4th of 6 bottles, last consumed about 2 yrs ago. Evolving beautifully, this House is always a thriller for me, showing red and black fruits, savory spices, iodine, perhaps anise. Gorgeous tannic structure and medium acidity, this is mature and lovely and will easily drink well for another 5+ years.
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Decanted, which is needed for sediment at a minimum. Dark fruits which show advanced and perhaps even slightly stewed. Earth, celery and savory notes. Dry, good, but not quite right. Bought upon release and properly stored. Not scored.
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this is just slightly heat damaged/oxidized. The nose is much more advanced than the age would indicate. There is something there to make you want to drink it......until you actually drink it. The tannins are dried out and this just doesn't show off the expressiveness that I expect from Valdicava.
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Medium+ bodied, traditional producer-unique styling. PnP with decant, a phenomenal nose and palate bursting with iron-rich soil, bright berries, new leather, fresh spices, clay. Firm tannins but balanced. Complex finish bring small dried flowers. Turns more towards traditional BdM profile with air, and it's almost disappointing except so good as well.
Enjoyed this far more than I expected, and it was less bretty than other reviewers noted. Doesn't reach Pegau levels of brett. The only wine I can think of that shares these unique tones are same era Clos Saron Syrahs (mid-2000s Heart of Stone, Stone Soup). Perhaps they shared a similar bacteria in the cellar in those years.
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3rd bottle of 6, last consumed almost 2 yrs ago. This BdM was enjoyed over several days, and showed gorgeous progression of flavors leaning toward red fruits, tart red cherry, sweet tobacco leaf, lovely and refreshing mint or anise, leading into a drying finish with finely grained tannins and lovely, snappy acidity. A lip-smacker, takes an hour to open up, drink through 2028+.
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Color is lovely. Ruby with slight bricking on the rim. Nose not fantastic. Brett/barnyard with stewed plums. Might improve with air/time? In the mouth it's much better. Austere and herbaceous, little fruit, but fine tannins with a long finish.
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The first bottle I opened and slow ox'd for a few hours. This time I decided to taste it before I put the cork back in. It was nasty. So I opened a second bottle and let it breathe for a half hour and tasted that one and it was beautiful. Actually better than previous bottles I had tried. The nose was dark red fruit and a hint of tobacco. The palate was dark cherry, plum, tobacco and leather. The finish was on the long side and smooth.
Sorry for the incomplete posting. My laptop decides on its own when to post and then I have to undrink them and start over. Anyway this bottle is better than the bottle I had three months ago. I opened and slow ox'd for two hours then decanted through a vinturi and let sit for another hour. The nose is fruit and mocha. The palate was dark cherry, plum, mocha, a little tobacco and lots of leather. The finish was moderate to long. Served alongside a platter of meatballs that we got from a local Italian restaurant.
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Oh man, I wanted to love this wine. It was so strongly in the horses stall prior to cleaning. Brett was overwhelming. I can like, even love a bit of brett ... this was a stable at 6AM as you open the barn doors. Sad. I will let the bottle sit open for sometime, but I can't see it improving. On to the next. No rating.
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A rookie when it comes to Valdicava wines, was impressed. This one is already showing some age. Fruit sits behind the tabacco, leather and spices... lots of aged Bordeaux notes. A lot of similar notes to last reviewer, but I liked this wine more. At $59 form JJ Buckley 5+ years ago, this was a steal.
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Well I pulled the cork and it broke which to me is never a very good sign. I pushed it through and let the wine sit for two hours inserted a vintorio and started to pour. The nose dark fruit with hints of sage. The palate was dark plums, leather, tobacco, mushroom and a touch of sage. The finish was moderate to long but a little rough around the edges. I was really looking for more after reading all the reviews but it did not deliver. Good yes, great no. I bought these a while ago at a good price. If I had to pay what they are asking today I would be incensed. I have a few more bottles and I hope they show better.
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Christmas Eve Wine Night in the East!: Black cherries, ripe plums, leather, dried herbs, sweet spices, figs, espresso. Slight heat and alcohol but blew off after some time. This was good but I prefer the 2010 drank in 2020 as well. Open up
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Cherry and berry flavors with delicate spices interspersed.Wonderful mountain flower perfume, part baroloesque. Lengthy. One of the brunello stars of the vintage .
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Blind Tasting via Zoom (Over Zoom): Tasted blind. This showed some brett, both in the aromatics and inside the palate. It wasn't a big blast of brett but enough to distract me, as I don't care for brett. Dark cherry, a bit fatter and more mouthilling, too. Tangy acid, spice and raspberry, but for me this was beat hands down by the 2010 Fuligni Brunello we tasted alongside it.
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Decanted then consumed over five hours. Right off the bat, a hell of a nose of bright red fruit. Very tannic but not abrasive. Tastes young and delicious but raw. Improved and softened over time but not close to it's peak. My favorite valdicava since 2001.
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2nd of 6 bottles, last tasted 2 years ago. Showing a nice browning rim from 12 yrs of bottle age. On the nose, some barnyard aromas right out of the gate, with earthy red fruits, tobacco, anise, tart red cherry, cooking spices, so complex. The wine was medium in body, with puckering acidity and gorgeously refined tannins. Red and black fruits come out to play, with substantial soil-driven flavors like beets, tobacco, leather, and cinnamon. The finish just goes and goes, the wine is lovely and quite regal. Drink now through 2028 or so.
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This is solid stuff... Interesting out of the bottle, showed brownish bricking, a bit austere and slightly dry... Gave it an hour in the decanter and things turned around! She came to life! Even the color changed from hinting brown to dark cherry... The fruit jumped out too! Very succulent and sweet cherry emerged... I bit of earth, perhaps cigar or whatever it is that terror is known for became unmistakable for those who know wines from that area... Very well done indeed! If you like Valdicava, you will love this one for sure. Drinking brilliantly right now with a bit of air in the mix... Well worth the money...
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My first-ever Valdicava...and I have 5 more of these in the cellar. Showing a nice browning rim from 10 yrs of bottle age. On the nose, earthy red fruits, tobacco, anise, tart red cherry, cooking spices, so complex. The wine was medium in body, with puckering acidity and gorgeously refined tannins. Red and black fruits come out to play, with substantial soil-driven flavors like beets, tobacco, leather, and cinnamon. The finish just goes and goes, the wine is lovely and quite regal. Drink now through 2028 or so.
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Very good Brunello. Decanted for 5 hours, definetely needed that. Fantastic nose after a few hours, string of raisins. Long finish and full bodied Brunello. Great wine.
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Super sexy wine. Not showing any aging in the color. Purple, with a hint of cigar, sweet spice, plowed earth and bing cherry. This bottle wasn't showing any age at all. It was juicy, succulent, without any gripping tannin and a long finish. Drink fantastic. Enjoy it.
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Beautiful ripe red fruit, salami, spice, barnyard. M+acid, M+tannin, M+alc/body, rich and lush texture throughout. Long and pleasant finish. Needs several more years (or 10) to round out, but my favorite bottle of the day for future potential. Drink 2020-2040. One to cellar by the case. A classic, rustic, spicy, and perfectly-structured brunello. :: IWM Brunello Tasting 6/29/13
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2/10/2024 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
some bricking; nice nose; fruit is more lean now, so you notice the (good) oak; great acidity that stands up to BBQ ribeye; i don't get any brett.
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12/3/2023 - Thad Likes this wine: 90 Points
drink it
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9/23/2023 - drrobvino wrote: 94 Points
4th of 6 bottles, last consumed about 2 yrs ago.
Evolving beautifully, this House is always a thriller for me, showing red and black fruits, savory spices, iodine, perhaps anise.
Gorgeous tannic structure and medium acidity, this is mature and lovely and will easily drink well for another 5+ years.
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4/21/2023 - gmbdds wrote:
Decanted, which is needed for sediment at a minimum. Dark fruits which show advanced and perhaps even slightly stewed. Earth, celery and savory notes. Dry, good, but not quite right. Bought upon release and properly stored. Not scored.
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12/18/2022 - KeithAkers wrote: flawed
this is just slightly heat damaged/oxidized. The nose is much more advanced than the age would indicate. There is something there to make you want to drink it......until you actually drink it. The tannins are dried out and this just doesn't show off the expressiveness that I expect from Valdicava.
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9/11/2022 - aero Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium+ bodied, traditional producer-unique styling. PnP with decant, a phenomenal nose and palate bursting with iron-rich soil, bright berries, new leather, fresh spices, clay. Firm tannins but balanced. Complex finish bring small dried flowers. Turns more towards traditional BdM profile with air, and it's almost disappointing except so good as well.
Enjoyed this far more than I expected, and it was less bretty than other reviewers noted. Doesn't reach Pegau levels of brett. The only wine I can think of that shares these unique tones are same era Clos Saron Syrahs (mid-2000s Heart of Stone, Stone Soup). Perhaps they shared a similar bacteria in the cellar in those years.
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12/9/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 94 Points
3rd bottle of 6, last consumed almost 2 yrs ago.
This BdM was enjoyed over several days, and showed gorgeous progression of flavors leaning toward red fruits, tart red cherry, sweet tobacco leaf, lovely and refreshing mint or anise, leading into a drying finish with finely grained tannins and lovely, snappy acidity. A lip-smacker, takes an hour to open up, drink through 2028+.
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10/29/2021 - SpitzNV Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color is lovely. Ruby with slight bricking on the rim. Nose not fantastic. Brett/barnyard with stewed plums. Might improve with air/time? In the mouth it's much better. Austere and herbaceous, little fruit, but fine tannins with a long finish.
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7/30/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
The first bottle I opened and slow ox'd for a few hours. This time I decided to taste it before I put the cork back in. It was nasty. So I opened a second bottle and let it breathe for a half hour and tasted that one and it was beautiful. Actually better than previous bottles I had tried. The nose was dark red fruit and a hint of tobacco. The palate was dark cherry, plum, tobacco and leather. The finish was on the long side and smooth.
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6/5/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sorry for the incomplete posting. My laptop decides on its own when to post and then I have to undrink them and start over. Anyway this bottle is better than the bottle I had three months ago. I opened and slow ox'd for two hours then decanted through a vinturi and let sit for another hour. The nose is fruit and mocha. The palate was dark cherry, plum, mocha, a little tobacco and lots of leather.
The finish was moderate to long. Served alongside a platter of meatballs that we got from a local Italian restaurant.
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4/4/2021 - BostonDoug Does not like this wine:
Oh man, I wanted to love this wine. It was so strongly in the horses stall prior to cleaning. Brett was overwhelming. I can like, even love a bit of brett ... this was a stable at 6AM as you open the barn doors. Sad. I will let the bottle sit open for sometime, but I can't see it improving. On to the next. No rating.
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4/3/2021 - VinoPKM wrote: 92 Points
A rookie when it comes to Valdicava wines, was impressed. This one is already showing some age. Fruit sits behind the tabacco, leather and spices... lots of aged Bordeaux notes. A lot of similar notes to last reviewer, but I liked this wine more. At $59 form JJ Buckley 5+ years ago, this was a steal.
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3/26/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well I pulled the cork and it broke which to me is never a very good sign. I pushed it through and let the wine sit for two hours inserted a vintorio and started to pour. The nose dark fruit with hints of sage. The palate was dark plums, leather, tobacco, mushroom and a touch of sage. The finish was moderate to long but a little rough around the edges. I was really looking for more after reading all the reviews but it did not deliver. Good yes, great no. I bought these a while ago at a good price. If I had to pay what they are asking today I would be incensed. I have a few more bottles and I hope they show better.
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12/24/2020 - dnnk88 wrote: 92 Points
Christmas Eve Wine Night in the East!: Black cherries, ripe plums, leather, dried herbs, sweet spices, figs, espresso. Slight heat and alcohol but blew off after some time. This was good but I prefer the 2010 drank in 2020 as well. Open up
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12/13/2020 - JS199 wrote: flawed
Corked
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11/11/2020 - gothamfreerider wrote: 94 Points
Cherry and berry flavors with delicate spices interspersed.Wonderful mountain flower perfume, part baroloesque. Lengthy. One of the brunello stars of the vintage .
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8/8/2020 - skp88 wrote: 95 Points
An awesome wine. Decanted and drunk over two hours. Rich, velvety and harmonious. My first Valdicava and hopefully the first of many.
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5/14/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Blind Tasting via Zoom (Over Zoom): Tasted blind. This showed some brett, both in the aromatics and inside the palate. It wasn't a big blast of brett but enough to distract me, as I don't care for brett. Dark cherry, a bit fatter and more mouthilling, too. Tangy acid, spice and raspberry, but for me this was beat hands down by the 2010 Fuligni Brunello we tasted alongside it.
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4/18/2020 - guido23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted then consumed over five hours. Right off the bat, a hell of a nose of bright red fruit. Very tannic but not abrasive. Tastes young and delicious but raw. Improved and softened over time but not close to it's peak. My favorite valdicava since 2001.
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2/23/2020 - sdrucker1000 wrote: 94 Points
Firing on all cylinders. Perfect blend of acidity and fruit.
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2/21/2020 - drrobvino wrote: 94 Points
2nd of 6 bottles, last tasted 2 years ago.
Showing a nice browning rim from 12 yrs of bottle age.
On the nose, some barnyard aromas right out of the gate, with earthy red fruits, tobacco, anise, tart red cherry, cooking spices, so complex.
The wine was medium in body, with puckering acidity and gorgeously refined tannins.
Red and black fruits come out to play, with substantial soil-driven flavors like beets, tobacco, leather, and cinnamon.
The finish just goes and goes, the wine is lovely and quite regal.
Drink now through 2028 or so.
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11/30/2019 - Marquis du Vin Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is solid stuff... Interesting out of the bottle, showed brownish bricking, a bit austere and slightly dry... Gave it an hour in the decanter and things turned around! She came to life! Even the color changed from hinting brown to dark cherry... The fruit jumped out too! Very succulent and sweet cherry emerged... I bit of earth, perhaps cigar or whatever it is that terror is known for became unmistakable for those who know wines from that area... Very well done indeed! If you like Valdicava, you will love this one for sure. Drinking brilliantly right now with a bit of air in the mix... Well worth the money...
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7/5/2019 - richshoes Likes this wine: 96 Points
One of the better Valdicavas I’ve had. Big wine with some Bordeaux barnyard accents...has aged well, right blend of mellow age and big structure.
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6/29/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 93 Points
My first-ever Valdicava...and I have 5 more of these in the cellar.
Showing a nice browning rim from 10 yrs of bottle age.
On the nose, earthy red fruits, tobacco, anise, tart red cherry, cooking spices, so complex.
The wine was medium in body, with puckering acidity and gorgeously refined tannins. Red and black fruits come out to play, with substantial soil-driven flavors like beets, tobacco, leather, and cinnamon. The finish just goes and goes, the wine is lovely and quite regal.
Drink now through 2028 or so.
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6/24/2018 - zackmayo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not outstanding like most Valdicavas.
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3/29/2018 - Anders C J wrote: 90 Points
Very good Brunello. Decanted for 5 hours, definetely needed that. Fantastic nose after a few hours, string of raisins. Long finish and full bodied Brunello. Great wine.
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8/1/2017 - JS199 wrote: 92 Points
Well made, fine tannins. 92/93
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5/26/2015 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Super sexy wine. Not showing any aging in the color. Purple, with a hint of cigar, sweet spice, plowed earth and bing cherry. This bottle wasn't showing any age at all. It was juicy, succulent, without any gripping tannin and a long finish. Drink fantastic. Enjoy it.
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8/12/2013 - InternationalWineReport wrote:
Aromas of dried cherries, plums, damp earth, spices, leather and pretty floral notes providing a beautiful fresh element. Needs time.
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6/30/2013 - defigio Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful ripe red fruit, salami, spice, barnyard. M+acid, M+tannin, M+alc/body, rich and lush texture throughout. Long and pleasant finish. Needs several more years (or 10) to round out, but my favorite bottle of the day for future potential. Drink 2020-2040. One to cellar by the case. A classic, rustic, spicy, and perfectly-structured brunello. :: IWM Brunello Tasting 6/29/13
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6/21/2013 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank in Montalcino
Nose of Cherries, plumbs, spice and tobacco. Smooth palate with a medium length. lovely.
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