A structured and well made wine that is still very youthful. Decanted for 1 hour, but this needed more time to open up. I recommend holding this in the cellar for at least 3 more years to see if it softens and becomes less brutish. If this happens, it could warrant a higher rating.
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Yikes, this one is very tight and closed-up. After decanting and then a few hours in the glass, it was full of promise but still not particularly generous. Even on the second day it’s still restrained. I think there is a great wine waiting in there, but I have one more bottle and I will probably wait at least another 4 years. As it is, it’s a New World style with pronounced oak and very rich fruit. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed drinking this, but I can’t recommend opening it just now.
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Boston Wine + Poker BYOW, Lincoln, Mass: After a series of elegantly middle-aged wines, this was a pugnacious teenager. Higher alcohol, lots of oak, flamboyant and big. A pleasure to drink, and already fully approachable, but likely to improve.
Thanks to Chris Piti for bringing this one.
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Assemblage bordelais. Beaucoup de tanins ronds et bien enrobés. Ouvert à 4h00 et bu à 7-8h00, il était parfait. Prune, cuir fruits noirs. Belle complexité. Un vin assez sérieux, mais sans austérité. Un très belle bouteille.
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8/10 - Drinking well now. Smooth subtle tannins, juicy dark cherries and some savory umami to balance it off. Price has gone up quite a bit since I bought it, think it's fairly priced now, but was a much better deal before the spike
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What a Gorgeous Super Tuscan...if you like Italian wine, this is a homerun under $70. Chewable tannins...sits with you a while. I drank this over a period of 2.5 hours after decanting, and it got better after each hour but leveled off...definitely take some time with this one to enjoy. Long legs...alcohol 14% by volume. A little earthy tones and nose but mostly berries and a little nutty. Perfect Backbone. You could save this a little longer or open it up now.
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Subsequent notes on this wine from a year ago. Deep, dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, dried herbs, spice notes, olives, cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, supple, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals, dark cocoa, earthy & a hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but should develop further with additional aging. An indicative blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot & 25% Syrah.
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“From vyds of loam soils on a plateau from 800 – nearly 1,000 elev, & close to Mt Amiata, 1 of Tuscany’s highest peaks; Harvest time commenced mid-Sept. The 1st grapes to be harvested are always Syrah & Merlot, while C.S. & P.V. take a little longer to fully express their personality, ripening later. The grapes underwent pre-fermentation cold maceration for 2 days, maceration of the skins in must for 15 days, followed by malolactic fermentation in temp controlled s/s tanks. The varietals are vinified & aged separately for 12 mos in FR, 225 L barriques, & blended just before being bottled unfiltered. 14.23% ABV, R.S. < 1.00 g/L, 5.63 g/L T.A., & 3.57 pH;” 2,083 cases made.
N: Closed, but bacon fat atop RIPE berries? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it fairly seamlessly transitions into a very LONG finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '22 (poss '23?), then should make it through '27... min. An IMPRESSIVE wine with distinct potential! 14% ABV; My EXC/EXC+, the higher a good bet... with time. 97 pts Suckling, 95 WA, & 94 WS. [As of early Dec '19, wine-searcher still shows several sources from $60-$85].
Note: Also tasted on 12/1 & 12/29/18, TNs & scores remarkably consistent.
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Lots of chocolate here, chewable tannins, fine concentration, good stuff here - is it too extracted? I don't think, it will come around. #Kandestederne
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P: Med body; NICE, almost swtish frt quickly met by astringent pucker which, SURPRISINGLY, goes a LONG ways towards resolving its astringency as it slowly transitions into a very LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy, ULT pleasant finish with a swtness to the notable, yet not really offensive, dusty tannins. For many (MOST?) palates this NEEDS into, poss through, '22, then making its 15th? QUITE a *remarkable* wine! My EXC/EXC+. 97 pts Suckling, 95 WA, & 94 WS. [This vendor's $69.95 is now @ the top of the 2nd 1/2 of wine-searcher's postings.]
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P: LM body; Very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt QUICKLY met by an astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the frt, seamlessly morphs into a very LONG, balanced, potentially elegant finish with a bitter/SWTNESS to the still fairly considerable dusty tannins. NEEDS through '22, then at LEAST approaching its 15th. VERY impressive! My EXC/EXC+. 97 pts Suckling, 95 WA, & 94 WS. [This vendor's $69.95 is near the bottom of the top 1/2 of wine-searcher's listings.]
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Deep, dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, dried herbs, some spice notes of anise, olives, cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Medium-deep bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, supple, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals, dark cocoa, earthy & a hint of oak. Some unresolved tannins in the lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but should develop further with additional aging which it clearly needs. Anticipate a higher score with time as well (93+). An indicative blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot & 25% Syrah.
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6/16/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A structured and well made wine that is still very youthful. Decanted for 1 hour, but this needed more time to open up. I recommend holding this in the cellar for at least 3 more years to see if it softens and becomes less brutish. If this happens, it could warrant a higher rating.
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4/9/2023 - slye Likes this wine: 90 Points
Yikes, this one is very tight and closed-up. After decanting and then a few hours in the glass, it was full of promise but still not particularly generous. Even on the second day it’s still restrained. I think there is a great wine waiting in there, but I have one more bottle and I will probably wait at least another 4 years. As it is, it’s a New World style with pronounced oak and very rich fruit. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed drinking this, but I can’t recommend opening it just now.
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10/31/2022 - talbot61 Likes this wine:
Boston Wine + Poker BYOW, Lincoln, Mass: After a series of elegantly middle-aged wines, this was a pugnacious teenager. Higher alcohol, lots of oak, flamboyant and big. A pleasure to drink, and already fully approachable, but likely to improve.
Thanks to Chris Piti for bringing this one.
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4/15/2022 - tsao.stephen@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice dark ruby color. Deep fruits and leather to nose. Medium body medium tannins. Overall nice bottle
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3/4/2022 - NotAWineGuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
decanted an hour, could have used minimum of 2, still very young but going to be a very nice wine
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1/23/2022 - ThomasAgathon wrote: 91 Points
90-92 TA
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8/8/2021 - Vince_chip Likes this wine: 93 Points
Assemblage bordelais. Beaucoup de tanins ronds et bien enrobés. Ouvert à 4h00 et bu à 7-8h00, il était parfait. Prune, cuir fruits noirs. Belle complexité. Un vin assez sérieux, mais sans austérité. Un très belle bouteille.
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1/18/2021 - darren81 Likes this wine:
8/10 - Drinking well now. Smooth subtle tannins, juicy dark cherries and some savory umami to balance it off. Price has gone up quite a bit since I bought it, think it's fairly priced now, but was a much better deal before the spike
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9/14/2020 - darren81 Likes this wine:
8/10 - No formal tasting note
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2/13/2020 - au96alum Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a Gorgeous Super Tuscan...if you like Italian wine, this is a homerun under $70. Chewable tannins...sits with you a while. I drank this over a period of 2.5 hours after decanting, and it got better after each hour but leveled off...definitely take some time with this one to enjoy. Long legs...alcohol 14% by volume. A little earthy tones and nose but mostly berries and a little nutty. Perfect Backbone. You could save this a little longer or open it up now.
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12/9/2019 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Subsequent notes on this wine from a year ago. Deep, dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, dried herbs, spice notes, olives, cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, supple, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals, dark cocoa, earthy & a hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but should develop further with additional aging. An indicative blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot & 25% Syrah.
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12/7/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 12/06/19 + 7 Shared Reds: Dan, THANK you for sharing your B-day bottle, thereby allowing me to revisit it after 'bout a yr. ;)
“From vyds of loam soils on a plateau from 800 – nearly 1,000 elev, & close to Mt Amiata, 1 of Tuscany’s highest peaks; Harvest time commenced mid-Sept. The 1st grapes to be harvested are always Syrah & Merlot, while C.S. & P.V. take a little longer to fully express their personality, ripening later. The grapes underwent pre-fermentation cold maceration for 2 days, maceration of the skins in must for 15 days, followed by malolactic fermentation in temp controlled s/s tanks. The varietals are vinified & aged separately for 12 mos in FR, 225 L barriques, & blended just before being bottled unfiltered. 14.23% ABV, R.S. < 1.00 g/L, 5.63 g/L T.A., & 3.57 pH;” 2,083 cases made.
N: Closed, but bacon fat atop RIPE berries? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it fairly seamlessly transitions into a very LONG finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '22 (poss '23?), then should make it through '27... min. An IMPRESSIVE wine with distinct potential! 14% ABV; My EXC/EXC+, the higher a good bet... with time. 97 pts Suckling, 95 WA, & 94 WS. [As of early Dec '19, wine-searcher still shows several sources from $60-$85].
Note: Also tasted on 12/1 & 12/29/18, TNs & scores remarkably consistent.
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2/28/2019 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Lots of chocolate here, chewable tannins, fine concentration, good stuff here - is it too extracted? I don't think, it will come around.
#Kandestederne
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1/12/2019 - JonnyG wrote: 89 Points
Unmistakably Italian, and not in a good way. All pyrazines and VA, never blew off. An astringency marred it further. Not sure time heals these wounds.
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12/29/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar ("Mini") [6 Reds & 8 shared bottles] from 12/28/18 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Vanilla atop ripe berries; Intensity lurking!
P: Med body; NICE, almost swtish frt quickly met by astringent pucker which, SURPRISINGLY, goes a LONG ways towards resolving its astringency as it slowly transitions into a very LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy, ULT pleasant finish with a swtness to the notable, yet not really offensive, dusty tannins. For many (MOST?) palates this NEEDS into, poss through, '22, then making its 15th? QUITE a *remarkable* wine! My EXC/EXC+. 97 pts Suckling, 95 WA, & 94 WS. [This vendor's $69.95 is now @ the top of the 2nd 1/2 of wine-searcher's postings.]
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12/1/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 9 Reds, & 5 *shared* bottles] from 11/30/18 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Smoke; game & tobacco [TY, budosyu]
P: LM body; Very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt QUICKLY met by an astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the frt, seamlessly morphs into a very LONG, balanced, potentially elegant finish with a bitter/SWTNESS to the still fairly considerable dusty tannins. NEEDS through '22, then at LEAST approaching its 15th. VERY impressive! My EXC/EXC+. 97 pts Suckling, 95 WA, & 94 WS. [This vendor's $69.95 is near the bottom of the top 1/2 of wine-searcher's listings.]
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12/1/2018 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep, dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, dried herbs, some spice notes of anise, olives, cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Medium-deep bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, supple, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & plums with spices, herbs, minerals, dark cocoa, earthy & a hint of oak. Some unresolved tannins in the lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but should develop further with additional aging which it clearly needs. Anticipate a higher score with time as well (93+). An indicative blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot & 25% Syrah.
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3/11/2018 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 90 Points
James Suckling - Great Wines of Italy III - 2018 (The Presidio, SF): Textbook Supertuscan. Pyrazines, dark fruit, Brett, new oak, elevated structure (alcohol, acid, tannins). Ripe. Elevated VA leading to a perfumed quality. Very good.
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3/9/2018 - dream wrote: 75 Points
If you like Caymus Special Selection, you'll like this.
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