2014 Eperosa Stonegarden 1858

Community Tasting Notes (4) Median Score: 93 points

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  4/18/2023 - Pancreatitis Does not like this wine: 74 Points

  Dark garnet.
  Cassis and leather on the nose.
  Cherry and cassis on the palate, jube-like intensity, somewhat stewed. Alcohol very noticeable.
  This gives more of a stewed/cooked impression, porty and not in balance.
  Regret choosing to open this tonight compared to other bottles I could have selected and regret recently purchasing these at cellar door from their museum release.

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  10/8/2021 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Under cork (why, oh why?), not decanted, note made after about 6 hours open.
  
  Colour is light-medium deep garnet with some bricking – more noticeable when one tilts the glass. There is a concentration of colour to the rim. Expect power.
  
  Nose is a pretty heady combination of lifted red fruits, but with a hint of something a bit darker – this isn’t some kind of raspberry cordial- alcohol, Kirsch, Chinotto and spices (for me it is cinnamon and sandalwood) and some polished leather. I love this kind of nose.
  
  The palate is very intense, there is really good length and the tannins are present, but supportive rather than prominent. The finish is quite fresh and clean. This tastes like mature wine, but not tired wine. It is in a very good place now and will probably hold (the vagaries of cork aside) for some years yet, but I think the odds now are in favour of it being in its peak drinking window, where there is the complexity of age combined with fruit that has not entered the tertiary stage.
  
  This is not a straight Grenache, but it is pretty close. Of course even a few percent of other grapes can produce a discernible difference and I wonder if the 2% Mourvedre has contributed to some blueberry elements as well as some of the tannin. I will lay my cards on the table, as being essentially a Grenache sceptic. I love it as a part of a blend, but there are characters in the grape that I am not in love with. I struggle a bit with the high alcohol, the raspberry and strawberry lolly tendency and what I find to be a lack of balance; if there was more depth of fruit the alcohol would be less of an issue for me but, of course that would really describe a Shiraz. If there were some more dark fruits I would be very happy with the sweeter red fruit characters – that really describes a blend. I think it is important to put this up front in any review. If you are like me, then this is a really enjoyable Grenache and you should try it to see what a committed and talented maker can do with Grenache. One cannot live and die by Shiraz, Pinot and Cabernet alone (or so they say). If you like Grenache then you really must get your hands on this maker’s wines, because you will be in a Grenache Nirvana. Eperosa Grenache does challenge my scepticism. Let’s also remember how boring it would be to just chug away at the same red varietals. Kaiser Wilhelm II may have given the same style of hat to his wife for her birthday every year, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t sometimes long for something different.
  
  This wine is 15.4% ABV and it is there as a presence, although I think it holds it well.
  
  My thanks to a very good friend, with a much better palate who nailed the Chinotto and Kirsch elements - he is spot on.

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  6/29/2020 - sbern Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Terrific. Smooth as velvet, slightly peppery finish. A winner for sure.

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  3/3/2017 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Second time I've had this wine. PnP, clear ruby to rim in glass. Very pretty nose, quite floral, candied red fruits, mandarin, sandalwood, not overly extracted, seems like a conscious pure expression of grape. Dusty tannins coat mouth, more red fruit and strawberry rhubarb pie, Grenache sweetness shows, lighter style but exceptionally long finish. A modern winner.

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