Since the first bottle was used to color my drain pipes red, I had to try something else.

Little bit of that herbal/weed on the nose... stronger than the cherry and asphalt scents. Turned me off initially, but the palate was better. Cherry, chocolate, spices, black fruit on the palate. Actually has nice extraction... but too green. Not herbal, but weedy. OK structure/complexity. Still drinkable.

Rev Rates it: 82 Not recommended, but if you have a bottle, guests who don't know better will like it. If the weed wasn't there, this would be a high 80's easy.

I picked up a bottle of this for $11 last night (along with the 1998 Bogle PS).

I enjoyed this a bit more than you, Rev. That vegetal nose you speak of, if we're talking about the same thing, is something I actually like. (I'm not positive we're talking the same smell though). The Mourvedre in this blend reminds me of some CA meritage blends I fondly admire.

Anyway, this blend of 74% Shiraz and 26% Mourvedre is much more to my liking that the aforementioned Bogle (which I rated an 80).

This is a light consumable, with a sweet palate of bursting red fruit and a decent finish. Low acidity, good balance, and a slight choco-cherry aftertaste make for a good mid-week drink.

I rate it an 84/85. Good QPR and something I'd buy again in this price range.

Hey STW.

Seemed I liked the Bogle more than you, but you liked this one more than me. I think I'm beginning to learn your tastes a little better.

In any case, that weedy/vegetal, whatever it was nose does tend to turn me the other way. It was hard to pin down. Just as a tart, ripe, rasberry does, that other people really like.

But... it still was rated "good" in my book because the extraction made up for what it lacked.