I consumed three bottles of this wine over the last 12 months or so and it was fantastic. I had some people over and served it against a '05 Richard Partridge, NV, C/S; '97 Potensac and a '00 Chateau Haut Ferrand, Pomerol. All the wines were great, but the Cliff Lede Claret was everyone's favorite. Really well integrated with good fruit and a very smooth finish. The wine was decanted for 1 hour before consumption. I have had several wines from the '03 vintage recently and they have all been fantastic. VinoServant Mobile - http://m.vinoservant.com
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On first taste, it a pleasant meritage that is much more delicate in its taste than most US wines. After an hour it opened up and showed more fruit and still quite a complex but soft blend of tastes. I would think now is a good time to drink this.
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Lots of fruit here - cherries and cassis. Nicely integrated tannins. A bit thin on the finish. Nearing the end of it's life - drink up in the next 12 - 18 months.
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14.6% alcohol. Popped and poured, just for the heck of it. Significant oak jumps out of the glass, but with some swirling it recedes, leaving a pretty, dark fruit bouquet. Not incredibly complex, but a lush mouth feel and big fruit that is pleasant to drink. Good acidity. A tad of heat on the finish sticks out, where the oak is prevalent once again. New style. Ripe and unctuous, but somewhat uncomplicated. B+
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Good drinking, solid structured, Bordeaux blend going on here. The tannins, while still pronounced, are nicely integrated along with a good bit of dark fruit. Probably has another 2 - 3 years before it starts to decline.
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Wonderfully balanced and nuanced meritage. Decidedly Bordeaux-like, with emphasis on merlot. Cherry, red currant, and enough Cab heft to lift this to a layered complexity that beautifully complemented beef roast with herb rub. Velvety tannins. This would benefit from another few years in the cellar, but it drinking wonderfully now. Opened for two hours and decanted for another hour.
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There's a lot going on this this wine. Dark cherry, mulberry, blackcurrant on the palate. Well integrated tannins and a solid finish. Beautiful and expressive nose after about an hour, I even picked up a bit of an barnyard aspect on the nose, which I really liked. Great QPR, wish I had a few more.
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This is a very friendly, easy drinking wine. It is fruit forward with hints of blueberries, ripe plum, blackcurrant. The initial aroma of this wine is framed with floral high notes and a hint of cherry and citrus. An easy wine to drink and pleseant surprise.
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Deep ruby color leads to a nose of dark cherry and currant. The body has loads of cherry, currant, chocolate and a tiny bit of vanilla. The tannins are full but integrated. This has improved since tasting 3 months ago. A great bordeaux blend for $30.
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Elegant and rich with red cherry, currant, chocolate, sweet oak. Lush mouthfeel. Fine-grained tannins. Sweet, long, lingering finish that provides a bit of caramel. Lighter style than the 03 SLD Cab.
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Opened and decanted just a little while. Cherry cola notes still young with tight tanins. Started to soften up towards the end of our meal. Easy drinking wine.
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Deep garnet color leads to a nose of currant and vanilla. The palate carries the currant and vanilla flavors in addition to dark cherry and plum. There is a hint of cigar but very subtle. The impressive tannins finish with a bit of alcohol. A solid wine with a potential upside of another two points if bottle age leads to better integration.
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Opened not decanted. When I picked this up at the winery, I had a small pour and it was disjointed and not ready for drinking. It's still a little jumbled, but drinking well. Probably needs a couple of months more to get in the full swing. Dark red color, dark cherry flavor, sweet taste with a slight sour and dry finish. A little hot, but good.
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2/7/2015 - Fernandez Vino wrote: 92 Points
Very alcohol forward. We let it breath for about an hour. Was a lot better the longer it was open
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5/19/2012 - VinoServant wrote: 91 Points
I consumed three bottles of this wine over the last 12 months or so and it was fantastic. I had some people over and served it against a '05 Richard Partridge, NV, C/S; '97 Potensac and a '00 Chateau Haut Ferrand, Pomerol. All the wines were great, but the Cliff Lede Claret was everyone's favorite. Really well integrated with good fruit and a very smooth finish. The wine was decanted for 1 hour before consumption. I have had several wines from the '03 vintage recently and they have all been fantastic. VinoServant Mobile - http://m.vinoservant.com
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6/9/2011 - pernst wrote: 88 Points
On first taste, it a pleasant meritage that is much more delicate in its taste than most US wines. After an hour it opened up and showed more fruit and still quite a complex but soft blend of tastes. I would think now is a good time to drink this.
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10/3/2009 - ArizonaWineGuy wrote: 86 Points
Continues to disappoint. I think it is the vintage though, not the wine itself.
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4/7/2009 - ArizonaWineGuy wrote: 88 Points
Lots of fruit here - cherries and cassis. Nicely integrated tannins. A bit thin on the finish. Nearing the end of it's life - drink up in the next 12 - 18 months.
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11/20/2008 - gutt22 wrote:
14.6% alcohol. Popped and poured, just for the heck of it. Significant oak jumps out of the glass, but with some swirling it recedes, leaving a pretty, dark fruit bouquet. Not incredibly complex, but a lush mouth feel and big fruit that is pleasant to drink. Good acidity. A tad of heat on the finish sticks out, where the oak is prevalent once again. New style. Ripe and unctuous, but somewhat uncomplicated. B+
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10/5/2008 - ArizonaWineGuy wrote: 89 Points
Good drinking, solid structured, Bordeaux blend going on here. The tannins, while still pronounced, are nicely integrated along with a good bit of dark fruit. Probably has another 2 - 3 years before it starts to decline.
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2/11/2008 - ejca wrote:
really enjoyed, thought it improved over the last time I drank it.
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1/6/2008 - RWilkinson wrote:
tannins finish with some alcohol, structure okay, I don't see this improving...
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12/29/2007 - Haggis wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully balanced and nuanced meritage. Decidedly Bordeaux-like, with emphasis on merlot. Cherry, red currant, and enough Cab heft to lift this to a layered complexity that beautifully complemented beef roast with herb rub. Velvety tannins. This would benefit from another few years in the cellar, but it drinking wonderfully now. Opened for two hours and decanted for another hour.
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8/29/2007 - vancouvermatt wrote: 92 Points
There's a lot going on this this wine. Dark cherry, mulberry, blackcurrant on the palate. Well integrated tannins and a solid finish. Beautiful and expressive nose after about an hour, I even picked up a bit of an barnyard aspect on the nose, which I really liked. Great QPR, wish I had a few more.
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12/24/2006 - rjoyer wrote: 89 Points
Good, but nothing special.
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12/1/2006 - The Modernist wrote: 89 Points
This is a very friendly, easy drinking wine. It is fruit forward with hints of blueberries, ripe plum, blackcurrant. The initial aroma of this wine is framed with floral high notes and a hint of cherry and citrus. An easy wine to drink and pleseant surprise.
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9/12/2006 - Mlermontov wrote: 89 Points
Martin Scott Wines (Fall 06); 9/11/2006-9/13/2006 (Lincoln Center): good clean claret. very balanced.
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6/20/2006 - flashvictor wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby color leads to a nose of dark cherry and currant. The body has loads of cherry, currant, chocolate and a tiny bit of vanilla. The tannins are full but integrated. This has improved since tasting 3 months ago. A great bordeaux blend for $30.
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5/25/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 90 Points
Elegant and rich with red cherry, currant, chocolate, sweet oak. Lush mouthfeel. Fine-grained tannins. Sweet, long, lingering finish that provides a bit of caramel. Lighter style than the 03 SLD Cab.
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4/15/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened and decanted just a little while. Cherry cola notes still young with tight tanins. Started to soften up towards the end of our meal. Easy drinking wine.
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4/11/2006 - flashvictor wrote: 89 Points
Deep garnet color leads to a nose of currant and vanilla. The palate carries the currant and vanilla flavors in addition to dark cherry and plum. There is a hint of cigar but very subtle. The impressive tannins finish with a bit of alcohol. A solid wine with a potential upside of another two points if bottle age leads to better integration.
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3/24/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. When I picked this up at the winery, I had a small pour and it was disjointed and not ready for drinking. It's still a little jumbled, but drinking well. Probably needs a couple of months more to get in the full swing. Dark red color, dark cherry flavor, sweet taste with a slight sour and dry finish. A little hot, but good.
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