Drank for a magnum that was decanted for a few hours. Personally I found this ready to go after some time open. That said I am never a huge fan of Italian Cabernet Sauvignon. It has all the dark ripe characters or Napa or Bordeaux but a sour astringency that is not my favorite.
Dense texture with chewy tannins that have just started to integrate. Milk chocolate, ripe plums, tart cherry, leather, and gamey earth. Likely better in a few years but definitely in the drinking window now.
It’s polished but still has some rustic character of that makes sense.
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One hour decanted. Bone dry on the palate. Takes a second hour to become approachable. Good structure, good (cherry) fruit. Probably this needs the patience I currently insufficiently have. But more bottles to come over the next years to which I loook forward to. Potential to 94 on a good structure.
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Very dark red color. PNP, drank glasses on consecutive days. Dried earth and herbs on the nose, with red cherry, pencil, anise, and a bit of potpourri day one. The second day, there's dark fruit along with the cherry, some creosote, and plenty of underbrush with a little arm pit - that i don't really mean as a bad thing. The palate is a bit rustic with chewy tannins on day one, and ripe cherry, full bodied, bitter chocolate, and minieral notes. On day two this softens nicely, with the texutre improving further and the tannins loosening up significantly; blackberry liqueur, cherry, underbrush, charcoal and creosote minerality in spades. Still youthful, but showing pretty well with air. 92 day one, and 93pts day two.
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Decanted for several hours then consumed over two evenings. I am going to assume that I consumed this bottle too early because there was not much to get excited about. Essentially, it presented as a not-so-super Tuscan since the Bordeaux components were seemingly absent. There was no detectable difference either evening. Methinks my tastes lie elsewhere.
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Tightly wound, this is a few years away from being truly enjoyable, the layers are currently narrow and still a little primary. For a Supertuscan I get a majority of Sangio flavors: Bright sour cherry, wet stone and leather. The 15 Sammarco I had recently was much more approachable than this.
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Strong graphite core and cedar notes over earth, wet forest floor and so much more. Did a little compare-and-contrast with a '13 Dominus, which made for a fascinating evening. Same (basic) grapes, same year, different continents. Rampolla's old world expression came up a little short for me -- this time -- but hey, I'm not complaining.
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The first bottle we had was definitely bad. This one is good. Not great. Tangy sourness to begin. Chalky. Rasberries with bittersweet chocolate. A bit thin. However, this wine may be great in 5 years.
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? I read the other reviews and I had to check if I had the right wine and the right year. Sadly it checked out. It's not easy being green, is what I get. Green. Green herbs. Overpowering green. Even after 2 hours. Wife tried it blind and her response was ëwww...taste yeasty. So hopefully a bad bottle Unfortunately I have 3 more bottles. Wait a few years?
Amazing deep color. Great Cabernet. Decanted 2 hours. Great fruit forward. Tannins are smoothing out. A nice wine, easy to drink and starting to be in a good place!
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Strawberry and menthol on the nose. On the palate, cherry, blackberry, and currants, with notes of earth, tobacco, and savory spice, with moderate to strong tannins on the medium finish, with strong acidity. Although this is drinkable now, it's early in its drinking window and decanting helps open it up. This was an average to good value at about $80.
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4/6/2024 - Helmut Wraak wrote:
89
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3/11/2024 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Drank for a magnum that was decanted for a few hours. Personally I found this ready to go after some time open. That said I am never a huge fan of Italian Cabernet Sauvignon. It has all the dark ripe characters or Napa or Bordeaux but a sour astringency that is not my favorite.
Dense texture with chewy tannins that have just started to integrate. Milk chocolate, ripe plums, tart cherry, leather, and gamey earth. Likely better in a few years but definitely in the drinking window now.
It’s polished but still has some rustic character of that makes sense.
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7/22/2023 - Harrie wrote: 92 Points
One hour decanted.
Bone dry on the palate. Takes a second hour to become approachable. Good structure, good (cherry) fruit. Probably this needs the patience I currently insufficiently have. But more bottles to come over the next years to which I loook forward to. Potential to 94 on a good structure.
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7/16/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Very dark red color. PNP, drank glasses on consecutive days. Dried earth and herbs on the nose, with red cherry, pencil, anise, and a bit of potpourri day one. The second day, there's dark fruit along with the cherry, some creosote, and plenty of underbrush with a little arm pit - that i don't really mean as a bad thing. The palate is a bit rustic with chewy tannins on day one, and ripe cherry, full bodied, bitter chocolate, and minieral notes. On day two this softens nicely, with the texutre improving further and the tannins loosening up significantly; blackberry liqueur, cherry, underbrush, charcoal and creosote minerality in spades. Still youthful, but showing pretty well with air. 92 day one, and 93pts day two.
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4/19/2023 - bonedoc wrote:
ditto last note.
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3/19/2023 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
A hint of Brett, salinity, red fruit.
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8/9/2022 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
limited notes - dark cherry, medium body, good acid, silky mouthfeel.
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2/12/2022 - ccbradley Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent fruit on the open. Dense flavors and feel. Crushed berries and hints of chocolate. Tannins are subtle and smooth.
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12/16/2021 - jeagle wrote:
Decanted for several hours then consumed over two evenings. I am going to assume that I consumed this bottle too early because there was not much to get excited about. Essentially, it presented as a not-so-super Tuscan since the Bordeaux components were seemingly absent. There was no detectable difference either evening. Methinks my tastes lie elsewhere.
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10/24/2021 - Bruce 1er wrote: 90 Points
This bottle had a classic profile. Balanced with good fruit, notes of wild berries, beets, and herbs. Soft finish.
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4/25/2021 - Nbkat8 wrote: 91 Points
Tightly wound, this is a few years away from being truly enjoyable, the layers are currently narrow and still a little primary. For a Supertuscan I get a majority of Sangio flavors: Bright sour cherry, wet stone and leather. The 15 Sammarco I had recently was much more approachable than this.
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3/12/2021 - Castello della Gatta Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. Serious wine. High acidity still dominates. Few more years should help.
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2/21/2021 - brasstab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Strong graphite core and cedar notes over earth, wet forest floor and so much more. Did a little compare-and-contrast with a '13 Dominus, which made for a fascinating evening. Same (basic) grapes, same year, different continents. Rampolla's old world expression came up a little short for me -- this time -- but hey, I'm not complaining.
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7/17/2020 - happytom wrote: 89 Points
The first bottle we had was definitely bad. This one is good. Not great. Tangy sourness to begin. Chalky. Rasberries with bittersweet chocolate. A bit thin. However, this wine may be great in 5 years.
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5/30/2020 - happytom Does not like this wine:
? I read the other reviews and I had to check if I had the right wine and the right year. Sadly it checked out. It's not easy being green, is what I get. Green. Green herbs. Overpowering green. Even after 2 hours. Wife tried it blind and her response was ëwww...taste yeasty. So hopefully a bad bottle Unfortunately I have 3 more bottles. Wait a few years?
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4/28/2020 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful deep earthy red, silky and seamless, tannic for sure but mellows out with air and food...
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8/23/2019 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Amazing deep color. Great Cabernet. Decanted 2 hours. Great fruit forward. Tannins are smoothing out. A nice wine, easy to drink and starting to be in a good place!
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7/14/2019 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry and menthol on the nose. On the palate, cherry, blackberry, and currants, with notes of earth, tobacco, and savory spice, with moderate to strong tannins on the medium finish, with strong acidity. Although this is drinkable now, it's early in its drinking window and decanting helps open it up. This was an average to good value at about $80.
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