Still garnet at the core but browning at the edges. Very sweet almost over ripe cherry nose that was extremely aromatic. The palate was completely different with roasted tomato and dried cherry flavours. There was lots of life still but the flavours were disjointed. Probably better in its youth rather than at maturity. Definitely showing its age and at the end of its life.
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Berries, coffee and a bit of herbal notes in the nose. The herbal quality persists in the taste along with more coffee and sweet berries, particularly raspberry. Tang of alchohol on the tongue and a rich mouthfeel. Enjoyable.
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Decanted and poured. This is my last of 3 bottles purchased two years ago and by far the best I've had so far. Contrary to the previous two which showed mostly as fruit forward, somewhat balanced efforts (think heat), this was superb. From the get go, this wine was all about finesse, structure and above all, balance. Medium ruby colour with well developed transitions, the nose offered garrigue, blackberry, spices and toasty oak. An hour after opening, Burgundian subtleties began to set in with just the right amount of tension between fruit and tannin on the medium + body. A beaming core of acidity made this a superb food wine. The other two could not have been more different; a joy to drink. Approx $17, 14.6% abv.
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Medium purple-red. The nose has blueberries, vanilla, and molasses. The palate is medium-full and very smooth. There's a little herbal character to the palate as well. Nice depth. Maybe a little soft.
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Straight from the bottle: Color is a deep garnet, lightening at the edges. Nose has some alcohol heat, lots of berry (blackberry?) aroma, with some earthiness or herbal essence in there. First sip is big on the berry and earth, with smooth tannins and a finish that started a little bitter, but quickly turned to a nice fruity ending with a bit of heat. I think 'Chateauneauf du Pape' when I taste this, but this is more fruity than most CdP's I have tried. Very smooth straight from the bottle. I'm anxious to see what an hour in the decanter will do to this wine.
Decanted for 1 hour: Even better nose. The heat has disappeared. It's all berry and herb now. Big fruit and even smoother tannins. Finish is a lot less bitter, but still has a touch of heat. Earthiness is still there also. I like this Cuvee a lot! Drinking very well right now, and reminds me a lot of a CdP.
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Deep garnet color. Aroma of drak fruit, liquourish, smoky bacon, leather, and oak. Palate filling and smooth mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a long, smoky finish. Overall, a powerful, fruit-forward vintage that is almost at the point of being overpowering, but certainly luscious.
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Fantastic GSM. Great dark berry fruit with a long finish. Has some slight herbal and licorice complexity to make it not a complete fruit bomb. One of the best QPR wines year after year.
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The color is a medium red-purple, slightly cloudy. There's quite a bit of sediment on the bottom of the bottle. I'm not sure if this wine is unfiltered?
The aroma is very herbal. Sharper than oregano, but similar to that. Also some plum and cherry. The flavor is also very herbal, but there's lots of fruit as well. Plum and cherry, maybe a little licorice, and some spice. It's very full-bodied, and comes on very strong on the attack and mid-palate. I definitely wouldn't pair this with anything at all delicate. Very long finish.
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Deep purple color. Flamboyant nose with tons of fruit. Palate front loaded with tons of fruit, but was a bit syrupy and too sweet for my taste. Medium to long finish. Maybe just didn't go well with my kona crusted steak.
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Nice medium ruby color, slightly cloudy. The aroma is big, a little musty, but lots of dark fruit. I'm not sure if I would really consider this to be typical of a CdR; the taste hits with gobs of grape, very soft tannins, and a very long, silky finish. Certainly, an enjoyable wine that has a luscious mouth-feel; not as complex as I would have preferred, and a little jammy, but otherwise excellent.
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vintage after vintage, this is one of the most consistent "rhonestralia" blends. The soft upfront fruit, beautiful boquet, and wonderful mid-palate make this a great drink. This is probably my favorite since the '01. The finish is a little light right now, but that will develop over the next year or so if it is anything like previous vintages.
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Day 1 and 2 were good. Very ripe, but with good depth and finish. Nice tannins and structure. By day 3 though this was more Port-like and had morphed into something which was not that appealing. Alcohol is evident on the nose, but is more integrated on the palate. Still slightly hot though.
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Great expression of a southern Rohne wine...i.e. Chateauneauf with an Aussie twist...i.e. loads of ripe fruit. Sweeter tannins then a French, but great in every other component. It does age well from day to day and gets more complex without loosing fruit or structure. It's worth buying!!!
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1/7/2017 - biggie wrote: 87 Points
Still garnet at the core but browning at the edges. Very sweet almost over ripe cherry nose that was extremely aromatic. The palate was completely different with roasted tomato and dried cherry flavours. There was lots of life still but the flavours were disjointed. Probably better in its youth rather than at maturity. Definitely showing its age and at the end of its life.
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9/19/2012 - WinePlanner wrote: 86 Points
Too much acid. Never really liked this. Still powerful and continues to grow, though. Maybe in another couple of years?
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11/11/2009 - dfeiner wrote: 90 Points
Berries, coffee and a bit of herbal notes in the nose. The herbal quality persists in the taste along with more coffee and sweet berries, particularly raspberry. Tang of alchohol on the tongue and a rich mouthfeel. Enjoyable.
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11/1/2009 - Beck wrote: 88 Points
Okay, the plum is a little overpowering. finish is long but has some odd favors.
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9/25/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Decanted and poured. This is my last of 3 bottles purchased two years ago and by far the best I've had so far. Contrary to the previous two which showed mostly as fruit forward, somewhat balanced efforts (think heat), this was superb. From the get go, this wine was all about finesse, structure and above all, balance. Medium ruby colour with well developed transitions, the nose offered garrigue, blackberry, spices and toasty oak. An hour after opening, Burgundian subtleties began to set in with just the right amount of tension between fruit and tannin on the medium + body. A beaming core of acidity made this a superb food wine. The other two could not have been more different; a joy to drink. Approx $17, 14.6% abv.
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6/26/2009 - NanetteRiviera wrote: 83 Points
On the sweet side, not much depth. Overall a disappointment.
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4/2/2009 - brentmid wrote: 92 Points
Fruity on the nose, even though I have a cold. Nice berries, with a little lingering spice at the end.
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10/21/2008 - 100pp wrote: 86 Points
Fruit focused. Nose of mainly strawberries and blackberries. Taste is too sweet and one dimensional. Light to medium bodied. Disappointing.
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9/8/2008 - JavaMonkey wrote: 86 Points
Medium purple-red. The nose has blueberries, vanilla, and molasses. The palate is medium-full and very smooth. There's a little herbal character to the palate as well. Nice depth. Maybe a little soft.
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9/5/2008 - Wolfgang wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for one hour. Kirsch liquor on the nose with tones of baby powder and brown sugar.Powerful G-S-M.
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3/25/2008 - Wolfgang wrote: 91 Points
Nice fruit forward GSM
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3/18/2008 - Rojo wrote: 90 Points
Nice purity of fruit on this one. Just enought acidity to balance the wine. A little sweet black fruits and a hint of pepper.
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1/19/2008 - yotaiwan wrote: 91 Points
sweet, dense, smooth, taste of molasses
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1/11/2008 - RPerro wrote: 90 Points
Straight from the bottle: Color is a deep garnet, lightening at the edges. Nose has some alcohol heat, lots of berry (blackberry?) aroma, with some earthiness or herbal essence in there. First sip is big on the berry and earth, with smooth tannins and a finish that started a little bitter, but quickly turned to a nice fruity ending with a bit of heat. I think 'Chateauneauf du Pape' when I taste this, but this is more fruity than most CdP's I have tried. Very smooth straight from the bottle. I'm anxious to see what an hour in the decanter will do to this wine.
Decanted for 1 hour: Even better nose. The heat has disappeared. It's all berry and herb now. Big fruit and even smoother tannins. Finish is a lot less bitter, but still has a touch of heat. Earthiness is still there also. I like this Cuvee a lot! Drinking very well right now, and reminds me a lot of a CdP.
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11/25/2007 - cjstrunk wrote: 87 Points
Yasted more sweet then I remembered. Not much spice, just jammy and sweet....
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11/19/2007 - trefoil wrote: 90 Points
Fruity, leathery, warm alcohol presence.
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10/7/2007 - kryelvine wrote: 90 Points
Purely fruit driven. Blackberry sirup. Very good.
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9/4/2007 - dpeters99 wrote: 88 Points
Wow - big bold wine, loaded with fruit and spice. Very intersting with a great finish.
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7/28/2007 - Redline325 wrote: 91 Points
Mid to full bodied and spicy, good with steak
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7/18/2007 - rscott wrote:
Real tight when cracked, opened quickly- very fruity, should be served colder than usual (I enjoyed the last 2 glasses over ice!)
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7/11/2007 - bruceb wrote: 90 Points
Deep garnet color. Aroma of drak fruit, liquourish, smoky bacon, leather, and oak. Palate filling and smooth mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a long, smoky finish. Overall, a powerful, fruit-forward vintage that is almost at the point of being overpowering, but certainly luscious.
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6/27/2007 - yipen wrote: 87 Points
a little hot on alcohol level, but overall not too bad for BBQ type of food.
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6/14/2007 - swolf wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic GSM. Great dark berry fruit with a long finish. Has some slight herbal and licorice complexity to make it not a complete fruit bomb. One of the best QPR wines year after year.
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5/30/2007 - JavaMonkey wrote: 86 Points
The color is a medium red-purple, slightly cloudy. There's quite a bit of sediment on the bottom of the bottle. I'm not sure if this wine is unfiltered?
The aroma is very herbal. Sharper than oregano, but similar to that. Also some plum and cherry. The flavor is also very herbal, but there's lots of fruit as well. Plum and cherry, maybe a little licorice, and some spice. It's very full-bodied, and comes on very strong on the attack and mid-palate. I definitely wouldn't pair this with anything at all delicate. Very long finish.
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4/23/2007 - Nutty08 wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple color. Flamboyant nose with tons of fruit. Palate front loaded with tons of fruit, but was a bit syrupy and too sweet for my taste. Medium to long finish. Maybe just didn't go well with my kona crusted steak.
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3/5/2007 - bruceb wrote: 90 Points
Nice medium ruby color, slightly cloudy. The aroma is big, a little musty, but lots of dark fruit. I'm not sure if I would really consider this to be typical of a CdR; the taste hits with gobs of grape, very soft tannins, and a very long, silky finish. Certainly, an enjoyable wine that has a luscious mouth-feel; not as complex as I would have preferred, and a little jammy, but otherwise excellent.
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3/2/2007 - Pinotlover wrote: 91 Points
vintage after vintage, this is one of the most consistent "rhonestralia" blends. The soft upfront fruit, beautiful boquet, and wonderful mid-palate make this a great drink. This is probably my favorite since the '01. The finish is a little light right now, but that will develop over the next year or so if it is anything like previous vintages.
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2/15/2007 - LukeH_PDX wrote: 90 Points
Day 1 and 2 were good. Very ripe, but with good depth and finish. Nice tannins and structure. By day 3 though this was more Port-like and had morphed into something which was not that appealing. Alcohol is evident on the nose, but is more integrated on the palate. Still slightly hot though.
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1/21/2007 - cjstrunk wrote: 93 Points
Great expression of a southern Rohne wine...i.e. Chateauneauf with an Aussie twist...i.e. loads of ripe fruit. Sweeter tannins then a French, but great in every other component. It does age well from day to day and gets more complex without loosing fruit or structure. It's worth buying!!!
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1/13/2007 - dhong0567 wrote: 86 Points
Excellent wine with lots of fruit but not overly sweet. It had good structure and tasted very nice with dark fruit in the nose and finish.
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12/11/2006 - graemeg wrote:
WSET Dinner - Certificate awarding (Edinburgh Hotel, Surry Hills): Young ripe Grenache nose, so cherried and candied that I imagined it was some kind of pinot at first. No oak. Warm feel. Hmmm. Can I say over-fruited?
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12/3/2006 - JLL wrote: 92 Points
Absolutely loved this, clean expression of GSM.
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