Wow, in a perfect spot right now !!! The cork was perfect after almost 15 years in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Popped and poured showing varietally accurate tawney dark fruit on the first day. On day two, the wine had softened with increased depth and integrated complexity with tawny carmel notes. Very dark purple color with a touch of oxidation noted on the edges, clarity medium. Aromas of plum, mushroom, and forest floor. Flavors of black plum, cola, mission fig, and raspberry framboise. A medium to long finish on this flavorful Sangiovese. This wine was delicious upon release and still has a few more years of life left. A wonderful expression of Wooden Valley volcanic soils that has aged well, I wish I had more !!
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Another unique and interesting wine from Altamura. We should have tasted next to a more recent vintage for context. Deep garnet color, with a bit of tawny showing on the edges. Peculiar aroma - something earthy, like wet hay or mushrooms. But tastes were good and distinctive - really nice with a light pasta with prosciutto. Sweet fruits, raisins, plumbs - smooth. We love the Altamura character across his wines. Fun. Drink sooner rather than later.
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No signs of age, this is not secondary at all. Even though I am missing the identity- which can be common with new world Sangiovese - this has lovely red and blue fruit, with a touch of rose petal and fresh coffee. A medium finish. Drink now - 2022.
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Black fruit and cassis notes, and as with the previous wine, a bit of heat too. Dark fruit and brown sugar flavors on the palate. Guessed Napa Cab Sauv blend.
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Lush and hedonistic with loads of ripe red fruit exploding from the glass- cherry, raspberry, plum and spice notes. Full-bodied with softened tannins and plenty of fruit. Ripe red fruit, currant and spice flavors with a lengthy finish.
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Frank and Karen Altamura have a little treasure trove for Sangiovese over in Wooden Valley. Minimalist style, with more spice than fruit. Dried plums, cherry and cedar. Aging well with good colour for an 05.
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I was a bit worried about this wine reading the tasting notes over the last 6 months so I decided to move it up in the queue for the next Italian dinner. Nothing to worry about after all, thankfully. Color is still fairly dark for a Sangiovese and not seeing the brick color around the rim yet. Aroma is stewed fruit and dark plum with sweet cherry and mild cedar notes. The attack is dominated by sweet cherry which transitions to cigar ending in prominent tobacco and tar. Finish is slightly dry by not distracting. Nice wine with the meal.
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I thought the same as the last few comments, but after 3 hours it finally cam around. It tasted ripe, hot from the alcohol, with just fruit as its leading positive attribute. It then settled in and gave us more of that leather, cherry, tobacco and earthy minerality that Sangiovese is known for.
Color: deep red to garnet red edges
Nose: Tobacco, leather, cherry, earth, oak,
Palate: Ripe fruit up front fans out and mellows to reveal cherry, pomegranite and raspberry. Tannins are silky and the acidity could be better but overall not bad.
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A good wine. Only possible downside was it was maybe slightly aggressive on the palate, as in having a bit more bitterness and acid than I expected - so not seeming fully balanced. But importantly, everyone who tried it tonight wanted more.
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Dinner With Denyce (Fabio's NYC): Was juggling between glasses and only had a quick taste of this one. Rich nose of cherry and red currant. Similary palate. Medium high tannin and acidity.
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Like a previous reviewer I had a hard time knowing what to make of this one too. I had a bottle of this previously and it was so aromatic you could practically smell it from another room. This one was just the opposite. It was bashful and didn't reveal much on the nose.
The palate was another story. Very ripe, almost pruney or raisiny at times, but stops short of going off in the weeds. Chocolate covered cherries, dark brooding fruit. Non-sour. Sweet soft tannins. A little unbalanced perhaps. I dunno- I don't want to like it, but I do like some things about it. Probably wouldn't buy again unless it was some closeout under $30 (I think I paid $45).
Nice looking package, but the bottle's height made it hard to fit in my wine refrigerator in a standard location.
Classic Sangiovese. Beautiful dark maroon color with concentrated fruit flavors, but not too big. Currant; more of an old world wine. Great tannins and a long spicy finish. Well structured. This is better than I would have expected from a California Sangiovese. Probably drank this two years too early.
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Dark color, berries and plums evident. Great fruity nose. Extremely smooth tannins make this an incredible old world-style Sangiovese. This is a small, fascinating winery, making elegant Sangiovese in the Wooden Valley of Napa, CA.
Incredible wine...may be even better with age.
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8/9/2020 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow, in a perfect spot right now !!! The cork was perfect after almost 15 years in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Popped and poured showing varietally accurate tawney dark fruit on the first day. On day two, the wine had softened with increased depth and integrated complexity with tawny carmel notes. Very dark purple color with a touch of oxidation noted on the edges, clarity medium. Aromas of plum, mushroom, and forest floor. Flavors of black plum, cola, mission fig, and raspberry framboise. A medium to long finish on this flavorful Sangiovese. This wine was delicious upon release and still has a few more years of life left. A wonderful expression of Wooden Valley volcanic soils that has aged well, I wish I had more !!
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11/24/2019 - VinoViking Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another unique and interesting wine from Altamura. We should have tasted next to a more recent vintage for context. Deep garnet color, with a bit of tawny showing on the edges. Peculiar aroma - something earthy, like wet hay or mushrooms. But tastes were good and distinctive - really nice with a light pasta with prosciutto. Sweet fruits, raisins, plumbs - smooth. We love the Altamura character across his wines. Fun. Drink sooner rather than later.
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3/19/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 90 Points
No signs of age, this is not secondary at all. Even though I am missing the identity- which can be common with new world Sangiovese - this has lovely red and blue fruit, with a touch of rose petal and fresh coffee. A medium finish. Drink now - 2022.
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10/22/2016 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Black fruit and cassis notes, and as with the previous wine, a bit of heat too. Dark fruit and brown sugar flavors on the palate. Guessed Napa Cab Sauv blend.
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11/2/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 91 Points
Gourmet IV opened by Allred. Dusty cherry notes with some mocha and spice.
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11/2/2013 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Lush and hedonistic with loads of ripe red fruit exploding from the glass- cherry, raspberry, plum and spice notes. Full-bodied with softened tannins and plenty of fruit. Ripe red fruit, currant and spice flavors with a lengthy finish.
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4/13/2013 - jkvedar wrote: 93 Points
Unusually full-bodied for a Sangiovese. Paired well with a homemade vegetarian pizza!
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2/25/2013 - eschaefer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Frank and Karen Altamura have a little treasure trove for Sangiovese over in Wooden Valley. Minimalist style, with more spice than fruit. Dried plums, cherry and cedar. Aging well with good colour for an 05.
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2/2/2013 - brigcampbell wrote:
I was a bit worried about this wine reading the tasting notes over the last 6 months so I decided to move it up in the queue for the next Italian dinner. Nothing to worry about after all, thankfully. Color is still fairly dark for a Sangiovese and not seeing the brick color around the rim yet. Aroma is stewed fruit and dark plum with sweet cherry and mild cedar notes. The attack is dominated by sweet cherry which transitions to cigar ending in prominent tobacco and tar. Finish is slightly dry by not distracting. Nice wine with the meal.
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12/15/2012 - hongjiu Likes this wine: 89 Points
Family favorite, still drinking nicely.
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7/7/2012 - flurgtron wrote: 91 Points
Plums, cherries, leather, tobacco, smoke in layers. Held up for hours. Paired beautifully with ribeye. Excellent!
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1/19/2012 - kingboo wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful.
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12/5/2011 - jackiefeld wrote:
tom 2011
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10/9/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 90 Points
I thought the same as the last few comments, but after 3 hours it finally cam around. It tasted ripe, hot from the alcohol, with just fruit as its leading positive attribute. It then settled in and gave us more of that leather, cherry, tobacco and earthy minerality that Sangiovese is known for.
Color: deep red to garnet red edges
Nose: Tobacco, leather, cherry, earth, oak,
Palate: Ripe fruit up front fans out and mellows to reveal cherry, pomegranite and raspberry. Tannins are silky and the acidity could be better but overall not bad.
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9/18/2011 - Cancuk wrote: 89 Points
Still lots of fruit but the alcohol is starting to show. Drink now.
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6/30/2011 - Wamrod wrote: 89 Points
A good wine. Only possible downside was it was maybe slightly aggressive on the palate, as in having a bit more bitterness and acid than I expected - so not seeming fully balanced. But importantly, everyone who tried it tonight wanted more.
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8/6/2010 - amgryger wrote:
Dinner With Denyce (Fabio's NYC): Was juggling between glasses and only had a quick taste of this one. Rich nose of cherry and red currant. Similary palate. Medium high tannin and acidity.
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7/9/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote: 88 Points
Like a previous reviewer I had a hard time knowing what to make of this one too. I had a bottle of this previously and it was so aromatic you could practically smell it from another room. This one was just the opposite. It was bashful and didn't reveal much on the nose.
The palate was another story. Very ripe, almost pruney or raisiny at times, but stops short of going off in the weeds. Chocolate covered cherries, dark brooding fruit. Non-sour. Sweet soft tannins. A little unbalanced perhaps. I dunno- I don't want to like it, but I do like some things about it. Probably wouldn't buy again unless it was some closeout under $30 (I think I paid $45).
Nice looking package, but the bottle's height made it hard to fit in my wine refrigerator in a standard location.
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9/21/2009 - jtt300 wrote: 90 Points
Nice cherry flavors
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8/4/2009 - Bchimenti wrote: 85 Points
Not a fan. Guess i'm not a Sangiovese guy.
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2/21/2009 - Mintex wrote: 90 Points
Classic Sangiovese. Beautiful dark maroon color with concentrated fruit flavors, but not too big. Currant; more of an old world wine. Great tannins and a long spicy finish. Well structured. This is better than I would have expected from a California Sangiovese. Probably drank this two years too early.
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1/25/2009 - tacman wrote: 90 Points
I think I have found my next pizza wine! Bright cherry flavours, smooth and enjoyable. A hint of leather on the finish.
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8/8/2008 - jackiefeld wrote: 96 Points
Dark color, berries and plums evident. Great fruity nose.
Extremely smooth tannins make this an incredible old world-style Sangiovese.
This is a small, fascinating winery, making elegant Sangiovese in the Wooden Valley of Napa, CA.
Incredible wine...may be even better with age.
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