It was thrilling to enjoy this wine, after worrying that I'd "forgotten" it for too long. There was nothing to dislike, and much to savour. The tannins were still there, but fully integrated and providing structure to the wonderful cherry and black licorice tones. Secondary red fruit essences provided depth, and a long, but neither sweet nor tart finish left a lasting impression. Purchased from Garagiste in 2009 and cellared since. p.s. the cork did have some saturation, but not to the end of it...
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So sorry I gave 2 of 3 btls away without tasting. This is really nice. Yes the cork was soaked through and nasty but the juice is more than fine. Brooding black cherry, tar, licorice, and thyme. Finishes with bitter chocolate, tree bark, and quite stacked tannins. Very masculine for a Maremma. This is drinking way above its price point.
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notes of dark cherries, plums, cassis. -some minerality, excellent balance, very smooth, long finish, a pleasure to drink with fresh pasta. -tannins are mostly gone (softened).
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Cork was soaked and showed a bit of seepage, but wine was in very nice condition. At opening had a balsamic note that integrated after decanting. Dark red-purple color, not oxidized. Bouquet showing some tertiary notes at this stage, the aforementioned balsamic, cigar box, mild mushroom funkiness, tar, red fruits. While this is a tannic wine--and I expect it will stay that way--it is very finely textured. Good acidity and raspberry-like fruit ripeness makes mid-palate pop. Finish reprises tar and tobacco notes with a heavy coating of soft tannin. Still room for evolution here.
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I thought this might have been slightyly corked. Still yet, it was musty on the tongue with a blue fruit slightly pruned. The nose gave very little, a bit of musty cola. This was not particularly pleasant. I think the faux cork (ground cork composite) indicates it is not meant for any long term aging. Drink now.
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Popped & poured. Fine sediment. The wine offered cherry, raspberry, plum, coffee and some chocolate on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red fruit, dried cherry, dried plum, raisins, spices, a hint of liquorice, some coffee and some chocolate, paired with medium plus acidity and tannin. It was ripe and dry, and benefited from moderate aeration. A solid wine, but I am a little worried about the QPR. It seems that the wine is starting to dry out - drink up.
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Bottle opened 2 hrs in front. Initially this wine is very closed. Acid, cherry.... During the evening with some more air this wine becomes beautifull, complex. Wine already developed with dark fruit, mushrooms. Little brown on the rim. Very nice complex wine (Cabernet Franc dominated). Wine definitially not on its way downwards!
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Deep ruby in color. Sour cherry/raspberry on the nose, that carries over to the palate. Medium bodied, acidity and tannins are nicely integrated. A nice bottle of wine that is certainly fresh in character to me.
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Delicious, drinking very well, tannins and acidity are in check, still has great depth of raspberry and dark cherry fruit. Good balance and long finish.
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A lot of the savoury qualities of this wine have dropped away. Rich fruit with plenty of vanillan oak - a good drink with food but a touch uninteresting.
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Le nez au début est un peu funky, carton mouillé!!! Avec l'aération il s'ouvre sur des notes d'anis, de cerise sures et de poivre.' En bouche, c'est ample avec des prunes, de la réglisse et des épices. Tannins charnus avec une belle acidité qui rend le vin droit et gouleyant. Finale longue. C'est bon mais sera mieux dans 2-3 ans!
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An easy wine, not much of a thinker right now. Nose of raspberry, cigar box. Sour cherry, cigar box,leather, hint of chalk. Seemed simple although a little better 4 hours after opening. Would not rebuy.
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Thin and not very complex, at least this bottle. Grapey. Really expecting more. Hoping the rest are better. Momma swore this had TCA (she detects at very low levels), but I did not detect it although I did smell it on the cork just a bit.
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Just another beautiful vintage of this wonderfully accessible Super Tuscan. So glad that Garagiste offered this one again. This is not a long term cellar candidate in my opinion but it is absolutely irresistible now so who cares!
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Interesting blend of cab franc and I assume sangiovese. While one can see the Italian side of this wine right off the bat due to the acid profile, the cab franc component of cherry, iron, tobacco leaf, and bell pepper add complexity and intrigue. Solid wine.
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Surprisingly full-bodied. Deep cherry and raspberry aromas, chalk, spice, herbs, capsicum, touch of coconut and flowers. Smooth palate, chewy in a good way, with a big acid kick in the finish; tar and fennel supporting the cherries. Delicious.
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Red-ruby in color. Aromas of red berries, intense, fresh, fruity and elegant. Deep, silky-smooth and balanced on the palate. A bit of well used barrel. Long with a very pleasant finish. Excellent.
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Nose of pyrazene, raspberry, bell pepper palate shows cab franc character.....bell pepper, celery seed and celery but you can tell that this is no Loire chinon.....the weight tells you that this is from a warm climate. some dark fruit and sweet liquor. Finish is long with raspberry, black fruit, spice and subtle apricot.
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Nose of pyrazene, bell pepper, pure red currants, red licorise and raspberries Palate shows very pure raspberry , strawberries and spice with noticeable pyrazene. The finish is medium+ red currants and a touch of heat. This was such a differen bottle than the last one I had.........
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Lush chocolate covered raspberries, cherries, subtle pyrazene, and spice on the nose. The palate is lush showing raspberries, strawberriy creamsicle, floral notes, pyrazene, cured meat and asian spice. The finish is medium+ to long with very pure ripe fruit that is so gorgeous. The only drawback is that there has a touch of heat......but overall this is stellar.....
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Ruby colour. Full aromas of berries, cherry and blackcurrant with hints of tobacco. Following trough full bodied with silky, layered, tannins. Long finish. A full bodied wine that remains fresh and delicate. Drink now - 2014.
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Red/ruby colour. Full aromas of red fruit, cherry and blackcurrant with hints of spices and tobacco. Follolwing trough full bodied with lots of fruit, chewy, but smooth, tannins and fresh acidity. Long finish that remains fresh troughout. Has the structure to develop further but hard to resist now! Drink now - 2014.
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Nice Maremma. Toke some time to open up. Smell with cherries and chocolate, ceder. Taste almost full body with good tanins and fruty flavours. Cab-franc flavour but not lite Loire.
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6/5/2021 - Benco wrote:
Would purchase again.
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6/10/2016 - Canuckgiver Likes this wine: 92 Points
It was thrilling to enjoy this wine, after worrying that I'd "forgotten" it for too long. There was nothing to dislike, and much to savour. The tannins were still there, but fully integrated and providing structure to the wonderful cherry and black licorice tones. Secondary red fruit essences provided depth, and a long, but neither sweet nor tart finish left a lasting impression. Purchased from Garagiste in 2009 and cellared since.
p.s. the cork did have some saturation, but not to the end of it...
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9/4/2015 - Neurowine1 wrote: 91 Points
So sorry I gave 2 of 3 btls away without tasting. This is really nice. Yes the cork was soaked through and nasty but the juice is more than fine. Brooding black cherry, tar, licorice, and thyme. Finishes with bitter chocolate, tree bark, and quite stacked tannins. Very masculine for a Maremma. This is drinking way above its price point.
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11/26/2014 - AlbertaOenologist Likes this wine: 92 Points
notes of dark cherries, plums, cassis. -some minerality, excellent balance, very smooth, long finish, a pleasure to drink with fresh pasta. -tannins are mostly gone (softened).
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4/25/2013 - Halfeel Does not like this wine:
Badly corked. Cork seepage very near complete - Undrinkable. Will be requesting a refund from Wine Library
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3/31/2013 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cork was soaked and showed a bit of seepage, but wine was in very nice condition. At opening had a balsamic note that integrated after decanting. Dark red-purple color, not oxidized. Bouquet showing some tertiary notes at this stage, the aforementioned balsamic, cigar box, mild mushroom funkiness, tar, red fruits. While this is a tannic wine--and I expect it will stay that way--it is very finely textured. Good acidity and raspberry-like fruit ripeness makes mid-palate pop. Finish reprises tar and tobacco notes with a heavy coating of soft tannin. Still room for evolution here.
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2/10/2013 - guitarguy wrote: 82 Points
This wine wasted my time and money. Boring, lacked much in the nose or palate aside from simpleton cherry, cigarbox and drying notes. Glad it's gone
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1/18/2013 - guitarguy wrote: 81 Points
I thought this might have been slightyly corked. Still yet, it was musty on the tongue with a blue fruit slightly pruned. The nose gave very little, a bit of musty cola. This was not particularly pleasant. I think the faux cork (ground cork composite) indicates it is not meant for any long term aging. Drink now.
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12/26/2012 - Zitan wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle. Tannins melted. Soft and full, but not profound. Nice bottle, but not getting any better - if I had more, I'd drink up.
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12/24/2012 - PSPatrick wrote: 88 Points
Popped & poured. Fine sediment. The wine offered cherry, raspberry, plum, coffee and some chocolate on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red fruit, dried cherry, dried plum, raisins, spices, a hint of liquorice, some coffee and some chocolate, paired with medium plus acidity and tannin. It was ripe and dry, and benefited from moderate aeration. A solid wine, but I am a little worried about the QPR. It seems that the wine is starting to dry out - drink up.
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12/22/2012 - WilD wrote: 90 Points
Bottle opened 2 hrs in front. Initially this wine is very closed. Acid, cherry.... During the evening with some more air this wine becomes beautifull, complex. Wine already developed with dark fruit, mushrooms. Little brown on the rim. Very nice complex wine (Cabernet Franc dominated). Wine definitially not on its way downwards!
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10/26/2012 - Otolith Likes this wine:
Deep ruby in color. Sour cherry/raspberry on the nose, that carries over to the palate. Medium bodied, acidity and tannins are nicely integrated. A nice bottle of wine that is certainly fresh in character to me.
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10/20/2012 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
Delicious, drinking very well, tannins and acidity are in check, still has great depth of raspberry and dark cherry fruit. Good balance and long finish.
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3/23/2012 - thebonnydooner wrote: 89 Points
Juicy intense cherry and blackberry fruit on a slightly tannic frame. Some complexity, nice notes of fig and licourice, long juicy finish.
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9/18/2011 - yayinski wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous herbal notes with meat juices, balsamic aromas with plums and figs.
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8/6/2011 - czar33 wrote: 88 Points
Solide mais sans grand caractère, un peu plat. À maturité en tout cas. Velouté sans accents tanniques importants. Agréable.
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6/5/2011 - mattwoolley wrote: 88 Points
A lot of the savoury qualities of this wine have dropped away. Rich fruit with plenty of vanillan oak - a good drink with food but a touch uninteresting.
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4/27/2011 - luca@fam.mc wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Not bad, still a lot oak @ nose. Drink over the next year
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4/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 88 Points
Quite good, dense sangio, bit simple
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1/30/2011 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Le nez au début est un peu funky, carton mouillé!!! Avec l'aération il s'ouvre sur des notes d'anis, de cerise sures et de poivre.'
En bouche, c'est ample avec des prunes, de la réglisse et des épices. Tannins charnus avec une belle acidité qui rend le vin droit et gouleyant. Finale longue.
C'est bon mais sera mieux dans 2-3 ans!
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1/2/2011 - stevenjstein wrote: flawed
Bottle was corked
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12/8/2010 - stoll wrote: 87 Points
Not a big fan - although much better on day 2. Won't be getting again.
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11/28/2010 - guitarguy wrote: 86 Points
An easy wine, not much of a thinker right now. Nose of raspberry, cigar box. Sour cherry, cigar box,leather, hint of chalk. Seemed simple although a little better 4 hours after opening. Would not rebuy.
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11/8/2010 - Spencer wrote:
Solid, balanced, might gain some complexity with a couple more years in the bottle.
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6/19/2010 - guitarguy wrote: 85 Points
Thin and not very complex, at least this bottle. Grapey. Really expecting more. Hoping the rest are better. Momma swore this had TCA (she detects at very low levels), but I did not detect it although I did smell it on the cork just a bit.
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6/1/2010 - bwillia wrote: 90 Points
Just another beautiful vintage of this wonderfully accessible Super Tuscan. So glad that Garagiste offered this one again. This is not a long term cellar candidate in my opinion but it is absolutely irresistible now so who cares!
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5/27/2010 - mattwoolley wrote: 86 Points
similar notes to before but took about 3 hours to coax the fruit from under a veil of offputting balsamic and marmite characters.
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3/31/2010 - vijayk416 wrote: 90 Points
This threw a ton of sediment, I'm guessing it was unfined/unfiltered. Great fruit and grip, a very food worthy wine.
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1/5/2010 - Dale M wrote: 88 Points
Interesting blend of cab franc and I assume sangiovese. While one can see the Italian side of this wine right off the bat due to the acid profile, the cab franc component of cherry, iron, tobacco leaf, and bell pepper add complexity and intrigue. Solid wine.
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3/29/2009 - mattwoolley wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly full-bodied. Deep cherry and raspberry aromas, chalk, spice, herbs, capsicum, touch of coconut and flowers. Smooth palate, chewy in a good way, with a big acid kick in the finish; tar and fennel supporting the cherries. Delicious.
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3/21/2009 - mkaminski wrote: 92 Points
Red-ruby in color. Aromas of red berries, intense, fresh, fruity and elegant. Deep, silky-smooth and balanced on the palate. A bit of well used barrel. Long with a very pleasant finish. Excellent.
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12/31/2008 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
Nose of pyrazene, raspberry, bell pepper
palate shows cab franc character.....bell pepper, celery seed and celery but you can tell that this is no Loire chinon.....the weight tells you that this is from a warm climate. some dark fruit and sweet liquor.
Finish is long with raspberry, black fruit, spice and subtle apricot.
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11/16/2008 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
Nose of pyrazene, bell pepper, pure red currants, red licorise and raspberries
Palate shows very pure raspberry , strawberries and spice with noticeable pyrazene.
The finish is medium+ red currants and a touch of heat. This was such a differen bottle than the last one I had.........
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11/7/2008 - Dave Canada wrote: 92 Points
Lush chocolate covered raspberries, cherries, subtle pyrazene, and spice on the nose.
The palate is lush showing raspberries, strawberriy creamsicle, floral notes, pyrazene, cured meat and asian spice.
The finish is medium+ to long with very pure ripe fruit that is so gorgeous. The only drawback is that there has a touch of heat......but overall this is stellar.....
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8/10/2008 - Jochems wrote: 92 Points
In line with my previous encounter:
Ruby colour. Full aromas of berries, cherry and blackcurrant with hints of tobacco. Following trough full bodied with silky, layered, tannins. Long finish. A full bodied wine that remains fresh and delicate. Drink now - 2014.
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7/17/2008 - Jochems wrote: 92 Points
Red/ruby colour. Full aromas of red fruit, cherry and blackcurrant with hints of spices and tobacco. Follolwing trough full bodied with lots of fruit, chewy, but smooth, tannins and fresh acidity. Long finish that remains fresh troughout. Has the structure to develop further but hard to resist now! Drink now - 2014.
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4/20/2008 - arijus wrote:
Vinarius wine tasting: Red berries, spices and chocolate on the nose. Quite big palate of red fruits with good acids. Ok finish with good tannins.
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3/12/2008 - magnus_dahlbeck wrote: 89 Points
Nice Maremma. Toke some time to open up. Smell with cherries and chocolate, ceder. Taste almost full body with good tanins and fruty flavours. Cab-franc flavour but not lite Loire.
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