Winery - :Nota Bene
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A Bordeaux blend dominated by Merlot, this soft, round red shows a strong streak of vanilla tea around the black cherry fruit. The drying tannins seep into a lingering finish, which also features sweet baking spices and more of that same vanilla.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A Bordeaux blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the Miscela starts strong with a complex bouquet of black fruits, toast, smoke, coffee grounds and pencil shavings. The alcohol, listed at 15.4%, does not intrude, yet somehow it seems to mute the complexity. As a result, the finish turns astringent, drying, with a layer of ash drifting over the fruit.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Lovely delineation here, the berry/cherry fruit framed with coffee and chocolate from a 50/50 mix of French and American oak barrels. The surprise is the addition (via co-fermentation) of 6% Viognier, which stabilizes color and gives a pleasing, floral/citrus lift to the scents and flavors. Good balance and follow through.
Tags:
:Nota Bene Syrah - 2007
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
If there is a criticism to be made, it is that the blending at :Nota Bene can seem formulaic. Here the 45% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cab Franc and 11% Malbec is very close to the Miscela, simply reversing the percentages of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In terms of flavor they are quite similar, but equally delicious. The fruit is black cherry, raspberry and cassis, with generous mocha and chocolate right up front. The wine gathers strength in the back end, finishing sweet and supple, with a strong licorice streak.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The blend is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. It opens with a lot of caramel and vanilla up front, keeping the black cherry and cassis fruit more towards the back. Streaks of herb, coffee and rock wrap into the finish. Still young and compact, this wine needs much more time to really unwrap itself.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
It’s an interesting experiment—basically a Syrah-dominated Bordeaux blend—but it does not entirely knit together. The Syrah is up front, toasty and peppery, and the Bordeaux grapes lay back, adding weight to the tannins and a sense, more than a flavor, of herb. But there’s a disconnect between the two components. As with previous vintages, this wine opens with breathing time, adding smoke and spice to the finish.
Tags:
:Nota Bene Syrah - 2003
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Basically it’s the same mix of grapes as the Miscela, but from different vineyard sources. There is a bit of leather and tack room in the nose, but it does not completely submerge the soft, pretty cherry fruit, which finishes with flavors of cut tobacco leaf. This wine is perhaps more approachable and a bit funkier than the Miscela, without the classic structure.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
There is a slight hint of leather, but it does not dampen the ripe, round, cherry fruit. Despite a slight dip in the midpalate, this is an appealing Abbinare, with lots of pretty fruit, spice, ripe tannins and a hint of licorice.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dry, stony, and astringent, it tastes of cranberry and pie cherry fruit over a layer of rock. This is a wine that will reward extra breathing time.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Chocolaty and ripe, it’s got plenty of berry fruit, a whiff of apple blossom, and overall very pretty and delicate flavors through the middle. Chocolate barrel flavors fill in the finish.
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