Definitely much smoother than I was expecting. A slightly bricked dark garnet, somewhat translucent. A very nice nose, earthy, a little mushroomy, no strong spice or alcohol present. Very round taste, somewhat restrained, not a ton of body, but enjoyable. Fairly short finish. Drink now.
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This wine is fine--reflects some of the positive qualities of Frappato (lightness, high acidity, bright cherry), but lacks some of the elegance that makes me think of Burgundy when I am drinking a Frappato.
A bit of rough brandied cherry on the nose, earthy, with actually a bit of graphite and tinderbox.
Medium-light bodied mouth. Fairly silky. Earthy, with lots more of the cherry. Acid attack in the middle, but not overwhelming. Feels lively on the tongue. A bit muddy and dirty. Not really elegant.
Finishes a little like cherry cola. Refreshing finish, but a little blunted.
I don't see this getting much better. Would drink now through the end of the year.
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Good call letting this sit over a year, but it still has a bit to go. Initially this was a little tight, but opened up rapidly. Currently showing maraschino cherries blended with pomegranate seeds, light chalkiness, and some very slight bacon grease aromas coupled with model airplane glue. The palate is fairly light showing generally similar flavors on a palate texture that's a little gritty and acidic. Mild tannins and fairly lively on the palate. Puckering, tart finish that's really nice and zippy, though somehow a little soft. Leaves the mouth feeling quite puckering and tart 10 seconds later. This will be better in a couple years. 88-89
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Great raspberry fruit on the nose and palate. Balanced, refreshing and eminently drinkable. Not as complex as Occhipinti's Frappato but less than 1/2 the price.
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A terrific wine for pairing with pasta and pizza, with bright, zingy cherry and red berry notes. Fresh and lively. Nice acidity, low tannins, low alcohol.
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raisin hue with a copper-ish rim. nose of plum, sweet ceder and graphite. bright acidity with dark cherry and plum fruits. medium tannins with a short finish. would pair nicely with pizza or a light tomato sauce.
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Low alcohol, not much nose. Bright, tart cherry fruits with an intriguing earthiness and acidity in the finish. Nice wine, a bit more challenging that a typical table wine, but not terribly complex. Perhaps a bit too sour for my palate.
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Great wine for the price--charming, bright, better on day 2--more cherry freshness love. So refreshing. Don't hesitate to buy this one. Though I'd rather buy 1 bottle of Occhipinti's Frappato or COS Cerasuolo than 3 bottles of this.
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I really enjoyed this wine. Nice nose. While this wasn't overly complex it wasn't one dimensional. A nice food wine. Great pairing for homemade pizza's on the grill.
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To say this is a poor man's Occhipinti is a bit of a stretch. This doesn't have the intrigue that wine does. But taken on its own it pairs nicely with a summery pasta and offers a nice low alcohol level (12.5%). With its bright raspberry notes it's quite drinkable, but ultimately priced in line with the enjoyment it provides.
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Slightly better than previous note. Similar flavor profile. Probably just went better with the Pizza that I had. Great wine for the price. Good summer red.
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From memory. First of all, I should have let this sit for a few days after it arrived. It was tight and a bit disjointed. Day 2 was much better. Lithe, obviously Frappato, with a bit of an edge to it. Happy bright red fruit, refreshing acidity, but it wasn't all pulled together like it should be. Nowhere near as stunning or textured as the Occhipinti Frappato. Still a good value. Let it sit a bit, though.
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Great daily drinker. Reminds me significantly of a light bodied cotes du rhone. Nose was really floral with candied cherry, and raspberry. Taste has the same candied cherry and raspberry with some gushing salinity and light dust/smoke with a light sourness. Nice finish of cherry.
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Bright purple garnet. Archetypical food wine, light, grapey and somewhat tart on its own, lovely and refreshing with (in this case) capicola/fresh mozzarella pizza. A little green and peppery, somewhat like mondeuse.
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Drank with pizza since we thought this might be a good mix. I was surprized at how light/medium body the wine was with some fruit--cranberry or other dried fruit. Not a sweet ripe fruit flavor with lots of sweetness, but more reserved fruit. More earth/stone flavors without fruit of new world wine. It was an OK wine with pizza and would have been fine with pasta with tomatos and olives. Only bottle in my possession and not unhappy about that.
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Incredibly drinkable. Dusty, balanced, nice acidity, tannins are most definitely there but not overwhelming. Dried berries, herbs. Medium body. Really good.
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PnP, Vinturied & slow-ox'd up to 2 hr., which allowed it to put on more body although still light-bodied. Similar TN as previous bottle w/notes of pure tart red cherry & berries w/hints of herb, earth & rose petals. Medium acidity, soft yet grippy tannins w/air time, & slight white pepper kick on light:medium finish. More finesse & elegance than brawn w/this red. Better w/food. (87+)
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Light ruby in color, with aromas of fresh strawberries and cherries a touch of herbs and a little earth. Light-bodied but with pure and fresh berry fruit on the palate coupled with good acidity. Average length. Just a very nice easy to drink red that is food friendly.
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attractively perfumed nose, graceful on the palate (dusty dried strawberries), but a bit one dimensional. good value, and better on day 2 (though I'd drink up within the next 1-2 years)
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Drank w/family at David & Lisa's for X-Mas EveEveryone felt it was "o.k.", and no match for the Crognolo we also had. Light-bodied, soft & fruit-forward w/vibrant fresh red fruit notes, and a short-to-medium finish. Still young & slightly primary. Will wait to try this again to see if it improves.
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What a great buy. Occhipinti's every-day Frappato has good acid, lightly-candied cherry fruit and decent balance. It drinks like a fuller version of a basic Nebbiolo or Burgundy. Nice.
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Really nice earthy aromas, coupled with a strange funkiness. The weird thing is this almost smells to me like a Norton from the mid-west. The palate is tart and quite light, but pleasing softened fruits are enjoyable. I get a grape skin pulp texture that's felt on the tongue. The finish is tart with mildly grippy tannins on a light frame. It's the grippiness that lingers. I'll wait 6 months and then consume these over a year or two.
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2/20/2021 - norsktorsk wrote: 90 Points
This is drinking quite nice.
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12/20/2014 - crispino wrote: 89 Points
Definitely much smoother than I was expecting. A slightly bricked dark garnet, somewhat translucent. A very nice nose, earthy, a little mushroomy, no strong spice or alcohol present. Very round taste, somewhat restrained, not a ton of body, but enjoyable. Fairly short finish. Drink now.
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9/15/2014 - SteveG wrote:
Raw and unripe on the palate despite a attractive nose. Perhaps better tomorrow but not promising.
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8/27/2013 - sjr Likes this wine: 87 Points
This wine is fine--reflects some of the positive qualities of Frappato (lightness, high acidity, bright cherry), but lacks some of the elegance that makes me think of Burgundy when I am drinking a Frappato.
A bit of rough brandied cherry on the nose, earthy, with actually a bit of graphite and tinderbox.
Medium-light bodied mouth. Fairly silky. Earthy, with lots more of the cherry. Acid attack in the middle, but not overwhelming. Feels lively on the tongue. A bit muddy and dirty. Not really elegant.
Finishes a little like cherry cola. Refreshing finish, but a little blunted.
I don't see this getting much better. Would drink now through the end of the year.
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5/11/2013 - jayw wrote:
Stewed sour cherry and pomegranate, Christmas spices, peppery finish. Thin and sour.
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4/21/2013 - CallahanCellar Likes this wine: 87 Points
Raisin fruit, some tar up front, with dry tannic finish.
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4/15/2013 - gordoyflaca wrote: 88 Points
Clean, needs a few minutes to open, predominating flavor is raisin liquor; very light
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3/7/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 89 Points
Good call letting this sit over a year, but it still has a bit to go. Initially this was a little tight, but opened up rapidly. Currently showing maraschino cherries blended with pomegranate seeds, light chalkiness, and some very slight bacon grease aromas coupled with model airplane glue. The palate is fairly light showing generally similar flavors on a palate texture that's a little gritty and acidic. Mild tannins and fairly lively on the palate. Puckering, tart finish that's really nice and zippy, though somehow a little soft. Leaves the mouth feeling quite puckering and tart 10 seconds later. This will be better in a couple years. 88-89
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2/23/2013 - joe d Likes this wine: 85 Points
Great raspberry fruit on the nose and palate. Balanced, refreshing and eminently drinkable. Not as complex as Occhipinti's Frappato but less than 1/2 the price.
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12/6/2012 - drdebs Likes this wine: 88 Points
A terrific wine for pairing with pasta and pizza, with bright, zingy cherry and red berry notes. Fresh and lively. Nice acidity, low tannins, low alcohol.
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11/28/2012 - JoeTom wrote: 86 Points
raisin hue with a copper-ish rim. nose of plum, sweet ceder and graphite. bright acidity with dark cherry and plum fruits. medium tannins with a short finish. would pair nicely with pizza or a light tomato sauce.
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11/14/2012 - kungfubaby wrote: 87 Points
Low alcohol, not much nose. Bright, tart cherry fruits with an intriguing earthiness and acidity in the finish. Nice wine, a bit more challenging that a typical table wine, but not terribly complex. Perhaps a bit too sour for my palate.
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11/7/2012 - greenblanket wrote:
Barely tart red fruit, cherry skin, mineral. Groceries.
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10/30/2012 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
Great wine for the price--charming, bright, better on day 2--more cherry freshness love. So refreshing. Don't hesitate to buy this one. Though I'd rather buy 1 bottle of Occhipinti's Frappato or COS Cerasuolo than 3 bottles of this.
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9/20/2012 - drdecanto wrote: 87 Points
Dried cherry fruit. Thin in the mouth. Moderate acidity. Lengthy finish in the mid-palate. Somewhat hollow.
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8/26/2012 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
I really enjoyed this wine. Nice nose. While this wasn't overly complex it wasn't one dimensional. A nice food wine. Great pairing for homemade pizza's on the grill.
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7/25/2012 - RobertDwyer wrote: 87 Points
To say this is a poor man's Occhipinti is a bit of a stretch. This doesn't have the intrigue that wine does. But taken on its own it pairs nicely with a summery pasta and offers a nice low alcohol level (12.5%). With its bright raspberry notes it's quite drinkable, but ultimately priced in line with the enjoyment it provides.
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7/7/2012 - ericindc wrote: 88 Points
Slightly better than previous note. Similar flavor profile. Probably just went better with the Pizza that I had. Great wine for the price. Good summer red.
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6/24/2012 - cab wrote:
Echo of prior note. This is like a Zin lite, and I mean that in a very good way. Chewy dried fruit, yet not a heavy body. Quite good for the price.
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6/19/2012 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
From memory. First of all, I should have let this sit for a few days after it arrived. It was tight and a bit disjointed. Day 2 was much better. Lithe, obviously Frappato, with a bit of an edge to it. Happy bright red fruit, refreshing acidity, but it wasn't all pulled together like it should be. Nowhere near as stunning or textured as the Occhipinti Frappato. Still a good value. Let it sit a bit, though.
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6/2/2012 - ericindc wrote: 87 Points
Great daily drinker. Reminds me significantly of a light bodied cotes du rhone. Nose was really floral with candied cherry, and raspberry. Taste has the same candied cherry and raspberry with some gushing salinity and light dust/smoke with a light sourness. Nice finish of cherry.
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5/28/2012 - SteveG wrote: 89 Points
Bright purple garnet. Archetypical food wine, light, grapey and somewhat tart on its own, lovely and refreshing with (in this case) capicola/fresh mozzarella pizza. A little green and peppery, somewhat like mondeuse.
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5/28/2012 - RunDMC wrote: 88 Points
cherries and light smoke, low alcohol.
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5/19/2012 - sma wrote: 87 Points
Drank with pizza since we thought this might be a good mix. I was surprized at how light/medium body the wine was with some fruit--cranberry or other dried fruit. Not a sweet ripe fruit flavor with lots of sweetness, but more reserved fruit. More earth/stone flavors without fruit of new world wine. It was an OK wine with pizza and would have been fine with pasta with tomatos and olives. Only bottle in my possession and not unhappy about that.
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5/5/2012 - cab wrote:
Incredibly drinkable. Dusty, balanced, nice acidity, tannins are most definitely there but not overwhelming. Dried berries, herbs. Medium body. Really good.
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4/29/2012 - Cadby wrote: 90 Points
Menthol, a lovely mouthful of pleasant Sicilian joy.
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4/24/2012 - DRS-Inc wrote: 87 Points
PnP, Vinturied & slow-ox'd up to 2 hr., which allowed it to put on more body although still light-bodied. Similar TN as previous bottle w/notes of pure tart red cherry & berries w/hints of herb, earth & rose petals. Medium acidity, soft yet grippy tannins w/air time, & slight white pepper kick on light:medium finish. More finesse & elegance than brawn w/this red. Better w/food. (87+)
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4/8/2012 - wickedwax wrote:
Light ruby in color, with aromas of fresh strawberries and cherries a touch of herbs and a little earth. Light-bodied but with pure and fresh berry fruit on the palate coupled with good acidity. Average length. Just a very nice easy to drink red that is food friendly.
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3/29/2012 - cse wrote: 88 Points
attractively perfumed nose, graceful on the palate (dusty dried strawberries), but a bit one dimensional. good value, and better on day 2 (though I'd drink up within the next 1-2 years)
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3/11/2012 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 88 Points
A little heavy on the oak, but nice fruit.
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12/24/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 87 Points
Drank w/family at David & Lisa's for X-Mas EveEveryone felt it was "o.k.", and no match for the Crognolo we also had. Light-bodied, soft & fruit-forward w/vibrant fresh red fruit notes, and a short-to-medium finish. Still young & slightly primary. Will wait to try this again to see if it improves.
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12/11/2011 - rhit wrote:
Light, fruit-heavy and fresh at first, this handily picked up some richness after a while. Exuberant throughout and a pretty sweet deal.
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11/9/2011 - ekenneth wrote: 90 Points
What a great buy. Occhipinti's every-day Frappato has good acid, lightly-candied cherry fruit and decent balance. It drinks like a fuller version of a basic Nebbiolo or Burgundy. Nice.
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10/7/2011 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 89 Points
Really nice earthy aromas, coupled with a strange funkiness. The weird thing is this almost smells to me like a Norton from the mid-west. The palate is tart and quite light, but pleasing softened fruits are enjoyable. I get a grape skin pulp texture that's felt on the tongue. The finish is tart with mildly grippy tannins on a light frame. It's the grippiness that lingers. I'll wait 6 months and then consume these over a year or two.
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