4/5/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

From my private cellar acquired since the released on the market.It exhibits a garnet colour with brick rim.At the first sniffed the wine is immediately very forward with very mature cherry,spicy,liquirice with breath it reminds a Porto, with ripe fruits it seems to be older than a 1997.The sip is soft and powerful with a mature sour cherry well balanced,round and remarkable persistance.It's better in the mouth than at the nose, but take into consideration the vintage (1997 is considered a great vintage in Tuscany.......but I've some doubt)I've to say that this tasting of Siepi 1997 is disappointing.Drink up quickly because the wine is dying away!!!!!

3/29/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

Wow a great job here, in a considerable vintage for Montevertine.A wonderful bright ruby colour with pale rim.Just poured it is immediately polished it exhibits a powerful nose of dark cherry, black pepper,eucalyptus, chocolate it gains complexity with oxigen.The sip is lively sharp with flavours of black cherry with the typical acidity of sangiovese great definition and nice persistance.This is a perfect matching with meat and game.At this stage is very young with many years ahead.Probably the best Montevertine ever produced!!!!!!!

2/26/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

Popped and poured without decanting the wine displays a nice pale garnet colour.The first sniff boasts cherry,black cherry.black pepper,tobacco orange peeel and vanilla.It exhibits more elegance than power.In the mouth the tannins are smooth with ripe fruits in evidence, it lacks some complexity and roundness.A decent final but not a great vintage for Tignanello.It's ready to drink but it'll last some more years in the cellar.

2/3/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

A nice vintage from this famous estate,just poured in the glass is very closed thus decanting is necessary it displays a deep ruby colour with youthful rim. The nose after breathing is complex with cassis,blueberry,black pepper,pencil lead,thyme(herbs),tobacco it improves in the glass constantly,complex wine.The entry is smooth with sour cherry very ripe,with full body, round, good definition and long final.Lynch Bages 1995 is very young yet thus it needs some more years of cellaring.It will certainly improve.

2/3/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

A nice blend of sangiovese,cabernet sauvignon and merlot from Colombaio di Cencio.The bottle has been stored in my cellar since the release on the market.The wine exhibits a bright purple colour with violet rim.It boasts a very elegant nose with cherry,spices,tobacco,vanilla,the oak is perfecly integrated.The mouth is powerful with soft tannins, lively acidiy,good denifition and a remarkable persistance.Il Futuro 1997 has many years ahead this is a great value.

1/31/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

The wine exhibits a purple colour with garnet rim,at the nose, without decanting, black cherry, cherry,tobacco,vanilla,roasted herbs and spices.The entry is smooth with nice acidity,mature tannins with ripe fruits,round and well balanced,decent persistance in the final.Casalferro 1997 is a ready drinking that does not need some more cellaring.Perfect food matching with meat.

1/20/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

This is a very impressive wine considering the poor vintage.A pale ruby colour with garnet rim.Just poured the nose is closed and unclean but it improves constantly after half an hour in the glass.A very ripe fruits,toasty,blueberry,cherries,roasted herbs,black pepper,orange peel,liquorice,cedar,tobacco really nice, it delivers in the glass.
The mouth is soft,with mature tannins,very well balanced,long,it lacks power but point out elegance and finesse.Overall a complete success from this famous Chateau ready to drink now but it has some more year aheah.Great stuff!!!!!!

1/20/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at lunch and finished at dinner with similar notes.A bright ruby colour with youfhful signs a the rim.A mature cherry,spices,leather,saddle,vanilla,tobacco,the oak in in evidence yet so it needs some years more to integrate.The entry is smooth,with ripe sweet fruits, medium to full body,nice acidity, it just lacks some more complexity, a decent persistance.This a very nice second wine from Chateau Evangile,will certainly improve with cellaring.

1/13/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

Uncorked and poured in the glass the wine exihibits a gold colour with ageing signs.At the nose is mature of course with banana,peanut,almond,dry flowers,flint(stone),mineral.The sips is smooth, no end persistance,well balanced.Ready to drink, no reasons to keep it.It need oxigen to open, very well made.

1/13/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

This is the first vintage released of Castello di Fonterutoli, always kept in my cellar since I acquired it.
Popped and poured without decanting the wine is already polished on the nose.Nice red colour with garnet rim not very deep.
A huge sweet cherry with black pepper very intense and elegant the fruit is perfectly integrated in the oak.Awesome acidity in the
mouth,lively sharp with mature tannins is a perfect food matching.It's at his peak now but can be cellared for 5/6 years yet.Castello di
Fonterutoli is a perfect example of what sangiovese can display.

1/5/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

Popped and poured without decanting,drank in a Burgundy Riedel Sommelier line. The colour is bright red ruby with pale rim and youthful signs.The wine is immediately polished at the nose and improves constantly in the glass.It exhibits an explosive aroma of cherry, plum,roasted herbs(oregano, thyme) pencil lead, black pepper very elegant with the oak perfectly integrated with the fruit,this is a burly wine.The entry is soft with smooth and silky tannins, ripe fruit,round perfectly balanced
The persistance is amazing,very long, really impressive.Angelus 1994 is a ready drinking but can be cellared for many years yet.Great stuff in the bottle!!!!!
The 1994 is a decent vintage for the right bank,I'd say excellent for Angelus.

1/5/2008 - Marco68 wrote:

Acquired just released at the Castello di Volpaia and cellared in my private cellar in Udine.Nice purple colour with pale ruby rim, it exhibits an elegant nose full of life with black cherry,black pepper,vanilla, but the oak is still in evidence.Lively acidity in the mouth typical of sangiovese it lacks persistance.
Overall this is a traditional well made chianti classico that respects the terroir.Un piacere con una fiorentina!!!!!!!!

12/30/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Cellared in my wine-cellar since the release Saffredi 00 displays a very nice colour bright purple with youthful signs.
There is still some oak on the nose so decanting is adviced( even if the day after the oak was not disappeared, I think will
be the problem of this wine also for the future).At the nose the fruits are ripe, a bitter cherry,black cherry,black pepper
vanilla, but the alcohol is in evidence,so there's no great integration withthe fruit.The entry is soft with smooth tannins
the wine is sharp and long but it lacks roundness finesse and elegance.Disappointing for Le Pupille and no great
improvements with cellaring expected for the future.If you consider the price (46,00 EURO in Italy on the shelves)
this not a great bargain.Sorry Miss Geppetti!!!!!!

12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Very reticent at first it needs oxigen to open,then improve continuously in the glass it boasts powerful and complexity layer of layer of mature fruits,silky tannins,perfect acidity will last for many many years.

12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Gruaud just poured is immediately approachable,polished, nice ruby colour with garnet rim,the nose is very complex ripe black fruits,leather,saddle,pencil lead,roasted herbs, tobacco.The sip is well balanced with many years ahead.

12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

It needs to breath, at first the nose is dirty,musty,a bit ahead then on the nose cherry,black cherry,kirsh,the mouth is remarkable with good balance,smooth and nice acidity.Ready to drink,no reasons to keep it.

12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Mute just poured it improves with oxigen and emphasises the typical notes of Lagrange,ripe fruits,roasted herbs,leather, very elegant,tobacco a complex nose.
The mouth is full and sweet but it lacks power and persistance

12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Red ruby colour with brick rim it's very complex on the nose,black mature fruits,cedar,pencil lead,meaty,this a burly wine.
It improve in the glass considerably during the tasting.On the entry, silky tannins, full body with a long finish.Awesome
93 points

12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Popped at lunch Ducru 99 shows purple colour with very youthful signs, in the glass is very ripe with the oak in evidence yet.
At the nose cherry,currant,blackberry,blueberry,black pepper,pencil lead,vanilla,tobacco you can find a really nice complexity.
The mouth is smooth and soft, but it doesn't have the same complexity of the nose,it lacks more power and grip.
The wine at this stage is still very young, but already approachable, it'll age well but of course 1999 is not a great vintage.
Anyway,the steady quality of Ducru Beaucaillou, is not questionable!!!!!

12/19/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at lunch with my friend Sergio drank with culatello and cheese, pale ruby colour with youthful signs,the wine improve in the glass after correct breathing.
Very elegant on the nose,with ripe cherry,sweet black pepper(sechuan),tobacco,moka,layer of fruits.
Silky entry with nice acidity, just lacks some more powerful and persistance.At this stage 90points but will gain complexity in the
next years.Another great wine from this famous Domaine.

12/16/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Complitely undrinkable.A shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/16/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Amazing ruby colour, Les Forts is reticent just poured in the glass,after breathing,it boasts great definition and purity,awesome nose of cherry
currant,roasted herbs,leather,very elegant,with ripe tannins it improve in the glass.Silky entry,great balance,at this stage is tight, with lively acidity.
The final lacks just little more persistance to have a better score,but there's great stuff here,really well made in this glorious vintage.
With correct cellaring Les Forts 2000 will last for long time(20years and more).

12/15/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

This a modern style barbera,purple colour with pale violet rim.At the nose layer of layer of oak ,some mature cherry,vanilla,tobacco after one hour in the glass.
The entry is powerful,with nice acidity,long finish.It's a burly barbera with some more years ahead, but no emotions here!!!!This is a 3 glasses Gambero Rosso,
but I've some doubt about it.

12/9/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Just released from the Fattoria di Felsina the wine emphasise a nice purple colour, very ripe on the nose,cherry,black cherry,black pepper,vanilla,scents of tobacco
very elegant.The sip is sharp,mature tannins,round,it lacks some powerful and much more complexity.At this stage 88 but can improve with cellaring.If you consider the price this is a great value coming from Toscana.

1/12/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

There's very few to say about Lagrange:in every vintage tasted there is a steady quality into the bottle.
The 2001 emphasise the typrical notes of Lagrange :bitter cherry, roasted herbs,leather.black pepper,sweet tobacco.
Very well integrated oak, the enttry is roud,nice acidity,long persistance.The wine is very young at this stage and can be cellared
for many years.The 2001 is not far the glorious 2000.This Saint julien is definitely a great value!!!!!!!

12/1/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A pale yellow, this chassagne has an interesting fresh, creamy nose,peach,pear,lemon,mint,vanilla with a very integrate oak.
The sip is soft and balanced but a bit short. Niice but not great from this famous estate.

11/24/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

From my private cellar a very serious wine.Beautiful colour ,a purple red with youthful signs.
It needs oxigen, just poured in the glass it is disappointing but after half an hour is much better.
Beautiful nose of cherry,black cherry,blackberry.currant, very elegant,gains complexity in the glass,well integrated oak,ripe.
The mouth boast a bitter cherry,a smooth entrance,well balance, a sharp acidity,it lacks some more power
but the persistance is remarkable.
Even if it's not correct to call it second wine, Clos du Marquis is one of the best second labels in Bordeaux.It'll improve in the bottle
for many years.

11/16/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Directly from my private cellar, tasted blind, decanted at the beginning of the dinner and drunk after a couple of hours.
The wine display an incredible brick red colour, if you consider the vintage.The nose is still very fresh,with no ageing signs
red fruits,leather,saddle,roasted herbs.But the most exciting moment is the sip.
Silky tannins,round,well balance with amazing persistance.It gains complexity in the glass and improve until the end.
Really an emotional tasting!!!Vieux Chateau Certan 75 has some more years ahead,but it is at his pick now,so if you have some
bottle don't hesitate to uncork!!!!

11/10/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A deep ruby colour with garnet rim.The nose displays the usual notes of blackberry,currant,black pepper,and oak in evidence.
The entry is soft and silky but it lacks some acidity,there is a disappointing sweetness in the mouth........new world style.
After amazing vintages tasted this is the first don't convince me too much.

11/1/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Remarkable second wine from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou.Pale ruby colour the wine is ripe, very elegant with complex nose,scented rose(like a bourgogne)
roasted herbs,black pepper.In the mouth it lacks power and persistance,but considering the price it's a good value.Can be cellared for5/6 yers more.
Great stuff.

10/31/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Nice colour,purple with a pale rim,at the nose really too much oak,cherry in evidence, pepper.The wine lacks balance and slightly simple.
The fruit can't absorb the oak so if you have some bottles is a ready drinking.No reasons to keep it it'won't improve.Disappointing for Asinone.

10/27/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Deep ruby colour,very modern at the nose,red fruits,roasted herbs,leather(some feature similar a cabernet sauvignon).
It lacks complexity, not very balanced.Very disappointing Brunello (3 glasses Gambero Rosso).Average.

10/27/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A deep ruby colour modern in style, at the nose black cherry,bitter cherry,black pepper,leather in the mouth it's quite simple
it lacks complexity and persistance.Not great emotions here, too much oak 86 points.

10/27/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A pale ruby colour very backward a lean black cherry,very few at the nose at the moment.In the mouth is very elegant with silky tannins very sharp with a long long persistance.Not ready now if you want to uncork, decanting is necessary.Can be cellared for many years.89 points at the moment but it'll certainly improve in the bottle.

10/27/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Ruby colour not very deep, at the nose cherry,black cherry spices,orange peel, silky tannins, round with a good acidity, great balance
and good persistance.

10/27/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A deep ruby colour ,very ripe nose of black cherry vanilla,saddle,black pepper, nice acidity,powerful and great persistance.Ready now but can be cellared for many years.

10/22/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Tasted at lunch and finished the day after at dinner with similar notes.A deep ruby colour, no ageing sign,very complex nose, black cherry,bitter cherry,black pepper,saddle, and leather.Good balance,pleasant acidity, round, ripe tannins but considering the producer and the great vintage it lacks power and persistance.
Ready now, but can be cellared for some years more.A decent wine but not a blockbuster!!!

10/14/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

The notes are very similar to sauvignon,pale yellow colour, at the nose tropical fruits , fruit passion,peach,vanilla,butter, creamy wine with a good acidity,great freshness.
A nice chardonnay, New Zeland style.....even if I can't understand the meaning of a similar cork!!!!!

10/12/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A traditional style Chianti Classico from Castelnuovo Berardenga(SI- ITA).Ruby pale colour (like a modern Pinot Noir) very interesting nose,ripe fruits, cherry, black cherry,black pepper.The entrance is smooth, well balanced,round and with a good acidity.Quite long persistance.If you consider that 2003 is a rough vintage
this is a completly success, definitely a good value.Can be cellared for 5/6 years more.

10/7/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

From my private cellar, drank without decanting, in the new Riedel line Vitis, awesome glass.Red ruby colour with youthful signs.
The nose is very complex, layer of red fruits (bitter cherry) cedar,red pepper,roasted herbs,wet earth,black pepper,vanilla and chocolate.
The entrance is silky with mature tannins,good balance,round and nice acidity.
The final is very long.Lagrange 2000 can be cellared for several years,it'll gain even more complexity.
Really a remarkable value, definitely great stuff!!!!

9/30/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at dinner and finished the day before.I decanted the bottle a couple of hours , at first sniff the wine is very backward, dirty at the nose and very poor.
Some spices, leather, average in the mouth, short, really a disappointing for Faiveley.Left half a bottle!!!The day before the wine is much better, the nose is
quite interesting with red fruits, spices,herbs,strange nose for a pinot noir, very similar to a mature Bordeaux.In the mouth is jammy ,sharp and quite long.If you have a bottle don't be scared to decant it for 6/8 hours.However considering the price not a good value.Average!!!

9/30/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Tasted 3 times in the last 2 years with similar notes.A great effort for Pichon Lalande in an average vintage.The colour is purple with no ageing signs, the nose is very complex with layer of fruits,leather,tobacco, herbs(thyme,oregano),black pepper.The mouth is very round,balanced,with silky tannins,very long.
Is full of life one of the best 1981 tasted.At his peak now but you can cellared some years more.Great!!!!!!

9/30/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at dinner with Ale and Henry, a nice evening and drunk with a raw tuna.The colour is a deep golden, at the nose is very mature with dry fruit (nuts,peanuts) some apricot and orange peel.In the mouth the wine is fresher, round and persistance.Not a blockbuster but a nice mature champagne.
If you have in the cellar uncork now,no reason to keep it.

9/28/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Open at dinner with friends cellared in my cellar since the release.The colour is a nice mature golden yellow similar a sweet wine.At the nose is full of life with in evidence dry fruits(peanuts), dry flowers, orange peel,apricot,vanilla and butter.In the mouth is roud, nice acidity silki tannins and a long persistance.
A great italian chardonnay!!!Pay attention not to serve too cool, 13/14 degrees will be perfect.Besides a perfect food matching wine.At his peak now but can be cellared some more years yet.

9/23/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Corked not drinkable........

9/23/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at luch,in a bright nice days in Colugna (UD -Italy) with Andrea,Barbara,Rick and Stefy.Just uncorked,immediately decanted for 3 hours it shows ruby colour with no ageing signs.At the nose at first sniff is very backward so if you have a bottle breathing is necessary.
It boasts, blackberry,blueberry,cedar,orange peel,tobacco and earthy notes.
The wine is round and silky in the mouth,it improve in the glass with a long persistance!really a good value with some more years ahead with correct cellaring.
Overall a traditional style wine, ready drinking a perfect food matching.Unfortunately it was last bottle!!!!!!!

9/23/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at lunch in Colugna (UD-ITALY) with my friends Andrew and Ricky.Drank with an amazing hand made egg- pasta with porcini's,and beef ragout.The wine has been decanted a couple of hours, it shows a pale garnet colours with a hint of light brick hue.At the nose is very forward, maybe not a perfect bottle, with mature fruits, tobacco and orange peel.In the mouth it lacks some complexity and persistance.Not bad, but no great emotions.Definitely can be better in perfect conditions.

9/22/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Open at dinner and drank in a Riedel Extreme line pinot noir.Well I have to say that I expected more considering the vintage and the famous producer. The colour is a pale yellow, the nose is complex after breathing with peach,passion fruit.orange peel, pineapple,mango.In the mouth lacks complexity,
it's lean, I'd like to have more grip, nice acidity and persistance.The wine is too young (just received from the producer) to have a definitive judgement.At this stage 85 points but can definitely improve with cellaring.

9/21/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

Opened at luch and finished at dinner, the wine doesn't change significantly his feature.The colour is a pale red with youthful signs, the sniff is slight disappointing
a sweet confection nose, very modern in style, a bit boring!!In the mouth is round and powerful with a long persistance for a first entry pinot noir.Not bad but no emotions!!!!

9/15/2007 - Marco68 wrote:

A real shame......