This 2014 still continues to get better and better. It has been agreed in our wine cellar, great conditions. Tonight we opened our final bottle of a couple dozen we’ve had over the years. I wish we had more, because this wine still has plenty of years to age. I would open the back end of this drinking window to 2026 or 2028. Still bright and fruity with soft velvety tannins. Notes of blackberries, dark cherries and plums. Only the very edge has some brick red shading, otherwise color is still deep purpley-burgundy. Monte Antico is our “house” Super Tuscan. We drink lots of more expensive allegedly “better” wines, but this one is a great value and is wonderful to drink.
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Very nice little Tuscan blend (Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). This particular vintage (2014) is more balanced and integrated than the 2015. Worth it.
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Nose: simple aromas of ripe sweet red and black fruit, sweet rose, sweet spice, herbs Mouth: dry, m+ acid, m+ tannins, m body and a perception of high alcohol due to lack of fruit?, low fruit concentration and length. Conclusion: a bit over the top, which makes it lack fruit and thus be unbalanced. Off, actually
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Acquired through retail. Dark red berries on the nose; some mushroom. Good tannins and acidity. Medium long finish of blackberry, plum, chocolate, and hints of coffee.
Good wine from a medium sized producer.
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Sat, 09/28/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 85% Sangiovese, 10% C.S., & 5% Merlot grown in compact, very fine-textured limestone to clayey/siliceous/calcareous soils @ 820-1,500 ft above sea level; "Fermentation is in s/s tanks @ 77° F, followed by maceration on the skins for 15-20 days & malolactic for 7 days. The wine is subsequently aged 12 mos in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). The FR oak barriques are both new & 2nd year while the Slavonian barrels are 5-6 yrs old. Followed by 12 mos bottle aging."
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which quite works itself out by the LONG, balanced, very slightly tangy finish with an attractive bitter/swtness to the few, firming, dusty tannins. For now with food, & should continue drinking well through '21, probably '22. Very nicely done! 12.0% ABV; My EXC-, & I'd certainly listen to a plea for more based upon the QPR of this vendor's $8.95, which tops wine-searcher's listings. 91 pts Suckling & 89 (8/28/18) winealign.com
Note: Also tasted on 3/23 & 6/1/19
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Eye: pleasing dark carmen color. Nose: floral with notes of cherries and forest floor. Palate: smooth, well balanced, nice fruit with crisp finish. Very nice with a great quality to price ratio
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Sat, 06/01/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 85% Sangiovese, 10% C.S., & 5% Merlot grown in compact, very fine-textured limestone to clayey/siliceous/calcareous soils @ 820-1,500 ft above sea level; "Fermentation is in s/s tanks @ 77° F, followed by maceration on the skins for 15-20 days & malolactic for 7 days. The wine is subsequently aged 12 mos in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). The FR oak barriques are both new & 2nd year while the Slavonian barrels are 5-6 yrs old. Followed by 12 mos bottle aging."
N: Smoke with notes of earth atop cherries; Fairly fragrant; Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which PRETTY much resolves by the LONG, balanced, very slightly spicy finish with a TANGY/swtness (60:40) to the innocuous, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '20. Nicely done. My VG+/EXC-, the higher for the QPR of this vendor's $8.95, which is now @ the head of wine-searcher's fairly large class! 91 pts Suckling.
Note: For whatever reason I found this particular bottle far, FAR less age-worthy than I had the bottle on *just* 3/23/2019.
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Wow! This is a great value. So nice and bright, great tart berry flavors with nice acidity up front and smooth tannins on the finish. So good with food or on its own. Not terribly complex but so good and easy to drink
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Sat, 03/23/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 85% Sangiovese, 10% C.S., & 5% Merlot grown in compact, very fine-textured limestone to clayey/siliceous/calcareous soils @ 820-1,500 ft above sea level; "Fermentation is in s/s tanks @ 77° F, followed by maceration on the skins for 15-20 days & malolactic for 7 days. The wine is subsequently aged 12 mos in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). The FR oak barriques are both new & 2nd year while the Slavonian barrels are 5-6 yrs old. Followed by 12 mos bottle aging."
P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/SWTNESS (45:55) to the surprisingly persistent, dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then at least approaching its 10th? My VG+/EXC-, *very* likely the higher for QPR of a potentially cellarworthy wine. 91 pts Suckling. [This vendor's $8.95 puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's entries -- & at LEAST 10% < than most!]
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Great value @ $10 (Central Market). Pizza, lasagna, etc. wine. Would be great as a House wine for some Italian resto. Buy a case...Everybody will like it. med- acid, medium tannin. Medium ruby.
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9/6/2023 - civillaw Likes this wine: 94 Points
This 2014 still continues to get better and better. It has been agreed in our wine cellar, great conditions. Tonight we opened our final bottle of a couple dozen we’ve had over the years. I wish we had more, because this wine still has plenty of years to age. I would open the back end of this drinking window to 2026 or 2028. Still bright and fruity with soft velvety tannins. Notes of blackberries, dark cherries and plums. Only the very edge has some brick red shading, otherwise color is still deep purpley-burgundy. Monte Antico is our “house” Super Tuscan. We drink lots of more expensive allegedly “better” wines, but this one is a great value and is wonderful to drink.
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5/7/2021 - RogerQ wrote: 92 Points
Very nice little Tuscan blend (Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). This particular vintage (2014) is more balanced and integrated than the 2015. Worth it.
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11/14/2020 - Jokofon Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Nose: simple aromas of ripe sweet red and black fruit, sweet rose, sweet spice, herbs
Mouth: dry, m+ acid, m+ tannins, m body and a perception of high alcohol due to lack of fruit?, low fruit concentration and length.
Conclusion: a bit over the top, which makes it lack fruit and thus be unbalanced. Off, actually
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8/25/2020 - Dsrwill wrote:
13% ABV. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. Aged 1 year in oak and 6 months in bottle.
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5/1/2020 - Jokermac Likes this wine: 90 Points
Acquired through retail. Dark red berries on the nose; some mushroom. Good tannins and acidity. Medium long finish of blackberry, plum, chocolate, and hints of coffee.
Good wine from a medium sized producer.
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2/16/2020 - the1wags Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light in body, closer to a Pinot noir in mouth feel. Good bang for the buck, would buy again.
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12/11/2019 - tsdv wrote: 85 Points
Not bad for ten bucks. Generic and lacking character - to be expected with such a high production wine with fruit from everywhere.
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12/4/2019 - Twinkles wrote: 89 Points
Light and fun. Great weekday wine!
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11/10/2019 - RGO wrote:
Frusowith the limited number of options at the Laguna cellar so ordered six more bottles of this for pizza nights.
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9/28/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 09/28/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 85% Sangiovese, 10% C.S., & 5% Merlot grown in compact, very fine-textured limestone to clayey/siliceous/calcareous soils @ 820-1,500 ft above sea level; "Fermentation is in s/s tanks @ 77° F, followed by maceration on the skins for 15-20 days & malolactic for 7 days. The wine is subsequently aged 12 mos in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). The FR oak barriques are both new & 2nd year while the Slavonian barrels are 5-6 yrs old. Followed by 12 mos bottle aging."
N: Vanilla, minerals atop berries; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which quite works itself out by the LONG, balanced, very slightly tangy finish with an attractive bitter/swtness to the few, firming, dusty tannins. For now with food, & should continue drinking well through '21, probably '22. Very nicely done! 12.0% ABV; My EXC-, & I'd certainly listen to a plea for more based upon the QPR of this vendor's $8.95, which tops wine-searcher's listings. 91 pts Suckling & 89 (8/28/18) winealign.com
Note: Also tasted on 3/23 & 6/1/19
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9/17/2019 - socidelvino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Eye: pleasing dark carmen color. Nose: floral with notes of cherries and forest floor. Palate: smooth, well balanced, nice fruit with crisp finish. Very nice with a great quality to price ratio
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6/11/2019 - desertracer wrote:
Not bad for an inexpensive wine
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6/1/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 06/01/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 85% Sangiovese, 10% C.S., & 5% Merlot grown in compact, very fine-textured limestone to clayey/siliceous/calcareous soils @ 820-1,500 ft above sea level; "Fermentation is in s/s tanks @ 77° F, followed by maceration on the skins for 15-20 days & malolactic for 7 days. The wine is subsequently aged 12 mos in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). The FR oak barriques are both new & 2nd year while the Slavonian barrels are 5-6 yrs old. Followed by 12 mos bottle aging."
N: Smoke with notes of earth atop cherries; Fairly fragrant; Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which PRETTY much resolves by the LONG, balanced, very slightly spicy finish with a TANGY/swtness (60:40) to the innocuous, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '20. Nicely done. My VG+/EXC-, the higher for the QPR of this vendor's $8.95, which is now @ the head of wine-searcher's fairly large class! 91 pts Suckling.
Note: For whatever reason I found this particular bottle far, FAR less age-worthy than I had the bottle on *just* 3/23/2019.
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5/22/2019 - One more Likes this wine:
Wow! This is a great value. So nice and bright, great tart berry flavors with nice acidity up front and smooth tannins on the finish. So good with food or on its own. Not terribly complex but so good and easy to drink
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5/8/2019 - Susaninaustin Likes this wine: 88 Points
3
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3/23/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 03/23/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 85% Sangiovese, 10% C.S., & 5% Merlot grown in compact, very fine-textured limestone to clayey/siliceous/calcareous soils @ 820-1,500 ft above sea level; "Fermentation is in s/s tanks @ 77° F, followed by maceration on the skins for 15-20 days & malolactic for 7 days. The wine is subsequently aged 12 mos in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). The FR oak barriques are both new & 2nd year while the Slavonian barrels are 5-6 yrs old. Followed by 12 mos bottle aging."
N: Vanilla, poss dill, atop cherries/earth; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/SWTNESS (45:55) to the surprisingly persistent, dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then at least approaching its 10th? My VG+/EXC-, *very* likely the higher for QPR of a potentially cellarworthy wine. 91 pts Suckling. [This vendor's $8.95 puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's entries -- & at LEAST 10% < than most!]
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1/22/2019 - genel wrote: 89 Points
Great value @ $10 (Central Market). Pizza, lasagna, etc. wine. Would be great as a House wine for some Italian resto. Buy a case...Everybody will like it. med- acid, medium tannin. Medium ruby.
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12/31/2018 - chappyg Likes this wine: 89 Points
très bon
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12/18/2018 - Johhny5 Likes this wine: 83 Points
Sharp, intense open. Vibrant, extra dry finish. Strong berry notes.
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12/14/2018 - Unpetitpeu Likes this wine: 100 Points
Vraiment excellent
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8/23/2018 - Ruubious wrote:
Quite nice and Smooth, Vanilla and strawberries and cream.
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