Cherries with a huge savory streak and lingering tannins. Bottle didn't make it past the first round as everyone loved it (but many remarked "never had anything like this before").
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First glass was lost in slight effervescence; but a real treat once that faded. Concentrated red raspberry. Slight stemminess. Pure earth. Just the right amount of funk.
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Second attempt at this wine. Reading my prior note, maybe it was better 3 years ago. Pale red cherry with a brick rim. Sweet and intense nose, . Both sweet and bitter on the palate, pomegranate and bitter cherry, with a black tea with citrus notes. There is a little prickle carbonation, but not too much. Comes across as both very dry and bitter but with a residual sweetness that keeps you sipping the wine (this is not a wine you would be glugging....). Ultimately interesting on an intellectual level because it is so different, but not sure I want to drink with my pasta dinner.
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Not sure how to rate this. Like many of the other reviews this is fairly unique, more like cherry, raspberry soda pop though with a layer of complexity that makes it interesting if not pleasing. Too sweet for my taste. Would not buy again and glad that I only have 2 left to figure out what to do with! Vacuum sealed, after 3 days a totally different more complex wine, surprised me. 90 after the 3 days
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An interesting wine but not something I enjoyed very much. I tried it over three days, being unable to finish a glass any of the nights. The fruit profile is unique and complex. My bottle experienced secondary fermentation with a noticeable fizz on the first day. The gas continued to build in the bottle each of the following two nights despite having more and more wine removed. I consider that to be a flaw, but I'm not sure whether this is typical of the producer/bottling.
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A field blend of different white and red varieties, based on the 2011 vintage.
The color is very similar to the Contadino 8, but both with a bit darker hue and with slightly less haziness. Overall Contadino 9 seems a bit more clear and less hazy than Contadinos 4, 6 and 8. Amongst these four Contadinos, number 9 is the richest and most expressive one with very fruit-forward aromas of sunny red fruit, ground green herbs, some alcohol, a little volcanic smokiness and a hint of chinotto orange (think of Campari). On the palate the wine first shows a hint of CO2 prickle, which blows away almost instantly. Flavor-wise Contadino 9 seems a lot more youthful than the three aforementioned earlier iterations with quite juicy, succulent and even a bit sweet flavors of wild strawberries, tart cranberries and a hint of malt. The acidity is quite high, keeping the sweetness and structure in check, but compared to the earlier Contadinos, the acidity seems slightly lower than what is normal. The wine is moderately high in tannins, giving the palate some chewy texture and also a hint of astringency, offsetting the sweetness nicely. 15% of alcohol stays hidden. The finish is dominated by rich, sunny red fruit flavors with hints of alcohol warmth, some tart lingonberry character and a little hints of leather and animal. However, there seems to linger a slight note of mousiness towards the end of aftertaste, giving the finish a slightly unpleasant note.
A wild, lively and vibrant natural wine, but also a bit softer and easier-to-approach than the Contadinos 4, 6 and 8. Definitely an interesting and unique wine, but somehow this one feels a little unpolished compared to the aforementioned Contadinos (how on earth can wines as natural as these feel polished?) and showing some not-only-enjoyable funkiness. This wine is quite complex and interesting, but definitely not the best one of Contadinos. It might shed some of that excess sweetness and baby fat with some years in the cellar, so probably the wine will show better after a few more years in the cellar.
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Pomegranate, raspberries, rooibos, orange rind, smoke, garrigue and a bit of funky zeit. Medium bodied and meaty palatal feel with a lively bit of effervescence. Quinine bitter bite, stone dust and healthy tannic grip. Altogether rather balanced feel. Some nice rooibos and grapefruit nuances. Good stuff. Youngish.
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Wow, its like a mouth of dried cherries, fresh raspberries and Umph! This wine is so explosive, such a mouthful of fresh, bright exuberant fruit. The mix of flavors goes on and on. Not for everyone, this wine is so intense that many will find it off-putting. But its not thick, heavy, concentrated syrup like many California wines that are "seeking something special". Rather it jumps off the palate and runs circles around your mouth without weight, stuffiness or any self-consciousness. Great stuff!
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Significantly more tannic than prior versions that I've had. Took a while to open up, and when paired with Moroccan Lamb, this was really something. With the rich food, this tannins fell away and left strawberries, cinnamon and ton of herbs, orange peel and rocks. Rustic and elegant at the same time, and dynamic in the glass. The good bottles of this are great - and I feel like Frank has tightened up his winemaking a lot the odds are much, much better than they used to be.
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Pomegranate, raspberries and sour cherry nose with orange rind, perfume, thyme, clove, earth and smoke. Medium bodied, juicy and pretty rich palate with refreshing acidity, slight effervescence and grippy tannins. Pomegranate and raspberries with citrusy bitter/tangy/sour bite and spices. Loads of stuff and lovely texture. Richer and not as acidity-driven as some earlier editions, which some will no doubt like. Fun stuff as always.
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Going on memory from a few nights ago, but what a memory! This is the finest Etna I've had: moderately colored, medium bodied, but carrying an ethereal bouquet and a real potpourri of mineral, floral, and animal flavors. Most impressive. -- but a bit dangerous -- is the elegant fashion in which it carries it's 15% alcohol. This is no outrageous, funky wine, as per the Cornelissen legend, but a beautifully made elegant wine that at a fraction of the price puts many premier cru burgundies to shame.
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This was a thoroughly rotten bottle. The decline that took several hours with my last bottle took only a few minutes this time. Pleasant enough nose on immediate opening, but the whole thing turned into something resembling sour milk in a hurry. Tried preserving for 24 hours just to see if things would somehow improve, but as I suspected the wine was totally spoiled. I like some very funky wines and it is clear that some people are having good experiences with Cornelissen, but I have yet to.
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I am a fan of Frank's wines. My last bottle of this blew me away over the course of a few hours. Nose is starting out a bit shy, cloves/baking spices/touch of floral notes/orange rind. Cherry, citrusy acidity (orange?), sour/bitter, herbs. While wine is a living thing, Frank's wines are more living than most - there are white 'things' floating, which later disappeared.
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A glass in the wine menu in De Vitrine, Gent. This was much better than my first experience with Cornelissen's Contadino (don't recall the #) some six years ago; then I found it disgusting. Open nose with lots of fruit, iron, lava, and salt and lightly bitter notes yet with a touch of Burgundian sweetness. Accompanied a beef tartare in a great way.
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I ride the natural wine train pretty far, but I think this is about where I get off. Much more drinkable than the Cornelissen rose we tried (and failed) to drink a couple weeks ago, but it went downhill fast after opening and was undrinkably nasty after about 3 hours. Upon opening it was interesting though, with strawberry and cinnamon notes. Secondary fermentation was there though too, and the amount of detritus in this wine was crazy, meaning the last 1/5 of the bottle or so was undrinkable because so much crap was floating in it. Maybe storage is a issue or bottles just vary greatly, but if so, this is not worth investing much in. Interesting, yes. Enjoyable, not so much.
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Light red colour. Strawberries. Very clean fruit. Light in the mouth, but also firm. Not as sructured as a good Burgundian of the same price, though. Good balance.
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On the nose, camphor and strawberry. On the palate, this is remarkably different from other wines: red berries, cinnamon, a distinctive spiciness (my wife said "the kind of filé spice you find in gumbo", and that seems about right), and something reminiscent of rhubarb. The wine was good on its own as something to contemplate, but it worked even better with pasta in a rich, spicy sauce. It would probably work well with any spicy food. For less than $30, this is an excellent deal, even though the lack of any preservatives makes the risk of getting a spoiled bottle much higher than usual. I bought in the winter to reduce the probability of heat spoilage and kept it chilled until now, with good results.
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Here we go with the magical paradox, a high alcohol Etna wine that is graceful and elegant in body. Nice structure the first day with bold aromas of brush and bright cherries, at once seemingly polished and glossy yet rustic and earthy; another paradox. On the palate this is linear and refreshing somehow despite the alcohol of 15%. Second day not so good as the body thinned a bit and the finish tastes somewhat dishwatery. Drink by summer, 2014.
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What a treat. Nose is very interesting, with some burnt orange rind, red fruit, alcohol and a touch of VA. On the palate there's a tinge of frizzante (which eventually blew off after a few hours), ripping acid, red cherry fruit, and a bitter fruit finish. With time, the soft mouthfeel turned a bit more dry and tannic. Went very well with a charcuterie plate at the start of the evening.
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I expected this to be more different and more rustic. But it is still different. Dark red cherry colour, pale cherry light brick on the rim. Very expressive on the nose, kirch, blackcherry, anise, tobacco and maybe medicinal herbs. Palate is more of the same, sweet cherry fruit, balanced by bitter earthy tannins and a very dry tobacco and leather finish. Interesting notes of anise, medicinal herbs (whoever said marmalade was inspired) on the long finish. This is more complex than I expected it to be, the balance of sweet and sour and bitter and dry is actually very tasty. It has the body and structure of a pinot and the aromatic complexity of one too, but there is an earthy, muddy, medicinal edge that clearly marks this as a non-pinot. I have one more of these and will plan to drink within a couple of years. Very interesting.
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Decanted 1 hour Nose - smells a bit like a liqueur. Mouth - cherry, taut, slight medicinal, and quite tannic in spite of being so light in color. Complex. For sure thought provoking. Lush and austere simultaneously.
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Lovely sauvage of red fruits. A slight frizz that lasted for only a second. This ultra pure wine was delish. Not easily found in the US, seek this stuff out (if you don't already have a special source its probably too late but email me and maybe I can help....) and try a bottle if you can!
Berries, dark fruits, orange marmalade, cola, just great. Not wine but wine. Wonderful!
Compared to the Bonavito Faro I had recently, no comparison. Sorry CS.
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Un vin unique, c'est le moins que l'on puisse dire. D'abord la couleur est magnifique pâle mais avec des reflets violets. Le vin est non-filtrés et a un immense dépôt, on sait déjà à l'observer qu'on est face à un vin qui sort des sentiers battus.
Au nez, c'est la cerise qui s'impose (un des reviews précédents parle de Pinot-like et le nez correspond bien à cette image) mais avec un coté aussi épicé (ma copine parle de canelle). Un joli nez et très droit contrairement à ce que l'on aurait pu croire à l'oeil...
En bouche, c'est un cocktail de petits fruits, super gouleyant, mais qui tire quand même 15%, donc avec une matière assez riche. Un vinq uis e boit tout seul mais qui donne du coup, une bonne dose de plaisir.
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2nd day after opening. Raspberry jam, black pepper, smoked meats. Tannins are strong with this one, yet the body is fairly light. In the backpalate, a sweetness that lingers. At first I was put off by the offbeat flavors, but it's beginning to grow on me (or maybe it's the charms of the alcohol). Still, the aftertaste is cloying to my palate, though I'm not sure what the culprit is (alcohol, VA, yeast?).
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Varm, knust stein i massevis. Modne jordbær, tørkede roser, olivensåpe. Litt flyktig. Bløt frukt og fin fylde. Småaggressiv syre. Røde bær, urter og krydder. Bitter, nesten som en campari, med tydelige tanniner. Dette vekker sansene! 89p.
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Decanted and began to drink immediately. Unusual hazy purple color. Heady aroma of potpourri, smoky rocks, black pepper, juniper, and alcoholic heat, quite characterful. On the palate, big rough tannins yet fairly light bodied, with sweet dark fruit, flowers, medium-high acidity, rocky minerality, and heat. Rustic to the point of inelegance, but with so much personality that I can't not like it.
Over 3 hours, it keeps evolving, and improves dramatically, with the heat blowing off, tannins smoothing out, and everything coming together. The acidity gets more prominent and refreshing, the fruit gets fresher, and apple, lilac, cookie spices, seawater, the barest hint of VA, and savory autolyzed yeast come out. Good stuff!
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An unusual wine... Quite soft tannin and light in color, yet with depth and complexity of flavor. Brimming with mineral and light red fruit (redcurrant?), with a hint of vanilla, it makes for a very enjoyable drink. Would work by itself, but went very well with a mildly spicy chicken tomato pasta dish.
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Field blend of this winemaker's tended Nerello Mascalese, Carricante, Sangiovese & Coda di Volpe. Let breathe for over 1 hour after uncorking. What a nice & impressive showing. Bold & powerful, yet elegant in texture. Floral & dark druit notes intermingled w/forest floor, tar, ash & mineral. Tannins were firm yet integrated, neatly balanced w/good acidity, & ending with a dry lingering finish. Very much enjoyed by everyone at dinner.
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Hailing from Mt. Etna this one is (minimally) crafted by Frank Cornelissen who has rightfully earned a reputation as a wildman for taking natural winemaking to the extreme. I was lucky enough to attend a tasting event at Biodivino (in San Francisco) recently and brought this bottle home for a treat.
(15%) A Nerello blend - Fresh, measured and precise with clean, pure fruit showing nice depth and layers. All on a mineral laced structure with soft, grainy tannins that last on the finish for quite some time. You would never guess this wine is 15% ABV. Very enjoyable...
Wine Geek Notes: Imported by Zev Rovine
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This is only my 2nd Cornelissen wine (the other being Munjebel 6), but this was very different than I expected. Maybe the first red wine I've ever seen in a clear bottle, and with a synthetic cork to boot. Unlike past vintages of Frank's wines I've encountered, this one is clear, not cloudy; and the color is a brilliant dark purple rather than orange-pink. I am told this is the darkest Contadino he has made, with past vintages being more akin to a rose, and it boasts 15% alcohol as well on the label. Touted by many as an "extreme" wine, this is actually surprisingly tame. The Munjebel I had a few years ago was clearly a living thing, changing literally by the minute, and was a cool experience to taste, if not qualitatively truly great, or even very good. Supposedly, Frank has taken great steps to clean up his cellar, and IMO, this is a good thing when one is making no sulfur wines. As for this Contadino, it is a very well made wine. It has a haunting nose that is true to its volcanic origins, showing basalt rock, smoked meat, and kirsch with some noticeable heat. Lovely red fruits such as pomegranate and tart cherry follow, giving the impression of a mineral-laced Cru Beaujolais such as Morgon or a good quality Village or 1er Beaune. The tannins were vicious upon initial opening but softened quickly and considerably with some air, and by the 1 hour mark, this was drinking superbly. Fresh, juicy, and light on its feet, this is my kind of wine.
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7/22/2021 - dmitchell4 wrote: flawed
Way past. Half way to vinegar.
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6/5/2021 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 90 Points
Cherries with a huge savory streak and lingering tannins. Bottle didn't make it past the first round as everyone loved it (but many remarked "never had anything like this before").
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7/5/2018 - j.a.price.trucking wrote: 90 Points
First glass was lost in slight effervescence; but a real treat once that faded. Concentrated red raspberry. Slight stemminess. Pure earth. Just the right amount of funk.
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1/21/2016 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
Second attempt at this wine. Reading my prior note, maybe it was better 3 years ago. Pale red cherry with a brick rim. Sweet and intense nose, . Both sweet and bitter on the palate, pomegranate and bitter cherry, with a black tea with citrus notes. There is a little prickle carbonation, but not too much. Comes across as both very dry and bitter but with a residual sweetness that keeps you sipping the wine (this is not a wine you would be glugging....). Ultimately interesting on an intellectual level because it is so different, but not sure I want to drink with my pasta dinner.
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11/19/2015 - dmitchell4 Likes this wine:
Not sure how to rate this. Like many of the other reviews this is fairly unique, more like cherry, raspberry soda pop though with a layer of complexity that makes it interesting if not pleasing. Too sweet for my taste. Would not buy again and glad that I only have 2 left to figure out what to do with!
Vacuum sealed, after 3 days a totally different more complex wine, surprised me. 90 after the 3 days
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1/9/2015 - monist wrote: flawed
Very bitter and seemed off (we usually like the Cornelissen oddities of taste and smell).
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1/1/2015 - prof b wrote: flawed
An interesting wine but not something I enjoyed very much. I tried it over three days, being unable to finish a glass any of the nights. The fruit profile is unique and complex. My bottle experienced secondary fermentation with a noticeable fizz on the first day. The gas continued to build in the bottle each of the following two nights despite having more and more wine removed. I consider that to be a flaw, but I'm not sure whether this is typical of the producer/bottling.
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2/26/2014 - forceberry wrote: 87 Points
A field blend of different white and red varieties, based on the 2011 vintage.
The color is very similar to the Contadino 8, but both with a bit darker hue and with slightly less haziness. Overall Contadino 9 seems a bit more clear and less hazy than Contadinos 4, 6 and 8. Amongst these four Contadinos, number 9 is the richest and most expressive one with very fruit-forward aromas of sunny red fruit, ground green herbs, some alcohol, a little volcanic smokiness and a hint of chinotto orange (think of Campari). On the palate the wine first shows a hint of CO2 prickle, which blows away almost instantly. Flavor-wise Contadino 9 seems a lot more youthful than the three aforementioned earlier iterations with quite juicy, succulent and even a bit sweet flavors of wild strawberries, tart cranberries and a hint of malt. The acidity is quite high, keeping the sweetness and structure in check, but compared to the earlier Contadinos, the acidity seems slightly lower than what is normal. The wine is moderately high in tannins, giving the palate some chewy texture and also a hint of astringency, offsetting the sweetness nicely. 15% of alcohol stays hidden. The finish is dominated by rich, sunny red fruit flavors with hints of alcohol warmth, some tart lingonberry character and a little hints of leather and animal. However, there seems to linger a slight note of mousiness towards the end of aftertaste, giving the finish a slightly unpleasant note.
A wild, lively and vibrant natural wine, but also a bit softer and easier-to-approach than the Contadinos 4, 6 and 8. Definitely an interesting and unique wine, but somehow this one feels a little unpolished compared to the aforementioned Contadinos (how on earth can wines as natural as these feel polished?) and showing some not-only-enjoyable funkiness. This wine is quite complex and interesting, but definitely not the best one of Contadinos. It might shed some of that excess sweetness and baby fat with some years in the cellar, so probably the wine will show better after a few more years in the cellar.
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2/26/2014 - avp wrote:
Pomegranate, raspberries, rooibos, orange rind, smoke, garrigue and a bit of funky zeit.
Medium bodied and meaty palatal feel with a lively bit of effervescence. Quinine bitter bite, stone dust and healthy tannic grip. Altogether rather balanced feel. Some nice rooibos and grapefruit nuances.
Good stuff. Youngish.
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1/16/2014 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 92 Points
Wow, its like a mouth of dried cherries, fresh raspberries and Umph! This wine is so explosive, such a mouthful of fresh, bright exuberant fruit. The mix of flavors goes on and on. Not for everyone, this wine is so intense that many will find it off-putting. But its not thick, heavy, concentrated syrup like many California wines that are "seeking something special". Rather it jumps off the palate and runs circles around your mouth without weight, stuffiness or any self-consciousness. Great stuff!
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1/10/2014 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Echoing my previous note, beautiful soft red fruit with a hint of vanilla and underpinned by a hint of volcanic ash. Just perfect.
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12/17/2013 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
Significantly more tannic than prior versions that I've had. Took a while to open up, and when paired with Moroccan Lamb, this was really something. With the rich food, this tannins fell away and left strawberries, cinnamon and ton of herbs, orange peel and rocks. Rustic and elegant at the same time, and dynamic in the glass. The good bottles of this are great - and I feel like Frank has tightened up his winemaking a lot the odds are much, much better than they used to be.
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12/5/2013 - avp wrote:
Pomegranate, raspberries and sour cherry nose with orange rind, perfume, thyme, clove, earth and smoke.
Medium bodied, juicy and pretty rich palate with refreshing acidity, slight effervescence and grippy tannins. Pomegranate and raspberries with citrusy bitter/tangy/sour bite and spices. Loads of stuff and lovely texture.
Richer and not as acidity-driven as some earlier editions, which some will no doubt like. Fun stuff as always.
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10/27/2013 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Going on memory from a few nights ago, but what a memory! This is the finest Etna I've had: moderately colored, medium bodied, but carrying an ethereal bouquet and a real potpourri of mineral, floral, and animal flavors. Most impressive. -- but a bit dangerous -- is the elegant fashion in which it carries it's 15% alcohol. This is no outrageous, funky wine, as per the Cornelissen legend, but a beautifully made elegant wine that at a fraction of the price puts many premier cru burgundies to shame.
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10/16/2013 - Enfant sauvage Does not like this wine:
This was a thoroughly rotten bottle. The decline that took several hours with my last bottle took only a few minutes this time. Pleasant enough nose on immediate opening, but the whole thing turned into something resembling sour milk in a hurry. Tried preserving for 24 hours just to see if things would somehow improve, but as I suspected the wine was totally spoiled. I like some very funky wines and it is clear that some people are having good experiences with Cornelissen, but I have yet to.
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10/4/2013 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
I am a fan of Frank's wines. My last bottle of this blew me away over the course of a few hours. Nose is starting out a bit shy, cloves/baking spices/touch of floral notes/orange rind. Cherry, citrusy acidity (orange?), sour/bitter, herbs. While wine is a living thing, Frank's wines are more living than most - there are white 'things' floating, which later disappeared.
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9/23/2013 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Very different than my previous experience; Almost soft tonight - lacking the edge that I recall; Good but needed more personality
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9/21/2013 - JOsgood wrote:
Not sure what I think of this wine. It was definitely different and natural tasting with no real personality. No heat despite the 15.0% ABV.
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9/19/2013 - DK Amateur wrote:
A glass in the wine menu in De Vitrine, Gent. This was much better than my first experience with Cornelissen's Contadino (don't recall the #) some six years ago; then I found it disgusting. Open nose with lots of fruit, iron, lava, and salt and lightly bitter notes yet with a touch of Burgundian sweetness. Accompanied a beef tartare in a great way.
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9/3/2013 - Enfant sauvage wrote:
I ride the natural wine train pretty far, but I think this is about where I get off. Much more drinkable than the Cornelissen rose we tried (and failed) to drink a couple weeks ago, but it went downhill fast after opening and was undrinkably nasty after about 3 hours. Upon opening it was interesting though, with strawberry and cinnamon notes. Secondary fermentation was there though too, and the amount of detritus in this wine was crazy, meaning the last 1/5 of the bottle or so was undrinkable because so much crap was floating in it. Maybe storage is a issue or bottles just vary greatly, but if so, this is not worth investing much in. Interesting, yes. Enjoyable, not so much.
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8/31/2013 - AudunG wrote: 86 Points
Light red colour. Strawberries. Very clean fruit. Light in the mouth, but also firm. Not as sructured as a good Burgundian of the same price, though. Good balance.
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8/31/2013 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
On the nose, camphor and strawberry. On the palate, this is remarkably different from other wines: red berries, cinnamon, a distinctive spiciness (my wife said "the kind of filé spice you find in gumbo", and that seems about right), and something reminiscent of rhubarb. The wine was good on its own as something to contemplate, but it worked even better with pasta in a rich, spicy sauce. It would probably work well with any spicy food. For less than $30, this is an excellent deal, even though the lack of any preservatives makes the risk of getting a spoiled bottle much higher than usual. I bought in the winter to reduce the probability of heat spoilage and kept it chilled until now, with good results.
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8/25/2013 - kanjimoti wrote: 90 Points
Here we go with the magical paradox, a high alcohol Etna wine that is graceful and elegant in body. Nice structure the first day with bold aromas of brush and bright cherries, at once seemingly polished and glossy yet rustic and earthy; another paradox. On the palate this is linear and refreshing somehow despite the alcohol of 15%. Second day not so good as the body thinned a bit and the finish tastes somewhat dishwatery. Drink by summer, 2014.
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8/25/2013 - wirelesswine wrote: 92 Points
What a treat. Nose is very interesting, with some burnt orange rind, red fruit, alcohol and a touch of VA. On the palate there's a tinge of frizzante (which eventually blew off after a few hours), ripping acid, red cherry fruit, and a bitter fruit finish. With time, the soft mouthfeel turned a bit more dry and tannic. Went very well with a charcuterie plate at the start of the evening.
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7/7/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
I expected this to be more different and more rustic. But it is still different. Dark red cherry colour, pale cherry light brick on the rim. Very expressive on the nose, kirch, blackcherry, anise, tobacco and maybe medicinal herbs. Palate is more of the same, sweet cherry fruit, balanced by bitter earthy tannins and a very dry tobacco and leather finish. Interesting notes of anise, medicinal herbs (whoever said marmalade was inspired) on the long finish. This is more complex than I expected it to be, the balance of sweet and sour and bitter and dry is actually very tasty. It has the body and structure of a pinot and the aromatic complexity of one too, but there is an earthy, muddy, medicinal edge that clearly marks this as a non-pinot. I have one more of these and will plan to drink within a couple of years. Very interesting.
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6/19/2013 - soyhead wrote: 87 Points
Decanted 1 hour
Nose - smells a bit like a liqueur.
Mouth - cherry, taut, slight medicinal, and quite tannic in spite of being so light in color. Complex. For sure thought provoking. Lush and austere simultaneously.
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6/4/2013 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Good solid red; Tight
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6/2/2013 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
Lovely sauvage of red fruits. A slight frizz that lasted for only a second. This ultra pure wine was delish. Not easily found in the US, seek this stuff out (if you don't already have a special source its probably too late but email me and maybe I can help....) and try a bottle if you can!
Berries, dark fruits, orange marmalade, cola, just great. Not wine but wine. Wonderful!
Compared to the Bonavito Faro I had recently, no comparison. Sorry CS.
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5/31/2013 - lehouxp Likes this wine:
Un vin unique, c'est le moins que l'on puisse dire. D'abord la couleur est magnifique pâle mais avec des reflets violets. Le vin est non-filtrés et a un immense dépôt, on sait déjà à l'observer qu'on est face à un vin qui sort des sentiers battus.
Au nez, c'est la cerise qui s'impose (un des reviews précédents parle de Pinot-like et le nez correspond bien à cette image) mais avec un coté aussi épicé (ma copine parle de canelle). Un joli nez et très droit contrairement à ce que l'on aurait pu croire à l'oeil...
En bouche, c'est un cocktail de petits fruits, super gouleyant, mais qui tire quand même 15%, donc avec une matière assez riche. Un vinq uis e boit tout seul mais qui donne du coup, une bonne dose de plaisir.
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5/15/2013 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 93 Points
This is insane, so delicious. Very Pinot-like in body and structure (and color). Amazing complex favors yet so easy to drink.
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5/4/2013 - jibby wrote: 90 Points
2nd day after opening.
Raspberry jam, black pepper, smoked meats. Tannins are strong with this one, yet the body is fairly light. In the backpalate, a sweetness that lingers. At first I was put off by the offbeat flavors, but it's beginning to grow on me (or maybe it's the charms of the alcohol). Still, the aftertaste is cloying to my palate, though I'm not sure what the culprit is (alcohol, VA, yeast?).
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3/30/2013 - loegaute wrote: 89 Points
Varm, knust stein i massevis. Modne jordbær, tørkede roser, olivensåpe. Litt flyktig. Bløt frukt og fin fylde. Småaggressiv syre. Røde bær, urter og krydder. Bitter, nesten som en campari, med tydelige tanniner. Dette vekker sansene! 89p.
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2/8/2013 - Beerzebub Likes this wine:
Decanted and began to drink immediately. Unusual hazy purple color. Heady aroma of potpourri, smoky rocks, black pepper, juniper, and alcoholic heat, quite characterful. On the palate, big rough tannins yet fairly light bodied, with sweet dark fruit, flowers, medium-high acidity, rocky minerality, and heat. Rustic to the point of inelegance, but with so much personality that I can't not like it.
Over 3 hours, it keeps evolving, and improves dramatically, with the heat blowing off, tannins smoothing out, and everything coming together. The acidity gets more prominent and refreshing, the fruit gets fresher, and apple, lilac, cookie spices, seawater, the barest hint of VA, and savory autolyzed yeast come out. Good stuff!
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2/5/2013 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
An unusual wine... Quite soft tannin and light in color, yet with depth and complexity of flavor. Brimming with mineral and light red fruit (redcurrant?), with a hint of vanilla, it makes for a very enjoyable drink. Would work by itself, but went very well with a mildly spicy chicken tomato pasta dish.
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12/24/2012 - DRS-Inc wrote: 91 Points
Field blend of this winemaker's tended Nerello Mascalese, Carricante, Sangiovese & Coda di Volpe. Let breathe for over 1 hour after uncorking. What a nice & impressive showing. Bold & powerful, yet elegant in texture. Floral & dark druit notes intermingled w/forest floor, tar, ash & mineral. Tannins were firm yet integrated, neatly balanced w/good acidity, & ending with a dry lingering finish. Very much enjoyed by everyone at dinner.
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12/24/2012 - Jason Rzutkiewicz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hailing from Mt. Etna this one is (minimally) crafted by Frank Cornelissen who has rightfully earned a reputation as a wildman for taking natural winemaking to the extreme. I was lucky enough to attend a tasting event at Biodivino (in San Francisco) recently and brought this bottle home for a treat.
(15%) A Nerello blend - Fresh, measured and precise with clean, pure fruit showing nice depth and layers. All on a mineral laced structure with soft, grainy tannins that last on the finish for quite some time. You would never guess this wine is 15% ABV. Very enjoyable...
Wine Geek Notes: Imported by Zev Rovine
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12/10/2012 - GrapeScott wrote: 92 Points
This is only my 2nd Cornelissen wine (the other being Munjebel 6), but this was very different than I expected. Maybe the first red wine I've ever seen in a clear bottle, and with a synthetic cork to boot. Unlike past vintages of Frank's wines I've encountered, this one is clear, not cloudy; and the color is a brilliant dark purple rather than orange-pink. I am told this is the darkest Contadino he has made, with past vintages being more akin to a rose, and it boasts 15% alcohol as well on the label. Touted by many as an "extreme" wine, this is actually surprisingly tame. The Munjebel I had a few years ago was clearly a living thing, changing literally by the minute, and was a cool experience to taste, if not qualitatively truly great, or even very good. Supposedly, Frank has taken great steps to clean up his cellar, and IMO, this is a good thing when one is making no sulfur wines. As for this Contadino, it is a very well made wine. It has a haunting nose that is true to its volcanic origins, showing basalt rock, smoked meat, and kirsch with some noticeable heat. Lovely red fruits such as pomegranate and tart cherry follow, giving the impression of a mineral-laced Cru Beaujolais such as Morgon or a good quality Village or 1er Beaune. The tannins were vicious upon initial opening but softened quickly and considerably with some air, and by the 1 hour mark, this was drinking superbly. Fresh, juicy, and light on its feet, this is my kind of wine.
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