Decanted three hours before dinner, this was another great bottle, and perhaps the most aromatically complex and sophisticated so far. Otherwise it was similar to the previous ones, and my many previous notes apply.
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Decanted two hours before dinner and served over two nights. 90 on night one, 92 on night two. At fifteen years of age, the wine still needs a lot of air to shine. Its medium body is supported by a big acid and tannin structure. It has complex, satisfying aromatics and a hint of mid-palate sweetness. Definitely a food wine, not for cocktails. It is a great pleasure to drink a complex and refreshing wine at 12.5% ABV instead of the 14-16% wines we find so often. Excellent QPR. Drink to 2030 +?
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This needed THREE hours after decanting to open up. It was an 88 as a pop & pour and a 92 after proper aeration on night one and a 93 on night two. This is a delicious and savory, medium-weight (a wonderful 12.5% !!!) food wine with excellent structure, complex aromatics, firm tannins and a very sappy, mineral finish that cries for another sip. Outstanding QPR.
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My last one of these was a few years ago and the extra time has made quite a difference. The 07 is currently very expressive with an upfront hit of nebbiolo character that keeps right on going throughout. This will never be a powerhouse, but it's got plenty of personality, a nice weight, bright acid, and a makes an exciting journey over the tongue. In a charming place right now and for a while to come I'm sure.
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Pale+ garnet. Kaleidoscope of Nebbiolo aromatics. Silky and elegant almost weightless with a concentrated fruit core; long finish driven by integrated tannins. Superb.
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Shows its age quite clearly at the rim; quite spicy and vegetal. Spice, dried fruit and sweet leaf litter; much nicer on the palate, perhaps just needs air. Tannins a little drying.
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Decanted for one hour, that appears to be insufficient to bring out the best of this wine - needs 3-6 hours of air.
Very different from the other bottles I've had so far, this one was darker and showed less of the Nebbiolo characteristics and more of the Vespolina and Bonarda. As you might imagine from that comment, it was less aromatic and softer than the previous bottles. It makes me wonder if they bottled this by cask instead of blending all the casks into a big vat to ensure homogeneity? In any case this is a silky, nuanced and versatile wine that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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Best bottle yet, this wine needs HOURS after decanting to show its stuff; in fact the un-decanted half of one bottle was better on night two, after being vacu-vind and refrigerated. See previous notes for details.
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Very similar to the last bottle from seven months ago, so I’ll just repeat my notes from then: "Light color, even by Nebbiolo standards; gentle nose of sweet cherry, hints of dried cherry, rose petals, cranberry; surprisingly intense flavors, with a solid acid backbone, integrated but persistently gentle tannins, just turning dusty; medium body; nice length; sublime, nuanced, smooth; great QPR. Fascinating to see what 30% of other grapes can do to a Nebbiolo wine.” This time I also noticed violets and exotic spices. The is a classic example of the Nebbiolo paradox - such a light-colored and light/medium bodied wine with such dense flavor!
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From memory. Drank over 3 days, altogether more welcoming than the first bottle, fresh medium-light nebbiolo with almost no sediment, but probably entirely ageable.
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From memory. A pure, rustic red-fruited wine veiled somewhat by young tannins, currently best with food. This bottle contained no sediment, I think it will be more enjoyable later.
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Light color, even by Nebbiolo standards; gentle nose of sweet cherry, hints of dried cherry, rose petals, cranberry; surprisingly intense flavors, with a solid acid backbone, integrated but persistently gentle tannins, just turning dusty; medium body; nice length; sublime, nuanced, smooth; great QPR. Fascinating to see what 30% of other grapes can do to a Nebbiolo wine.
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Great QPR. This wine is beginning to show its age w the red color just starting to brown but still very enjoyable. Tannins and fruit still present and in reasonable balance.
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Medium, clear red throughout, with fine transparency. On the nose, this offered up classic nebbiolo notes of roses and leather, with accents of cinnamon and an intriguing hint of lemon peel. Over the course of the bottle, the nose continued to develop richness and complexity, and with the last few swirls could easily have been mistaken for a mid-weight Barolo from a classic year. In the mouth, the '07 Boca was medium bodied and nicely balanced, with red fruits, spice and some savory herbs carrying the mid-palate through to a somewhat hollow finish, which was filled out when sipped with a pair of excellent grilled lamb chops. While the nose developed beautifully over the course of 2 hours or so, the palate was at its best in the first hour. It didn't fall apart, but it did dissipate somewhat near the end, losing some of its fine delineation. If I didn't know it was an '07, I would have pegged this as a bit older than it was, but from a good year. Perhaps a 2001. Highly recommended for scratching the Barolo itch without paying Barolo prices. Beautiful wine, and a pleasure to drink.
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PNP. Cork fine. Color garnet brick. Nose shows dark fruit with violets and roses and an earthy iodine note. Swishing shows brisk acid and rustic tannin. sipping gives a sense of density and the fruit and structure are balanced. This was beautiful w pasta bolognese
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Vallana tasting dinner at Lupa, NYC. First wine served. Light-bodied with a most elegant nose and fruity and spicy notes on a smooth palate. I loved the delicate finish.
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Reminded me a lot more of a Rioja this go around- lots of old leather but hardly any structure. The nose was still charming but I think this one is past it's prime.
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A little flat on the nose - not so much as flat as "medicinal", stainless, nothing really floral, fruity, alive. It rather dry, dusty, but very clean.
On the palate, this medicinal/dry dusty tang continues on but fruit begins to make itself known amongst the acids and tannins. After an hour or so, it becomes lively, a bit fresh, clean and crisp.
A mix of Nebiolo - 65%, Vespolina - 20% and Bonarda - 15%, this relatively rare Piedmont offering is a very nice food wine that will pair widely with a large range of foods with decent natural acids. Vallana is an insider's inside and as such considered one of the top producers in the region, particularly to insiders! lol.
Very nice "lighter" Nebiolo with a twist.
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11/1/2022 - PaulusLoZebra wrote: 93 Points
Decanted three hours before dinner, this was another great bottle, and perhaps the most aromatically complex and sophisticated so far. Otherwise it was similar to the previous ones, and my many previous notes apply.
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6/18/2022 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted two hours before dinner and served over two nights. 90 on night one, 92 on night two. At fifteen years of age, the wine still needs a lot of air to shine. Its medium body is supported by a big acid and tannin structure. It has complex, satisfying aromatics and a hint of mid-palate sweetness. Definitely a food wine, not for cocktails. It is a great pleasure to drink a complex and refreshing wine at 12.5% ABV instead of the 14-16% wines we find so often. Excellent QPR. Drink to 2030 +?
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9/24/2021 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
This needed THREE hours after decanting to open up. It was an 88 as a pop & pour and a 92 after proper aeration on night one and a 93 on night two. This is a delicious and savory, medium-weight (a wonderful 12.5% !!!) food wine with excellent structure, complex aromatics, firm tannins and a very sappy, mineral finish that cries for another sip. Outstanding QPR.
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6/12/2020 - NYC_Maenad Likes this wine:
My last one of these was a few years ago and the extra time has made quite a difference. The 07 is currently very expressive with an upfront hit of nebbiolo character that keeps right on going throughout. This will never be a powerhouse, but it's got plenty of personality, a nice weight, bright acid, and a makes an exciting journey over the tongue. In a charming place right now and for a while to come I'm sure.
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4/18/2020 - Eugenedinapoli Likes this wine:
Pale+ garnet. Kaleidoscope of Nebbiolo aromatics. Silky and elegant almost weightless with a concentrated fruit core; long finish driven by integrated tannins. Superb.
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9/6/2019 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great bottle. 89 as a pop&pour, 92-93 on night two. Previous tasting notes apply. Excellent QPR.
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10/10/2018 - vespasian wrote:
Shows its age quite clearly at the rim; quite spicy and vegetal. Spice, dried fruit and sweet leaf litter; much nicer on the palate, perhaps just needs air. Tannins a little drying.
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2/22/2018 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour, that appears to be insufficient to bring out the best of this wine - needs 3-6 hours of air.
Very different from the other bottles I've had so far, this one was darker and showed less of the Nebbiolo characteristics and more of the Vespolina and Bonarda. As you might imagine from that comment, it was less aromatic and softer than the previous bottles. It makes me wonder if they bottled this by cask instead of blending all the casks into a big vat to ensure homogeneity? In any case this is a silky, nuanced and versatile wine that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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1/28/2018 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
Best bottle yet, this wine needs HOURS after decanting to show its stuff; in fact the un-decanted half of one bottle was better on night two, after being vacu-vind and refrigerated. See previous notes for details.
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8/27/2017 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very similar to the last bottle from seven months ago, so I’ll just repeat my notes from then: "Light color, even by Nebbiolo standards; gentle nose of sweet cherry, hints of dried cherry, rose petals, cranberry; surprisingly intense flavors, with a solid acid backbone, integrated but persistently gentle tannins, just turning dusty; medium body; nice length; sublime, nuanced, smooth; great QPR. Fascinating to see what 30% of other grapes can do to a Nebbiolo wine.” This time I also noticed violets and exotic spices. The is a classic example of the Nebbiolo paradox - such a light-colored and light/medium bodied wine with such dense flavor!
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5/25/2017 - SteveG wrote: 91 Points
From memory. Drank over 3 days, altogether more welcoming than the first bottle, fresh medium-light nebbiolo with almost no sediment, but probably entirely ageable.
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2/4/2017 - SteveG wrote: 89 Points
From memory. A pure, rustic red-fruited wine veiled somewhat by young tannins, currently best with food. This bottle contained no sediment, I think it will be more enjoyable later.
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1/22/2017 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light color, even by Nebbiolo standards; gentle nose of sweet cherry, hints of dried cherry, rose petals, cranberry; surprisingly intense flavors, with a solid acid backbone, integrated but persistently gentle tannins, just turning dusty; medium body; nice length; sublime, nuanced, smooth; great QPR. Fascinating to see what 30% of other grapes can do to a Nebbiolo wine.
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12/30/2016 - kronfeld Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great QPR. This wine is beginning to show its age w the red color just starting to brown but still very enjoyable. Tannins and fruit still present and in reasonable balance.
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11/12/2016 - NYC_Maenad wrote:
Medium, clear red throughout, with fine transparency. On the nose, this offered up classic nebbiolo notes of roses and leather, with accents of cinnamon and an intriguing hint of lemon peel. Over the course of the bottle, the nose continued to develop richness and complexity, and with the last few swirls could easily have been mistaken for a mid-weight Barolo from a classic year. In the mouth, the '07 Boca was medium bodied and nicely balanced, with red fruits, spice and some savory herbs carrying the mid-palate through to a somewhat hollow finish, which was filled out when sipped with a pair of excellent grilled lamb chops. While the nose developed beautifully over the course of 2 hours or so, the palate was at its best in the first hour. It didn't fall apart, but it did dissipate somewhat near the end, losing some of its fine delineation. If I didn't know it was an '07, I would have pegged this as a bit older than it was, but from a good year. Perhaps a 2001. Highly recommended for scratching the Barolo itch without paying Barolo prices. Beautiful wine, and a pleasure to drink.
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5/28/2015 - chcook Likes this wine:
PNP. Cork fine. Color garnet brick. Nose shows dark fruit with violets and roses and an earthy iodine note. Swishing shows brisk acid and rustic tannin. sipping gives a sense of density and the fruit and structure are balanced. This was beautiful w pasta bolognese
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3/11/2015 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Vallana tasting dinner at Lupa, NYC. First wine served. Light-bodied with a most elegant nose and fruity and spicy notes on a smooth palate. I loved the delicate finish.
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7/28/2014 - tkoby11 wrote:
Nebbiolo blend warm up for this Wednesday, alternative #Nebbiolo sources 65% Nebbiolo, 20% Vespolina 15% Bonarda; Great with my Osso Bucco recipe!
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3/30/2014 - easttide wrote: 88 Points
Reminded me a lot more of a Rioja this go around- lots of old leather but hardly any structure. The nose was still charming but I think this one is past it's prime.
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1/30/2014 - easttide Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really classy and elegant. Don't see it going much more than a few more years but great now.
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11/18/2013 - yofog wrote: 91 Points
Fabulously dusty and bloody, but really open and feels like it's at peak or early-peak.
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3/26/2013 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
A little flat on the nose - not so much as flat as "medicinal", stainless, nothing really floral, fruity, alive. It rather dry, dusty, but very clean.
On the palate, this medicinal/dry dusty tang continues on but fruit begins to make itself known amongst the acids and tannins. After an hour or so, it becomes lively, a bit fresh, clean and crisp.
A mix of Nebiolo - 65%, Vespolina - 20% and Bonarda - 15%, this relatively rare Piedmont offering is a very nice food wine that will pair widely with a large range of foods with decent natural acids. Vallana is an insider's inside and as such considered one of the top producers in the region, particularly to insiders! lol.
Very nice "lighter" Nebiolo with a twist.
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