Great QPR, plenty aromatic and flavor intensity, highly complex, great balance of fruit and structure, Long finish. Enjoyed with beef fajitas and grilled vegetables. Underrated by the community score. Potential to cellar for another 3-5+ years. Very good.
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Ooh, hey now, this is really nice now as it reaches its 10th birthday and I have opened my final bottle. Calmed down and starting to get some secondary notes of bitter chocolate and tobacco. Still big round and boozy. With assorted empanadas on a warm Friday night... spot on. I dont see this improving. Massive 2am headache that I can't blame specifically on this wine, but it most certainly played a role!
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Based on the most recent reviews I was concerned... Our experience found a quite lively mature bottle. It's an integrated whole, juicy ripe red fruits, leather, silky tannin. No complaints here.
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pretty much the same wine as it was in 2016, perhaps with some slight mellowing. this remains big, loud, boozy, and hedonistic. a bit much for a weeknight...
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I continued to feel that this wine is no where ready to drink at this point in its development. Raw and powerful, will this turn into something graceful or is this how "its supposed to be", a rough tough mouthful of wine.
If you want this particular experience then its OK. Could use a little more balance but then its OK. Needs many hours of decanting but then its OK. I guess not my style but then its OK.
OK?
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At 7 years young this wine has a long life ahead of it. Rough around the edges still with tannins and fruits and oak still evident. Decent now but give it more time.
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Although this wine technically doesn’t meet the aging requirements to be labeled a Crianza, it’s a much more powerful wine than I remember from previous forays. Made of 100% Old Vine Tempranillo in a fresher, more modern style. Developing, medium intensity aromatics of violets, crushed blackberry, ripe black plum, spicy black cherry, black coffee, dark chocolate, and woody cedar mulch. Flavors mimic the aromatics, but are much more pronounced, and concentrated with some really gritty tannin and high acidity, providing structure. Culminates in a very long, persistent finish. Both decanting and hearty food recommended. High QPR.
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This wine was consumed over a few days, seemed to really hold up well and at $13.50 USD was a great deal (I bought a full case, this was my last bottle and maybe the best one). Drink now through 2018+.
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So, as Jancis Robinson writes, Tempranillo is the Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon. I have to agree with this wine. Doesn't have the tannins of a 6 year old cab, but definitely has the rich-dryness and full-body flavor. It drank much better after 1.5 hours of de-corking. This wine is drinking brilliantly and is a terric QPR.
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I last tasted this wine about 9 months ago. It seems to be significantly better, even since then. Black / purple in color, all the way to the rim. Nose of ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit, with burnt embers, and faint vanilla notes. On the palate, a velvety smooth entry, medium bodied, showing flavors of tart blackberry and cherry, tobacco, wet rocks, and light peppery notes. There is ample acidity, leading into nicely resolving tannins, and a lingering finish. For a $14-15 wine, this is near-impossible to beat. Delicious, drink now through 2018.
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This is as I would have expected. Big bold brambly fruit of the blackberry, boysenberry, and black cherry variety. Fruit in fact is huge and front and center, pie-in-the-face in an Australian style, but there is some nice acidity that comes in to hem it. Chocolately and gobs of vanilla from the oak. This wine is definitely a meal in and of itself. Not a vin de meditation. Not a wine for those looking for subtlety, old world charm, a high acid/low EtOH mountain/volcanic geek wine... This is just a big, unabashed, super tasty, hedonistic, crowd pleaser that would kill it on the BBQ with anything big. While not exactly my style, it is great to have wines like this in the cellar. This will age like a priorat and I think 5-6 years easy of drunken glug-glugging awaits.
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Between last night and tonight I found a lovely red wine that kind of wraps ups the fantasy of red wine in a single bottle. This does not mean time will stop, this does not mean that it will increase in value so that your mortgage is paid, instead it means there is a bright, fruit forward sharply acidic red wine that compliments a myriad of foods from tomatoes and sausage to goat cheese to chicken thighs and green beans. Deep red in the glass, a fresh nose and the above on tha palate. For fifteen bucks quite the QPR. This wine brings wine back to earth. You cook, you talk you have a glass or two. You go to sleep. Ah just about perfect.
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Opened for a little BBQ party at our place. Big and bold, with nice spice and black fruit, some earthiness, and a decent finish. Drink now through 2018.
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Nice tannins; some depth with dark berries; light acid; a touch of alcohol but otherwise goes well w food. Great value in Ribera could use a couple years in the cellar
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Opaque purple going to cranberry at the rim, medium viscosity. Initial floral aromas quickly give way to blackberry, slight menthol. On the palate leads with blueberry/blackberry, then earth and mocha emerge with a nice acidity in mid-palate, and ending with cigar box/tar flavors. Surprisingly rustic, with grippy tannins and maybe a hint oxidative, but nicely balancing the fruit against the acid. I'd say the tannins might soften over time, but given the oxidative quality probably better to drink now than hold. Rustic and masculine presentation calling out for grilled meat.
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This wine is so good for the price. Aromas of blackberry, coffee bean and grapefruit zest. Tight on the entry but creamy on the mid palate with flavors of blurberry, mocha and minerality.
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Dark, extracted fruit but energetic and not too heavy. Nice minerality, oak, spice and char. Internationally styled and I think meant to be drunk now for what it is.
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Decanted. Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of muted black fruits and smoke. On the palate, a mineral-driven blackberry, fruit masked by some apparent oak and strong tannin. This is too young at the moment and needs some time for the tannins to soften.
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Even this young, it's approachable; smooth, balanced and full of dark berry flavors. A bit of oak but decanting really helps. Can't complain for $15. Very nice everyday drinker, went well with cheese enchiladas.
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Nicely balanced wine with mid-range tannin, well-structured vanilla/oak theme, some spice and red fruit too. Pretty easy-drinking on its own or with food; went very well with mushroom and truffle soup.
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Inky purple in color. Deep and dark black and blue fruits on the nose, mixed with road tar and a hint of bell pepper. Very nice. The palate shows firm med tannins, with ample, juicy blue fruit and med/med- acidity. Good, lingering finish with moderate complexity. Nice wine for the money. Drink now, will improve for another year and drink well through 2018 IMHO.
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Just opened my first one of these Garagiste "value wines". I would say bullmkt hit the nose on the head with his tasting note. Nice and juicy up front, a bit thin in the middle...but lingering med length finish with some road tar and soil to make it interesting. Drink now through 2017 or so.
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Intense dark fruits but not overly extracted, spicy, dry crunchy tannins and a bit of heat. This seems a bit wound up and tight, thin in the middle, and had a faint bitter edge. I'll let these rest a while before opening another.
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Extremely nuanced with numerous layers. Huge concentration but without aggression. Rounded. Delicious mix of civilized red fruit and tons of glycerin. Long lasting finish. Incredible value and a tribute to the way wine needs to be made.
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10/17/2021 - wmccone54 wrote:
Great QPR, plenty aromatic and flavor intensity, highly complex, great balance of fruit and structure, Long finish. Enjoyed with beef fajitas and grilled vegetables. Underrated by the community score. Potential to cellar for another 3-5+ years. Very good.
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9/10/2021 - Neurowine1 wrote:
Ooh, hey now, this is really nice now as it reaches its 10th birthday and I have opened my final bottle. Calmed down and starting to get some secondary notes of bitter chocolate and tobacco. Still big round and boozy. With assorted empanadas on a warm Friday night... spot on. I dont see this improving.
Massive 2am headache that I can't blame specifically on this wine, but it most certainly played a role!
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2/13/2020 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Based on the most recent reviews I was concerned... Our experience found a quite lively mature bottle. It's an integrated whole, juicy ripe red fruits, leather, silky tannin. No complaints here.
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10/24/2019 - Neurowine1 wrote:
pretty much the same wine as it was in 2016, perhaps with some slight mellowing. this remains big, loud, boozy, and hedonistic. a bit much for a weeknight...
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3/5/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
I continued to feel that this wine is no where ready to drink at this point in its development. Raw and powerful, will this turn into something graceful or is this how "its supposed to be", a rough tough mouthful of wine.
If you want this particular experience then its OK. Could use a little more balance but then its OK. Needs many hours of decanting but then its OK. I guess not my style but then its OK.
OK?
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10/28/2018 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
At 7 years young this wine has a long life ahead of it. Rough around the edges still with tannins and fruits and oak still evident. Decent now but give it more time.
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8/16/2018 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Although this wine technically doesn’t meet the aging requirements to be labeled a Crianza, it’s a much more powerful wine than I remember from previous forays. Made of 100% Old Vine Tempranillo in a fresher, more modern style. Developing, medium intensity aromatics of violets, crushed blackberry, ripe black plum, spicy black cherry, black coffee, dark chocolate, and woody cedar mulch. Flavors mimic the aromatics, but are much more pronounced, and concentrated with some really gritty tannin and high acidity, providing structure. Culminates in a very long, persistent finish. Both decanting and hearty food recommended. High QPR.
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6/24/2018 - burr Likes this wine: 90 Points
I really enjoyed this wine. Not terribly complex nor terribly long in the finish, but just delicious and enjoyable. Worth double the price.
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1/15/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
This wine was consumed over a few days, seemed to really hold up well and at $13.50 USD was a great deal (I bought a full case, this was my last bottle and maybe the best one). Drink now through 2018+.
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8/16/2017 - zut alors! Likes this wine: 90 Points
So, as Jancis Robinson writes, Tempranillo is the Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon. I have to agree with this wine. Doesn't have the tannins of a 6 year old cab, but definitely has the rich-dryness and full-body flavor. It drank much better after 1.5 hours of de-corking. This wine is drinking brilliantly and is a terric QPR.
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3/14/2017 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
I last tasted this wine about 9 months ago. It seems to be significantly better, even since then.
Black / purple in color, all the way to the rim.
Nose of ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit, with burnt embers, and faint vanilla notes.
On the palate, a velvety smooth entry, medium bodied, showing flavors of tart blackberry and cherry, tobacco, wet rocks, and light peppery notes.
There is ample acidity, leading into nicely resolving tannins, and a lingering finish.
For a $14-15 wine, this is near-impossible to beat. Delicious, drink now through 2018.
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12/7/2016 - Neurowine1 wrote: 88 Points
This is as I would have expected. Big bold brambly fruit of the blackberry, boysenberry, and black cherry variety. Fruit in fact is huge and front and center, pie-in-the-face in an Australian style, but there is some nice acidity that comes in to hem it. Chocolately and gobs of vanilla from the oak. This wine is definitely a meal in and of itself. Not a vin de meditation. Not a wine for those looking for subtlety, old world charm, a high acid/low EtOH mountain/volcanic geek wine... This is just a big, unabashed, super tasty, hedonistic, crowd pleaser that would kill it on the BBQ with anything big. While not exactly my style, it is great to have wines like this in the cellar. This will age like a priorat and I think 5-6 years easy of drunken glug-glugging awaits.
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7/21/2016 - Ideasthatstick Likes this wine:
Between last night and tonight I found a lovely red wine that kind of wraps ups the fantasy of red wine in a single bottle. This does not mean time will stop, this does not mean that it will increase in value so that your mortgage is paid, instead it means there is a bright, fruit forward sharply acidic red wine that compliments a myriad of foods from tomatoes and sausage to goat cheese to chicken thighs and green beans. Deep red in the glass, a fresh nose and the above on tha palate. For fifteen bucks quite the QPR. This wine brings wine back to earth. You cook, you talk you have a glass or two. You go to sleep. Ah just about perfect.
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7/20/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Blackberry aromas and flavors with vanilla and chocolate hints. Good old vine concentration clearly coming through. Very good value wine.
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7/3/2016 - drrobvino wrote: 89 Points
Opened for a little BBQ party at our place.
Big and bold, with nice spice and black fruit, some earthiness, and a decent finish.
Drink now through 2018.
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6/3/2016 - redz wrote: 90 Points
Improving with age, PNP, nice
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5/14/2016 - dmitchell4 wrote: 89 Points
Straight forward
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2/21/2016 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Aerated vigorously but the nose remained fairly muted. Ripe fruit integrated with forward oak. Gave the impression of age beyond its years.
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12/13/2015 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 88 Points
No formal notes. Recollection of a delicious but straightforward wine.
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11/22/2015 - Goldbash Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice tannins; some depth with dark berries; light acid; a touch of alcohol but otherwise goes well w food. Great value in Ribera could use a couple years in the cellar
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11/8/2015 - pdxwineguy wrote:
A little harsh and unbalanced. Even after being open a couple days
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10/28/2015 - joncohen wrote: 89 Points
Opaque purple going to cranberry at the rim, medium viscosity. Initial floral aromas quickly give way to blackberry, slight menthol. On the palate leads with blueberry/blackberry, then earth and mocha emerge with a nice acidity in mid-palate, and ending with cigar box/tar flavors. Surprisingly rustic, with grippy tannins and maybe a hint oxidative, but nicely balancing the fruit against the acid. I'd say the tannins might soften over time, but given the oxidative quality probably better to drink now than hold. Rustic and masculine presentation calling out for grilled meat.
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8/28/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Approachable and ready to drink. Lots to like for $15.
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8/28/2015 - Dale M wrote:
Solid red.
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3/1/2015 - jkenyan wrote: 88 Points
Spicy. Very good
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2/8/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Blackberry aromas with some floral and chocolate hints. Blackberry and blueberry flavors with an intense, old vine concentration. Very good value.
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1/21/2015 - JimEaton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well balanced with just a little bit of tannins. The fruit is light. My favorite of the Ribera Del Duero's
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1/19/2015 - Jkrinker wrote:
Only ok don't order again
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12/30/2014 - Patches Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is so good for the price. Aromas of blackberry, coffee bean and grapefruit zest. Tight on the entry but creamy on the mid palate with flavors of blurberry, mocha and minerality.
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12/23/2014 - redz wrote: 89 Points
young...try again tomorrow
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12/23/2014 - krmcgrath wrote: 90 Points
Dark, extracted fruit but energetic and not too heavy. Nice minerality, oak, spice and char. Internationally styled and I think meant to be drunk now for what it is.
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12/13/2014 - SantaFeTopher wrote: 91 Points
Nicely balanced. More fruit than I expected. Still pretty young, but we drank two bottles for four of us...
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12/6/2014 - BigWineMan wrote: 88 Points
Decanted. Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of muted black fruits and smoke. On the palate, a mineral-driven blackberry, fruit masked by some apparent oak and strong tannin. This is too young at the moment and needs some time for the tannins to soften.
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11/25/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Even this young, it's approachable; smooth, balanced and full of dark berry flavors. A bit of oak but decanting really helps. Can't complain for $15. Very nice everyday drinker, went well with cheese enchiladas.
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11/20/2014 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely balanced wine with mid-range tannin, well-structured vanilla/oak theme, some spice and red fruit too. Pretty easy-drinking on its own or with food; went very well with mushroom and truffle soup.
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11/14/2014 - wildedge Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nice blackberry up front.....hint of spice and a smooth, albeit a bit thin of a finish. Good everyday drinker with solid value.
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11/14/2014 - drrobvino wrote: 88 Points
Inky purple in color. Deep and dark black and blue fruits on the nose, mixed with road tar and a hint of bell pepper. Very nice. The palate shows firm med tannins, with ample, juicy blue fruit and med/med- acidity. Good, lingering finish with moderate complexity. Nice wine for the money. Drink now, will improve for another year and drink well through 2018 IMHO.
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10/23/2014 - drrobvino wrote: 88 Points
Just opened my first one of these Garagiste "value wines". I would say bullmkt hit the nose on the head with his tasting note. Nice and juicy up front, a bit thin in the middle...but lingering med length finish with some road tar and soil to make it interesting. Drink now through 2017 or so.
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10/21/2014 - bullmrkt wrote:
Intense dark fruits but not overly extracted, spicy, dry crunchy tannins and a bit of heat. This seems a bit wound up and tight, thin in the middle, and had a faint bitter edge. I'll let these rest a while before opening another.
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10/12/2014 - LopedeAguirre Likes this wine: 91 Points
Extremely nuanced with numerous layers. Huge concentration but without aggression. Rounded. Delicious mix of civilized red fruit and tons of glycerin. Long lasting finish. Incredible value and a tribute to the way wine needs to be made.
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6/5/2014 - redrhonewine wrote: 90 Points
Delicious, integrated dark earthy fruits, spice and nice medium-full body. Fine, well integrated tannins.
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5/12/2014 - erikdahlin Likes this wine:
Pretty full flavor on first taste, nice but not overly tannic. Overall a full-on tempranillo that's a pleasure to drink.
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3/19/2014 - cjsadler wrote:
Note sure if it was just this bottle, but this was totally closed. Going to wait on opening another.
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