If you can handle a lot of power then you will like this wine. I do and loved the depth. The first 2 hours were a 95-98 experience and were a lot of fun but afterwards the wine suddenly turned and became undrinkable (old, Maggi). It felt young and vivid but that sudden deterioration raises the question how much life is left here. I tasted it blind. All the dark fruit power and the spiciness reminded me of an Aussie Shiraz. While it didn’t exactly match the profile I would have never guessed Merlot.
TN (first two hours): The intense and balanced nose marked by dark fruits, dark cherries, blackberries, plums with some olives, black pepper and cinnamon. Lots of intriguing power. Same picture on the palate with molten dark and some brighter red fruit, some herbal scents and especially a lot of spices. Fairly complex with good medium+ aromatic precision and a good long finish. It got spicier by the minute. High fine-grained but noticeable tannins, high well-integrated acidity kept this full-bodied, creamy dark monster in a good balance.
Decanting: The wine spend 30 minutes in the decanter. As said above, was a lot of fun right from the first glass but deteriorated markedly with 2 more hours in the glass (it collapsed and turned into Maggi). Off bottle or general problem?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 0.5h and I wouldn‘t go much beyond that given the lack of structure to hold the pieces together, but given an initially overpowering acidity and still slightly granular tannins can‘t really pop and pour either, in my view.
Red but ripe fruit reminding me more of cranberry than strawberry and red plum. Also floral but hard to define. Some faint petrol and (wet) leather as well as herbs such as black tea. Occasionally a peppery spiceyness popped up. As mentioned above acidity was still quite high, but so were alcohol (medium+), tannins (medium to medium+) and hence the overall balance was good with an intense juiceyness on the palate and a long finish.
The overall impression during at the ideal dinking spot after a short decant was rock solid and would have warranted 97 points. However, the backbone was not sufficient to support more than c.a. 1.5h in the glass and the fruit and spice components strated to crumble leaving a more beef tea type of juice in the glass. Great wine, but if you have some left in the cellar I woulnd‘t bank on it getting much better with increasing bottle age, probably best to drink now and over the next 3-5 years to avoid disappointment.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At first, too aggressive from acid and alcohol but gradually settled down. Ripe cherry fruit, youngish, powerful. Very good but relegated to the background by King Masseto this night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork stained about half way up. Decanted for two hours; light-to-moderate sediment. Deep ruby color. Notes of blueberries, blackberries, mocha, and vanilla on the nose. Mouth-coating rich flavors of tangy black cherries, licorice and vanilla on a full-bodied palate, with good structure and a long finish. Should be drinking well for another five+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SLDS GC NY Traditional Tasting: Tomato, graphite, roses, spice, blackcurrant and plums. Rich and bold fruit on the palate, but finds balance in its structure. Really good interest and potential to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Short note - lots of oak, vanilla, red powerfull berries like sweet korch, morelles, blueberry, very juicy and quite youthfull. Still needs time, well balanced, but lacks some structure for my taste. Still very good quality, 91p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It's modern, it's fruity it's oaky, it's sweet, it's easy to drink. No sense of Tuscany or Italy. I like it for what it is but there are less pricey Merlots from elsewhere.
Dark crimson. Expressive nose of dark fruit very meaty, a touch of maggi beef stock and lovage smell points towards a potential premox problem. Rich and complex on the palate with solid but ripe tannins. I would drink this up as a bottle I had a few years back also displayed a slight oxidative touch. I have to mention though that I am particularly sensitive to that smell and even the slightest quantity puts me off. One reason I never drink aged Champagne.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekly tasting group RWP: Really Special Wines (@ DJ): Dark blood red color. In the bouquet luxurious, with beautiful oak, cedar, sweet spices, dark forest fruits, cherries, vanilla and autumn impressions. On the palate Amarena cherries, autumn forest floor, nuts, leather, coffee, chocolate, beautiful acidity , round and still powerful tannin. Luxurious and beautiful wine with still a future of several years. 95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red, big nose of dark red fruits, still has oak to be resolved, ripe, black cherries, concentrated and very long, 100% merlot, a cult wine first time drinking, sexy, lush and still young, this needs at least 3-5 years, easily 2-3 points more when ready 92-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tuscany 2006 Ten years after. (@ SvdV): The bouquet of this wine is extremely beautiful with ripe dark forest fruits, cherries, luxurious oak, cedar and sweet spices. On the palate ripe and soft dark berries, kirsch, juicy, black olives, balsamic acidity, good sweet spices and maybe also a hint of green bell pepper. Beautifully fresh acidity and good, round tannin. Pleasant bitterness in the finish. Great concentration and length. Overall a beautiful and complex wine in the first third of its maturity stage. After Sassicaia second best of the evening (for me). 96+?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It's very good Merlot for sure, but no it's not Masseto, not at one third the price. Very deep color, dark purple. For a few minutes, the aroma is pretty amazing, plum and black cherry, but it fades. The palate is medium to intense, very Merlot in its overt fruitiness and soft tannins. The structure is admirable, not too oaky, well balanced among fruit, acid and tannin so it never becomes tiring. Not especially complex at age ten, it drinks well - but no, it's not Masseto. Oh, well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BLUEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, BLACK RASPBERRIES, AND PLUMS IN THE NOSE. DEEP BERRY FRUIT IN THE FLAVOR, BLACKBERRIES AND CURRANTS. ELEGANT WINE WITH NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Just limited notes. This wine entered its maturity stage and shows beautifully ripe dark berries and cherries, some earth and chocolate. Good acidity structure and lovely round an soft, yet powerful tannin. Great wine already and probably until 2020+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice evolution not so much in colour but on the nose. Spicy, earthy with dark fruit. On the palate fresh, glossy with vibrant fruit. Powerful tannins, slightly drying still towards the persistent and very very detailed finish. Excellent. 94-95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Immense wine, huge potential here but clearly still too young. Nose has scents of coffee, blackberries and plums. Palate is concentrated with cherries and plums with a bit of licorice. Nice dose of acidity & firm tannins on an extremely long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Merlot Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Meaty with perfumed florals, plum and tar. Balanced palate with plenty of force and drive to the fruit but impressive structure as well. Intense but thoughtful. Very youthful and needs time to reach its full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine course 101 - Key grape varieties: During a wine 101 course I gave. Oppulent nose of plum and dried fruit, noticeable oxidative tones (which I personally don't fancy as it contrasts with freshness). Full bodied, ripe and bold on the palate, smooth tannins, aromatically a bit too one dimensional though. A big modern show off merlot. Parker gave the 2000 vintage of this wine 100Pt. Having not tasted that vintage I cannot see this wine getting triple digits but it is for sure a solid 90-95 effort. For higher scores more complexity and freshness need to be present (May be this bottle was a bit more oxidative than normal though). Anyway, 93-94 for my palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2011 Special Session 2 - Jon and Bernard! (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, The Forum Shopping Mall, Orchard Road): Alcohol : 14.5% Decanted for 2.5hrs. Dark in color, purplish hue. This has exotic tobacco, sweet plum and currant aromas dominated the nose that is explosive and captivating. The aromas of dark chocolate, earth, leathery, dried herbs, ink, smoke added depth and breadth to the highly complex aromatic spectrum. Stunning level of intensity and power that coated the mouth and stained the palate immediately. This has high level of firm tannin with impenetrable structured, one might think this wine must be hard to swallow and super tannic, but it wasn't, as the tannin is sweet and fine and completely buried under the astonishing level of succulent dark fruits and endless layer of ink, graphite, smoke, tobacco. This is such a classy juice that flirting with finesse and harmonios with excellent grip, drive and verve. The finish is unreal, so powerful yet so fine and keep resonance for more than a min! Glad to have more! 95-97
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Painfully youthful in spite of a 4 hour decant. Vibrant, glass-staining purple. Nose doesn't reveal too much. In mouth this is sweet, smooth, seamless with a nice structural acidity. If tasted blind you could mistake this for a young Napa bordeaux blend! The wine maintained its composure throughout the meal never missing its stride. Will have much more to express in another 5 years+ but this is already very good. Without a doubt one of the most structured, built to age Merlots one could ever encounter. 50+9+8+19+9=95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at the winery. Dark purple to crimson color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dark chocolate sucks you in leading the way to aromas of smoke and rich plums. Flavors of black cherries and plums dominate at the moment in this very young wine. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. A little tight on the palate right now but man on man it's tempting to buy and pop this wine right now. It's a stunner. Can't wait to try it in about 5-10 years. Highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/20/2023 - BLam Likes this wine: 93 Points
Eric served this magnum btl in Maggie's 520 BD party. It was a chewy wine with silky palate, best to pair with steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2021 - Topper wrote: 93 Points
Very solid Tuscan. Still early in its development.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2018 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
If you can handle a lot of power then you will like this wine. I do and loved the depth. The first 2 hours were a 95-98 experience and were a lot of fun but afterwards the wine suddenly turned and became undrinkable (old, Maggi). It felt young and vivid but that sudden deterioration raises the question how much life is left here. I tasted it blind. All the dark fruit power and the spiciness reminded me of an Aussie Shiraz. While it didn’t exactly match the profile I would have never guessed Merlot.
TN (first two hours): The intense and balanced nose marked by dark fruits, dark cherries, blackberries, plums with some olives, black pepper and cinnamon. Lots of intriguing power. Same picture on the palate with molten dark and some brighter red fruit, some herbal scents and especially a lot of spices. Fairly complex with good medium+ aromatic precision and a good long finish. It got spicier by the minute. High fine-grained but noticeable tannins, high well-integrated acidity kept this full-bodied, creamy dark monster in a good balance.
Decanting: The wine spend 30 minutes in the decanter. As said above, was a lot of fun right from the first glass but deteriorated markedly with 2 more hours in the glass (it collapsed and turned into Maggi). Off bottle or general problem?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2018 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 0.5h and I wouldn‘t go much beyond that given the lack of structure to hold the pieces together, but given an initially overpowering acidity and still slightly granular tannins can‘t really pop and pour either, in my view.
Red but ripe fruit reminding me more of cranberry than strawberry and red plum. Also floral but hard to define. Some faint petrol and (wet) leather as well as herbs such as black tea. Occasionally a peppery spiceyness popped up. As mentioned above acidity was still quite high, but so were alcohol (medium+), tannins (medium to medium+) and hence the overall balance was good with an intense juiceyness on the palate and a long finish.
The overall impression during at the ideal dinking spot after a short decant was rock solid and would have warranted 97 points. However, the backbone was not sufficient to support more than c.a. 1.5h in the glass and the fruit and spice components strated to crumble leaving a more beef tea type of juice in the glass. Great wine, but if you have some left in the cellar I woulnd‘t bank on it getting much better with increasing bottle age, probably best to drink now and over the next 3-5 years to avoid disappointment.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2018 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
At first, too aggressive from acid and alcohol but gradually settled down. Ripe cherry fruit, youngish, powerful. Very good but relegated to the background by King Masseto this night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2018 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cork stained about half way up. Decanted for two hours; light-to-moderate sediment. Deep ruby color. Notes of blueberries, blackberries, mocha, and vanilla on the nose. Mouth-coating rich flavors of tangy black cherries, licorice and vanilla on a full-bodied palate, with good structure and a long finish. Should be drinking well for another five+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2018 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
SLDS GC NY Traditional Tasting: Tomato, graphite, roses, spice, blackcurrant and plums. Rich and bold fruit on the palate, but finds balance in its structure. Really good interest and potential to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2018 - soyhead wrote:
nose - sweaty sock, hay, nice funk
mouth - complex, boysenberry, mouthcoating, lush, charcoal. sexy wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2017 - Old Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
excellent merlot. more backward than initially thought at a 2012 tasting. anticipate prime drinking at age of +15
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2017 - Ebrim wrote: 91 Points
Short note - lots of oak, vanilla, red powerfull berries like sweet korch, morelles, blueberry, very juicy and quite youthfull. Still needs time, well balanced, but lacks some structure for my taste. Still very good quality, 91p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 97 Points
A terrific, elegant wine with similar notes to previous tastings, deep fruit, nice complexity, very well balanced, and very long smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2016 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
It's modern, it's fruity it's oaky, it's sweet, it's easy to drink. No sense of Tuscany or Italy. I like it for what it is but there are less pricey Merlots from elsewhere.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/24/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Dark crimson. Expressive nose of dark fruit very meaty, a touch of maggi beef stock and lovage smell points towards a potential premox problem. Rich and complex on the palate with solid but ripe tannins. I would drink this up as a bottle I had a few years back also displayed a slight oxidative touch. I have to mention though that I am particularly sensitive to that smell and even the slightest quantity puts me off. One reason I never drink aged Champagne.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2016 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Weekly tasting group RWP: Really Special Wines (@ DJ): Dark blood red color. In the bouquet luxurious, with beautiful oak, cedar, sweet spices, dark forest fruits, cherries, vanilla and autumn impressions. On the palate Amarena cherries, autumn forest floor, nuts, leather, coffee, chocolate, beautiful acidity , round and still powerful tannin. Luxurious and beautiful wine with still a future of several years. 95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red, big nose of dark red fruits, still has oak to be resolved, ripe, black cherries, concentrated and very long, 100% merlot, a cult wine first time drinking, sexy, lush and still young, this needs at least 3-5 years, easily 2-3 points more when ready
92-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2016 - JRM8 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit forward and tannins increasingly resolved so has hit prime drinking window
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2016 - sdr Likes this wine:
Impressive, very lush, cherry/raspberry fruit, mild tannins, easy to like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2016 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
Tuscany 2006 Ten years after. (@ SvdV): The bouquet of this wine is extremely beautiful with ripe dark forest fruits, cherries, luxurious oak, cedar and sweet spices. On the palate ripe and soft dark berries, kirsch, juicy, black olives, balsamic acidity, good sweet spices and maybe also a hint of green bell pepper. Beautifully fresh acidity and good, round tannin. Pleasant bitterness in the finish. Great concentration and length. Overall a beautiful and complex wine in the first third of its maturity stage. After Sassicaia second best of the evening (for me). 96+?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2016 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
It's very good Merlot for sure, but no it's not Masseto, not at one third the price. Very deep color, dark purple. For a few minutes, the aroma is pretty amazing, plum and black cherry, but it fades. The palate is medium to intense, very Merlot in its overt fruitiness and soft tannins. The structure is admirable, not too oaky, well balanced among fruit, acid and tannin so it never becomes tiring. Not especially complex at age ten, it drinks well - but no, it's not Masseto. Oh, well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2015 - buckeye76 wrote: 98 Points
BLUEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, BLACK RASPBERRIES, AND PLUMS IN THE NOSE. DEEP BERRY FRUIT IN THE FLAVOR, BLACKBERRIES AND CURRANTS. ELEGANT WINE WITH NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2015 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Just limited notes. This wine entered its maturity stage and shows beautifully ripe dark berries and cherries, some earth and chocolate. Good acidity structure and lovely round an soft, yet powerful tannin. Great wine already and probably until 2020+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2015 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 95 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): More floral than forceful, showing cherries, plum, licorice and coffee; plenty of structure to hold this intense wine intact.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Nice evolution not so much in colour but on the nose. Spicy, earthy with dark fruit. On the palate fresh, glossy with vibrant fruit. Powerful tannins, slightly drying still towards the persistent and very very detailed finish. Excellent. 94-95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2014 - jcomm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Immense wine, huge potential here but clearly still too young.
Nose has scents of coffee, blackberries and plums.
Palate is concentrated with cherries and plums with a bit of licorice.
Nice dose of acidity & firm tannins on an extremely long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2013 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
Merlot Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Meaty with perfumed florals, plum and tar. Balanced palate with plenty of force and drive to the fruit but impressive structure as well. Intense but thoughtful. Very youthful and needs time to reach its full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2013 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Wine course 101 - Key grape varieties: During a wine 101 course I gave. Oppulent nose of plum and dried fruit, noticeable oxidative tones (which I personally don't fancy as it contrasts with freshness). Full bodied, ripe and bold on the palate, smooth tannins, aromatically a bit too one dimensional though. A big modern show off merlot. Parker gave the 2000 vintage of this wine 100Pt. Having not tasted that vintage I cannot see this wine getting triple digits but it is for sure a solid 90-95 effort. For higher scores more complexity and freshness need to be present (May be this bottle was a bit more oxidative than normal though). Anyway, 93-94 for my palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 95 Points
2011 Special Session 2 - Jon and Bernard! (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, The Forum Shopping Mall, Orchard Road): Alcohol : 14.5%
Decanted for 2.5hrs. Dark in color, purplish hue. This has exotic tobacco, sweet plum and currant aromas dominated the nose that is explosive and captivating. The aromas of dark chocolate, earth, leathery, dried herbs, ink, smoke added depth and breadth to the highly complex aromatic spectrum. Stunning level of intensity and power that coated the mouth and stained the palate immediately. This has high level of firm tannin with impenetrable structured, one might think this wine must be hard to swallow and super tannic, but it wasn't, as the tannin is sweet and fine and completely buried under the astonishing level of succulent dark fruits and endless layer of ink, graphite, smoke, tobacco. This is such a classy juice that flirting with finesse and harmonios with excellent grip, drive and verve. The finish is unreal, so powerful yet so fine and keep resonance for more than a min! Glad to have more! 95-97
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2011 - andymnyc wrote: 85 Points
average
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2011 - taipanli wrote: 95 Points
Painfully youthful in spite of a 4 hour decant. Vibrant, glass-staining purple. Nose doesn't reveal too much. In mouth this is sweet, smooth, seamless with a nice structural acidity. If tasted blind you could mistake this for a young Napa bordeaux blend! The wine maintained its composure throughout the meal never missing its stride. Will have much more to express in another 5 years+ but this is already very good. Without a doubt one of the most structured, built to age Merlots one could ever encounter. 50+9+8+19+9=95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
very pretty wine. All sideways loving pinot drinkers who turn their noses up at Merlot are missing out :-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 95 Points
Italy 2008 (Italy): WIML95+
Tasted at the winery. Dark purple to crimson color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dark chocolate sucks you in leading the way to aromas of smoke and rich plums. Flavors of black cherries and plums dominate at the moment in this very young wine. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. A little tight on the palate right now but man on man it's tempting to buy and pop this wine right now. It's a stunner. Can't wait to try it in about 5-10 years. Highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment