Earthy aromas include bramble, mineral, garrigue, smoke, berry coolis and plum. The palate is medium-plus in body with nice ripeness but not too heavy or overoaked. Flavors of red cherry and black currant, a touch of underbrush and black fruit supported by sleek slightly grippy tannins and juicy acidity lingering on the finish. This smells like an old underground cellar with still some tartness and violets. This wine would be an excellent gift or an alternative to a quality Cotes du Rhone.
"92 POINTS - The 2014 El Nido is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon from 35-year-old vines and the rest Monastrell from ancient vines fermented in the same way as Clio, starting in open-top, 4,500-liter stainless steel tanks with neutral yeasts and finishing in brand-new French and American oak barrels, where it also goes through malolactic. Aging in those new barrels lasted for almost two years. This is always quite ripe, and the Cabernet never shows any pyrazines or herbal aromas; there are plums, blackberries and a balsamic touch. This is full-bodied, powerful, concentrated and generously oaked. This is in line with the same vintage of Clio and has the same differences with the 2015 vintage, which feels a lot more balanced." - The Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez
Bodegas El Nido was founded in 2002 and is part of the Gil Family Estate. The vineyards are comprised of 64 acres of old vine Monastrell, and 45 acres of 2- year old Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged in barrels for about two years. This wine is big, complex and generous.
"Plump blackberry, blueberry and maraschino cherry flavors are ripe, smooth and juicy, with plenty of dark chocolate, spice and toasted coconut accents that linger effortlessly on the velvety body. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2027." - Wine Spectator (March 2018)
Aromas of red and black currants, smoke and black pepper are classic for this variety. This is medium in weight with blackberries, plums, espresso and lingering wood smoke. The fine tannins, integrated acidity and forward fruit make this an accessible wine.
Aromas are big, smoky, and spicy with blackberry, dark chocolate, and a hint of licorice. The palate has a nice lift and acidity, with flavors that match the aromas, including the pepper and blackberry. Medium plus in body with a persistent finish. The wine spends a year in American and French oak, with a further four months in bottle.
This bold red features rich, smoky black fruits such as currants and blackberries along with graphite, dark chocolate, toast, black pepper and singed herbs. It is full-bodied with velvety tannins and integrated acidity.
Complex mixed berry aromas with spice: blackberry, damson plum, Bing cherry are intense and concentrated but quite fresh. There’s a touch of allspice and white pepper as well. The flavors continue the aromatic profile, both fruity and spicy. This delicious wine is nicely ripe, yet restrained: it has fruit (blackberry, raspberry), spice and structuring elements; all well balanced. It is medium-plus in body with a very long finish.
This wine is very well done but not big in style with plum, black cherry and red currant. The texture is clean, medium bodied and integrated. The finish delivers a pleasant amount of smoke.
This wine has medium aromatics of cola spice and black cherry. The palate shows great complexity with black licorice, clove, pepper and smoke, sassafras layering with black cherry, chocolate and caramel. The tannins are soft and well integrated with medium plus body and medium acidity. Nicely wrapped flavors weave with the texture for a very well made wine. The final notes leave you with raisin, cassis, black currants and feels opulent.
From the Producer:
Ripe black fruit and dark chocolate underpin primary notes of graphite, pencil shavings, green pepper, vineyard dust, and anise. Nose is rounded out by hints of sassafras, heavy cream, lavender, violet, and Italian leather. Dense and plush mouthfeel with delightful acidity, gentle tannins, and lingering finish.
This richer red offers blackberry, cocoa and subtle spice aromas. The palate continues with ripe black fruits, sandalwood, coffee, clove, cocoa and a kiss of smoke. The fruit in this medium-plus bodied wine is concentrated, yet the tannins are supple.
The nose is rich with concentrated black cherry, vanilla, baking spices, and blackberries. The body follows with loads of fruit and spice; for all the fruit, it is not too heavy, it has a pleasant medium weight.
A rich garnet red in color. The nose offers blackcurrant and blueberry with hints of green pepper and balsamic flavors. Fluid with a full flavor, it’s juicy in the mouth with firm, finely grained tannins and a relatively solid character.
This delicious red opens with deep aromas of smoke, tobacco, raspberry and blackberry with chocolate and coffee. Plush flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and fruit leather lend a touch of cola sweetness that is a nice counterpoint to the soft, fine tannins.
Aromas include mixed red and black berries with touches of tobacco, plum, and licorice. The palate is medium-bodied and structured with nice tannin/acid balance supported by black cherry, plum and raspberry flavors wrapped in hints of smoke, spice and vanilla.
From the producer: Dark ruby-purple, this wine has deep, alluring aromas of blackcurrant and black plum that are layered with expressive notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and perfume of lavender. Supple, concentrated, and seamless, the palate displays vibrant fruit with undertones of tilled earth and sea salt. Firm, integrated tannins provide a structured backbone to the opulence of the wine, finishing with a lasting, powerful impression.
This is a very aromatic wine, with fresh dark cherries and plums and a touch of pepper and bark. In the mouth, this is juicy, fruity (raspberries, figs, plums), and well structured by round tannins. It is complex, with a touch of savory dried herbs and woodsy notes, hints of coffee and chocolate, and a great mouthfeel. It’s definitely food-oriented, though it is also pleasurable alone.
This is darkly colored and dense in the glass. The nose offers complex and balanced aromas of blackberry, cherry, dark chocolate, and sweet but not overpowering wood and spice. The palate repeats the aromas with well integrated black fruits and cocoa/mocha notes. It’s texturally velvety with a full mouthfeel and forward fruit, well made and easy to drink. Medium plus body with a longer finish.
On the nose, this wine gives aromas of dark fruits and toasty oak. It is medium plus in body, ripe and concentrated, yet stays refined and fresh. Fruit of macerated black currants and spiced berries are joined by flavors of mocha, chocolate, toast, mulling spices, cinnamon and black pepper. It has round tannins and integrated acidity.
This non-vintage red blend combines fruit-driven young wine with more mature reds. It begins with aromas of cooked red and black fruits, toast, tobacco, spices, roasted red peppers and herbs. It then shows off well integrated cherry and currant fruit, toast, cinnamon, baking spices, sweet tobacco leaf and cigar box on the palate. This is ripe, but not jammy. It's just over medium weight with moderate acidity. A very good value!
Good richness in the glass with aromatics of dark berries, toast, and chocolate. The palate is concentrated but refined in quality and texture with classy oak use and moderate – albeit appropriately – grippy tannin structure. This wine is polished with plum fruit, smoky bacon, and vanilla notes lingering through the finish.
On the nose, one finds clove, black pepper, dark, concentrated berry pie fruits and subtle smokiness. This wine is full bodied and full flavored with hearty winter notes of baked berries, cherry pie, kirsch, mulling spices, toast and spiced fruit preserves. It is rich and concentrated, yet easy to drink due to its round texture and balanced acidity.
This wine is decadent with chocolate covered cherries and steeped blackberries similar to cassis. The oak on the palate is well managed with a creamy and silky but slightly chewy and rich texture. The fruit is a mix of ripe berries with vanilla, nutmeg and clove, cocoa and black pepper with dark chocolate. The finish has a line of smoke with blackberry compote and some inkiness.
From the producer:
Lynch-Bages 2015 has a brilliant, deep colour with purple hues. Its nose clearly expresses aromas of cassis and dark fruit, mixed with the empyreumatic notes that come with ageing. It has a straightforward attack and a voluminous yet supple mid-palate. The wine has a marked but silky tannic structure, and a persistent finish illustrative of a particularly ripe vintage.
Aromas of blackberry jam, black currant skin, bramble and scorched earth cue up this wine. The palate offers juicy black fruit, integrated smokiness, dark chocolate and savory and spicy notes of forest floor and tree bark. It is medium plus in body with a few years’ age evident in its silky and plush tannins.
Aromas include ripe red cherry, black cherry and plum and a whiff of pink peppercorn, and bergamont. The palate is soft and bright with juicy red fruit of pomegranates, red currants and cherry. The palate also has light black tea, thyme, with potentially light oak influence. You could drink this lighter-bodied wine slightly chilled or as a great affordable alternative to Gamay!
Barrel-influenced aromas of vanilla and smoke combine with blueberry, black currant, and darker fruit like plum in this aromatically intense Tuscan red blend. Flavors are full and generous, delivering dried herbs, licorice, and fruits similar to those on the nose. This tastes gorgeously Italian but also cool climate.
This plush and saturated wine gives a range of purple fruits such as plums, black cap raspberries, cherries and mulberries. The fruit is joined with some baking spice, cinnamon, bramble and black tea. Structuring acidity provides framework for this medium-plus bodied wine. It ends with a cherry note on the finish.
In Sheep's Clothing delivers a ripeness of fruit flavors while preserving the acidity that gives the medium to full-bodied wine a sense of freshness. With layers of cassis, blueberries, and black cherries, this wine lends to a New World style of fruit with more of an Old World structure with a hint of wood smoke. This wine fully embraces an integral part of classic Cabernet Sauvignon by highlighting a complex blend of dried herbs: anise, thyme and bay leaf.
From the Distributor: The nose opens on an array of refined ripe black fruit aromas, joined on airing by light toasted hazelnut notes. The palate has ripe black fruit notes found on the nose return on the rich and ample attack, while attractive spice and toast flavors bring remarkable complexity and intensity to the midpalate, underpinned by powerful tannins typical of Cabernet Sauvignon. The black fruit flavors return on the long and fresh finish.
Aromas of cooked black berries, black olives, rosemary, yeast and rye bread jump out of the glass. This wine is medium-plus in body with ripe, but not heavy, fruits of black currants and black cherries mixed with rosemary and thyme. It is juicy and fresh with a light oak influence.
Concentrated and complex aromas of smoke, raspberry, berry jam, cranberry, rose, tobacco and black pepper. The palate is similar to the nose, with more oak influence with clove and cinnamon with earthier notes. The acidity and black pepper linger on the palate with medium plus body and good concentration of tannins.
Aromas include ripe dark cherry, cinnamon, stewed tomatoes and wood spice. Silky tannins support this savory and robust wine; flavors echo aromas with touches of black fruits added. The finish is long with hints of stony minerality.
Excellent quality for Napa, delivering a fruit forward, complex flavors and nice quality oak barrel use. Lending spice, plums, mixed dark berries, a spicy finish with a touch of dried violets. The flavors are nicely ripe but the palate still has lift and acidity with good intensity and medium plus body.
A typical profile for cabernet sauvignon yet enticingly rich and complex with blackcap, raspberry, and blueberry, cured meat, toast, and vanilla. The texture has lifted acidity, nice integrated tannins with flavors of cassis, elderberry, black cherry and older oak woodiness with baking spices.
A deep and vibrant wine with an alluring cardinal color. Exuding earth, fresh flowers, and intensity, the wine is fantastically balanced between its acidity and smooth tannins. Dark fruits, herbal, and minerality all blend and lead to a long stunning finish.
Aromas include black cherries and a touch of smoke. The palate is medium-plus in body with well-integrated plum and blackberry flavors as well as echoes of the aromas. Refreshing acidity keeps it balanced with touches of dark chocolate on the finish.
The nose offers dried strawberries and cooked cherries with dried flowers and herbs. The medium-bodied palate is similar to the nose, with dried cranberries, cherries, and dried flowers. The texture is silky with very fine tannins; acidity is lifted. The wine is ripe but not overripe; it’s lightly savoury like an Italian wine but with New World fruit.
Graphite, bittersweet chocolate and blackberry greet the nose with light cedar and smoke. The texture is supple and integrated; pretty but not aggressive with black pepper, stewed black fruit and lingering butterscotch. The finish is long with a gorgeous texture and medium minus acidity.
Exquisite dark fruit aromas gracefully emanate from the glass, carrying hints of baking spice and potpourri notes. The palate gives luscious blackberry, vibrant black raspberry, and succulent boysenberry flavors heightened by nuances of vanilla and baker's chocolate. The finish is supple and beautifully rounded. Perfect for beef dishes like steak au poivre, braised brisket with onions, Guinness beef stew or shepherd’s pie. Vegetarians can opt for pasta with tomato sauce, stewed vegetables, vegetarian chili or roasted beets.
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