2008 Joseph Swan Vineyards Carignane Cotes du Rosa

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 88.8 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View z_willus_d's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/1/2020 - z_willus_d wrote: 92 Points

  You might not care for these austere, tart, neatly balanced wines new and in their youth, but there's something to be said about a $15 bottle of wine that can weather a decade sideways and come out the other end drinking like a priceless king. This bottle has exuberant freshness, a lofty nose of mountain berries and flowers/spice, and an etheral quality so vastly beyond its price and presumed class. The flavor coverage on the palate is incredibly juicy and expansive; acidity is bracing and a perfect counter balance to the tart fruit and berry flavors. A Carignane that rivals the best Nebbiolo I've had. I guess there is some benefit to all those rough tannins the grape presents in its youth. They braced this winner for long term evolution to damn near perfection.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View gutt22's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/17/2011 - gutt22 wrote:

  13.6% alcohol. Bright red color. Gorgeous aromatics of strawberry, olives, and minerals. In the mouth, balanced, slightly tart, and intensely vibrant, with so much life and tasty fruit. A unique wine that is one of the most fun drinks out there. Amazing value. A-

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View gutt22's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/22/2011 - gutt22 wrote:

  13.6% alcohol. This always is such an aromatically pleasing wine straight out of the gate, no matter how young. This wine shows that gorgeous wild strawberry notes, olives, and minerals. In the mouth, tangy and refreshing, with lovely balance but great verve. The fruit is slightly tart and juicy, with the earthy olive notes and somewhat savage acidity and back end structure. Terrific wine. A-

  2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View RockinCabs's profile
  • Report Issue

  1/5/2011 - RockinCabs wrote: 90 Points

  Never had a 100% Carignane from CA before. This was very interesting as it showed how hard this is to descerne v. grenache. Still has a very fruity profile that is dominated by ripe red berry fruit with blackberry notes. The difference is in the midpalate where this varietal show spices, clove and cracked black pepper. Spice elements follow through on the finish with subtlety. Great wine and way under the radar for $19.

  2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View smokeshowing's profile
  • Report Issue

  7/19/2010 - smokeshowing wrote: 90 Points

  Tasted initially at the winery with subsequent consumption due to my inability to apply even a modicum of self-disipline that would surely have allowed this delicious elixir to improve on an already excellent presentation. In other words, this is a darn good bottle of carignan that offers a serious load of ripe red fruits on the nose. Then comes bright berry flavors backed by minerality and a walloping backbone of acidity. I love this wine for what it is and what it will become.
  
  http://fearnowine.com

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

View all 7 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.