I had to work with this wine a little. I purchased it 8/13/12 thru WTSO. At the time it was rated at 94. The cork was very dry even though it has been laying down since 2012. Only half came out. Tried 2 other pullers and was able to get a small hole, but it was too small to decant through. Was able to push the cork into the bottle and pour into a decanter. Tried a small amount and decided that I needed to run it through the Vinturi. Ended up running it through 3 times and then let it air in the decanter for 3 hours. The result was very good and worth the effort. I rate it at a 91 now. Cherry with spices. Long finish all along the tongue. Almost no sediment. At the time i bought it from WTSO I had a coupon from them and only paid $4 a bottle. Very good buy.
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In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth; [people speak the truth when they are drunk]), another bottle of my cellar sacrifices. This one was a 2008 I Balzini White Label from D’Isanto & D’Isanto which was a Super Tuscan, made up of 50% Cab and 50% Sangiovese. According to the web (gospel😀🍷), Super Tuscan wines must be from Tuscany and they’re usually a red blend using cab or merlot. Somewhat of an overkill for the pizza we had, but the cellar software said that it was time to drink it, and we did. As you can imagine, it was a little too powerful of a wine, but we liked it just the same. 🍷🍷👍👍 #wine #winelover #winelovers #redblend #redblendwine #napawine #napa #napavalley #italianwines #ibalzini #D’Isanto&D’Isanto #supertuscans #supertuscanwine #supertuscanwines
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This has been well cellared since 2013 and shows very well now, with some life to go.PNP: Slight amount of bricking. Nose has a rusttic element(earthy, woody) but definite red and blue fruits. Tannins are soft and blend nicely with acidity and the fruit. Very enjoyable as a stand alone, and I expect it will sing with spagetti later tonight. Excellent value at $20.
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I found this wine much more enjoyable several years ago. The aromatic qualities are the best element to this wine with creme de cassis, lavender, and incense.
On the palate I now find the wine fatigued with tobacco and burnt espresso, and as dull as dishwater. Drinking my final bottle soon.
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Came out of a magnum. Pop and pour was pleasing, but nothing memorable. Not particularly acidic or characteristics of a super Tuscan style. Seemed like a basic sangio led pizza wine. Didn't seem to evolve in the glass or after extended open time. Good but not worth the $25/750mL price point
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Not up to my last rating, but still a nice wine. Sangiovese leads the way on the flavors but the Cab was definitely there. Still big and bold with a touch more acidity than I would prefer. Medium finish is mostly fruit with a bit of Tannin
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Good but not anything to write home about. Muted dark berry flavors that improved some over the course of the evening. Meek tannins. Brief finish. This wine never stepped up to become memorable.
Update on 5/3/2020: still no improvement. Highly acidic and tart stands out. Fruit is a tad stronger but still overwhelmed by the in-your-face acidity. I think this one is a lost cause.
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The least interesting wine in the world. Flat in flavor, and completely uninteresting with a short and bitter finish. This was stored perfectly in my cellar since purchasing. I don't understand the 90+ point reviews on this wine. Sadly I have 5 more bottles....
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Wow, did this evolve in the bottle. At first the Sangiovese was evident, all strawberry and cedar. And then it opened up with a plush, rich Cabernet nose. The finish was long with racy acidity. Very good wine, and still very youthful. Will drinks well for another 5-10 years.
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First bottle of a half case. Pnp to serve with leftover bone-in prime rib. Good plum color with no bricking. Aromatically presents orange peel, leather, cassis, dried herbs, smoke, light clove and white pepper notes. On the palate, this starts out with a vibrant acidic backbone that coasts into a tannic dryness that has good overall balance. Lingering notes of cassis, black raspberry, a light dusting of pepper, and finishing with a very savory herb mouthfeel. Medium weight viscosity, this went very well with the prime rib.
Loved the vigor and savory elements of this wine. Three drinkers in the group so the bottle was consumed quickly. Hope the remaining bottles serve as well. 91-92.
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Primary flavors and high acidity make this taste like the cheap Italian wine that used to come in those tacky wicker bottles. A couple of hours airing improves it greatly, but still overpriced at $20. Needs food, as it is practically undrinkable by itself.
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Disappointing, even at $20. Overly tannic without character. Maybe bottle variation, given some of the high scores...have 3 more so will open another. Will try on day 2 to see if it opens up more.
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I do not understand the high ratings for this wine. Decanted for two hours after an initial taste suggested seriously muted nose and flavors. Paired with steak and a huge mistake. Medium weight with tannic bite offset by bright acidity and red currant flavors. Not well-balanced and no appreciable Cab depth. In fact, tastes more like an inexpensive Chianti.
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This has not settled out as much as I had hoped. Still very tart. I think it needs more time in the bottle. The flavors are there to make this a good experience but it isn't there yet. Back to the cellar for a few years. Score [ 50 + 5 + 12 +16 + 8 ] = 91
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I have to admit I was a little disappointed with this. Very dark in color but somewhat austere on the pallet. Improved with a little bit of air but around the two hour mark started to fade. A good weekday wine but nothing special.
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The fruit has become somewhat muted on the nose. Spicy dark fruit flavors. Tannins are still big and the fruit might not last until the tannins soften. Definitely decant for an hour minimum and enjoy with food.
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I think this wine has evolved very nicely over the last year since I have tasted it. Complex wine with firm tannins that are settling down. Just a wonderful wine!
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This bottle was a super "Super Tuscan". Both the Sangiovese and the Cab were singing with fine balance and big full smooth mouth. Finish was medium but very smooth tannin.
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My wife likes chianti and I wanted steak, so I picked this wine. 50% sangiovese and 50% cabernet sauvignon, right? Well, it was way too tannic for both of us. I should have opened it yesterday. I watched "A Year in Burgundy" after supper and sipped this wine all during the movie. It was definately much better when the movie ended than when it began. It is WAY too young. This is a big bold wine that will stand up to even wasabi if you like. I really liked it, but give it another five years.
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We bought this wine from WinesTilSoldOut in June 2013 (wtso.com (an on-line wine clearing house; I buy wines from this website only if the wine receives GREAT scores from reputable sources like Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, James Halliday, Stephen Tanzer, etc. and if the price is close to 50% or more off the original release price)). I bought this wine because Wine Spectator (my go-to/most-reputable wine rating source) gave this wine 94 points and the wine was 60% off the original price (originally released at $50/bottle and only $19.99 a bottle if four or more bottles are purchased (which includes free shipping)). This blend consists of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Sangiovese (a.k.a. “Super Tuscan”). This wine pours VERY dark and has a dark, brooding bouquet, exhibiting elements of earth, oak, spices/herbs, dark fruits, and slight floral elements as well. We bought four bottles from wtso.com and opened the first bottle at a restaurant we had never been to before (earlier this year or late last year). The wine was SO tannic it was almost undrinkable. About 3 or 4 weeks ago, we had friends over for dinner and I thought we’d open the 2nd bottle and see if decanting this Tannic Bad Boy would improve with an hour or two of decanting. It definitely helped a LOT. So if you do have this wine in your cellar, I would highly suggest you cool it way down and then decant it for a couple of hours of more. The decanting process tamed those serious tannins and made the wine much more approachable/drinkable. Even after hours of decanting, this is still a rich, dark, brooding, tannic wine. There’s mostly black/dark fruit up front like plums, black cherries, and blackberries. Like the bouquet suggested, there is indeed serious quantities of black pepper and savory herbs. This wine has a “The Godfather”-serious structure; in addition to the incredibly firm/cut-with-a-knife tannins, there’s plenty of food-friendly acidity. The finish is (shockingly?? NOT) tannic and lingering. This wine BEGS to be paired with the proper food. DO NOT pair this wine with pasta (even though it’s 50% Sangiovese). Ideally, this wine should be paired with a serious steak, like a ribeye beautifully spiced with kosher or sea salt and TONS of freshly-cracked black pepper. I paired this particular bottle with homemade hamburgers spiced with sea salt, garlic powder, and TONS of freshly-cracked black pepper. The wine paired nicely with the burgers but would pair PERFECTLY with a high-quality red beef dish like a ribeye steak at a phenomenal steakhouse, prime rib, and/or just about any other red meat dish (meatloaf, burgers, lamb, veal, etc.). I don’t believe this is a 94-point wine, but it is very good (I pretty much ALWAYS trust Wine Spectator’s ratings because most of their wines are scored during blind tastings). If you’re a lover of food-friendly, tannic, spicy, beautifully-balanced red wines, this just might be to your liking. No, I don’t believe it’s a 94-pointer, but it is delicious and if decanted/aired properly, it will match beautifully with a high-quality, perfectly-spiced/grilled steak.
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Really nice super Tuscan for the money. The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cranberry, raspberry, cherry, mineral and sandalwood. It tastes like blueberry, black currant (cassis), raspberry, cherry, mineral and sandalwood. The body is medium. The wine has polished texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity. Even better on day 2.
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PnD let air for 1hr. Crimson purple not saturated with garnet to clear rim. Charred cherry cassis earth and balsamic on the nose. Medium weight with ripe cherry skin tannins. Ripe red and blue fruit cherry and cassis on the palate. You can really discern the Cabernet and the Sangiovese yet they do not conflict. Ripe and fresh with mineral and porcini note and a lingering finish. I do not see this as a ever being a $50 94 point wine but at $20 it is great.
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Fruit forward. This is drinking better then the 2006, but I think that you can do better for than this at this price point. I don't see this as a wine to cellar given how the 06 turned out.
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On the nose it was creamy vanilla cab and oak scents but the palate was a bit more balanced with the Cab smoothing the edges of the Sangiovese in a medium weight package. I found it a bit hollow on the mid palate and the finish was a little sharper/rough than it needed to be - the tannins seemed to be really tight and the fruit was letting the acids peek through- so I'm not sure about the drinking pleasure of this particular bottling over the near term.....
Needs a lot of time to resolve itself I suspect, and thats even if it ever gets to a better place. I'm not going to buy anymore.
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At opening cherry fruit only.Softened up over the next 2 hours. The wine seems to lack integrated structure. Better on day 2 when the fruit had subsided.
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good stuff, enjoyed it with friends. Wonderful food pairing (chicken parm) and opened up nicely over two hours. Excellent mouthfeel and finish. Dark berry. Still getting better when we finished it. Would buy again.
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This was the first bottle opened and it was okay. I still don't know why WS rated this so highly but it is a decent supertuscan. The sangiovese dominates this and it is a little to light for my tastes. Just not quite enough backbone to this for me. Tons of acidity as well.
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Lively acidity. Tannins are bright and green meaning the wine is too young yet to drink. Give it a couple more years. With 50/50 blend of cab and sangiovese, almost like two wines in one – you can distinctly pick the characteristics of each varietal.
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Very dry, at least when compared with the fruity California cabs that we tend to prefer. Not a bad wine, just not something I'll find myself wanting to drink again.
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Young wine, fresh dark fruit on the nose and palate. Well integrated tannins, pronounced acidity, but in balance with all that fruit. Light body, but not light in the level of the taste, complexity and and a finish that lasts forever with spice and fruit. You feel the acidity and tannins during the finish to the point of infinity.
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Let this decant for a few hrs before I tried this for the 2nd time. The finish is a tad hot with some noticeable tannins. Ripe raspberry on the nose with a crisp bit of dill as well mixed in. I would say that it's a bit linear lacking complexity but still pairs nicely with a light pasta. This in my opinion will not stand up by itself but is a nice food friendly wine.
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Very nice Supertuscan that shows more Chianti than Cabernet despite the 50-50 blend. Tasted upon opening and it really needed to hit the decanter for 30-45 minutes. Nose of berries, some light vanilla oak, very pleasant. Medium bodied, with significant acidity and tannin, but in balance. Taste is similar to the nose...no noticeable earth or tobacco notes. Med-long finish. Definitely a wine that benefits from food to offset the acidity. Paired well with penne and meat sauce. I think you could lay these down for a few more years and this would gain some smoothness and complexity. Good QPR @ $20 from WTSO.
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Still a little early but showing signs of promise. Decanted for 90 minutes but seemed a little tight. Might be best in 2-3 years. Enjoyable bottle with steak.
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Medium red. Nice nose of raspberry, wood, spices and floral. Palate shows cranberry, minerals, raspberry and spices. Good acidity and medium finish. While a light wine it has plenty of flavor and is a wonderful value at $20.
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A very respectable source scored this at a 94 and I'm not real sure how it got rated so highly. After a few hrs in the decanter the oak and cedar softened and the cherry, currants and licorice came through the nose. In my opinion, this is not a powerhouse but a decent midpriced red table wine. Soft tannins and silky texture but this may need some time to develop. I have 3 more bottles I will lay down for at least another 5-7 yrs before I open them.
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Medium body and crimson color. Noticeable but not harsh tannins with grity earthy aroma, taste. Even though this wine is 50% cabernet and 50% sangiovese, the later dominates. Nice with pasta. Rate 89
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was suckered in by the 94 point wine spectator rating, but there is nothing appealing about this wine. The color is a murky brikish red. the nose is mostly moldy basement, and bitter and thin on the tounge. Would not purchase again.
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It has a nose of dark fruit and dirt. This wine just comes to gather for me, the Finnish is long but subtle , it touches all of my taste buds. A great bottle of wine.
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tasty - medium/light weight, easy to drink - acidic and tart, but also fruity - not one for the ages, but pleasant enough for Italian fare - fairly priced at $19.99 WTSO price - maybe better a bit less - like it but would not buy again, others at that price point we like better.
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Deep ruby-violet color. Nose of dark fruit. Dark fruit and children's vitamins on the palate followed by an off-putting vegetal taste which lingered into the finish and kind of killed it.
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Blackberry and raspberry notes on the nose amid musty and dusty hues. Very rich mouth feel with distinct high notes mixed with raisin early on. Well balance and vibrant on the palate. Subtle spice and aged fruit in the mouth. Concentrated and warm, long finish without being alcohol-y at all.
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I thought I had rushed the gun on this one, but it was more than ready. I find many Italian wines too grapey for my taste, but not this one. It was full bodied, but not overpowering. Good nose. Saving my last bottle for late 2013 and will be interested in how it ages.
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5/14/2023 - yurcek Likes this wine: 91 Points
I had to work with this wine a little. I purchased it 8/13/12 thru WTSO. At the time it was rated at 94. The cork was very dry even though it has been laying down since 2012. Only half came out. Tried 2 other pullers and was able to get a small hole, but it was too small to decant through. Was able to push the cork into the bottle and pour into a decanter. Tried a small amount and decided that I needed to run it through the Vinturi. Ended up running it through 3 times and then let it air in the decanter for 3 hours. The result was very good and worth the effort. I rate it at a 91 now. Cherry with spices. Long finish all along the tongue. Almost no sediment. At the time i bought it from WTSO I had a coupon from them and only paid $4 a bottle. Very good buy.
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10/7/2021 - Gr8penut Likes this wine: 89 Points
From my posting on Instagram:
In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth; [people speak the truth when they are drunk]), another bottle of my cellar sacrifices. This one was a 2008 I Balzini White Label from D’Isanto & D’Isanto which was a Super Tuscan, made up of 50% Cab and 50% Sangiovese. According to the web (gospel😀🍷), Super Tuscan wines must be from Tuscany and they’re usually a red blend using cab or merlot. Somewhat of an overkill for the pizza we had, but the cellar software said that it was time to drink it, and we did. As you can imagine, it was a little too powerful of a wine, but we liked it just the same. 🍷🍷👍👍 #wine #winelover #winelovers #redblend #redblendwine #napawine #napa #napavalley
#italianwines #ibalzini #D’Isanto&D’Isanto #supertuscans #supertuscanwine #supertuscanwines
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2/9/2021 - robertgf wrote: 91 Points
This has been well cellared since 2013 and shows very well now, with some life to go.PNP: Slight amount of bricking. Nose has a rusttic element(earthy, woody) but definite red and blue fruits. Tannins are soft and blend nicely with acidity and the fruit. Very enjoyable as a stand alone, and I expect it will sing with spagetti later tonight. Excellent value at $20.
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8/30/2020 - woody0198 wrote:
Made in to sangria
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8/24/2020 - woody0198 wrote:
Made in to sangria
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7/6/2020 - allensounhein wrote: 90 Points
I really enjoyed this .....nice color and nose
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6/26/2020 - COWineLover wrote: 84 Points
I found this wine much more enjoyable several years ago. The aromatic qualities are the best element to this wine with creme de cassis, lavender, and incense.
On the palate I now find the wine fatigued with tobacco and burnt espresso, and as dull as dishwater. Drinking my final bottle soon.
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5/10/2020 - deadlyapp Likes this wine: 88 Points
Came out of a magnum. Pop and pour was pleasing, but nothing memorable. Not particularly acidic or characteristics of a super Tuscan style. Seemed like a basic sangio led pizza wine. Didn't seem to evolve in the glass or after extended open time. Good but not worth the $25/750mL price point
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4/2/2020 - Spartan517 wrote: 90 Points
Still a solid bottle. Exceeding expectations. Glad I have 3 left, will be drinking them over the next 6 months.
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11/6/2019 - wtianseter wrote: 89 Points
Not up to my last rating, but still a nice wine. Sangiovese leads the way on the flavors but the Cab was definitely there. Still big and bold with a touch more acidity than I would prefer. Medium finish is mostly fruit with a bit of Tannin
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7/2/2019 - Hover low 64 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Good but not anything to write home about. Muted dark berry flavors that improved some over the course of the evening. Meek tannins. Brief finish. This wine never stepped up to become memorable.
Update on 5/3/2020: still no improvement. Highly acidic and tart stands out. Fruit is a tad stronger but still overwhelmed by the in-your-face acidity. I think this one is a lost cause.
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3/25/2019 - Gulper Does not like this wine:
The least interesting wine in the world. Flat in flavor, and completely uninteresting with a short and bitter finish. This was stored perfectly in my cellar since purchasing. I don't understand the 90+ point reviews on this wine. Sadly I have 5 more bottles....
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1/14/2019 - mjgkng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberry and plum. Medium body. Excellent wine.
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1/9/2019 - Martysfo wrote: 92 Points
Wow, did this evolve in the bottle. At first the Sangiovese was evident, all strawberry and cedar. And then it opened up with a plush, rich Cabernet nose. The finish was long with racy acidity. Very good wine, and still very youthful. Will drinks well for another 5-10 years.
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12/27/2018 - COWineLover wrote: 91 Points
First bottle of a half case. Pnp to serve with leftover bone-in prime rib. Good plum color with no bricking. Aromatically presents orange peel, leather, cassis, dried herbs, smoke, light clove and white pepper notes. On the palate, this starts out with a vibrant acidic backbone that coasts into a tannic dryness that has good overall balance. Lingering notes of cassis, black raspberry, a light dusting of pepper, and finishing with a very savory herb mouthfeel. Medium weight viscosity, this went very well with the prime rib.
Loved the vigor and savory elements of this wine. Three drinkers in the group so the bottle was consumed quickly. Hope the remaining bottles serve as well. 91-92.
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10/6/2018 - jayw Does not like this wine:
Primary flavors and high acidity make this taste like the cheap Italian wine that used to come in those tacky wicker bottles. A couple of hours airing improves it greatly, but still overpriced at $20. Needs food, as it is practically undrinkable by itself.
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4/18/2018 - hebill wrote: 86 Points
Disappointing, even at $20. Overly tannic without character. Maybe bottle variation, given some of the high scores...have 3 more so will open another. Will try on day 2 to see if it opens up more.
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10/28/2017 - K&J Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last one. Waah!
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9/25/2017 - elevwine Does not like this wine: 85 Points
I do not understand the high ratings for this wine. Decanted for two hours after an initial taste suggested seriously muted nose and flavors. Paired with steak and a huge mistake. Medium weight with tannic bite offset by bright acidity and red currant flavors. Not well-balanced and no appreciable Cab depth. In fact, tastes more like an inexpensive Chianti.
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6/25/2017 - ficejj wrote:
$20
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9/15/2016 - Martysfo Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big wine. Dark fruit and boysenberry with a touch of balsamic on the finish. Massive tabun's and bright acidity on the finish.
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4/4/2016 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 90 Points
very enjoyable
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11/29/2015 - roybivens wrote: 91 Points
This has not settled out as much as I had hoped. Still very tart. I think it needs more time in the bottle. The flavors are there to make this a good experience but it isn't there yet. Back to the cellar for a few years. Score [ 50 + 5 + 12 +16 + 8 ] = 91
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8/3/2015 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 89 Points
I have to admit I was a little disappointed with this. Very dark in color but somewhat austere on the pallet. Improved with a little bit of air but around the two hour mark started to fade. A good weekday wine but nothing special.
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7/22/2015 - Thief wrote: 89 Points
The fruit has become somewhat muted on the nose. Spicy dark fruit flavors. Tannins are still big and the fruit might not last until the tannins soften. Definitely decant for an hour minimum and enjoy with food.
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7/4/2015 - K&J Likes this wine: 94 Points
I think this wine has evolved very nicely over the last year since I have tasted it. Complex wine with firm tannins that are settling down. Just a wonderful wine!
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7/1/2015 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Solid effort with spices, soy, ripe fruits and rustic character. Medium finish. Drink now.
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6/1/2015 - wtianseter wrote: 93 Points
This bottle was a super "Super Tuscan". Both the Sangiovese and the Cab were singing with fine balance and big full smooth mouth. Finish was medium but very smooth tannin.
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2/7/2015 - allenadale wrote: 92 Points
My wife likes chianti and I wanted steak, so I picked this wine. 50% sangiovese and 50% cabernet sauvignon, right? Well, it was way too tannic for both of us. I should have opened it yesterday. I watched "A Year in Burgundy" after supper and sipped this wine all during the movie. It was definately much better when the movie ended than when it began. It is WAY too young. This is a big bold wine that will stand up to even wasabi if you like. I really liked it, but give it another five years.
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12/14/2014 - df1962 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnVnD let air for 2hrs. Consistent with previous note with a little more integration and complexity. Went really well with porchetta.
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10/18/2014 - DaveZack Likes this wine: 91 Points
We bought this wine from WinesTilSoldOut in June 2013 (wtso.com (an on-line wine clearing house; I buy wines from this website only if the wine receives GREAT scores from reputable sources like Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, James Halliday, Stephen Tanzer, etc. and if the price is close to 50% or more off the original release price)). I bought this wine because Wine Spectator (my go-to/most-reputable wine rating source) gave this wine 94 points and the wine was 60% off the original price (originally released at $50/bottle and only $19.99 a bottle if four or more bottles are purchased (which includes free shipping)).
This blend consists of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Sangiovese (a.k.a. “Super Tuscan”). This wine pours VERY dark and has a dark, brooding bouquet, exhibiting elements of earth, oak, spices/herbs, dark fruits, and slight floral elements as well.
We bought four bottles from wtso.com and opened the first bottle at a restaurant we had never been to before (earlier this year or late last year). The wine was SO tannic it was almost undrinkable. About 3 or 4 weeks ago, we had friends over for dinner and I thought we’d open the 2nd bottle and see if decanting this Tannic Bad Boy would improve with an hour or two of decanting. It definitely helped a LOT. So if you do have this wine in your cellar, I would highly suggest you cool it way down and then decant it for a couple of hours of more. The decanting process tamed those serious tannins and made the wine much more approachable/drinkable.
Even after hours of decanting, this is still a rich, dark, brooding, tannic wine. There’s mostly black/dark fruit up front like plums, black cherries, and blackberries. Like the bouquet suggested, there is indeed serious quantities of black pepper and savory herbs. This wine has a “The Godfather”-serious structure; in addition to the incredibly firm/cut-with-a-knife tannins, there’s plenty of food-friendly acidity. The finish is (shockingly?? NOT) tannic and lingering. This wine BEGS to be paired with the proper food.
DO NOT pair this wine with pasta (even though it’s 50% Sangiovese). Ideally, this wine should be paired with a serious steak, like a ribeye beautifully spiced with kosher or sea salt and TONS of freshly-cracked black pepper. I paired this particular bottle with homemade hamburgers spiced with sea salt, garlic powder, and TONS of freshly-cracked black pepper. The wine paired nicely with the burgers but would pair PERFECTLY with a high-quality red beef dish like a ribeye steak at a phenomenal steakhouse, prime rib, and/or just about any other red meat dish (meatloaf, burgers, lamb, veal, etc.).
I don’t believe this is a 94-point wine, but it is very good (I pretty much ALWAYS trust Wine Spectator’s ratings because most of their wines are scored during blind tastings). If you’re a lover of food-friendly, tannic, spicy, beautifully-balanced red wines, this just might be to your liking. No, I don’t believe it’s a 94-pointer, but it is delicious and if decanted/aired properly, it will match beautifully with a high-quality, perfectly-spiced/grilled steak.
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10/10/2014 - Alcontd wrote: 91 Points
Really nice super Tuscan for the money.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cranberry, raspberry, cherry, mineral and sandalwood. It tastes like blueberry, black currant (cassis), raspberry, cherry, mineral and sandalwood. The body is medium. The wine has polished texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
Even better on day 2.
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9/13/2014 - Forklifts11 wrote:
Fantastic! Went really well Penne alla Vodka and Chicken Parm. Needed about 30min to open up.
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9/2/2014 - SSGibson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well balanced and smooth; nice QPR.
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8/22/2014 - df1962 Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnD let air for 1hr. Crimson purple not saturated with garnet to clear rim. Charred cherry cassis earth and balsamic on the nose. Medium weight with ripe cherry skin tannins. Ripe red and blue fruit cherry and cassis on the palate. You can really discern the Cabernet and the Sangiovese yet they do not conflict. Ripe and fresh with mineral and porcini note and a lingering finish. I do not see this as a ever being a $50 94 point wine but at $20 it is great.
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8/17/2014 - mrpaper126@gmail.com wrote: 82 Points
Over and done. Never meant to be a keeper, mediocre at its peak. In this case, we got what we paid for.
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6/27/2014 - lesliefrank wrote: 92 Points
It is still as good as it gets, that is for me. It is just great.
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5/27/2014 - PourSomeRed wrote: 85 Points
Fruit forward. This is drinking better then the 2006, but I think that you can do better for than this at this price point. I don't see this as a wine to cellar given how the 06 turned out.
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5/17/2014 - jawegs Likes this wine: 83 Points
Not much depth. Lacking complexity
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2/22/2014 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 87 Points
On the nose it was creamy vanilla cab and oak scents but the palate was a bit more balanced with the Cab smoothing the edges of the Sangiovese in a medium weight package. I found it a bit hollow on the mid palate and the finish was a little sharper/rough than it needed to be - the tannins seemed to be really tight and the fruit was letting the acids peek through- so I'm not sure about the drinking pleasure of this particular bottling over the near term.....
Needs a lot of time to resolve itself I suspect, and thats even if it ever gets to a better place. I'm not going to buy anymore.
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2/21/2014 - bin905 wrote: 88 Points
It is a bit rough and tannic, dominated by earth and tar flavor.
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2/17/2014 - divot731 wrote:
The first 2 bottles were excellent. Will save the last bottle for a special occasion
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2/16/2014 - hondius Does not like this wine: 86 Points
At opening cherry fruit only.Softened up over the next 2 hours. The wine seems to lack integrated structure. Better on day 2 when the fruit had subsided.
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2/7/2014 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid. Robust. Excellent
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1/25/2014 - CAP Likes this wine: 89 Points
good stuff, enjoyed it with friends. Wonderful food pairing (chicken parm) and opened up nicely over two hours. Excellent mouthfeel and finish. Dark berry. Still getting better when we finished it. Would buy again.
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1/25/2014 - Thebigbaby wrote:
Acidic. Better on day two. Needs food.
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1/1/2014 - mjgkng wrote: 88 Points
not a big hit in my household
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12/20/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 87 Points
This was the first bottle opened and it was okay. I still don't know why WS rated this so highly but it is a decent supertuscan. The sangiovese dominates this and it is a little to light for my tastes. Just not quite enough backbone to this for me. Tons of acidity as well.
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12/3/2013 - K&J Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lively acidity. Tannins are bright and green meaning the wine is too young yet to drink. Give it a couple more years. With 50/50 blend of cab and sangiovese, almost like two wines in one – you can distinctly pick the characteristics of each varietal.
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11/9/2013 - HarlanPSU wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous wine.
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10/14/2013 - rjpile wrote: 87 Points
Very dry, at least when compared with the fruity California cabs that we tend to prefer. Not a bad wine, just not something I'll find myself wanting to drink again.
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9/16/2013 - Gretzdog99 wrote: 85 Points
Strong nose and needs to open up a lot before it's drinkable. It started out almost tart and then mellowed out after about an hour.
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8/29/2013 - mpmullic wrote:
Table swill. Too acidic. . . Like sucking on a strawberry jolly rancher. Very unbalanced but hopefully will improve with time. I Don't get it.
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6/23/2013 - mjgkng wrote:
avg 90; $35+
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6/16/2013 - Samdrew92 wrote: 85 Points
Too acidic, too tannic. Disappointing. Hoping my last bottle will be better in a few years.
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6/2/2013 - JoshA wrote: 87 Points
Bright raspberry flavors and some gritty tannins underneath but not quite integrated.
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4/27/2013 - DrGonzo wrote: 91 Points
Excellent QPR, enjoyed over three nights.
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4/15/2013 - jawegs wrote: 93 Points
This is an outstanding Super Tuscan
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4/14/2013 - BoozNooz wrote: 92 Points
Great with lamb osso bucco!
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4/14/2013 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Young wine, fresh dark fruit on the nose and palate. Well integrated tannins, pronounced acidity, but in balance with all that fruit. Light body, but not light in the level of the taste, complexity and and a finish that lasts forever with spice and fruit. You feel the acidity and tannins during the finish to the point of infinity.
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4/9/2013 - Castle Peak wrote: 88 Points
Nice end of the day drinker. Nothing special.
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4/4/2013 - ponty48 wrote:
Fresh red fruit. Medium body ruby red cab/sangiovese blend. Softer tannins than expected with a nice finish. Rate90-91
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4/1/2013 - jdoakpark wrote: 89 Points
Ok...not as good as some of the fanfare this wine received
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2/9/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 85 Points
Let this decant for a few hrs before I tried this for the 2nd time. The finish is a tad hot with some noticeable tannins. Ripe raspberry on the nose with a crisp bit of dill as well mixed in. I would say that it's a bit linear lacking complexity but still pairs nicely with a light pasta. This in my opinion will not stand up by itself but is a nice food friendly wine.
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2/9/2013 - dominickmack Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very serviceable. Better on the 2nd day. Medium bodied, mix of bright and dark fruits with good oak integration. WTSO 19.99
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2/3/2013 - tigerpaw75 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Supertuscan that shows more Chianti than Cabernet despite the 50-50 blend. Tasted upon opening and it really needed to hit the decanter for 30-45 minutes. Nose of berries, some light vanilla oak, very pleasant. Medium bodied, with significant acidity and tannin, but in balance. Taste is similar to the nose...no noticeable earth or tobacco notes. Med-long finish. Definitely a wine that benefits from food to offset the acidity. Paired well with penne and meat sauce. I think you could lay these down for a few more years and this would gain some smoothness and complexity. Good QPR @ $20 from WTSO.
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1/24/2013 - Lesha wrote: 90 Points
Above average
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12/30/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
Spices, white pepper, jam, minerals and soy sauce. Interesting stuff and a great value wine. At $20 a nice everyday drinker.
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12/16/2012 - broughstyle Likes this wine: 88 Points
Still a little early but showing signs of promise. Decanted for 90 minutes but seemed a little tight. Might be best in 2-3 years. Enjoyable bottle with steak.
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11/29/2012 - stbraunt wrote: 90 Points
Very solid drinkable red, but nothing noteworthy.
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11/17/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
Medium red. Nice nose of raspberry, wood, spices and floral. Palate shows cranberry, minerals, raspberry and spices. Good acidity and medium finish. While a light wine it has plenty of flavor and is a wonderful value at $20.
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11/16/2012 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 88 Points
A very respectable source scored this at a 94 and I'm not real sure how it got rated so highly. After a few hrs in the decanter the oak and cedar softened and the cherry, currants and licorice came through the nose. In my opinion, this is not a powerhouse but a decent midpriced red table wine. Soft tannins and silky texture but this may need some time to develop. I have 3 more bottles I will lay down for at least another 5-7 yrs before I open them.
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11/5/2012 - Pontycellar wrote:
Medium body and crimson color. Noticeable but not harsh tannins with grity earthy aroma, taste. Even though this wine is 50% cabernet and 50% sangiovese, the later dominates. Nice with pasta. Rate 89
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10/16/2012 - Bravo wrote: 92 Points
Fruit on the nose, nice rasberry and cranberry on the palate.
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10/11/2012 - kvswine wrote: 85 Points
was suckered in by the 94 point wine spectator rating, but there is nothing appealing about this wine. The color is a murky brikish red. the nose is mostly moldy basement, and
bitter and thin on the tounge. Would not purchase again.
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8/2/2012 - lesliefrank wrote: 92 Points
It has a nose of dark fruit and dirt. This wine just comes to gather for me, the Finnish is long but subtle , it touches all of my taste buds. A great bottle of wine.
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7/2/2012 - AngryPrez wrote: 89 Points
tasty - medium/light weight, easy to drink - acidic and tart, but also fruity - not one for the ages, but pleasant enough for Italian fare - fairly priced at $19.99 WTSO price - maybe better a bit less - like it but would not buy again, others at that price point we like better.
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4/5/2012 - IconeWino wrote: 90 Points
Much better this time after 2 hour decant. Cranberry and cherry syrup. Sangiovese coming through a bit. Nice.
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4/4/2012 - gmat5497 wrote: 89 Points
Nice but not overwhelming. Going to let age for a couple of years and see what we have.
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3/30/2012 - dkoontz wrote: 85 Points
Deep ruby-violet color. Nose of dark fruit. Dark fruit and children's vitamins on the palate followed by an off-putting vegetal taste which lingered into the finish and kind of killed it.
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3/16/2012 - IconeWino wrote: 89 Points
Extremely smooth, but light weight - almost like water. Not much of a finish, nor complexity. Good, but dull.
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3/10/2012 - Coupe 60 wrote: 90 Points
PnP, and enjoyed with cheeses. Similar notes to last bottle, Dark red fruit - well balanced, great mouthfeel. Really tasty
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3/5/2012 - noahbw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberry and raspberry notes on the nose amid musty and dusty hues. Very rich mouth feel with distinct high notes mixed with raisin early on. Well balance and vibrant on the palate. Subtle spice and aged fruit in the mouth. Concentrated and warm, long finish without being alcohol-y at all.
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3/4/2012 - Coupe 60 wrote: 91 Points
Red fruit, with ample oak manifesting as vanilla, Great acidity and balance. Very tasty, great with food or alone
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3/1/2012 - Dale47 Likes this wine: 89 Points
I thought I had rushed the gun on this one, but it was more than ready. I find many Italian wines too grapey for my taste, but not this one. It was full bodied, but not overpowering. Good nose. Saving my last bottle for late 2013 and will be interested in how it ages.
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