2007 Fat Bastard Shiraz
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Fat Bastard
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: France
PURCHASED: Safeway, Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $11
NICKNAME: "Fat Bastard Shiraz"
Psydr Short & To-The-Point Wine Reviews
Below are reviews of fun little finds purchased locally. The typical cost per bottle is $10 or less, and the label probably has a little more pizazz than your traditional Barolo. But don't judge the bottle by the label. These reviews are personal and certainly non-professional evaluations of wines we've tried. Enjoy!
March 26, 2009
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Fat Bastard
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: France
PURCHASED: Safeway, Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $11
NICKNAME: "Fat Bastard Shiraz"
February 23, 2009
1 Reviews:
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February 23, 2009 at 10:55 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
I have to tell you, I'm a bit shocked by this vino. I nearly gave it a 5 Star for the pleasant surprise. Smooth. No bitter tannin aftertaste what-so-ever. Very berry with a hint of cherry. Perfect legs. Not too thin. Not to thick. Very subtle nose which might relate to the smooth overall texture and mild acidity. A really pleasant wine. Kudos to Trellis for producing such a wonderful concoction on the cheap.
Palate-wise, I'd say this Cab more resembles a Pinot than it's true heritage. It's probably a tad thin for your standard Cabernet. Very refreshing.
Served with stuffed chicken thighs and a fantastic rice pilaf, this wine really hit the spot tonight. I'm wondering if it was the roasted almonds that brought the flavor to life. Normally, this dish would be served with white wine, but I couldn't have made a better pairing if I'd tried...
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February 22, 2009
2 Reviews:
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February 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a very nice Malbec. Light and airy. There is blackberry in the color, nose, and palate. Tons of wood involved here as well. The oak really comes through. And there is a hint of cinnamon here too which I feel really enhances this wine. After all, 75% of taste is smell. I don't really notice it in the palate, but it's clear as day in the nose. Unfortunately, I can't give this bottle a 4 STAR because there is that annoying little metallic tinge afterward. It's kind of a cool, alkaline flavor similar to licking a flag pole in late autumn. I've noticed it in a few wines from Argentina lately. I have no idea where it comes from. Maybe from the storage casks after the oak aging. I just don't know. -
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May 8, 2010 at 6:24 PM ,
Karl S Mann said...
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perhaps the metallic taste is a fact that you are buying a "value" wine at Trader's....try trading up
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February 9, 2009
2005 Washington Hills Shiraz
YEAR: 2005WINERY: Washington Hills
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Washington Hills"
3 Reviews:
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February 9, 2009 at 11:19 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
A nice, solid wine. The nose tipped me off to the concoction's sweetness. A little thin and whispy for a Shiraz, but I rather like such a wine these days. The flavor was indeed sweet, but this sensation was almost immediately followed by bitterness. In fact, I had no sooner confirmed the sweet taste on the tip of the tongue when the tannins hit the back of my tongue. Nothing to be upset about. The tannins are gone in a flash. This is followed by nothing. Oddly enough, there is a distinct lack of flavor in the aftertaste...
All-in-all a good vino. Just not great. It did compliment my flank steak quite well this evening, but I just can't quite allow myself to award a fourth star. I'll just have to stick with my gut instinct here. -
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February 16, 2009 at 10:55 PM ,
said...
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I'm curious to know more about the compliment that this wine paid to your flank steak. What did it say?
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February 18, 2009 at 5:18 PM ,
psydr said...
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The flank steak was marinated in a homemade kalbi sauce for a couple of days, so the resulting product was slightly sweet with a hint of sesame. Cooked to perfection with a hint of red center, the meat was matched perfectly to this vino selection. We all know red wines are to be consumed with red meat, but this pairing was quite remarkable.
Literally, I believe I heard, "hey meat, fancy meeting you hear."
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February 7, 2009
2007 French Maid Cabernet Sauvignon
YEAR: 2007WINERY: French Maid
FLAVOR: Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
ORIGIN: France
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "French Maid Cabernet"
Labels: 2007, 4 STAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, French Maid, Red
2 Reviews:
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February 22, 2009 at 11:00 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is pretty good stuff. Of course it hits our upper price ceiling, but so what. I enjoyed this Cabernet. I feel like it's been a while since I've been semi-excited about a Cab.
Cherry and anis here, but not in a bad way. I'm usually not a fan of anis in the palate, but it might be doing this vino a little good.
The color is dark. Dark as a Cab should be.
Legs are strong. More reminiscent of a Merlot. Clinging to the sides of the glass, there is more of a thick, syrupy indication here than is actually present. I don't find this wine to be thick or overly sweet. And there is no bitterness in the aftertaste.
I've actually picked this bottle up before but failed to review it. It was good enough to purchase again, and I felt a review was due. -
At
February 26, 2011 at 8:28 AM ,
said...
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I just bought it at a gourmet/farmer's market in S Florida for 3.99.
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January 24, 2009
2007 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Red
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Georges Duboeuf
FLAVOR: Red, Blend
ORIGIN: Beaujolais, France
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $8
NICKNAME: "Duboeuf Red"
Labels: 2 STAR, 2007, France, Georges Duboeuf, Mixed Varietal, Red
1 Reviews:
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January 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Thin. Sweet. Light body. But the nose is obnoxious. Terrible really. I can't quite describe it. Annis maybe. Some sort of awful cherry concoction.
I do like the thin, crispness of the vino, and the flavor isn't bad. I just can't stand the smell. I'm pretty sure I've never been so offended by a wine's nose. If you can get past that, then this is a passable wine.
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January 15, 2009
1 Reviews:
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January 15, 2009 at 9:14 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Just when I was losing all hope, Zestos chimes in. What a relief from the last many, many wines I've tried over the past several days. This fella really hits the spot. I do believe I'm starting to acquire quite a taste for the Garnacha (aka Grenache) wines. I'm becoming more and more of a Spanish wine lover every day.
So, this guy rhymes of blackberry, current, raspberry, and cherry. Throw in anything else red and fruity and you'll start to understand the sensations I'm encountering. This is a very pleasant fruity blend. Not overly sweet. Just right really. I believe this is where the Garnacha comes in. Delicious.
The legs are perfect. Not soupy thick or chewy. And not overly thin. Really, the consistency of the concoction is perfect. Kudos to Zestos. This is one of the main characteristics of a vino which makes or breaks for me.
I'm so excited to encounter a decent wine finally that I'm probably over raving here, but that's okay. It's better to exagerate a positive than a negative. Usually humans tend towards the opposite. I'm happy to break the mold.
This is a very good wine, but not great. I can't quite give it a five star. It's soooo close though. And Zestos has given me plenty of reason to pick up the rest of their offerings. I'm eager to sample them all!
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2006 Luna Benegas Cabernet Sauvignon
YEAR: 2006WINERY: Bodega Benegas
FLAVOR: Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
ORIGIN: Mendoza, Argentina
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "Benegas Cab"
Labels: 2006, 3 STAR, Argentina, Bodega Benegas, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red
1 Reviews:
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January 15, 2009 at 1:39 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
I'm just happy this wine isn't as damn sweet as the last several. On this basis alone I give it a 3 STAR rating. It's not great. In fact, it's a bit bitter, but I crave a bit of bitter right now.
The nose: A cherry and blackberry and other darkness. It's decent. I'm happy. May I continue to be so. I might just finish this bottle this evening. We'll see.
While this wine is a bit bitter, it has a fair to good aftertaste. Nothing leaving an overly sour taste on the tongue. No overwhelming tannins. Let's rejoice.
In general, I praise this purple stuff with a plaque of non-crappiness. Try a bottle. I think it's worthy... even as a ten dollar venture.
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January 11, 2009
1 Reviews:
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January 11, 2009 at 8:07 PM ,
psydr said...
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This wine is crap. Sweet enough to rot out your teeth and chewy enough to make your jaw sore. Seriously, this is awful. I should give it a "0," but I'm feeling generous. I usually reserve "0" for the absolute garbage. Let me tell you, this one is close to the bottom of the proverbial barrel.
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January 7, 2009
2006 J. W. Morris Cabernet Sauvignon
YEAR: 2006WINERY: J. W. Morris
FLAVOR: Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
ORIGIN: California, USA
PURCHASED: Trader Joe's, Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $3
NICKNAME: "Cheap-as-Dirt Cab"
Labels: 2006, 3 STAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, J. W. Morris, Red, USA
1 Reviews:
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January 7, 2009 at 11:04 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
For $3 you really can't go wrong. This wine is average. Maybe a tad sweet in the tooth and a bit leggy, but for three bucks what do you expect? Still, I'm giving this beverage a 3 STAR rating. I've had much worse bottles at ten times the cost.
This stuff can be picked up at Trader Joe's for nearly free, and it's a good bottle to have around for non-discerning guests. Serve it. People won't puke. Most of them won't even be offended.
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January 6, 2009
2007 Trader Joe's Zinfandel
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Trader Joe's
FLAVOR: Red, Zinfandel
ORIGIN: California, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $4
NICKNAME: "Trader Joe's Zin"
1 Reviews:
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January 6, 2009 at 7:13 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a decent wine... And I just realized it's the first Zin I've reviewed here. It compliments the Curry Chicken Artichoke Casserole I just devoured quite nicely. Very light bodied as one would expect in a Zin and very refreshing. This is an excellent purchase at $4. I highly suggest picking up a bottle or two at your local TJ's.
Being light in color and light in nose it's sure not to offend. I would suggest you could get away with serving this beverage to those who prefer a more substantial wine due to its thick legs. Yes, the legs are a tad heavy, but it doesn't lead one to being overwhelmed with sweetness as one would expect. The legs are misleading, but in a good way. Especially if you do prefer a good Syrah or Pinot.
As I mentioned, the aroma is light as well, but there is a hint of tannin and Earth leading to a dirty smell. Good though. Earthy is good...
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January 2, 2009
1 Reviews:
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January 4, 2009 at 6:08 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Another overly sweet beverage. That's two vinos in a row I've found to be a little overwhelming. However, the legs are fine. I do not find them to be too thick. And the aroma is pleasing.
I purchased this bottle on a recommendation of the store's staff. I feel like it is the same lady I've been disappointed by before. Perhaps I should take this to heart and realize I am to NOT purchase anything she recommends. Perhaps I should go so far as to ask her for her advice and then purposefully NOT pick the bottle up. Of course I would carry it off in her presence, but only to put it back whence it came after she walks away to dis-enlighten another patron.
Ah, who am I kidding? I'll review anything, and it's getting harder and harder to find wines under ten bones I have yet to review.
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December 30, 2008
1 Reviews:
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December 31, 2008 at 1:14 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Okay, this isn't my favorite Pinot. The hue shifts towards the purple side a bit too far for a Pinot, which to me indicated it was going to be a bit sweet. It is. The nose is also sweet. Quite fruity. The first thing that comes to mind is cherry. Tons of it. The cherry flavor is very, very strong. Surprisingly so, and terribly overwhelming. Too sweet. Hob Nob needs to figure out how to tone this down a bit. Dial down on the fruit in this case I say.
On the plus side, there's no bitter aftertaste. No tannins what-so-ever that I can identify. Not too thick either. The legs are just right. It's really too bad this concoction is so sweet. This could be a good wine. The roots are there. If Hob Nob would just cut back the vines a bit...
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November 7, 2008
1 Reviews:
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November 8, 2008 at 1:06 AM ,
psydr said...
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Another sweet beverage. There is however a little more substance to this vino. There's more Earth and tannins. A bit too much for my taste and too much of a contrast to the sweetness I'm experiencing. These are both immature wines that could use some more time in the bottle. The sugars have yet to break down properly.
I picked these two bottles up due to their price and label. Nifty label. Good price. I figured this would be a good opportunity to sample a Tempranillo and Garnacha from the same vineyard simultaneously and compare the two side by side.
The result is... I believe I prefer the Tempranillo to the Garnacha. But the Tempranillo wins by only the slightest of margins. It's ever so slightly sweeter and has less of a bitter aftertaste. However, I'm pretty certain the Garnacha would be the preferred beverage with food.
I know I'm only giving these fellas a 3 STAR rating, but I would not hesitate to purchase either again. They're both decent wines and probably crowd pleasers on any given day...
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November 6, 2008
1 Reviews:
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November 8, 2008 at 12:10 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a sweet Tempranillo for sure. Sweet from beginning to end. Probably could've used a bit more time in the casks. Not a bad vino, just a bit of not-quite-ready. I'm not saying it's grape juice or anything. I just think the vintage is a bit immature...
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November 3, 2008
2005 Tomas Cusine Vilosell
YEAR: 2005WINERY: Tomas Cusine
FLAVOR: Red, 49% Tempranillo, 28.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Garnacha, 10.5% Merlot
ORIGIN: Costers del Serge, Spain
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $12
NICKNAME: "Vilosell"
Labels: 2005, 4 STAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, Spain, Tempranillo, Tomas Cusine
1 Reviews:
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November 3, 2008 at 9:23 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a very good Spanish offering. It really is. Being an accidental purchase, I was taken a little by surprise. When I placed the vessel in my basket at the store I could not find a price listed anywhere. But having grabbed it from the "lower" shelf with the rest of my sub-ten-buck purchases, I just assumed it was similarly priced. However, upon scanning the item during self-checkout I found the bottle to be priced closer to $14, but the clerk gave me a $2 break since the price was not clearly marked. Sweet!
This is a wonderful blend with a strong Tempranillo base. The other key varietal in my opinion is the Merlot. It's addition really smooths out the tannins in the Tempranillo and Garnacha. The nose is mainly berry with a hint of smokey residue. While the palate portrays blackberry and raspberry I would not call it overly fruity by any means. And then there's a little bite in the end. A good bite though. Just enough of one to let you know it means business. Some other reviews have listed this trait as spicy. At least I believe that is what they're referring to. What do I know???
So, we all know red wines go well with red meat. No other red in my experience has proven this to be more so. There's just something about it that REALLY compliments a thick, juicy, delicious fillet. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but I think you'll understand if you give this vino a try. It's almost a dirty, gritty flavor that is very, very good and carnal.
With just the slightest bit less bite in the end, this wine would be perfect, and I would grant it a 5 STAR rating. As is, I'm officially listing this as a 4.9 STAR. I'm excited to try future vintages from Tomas.
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November 2, 2008
2003 Hoodsport Cabernet Merlot
YEAR: 2003WINERY: Hoodsport
FLAVOR: Red, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $8
NICKNAME: "Hoodsport Blah"
Labels: 1 STAR, 2003, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hoodsport, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, USA
1 Reviews:
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November 2, 2008 at 11:30 PM ,
psydr said...
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1 OUT OF 5 STARS
Wow! Another crappy wine. This is not a good start for Hoodsport. I can take a hint. I promise not to buy another...
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1 Reviews:
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November 2, 2008 at 8:18 PM ,
psydr said...
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1 OUT OF 5 STARS
Not so hot. This merlot has very little resemblance to an actual merlot. It tastes more like bitter grape juice. Not a juice I'd ever buy again. It's a nasty, bitter mess. Yuk.
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October 27, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 at 5:54 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Fairly smooth for a Cabernet. Just a little edgy in the aftertaste. You definitely taste the earth in this beverage. Perhaps a little too much so... The other predominant flavor is blackberry. But you only notice it for a moment. Then the earth takes over.
Not one of my favorites.
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October 25, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 25, 2008 at 5:51 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
A plumy and bitter Malbec. Honestly, this is what I traditionally expect from a Malbec. It's just that I've had the pleasure of consuming some really delicious, non-standard Malbecs as of late. And in comparison this one is a bit of a disappointment. But maybe it shouldn't be. If you tend to enjoy Malbecs, then this bottle may be for you. It IS quite earthy. I'm just not digging it.
I type this review in the cafe where the bottle was purchased. A nice place. Very poche, uncrowded, and relaxing. I might as well as give them a little free advertising here. It's called Geneve Cafe & Wine Bar. Stop in for a coffee or sandwich... or bottle of wine.
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1 Reviews:
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Very pungent cherry with a dull aftertaste. Not bad, but not as good as previous Fat Bastard offerings in my opinion. Very, very dark purple in color. More like a Cabernet than a Shiraz. Good flavor though. Not too strong. No bitter end. Honestly, I'm surprised by the difference a year can make. While I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this bottle again, I don't highly recommend it either... and I remember really enjoying the previous Fat Bastard Shiraz. Oh, well. What can one do?
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