This deserves a long decant. Opened on night #1, it was briary, dark and rustic, with notes of tar and dark fruits. I thought it was great, but my previous notes told me to hang on to half a bottle for the second night. Sure enough, on night #2, this was just lovely: smooth, still dark, more subdued tars, tannins had melted into wine yet its rustic nature still shined through. Great accompaniment for a grilled steak.
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A Sardinian Carignan with about 15% Syrah. Black to the edge. Good density, firmly drying tannin, bright acidity, juicy, and unusually fruity, tasty, and smooth for a Carignan. Overall, one of the best Carignans, that deserves to be included in a tasting that shows how Carignan can be significantly better than the least interesting of the Rhone red varietals.
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Very nice with a little air. Somewhat rustic with brambly blue fruits and some slightly rough tannins. On second night this was smooth as glass, with balsamic notes that were captivating. Great bargain, but next bottle will wait a couple more years.
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Just a hint of orange on the edge of a opaque dark ruby colour. Blueberry preserves and aged character on the nose. The tannins are firm but fine and exceptionally well balanced to the substantial fruit still present. Very complex with a medium long finish. With I had more!
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Looking at my last note, two years later this wine has really opened up. Has lots more time, give it a good decant. dark berry Palate, medium acidity. pretty much like you'd expect an italian carignan to taste!
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Consistent with the prior 5 bottles, good>very good, with excellent purity of fruit and fresh, cool acids. In its peak plateau now, this simply requires a 60 minute aeration in decanter before it's firing on all cylinders. Oak and EtOH fully integrated; good by itself, better with food. 14,5% abv., recommended
Served non-blind
https://italianwine.blog/
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consistent with prior bottles: earthy, rustic, lively, a touch savory. Medium-bodied with plenty of fresh acids. Excellent value at just $25. Classic styling, solid typicity; oak fully integrated. 14,5% abv (fully resolved), drink thru 2017
Aerated to decanter 30 minutes, served non-blind.
https://italianwine.blog/
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In the sweet spot of its plateau. Showing great structure, but also quite approachable with just a splash decant. Lovely aromas of white and red floral, under-ripe blackberry, soil. Medium-bodied, with acids and tannins that frame the purity of the fruit such that this easily fights above its price-point. A joy to drink; more for the traditionalist than the modernist, but by no means entirely so. 14,5% abv is well integrated, recommended, thru 2017.
stood up to a rich puttanesca
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Beautifully aromatic red/black fruit nose. Fully integrated tannins (at peak IMHO), juicy enough to buffer them well. Lasting finish of bergamot and red currant. Very nice; sot of a new world meets old world vibe going. Threw a fair bit of sediment at bottom of bottle, which perhaps could lead to the dryness others mention, so let it stand upright and/or use a decanter.
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Slow-O 3 hours, served non-blind. Another excellent showing. Effusive red and white (lilac, jasmine) aromas dominate at first, with the fruit coming to the fore after 5 minutes in the glass. Expensive oak, very pure fruit and gushing acids. Still somewhat tight, and very fresh, this has just entered its preferred drinking window, where it will no doubt remain for the next 5 years. I've have 4 bottles left, with the idea that I'll open one each year until they're gone. 14,5% is mostly resolved, aeration in decanter is advised. Classy drop, highly recommended
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Nose of camphor and citrus; on the palate, red fruit and a bit of spice; whatever tannins were here are fully integrated. Nicely balanced and easy to drink. I don't think it will age, but otherwise this is excellent for the price.
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PnP, served non-blind, at cellar temp. Nearly opaque, no sign of age. Aromas of graphite, animale, cedar, dust, red floral perfume. At once rustic, then just a few seconds later, complex, with bright raspberry infused with blackberries and roasted plums. Medium-full bodied, well lifted, with firm, grippy tannins. A wine I can respect, a wine with soul. Above-average finish, and overall complexity. Some more mid-palate development and depth would be nice, but at $25, I'm not going to complain. Perhaps a year away from a greater level of harmony that it's no doubt capable of achieving. 14,5% abv, drink thru 2017, recommended, (and re-ordered)
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3/4/2019 - Quarked wrote: 92 Points
This deserves a long decant. Opened on night #1, it was briary, dark and rustic, with notes of tar and dark fruits. I thought it was great, but my previous notes told me to hang on to half a bottle for the second night. Sure enough, on night #2, this was just lovely: smooth, still dark, more subdued tars, tannins had melted into wine yet its rustic nature still shined through. Great accompaniment for a grilled steak.
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3/17/2017 - Mossrose wrote: 93 Points
A Sardinian Carignan with about 15% Syrah. Black to the edge. Good density, firmly drying tannin, bright acidity, juicy, and unusually fruity, tasty, and smooth for a Carignan. Overall, one of the best Carignans, that deserves to be included in a tasting that shows how Carignan can be significantly better than the least interesting of the Rhone red varietals.
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1/6/2016 - Quarked wrote: 91 Points
Very nice with a little air. Somewhat rustic with brambly blue fruits and some slightly rough tannins. On second night this was smooth as glass, with balsamic notes that were captivating. Great bargain, but next bottle will wait a couple more years.
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11/28/2015 - om42 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just a hint of orange on the edge of a opaque dark ruby colour. Blueberry preserves and aged character on the nose. The tannins are firm but fine and exceptionally well balanced to the substantial fruit still present. Very complex with a medium long finish. With I had more!
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8/19/2015 - redz wrote: 91 Points
Looking at my last note, two years later this wine has really opened up. Has lots more time, give it a good decant. dark berry Palate, medium acidity. pretty much like you'd expect an italian carignan to taste!
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6/24/2015 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Consistent with the prior 5 bottles, good>very good, with excellent purity of fruit and fresh, cool acids. In its peak plateau now, this simply requires a 60 minute aeration in decanter before it's firing on all cylinders. Oak and EtOH fully integrated; good by itself, better with food. 14,5% abv., recommended
Served non-blind
https://italianwine.blog/
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10/31/2014 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
consistent with prior bottles: earthy, rustic, lively, a touch savory. Medium-bodied with plenty of fresh acids. Excellent value at just $25. Classic styling, solid typicity; oak fully integrated. 14,5% abv (fully resolved), drink thru 2017
Aerated to decanter 30 minutes, served non-blind.
https://italianwine.blog/
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2/17/2014 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
In the sweet spot of its plateau. Showing great structure, but also quite approachable with just a splash decant. Lovely aromas of white and red floral, under-ripe blackberry, soil. Medium-bodied, with acids and tannins that frame the purity of the fruit such that this easily fights above its price-point. A joy to drink; more for the traditionalist than the modernist, but by no means entirely so. 14,5% abv is well integrated, recommended, thru 2017.
stood up to a rich puttanesca
https://italianwine.blog/
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1/19/2014 - gbanks Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautifully aromatic red/black fruit nose. Fully integrated tannins (at peak IMHO), juicy enough to buffer them well. Lasting finish of bergamot and red currant. Very nice; sot of a new world meets old world vibe going. Threw a fair bit of sediment at bottom of bottle, which perhaps could lead to the dryness others mention, so let it stand upright and/or use a decanter.
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12/19/2013 - redz wrote: 89 Points
2 hour decant, still tannic. try again with a litttle more age. not alot of fruit.
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7/12/2013 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Slow-O 3 hours, served non-blind. Another excellent showing. Effusive red and white (lilac, jasmine) aromas dominate at first, with the fruit coming to the fore after 5 minutes in the glass. Expensive oak, very pure fruit and gushing acids. Still somewhat tight, and very fresh, this has just entered its preferred drinking window, where it will no doubt remain for the next 5 years. I've have 4 bottles left, with the idea that I'll open one each year until they're gone. 14,5% is mostly resolved, aeration in decanter is advised. Classy drop, highly recommended
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4/23/2013 - RichardP wrote: 91 Points
Nose of camphor and citrus; on the palate, red fruit and a bit of spice; whatever tannins were here are fully integrated. Nicely balanced and easy to drink. I don't think it will age, but otherwise this is excellent for the price.
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4/12/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
PnP, served non-blind, at cellar temp. Nearly opaque, no sign of age. Aromas of graphite, animale, cedar, dust, red floral perfume. At once rustic, then just a few seconds later, complex, with bright raspberry infused with blackberries and roasted plums. Medium-full bodied, well lifted, with firm, grippy tannins. A wine I can respect, a wine with soul. Above-average finish, and overall complexity. Some more mid-palate development and depth would be nice, but at $25, I'm not going to complain. Perhaps a year away from a greater level of harmony that it's no doubt capable of achieving. 14,5% abv, drink thru 2017, recommended, (and re-ordered)
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10/10/2012 - mvarner wrote:
Goes good with spaghetti. Not good to drink without eating something with a red sauce though.
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8/28/2012 - mvarner Likes this wine: 89 Points
Goes great with lasagna.
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