Medium colour depth - no browning. Fairly straightforward wine but the 10 years in bottle has brought it together very harmoniously. Nice finish. Shows how a decent inexpensive wine can become very pleasant with age.
Went perfectly with the our home made lasagna.
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Great wine at excellent price The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium.
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Bright & clear, some bottle residue, 2 1/2 hrs decanted. Purple hue with ruby rim. Med body, acidity was med +, with low tannins, rich with red berries and hints of sweet spice. Alcohol was showing thru rite from the start, opened slightly by end of bottle. Great with lunches, we had cured meats and med. aged cheeses matched very well. I usually enjoy a more intense longer finish, this wine lacks this feature; but still a good purchase.
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Good wine but not long lasting. Had it with chicken and sausage vodka sauce and was fine. Professional ratings seem high on this but don't let that keep you from purchasing as it should be fairly inexpensive.
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Served chilled at Zinburger, this was crisp and fruity. Became less balanced as it warmed in glass. Great summer wine served cool (13.5% alc.) Drink now-2015.
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A youthful-looking semi-opaque purple in color. Attractive, though muted aromas of dark berries, spice and vanilla. Medium-to-full bodied, offering a juicy mouthful of plum and tangy black cherry fruit. There's a surprising richness and depth of flavor to this. The fruity finish shows good length and contains faint notes of oak and spice. Very, very nice for a $7 Toscana. 50+5+11+14+6=86
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This is an entry level, easy drinking, very fruit forward, soft red wine. I suspect there is a touch of residual sugar. The nose is almost like grape juice, with some strawberry and red raspberry thrown in. The color is almost exactly that of red raspberry. The fruit is intense, candied cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Slightly deficient in balancing acidity. It doesn't cost very much and some people would really love it.
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Very dry, heavy flavor, leaves a chalky taste in the mouth. Wasn't cheap either ... wanna say it was close to $20 a bottle. Other Italian wines I prefer. Pass.
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cheers - 85 points, $5.99!!!!???? Are you kidding me, that's a value! I opened this bottle last night (my only one), so today I went and bought a case. I love finding cheap wines that taste really good. Try it.
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BIG difference from last year's bottle. This bottle (gift) has the floral and cherry notes I expect from a sangiovese, with a hint of earthiness. Loved by everyone with some bread and olive oil + cold cuts. Needed about 15 minutes to start hitting its stride.
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Lots of ripe, plummy fruit here. Dry, but not without real fruit sweetness. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins, fairly minimal acid. Short-medium finish. Italy can do new world quaffers as well as anyone!
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Grandi Marchi Italian Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Raspberry and cherry - red fruit that is round on the palate. Decent acidity lifts it a bit on the palate, there is a tiny bit of grip to it but only just barely.
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Santa Cristina is always a great value. The 2011 is slightly better than previous vintages. Soft, nicely developed with lots of cherry fruit. Easy to drink and easy to pay for.
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Weekly tasting group #086; Spain and Portugal versus Italy (@ SB): A bit rustic and stinky bouquet with some smoke as well. On the palate ok concentration, dark cherries, some spiciness, juicy, a good balance between sweetness and acidity and slightly sticky tannin. Ends with some sweet impressions. In my eyes a bit controversial wine. Nothing wrong with it and even some interesting components, but overall not really special either. Hard to score. 85 or 86 is more or less correct imho.
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Good nose, but falls flat on the palate. The fruit is there, but I feel the chalk and spice is a bit out of balance. You can get better sangiovese for $10.
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Italian wines / Pijler auction 1 (Casa Middachten): Initially some barnyard that was really off-putting. This blew of in half an hour, while some hints of vegetale aromas remained. The wine was better on the second day (sorry for the visitors on the tasting event!)
Deep ruby/red color. Aromas of forrest fruit, dried herbs and some vetale hints. Medium bodied on the palate with smooth tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium-long.
This wine might benefit from decanting. Overall I am a bit surprised by the unnaproachable-ness of this wine, I did not expect this for such a mass market wine. The price of EUR 7,99 at AH is OK.
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Simple and enjoyable table red that is fairly well balanced and not spoofed. Yes, this is a high-production "grocery store" wine, and it has some of that "generic" character to it, but this is worlds better than those oak-chipped cookie cutter fruit bombs that are pervasive in this retail space. At $6 Costco sale price, this is an exceptional value.
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The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black Pepper, Dill, and Game. It tastes like Blackberry, Tobacco, and Dust. The body is Light/Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Short.
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6/22/2021 - brewmasterloveswine Likes this wine: 82 Points
Surprisingly solid. We have no idea when or where we acquired this but 10 years of cellaring did some good and we really enjoyed this wine.
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2/6/2021 - Bruce L Likes this wine: 87 Points
Medium colour depth - no browning. Fairly straightforward wine but the 10 years in bottle has brought it together very harmoniously. Nice finish. Shows how a decent inexpensive wine can become very pleasant with age.
Went perfectly with the our home made lasagna.
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11/26/2016 - Tim Mac Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great wine at excellent price
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium.
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6/11/2016 - Twofore Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bright & clear, some bottle residue, 2 1/2 hrs decanted. Purple hue with ruby rim. Med body, acidity was med +, with low tannins, rich with red berries and hints of sweet spice. Alcohol was showing thru rite from the start, opened slightly by end of bottle. Great with lunches, we had cured meats and med. aged cheeses matched very well. I usually enjoy a more intense longer finish, this wine lacks this feature; but still a good purchase.
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3/11/2015 - Angle Gold wrote: 88 Points
Good wine but not long lasting. Had it with chicken and sausage vodka sauce and was fine. Professional ratings seem high on this but don't let that keep you from purchasing as it should be fairly inexpensive.
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3/5/2015 - SW2020 wrote: 84 Points
Earth, alcohol and light fruit on the nose. Light-bodied, thin with some fruit but stale after-taste.
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1/10/2015 - kevjenw wrote: 86 Points
Decent, medium bodied, Italian red. Some red fruit, little spice, low acid, mild tannins. Good value. Buy again: Yes
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12/29/2014 - jhighs1234 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Delightfully spicy, with red fruit and vanilla. Medium body, nice Italian red. Excellent with Eggplant Parmesan. Will buy again.
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12/19/2014 - brucehumphrey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Takes me to Italy :)
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10/27/2014 - GiorgosD wrote:
Sec, moyennement corsé et fruité
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7/23/2014 - ArtF Likes this wine: 88 Points
Served chilled at Zinburger, this was crisp and fruity. Became less balanced as it warmed in glass. Great summer wine served cool (13.5% alc.) Drink now-2015.
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7/17/2014 - sailincarib Likes this wine: 80 Points
Nice medium bodied. A bit like PN with different taste. Had with flank steak. Recommended by Sue at Hy-Vee. Will buy again as alternative to PN.
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6/30/2014 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 86 Points
A youthful-looking semi-opaque purple in color. Attractive, though muted aromas of dark berries, spice and vanilla. Medium-to-full bodied, offering a juicy mouthful of plum and tangy black cherry fruit. There's a surprising richness and depth of flavor to this. The fruity finish shows good length and contains faint notes of oak and spice. Very, very nice for a $7 Toscana.
50+5+11+14+6=86
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6/5/2014 - Melnal Likes this wine: 84 Points
Not sure how to describe it. Very nice with my steak salad. I'll buy more.
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5/2/2014 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 85 Points
This is an entry level, easy drinking, very fruit forward, soft red wine. I suspect there is a touch of residual sugar. The nose is almost like grape juice, with some strawberry and red raspberry thrown in. The color is almost exactly that of red raspberry. The fruit is intense, candied cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Slightly deficient in balancing acidity. It doesn't cost very much and some people would really love it.
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4/25/2014 - richswerb Does not like this wine: 70 Points
Very dry, heavy flavor, leaves a chalky taste in the mouth. Wasn't cheap either ... wanna say it was close to $20 a bottle. Other Italian wines I prefer. Pass.
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3/27/2014 - franm Likes this wine: 85 Points
cheers - 85 points, $5.99!!!!???? Are you kidding me, that's a value! I opened this bottle last night (my only one), so today I went and bought a case. I love finding cheap wines that taste really good. Try it.
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3/2/2014 - Decanthor Likes this wine: 87 Points
BIG difference from last year's bottle. This bottle (gift) has the floral and cherry notes I expect from a sangiovese, with a hint of earthiness. Loved by everyone with some bread and olive oil + cold cuts. Needed about 15 minutes to start hitting its stride.
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2/2/2014 - ctbob Likes this wine:
A tad more substance than I remember -- needs more bite. But at $7, you can do a whole lot worse
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11/21/2013 - startinoz wrote: 90 Points
Slightly funky. (No more notes.)
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11/19/2013 - graemeg wrote:
Lots of ripe, plummy fruit here. Dry, but not without real fruit sweetness. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins, fairly minimal acid. Short-medium finish. Italy can do new world quaffers as well as anyone!
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11/18/2013 - CamWheeler wrote: 87 Points
Grandi Marchi Italian Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Raspberry and cherry - red fruit that is round on the palate. Decent acidity lifts it a bit on the palate, there is a tiny bit of grip to it but only just barely.
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11/18/2013 - chatters wrote:
Grandi Marchi Tasting (Dockside Balcony, Cocklebay, Sydney): leather, slight cherry, slightly meaty. Mouth: cherry, medium fine tannin carries on the palate but a bit meh
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9/29/2013 - KVM wrote: 83 Points
Yeasty, leesy nose. Lots of red berry fruit, sweetish and a yeast note Malic acid.
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9/23/2013 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 86 Points
Santa Cristina is always a great value. The 2011 is slightly better than previous vintages. Soft, nicely developed with lots of cherry fruit. Easy to drink and easy to pay for.
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9/2/2013 - Zweder wrote: 86 Points
Weekly tasting group #086; Spain and Portugal versus Italy (@ SB): A bit rustic and stinky bouquet with some smoke as well. On the palate ok concentration, dark cherries, some spiciness, juicy, a good balance between sweetness and acidity and slightly sticky tannin. Ends with some sweet impressions. In my eyes a bit controversial wine. Nothing wrong with it and even some interesting components, but overall not really special either. Hard to score. 85 or 86 is more or less correct imho.
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8/28/2013 - Tintin514 wrote:
Tres bon
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8/11/2013 - Decanthor wrote: 83 Points
Good nose, but falls flat on the palate. The fruit is there, but I feel the chalk and spice is a bit out of balance. You can get better sangiovese for $10.
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8/5/2013 - Robwild Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice Tuscan wine. Medium to full bodied. Earthy with oak flavor. Good value.
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7/6/2013 - Jochems wrote: 86 Points
Italian wines / Pijler auction 1 (Casa Middachten): Initially some barnyard that was really off-putting. This blew of in half an hour, while some hints of vegetale aromas remained.
The wine was better on the second day (sorry for the visitors on the tasting event!)
Deep ruby/red color. Aromas of forrest fruit, dried herbs and some vetale hints. Medium bodied on the palate with smooth tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium-long.
This wine might benefit from decanting. Overall I am a bit surprised by the unnaproachable-ness of this wine, I did not expect this for such a mass market wine. The price of EUR 7,99 at AH is OK.
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6/3/2013 - crushzone wrote: 85 Points
Above average table wine.
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5/21/2013 - say66what wrote: 86 Points
Easy drinking everyday red with a little tart cherry flavor which simple but inviting.
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5/5/2013 - PIntag wrote: 85 Points
Ripe, pleasant, new-worldish easy drinker. Pretty boring, but drinkable.
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3/26/2013 - PIntag wrote: 87 Points
Showed a little better than the last bottle. Kind of generic tasting and ripe, but still retains a bit of its Italian sensibility.
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2/12/2013 - PIntag wrote: 86 Points
Simple and enjoyable table red that is fairly well balanced and not spoofed. Yes, this is a high-production "grocery store" wine, and it has some of that "generic" character to it, but this is worlds better than those oak-chipped cookie cutter fruit bombs that are pervasive in this retail space. At $6 Costco sale price, this is an exceptional value.
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2/9/2013 - lmbois Likes this wine: 85 Points
Doux et equilibrer
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1/27/2013 - PIntag wrote: 87 Points
Pleasant, modern-styled wine in the fruit-forward sense, but still retaining some old-world character. Pretty good value at the Costco $8 price.
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10/7/2012 - JeLaw Likes this wine: 86 Points
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black Pepper, Dill, and Game. It tastes like Blackberry, Tobacco, and Dust. The body is Light/Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Short.
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