Xmas Wimps 2022 (La Trompette): Served from magnum. Definitely a wine I comprehend better - starting to get a little secondary, some marzipan, fruit still there and good structure. Will the fruit be outpaced by the tannin as it ages? Hard to say but drinking lovely now.
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The First Christmas of New England @ Christmas WIMPS 2022 (La Trompette, Chiswick): A generous sample from another table at Christmas WIMPS. This as a black cardamom, tar and molasses nose. Also some clove-studded blood orange and some candy floss. Palate an intriguing mix of blackcurrant pastille, gazpacho and rosehip tea. Lovely.
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The First Christmas of New England @ Christmas WIMPS (La Trompette, London W4): En magnum. Nose seemed quite muted. Medium bodied with silky tannins, the acidity was immediately apparent, delicious cherry fruit with good persistence and length. Whilst the acidity suggests that the wine will age for decades, I am not sure if the fruit will keep up. In a good spot and a real treat to try.
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double decanted, which may not have been necessary as there was no discernible sediment. A bit of funk at first taste, it became better balanced with more fruit at about three of four hours open. 90ish pts
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On the lighter side. Subtle hits of tar and earth. Some sois bois and mature red fruit on finish. Held up beautifully and was elegant but never started with any power under the engine
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This is the 3rd bottle of this that I’ve had in the last year, and it’s pretty consistently satisfying. A solid mid-tier producer, you get a whiff of mentholated cherry on the nose, with good structure and fruit on the palate. Considering the price point, really hard to raise any objections here.
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The aromatics explode from the glass, can smell it a metre away. Beautiful sour cherry and rose aromas; elegant and silky on entry, liggt to medium bodied, balanced filigreed acid spine, elegant yet firm and al dente tannins. Sour cherry flavours with some ripe jubes and some dried herb cut on the finish. Really attractive Barbaresco. Last quarter of the bottle didn't fair so well the following night, losing some detail.
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Prior bottle was nearly 2 years ago and this wine continues to evolve positively. Red cherry, floral, mineral notes and just a hint of iron combine for a very pretty nose. Medium bodied with the same bright red cherry notes upfront. While they have fully retained their brightness, the edges are more rounded so the wine feels more open and expressive. Mid-body adds depth, darker red cherry and soft red raspberry. Backside shows tart red cherries and cranberries along with lingering mineral qualities. The tannins are fine grained and integrated. Along with the acidity they provide balance and structure but are in near perfect balance with the fruit. This wine is really becoming quite beautiful with expressive fruit, depth, roundness and balance. For the price I paid 8 years ago at release this is fantastic QPR and should continue to drink at this level for at least the next 2-3 years.
Slow oxd fir maybe 6 hours. Drank alongside a 2006 conterno barolo normale, this held up nicely and probably slightly edged it in complexity, although not as refined. Slightly better the second day.
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Bright cherry fruit with a hint of tar on the nose. Lively acidity on the palate, tannins basically resolved at this point, good persistence, sweet & sour cherry fruit - given the price point, pretty hard to complain about anything here.
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my last bottle of this wonderful vintage and surprisingly it drank like it was bottled yesterday. no bricking, no oxidation, no signs of aging whatsoever. by comparison, i drank 4 bottles of this vintage over the last two years that had developed very nice secondary flavors and aromatics. I will chalk it up to a very good cork? the wine is medium bodied and made in a very traditional style. on the nose, the wine shows dried rose, cherry, and more and more sou bois as time unfolds. there is a nice core of red fruit surrounded by bracing acidity and medium grained tannins (which have softened a bit). the wine tended to get deeper in color as the night unfolded and oxygen took over. this wine could have aged for many more years unlike the prior bottles which were drinking in their prime. the wine shows good length and a wonderful finish. the fruit hits all the right notes showing no signs of over-ripeness, rather there is depth to the fruit if not finesse. the traditional style allows the varietal characteristics to shine. Cortese is an excellent and consistent producer of wonderful barabareschi from this "grand cru" vineyard. I have had the pleasure of visiting with the family over the years and have always appreciated their generous tastings. hard to believe that they still fly under the radar.............to my benefit!!!!
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PnP. Cherry, florals, iron stone. The palate opened up after 20 minutes or so. Lovely balance here. Nothing overpowering. The flavours follow the nose. Acids are gently refreshing. Tannins tucked neatly into the finish. Elegance with balance. Looking really good tonight.
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Definitely some evolving, but not yet peaked. Consumed over several hours, opened with sarsaparilla tones on the nose, then opened up to pure dark cherry and camphor. No tar, but did have some higher toned and earthy aromas in the backbround. Broad and round on the mid-palate, weighty without being ponderous. Tannic finish, with typical inner aroma complexity of Nebbiolo.
Save last bottle for 5-10 years.
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Decanted for an hour before drinking with pan fried quail. Big red and black fruits, ripe and smooth will well-integerated tannins. Alcohol is in check and tannins are fine. This was a pleasure, drinking better than ever in March 2020. No signs of bricking ir fading and not as much violet as i would like but very enjoyable.
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This was very good. Well-made, all in balance, with buttressing acidity and fine red fruit flavors, starting to hit the dried fruit spectrum. Drink anytime over next 5-10.
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This is largely consistent with my bottles in '13 and '14, though the tannins are pretty integrated at this point (getting a little grip post meal). Ruby to garnet color still with transparency. Aromas of cherry, cherry cough drop, licorice, tree bark, tar, cinnamon, and rose. Light to medium body, high acid, medium (+) finish, and flavors of cherry, black tea, orange peel, lemon, and minerals. I continue to enjoy this wine.
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Prior bottle was 20 months ago (December 2017) and the wine has improved quite nicely since then. Red cherry, floral and mineral notes on the nose, with just a hint of iron now. Medium bodied with a very similar flavor profile to the prior bottle: bright red cherry upfront, deeper and slighter darker red cherry and raspberry through the middle and tart red cherry and cranberries towards the back. What has changed considerably is the overall balance. There's plenty of structure here (both acidity and tannin based), but the structural notes are much more ingrained with the fruit of the wine now so they provide support and contribute to brightness and contrast without being harsh, drying or distracting. Overall, the fruit seems slightly brighter, there's a bit more depth through the middle, the finish is better tied to the body of the wine and the transition to it is more rounded. There's enough structure here that this may even continue to improve along these lines for the near term. With one bottle left, I will save it for Summer 2020.
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Light red. Volatile aromas. Lean, acidic, and dry with just a bit of bitter cherry developing over time. Much worse than a bottle we enjoyed earlier this year. This was clearly at the end of the line.
Opened two days in advance, no decant. Lighter than previous bottles of this consumed pnp style; good structure, in balance. Delish. Hearty. Drink or hold.
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Dull light red center. Dried cherry and herb. Light, earthy red fruit, piquant cranberry acidity. Very nice and still should be on an upward trajectory due to the crisp acidity that will further resolve.
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tasted at the Union League Club in Philly along with 5 barbaresco's from the 2015 vintage including the 2015 Cortese Rabaja. The wine was dark garnet in color with no bricking on the edges. The wine showed a beautiful nose of dark cherry, rose petals, and pronounced balsamic and leather. On the palate, the wine showed dark cherry, raspberry, baking spice, leather, and tar. The tannins were well integrated and there was a nice balance to this wine. The wine had aged gracefully allowing the secondary flavors to develop beautifully. Pretty much all you can ask for in a nice bottle of Barbaresco! What the 2015 could become!
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The one non-blinded along with 6 blinded Barbaresco's tasted over dinner at the Union League Club in Philadelphia. This was superb with my pan-seared duck breast. Everything about this was long, layered and earthy with good balance and partially integrated tannins. It had cherry, balsamic, truffle and florals on the nose and the palate. Still needs time in my book.
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Decanted for 2-4 hours and enjoyed with the main course, after blind tasting six 2015 Barbarescos at 1862 restaurant in the Union League. It was great to try this after sampling the '15 Cortese Rabaja. Similar power and intensity, but rounder in the mouth, with softer tannins. Delicious pairing with my rib eye cap and horseradish puree. Thanks Glenn for bringing this.
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This wine needs a good long decant and will surely benefit from more time in the cellar. It's as big a Barbaresco as I remember drinking with a wallop up front. Nice hints of cherry on the nose ofter a 1 hour decant. Suspect it needed more. Big structure to this wine. Great future potential though I see the tension between the fruit and the acidity.
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Red fruits & menthol on the nose, with a note of tar in the background.
Sweet & sour red & black fruits with pronounced acidity and nice persistence. Likable, if not overly complex, and decent QPR. Good, and I still have more in the cellar, but at this point I'm not sure what the next decade holds for this wine, as the acidity and the fruit seem to be in a battle right now, so the wine could certainly harmonize with additional time, but we'll have to wait & see.
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From Glenn's cellar. Decanted around 4pm and tasted throughout the next 7 hours. The wine is a translucent light to medium ruby, quite pinot noir looking. The nose is quite classic and elegant, initially with cherry, rose petals and a hint of smoke, at the 4 hour point it was actually better in my view with more richness and depth on the nose and the palate. Flavors reflect the nose with some lightly tart red fruit in the finish which is quite long. Listed as 14% ABV it didn't taste alcoholic to me at all but someone else seemed to notice it. Surprisingly viscous and chewy mouth feel and still exhibiting some drying tannins. I think this will continue to cellar well for at least the next 4-5 years, maybe longer. Delicious with the potato crusted wild, Alaskan King Salmon we made.
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Clean crisp and juicy. Good grip: Medium plus tannin and acid. Yet Elegant. However I wouldn’t have guessed this a single cru. I would have guessed a basic barbaresco. Still quite good.
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3 hour decant. This is really quite nice, and had tons of room to improve. Will wait 3-5 years on the next one, but you won't be disappointed in having one now.
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Stunner after an hour open. Agree with Galloni: masculine power and floral, minty spicy, herbal core. Tons of life left but already feels like a regal warrior. A subtle and quiet wine, almost deceptive in its force.
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A traditionalist Barbaresco by all accounts: made from old-vineyard Nebbiolo located in the Rabajà cru. Fermented and macerated in stainless steel over a period of 3-4 weeks. Aged in old (5-20 years old) Slavonian oak casks (1700-2600 liters) for 22 months and for a further year in bottles before release. 14% alcohol.
Quite translucent, medium-deep cherry red color with a slightest hint of developed maroon hue. Very concentrated and slightly developed nose with brooding, dark-toned aromas of ripe dark berries, some wizened dark fruits, a little bit of tar, a hint of truffle oil and a touch of sweet cherry marmalade. The wine is dry, concentrated and lively on the palate with bold flavors of sour cherry bitterness, tart cranberries, some gamey blood, a little bit of licorice, a hint of raisin and a touch of mushroomy earth. Overall the wine feels very tightly-knit, imposing and remarkably youthful with very structured, grippy tannins and high acidity. The finish is lively, pure and very grippy with crisp acidity and savory flavors of sour cherries, tart cranberries and lingonberries, some stony minerality, a little bit of exotic spice complexity and a hint of dried flowers.
Although the nose and the appearance suggest some aged character, on the palate it is immediately clear that this wine is still painfully young and in dire need of further cellaring. There is a lot of ripeness, concentration and power here, yet the fruit still gets overwhelmed by the piercing acidity and a huge whack of tannins. Overall this is such a powerhouse for a Nebbiolo that one can be forgiven if they think that they are drinking a Barolo Riserva instead of a Barbaresco - yet the wine doesn't seem overdone, overripe or lacking balance one bit. This is a blockbuster Barbaresco for sure, but remarkably harmonious and sophisticated for one. A terrific wine that is going to need at least another decade to resolve its structure into more approachable state. Very highly recommended.
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opened 2-3 hours before first sip... just delicious with still great freshness about it, but a developing sense of character.. i wouldn't hesitate to buy a case of this right now to enjoy over the next several years.. very good qpr
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Prior bottle was just over a year ago and this wine has begun to develop exactly as I'd hoped. Red cherry, floral, iron and minerals on the nose. Opened three hours ahead of time and drunk over an additional two and the wine showed beautifully as a result. Between medium and full bodied and retains a very similar flavor profile to the prior bottle: bright red cherry upfront, adding depth through the middle and more hints of red raspberry now and more tart cherry on the backside. Excellent background structure as well as into and through the finish. Tannins are more integrated than the prior bottle and while they retains good strength, they provide contrast and finishing structure, rather than taking anything away. Overall, feels a bit more polished and complete than my prior bottle. Based on the amount of time open, the tannin level and the fruit, I feel like this wine could continue to evolve. I might try and wait as long as Spring 2019 for my next bottle. If you have the patience, very good QPR.
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Still tannic on the palate - not unapproachable but not quite ready for prime time. Lots of Barbaresco typicity - tart red fruits and some savory notes. Solid inexpensive Barbaresco.
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Pop and pour. Served with food (fried chicken nugget po boy, and an udon seafood and mushroom soup, in case you are wondering). Deep purple color. Inviting aroma of tar, licorice and black fruits. Good acidity on the front, with menthol and floral notes, filling out with black cherries and licorice. Long and lively finish as the menthol notes continue. While rich and robust it maintains a lively and inviting profile. Delicious.
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still going strong as well as showing promise, took 2+ hours to open up on night 1, i had GREAT patience and drank the last glass on 3rd night and still had nice acid/tannin balance and core... many many years to go
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drinking real well; could time improve? not sure if improve, but could develop. There are a few more at the store, and we're going to get a couple more.
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V. nice wine. Solid nebbiolo in the sense that it's actually a lighter style wine yet still has good depth, if that makes any sense. Ready, but no rush.
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Red cherry, floral, iron, leather and tobacco on the nose. Between medium and full bodied (14% ABV) and while accessible from opening, get considerably better with time and really showing well after three hours open. Very pretty and bright red cherry upfront, deepening as it gets towards the back and adding raspberry, an excellent acidity-driven tartness and strong mineral qualities. The wine really comes together quite well in the back and the transition to the finish; great fruit evolution and overall balance. Tannins are certainly present, but mesh quite well with the fruit and the body of the wine. As well as it's drinking now, should continue to improve over the next couple of years as it continues to integrate. I'll try my next bottle in early Fall 2017.
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Very fine balance of fruit acid tannin and alcohol. A bit weightier fruit than most barbareschi, possibly attributable to the vineyard? Very good finish. Most Nebbiolo lovers will find the tannin level very tame. First time users might find them a tad aggressive.
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PnVnD let air for 1hr. a bit of disconcerting seepage from the cork. Deep but clear ruby garnet with slight bricking at the rim. Plum marcerated cherry tobacco anise lavender and leather on the nose. Medium(-) weight with nicely drying black tea and cherry skin tannins. Flavours echo the nose. Very drying on the finish. DRINK UP!!!!!
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Mostly Italian (and some others) with friends (Trentina's): Gary and his family were at the restaurant down the street. They stopped by for a drink. First we had some Van Winkle 12 and then this. Ruby in color. The nose is nice with cherries, slight roses and mint. On the palate, the cherries turn a bit sour in a good way. Nice acidity. Medium tannins. Seems to be drinking quite well right now. No hurry though.
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Pnv'd and allowed to open for 30 minutes, i'd say med across board for body, bouquet and structure. Went GREAT with meat/mushroom pizza. Did not really pick up any extra imho on second day. lovely
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Very high acidity, red raspberry and sweet cherry, quite tannic on day one. Day two the acidity still is in the front, the tannins have mellowed. If there wasn't a bit of a darker earth/tar thing way in the background I'd probably think this was Barbera. Not sure where this will end up but it is not near ready at this point.
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A very interesting wine. Strawberries as raspberries galore with modest Oak. The wine seems quite young with plenty of evolution left. Still it was smooth and with just enough acidity to make it a good food pairing. Will be interested to see what become of this in a half dozen years.
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slow ox'd about 2 hours before serving with charcuterie... lovely and bright; the last glass & half 24 hours later was still very smooth (less acidic) but really hadn't picked up much more in terms of depth... very delicious!
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Excellent wine. Not as good as a previous bottle however think I did not decant enough. Very tasty and classic style. Beautiful nose of dried lavender and crushed red cherries. Tannins are aggressive and needs more time.
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A nose of dark cherry and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied red, with black cherry, raspberry, tobacco and spice on finish, a foodie wine. www.winelx.com
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Lots of wines for a 25/50 Party (Lori & Mike's 25/50 Party): Ruby in color. The nose has cherries, tobacco, with some spice and anise. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Plenty of life left of course. Good cherries with some depth. Nice acidity. Firm tannins. Nice finish.
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Two plus hours in the decanter allowed this to open up, showing complex nose of dried flowers, cherry, tar and earth. On the palate there is sour cherry. Drinkable now or a few years from now.
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An afternoon of Italians (wine and people) (Vince & Lisa's): This has really developed and improved in a couple of years. While there is lots of life left, this is fast tracked. Light ruby in color. The nose is very pretty. dusty with cherries and dried roses. On the palate, dark and regular cherries with some anise and a bit of damp earth. It took some time to open but then showed some nice complex layering. Not a lot of acidity but enough to work with the food. Very nice.
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Lovely cherry, floral and spice nose. Nice tart cherry flavors, touch of acidity in smooth presentation. Still evolving. Decanted two plus hours prior to review.
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Rosewater, raspberry macaroons. Mouth: tart cherry acidity. Cuts through porcini cream pasta sauce. Berry compote. Soft tannins. Short finish. 2nd tasting from sealed 250ml sample - downhill; drinkable but much less fruit, body, only acid remains. Bottle cork and neck showed wine stains indicative of leakage, possible heat damage. Bought from Wine Library.
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Similar to previous bottles but the fruit was showing more in the forefront and was slightly candied. Still, the overall structure in this wine from the acidity keeps the wine feeling fresh on the palate and should also allow future development. Excellent QPR and paired great with pasta and shrimp with a fresh tomato sauce.
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Checking in on these...tight on the pop, but an hour or so in the decanter brought out lovely complexity by way of red fruits, tar, orange peel, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and a touch of floral that wants to come out. Medium bodied, with tart red fruits, orange, and spice, bright acidity, and medium+ finish. The tannins have never been foreboding with this wine, but they are softly present. I'd like to wait a few years before trying the next. I think this will be interesting.
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Tried with the Coravin 4 days after the first use. For this wine I removed the needle immediately after pouring, and the wine held up fine. Its still a bit closed, but nice balance and a great food wine.
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Impromptu dinner at home: Decanted 6 hours. Fresh and bright red cherry fruit. Plenty of food friendly acids, savoury nuances and a little grip on the back end, typical of the grape. No rush on this one.
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Rated based on current impression--there is significant upside. Very tight even with about 30 minutes of air. But emerged bit by bit over a few hours. High acidity, thought this was tempered once the red fruit emerged. Does seem to carry a bit of smokey, sweet oak, though again the typicity of violets and asian spice began to win out over time. The finish is a mixture of the inner perfume with big tannins and pithy bitterness. This is a medium weight style in sum, not a big bruiser, but really could use 5 years or so to integrate and open up.
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Did not expect this wine to be easy drinking at this stage. Beautiful color. Pick up red fruits on the nose, mostly cherry. Also cherry dominated the palate. Tannins were soft. This wine was completely together and enjoyable. A medium finish.
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Nose of sweet red fruit, cherries mainly for me, some violet, a bit of spice, and some tar and vanilla lurking in the background. its a bit hot and spicy on the nose at this stage. But I like it and keep sniffing it. The palate is more of the same, but a bit more savory. Although its a delight to sniff now, its not easy drinking yet. The tannins are very fine and smooth, but they are still significant and the abundant fresh acidity hits the sides of palate and on the finish. Its a mouth smacker. Definitely wants food in the tradition of Barbaresco/Barolo.
I don't have so much experience with young nebbiolo, but I think this wine is worth a punt for the cellar and at least 5 - 8 years of patience.
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Oh my, this is going to be a stunning wine in 5+ years and I am going to have a hearty laugh at what I paid for it. Check Galloni's notes, he has it dead on.
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Pleaseeeeeeeese no scores without some note!!!!!! (As a result - posting informally) Tight and tannic. Classic nose of anise, tar and cherries . Palate is tar and cherries bit way too early- serves me right As it is a 98 rabaja. Promising.
Oops it is the 2008 , but my guess is I would believe the 98 is still a bit too young if I tasted it.
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decanted and poured, this wine gave a very good showing. The aromatics show red fruits and spice notes with some underlying tar and floral notes. The color is a translucent medium ruby. The medium bodied palate lacks some overall balance and at times seems somewhat disjointed. At this stage the gives short to medium length finish with combination of acidity and tannins giving underlying structure. This should benefit from additional bottle and this showing does suggest that wine could give a more compelling showing in the future.
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Some Italians on a Saturday afternoon; 6/23/2013-6/24/2013 (Mike P's): Lots of guesses all around for this one, but nobody picked up nebbiolo. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is dusty with cherries. Cherries on the palate. Good fruit. Not much complexity at this point, but still interesting. Tart on the finish. I thought it was Brunello or some kind of sangiovese. Still, very nice wine.
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Transparent ruby and just starting to hint at orange towards the rim. Typical and pleasing nose of rose petal, tar, and iron. Medium bodied and in a restrained, feminine style, with tons of acid, red fruits, orange peel, and a medium+ finish. While the tannins were noticeable, I don't think they detracted and I find this very approachable now. I also do not get any of the oak mentioned previously. This is pretty sexy, but I'll be curious to see if time imparts some additional complexity. If you've got a few, go ahead and pop one; otherwise, maybe try in a year or 2.
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Although drinkable now, this is a somewhat classic style that will certainly benefit from at least a few more years of bottle age to soften the tannins and sweeten the fruit. Currently bright fruit, a little bit of tar, puckery but pleasant tannins, light-medium body typical of classic nebbiolo. Exellent value at $30.
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Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Verticals (Sydney, Australia): Liquorice, tar, tobacco and some smoky aromas. Beautifully balanced on the palate and very approachable already. Give it some time to age though and I think it will be really great.
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Gorgeous. Picked this up from Wine Library after they noted a 94 from Galloni of WA. Having been dissapointed so often by Nebbiolo, I took a chance on this for for $30. Did not dissapoint. This is elegant from start to finish. Subtle nose of red fruit, opening up into a well balanced mouthfull of flavor. Lingers and finishes nicely. This is a bottle to bring to a friend's house tonight or lay down for a while.
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I have such fond Cortese memories I keep forgetting how brutal and unforgiving the young ones are, and while I guess this was worth opening for science, it's a waste if you're hoping to get any kind of pleasure out of it now. Fortunately they're priced reasonably enough that it's not a huge sacrifice. But this is formidably tannic and even a brontosaurus steak isn't going to tame it. Underneath that it's typical pale red-fruited nebbiolo with a touch of anise and seasoned with cedar shavings as a result of the barrels - seasoned being the operative word since the oak notes are simply on top of something that otherwise feels totally classic, and not turning it into something else. It certainly isn't making the wine any smoother...
As a postscript, this was pretty impressive three (that's right, three) days after being opened and sitting uncorked in the cave. No more wood, tannins melted and refined, and some gravelly earth.
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Traditional/modern in style, this wine seems like a straddle. There's a lot of wood here, in what the importer says is 20 months of aging in barrels that are new-9 years old, without any additional detail. I'm guessing there's plenty of new cause it's got that intrusive tongue depressor woodiness I associate with a good dose of new oak.
But let's also pay attention to the rest of the wine. A dark garnet that doesn't look entirely traditional. Explosive nose with tar, violets, cocoa and appealing dark ripe berries, but also some alcoholic heat. Medium/full bodied again with ample fruit, coffee, plenty of wood and alcohol, actually burning my tongue to a slight degree. I understand that alcohol can add an impression of sweetness to a wine, and I wonder if that's a factor here. There's a good possibility that this is still young and will round out, moderate, and improve substantially with some bottle age, but I find it a bit of a rough passage right now. The stuffing is there, but to use a detestable phrase, it needs to eat its wood first.
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Bright ruby color with great clarity and a slight orange hue to it. Typical nebbiolo nose of rose petals, cinammon, red fruit a touch of candied orange peel. Tart red fruits on the palate along with a little bit of baking spices and a touch of oak on the back end. There is a heck of a lot of acid and tannin in this wine but it is still approachable now but I will wait on drinking the rest of these for another couple years. Really nice wine and a real score for the sale price paid.
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Italian Immigrants (Sydney, Australia): Smoky Spanish chorizo, tobacco and red berries on the nose. The palate is intense and mouthfilling, while maintaining structure and focus throughout the mid-palate into the full and long finish. Still primary, this will benefit from another 5-7 years in the bottle.
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7/29/2023 - lightning wrote: 93 Points
Notes as per my tasting note of 13/9/21. A sexy Barbaresco that drinks beautifully now, layered textural experience, attractive perfume.
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12/17/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Xmas Wimps 2022 (La Trompette): Served from magnum. Definitely a wine I comprehend better - starting to get a little secondary, some marzipan, fruit still there and good structure. Will the fruit be outpaced by the tannin as it ages? Hard to say but drinking lovely now.
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12/15/2022 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 91 Points
The First Christmas of New England @ Christmas WIMPS 2022 (La Trompette, Chiswick): A generous sample from another table at Christmas WIMPS. This as a black cardamom, tar and molasses nose. Also some clove-studded blood orange and some candy floss. Palate an intriguing mix of blackcurrant pastille, gazpacho and rosehip tea. Lovely.
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12/15/2022 - fussyeater Likes this wine:
The First Christmas of New England @ Christmas WIMPS (La Trompette, London W4): En magnum. Nose seemed quite muted. Medium bodied with silky tannins, the acidity was immediately apparent, delicious cherry fruit with good persistence and length. Whilst the acidity suggests that the wine will age for decades, I am not sure if the fruit will keep up. In a good spot and a real treat to try.
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9/26/2022 - thalver wrote:
double decanted, which may not have been necessary as there was no discernible sediment. A bit of funk at first taste, it became better balanced with more fruit at about three of four hours open. 90ish pts
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8/8/2022 - BURGHen Boy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Age has given it some nice rustic flavors. Tar, leafy earth, some leather. Cherry fruit drives a nice backbone with some soft tannin.
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2/17/2022 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Two hour decant, drank with pork belly and carrots. Rich, balanced, well integrated acid, fine medium tannins. Very good.
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10/31/2021 - BURGHen Boy Likes this wine: 91 Points
On the lighter side. Subtle hits of tar and earth. Some sois bois and mature red fruit on finish. Held up beautifully and was elegant but never started with any power under the engine
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9/23/2021 - Bob H wrote:
This is the 3rd bottle of this that I’ve had in the last year, and it’s pretty consistently satisfying. A solid mid-tier producer, you get a whiff of mentholated cherry on the nose, with good structure and fruit on the palate. Considering the price point, really hard to raise any objections here.
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9/19/2021 - thalver wrote: flawed
CORKED, clearly TCA infected and down the drain. I hate when one coddles a wine for years, only to have it DOA
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9/13/2021 - lightning wrote: 93 Points
The aromatics explode from the glass, can smell it a metre away.
Beautiful sour cherry and rose aromas; elegant and silky on entry, liggt to medium bodied, balanced filigreed acid spine, elegant yet firm and al dente tannins. Sour cherry flavours with some ripe jubes and some dried herb cut on the finish. Really attractive Barbaresco. Last quarter of the bottle didn't fair so well the following night, losing some detail.
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7/31/2021 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Prior bottle was nearly 2 years ago and this wine continues to evolve positively. Red cherry, floral, mineral notes and just a hint of iron combine for a very pretty nose. Medium bodied with the same bright red cherry notes upfront. While they have fully retained their brightness, the edges are more rounded so the wine feels more open and expressive. Mid-body adds depth, darker red cherry and soft red raspberry. Backside shows tart red cherries and cranberries along with lingering mineral qualities. The tannins are fine grained and integrated. Along with the acidity they provide balance and structure but are in near perfect balance with the fruit. This wine is really becoming quite beautiful with expressive fruit, depth, roundness and balance. For the price I paid 8 years ago at release this is fantastic QPR and should continue to drink at this level for at least the next 2-3 years.
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3/21/2021 - Dalex Likes this wine: 93 Points
Slow oxd fir maybe 6 hours. Drank alongside a 2006 conterno barolo normale, this held up nicely and probably slightly edged it in complexity, although not as refined. Slightly better the second day.
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3/16/2021 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted. Really shining but not on decline. 14%
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1/21/2021 - Bob H wrote:
Bright cherry fruit with a hint of tar on the nose. Lively acidity on the palate, tannins basically resolved at this point, good persistence, sweet & sour cherry fruit - given the price point, pretty hard to complain about anything here.
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11/26/2020 - ID wrote: flawed
Seeped through the cork and ruined.
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11/3/2020 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine: 92 Points
my last bottle of this wonderful vintage and surprisingly it drank like it was bottled yesterday. no bricking, no oxidation, no signs of aging whatsoever. by comparison, i drank 4 bottles of this vintage over the last two years that had developed very nice secondary flavors and aromatics. I will chalk it up to a very good cork? the wine is medium bodied and made in a very traditional style. on the nose, the wine shows dried rose, cherry, and more and more sou bois as time unfolds. there is a nice core of red fruit surrounded by bracing acidity and medium grained tannins (which have softened a bit). the wine tended to get deeper in color as the night unfolded and oxygen took over. this wine could have aged for many more years unlike the prior bottles which were drinking in their prime. the wine shows good length and a wonderful finish. the fruit hits all the right notes showing no signs of over-ripeness, rather there is depth to the fruit if not finesse. the traditional style allows the varietal characteristics to shine. Cortese is an excellent and consistent producer of wonderful barabareschi from this "grand cru" vineyard. I have had the pleasure of visiting with the family over the years and have always appreciated their generous tastings. hard to believe that they still fly under the radar.............to my benefit!!!!
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9/13/2020 - Bob H wrote:
Okay - lively and lighter-bodied on the palate, but not a lot of carry through to the finish. The nose has a medicinal note with red and black fruit.
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9/11/2020 - shifter Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well at this time. Needs some air to open. Minimal sediment.
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5/29/2020 - fizz wrote:
PnP. Cherry, florals, iron stone. The palate opened up after 20 minutes or so. Lovely balance here. Nothing overpowering. The flavours follow the nose. Acids are gently refreshing. Tannins tucked neatly into the finish. Elegance with balance. Looking really good tonight.
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5/23/2020 - Pverd wrote: 89 Points
A bit rustic, subdued earthy nose, nice fruit and still firm but ripe tannins. Not bad but expected more from Rabaja
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5/18/2020 - AAJR Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted & aired for 6 hours prior to consumption. Nose - light earth & flowers. Slight bricking. Taste of cherries, spice - medium weight & quite enjoyable.
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3/29/2020 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely some evolving, but not yet peaked. Consumed over several hours, opened with sarsaparilla tones on the nose, then opened up to pure dark cherry and camphor. No tar, but did have some higher toned and earthy aromas in the backbround. Broad and round on the mid-palate, weighty without being ponderous. Tannic finish, with typical inner aroma complexity of Nebbiolo.
Save last bottle for 5-10 years.
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3/22/2020 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour before drinking with pan fried quail. Big red and black fruits, ripe and smooth will well-integerated tannins. Alcohol is in check and tannins are fine. This was a pleasure, drinking better than ever in March 2020. No signs of bricking ir fading and not as much violet as i would like but very enjoyable.
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11/17/2019 - nectar14 Likes this wine:
This was very good. Well-made, all in balance, with buttressing acidity and fine red fruit flavors, starting to hit the dried fruit spectrum. Drink anytime over next 5-10.
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10/5/2019 - vinorsk wrote: 87 Points
Starting to fade. Less fruit and flowers, a little dry with more pronounced acidity. Losing its vivaciousness.
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9/10/2019 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is largely consistent with my bottles in '13 and '14, though the tannins are pretty integrated at this point (getting a little grip post meal). Ruby to garnet color still with transparency. Aromas of cherry, cherry cough drop, licorice, tree bark, tar, cinnamon, and rose. Light to medium body, high acid, medium (+) finish, and flavors of cherry, black tea, orange peel, lemon, and minerals. I continue to enjoy this wine.
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8/11/2019 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Prior bottle was 20 months ago (December 2017) and the wine has improved quite nicely since then. Red cherry, floral and mineral notes on the nose, with just a hint of iron now. Medium bodied with a very similar flavor profile to the prior bottle: bright red cherry upfront, deeper and slighter darker red cherry and raspberry through the middle and tart red cherry and cranberries towards the back. What has changed considerably is the overall balance. There's plenty of structure here (both acidity and tannin based), but the structural notes are much more ingrained with the fruit of the wine now so they provide support and contribute to brightness and contrast without being harsh, drying or distracting. Overall, the fruit seems slightly brighter, there's a bit more depth through the middle, the finish is better tied to the body of the wine and the transition to it is more rounded. There's enough structure here that this may even continue to improve along these lines for the near term. With one bottle left, I will save it for Summer 2020.
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7/9/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Light red. Volatile aromas. Lean, acidic, and dry with just a bit of bitter cherry developing over time. Much worse than a bottle we enjoyed earlier this year. This was clearly at the end of the line.
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4/15/2019 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Opened two days in advance, no decant. Lighter than previous bottles of this consumed pnp style; good structure, in balance. Delish. Hearty. Drink or hold.
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2/8/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Dull light red center. Dried cherry and herb. Light, earthy red fruit, piquant cranberry acidity. Very nice and still should be on an upward trajectory due to the crisp acidity that will further resolve.
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1/22/2019 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine: 93 Points
tasted at the Union League Club in Philly along with 5 barbaresco's from the 2015 vintage including the 2015 Cortese Rabaja. The wine was dark garnet in color with no bricking on the edges. The wine showed a beautiful nose of dark cherry, rose petals, and pronounced balsamic and leather. On the palate, the wine showed dark cherry, raspberry, baking spice, leather, and tar. The tannins were well integrated and there was a nice balance to this wine. The wine had aged gracefully allowing the secondary flavors to develop beautifully. Pretty much all you can ask for in a nice bottle of Barbaresco! What the 2015 could become!
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1/22/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
The one non-blinded along with 6 blinded Barbaresco's tasted over dinner at the Union League Club in Philadelphia. This was superb with my pan-seared duck breast. Everything about this was long, layered and earthy with good balance and partially integrated tannins. It had cherry, balsamic, truffle and florals on the nose and the palate. Still needs time in my book.
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1/22/2019 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2-4 hours and enjoyed with the main course, after blind tasting six 2015 Barbarescos at 1862 restaurant in the Union League. It was great to try this after sampling the '15 Cortese Rabaja. Similar power and intensity, but rounder in the mouth, with softer tannins. Delicious pairing with my rib eye cap and horseradish puree. Thanks Glenn for bringing this.
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11/25/2018 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine needs a good long decant and will surely benefit from more time in the cellar. It's as big a Barbaresco as I remember drinking with a wallop up front. Nice hints of cherry on the nose ofter a 1 hour decant. Suspect it needed more. Big structure to this wine. Great future potential though I see the tension between the fruit and the acidity.
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11/2/2018 - Bob H wrote:
Red fruits & menthol on the nose, with a note of tar in the background.
Sweet & sour red & black fruits with pronounced acidity and nice persistence. Likable, if not overly complex, and decent QPR. Good, and I still have more in the cellar, but at this point I'm not sure what the next decade holds for this wine, as the acidity and the fruit seem to be in a battle right now, so the wine could certainly harmonize with additional time, but we'll have to wait & see.
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10/13/2018 - pkatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Starting to reach maturity.
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6/7/2018 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
From Glenn's cellar. Decanted around 4pm and tasted throughout the next 7 hours. The wine is a translucent light to medium ruby, quite pinot noir looking. The nose is quite classic and elegant, initially with cherry, rose petals and a hint of smoke, at the 4 hour point it was actually better in my view with more richness and depth on the nose and the palate. Flavors reflect the nose with some lightly tart red fruit in the finish which is quite long. Listed as 14% ABV it didn't taste alcoholic to me at all but someone else seemed to notice it. Surprisingly viscous and chewy mouth feel and still exhibiting some drying tannins. I think this will continue to cellar well for at least the next 4-5 years, maybe longer. Delicious with the potato crusted wild, Alaskan King Salmon we made.
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5/5/2018 - ephorn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clean crisp and juicy. Good grip: Medium plus tannin and acid. Yet Elegant. However I wouldn’t have guessed this a single cru. I would have guessed a basic barbaresco. Still quite good.
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2/25/2018 - Grape_ape wrote: 92 Points
3 hour decant. This is really quite nice, and had tons of room to improve. Will wait 3-5 years on the next one, but you won't be disappointed in having one now.
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2/24/2018 - AndrewR wrote: 95 Points
Stunner after an hour open. Agree with Galloni: masculine power and floral, minty spicy, herbal core. Tons of life left but already feels like a regal warrior. A subtle and quiet wine, almost deceptive in its force.
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12/12/2017 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
A traditionalist Barbaresco by all accounts: made from old-vineyard Nebbiolo located in the Rabajà cru. Fermented and macerated in stainless steel over a period of 3-4 weeks. Aged in old (5-20 years old) Slavonian oak casks (1700-2600 liters) for 22 months and for a further year in bottles before release. 14% alcohol.
Quite translucent, medium-deep cherry red color with a slightest hint of developed maroon hue. Very concentrated and slightly developed nose with brooding, dark-toned aromas of ripe dark berries, some wizened dark fruits, a little bit of tar, a hint of truffle oil and a touch of sweet cherry marmalade. The wine is dry, concentrated and lively on the palate with bold flavors of sour cherry bitterness, tart cranberries, some gamey blood, a little bit of licorice, a hint of raisin and a touch of mushroomy earth. Overall the wine feels very tightly-knit, imposing and remarkably youthful with very structured, grippy tannins and high acidity. The finish is lively, pure and very grippy with crisp acidity and savory flavors of sour cherries, tart cranberries and lingonberries, some stony minerality, a little bit of exotic spice complexity and a hint of dried flowers.
Although the nose and the appearance suggest some aged character, on the palate it is immediately clear that this wine is still painfully young and in dire need of further cellaring. There is a lot of ripeness, concentration and power here, yet the fruit still gets overwhelmed by the piercing acidity and a huge whack of tannins. Overall this is such a powerhouse for a Nebbiolo that one can be forgiven if they think that they are drinking a Barolo Riserva instead of a Barbaresco - yet the wine doesn't seem overdone, overripe or lacking balance one bit. This is a blockbuster Barbaresco for sure, but remarkably harmonious and sophisticated for one. A terrific wine that is going to need at least another decade to resolve its structure into more approachable state. Very highly recommended.
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12/9/2017 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 92 Points
opened 2-3 hours before first sip... just delicious with still great freshness about it, but a developing sense of character.. i wouldn't hesitate to buy a case of this right now to enjoy over the next several years.. very good qpr
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12/6/2017 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Prior bottle was just over a year ago and this wine has begun to develop exactly as I'd hoped. Red cherry, floral, iron and minerals on the nose. Opened three hours ahead of time and drunk over an additional two and the wine showed beautifully as a result. Between medium and full bodied and retains a very similar flavor profile to the prior bottle: bright red cherry upfront, adding depth through the middle and more hints of red raspberry now and more tart cherry on the backside. Excellent background structure as well as into and through the finish. Tannins are more integrated than the prior bottle and while they retains good strength, they provide contrast and finishing structure, rather than taking anything away. Overall, feels a bit more polished and complete than my prior bottle. Based on the amount of time open, the tannin level and the fruit, I feel like this wine could continue to evolve. I might try and wait as long as Spring 2019 for my next bottle. If you have the patience, very good QPR.
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11/24/2017 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
Still tannic on the palate - not unapproachable but not quite ready for prime time. Lots of Barbaresco typicity - tart red fruits and some savory notes. Solid inexpensive Barbaresco.
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9/30/2017 - BrunelloBob wrote: 91 Points
Significant red fruit, smooth. A crowd pleaser and ready to drink now. Buy again at price.
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8/9/2017 - td1836 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherry and herbs. Tart, with a fair amount of acidity. Good, not great.
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6/21/2017 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 88 Points
Rich dark cherry flavors. Smooth but big tannins, balanced acidity. Drinking very well in June 2017 but still a little tight.
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5/29/2017 - gquigs Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earth and menthol on the nose. Black cherry on the palate. Enjoyed this very much.
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5/6/2017 - scott w Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry menthol hints of tar also some black fruits. Perfectly balanced between acid and tannin. Great bottle
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4/14/2017 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Heavier than some... no rush
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2/13/2017 - t_moderne wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Served with food (fried chicken nugget po boy, and an udon seafood and mushroom soup, in case you are wondering).
Deep purple color. Inviting aroma of tar, licorice and black fruits. Good acidity on the front, with menthol and floral notes, filling out with black cherries and licorice. Long and lively finish as the menthol notes continue.
While rich and robust it maintains a lively and inviting profile. Delicious.
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1/21/2017 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 91 Points
still going strong as well as showing promise, took 2+ hours to open up on night 1, i had GREAT patience and drank the last glass on 3rd night and still had nice acid/tannin balance and core... many many years to go
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1/21/2017 - galaxie500 Likes this wine: 91 Points
drinking real well; could time improve? not sure if improve, but could develop. There are a few more at the store, and we're going to get a couple more.
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12/30/2016 - ctbob Likes this wine:
V. nice wine. Solid nebbiolo in the sense that it's actually a lighter style wine yet still has good depth, if that makes any sense. Ready, but no rush.
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12/9/2016 - pkatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still needs time.
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11/4/2016 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red cherry, floral, iron, leather and tobacco on the nose. Between medium and full bodied (14% ABV) and while accessible from opening, get considerably better with time and really showing well after three hours open. Very pretty and bright red cherry upfront, deepening as it gets towards the back and adding raspberry, an excellent acidity-driven tartness and strong mineral qualities. The wine really comes together quite well in the back and the transition to the finish; great fruit evolution and overall balance. Tannins are certainly present, but mesh quite well with the fruit and the body of the wine. As well as it's drinking now, should continue to improve over the next couple of years as it continues to integrate. I'll try my next bottle in early Fall 2017.
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10/29/2016 - KSWinegeek wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very nicely right now with 1 hr decant
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10/15/2016 - ephorn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very fine balance of fruit acid tannin and alcohol. A bit weightier fruit than most barbareschi, possibly attributable to the vineyard? Very good finish. Most Nebbiolo lovers will find the tannin level very tame. First time users might find them a tad aggressive.
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8/16/2016 - Rich S wrote: flawed
Corked. Thin and bitter on the palate.
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7/23/2016 - df1962 wrote: 90 Points
PnVnD let air for 1hr. a bit of disconcerting seepage from the cork. Deep but clear ruby garnet with slight bricking at the rim. Plum marcerated cherry tobacco anise lavender and leather on the nose. Medium(-) weight with nicely drying black tea and cherry skin tannins. Flavours echo the nose. Very drying on the finish. DRINK UP!!!!!
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7/23/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Mostly Italian (and some others) with friends (Trentina's): Gary and his family were at the restaurant down the street. They stopped by for a drink. First we had some Van Winkle 12 and then this. Ruby in color. The nose is nice with cherries, slight roses and mint. On the palate, the cherries turn a bit sour in a good way. Nice acidity. Medium tannins. Seems to be drinking quite well right now. No hurry though.
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7/9/2016 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pnv'd and allowed to open for 30 minutes, i'd say med across board for body, bouquet and structure. Went GREAT with meat/mushroom pizza. Did not really pick up any extra imho on second day. lovely
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4/2/2016 - PFra wrote: 87 Points
Very high acidity, red raspberry and sweet cherry, quite tannic on day one. Day two the acidity still is in the front, the tannins have mellowed. If there wasn't a bit of a darker earth/tar thing way in the background I'd probably think this was Barbera. Not sure where this will end up but it is not near ready at this point.
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1/22/2016 - wirelesswine wrote: 88 Points
Very raspberry profile, seemed lacking structure a bit
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1/2/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very interesting wine. Strawberries as raspberries galore with modest Oak. The wine seems quite young with plenty of evolution left. Still it was smooth and with just enough acidity to make it a good food pairing. Will be interested to see what become of this in a half dozen years.
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12/28/2015 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 91 Points
slow ox'd about 2 hours before serving with charcuterie... lovely and bright; the last glass & half 24 hours later was still very smooth (less acidic) but really hadn't picked up much more in terms of depth... very delicious!
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12/27/2015 - Venturifan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent wine. Not as good as a previous bottle however think I did not decant enough. Very tasty and classic style. Beautiful nose of dried lavender and crushed red cherries. Tannins are aggressive and needs more time.
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12/25/2015 - td1836 wrote: 90 Points
Floral, violets, crushed herbs, raspberry, cherry. Decanted three hours, tannins in a good place, distinctly Barbaresco.
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11/28/2015 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nose of dark cherry and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied red, with black cherry, raspberry, tobacco and spice on finish, a foodie wine. www.winelx.com
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11/25/2015 - mwneil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Restained, terroir, fruit comes through as it opens up, enjoyed the wine for my bday with pizza and ravioli, have one more bottle.f
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8/9/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Lots of wines for a 25/50 Party (Lori & Mike's 25/50 Party): Ruby in color. The nose has cherries, tobacco, with some spice and anise. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Plenty of life left of course. Good cherries with some depth. Nice acidity. Firm tannins. Nice finish.
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6/28/2015 - KSWinegeek wrote: 92 Points
Two plus hours in the decanter allowed this to open up, showing complex nose of dried flowers, cherry, tar and earth. On the palate there is sour cherry. Drinkable now or a few years from now.
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4/13/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
An afternoon of Italians (wine and people) (Vince & Lisa's): This has really developed and improved in a couple of years. While there is lots of life left, this is fast tracked. Light ruby in color. The nose is very pretty. dusty with cherries and dried roses. On the palate, dark and regular cherries with some anise and a bit of damp earth. It took some time to open but then showed some nice complex layering. Not a lot of acidity but enough to work with the food. Very nice.
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4/7/2015 - KSWinegeek wrote: 91 Points
Lovely cherry, floral and spice nose. Nice tart cherry flavors, touch of acidity in smooth presentation. Still evolving. Decanted two plus hours prior to review.
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4/3/2015 - Nico P. wrote: flawed
Rosewater, raspberry macaroons. Mouth: tart cherry acidity. Cuts through porcini cream pasta sauce. Berry compote. Soft tannins. Short finish. 2nd tasting from sealed 250ml sample - downhill; drinkable but much less fruit, body, only acid remains. Bottle cork and neck showed wine stains indicative of leakage, possible heat damage. Bought from Wine Library.
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1/30/2015 - jsherdc wrote: 91 Points
This help up for 2 months after coravining, and a few weeks in the fridge. Great structure.
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12/24/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar to previous bottles but the fruit was showing more in the forefront and was slightly candied. Still, the overall structure in this wine from the acidity keeps the wine feeling fresh on the palate and should also allow future development. Excellent QPR and paired great with pasta and shrimp with a fresh tomato sauce.
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12/13/2014 - KSWinegeek wrote: 91 Points
Garnet red color. Cherry nose some earth notes. Cherry palate. Still youthful, but very nice.
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9/19/2014 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Checking in on these...tight on the pop, but an hour or so in the decanter brought out lovely complexity by way of red fruits, tar, orange peel, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and a touch of floral that wants to come out. Medium bodied, with tart red fruits, orange, and spice, bright acidity, and medium+ finish. The tannins have never been foreboding with this wine, but they are softly present. I'd like to wait a few years before trying the next. I think this will be interesting.
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9/18/2014 - jsherdc wrote:
Tried with the Coravin 4 days after the first use. For this wine I removed the needle immediately after pouring, and the wine held up fine. Its still a bit closed, but nice balance and a great food wine.
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9/14/2014 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light cherry. Light to medium body. Nice acidity. Went great with fried eggplant. First use of my new coravin!
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8/16/2014 - fizz wrote: 91 Points
Impromptu dinner at home: Decanted 6 hours. Fresh and bright red cherry fruit. Plenty of food friendly acids, savoury nuances and a little grip on the back end, typical of the grape. No rush on this one.
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5/25/2014 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 88 Points
Rated based on current impression--there is significant upside. Very tight even with about 30 minutes of air. But emerged bit by bit over a few hours. High acidity, thought this was tempered once the red fruit emerged. Does seem to carry a bit of smokey, sweet oak, though again the typicity of violets and asian spice began to win out over time. The finish is a mixture of the inner perfume with big tannins and pithy bitterness. This is a medium weight style in sum, not a big bruiser, but really could use 5 years or so to integrate and open up.
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5/14/2014 - merlot78 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Did not expect this wine to be easy drinking at this stage. Beautiful color. Pick up red fruits on the nose, mostly cherry. Also cherry dominated the palate. Tannins were soft. This wine was completely together and enjoyable. A medium finish.
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3/24/2014 - blakel wrote: 88 Points
This seemed quite uninteresting to me. Nothing wrong with it, just lacking character.
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2/8/2014 - wineordeath wrote: 91 Points
Nose of sweet red fruit, cherries mainly for me, some violet, a bit of spice, and some tar and vanilla lurking in the background. its a bit hot and spicy on the nose at this stage. But I like it and keep sniffing it. The palate is more of the same, but a bit more savory. Although its a delight to sniff now, its not easy drinking yet. The tannins are very fine and smooth, but they are still significant and the abundant fresh acidity hits the sides of palate and on the finish. Its a mouth smacker. Definitely wants food in the tradition of Barbaresco/Barolo.
I don't have so much experience with young nebbiolo, but I think this wine is worth a punt for the cellar and at least 5 - 8 years of patience.
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1/13/2014 - TheBosWineGuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oh my, this is going to be a stunning wine in 5+ years and I am going to have a hearty laugh at what I paid for it. Check Galloni's notes, he has it dead on.
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1/9/2014 - Venice Al Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pleaseeeeeeeese no scores without some note!!!!!! (As a result - posting informally) Tight and tannic. Classic nose of anise, tar and cherries . Palate is tar and cherries bit way too early- serves me right As it is a 98 rabaja. Promising.
Oops it is the 2008 , but my guess is I would believe the 98 is still a bit too young if I tasted it.
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8/3/2013 - sehill wrote: 88 Points
decanted and poured, this wine gave a very good showing. The aromatics show red fruits and spice notes with some underlying tar and floral notes. The color is a translucent medium ruby. The medium bodied palate lacks some overall balance and at times seems somewhat disjointed. At this stage the gives short to medium length finish with combination of acidity and tannins giving underlying structure. This should benefit from additional bottle and this showing does suggest that wine could give a more compelling showing in the future.
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6/23/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Some Italians on a Saturday afternoon; 6/23/2013-6/24/2013 (Mike P's): Lots of guesses all around for this one, but nobody picked up nebbiolo. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is dusty with cherries. Cherries on the palate. Good fruit. Not much complexity at this point, but still interesting. Tart on the finish. I thought it was Brunello or some kind of sangiovese. Still, very nice wine.
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5/26/2013 - Rich S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with previous bottle although slightly less aromatic on the nose on initial pour. Probably could have used 30 mins or so to open up.
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4/12/2013 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Transparent ruby and just starting to hint at orange towards the rim. Typical and pleasing nose of rose petal, tar, and iron. Medium bodied and in a restrained, feminine style, with tons of acid, red fruits, orange peel, and a medium+ finish. While the tannins were noticeable, I don't think they detracted and I find this very approachable now. I also do not get any of the oak mentioned previously. This is pretty sexy, but I'll be curious to see if time imparts some additional complexity. If you've got a few, go ahead and pop one; otherwise, maybe try in a year or 2.
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3/17/2013 - pkatz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Although drinkable now, this is a somewhat classic style that will certainly benefit from at least a few more years of bottle age to soften the tannins and sweeten the fruit. Currently bright fruit, a little bit of tar, puckery but pleasant tannins, light-medium body typical of classic nebbiolo. Exellent value at $30.
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3/5/2013 - jhanraha wrote: 93 Points
This is a really nice light wine that easily pairs up with almost any dish.
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2/26/2013 - blakel wrote: 89 Points
This might be great in a few years. Today, the overpowering oaky tannins are too much for me.
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2/23/2013 - MikeZ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good on day 2, needs significant decanting or cellar time
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2/16/2013 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Verticals (Sydney, Australia): Liquorice, tar, tobacco and some smoky aromas. Beautifully balanced on the palate and very approachable already. Give it some time to age though and I think it will be really great.
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2/10/2013 - laxman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Gorgeous. Picked this up from Wine Library after they noted a 94 from Galloni of WA. Having been dissapointed so often by Nebbiolo, I took a chance on this for for $30. Did not dissapoint. This is elegant from start to finish. Subtle nose of red fruit, opening up into a well balanced mouthfull of flavor. Lingers and finishes nicely. This is a bottle to bring to a friend's house tonight or lay down for a while.
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1/23/2013 - 4iron wrote: 88 Points
Bevetroppo hit the nail on the head
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1/17/2013 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
I have such fond Cortese memories I keep forgetting how brutal and unforgiving the young ones are, and while I guess this was worth opening for science, it's a waste if you're hoping to get any kind of pleasure out of it now. Fortunately they're priced reasonably enough that it's not a huge sacrifice. But this is formidably tannic and even a brontosaurus steak isn't going to tame it. Underneath that it's typical pale red-fruited nebbiolo with a touch of anise and seasoned with cedar shavings as a result of the barrels - seasoned being the operative word since the oak notes are simply on top of something that otherwise feels totally classic, and not turning it into something else. It certainly isn't making the wine any smoother...
As a postscript, this was pretty impressive three (that's right, three) days after being opened and sitting uncorked in the cave. No more wood, tannins melted and refined, and some gravelly earth.
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1/9/2013 - bevetroppo Likes this wine: 89 Points
Traditional/modern in style, this wine seems like a straddle. There's a lot of wood here, in what the importer says is 20 months of aging in barrels that are new-9 years old, without any additional detail. I'm guessing there's plenty of new cause it's got that intrusive tongue depressor woodiness I associate with a good dose of new oak.
But let's also pay attention to the rest of the wine. A dark garnet that doesn't look entirely traditional. Explosive nose with tar, violets, cocoa and appealing dark ripe berries, but also some alcoholic heat. Medium/full bodied again with ample fruit, coffee, plenty of wood and alcohol, actually burning my tongue to a slight degree. I understand that alcohol can add an impression of sweetness to a wine, and I wonder if that's a factor here. There's a good possibility that this is still young and will round out, moderate, and improve substantially with some bottle age, but I find it a bit of a rough passage right now. The stuffing is there, but to use a detestable phrase, it needs to eat its wood first.
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11/11/2012 - Rich S wrote: 92 Points
Bright ruby color with great clarity and a slight orange hue to it. Typical nebbiolo nose of rose petals, cinammon, red fruit a touch of candied orange peel. Tart red fruits on the palate along with a little bit of baking spices and a touch of oak on the back end. There is a heck of a lot of acid and tannin in this wine but it is still approachable now but I will wait on drinking the rest of these for another couple years. Really nice wine and a real score for the sale price paid.
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10/20/2012 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Translucent crimson color and intriguing nose. Classically styled with a laser beam of red fruit, spice, tobacco, and minerality. Very enjoyable!
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10/12/2012 - jhanraha wrote: 92 Points
Liked this alot. Very easy to drink.
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8/4/2012 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
Italian Immigrants (Sydney, Australia): Smoky Spanish chorizo, tobacco and red berries on the nose. The palate is intense and mouthfilling, while maintaining structure and focus throughout the mid-palate into the full and long finish. Still primary, this will benefit from another 5-7 years in the bottle.
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9/16/2011 - Jossik wrote: 88 Points
Naso col tipico frutto del rabaja ma complesso, con buoni tocchi di spezie, bocca ricca e con bella struttura.
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