Nose: A very pretty aroma that’s well concentrated at this price point. In quality Sangiovese I always look for this Sweet Amarena cherry smell and it’s so good in this wine. I also find Pomegranate, a lovely floral violet or rose aroma that’s accented by thyme (Herbs), baking Spice, and a touch of earthiness in the back letting you know it’s Tuscan.
Taste: Delicious, warm, perfectly ripe Amarena Cherry, plum, and Baking spice/Herbs followed by the Tuscan earthiness in the back that shows itself more with air. This drinks much better on day 2 atm as it firms up and softens the high acidity. The tannins are perfectly ripe and feel very well integrated due to 18 months mainly in large Slavonian oak casks (called botti) and oak barriques (225 ltr and 500 ltr) and 6 months in bottle. On day two this wine has great balance and the finish while still on the shorter side is much improved. Elegant, ehhh debatable … delicious yes, It’s pretty but this needed lots of air and things came together much better afterwards.
Overall: This is a good vintage and it shows in the ripeness of the fruit and the balance of the acid and tannins. It’s clear that this is one of the top wine makers in the region and they provide consumers with an excellent wine of quality for the money here. I hope it stays at $25 but I’m sure that won’t be the case in 20 years. I tried this next to one of my other favorite producers in the region “La Calonica” which has a neighboring vineyard in the Pieve of Valiano. Both wines were fantastic stylistically but different as Avignonesi seems a little less rustic and much more modern/fresh.
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Full red/red-black. Aroma of cherry and pine. Flavours of cherry, chocolate, blackberry. Richer initially than the 2019 tasted recently, more black fruit and oak, but maybe a touch less elegant. Some delicious spicy notes appear by the last glass. From half bottle, decanted an hour in advance. Lovely.
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Better than the Poliziano. Still a bit modern for my tastes, would prefer a bit less sleek, overly concentrated. But nice fruit. Not too much barrique influence. More plum and pomegranate than cherry. Low tannin. Med+ acid.
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I popped this one open, and I let it breathe for many hours. My first impression of this wine was not very good. The wine was very earthy, and not very appealing. On day two the wine had mellowed a bit and had become more fruity. Is it worth $24 a bottle? Not really.
[Restaurant purchase] By the glass at restaurant Le Chiave d’Oro, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. Silky velvety Sangiovese with first aging signs. Lush red fruit, licorice, sweet spices, some leather. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium finish
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Decanted 3 hours. Upon decanting striking rich garnet color w/fragrant cherry aroma. Flavor profile showed tart plums, soft lead pencil with balance legs. Wine continues to evolve to red licorice. soft leather w/balance finish. Appetizer of Asiago Cheese & Soppressatta / Entrée Italian Sausage & Peppers - what a pleasant match
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In the beginning disappointing. Not very present and boring. No length. But after decanting and waiting for nearly 2 hours. So juicy and precise. A totally different wine. We will see in 3 to 6 years time 😁 91++
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Last year I drank two excellent wines from this winery, but they were much more expensive than this wine. We'll see what it can do for me. 🕐⏰🕤 2 hours in decanter is a must! Nice aromas of red cherry, raspberry, oak , orange peel. Taste is fresh and juicy. There's some lovely sweetness, that last from very first second to the last. I'm not sure what is it ( plum?). What else we have here? Red cherry, oak and vanilla. Taste is not complicated, but very balanced. Acidity and tannins are visible, but not obtrusive . 92 points from Vinous 91 points from James Suckling 91 points from Wine Enthusiast 90 points from Wine Spectator
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4/8/2024 - WyattTheSomm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sight: Medium ruby, no staining.
Nose: A very pretty aroma that’s well concentrated at this price point. In quality Sangiovese I always look for this Sweet Amarena cherry smell and it’s so good in this wine. I also find Pomegranate, a lovely floral violet or rose aroma that’s accented by thyme (Herbs), baking Spice, and a touch of earthiness in the back letting you know it’s Tuscan.
Taste: Delicious, warm, perfectly ripe Amarena Cherry, plum, and Baking spice/Herbs followed by the Tuscan earthiness in the back that shows itself more with air. This drinks much better on day 2 atm as it firms up and softens the high acidity. The tannins are perfectly ripe and feel very well integrated due to 18 months mainly in large Slavonian oak casks (called botti) and oak barriques (225 ltr and 500 ltr) and 6 months in bottle. On day two this wine has great balance and the finish while still on the shorter side is much improved. Elegant, ehhh debatable … delicious yes,
It’s pretty but this needed lots of air and things came together much better afterwards.
Overall: This is a good vintage and it shows in the ripeness of the fruit and the balance of the acid and tannins. It’s clear that this is one of the top wine makers in the region and they provide consumers with an excellent wine of quality for the money here. I hope it stays at $25 but I’m sure that won’t be the case in 20 years. I tried this next to one of my other favorite producers in the region “La Calonica” which has a neighboring vineyard in the Pieve of Valiano. Both wines were fantastic stylistically but different as Avignonesi seems a little less rustic and much more modern/fresh.
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2/19/2024 - SixHedgehogs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full red/red-black. Aroma of cherry and pine. Flavours of cherry, chocolate, blackberry. Richer initially than the 2019 tasted recently, more black fruit and oak, but maybe a touch less elegant. Some delicious spicy notes appear by the last glass. From half bottle, decanted an hour in advance. Lovely.
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1/18/2024 - elyaz Likes this wine: 88 Points
Better than the Poliziano. Still a bit modern for my tastes, would prefer a bit less sleek, overly concentrated. But nice fruit. Not too much barrique influence. More plum and pomegranate than cherry. Low tannin. Med+ acid.
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12/9/2023 - ramclain Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well balanced with intense notes of ripe red fruit. Very smooth.
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11/13/2023 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium body, round.
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8/15/2023 - Barolo Freak wrote: 85 Points
I popped this one open, and I let it breathe for many hours. My first impression of this wine was not very good. The wine was very earthy, and not very appealing. On day two the wine had mellowed a bit and had become more fruity. Is it worth $24 a bottle? Not really.
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7/27/2023 - ThijsV Likes this wine: 91 Points
[Restaurant purchase] By the glass at restaurant Le Chiave d’Oro, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. Silky velvety Sangiovese with first aging signs. Lush red fruit, licorice, sweet spices, some leather. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium finish
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6/15/2023 - casaallora Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Upon decanting striking rich garnet color w/fragrant cherry aroma. Flavor profile showed tart plums, soft lead pencil with balance legs. Wine continues to evolve to red licorice. soft leather w/balance finish. Appetizer of Asiago Cheese & Soppressatta / Entrée Italian Sausage & Peppers - what a pleasant match
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5/28/2023 - El_Toro wrote: 91 Points
In the beginning disappointing. Not very present and boring. No length. But after decanting and waiting for nearly 2 hours. So juicy and precise. A totally different wine. We will see in 3 to 6 years time 😁 91++
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5/9/2023 - Dervin wrote: 80 Points
Light, fruity, medium finish
At Fede, Astoria OR
First glass
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4/7/2023 - WojteG Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last year I drank two excellent wines from this winery, but they were much more expensive than this wine. We'll see what it can do for me.
🕐⏰🕤
2 hours in decanter is a must!
Nice aromas of red cherry, raspberry, oak , orange peel.
Taste is fresh and juicy. There's some lovely sweetness, that last from very first second to the last. I'm not sure what is it ( plum?). What else we have here? Red cherry, oak and vanilla. Taste is not complicated, but very balanced. Acidity and tannins are visible, but not obtrusive .
92 points from Vinous
91 points from James Suckling
91 points from Wine Enthusiast
90 points from Wine Spectator
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1/13/2023 - tomoem wrote: 91 Points
Just a fabulous value driven entry wine. Strawberry jumps right out at the nose. Similar lighter bodied juice that is pleasant and delicious.
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