhy inexpensive wine, it has much more complexity and layers of fruit from nose through finish than you'd expect.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Full-bodied wine that is dark magenta in color. On the nose, waves of dark ripe berries. On the palate, mouthfilling and dripping with blackberries and black raspberries, ending with a crazy-long 40+ second finish. Excellent structure and bright acidity...lots to like here for those who appreciate big CA Rhones!
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dense opaque purple, gorgeous perfume of black fruits, rich sweet black fruit attack, seamlessly integrated, perfectly balanced, extremely rich and concentrated.
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Deep purple/red plum color. Intense, ripe, juicy fruit, very concentrated and rich. Cherries and blueberries, with some asian spice and peppery aromas.
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A very high-tone nose of raspberry, cherry, camphor and a strong citrus component. Initially shows a primary, barrel sample element. The palate is bright with cherry, strawberry jam and blood orange. Some heat on the finish. After a few hours peppery aromas and flavors emerge. Shrill, overripe and over the top for me.
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Got all the goods in the aroma, color and first taste. Loses some weight to the finish though. The front end seems like a big wine but it just doesnt finish that way. Slight slight tannins and a little hot. Good Overall.
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1/28/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 86 Points
A big jammy nose of crushed raspberry, some grilled meat and freshly cut hardwood. Somewhat medicinal and volatile. Full bodied with plumy fruit, raspberry preserves and game. The finish is rather hot, with that Paso limestone minerality and cherry cool-aid fruit. A better drink now than a couple of years ago but I find it crude and over-ripe. I am surprised how far diverged my take is from the rest of the CT notes and Tanzer/Parker.
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4/21/2008 - Baggio wrote: 93 Points
Extraordinary, both first and second nights. This wine had something extra. Very rewarding.
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4/13/2008 - rmodak wrote: 91 Points
Loads of blackberry, graphite, smoke and vanilla. Palate is lush yet with the mineral and fine tannin keeping the richness in check. At peak.
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12/10/2007 - Jay A wrote: 92 Points
Pure hedonism. Lush and sexy.
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3/2/2007 - winekitchen wrote: 94 Points
Definitely prefer this over the Linne Calodo Nemesis we opened the night before. It's a big, fruit-forward GSM, but doesn't come across as hot and there's more complexity on the nose and mid-palate. Villa Creek doesn't seem to get the press that some of the other Paso Robles wineries do, but Cris Cherry is making some truly fabulous wines. (Thanks in large part to having access to some of the best fruit Paso has to offer.)
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2/3/2007 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
An absolutely delicious syrah blend that seems to be at it's peak now. I love wines made from the James Berry vineyard and this wine was no exception. Villla Creek is a master at making great blends.
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12/6/2006 - DFC wrote: 92 Points
Notes consistent with last taste 4 months ago.
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12/1/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 86 Points
Same as the last bottle - nose of overripe cherry, raspberry and citrus. Hot on the palate. The finish is pure cherry cool aid. I have enjoyed the Villa Creek Avenger blend but I just do not get much enjoyment from this wine.
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11/10/2006 - E wrote: 90 Points
jammy, yummy, concentrated
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9/12/2006 - dd wrote:
wow what a powerful and yet beautiful wine cherries sweet tannins although light in nature. deep color and full flavor finnish is long lasting really great fruit all the way along. hard to say if it gets any better with age as i mentioned the tannins are very light.
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9/7/2006 - superuser wrote: 93 Points
Don't let the approachability of this wine fool you! While it's "easy drinking," for a relativelhy inexpensive wine, it has much more complexity and layers of fruit from nose through finish than you'd expect.
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8/5/2006 - DFC wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Full-bodied wine that is dark magenta in color. On the nose, waves of dark ripe berries. On the palate, mouthfilling and dripping with blackberries and black raspberries, ending with a crazy-long 40+ second finish. Excellent structure and bright acidity...lots to like here for those who appreciate big CA Rhones!
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7/13/2006 - superuser wrote: 92 Points
Should've decanted for 1 hr+ first. After 2 hours, fantastic nose, medium palate, rich, sweet red berries and well-integrated with oak.
Amazing QPR!
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6/25/2006 - Paul-Richard wrote: 93 Points
dense opaque purple, gorgeous perfume of black fruits, rich sweet black fruit attack, seamlessly integrated, perfectly balanced, extremely rich and concentrated.
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5/27/2006 - MJHDC wrote:
Deep purple/red plum color. Intense, ripe, juicy fruit, very concentrated and rich. Cherries and blueberries, with some asian spice and peppery aromas.
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5/21/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 87 Points
A very high-tone nose of raspberry, cherry, camphor and a strong citrus component. Initially shows a primary, barrel sample element. The palate is bright with cherry, strawberry jam and blood orange. Some heat on the finish. After a few hours peppery aromas and flavors emerge. Shrill, overripe and over the top for me.
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12/5/2005 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
Got all the goods in the aroma, color and first taste. Loses some weight to the finish though. The front end seems like a big wine but it just doesnt finish that way. Slight slight tannins and a little hot. Good Overall.
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