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Mandrielle 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 |
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"Since its first release, Mandrielle has consistently scored well in Wine & Spirits' blind tastings...recent releases have all displayed a consistently Bordeaux style, interweaving wood notes with soft merlot fruit and a bass note of earth tones."
"Twelve months of aging in French oak help shape inviting aromas of red berry, sweet spice bread, slate roof and forest floor. The toasted tones are pronounced and add to this Merlot’s overall richness and flavor. An easy match to most meat dishes." 89
Bright red fruit flavors darken to figgy softness in this plush, gentle Merlot, a wine to enjoy on its own or with roast beef.
"Soft on the bouquet, with an undeniable green, lightly pickled quality. That holds true on the palate, where green notes infuse darker, riper blackberry and black plum flavors." 85
“Reserved scents of blackberry, oak and dust. Tart flavors of plum and orange zest. Wood dominates the close.” 88
“An interesting Merlot where one can see the impact of the Italian heat and sun on this varietal - - riper and more jammy that should please many folk. Tobacco notes along with jammy berry on the nose that are carried over in the palate upon tasting enough structure to hold up for a number of years but I'll enjoy this one young.” Wine of the Week
“Plenty of currants and minerals on the nose follow through to a full-bodied palate, with very refined tannins and a medium finish. A lovely, youthful red. Best after 2006.” 90
“Made from 100 percent Merlot. Nose of ripe plums, sweet cherries. Fruity sweet on the tongue. Drink now.”
“Best version of this wine we’ve tasted. It is supple and complex in style; a Merlot with medium richness, good balance and a long, smooth finish. It tastes of plum, aniseed, toasted oak and cherry. Unfiltered. (2005-2007)” * * * *
“. . .soft, silky texture and bright cherry flavors.”
“A great Merlot from a tough year. Intense but smooth, round and well balanced, recently enjoyed with steaks from the grill. While ready to drink now, it will age nicely for four or five years.”
"This is a Merlot; it’s cherry ruby with black highlights and bright cherry rim fading to white. The bouquet is bright, with tart cherry fruit that mingles with some black currant, and slight citric overtones; there are also hints of bramble, and slight sea salt. On the palate it’s medium bodied and quite round, with fairly rich cherry black currant fruit that has slight sweet plum overtones and is supported by tannins that though smooth and sweet do have vigorous cedar overtones that provide direction, and lead into a clean sweet cherry finish that gains definition from unexpected sour cherry overtones. It’s direct, but pleasant in an up-front tomboyish sort of way, and will work nicely with lesser grilled meats—an elegant burger sprinkled with truffles comes to mind, as does chicken liberally salted and peppered, and grilled with its skin on. I would drink it now, because its freshness is nice." **
"Pretty floral and berry character, with hints of rose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a slightly austere finish. Drink now. Tasted twice, with consistent notes." 86
"This medium- to full-bodied, moderately tannic and already silky smooth wine offers appealing aromas and flavors of black fruit and cassis as well as generous hints of mocha and herbs. Drinking well now but will be best from 2003-2006." 89
"Few places in the world produce Merlot as good as those to be found in Tuscany. This new vintage from Banfi has superb fruit concentration, plump flesh and fine, sweet tannins. The layered fruit complexity and outstanding mouthfeel make this one of the finest Merlots to date from the Castello Banfi estate in Montalcino. Very Good." 89
"One of the best-known Tuscan estates, Banfi has always portrayed an image both of elegance and strength. From the easy to drink Col-di-Sasso to the mega Brunello di Montalcinos, Banfi wines will always please the palate. Their seductive Super Tuscan Mandrielle uses the Merlot grape that is perhaps one of the most pleasurable red grapes out there. A deep red with purple hues, Mandrielle’s bouquet is fresh and fruity with aromas of plum and blackcurrant. And what a food wine this is! Delicious with an extraordinary range of dishes, including pasta, poultry, veal, red meats, and cheeses."
"Interesting aromas of berries and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a chocolate and smoke aftertaste." 87
"Deep garnet hue. Perfumed, spicy aromas carry a prominent oak accent. A firm entry leads to a drying, medium-bodied palate with grippy tannins. Ripe and balanced with a lingering, spicy, cool climate Merlot finish." 86
"Very ripe plumy nose with spicy layers. Supple but fine tannins. Good concentration balanced by lovely acidity and dried fruit flavours." *** Recommended
"...filled with the plumes of fruitiness that make this grape so intoxicating when it hits right on. The high-toned scents of plums edge on perfume, smoky, dynamic, soaring out of the ballpark. There's no resistance, nothing serious to weight it down, just cushions of ripe, delicious fruit in which to nestle." 92
"...opens with aromas of dark berry, cedar, chocolate, leather, tar, and smoke. The palate is smooth and bright with cherry, raspberry, red plum, strawberry, fine tannin and smoky oak before a medium to long finish which carries the fruit over tannin and oak. Nicely balanced and integrated with good acidity making a food friendly Merlot."
"General Qualities: Medium-full-bodied, light complexity, dry, soft acid, strong oak impression, modest tannins. Color: Deep purple. Aromas: Bell pepper, black cherry, black pepper. Flavors: Cherry, peppery, toast. Other Descriptors: Smooth, soft." ***
"Talk about French influence? This gorgeously seductive Merlot could easily pass for a Grand Cru Classe St. Emilion, save that it's priced about a third less than comparable French wine. Aged for 12 months in French barriques, this wine has a deep red/purple robe, with an exotic bouquet of cherries, violets and a hint of truffles. The complex, layered palate shows the lush, 'sweet' fruit and tannins of the great 1997 Tuscan vintage. This could age well, but it's just too good to resist drinking now. If you want to impress your guests without breaking the bank, this is it."
"A fascinating blend of the fruity and the august. It has a blackberry sweetness that is balanced against firm bleu cheese and vegetal notes. And the mouth feel is astonishing - I and others who tasted it describe it as "silky." Mandrielle is a great find..." ****
"Another special occasion wine, this single-vineyard, estate-bottled red from Tuscany is medium-bodied, with layers of subtle red fruit flavors. Elegant and lean..."
"General Qualities: Full-bodied, complex, dry, balanced acidity, integrated oak, modest tannins. Color: Deep purple. Aromas: Black currant, currant. Flavors: Berry, black currant, currant, raspberry. Other Descriptors: Elegant, ripe, round." ***
88 - Highly Recommended
"Lovely nose of black cherry, blackberry and clove, with pleasing new oak in evidence. Excellent structure and balance, full-bodied, opulent and silky, with lush and ripe black fruit flavors; long, elegant finish. World-class wine."
"...shows good fruit, with lots of plum and dried herb verging on bell pepper aromas. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a fruity finish." 84
"This is 100% Merlot with a big, smoky, maple bacon nose. Soft, round, rich red with that dry Tuscan fingerprint. The finish is balanced, very much in the dry Tuscan version not the opulent California style." 89
"Shows good structure for aging. A beautiful Merlot from Tuscany." 91
"Finely drawn varietal character... a pleasure to drink."
"Round and generous in the mouth, with powdery tannins through the finish. Drinking beautifully now." 90
"Unexpectedly rich and tannic on the palate, with wood influences pronounced but not overblown. A very good mouthful of wine for the price."
"Deeply colored with big-fruit flavors on the nose and palate. For the moment, the wine has a dry, tannic Finish but there is enough fruit to support this. ***1/2
"Deep blackish ruby cast. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Mildly oaked. Mildly tannic. Plums, minerals, vanilla. Quite aromatic and extremely fruit centered, with a soft, lush palate feel. Round and generous in the mouth with powdery tannins through the finish. Drinking beautifully now." 90
"This chewy wine has lovely overlays of berries, chocolate and oak." 87
"Oakey and gamey smells add richness to the berries in the bouquet. Solid tannic structure unobstructed by high acids. Great balance. Try with roasted red meats."
"Spicy, cherry bouquet...cranberry fruit flavors in a medium body." 88
"Mandrielle is truly exceptional."
"A serious red wine... having both depth and breadth" 90
"Perfumed aromas lead crisp bright fruit flavors that persist through the finish." 90
"Silky tannins and ripe fruit finish" 89
Beautifully textured wine" 90
"Fleshy and luscious" 88
"A wine true to the highest standards of its type"
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