TN: 2009 Philip Carter - "Cleve" (USA, Virginia, Northern Region)

  • 2009 Philip Carter Cleve - USA, Virginia, Northern Region (12/21/2011)
    – popped and poured –
    – tasted a couple glasses non-blind over approx. 90 minutes –
    – 50% Cabernet Franc, 35% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon –

NOSE: (Drank from less-than-ideal stemware, and Nose suffered somewhat as a result). Pruney oak Nose, with a slight hint of molasses.

BODY: black-purple color of great depth; medium bodied.

TASTE: very tart and acidic; oak; tart blackberry; soft polished tannins; fruit is ripe; 13% alc. is not noticeable; on the acidic side of well-balanced between acid-tannin-fruit-alcohol. Given my past experience with Virginia wines, as well as this bottle’s owners’ taste in wine, I was expecting this wine to be complete dreck; however, it was actually not completely bad – it’s certainly a serviceable food wine. This was aged in a combination of new and used French and American oak. Gut impression score: 82 – 84

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