After an hour, it really opened and provided a delicious experience. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are well defined. The Sangiovese provides a slight sour note that makes the win pop. Soft tannins and sustained finish. Great food wine. Paired weell with turkey and fried/baked eggplant and zucchini. Pleasant ny itself as well.
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Further to my Note of July 4, 2020: Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Noticeable change over the past year. Amber edge appears. Beef bouillon and mushrooms have emerged on the nose along with the faded red fruit. Interesting on its own, but much better with food: good complement to pork ragu pasta with mushrooms. No reason to hold.
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Gorgeous, concentrated black cherry opaque color with pink at the edge in the glass. Tobacco and saddle (baseball glove) leather, sans the dusty earth of the 20% Sangiovese (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc), with sweet, vanilla scented dark blue/black fruit on the nose. The mouthfeel has gentle residual tannin with subtle fruit flavors that are initially hesitant to present, perhaps due to the 50 degree Fahrenheit basement wine cellar temperature, with persistent tannins on the finish. Broiled sirloin steak will likely coax out these flavors, although this 14 year old wine, in spite of its dense appearance, may prove to be shy and subtle. As the wine warms, the fruit is fleshing out, more felt in the mouth than tasted. More to follow. After time the mouthfeel is more viscous and voluptuous with more fruit appreciated on the mid palate and finish, encased by tannins that seem to restrain the emergence of the fruit. Perhaps, if we had exercised more restraint and saved some of the wine for tomorrow we might find a differing semblance of fruit to tannin. Alas we were not able to delay our pleasure. In spite of optimum cellaring, we should have had this beauty 2-3 years ago.
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The flavors are inversely proportional to the grape content. The Cabernet Franc provides most of the taste, followed by the Sangiovese, and almost nothing from the Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied with a long finish. Great food wine.
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Further to my note of March 18, 2020: Tried another bottle with consistent notes: mature dark fruits, bit of old leather, good mouthfeel. Still at least notable. Glad I have more but don't need more than that.
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Bought 4b for 20/b from a local independent retailer about 10 years ago; this is #1. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Dark purple; cassis, some spice; mature cabernet sauv, some cherry, good mouthfeel; some persistence. From trying other vintages, I think this benefits from several years of aging. Delicious, glad I have more. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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Ethereal. I see that my notes and points have risen over the years, from a 90 in 2012, to a 92 in 2016, and now a 94 in 2019. This clearly earns its stripes with age. Tonight’s bottle was magnificent.
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Still some dark fruit though much has faded. Quite nice tertiary notes: earthy, grilled meats, umami, strong tannins, medium acid. Still drinking well just aging. Not sure it will improve but should be a nice aged wine.
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Moved from a 90 to a 92 on the second day. Really well integrated and beautiful velvety tannins. Wood is there but just adds to the rounded feel and the long finish. This has several more years but drinking great now. Alas, it is my last bottle.
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Wood plays a large part of this wine and it is done extremely well. I imagine barriques are used. I feel this vintage still has a few years before it begins declines.
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For my previous bottle of this wine which I popped almost 4 years ago I noted a bit of funkiness that dissipated after decanting, but I didn't get any of that this time. It's drinking beautifully, plenty of dark fruit and oaky tannins. I'm also picking up subdued leather notes this time. Nice! Probably still has a lot of life left, which is great because one last bottle remains in the cellar..
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This is likely at its peak, showing beautifully now. Similar to previous notes from three years ago, this has telltale tones of sunburnt leather that are typical for the terroir. This is delicious, easy to drink and full of live. 93+pts.
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This beauty continues to mature nicely. Rich and complex fruit with a terrific sense of balance and terroir. Drank wonderfully through the first night, and just lost a bit by the 2nd night. No need to decant unless you're particularly averse to sediment (this has a fair amount right now). Looking forward to drinking the next (and last) one in a couple years.
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Contrary to what some reviewers have stated, this is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc. That is what the label and the website both state. It is opaque, medium (+) ruby in color, with garnet hues on the rim. The nose is clean, developing, with a dollop of new French oak-induced vanilla and sweet baking spices. The oak is nicely integrated with the blackberry and black currant aromas. After a little aeration, some forest floor, cedar and caramel aromas emerge. The palate is dry, but bursting with sweet, ripe blackberry and red plums. The fruit is balanced nicely by the medium (+) acidity. The alcohol is medium and unobtrusive at 13.5%. The medium (++) oak tannins, however, are still a little too pronounced, so the wine has a medium (+) to long, drying, chalky, cottony finish. This is a remarkably youthful wine for its age, which is good by itself but better with hearty food. It is drinking beautifully now and has the chops to last 2-5 more years. It is a really good value in the mid-$20s.
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I always have a problem with Sangiovese I find it as an inferior grape in wine making unless your rating it to itself. Tasted many Brunello but they just don't have the umph. When I tasted this one I was surprised but then I realized it was mostly cab and a super Tuscan. Very well made lots of berries lplums earth tones thank good it's only 20% sangiovese. Trying to drink my Italian wines slowly and not further adding any to my cellar.
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A musty, corky note was prevalent on the nose but didn't detract from the earthy, dark fruit aromas. The palate was bright, full-bodied, with a blast of red fruit, cardamom, garam masala spice, and lots of grip on the finish. Would've garnered a higher score if not for the uptown cork funk.
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When first opened the wine shows metallic and licorice notes on the nose and palate and continuing through to the finish. The tannins mellow substantially after a few hours in a decanter but remain grainy. It doesn't truly open up for 2-3 days when it begins to show pomegranate, currants and BBQ. Slowly drank this bottle over 4-5 days and it easily could have held up longer. 89 points now, will be 90+ if a few years.
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Crimson, brown purple color. Nose of dark ripe cherries. Palate is dominated by tannins and mineralaty; surprising given the age of the wine. A fair bit of sediment. Nice if you're in the mood for a chianti - the cab is understated. 5+12+16+7=90
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My previous notes apply to this bottle too. As some other have said, the tannins are somewhat overwhelming until it has been decanted. Then it's a nicely balanced wine, lacking the complexity expected of a $20+ bottle. Nothing wrong with it, after decanting, but hardly memorable.
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Similar to previous notes. This is a lovely expressive wine, showing equally well on the 2nd day. The wine has some telltale sunburned leather tones that really give you a sense of its terroir. Excellent value.
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A step up for me at least from previous bottle, notes of some leather, polish dark fruit mix, tannins are still quite over bearing on the palate and rob the wine of any finesse
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Concur with other tasters that there is a bit of funkiness on the nose that dissipates with decanting. I'm getting a good dose of bell pepper as well, along with dark fruit. Tannins are still thick, so no doubt this one will age nicely.
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Started off with a good dose of funk, which got in the way of what otherwise seemed like nice fruit. After about 75 min. of air, though, most of the funk had dissipated and the wine was showing quite well. Fuller bodied, with a mix of red and black fruits that seemed representative of the Sangio/Cab blend. Also had decent acidity, which kept it on the lively side. Smooth and clean on the finish.
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Popped and poured. This is a very dark red. The nose has a bit of earth that develops with coaxing. There are also some glimpses of mustiness suggesting a TCA problem. The mouth is tart with some slight cherry. Overall, this seems a dud, although it may be due to TCA. Either way, I'm not goin back for seconds. 79 points.
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A racy concoction of bright blue and black fruits, some licorice but mainly blackberry, with a lovely refined dryness to the finish - could almost be mistaken for a Napa cab. Very accessible now, though better on the 2nd day.
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lots of upfront dark fruit on the nose and palate, but i found this excessively tannic and they dominated t e mid palate through the finish .... not for me
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The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Strawberry, Raspberry, and Plum. It tastes like Plum, Mineral, Clove, and Coffee. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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I agree 100% with the critics on this wine as it was fabulous. I really get a big smile on my face when I pull a bottle from the cellar that I have not had before and from the first pour I know it is good juice. This was a gift from my wife so I did not do any research on the wine. Un mistakenly old-world with leather, black olives, dried fruit and a complex nose and long finish. As a bonus paired fantastic with grilled veggies and pasta. I swear some of the most enjoyable bottles I have had are Italian wines.
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Enjoyable aromas of raspberry, scorched earth, tar & some meaty notes. The palate starts off with dark fruit, followed by balsamic, a bit of meat/earth, and ends with a lengthy finish with medium tannins/acid. The alcohol is not noticeable. I'm sure this saw oak influence, but it is well integrated. For my palate this is drinking well now though young and should last several more years.
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Very nice wine. Just started sipping it, enjoyable, perhaps a little extra tannin at this stage, but we'll see how it opens up. 30 minutes later with homemade minnestrone - very nice.
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A beautifully balanced wine; soft tannins, light spices, oak, berries. Great sipping wine, and didn't need much air either. However I found it lacking that "spark" that great wines exhibit... Maybe it will come with age...
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A very full bodied wine. Lots of spice and oak which went well with the duck breast with a red wine reduction sauce. It was actually a great food pairing of this wine and duck breast. Dark color with subtle hints of fruit. Probably berries and a bit of vanilla. A bit young
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I didn't get much Cabernet with this wine. Heavy dark red fruit that smoothed out over the evening. Nice finish but not up there with great Tuscan wines.
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Excellent Super Tuscan. Very smooth with great flavor. Just a bit tannic, so I can't wait to try it again in a few years to see how it develops. If drinking now, decant.
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Value Super-Tuscan that delivers! Fantastic nose that screams Tuscany - only abt 20% Sangio in the blend (the rest: 65% cab, 15% cab franc) but it sticks out the most. Ample fruit with great balance and rich tannins. Nice complexity on the palate. The cab franc plays a nice role in the complexity here as well, adding some herbal and vegetal layers to nose and palate. Fantastico!
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We had this wine at Vigalucci's in Carlsbad CA. A great Italian restaurant. It has a very typical Toscana profile. With a nose of dark cherries, barn yard, and vanilla. On the palette there are gripping tannins with dark plum fruit, earth, leather, and a slate/graphite character. The wine improved through out the meal and was great with the food.
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Fantastic wine and amazing QPR! Lots of bright red fruit balanced with a strong Tuscan profile, earthy, structured... simply wonderful! NOTE: Although this is approachable right away, this bottle needs an easy 1-2hrs+ in the decanter to truly come alive and keeps getting better for hours beyond. We left a glass in the bottle uncorked by accident over night, and the next day that glass was the best one yet. So let this age for a long long time or else decant this to the exteme.
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Decanted for an hour, then ran through Venturi. Finally started to open about an hour later when we were polishing off the bottle. Silky and great cherry fruit when it started to open. Will wait another 2-3 years on my other bottle.
Excellent nose of violets, cherry, and a little bit of earth. Drinks better on day 2, with more time for the tannins to integrate with a long finish and medium-heavy body.
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Popped and ran through vinturi. Really digging the nose - dusty red and dark berries, toasty oak, and a earth. On the palate, nice balance inititally with currant, more of the oak influence, and a savory note I cant quite put my finger on all wrapped up in a med bodied package. The finish is a bit chunky and showing some chalky, drying tannins that need some time. I don't mind the oak at this point but should also meld nicely with time. Great mix of new world treatment with that distinct Tuscan feel.
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Clear bright red. Lots of beautiful red Cabernet fruit, cassis and berry. Nice earthy red fruit flavors and a long cassis finish. Quite tannic. Great future.
When I smelt this all I could think of was Napa Cabernet was in the 80s.
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Had this as a pop and pour at dinner. Upon opening nice dark fruits with toasted oak and menthol. Similar fruit flavors when tasted but a bit more complex with secondary characteristics that scream Italian. Nice acidity and drying tannins (a bit harsh). medium body with moderate finish. I think this wine will progress nicely over the next few years. After this tasting, decided to pick up a 6-pk offer at my LWS.
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Our local wine retailer and now also the sommelier of the Adler Thermae Spa & Relax Resort in Bagno Vignoni recommended the Tolaini wines to us. I hence decided to give the Valdisanti (the only Tolaini wine on the hotel’s wine list) a try. The wine justified the recommendations as it was complex and very well made, though stylistically I tend to prefer a less international style.
The sommelier popped and poured the wine, without decanting. It was dark purple in colour and offered blackberry, cassis, black cherry, green pepper, liquorice and crème brûlée on the nose. On the palate the wine was very rich and creamy, almost thick; with creamy blackberry, creamy cassis, cherry, green pepper, spices and sweet vanilla, joined by liquorice, a hint of black tea and dry tannins on the aftertaste. The wine paired well with peppery steak. It seemed a little young and should benefit from two to three years in the cellar. It was very well made, but in a very modern and international style. I tend to prefer my wines less thick, sweet and creamy and always find it difficult to finish a bottle of such a thick and creamy wine. Again, the Valdisanti 2007 was a very good wine, but I would not buy it again due to personal taste.
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The nose reveals crushed berries, bark, and tar. Bark, tar, harsh tannins....astringent on the finish. Will mellow out with age. Very old world austere without any offending characteristics. This needs a few years.
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10/25/2023 - baltar wrote: 87 Points
Past it’s time.
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11/28/2021 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 92 Points
After an hour, it really opened and provided a delicious experience. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are well defined. The Sangiovese provides a slight sour note that makes the win pop. Soft tannins and sustained finish. Great food wine. Paired weell with turkey and fried/baked eggplant and zucchini. Pleasant ny itself as well.
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6/26/2021 - Oenecnist wrote:
Further to my Note of July 4, 2020: Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Noticeable change over the past year. Amber edge appears. Beef bouillon and mushrooms have emerged on the nose along with the faded red fruit. Interesting on its own, but much better with food: good complement to pork ragu pasta with mushrooms. No reason to hold.
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5/1/2021 - BURGHen Boy wrote: 89 Points
Good flavor. Fruit in background now with age supported by cola and dusty earth. Moderate finish. Good with food.
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2/19/2021 - Josch48 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Gorgeous, concentrated black cherry opaque color with pink at the edge in the glass. Tobacco and saddle (baseball glove) leather, sans the dusty earth of the 20% Sangiovese (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc), with sweet, vanilla scented dark blue/black fruit on the nose.
The mouthfeel has gentle residual tannin with subtle fruit flavors that are initially hesitant to present, perhaps due to the 50 degree Fahrenheit basement wine cellar temperature, with persistent tannins on the finish.
Broiled sirloin steak will likely coax out these flavors, although this 14 year old wine, in spite of its dense appearance, may prove to be shy and subtle. As the wine warms, the fruit is fleshing out, more felt in the mouth than tasted. More to follow.
After time the mouthfeel is more viscous and voluptuous with more fruit appreciated on the mid palate and finish, encased by tannins that seem to restrain the emergence of the fruit.
Perhaps, if we had exercised more restraint and saved some of the wine for tomorrow we might find a differing semblance of fruit to tannin. Alas we were not able to delay our pleasure. In spite of optimum cellaring, we should have had this beauty 2-3 years ago.
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7/31/2020 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 89 Points
The flavors are inversely proportional to the grape content. The Cabernet Franc provides most of the taste, followed by the Sangiovese, and almost nothing from the Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied with a long finish. Great food wine.
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7/4/2020 - Oenecnist wrote:
Further to my note of March 18, 2020: Tried another bottle with consistent notes: mature dark fruits, bit of old leather, good mouthfeel. Still at least notable. Glad I have more but don't need more than that.
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3/18/2020 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought 4b for 20/b from a local independent retailer about 10 years ago; this is #1. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Dark purple; cassis, some spice; mature cabernet sauv, some cherry, good mouthfeel; some persistence. From trying other vintages, I think this benefits from several years of aging. Delicious, glad I have more. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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9/13/2019 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ethereal. I see that my notes and points have risen over the years, from a 90 in 2012, to a 92 in 2016, and now a 94 in 2019. This clearly earns its stripes with age. Tonight’s bottle was magnificent.
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7/18/2019 - David_T wrote:
Still some dark fruit though much has faded. Quite nice tertiary notes: earthy, grilled meats, umami, strong tannins, medium acid. Still drinking well just aging. Not sure it will improve but should be a nice aged wine.
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10/19/2018 - acristiani Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice but still a ways to go.
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8/25/2018 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much better 1-2 hours after opening than on night 2.
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4/1/2018 - connel20 Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a great place right now
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3/22/2018 - Remymartin wrote: 93 Points
Drinking great now
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11/5/2017 - tadams66 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Moved from a 90 to a 92 on the second day. Really well integrated and beautiful velvety tannins. Wood is there but just adds to the rounded feel and the long finish. This has several more years but drinking great now. Alas, it is my last bottle.
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9/23/2017 - jmasterj Likes this wine:
Wood plays a large part of this wine and it is done extremely well. I imagine barriques are used. I feel this vintage still has a few years before it begins declines.
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9/8/2017 - t0pshelf Likes this wine:
For my previous bottle of this wine which I popped almost 4 years ago I noted a bit of funkiness that dissipated after decanting, but I didn't get any of that this time. It's drinking beautifully, plenty of dark fruit and oaky tannins. I'm also picking up subdued leather notes this time. Nice! Probably still has a lot of life left, which is great because one last bottle remains in the cellar..
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10/15/2016 - jmasterj Likes this wine:
Drinking wonderfully now. Multi layer toscana.
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8/28/2016 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
This is likely at its peak, showing beautifully now. Similar to previous notes from three years ago, this has telltale tones of sunburnt leather that are typical for the terroir. This is delicious, easy to drink and full of live. 93+pts.
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8/12/2016 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 91 Points
This has quite a complex nose for being so young. Popped and let breathe 2 hours. Dark red fruit, cedar, leather, eucalyptus, fig/balsamic.
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7/13/2016 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 92 Points
This beauty continues to mature nicely. Rich and complex fruit with a terrific sense of balance and terroir. Drank wonderfully through the first night, and just lost a bit by the 2nd night. No need to decant unless you're particularly averse to sediment (this has a fair amount right now). Looking forward to drinking the next (and last) one in a couple years.
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4/15/2016 - Remymartin wrote: 84 Points
Dark, dry, slight fruit, leather, tannins. Bold and long finish. Could stand to age and mellow a little more.
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2/1/2016 - Gilder53 wrote: 91 Points
Big and juicy. Deep nose and long finish.
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12/20/2015 - David J Cooper wrote:
Really nice resolved Italian wine. None of the Bordeaux notes like Sassacaia. Italian first, cabernet second.
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10/10/2015 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 92 Points
Contrary to what some reviewers have stated, this is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc. That is what the label and the website both state. It is opaque, medium (+) ruby in color, with garnet hues on the rim. The nose is clean, developing, with a dollop of new French oak-induced vanilla and sweet baking spices. The oak is nicely integrated with the blackberry and black currant aromas. After a little aeration, some forest floor, cedar and caramel aromas emerge. The palate is dry, but bursting with sweet, ripe blackberry and red plums. The fruit is balanced nicely by the medium (+) acidity. The alcohol is medium and unobtrusive at 13.5%. The medium (++) oak tannins, however, are still a little too pronounced, so the wine has a medium (+) to long, drying, chalky, cottony finish. This is a remarkably youthful wine for its age, which is good by itself but better with hearty food. It is drinking beautifully now and has the chops to last 2-5 more years. It is a really good value in the mid-$20s.
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9/16/2015 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 89 Points
I always have a problem with Sangiovese I find it as an inferior grape in wine making unless your rating it to itself. Tasted many Brunello but they just don't have the umph. When I tasted this one I was surprised but then I realized it was mostly cab and a super Tuscan. Very well made lots of berries lplums earth tones thank good it's only 20% sangiovese. Trying to drink my Italian wines slowly and not further adding any to my cellar.
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8/26/2015 - briankalita Likes this wine: 91 Points
Full body not overly earthy
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4/15/2015 - Pedroel Likes this wine:
Good. More notes on the next bottle.
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4/12/2015 - Baron Slick wrote: 89 Points
A musty, corky note was prevalent on the nose but didn't detract from the earthy, dark fruit aromas. The palate was bright, full-bodied, with a blast of red fruit, cardamom, garam masala spice, and lots of grip on the finish. Would've garnered a higher score if not for the uptown cork funk.
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1/23/2015 - BlackIce wrote: flawed
Corked. both of my bottles were corked. sad not to experience the supposed deliciousness...
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1/9/2015 - ras2006 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Good, but at least my bottle may have reached its peak.
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12/17/2014 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 91 Points
tasty table wine!
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10/5/2014 - matthewjhale Likes this wine: 89 Points
When first opened the wine shows metallic and licorice notes on the nose and palate and continuing through to the finish. The tannins mellow substantially after a few hours in a decanter but remain grainy. It doesn't truly open up for 2-3 days when it begins to show pomegranate, currants and BBQ. Slowly drank this bottle over 4-5 days and it easily could have held up longer. 89 points now, will be 90+ if a few years.
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10/5/2014 - Delli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Second bottle showed better than the first. Mainly due to rounder tannins that contributed to a smooth finish. 5+12+16+8=91
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9/14/2014 - Delli Likes this wine: 90 Points
Crimson, brown purple color. Nose of dark ripe cherries. Palate is dominated by tannins and mineralaty; surprising given the age of the wine. A fair bit of sediment. Nice if you're in the mood for a chianti - the cab is understated. 5+12+16+7=90
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8/31/2014 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 88 Points
My previous notes apply to this bottle too. As some other have said, the tannins are somewhat overwhelming until it has been decanted. Then it's a nicely balanced wine, lacking the complexity expected of a $20+ bottle. Nothing wrong with it, after decanting, but hardly memorable.
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6/9/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous notes. This is a lovely expressive wine, showing equally well on the 2nd day. The wine has some telltale sunburned leather tones that really give you a sense of its terroir. Excellent value.
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2/23/2014 - nectar14 wrote: 89 Points
Drank about 1 month ago. Pleasant and fruity with a dusty, cedary edge. Should last a handful of years.
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2/13/2014 - eoinhharkins wrote: 88 Points
A step up for me at least from previous bottle, notes of some leather, polish dark fruit mix, tannins are still quite over bearing on the palate and rob the wine of any finesse
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1/19/2014 - t0pshelf Likes this wine:
Concur with other tasters that there is a bit of funkiness on the nose that dissipates with decanting. I'm getting a good dose of bell pepper as well, along with dark fruit. Tannins are still thick, so no doubt this one will age nicely.
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12/29/2013 - EMTAME wrote: 89 Points
Started off with a good dose of funk, which got in the way of what otherwise seemed like nice fruit. After about 75 min. of air, though, most of the funk had dissipated and the wine was showing quite well. Fuller bodied, with a mix of red and black fruits that seemed representative of the Sangio/Cab blend. Also had decent acidity, which kept it on the lively side. Smooth and clean on the finish.
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12/1/2013 - whitmanlholt wrote: 79 Points
Popped and poured. This is a very dark red. The nose has a bit of earth that develops with coaxing. There are also some glimpses of mustiness suggesting a TCA problem. The mouth is tart with some slight cherry. Overall, this seems a dud, although it may be due to TCA. Either way, I'm not goin back for seconds. 79 points.
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11/29/2013 - jmasterj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Youthful, green notes. slight oak, undergrowth, licorice, tobacco.
Delicious now, wicked delicious in a year or two.
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9/2/2013 - corkcellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still young. Lots of green notes in front of solid fruit structure. Delicious at hour 4+. Will wait 2 years on remaining bottles.
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8/11/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
A racy concoction of bright blue and black fruits, some licorice but mainly blackberry, with a lovely refined dryness to the finish - could almost be mistaken for a Napa cab. Very accessible now, though better on the 2nd day.
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8/10/2013 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tremendous table wine! Almost gone!
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7/16/2013 - eoinhharkins wrote: 85 Points
lots of upfront dark fruit on the nose and palate, but i found this excessively tannic and they dominated t e mid palate through the finish .... not for me
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7/7/2013 - bbcc66 wrote: 88 Points
Nice dark fruit nose & taste. Very enjoyable bottle.
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5/21/2013 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Strawberry, Raspberry, and Plum. It tastes like Plum, Mineral, Clove, and Coffee. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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4/26/2013 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I agree 100% with the critics on this wine as it was fabulous. I really get a big smile on my face when I pull a bottle from the cellar that I have not had before and from the first pour I know it is good juice. This was a gift from my wife so I did not do any research on the wine. Un mistakenly old-world with leather, black olives, dried fruit and a complex nose and long finish. As a bonus paired fantastic with grilled veggies and pasta. I swear some of the most enjoyable bottles I have had are Italian wines.
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4/20/2013 - Raja wrote: 90 Points
Nice super Tuscan. Had it with pizza at pizza antica.
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2/24/2013 - yobuddy16 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Better on the first day
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2/6/2013 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Incredible table wine
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1/20/2013 - tmcg55 wrote: 90 Points
This was perfect for our pasta dinner. Smooth, with a nice finish.
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1/10/2013 - leesullivan Likes this wine: 91 Points
A great vaule. Smooth oaky taste. Reallly nice smell and finish. Super good for $20. Alot of sediment in the bottom of the bottle.
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1/1/2013 - David_T wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyable aromas of raspberry, scorched earth, tar & some meaty notes. The palate starts off with dark fruit, followed by balsamic, a bit of meat/earth, and ends with a lengthy finish with medium tannins/acid. The alcohol is not noticeable. I'm sure this saw oak influence, but it is well integrated. For my palate this is drinking well now though young and should last several more years.
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12/17/2012 - ian02054 wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of blackberry. It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry and oak with a full body. Round texture with a long finish.
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12/15/2012 - drwormphd wrote:
Per George: Massive, great price, will go up with 2009
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9/8/2012 - ras2006 wrote: 88 Points
Very nice wine. Just started sipping it, enjoyable, perhaps a little extra tannin at this stage, but we'll see how it opens up. 30 minutes later with homemade minnestrone - very nice.
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9/6/2012 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tremendous value wine drinking extremely well right now!
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8/31/2012 - eniskonuk wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color.
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8/26/2012 - Cantina Hill's wrote: 91 Points
Drank too young. Aggressive taninn put wine out of balance. Great potential in 3 to 5 years.
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7/25/2012 - Raja wrote: 88 Points
Decent supertuscan. Needed a lot of time to open up.
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7/7/2012 - Richard123 wrote: 85 Points
A beautifully balanced wine; soft tannins, light spices, oak, berries. Great sipping wine, and didn't need much air either. However I found it lacking that "spark" that great wines exhibit... Maybe it will come with age...
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6/24/2012 - RBOND wrote: 90 Points
A very full bodied wine. Lots of spice and oak which went well with the duck breast with a red wine reduction sauce. It was actually a great food pairing of this wine and duck breast. Dark color with subtle hints of fruit. Probably berries and a bit of vanilla. A bit young
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5/20/2012 - tadams66 wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful balance. Opened for 2 hours. Soft tannis balanced with rich velvety fruit.
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5/15/2012 - gquigs wrote: 88 Points
Nice fruit, easy drinking
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4/22/2012 - Garbots wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful, dry...notes of blackberry, lavender finish. Great w/Pasta dishes, all here tomato-based, some were spicy. Everyone liked it!
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4/12/2012 - krhaugh wrote: 88 Points
I didn't get much Cabernet with this wine. Heavy dark red fruit that smoothed out over the evening. Nice finish but not up there with great Tuscan wines.
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4/8/2012 - mmoss wrote: 89 Points
Really enjoyed. Young with a lot of tannins in the front and finish. Good blance of fruit and oak.
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3/25/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 89 Points
Expressive nose of blackberry, dark cherry, spicy oak and earth. Medium plus body of blackberry, sour cherry, smoke and toffee. Medium plus finish.
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3/18/2012 - Ridgerunner wrote: 91 Points
good party wine
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2/3/2012 - mrpalmer wrote: 89 Points
Quite enjoyable. Needed to breathe. Fruity, good finish. Perhaps could be more concentrated.
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1/26/2012 - asdean85 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent Super Tuscan. Very smooth with great flavor. Just a bit tannic, so I can't wait to try it again in a few years to see how it develops. If drinking now, decant.
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1/14/2012 - RussK wrote: 89 Points
RussK @WW Best of 2011.
Nice earthy nose. Still way too tight this is a tomorrow wine.
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1/13/2012 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Value Super-Tuscan that delivers! Fantastic nose that screams Tuscany - only abt 20% Sangio in the blend (the rest: 65% cab, 15% cab franc) but it sticks out the most. Ample fruit with great balance and rich tannins. Nice complexity on the palate. The cab franc plays a nice role in the complexity here as well, adding some herbal and vegetal layers to nose and palate. Fantastico!
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1/11/2012 - gharbour Likes this wine: 90 Points
We had this wine at Vigalucci's in Carlsbad CA. A great Italian restaurant. It has a very typical Toscana profile. With a nose of dark cherries, barn yard, and vanilla. On the palette there are gripping tannins with dark plum fruit, earth, leather, and a slate/graphite character. The wine improved through out the meal and was great with the food.
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1/11/2012 - Cantina Hill's wrote: 91 Points
great, high acidity, balenced tanin, fruit shines through, balenced
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1/8/2012 - cjheinrich84 wrote: 94 Points
A little sweet, full of dark berry flavor. Bursting with cedar on the nose. Well balanced. A must try!
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1/8/2012 - OTTnMIA wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic wine and amazing QPR! Lots of bright red fruit balanced with a strong Tuscan profile, earthy, structured... simply wonderful! NOTE: Although this is approachable right away, this bottle needs an easy 1-2hrs+ in the decanter to truly come alive and keeps getting better for hours beyond. We left a glass in the bottle uncorked by accident over night, and the next day that glass was the best one yet. So let this age for a long long time or else decant this to the exteme.
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1/8/2012 - carlb128 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice blend. Addition of Sangiovese makes for unique blend.
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12/31/2011 - jtfenelon wrote: 89 Points
Definitely needs time to decant but very good once it opens.
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12/26/2011 - Winebof wrote: 90 Points
Awesome value
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12/3/2011 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Third Annual Donato Enoteca 100 Italian Wine Event (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, California): Medium red violet color; poised, tart red plum, berry nose; tasty, velvety textured, tart plum, black fruit, tart berry palate; medium-plus finish (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Franc)
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12/3/2011 - bway_wine wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for an hour, then ran through Venturi. Finally started to open about an hour later when we were polishing off the bottle. Silky and great cherry fruit when it started to open. Will wait another 2-3 years on my other bottle.
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11/14/2011 - Vstalam wrote: 92 Points
Excellent nose of violets, cherry, and a little bit of earth. Drinks better on day 2, with more time for the tannins to integrate with a long finish and medium-heavy body.
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11/8/2011 - pete s. wrote: 91 Points
Popped and ran through vinturi. Really digging the nose - dusty red and dark berries, toasty oak, and a earth. On the palate, nice balance inititally with currant, more of the oak influence, and a savory note I cant quite put my finger on all wrapped up in a med bodied package. The finish is a bit chunky and showing some chalky, drying tannins that need some time. I don't mind the oak at this point but should also meld nicely with time. Great mix of new world treatment with that distinct Tuscan feel.
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11/4/2011 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Clear bright red. Lots of beautiful red Cabernet fruit, cassis and berry. Nice earthy red fruit flavors and a long cassis finish. Quite tannic. Great future.
When I smelt this all I could think of was Napa Cabernet was in the 80s.
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10/14/2011 - navybrat wrote: 89 Points
it had very nice complexity, and opened favorably over a one hour period. I think it will be a 90+ in two years. I will try again then.
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9/18/2011 - MicklethePickle wrote: 89 Points
Very dark color. Rich, dark chocolate in nose and mouth. Chunky, chewy, tannic but still drinkable. 5-11-16-7: 89/100.
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9/15/2011 - jhemming wrote: 89 Points
Had this as a pop and pour at dinner. Upon opening nice dark fruits with toasted oak and menthol. Similar fruit flavors when tasted but a bit more complex with secondary characteristics that scream Italian. Nice acidity and drying tannins (a bit harsh). medium body with moderate finish. I think this wine will progress nicely over the next few years. After this tasting, decided to pick up a 6-pk offer at my LWS.
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9/10/2011 - PSPatrick wrote: 89 Points
Our local wine retailer and now also the sommelier of the Adler Thermae Spa & Relax Resort in Bagno Vignoni recommended the Tolaini wines to us. I hence decided to give the Valdisanti (the only Tolaini wine on the hotel’s wine list) a try. The wine justified the recommendations as it was complex and very well made, though stylistically I tend to prefer a less international style.
The sommelier popped and poured the wine, without decanting. It was dark purple in colour and offered blackberry, cassis, black cherry, green pepper, liquorice and crème brûlée on the nose. On the palate the wine was very rich and creamy, almost thick; with creamy blackberry, creamy cassis, cherry, green pepper, spices and sweet vanilla, joined by liquorice, a hint of black tea and dry tannins on the aftertaste. The wine paired well with peppery steak. It seemed a little young and should benefit from two to three years in the cellar. It was very well made, but in a very modern and international style. I tend to prefer my wines less thick, sweet and creamy and always find it difficult to finish a bottle of such a thick and creamy wine. Again, the Valdisanti 2007 was a very good wine, but I would not buy it again due to personal taste.
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5/23/2011 - DesMarteau wrote:
The nose reveals crushed berries, bark, and tar. Bark, tar, harsh tannins....astringent on the finish. Will mellow out with age. Very old world austere without any offending characteristics. This needs a few years.
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4/6/2011 - KVM wrote:
well structured for drinking today and aging for 5+ years ,good fruit with some oak noted. very good $40-ish
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