A lovely Friday evening with wine, friends and food 👌
Siro Pacenti BdM Vecchie Vigne 2011 Parusso Barolo Bussia 2015 Casa Castillo Pie Franco 2016
Grilled whole Entrecôte at low temperature (125-150 °C) to approx. 57-59 °. Sliced on a bed of arugula salad, small tomatoes and roasted pine nuts. On top of a spring onion sauce, for this basil potatoes (fresh potatoes).
All three wines were very good, nice acidity on all three that matched the spring onion sauce perfectly. But in my book, Siro Pacentin was the best wine, great tannins, and great fruit in total harmony. But the other two lost by a hair's breadth, in their defense it should be added that they need a few more years in the cellar to develop a little more. 👌🍷🍷
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Consumed during 3 days. One first day (upon opening) a bit closed with long finish. Bottle vacuumed and stored at 15C. Best on day #3 when fruit finally comes up well. No need to hurry drinking, but long decantation recommended if drinking now.
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One of my best BdM ever, drank this vintage two years ago. What a development, much more harmonious now, great balance, the acidity has calmed down and is fully intergrated with the fruit. And a long finnish. Drink or hold.
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Good brunello. Dark fruit filled noise. Modern style. I was expecting more from this single vineyard brunello with old vines but enjoyable all the same.
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Bottle we had tasted one night after a lot of wine with Coravin so it wasn't fair (or necessary). 6th bottle from a case I purchased some time ago. 3 weeks later, Coravin again, the bottle will be drank. Very dark color wine on pour. Color of a black raspberry but a red core which emerges with a bit of air. It smells sort of like tar and flint and rose with a bit of charcoal. Flavor is quite dense fruit with raspberry, black currant (cassis) and toast. The body is medium/full. The wine has fleshy texture with mouthcoating tannins. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity. Drinking very well, likely to improve with a few more year so will hold the second half of the case now. I don't know enough about Brunello to rate it but what the heck, I'll do it anyway. 93-94+?
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Very good. Big structure with thick fruit, over-abundant tannins, and oak. Notes of dates, raw oatmeal cookies, cigar, and tangy dried cherries. Currently, tannins on the finish are too tough. This has the makings of a wine that could be exceptional in five more years.
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This bottle needed at least 2 - 3 h to open up, when it did it was great. The acidity was perfect, so together with homemade burgers it was a perfect match. Drink or hold.
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No formal note but this wine showed really well for me. Just slow o'd for a few hours and enjoyed with homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Really nice balance of fruit, tannin, etc.
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this bottle was a hot mess for me. maybe an off bottle but this was cherry cough syrup, a touch of herbs and cedar all finished off with some serious alcohol burn and heavy tannin.
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Tasted at a Siro Pacenti dinner at Fiorino Ristorante in Summit, NJ. Rather opaque dark garnet with low acidity and medium+ to high tannin. Rather astringent, dark fruited bordering on raisined and flabby in terms of acidity. Perhaps over-ripe by my way of thinking. Don’t know what Antonio Galloni was tasting when he gave this 95 points??? I have found little to like in any of the 2011 Brunello’s I have tasted.
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Improved since my previous tasting, possibly 94? I am not sure it is going to improve much further though as the alcohol is still showing strongly (15.5%) after 8 years and doesn't seem to want to subside... That said, it's a pretty much open wine now, tannins are well integrated. Not a huge complexity on offer here, but some immediate gratification. The finish has shortened somewhat since tasting the previous bottle 12 months ago, but a hint of class sticks around. This is a 'modern' BDM, which makes sense considering the combination of more central grapes of higher ground with lower level grapes from the southern parts of the denomination. I would expect it to peak over the next 12-18 months. Very drinkable now, though.
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Tasted blind, guessed 5-year-old chianti. This wine has lots of noble complexity -- sangiovese's classic "Italian food shop" aromas and savory personality -- but only medium concentration. Except in the tannins, which are still oversized. Although the fruit flesh weight seems fully expressive, the tannins ideally need several years to soften. Nonetheless, I recommend drinking it over the next few years, because I like the balance of the flavors and, for me, oversized tannins is a minor flaw. (I agree with Rechrom's rhetorical question about whether this wine has the "depth of fruit" to age well.)
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Superb, briefest decant and gorgeous nose and palate emerge, floral, leather, wood, cherry, black cherry, bit of earth. Rich and deft, good length, balanced tannin and acidity. Amazing with grilled marinade butterflied lamb, spinach tagliatelle with garden pesto. Mid summer treat on a cooler evening on the porch. Just great wine & meal. Solid QPR really, given astronomical prices for like quality in other regions.
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Beautifully balanced and deep. Great with full flavored food, interesting on its own. Tangled dark fruits, earth, minerals. Savory wine, does it have the depth of fruit to go long term? Not sure, but really enjoyable now.
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Tasted during a Brunello night, this was the youngest of the group - decanted for an hour then back into the bottle, poured about 2 hours after that; great darker cherry up front, there is some heat on the nose. Smooth all the way through, long, lingering finish. I want a touch more complexity, as it is coming off a bit primary at this time. Tannins are soft; although quite good with some air, I'd recommend holding for a few years to see if it really develops the complexity. I'm more of a new world guy, and this has the fruit and body that I'm accustomed to, making this a fantastic bridge to the old world. QPR is high.
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Comparing to other Brunello’s this was more of a fruit bomb. Didn’t need to open for long since the tannins were soft. This was a heavy, cherry-cough syrupy brunello. I love big wines but this was almost too big. I like my Brunello’s big and intense but still having a sophistication and finesse. All in all I never met a Brunello I didn’t like and this one holds its own.
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2h slow ox, tasted with light Italian summer fare; cooled it down to 16-17 degrees; restrained nose, robe true to type, some fading at the rim. Acidity very much present but not overwhelming. I didn't get the chewy tannins, but agree with the plummy side mentioned by others. The impression that comes to my mind is of a long and strong embrace! It refuses to let go and I can still feel its presence minutes later. If it manages to loose its somewhat (but not very pronounced) bit of a sharp/rough edge over the next 2-3 years (which it definitely can), then it could turn into something really beautiful with potential for a 94-95. I think it is still a little too immature at this stage. No longer a loud, boisterous teenager, but also not yet a self-confident BDM with the rockstar swagger that it might very well develop in the future. I will wait until 2020 for the next bottle. Very enjoyable right now, but I strongly suspect it would be a waste to open more now.
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Drank a full bottle at dinner more than a year after my original tasting. Still packs its modest but smooth first Brunello tasting and subtle but lingering finish. Slightly lower than my first rating as the excellent 2012 vintage has refined my ciew of the 2011s
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Very pleasant after a two hour decant. Cherry fruits, herbs, earthy notes, some melting tannins. Powerful in the mouth, great with food, a bit to tight to work as well on its own. Great balancing acidity. Really nice bottle with many years left.
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Decanted through vinituri and drank over 4 hours. YOUNG. Funky nose at first turns more pleasant, fruitier after a couple of hours. Earthy, dark fruit, cola, black licorice. Plenty of structure. HOLD.
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Pineapple, wax, orange and coriander dominate the nose. No chocolate!!! Some genoa as well. Tight and short w nary a strong palate. But Meaty and full of aging potential. A bit brown on the finish even after a vibrant swishing in the mouth.
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Waves of powerful fruit that ends with a lithe lift. At the vanguard is velevety tannin composure and a chiseled aspect. Fresh blueberry fruit, fresh herbs, white spice and earthiness. Very evolved and long, with no heat and wonderfully made, with it being such a hot vintage. Drink 2018 - 2030.
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Eleventh vineyard on my Montalcino trip - Siro Pacenti. Deep complex fruity aroma, dark color. Great Brunello burst, oranges, dark cherries, a bit of wood. Long lingering finish - smooth, fruity, hints of smoke or barnyard. Was very impressed with the 2010 and this one holds up strongly as well. Some aging will make this a great wine.
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5/26/2023 - SirJ Likes this wine: 95 Points
A lovely Friday evening with wine, friends and food 👌
Siro Pacenti BdM Vecchie Vigne 2011
Parusso Barolo Bussia 2015
Casa Castillo Pie Franco 2016
Grilled whole Entrecôte at low temperature (125-150 °C) to approx. 57-59 °. Sliced on a bed of arugula salad, small tomatoes and roasted pine nuts. On top of a spring onion sauce, for this basil potatoes (fresh potatoes).
All three wines were very good, nice acidity on all three that matched the spring onion sauce perfectly. But in my book, Siro Pacentin was the best wine, great tannins, and great fruit in total harmony. But the other two lost by a hair's breadth, in their defense it should be added that they need a few more years in the cellar to develop a little more. 👌🍷🍷
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5/12/2023 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 92 Points
Firing on all cylinders , very enjoyable
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5/6/2023 - The Wine Monkeys Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was amazing. I don’t have much to add outside of Sucklings glowing review. Cherry, smoke, leather, nice tannins and length. Delicious.
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11/29/2022 - Lemmy-W wrote: 93 Points
Lovely brunello
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10/23/2022 - Lemmy-W wrote: 92 Points
Consumed during 3 days. One first day (upon opening) a bit closed with long finish. Bottle vacuumed and stored at 15C. Best on day #3 when fruit finally comes up well. No need to hurry drinking, but long decantation recommended if drinking now.
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7/29/2022 - mchanin4 wrote: flawed
Corked.
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7/20/2022 - SirJ Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of my best BdM ever, drank this vintage two years ago. What a development, much more harmonious now, great balance, the acidity has calmed down and is fully intergrated with the fruit. And a long finnish. Drink or hold.
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5/30/2022 - MattJ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good brunello. Dark fruit filled noise. Modern style. I was expecting more from this single vineyard brunello with old vines but enjoyable all the same.
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11/21/2021 - ppandian wrote: 91 Points
Floral notes, savory, well rounded and integrated tannins, drinking beautifully!
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8/10/2021 - ppandian wrote: 90 Points
Savory, spicy, cherry and black tea. Well balanced with a nice structure and depth. Fantastic with ribeye and picanha.
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3/13/2021 - Triforwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bottle we had tasted one night after a lot of wine with Coravin so it wasn't fair (or necessary). 6th bottle from a case I purchased some time ago. 3 weeks later, Coravin again, the bottle will be drank. Very dark color wine on pour. Color of a black raspberry but a red core which emerges with a bit of air.
It smells sort of like tar and flint and rose with a bit of charcoal. Flavor is quite dense fruit with raspberry, black currant (cassis) and toast. The body is medium/full. The wine has fleshy texture with mouthcoating tannins. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity. Drinking very well, likely to improve with a few more year so will hold the second half of the case now. I don't know enough about Brunello to rate it but what the heck, I'll do it anyway. 93-94+?
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2/28/2021 - ksteiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
A real beauty. Wonderful bit of floral notes on the nose.
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12/8/2020 - guzmana Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent balance. Great wine!
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11/22/2020 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Black tea, cherry, cedar, leather and minerals. Nice with lasagna.
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11/6/2020 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good. Big structure with thick fruit, over-abundant tannins, and oak. Notes of dates, raw oatmeal cookies, cigar, and tangy dried cherries. Currently, tannins on the finish are too tough. This has the makings of a wine that could be exceptional in five more years.
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10/10/2020 - SirJ Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle needed at least 2 - 3 h to open up, when it did it was great. The acidity was perfect, so together with homemade burgers it was a perfect match. Drink or hold.
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9/9/2020 - fdub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich and ripe. Nice red berry notes and deep palate but a bit stewed.
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6/22/2020 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No formal note but this wine showed really well for me. Just slow o'd for a few hours and enjoyed with homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Really nice balance of fruit, tannin, etc.
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5/24/2020 - tunaguy Does not like this wine: 86 Points
this bottle was a hot mess for me. maybe an off bottle but this was cherry cough syrup, a touch of herbs and cedar all finished off with some serious alcohol burn and heavy tannin.
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2/27/2020 - oldwines wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at a Siro Pacenti dinner at Fiorino Ristorante in Summit, NJ. Rather opaque dark garnet with low acidity and medium+ to high tannin. Rather astringent, dark fruited bordering on raisined and flabby in terms of acidity. Perhaps over-ripe by my way of thinking. Don’t know what Antonio Galloni was tasting when he gave this 95 points??? I have found little to like in any of the 2011 Brunello’s I have tasted.
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10/3/2019 - WineFrogg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Improved since my previous tasting, possibly 94? I am not sure it is going to improve much further though as the alcohol is still showing strongly (15.5%) after 8 years and doesn't seem to want to subside... That said, it's a pretty much open wine now, tannins are well integrated. Not a huge complexity on offer here, but some immediate gratification. The finish has shortened somewhat since tasting the previous bottle 12 months ago, but a hint of class sticks around. This is a 'modern' BDM, which makes sense considering the combination of more central grapes of higher ground with lower level grapes from the southern parts of the denomination. I would expect it to peak over the next 12-18 months. Very drinkable now, though.
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8/25/2019 - MichaelMA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Very dense and a bit tight, but quite good length and body.
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8/14/2019 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind, guessed 5-year-old chianti. This wine has lots of noble complexity -- sangiovese's classic "Italian food shop" aromas and savory personality -- but only medium concentration. Except in the tannins, which are still oversized. Although the fruit flesh weight seems fully expressive, the tannins ideally need several years to soften. Nonetheless, I recommend drinking it over the next few years, because I like the balance of the flavors and, for me, oversized tannins is a minor flaw. (I agree with Rechrom's rhetorical question about whether this wine has the "depth of fruit" to age well.)
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7/27/2019 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb, briefest decant and gorgeous nose and palate emerge, floral, leather, wood, cherry, black cherry, bit of earth. Rich and deft, good length, balanced tannin and acidity. Amazing with grilled marinade butterflied lamb, spinach tagliatelle with garden pesto. Mid summer treat on a cooler evening on the porch. Just great wine & meal. Solid QPR really, given astronomical prices for like quality in other regions.
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2/2/2019 - Rechrom wrote: 95 Points
Beautifully balanced and deep. Great with full flavored food, interesting on its own. Tangled dark fruits, earth, minerals. Savory wine, does it have the depth of fruit to go long term? Not sure, but really enjoyable now.
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1/27/2019 - ksteiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very balanced...decanted and drank over a 3 hour period. A pretty good mouthful for a Brunello.
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11/10/2018 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted during a Brunello night, this was the youngest of the group - decanted for an hour then back into the bottle, poured about 2 hours after that; great darker cherry up front, there is some heat on the nose. Smooth all the way through, long, lingering finish. I want a touch more complexity, as it is coming off a bit primary at this time. Tannins are soft; although quite good with some air, I'd recommend holding for a few years to see if it really develops the complexity. I'm more of a new world guy, and this has the fruit and body that I'm accustomed to, making this a fantastic bridge to the old world. QPR is high.
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7/14/2018 - jkovacs63 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Comparing to other Brunello’s this was more of a fruit bomb. Didn’t need to open for long since the tannins were soft. This was a heavy, cherry-cough syrupy brunello. I love big wines but this was almost too big. I like my Brunello’s big and intense but still having a sophistication and finesse. All in all I never met a Brunello I didn’t like and this one holds its own.
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7/9/2018 - WineFrogg Likes this wine: 93 Points
2h slow ox, tasted with light Italian summer fare; cooled it down to 16-17 degrees; restrained nose, robe true to type, some fading at the rim. Acidity very much present but not overwhelming. I didn't get the chewy tannins, but agree with the plummy side mentioned by others. The impression that comes to my mind is of a long and strong embrace! It refuses to let go and I can still feel its presence minutes later. If it manages to loose its somewhat (but not very pronounced) bit of a sharp/rough edge over the next 2-3 years (which it definitely can), then it could turn into something really beautiful with potential for a 94-95. I think it is still a little too immature at this stage. No longer a loud, boisterous teenager, but also not yet a self-confident BDM with the rockstar swagger that it might very well develop in the future. I will wait until 2020 for the next bottle. Very enjoyable right now, but I strongly suspect it would be a waste to open more now.
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3/28/2018 - shaunzhang wrote: 91 Points
The wine dilivers the aroma of plum licorice and some smoke.the tannin is chewy.Intensity.drink or hold
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9/9/2017 - ShangGuy wrote: 94 Points
Drank a full bottle at dinner more than a year after my original tasting. Still packs its modest but smooth first Brunello tasting and subtle but lingering finish. Slightly lower than my first rating as the excellent 2012 vintage has refined my ciew of the 2011s
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7/15/2017 - Rechrom wrote: 94 Points
Very pleasant after a two hour decant. Cherry fruits, herbs, earthy notes, some melting tannins. Powerful in the mouth, great with food, a bit to tight to work as well on its own. Great balancing acidity. Really nice bottle with many years left.
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4/22/2017 - BrunelloBob wrote: 92 Points
Decanted through vinituri and drank over 4 hours. YOUNG. Funky nose at first turns more pleasant, fruitier after a couple of hours. Earthy, dark fruit, cola, black licorice. Plenty of structure. HOLD.
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3/22/2017 - beej Likes this wine:
Pineapple, wax, orange and coriander dominate the nose.
No chocolate!!!
Some genoa as well.
Tight and short w nary a strong palate.
But Meaty and full of aging potential.
A bit brown on the finish even after a vibrant swishing in the mouth.
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3/19/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 96 Points
Waves of powerful fruit that ends with a lithe lift. At the vanguard is velevety tannin composure and a chiseled aspect. Fresh blueberry fruit, fresh herbs, white spice and earthiness. Very evolved and long, with no heat and wonderfully made, with it being such a hot vintage. Drink 2018 - 2030.
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2/3/2017 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Primary and fruity now but still very enjoyable. Some tart cherry, berry, and plum with a hint of earthiness.
Time should be rewarding to this wine.
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10/21/2016 - swapdoc Likes this wine:
Siro Pacenti Winemaker Dinner with Giancarlo Pacenti (La Pizza Fresca Ristorante NYC): Mineral entry, smoky, tar aromatics. Strawberry fills the middle section. Luxurious fruit. Finishes softly. Fruit forward but classy wine.
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5/27/2016 - ShangGuy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Eleventh vineyard on my Montalcino trip - Siro Pacenti. Deep complex fruity aroma, dark color. Great Brunello burst, oranges, dark cherries, a bit of wood. Long lingering finish - smooth, fruity, hints of smoke or barnyard. Was very impressed with the 2010 and this one holds up strongly as well. Some aging will make this a great wine.
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2/25/2016 - Aravind Asok wrote:
K&L Wines of Italy Tasting (Peterson Automotive Museum LA): Some wood influence. Very ripe nose with plum and blueberry. Great depth on the palate; full body, medium acidity, soft tannin and lingering finish.
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