Very different, even from most dry rieslings. The color is dark first off, like a pale, slightly coppery yellow, that looks like age but isn’t. The nose is significant, with hints of dusty latex gloves or rubber, yellow tart stone fruit, stony minerality, and a slight metallic smell, but with a slightly fresh baked note hidden deep down. The palate is super dry, almost tannic in its mouth drying, with a zippy yellow fruited acidity, serious minerality and a long freshness that is balanced by a kind of glazed doughnut like note with a finish that lasts forever. This is very a-typical, but damn if it isnt special and unique. — 16 days ago
Deep purple/red color, long legs reflect a high ABV but surprisingly the body is lighter than the 14.7 reflects. This wine may be 8 years old, but it’s only just starting to soften, and none of that age you see in the color. The nose is bold, after some time opening up the alcohol does show, but the nose is more crushed red fruit, blackberry, some cinnamon and crushed slate, maybe even a little pine. Tannins are very well integrated, and softened a bit after age, but still rounded enough to ensure people know this is a true cab. Cinnamon sugar, ripe red fruits, vanilla and baking spice, with notes of licorice, blackberry jam and black pepper. They say this was an off year for Howell Cabs but I don’t see where this dropped the ball, a great first experience with Almacerro. — a month ago
Rich oaky and mustiness on the nose, with notes of amber, and overripe yellow fruits, maybe even some notes of dried charcoal and freshly harvested green hay. Rich and old-world, with a light to medium body, and a well developed palate. Dry but not overly so, the minerality really shows on the finish, but in the forefront you get some oak, vegetal, grassy notes, crisp yellow fruits but not acidic, but with a spine of energy that’s distinct. — a day ago
It’s surprising because the color on a shallow glass is the rosy bronze of a meditator a port. It’s got some of the oxidized nose of a digestif wine as well, big bodied, bold, but takes a while to open up. The color in a deep pour is still pale red, the tannins are still VERY grippy, strong and could shows it could still last for a long time aging, but the color give me pause at the longevity. Tannins softened after a while, leaving a lithe body with a palate rich with iron and blood, with hints of tomato, basalt, and a looooong fresh finish with notes almost like cranberry or other tart, red-orange acidic fruits. — a month ago
Very pale green with yellow hints to the center, with tight small bubbles, decent effervescence and a light body. The nose has prominent yellow and green stone fruit with some minerality and just a hint of couissant like baked goods. Palate is surprisingly more fruit forward than most, you’d almost call it sweet, but the rounded fruit body opens into a more mineral driven, pleasant acidity with a dry finish. It’s not SUPER dry but still a pleasant sparkle with more maturity than I expected from a Mexican sparkling, though this is my first! — a month ago
Bandol roses are just tops always. The nose is like candied sour watermelon and yellow citrus rind, with a notable acidity that makes you grit your teeth a bit, but in a pleasant way. The color is a pale peach blush, with orange hues, over a medium body. Drank with a chill, there’s undeniable strawberry, peach, a little mandarin orange (but just the zest), artificial watermelon sour, cantaloupe, with a sharp acidity and a looooong finish reflective of the bigger body, with maybe a little bit of brandy or cognac at the end, like a little caramel or butterscotch? — 2 days ago
Brad had this a month ago
Light rose color, with purple edges, medium bodied. with a bold, perfumed floral nose with hints of mushroom, cinnamon sugar, rose, pomegranate, and dark plum with hints of red apple, musk and spice. Palate is all dark red fruit, with wet sandal wood, clove, dark florals and coca on the palate. 8/2 - after sitting a week the nose is still heavily perfumed, with a strong, earthy nose, rose florals, mulch, and ripe plums. It’s starting to turn a bit, mostly on the nose, with a light-on-it’s-feet body, balsamic, zingy acidity, velvety fruit and tannins integrated well into a long, finish of raspberry and fresh stone fruit finish. — a month ago
This was really special, dry, funky and different. Drank on its own and honestly worth every sip, 10/10 would buy again. — 2 months ago
Brad Jensen
A surprising nose of wet stone, super mineral, slightly salty, with wild grassy notes growing between with hints of like, fresh cut sweet onion. — 7 hours ago