Winery - Viña Casas Patronales
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Fairly round and meaty on the nose, with vanilla, wood spice and herbal notes. The palate is lively and healthy, with good acidity pushing solid berry and plum flavors. Adequate length on the finish and a dash of licorice seal things away in a solid manner.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Slightly heavy and saucy, with a bit of cooked fruit and lemony oak to the nose. But it’s not over-the-top baked or overoaked, so there’s still some black-fruit quality to mine as well as decent chocolate and mocha on the finish. Hardly elegant, but by the same token it’s not wanting for gusto.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
True aromas of green fruit and grapefruit send it off in the right direction. For Maule SB, this is pretty lively and refreshing. The palate features zesty green-apple flavors backed by a jumpy, agile finish. Nothing special but good while it’s young and fresh.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Firm and crusty Syrah, with aromas of bacon, char, shoe polish and black fruit. It’s angular on the palate, with a tight, lean mouthfeel along with lemony fruit and a broad brush of resin. And that’s the way it finishes, too. Woody for a wine in this price range.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dry aromas of peach pit and dust are none too exciting, while the palate is short, resiny and tastes of dried apricot and vanilla. A hollow wine where the wood treatment does not make up for the lack of fruit.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is the first we’ve seen of this brand, and frankly the wine is overdone with toast to the point that char functions as a blanket over underripe, mildly vegetal fruit. It’s roasted, herbal and a little hot.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Herb and mint aromas dance with lactic berry notes, and as it unfolds a mask of sawdust and forced oak rises up to smother things. The palate is woody, tart and lemony, with an angular feel and a resiny finish. Harmony is in short supply here.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a step up from previous efforts for this winery. This SB shows enticing aromas of lemon pastry, melon and vanilla, while the palate is plush but still fresh with white peach and apple flavors. Good length and balance; drink-now special. Imported by Vinecrest Co.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
While this Merlot is far from a thriller, you have to give the winery credit for consistency: its basic $9 Merlot has scored 84 points three years in a row. This version has chocolaty oak and some red fruit on the nose, and then herbal cherry and raspberry flavors before a short, edgy finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Berries and pepper control the nose, and there’s some horseradish-like bitterness as well. The palate runs quite bright, tangy and juicy as it borders on tart. Not a rich, layered wine. What’s on display is basic, lean and a little tangy. Imported by Vinecrest Co.
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