shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate the end of the work week. selected this bottle because drink latest date had expired. seems that i don't like this wine as much as others do. i have to work hard to find its charms. this was a 375. rather flat overall. not off but also nothing memorable. just a hint of fruit after a few minutes of air. i have also had other disappointing wines from this producer. drink up.
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Robe grenat au disque orangé, le in est d'une belle limpidité. Son nez explose de nuances, allant d'épices, aux baies, aux fruits séchés, au café, au chocolat. Grande complexité qui nous donne beaucoup de plaisir. En bouche l'acidité rend le vin coulant, les tanins sont soyeux, une légère touche d'amertume structure le tout. Le vin pourrait encore se conserver, mais sur 2 bouteilles bues, il est maintenant à son meilleur.
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maybe my expectations were low, but this wine is still holding up really well. dark in the glass; pleasant red fruit with really nice earthy undertones on the nose and the flavors were consistent with that. but even with the strong earthy flavors the wine was still vibrant on the palate and the mouthfeel was great. medium bodied, fruit forward, well balanced.
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Started out bold and complex both on the nose and the palate, but fell off fairly quickly and lost a lot of its balance. Did not fare well the next day, even under gas (which is unusual).
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Some aromas of blackberry. Full-bodied with a nice mouthfeel. This is a food wine for sure. Drank my last 2 2006. Looking forward to the 2007 with the addition of some cabernet sauvignon.
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Cool and minty overtones above the black fruit (cherries and currants). Completely integrated tannins; oak consumed by the fruit to strike a lovely balance. Very nice; excellent food wine. (In this case, lamb slow-cooked with 40 cloves of garlic). Drink 'em up (I did) though the wine could probably go another year or even two.
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Enjoyed with beef lasagna. Needed aeration into a decanter to come alive- no real degredation in color although starting to throw some sediment. Herbal (thyme / sage), black cherry & a fair amount of oak (didn't bother me but my wife noticed) on nose. On palate, medium body, smoke, black cherry, some sour cherry, medium+ acids & medium length finish. Still drinking well and I would not be in a rush. 90+ (at $30 not a re-buy).
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Deep dark red, pleasant nose with dark fruits, smooth drinking, a bit dry and some oakyness, earthy tone, mineral, black cherry, a touch of plum, dark chocolate, good finish like expresso. I like it.
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Pnp w/45 min decant. Clear with some very minor bottom sediment. Deep ruby red color w/nice & proper nose. Perfect drinking window, great balance packing good mix of black/red fruit. Definately not over the top, a great bottle, nothing off, $30.
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I continue to be amazed at how much my palate has changed. I don't bother to rate wine anymore, but to think that I scored this wine a 90 as little as two years ago is amazing. I drink this now and it does nothing for me. Doesn't taste like Italy. It tastes like ripe fruit and oak, lots of oak. Have poured so many of my earlier purchases down the drain.
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This is really a nice wine. It is getting better as it ages. The wine is dry but with a great array of fruit (particularly cherry for me) and excellent tannin balance. I enjoyed the oak overtones. Glad I have a few more bottles.
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When Bob popped this it really smelled like lamb and green pepper. Bitter oak on the palate with cranberry, toast and cassis. Not really my style, way too much oak.
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In the groove now (finally). Lovely crimson color, deep red fruits, nice balance of acid and fruit with well-intregrated tannins. The sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon are dancing well together at this point. Delicious.
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Drank w/family at David & Lisa's for X-Mas Eve dinner. PnP, then let breathe for 2+ hrs. Rich, opulent, dry & full-bodied (which became more pronounced as it sat in the glass), nicely balanced acidity, tannins a bit firm that could use a little more time in bottle to fully integrate, and a lingering finish. Notable black cherry, red berry fruit, vanilla, oak & touch of licorice. Well received by most at dinner, w/few finding it a bit too dry later in the evening. This will drink well for another 3-5 years, and/or decant for at least 2 hours before drinking.
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Sadly my last. Should've bought a case of 350ml's when this went on sale at Wine Library. Nose: tart cranberry, cherry, strawberry with a sweet-smelling touch of vanilla. Tastes a lot like it smells. Lots of mouth-watering acidity with delicious red fruit and ripe tannin. Good stuff.
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This wasn't terrible. And since I was expecting that it might be, it was a pleasant surprise. Too much oak, but not so much as to totally mask a pretty pleasant, if heavy, Cab that really tastes like Tuscany instead of California.
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From 375ml. a nice drink. Dried herbs, pepper, berry fruit, tar, leather. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to med plus finish. I liked this. Nice drink with herbed grilled chicken and green bean casserole. Given this is from a 375 i think a standard bottle would certainly have a few years life in it. Drink by 2015 is my guess.
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Was clearly better than the last bottle about a year ago. The nose was more expressive and the lenght extended. Time to drink now. The pairing with "Côtelette de veau grillée et champignons de saison" was absolutely perfect.
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I opened and let breath for an hour. Nose is very fruit forward, with some mossy undertones. Taste followed, with cherry & plum and light tannins. Medium finish, which complimented the cheese plate we had with it. Very happy with this wine.
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dark cherry color. Nose of dark red fruit; Black cherries, plum currants. Medium weigh body with nice mouthfeel. Good fruit flavor with smooth tannins, and decent but not outstanding finish. Merlot component seems to round out the sangiovese nicely. Paired well with braised short ribs.
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Dark, earthy, tannic. Nice weight, nice balance and well made, but still needs more time sideways. I've had four of these puppies over the past couple of years or so, and they always seem too young. Another year?
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Clear medium intensity darker cherry core with a light cherry/brickish rim, legs quick to form and stain the glass. Earthy clean nose with some leather, oak and ripe cherry. Med acidity and med + soft tannin, Med body and alcohol with good length. Well balanced and drinking wonderfully
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decanted this bottle 30 minutes and it made a huge difference - cherry, rasberry, cedar, leather all carry from the nose through the taste, which added a touch of earthiness - perfect 375 at a great price- everything was in balance
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Was served too warm at a wine bar and perhaps a longer decant would have helped as well, still, after the excellent 2007 Crognolo I had last year, this was disappointing. The sangiovese dominated palate is rather rough, with dry tannins and excessively high acidity, and while the balance improved slightly towards the end it still tasted disjoint. The 2004 Haut Bailly following this bottle was like night and day
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Very nice wine. Popped and poured, pretty tight at first though great notes of red cherry,strawberry, red plum, pencil lead and leather jumped out. After an hour it really opened up and realease even more lovely aromatics of spice and smooth tannins.
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took a fair bit longer to open than the last bottle, but once it did...mmm. Very well balanced with some ripe red fruit, a touch of cedar and some white pepper. dry smooth tannins on the finish. even better with dinner. Good Value at $25.
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Strong red Tuscan Sangiovese based red. I opened the bottle 2 hours before tasting. Aromas typical of Sangiovese, bright cherry and dark plum. Slightly closed flavor of the same fruit, however, after another hour and even more so the next day, the palette expanded with a nice round fruit and vanilla oak finish. Can easily detect the luscious Cabernet tannins on the palette. nice spice on the back of the throat.
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WOTN for some. I find this a little dark, but it is tasty. Fruit is still somewhat backward, though the tannins continue to integrate nicely. Best with food. An excellent superTuscan but not an outstanding one.
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Soft aromas of cherry and plum. Similar flavors on the palate. Very easy to drink with moderate tannins. Nothing spectacular, still an ok wine, but not a good qpr. ($20)
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Beau nez de sous-bois avec un peu de cèdre et de champignons. Acidité très présente en bouche avec un peu de kirsh. Meilleur après 2 heures et avec de la nourriture. Pourra sûrement vieillir mais tout simplement pas mon style.
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Glistening crimson in the glass, red fruit in the nose. This wine has evolved remarkably in the five months since I last tried a bottle and is now approaching the score accorded it by WS: lovely weight, nice balance of fruit and acidity, the natural tartness of the sangiovese grape softened and rounded by the cabernet sauvignon. Very popular at the table with six on the bottle, sipping slowly with lamb stew. Day two: very little on the nose, a little sweeter than yesterday and a little dustier as well, in that the tannins are more assertive. It tastes as though the sangiovese, at 70%, is becoming more dominant and the Cabernet sauvignon is receding beyond what one might expect from its 30% share. I'm having this glass a couple of hours post-pizza, and will say that this wine absolutely needs to accompany a meal, at least at this stage. Will the bottles improve with more time? I'm sceptical....
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From a 375ml - Opened for a friend with dinner...nose was complex and offered a depth that the previous bottle seemed to be missing. I think this could be something special in another year or more. Next bottle should be pushing the outstanding range...I'll check back in 2011
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Decanted for ~ 1.5 hours before dinner (spaghetti w/ meat sauce). Dark red color. Nice aromatics (blackberry, cassis, tobacco, touch of rosemary). Medium bodied wine with medium plus finish (nice drying tannins on the finish). Good new / old world blend. Palate consistent iwth nose with nice herbal (rosemary / sage) elements on the finish - excellent with food. 90-92.
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Popped and ran through a vinturi. Dark crimson color in the glass. Really beautiful nose of roasted plum, dark cherry, perfume, a touch of bitter chocolate, some bloody meat, green pepper and dried herbs in the glass. Really quite intoxicating and the nose continued to evolve as the wine opened up in the glass. More of the same on the palate with ripe, lush red fruit mixed with earthy, savory meat flavors, minerality, and a touch of spice on the back end. Strong acid, firm yet balanced tannins, smooth mouthfeel and a long finish. Wish I would have bought more.
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From a 375ml - I think it's safe to say that this is not only a solid wine...it will continue to improve. This is just on the cusp of becoming something outstanding and I would imagine that with another year in the bottle it will finally be there...I have three left but as good as this is it will be hard to keep my hands off this.
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Wow some serious funkiness when first opening. Not even "barnyard" but backed up septic tank. This sulfur blows off real quickly and you get some nice pure black-cherry on the nose. On the palate there is some nice acidity and dark cherry with some chocolate. The back-end has some significant tannins with a moderate lengthy finish. A very nice wine with red sauce.
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Dark ruby, edging towards purple. Needs just a little bit of air to come together, then shows a fairly typical sangiovese perfume. Well-balanced tannins and acidity on the palate, with red cherries up front and some baker's chocolate in the background. Medium length finish. Drank the last glass 4 hours after opening and the fruit had faded significantly. I'll drink my remaining bottles over the next 3 years.
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a 375 enjoyed with the wife so only could review based on 1 glass - went very will with grilled pizza-prosciutto topped- really an ideal wine in 375 format some nice cherry on the nose and a little with a hint of cocoa - carried a little earthyness and cherry with a touch of pencil shaving- enjoyed this an was really at 88 but the last few sips it seemed to be opening up a little more-have more bottles and will give some more air time- great food wine
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WSET Level 3 Week 8 Central & South Italy (Downtown Vancouver [AI School]): Clear, Med+ to Deep Ruby, Showing Legs A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Youthful but starting to slow small development. Hightone notes, Cherry, Earth, Dried Herbs, Coffee, Licorice T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med body, med alc, med+ intensity, Long finish. Dark-Cherry, Chocolate, Licorice Conclusion, very good, mid price, can develop further, 5-7yrs
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Opened for an hour or two before drinking with salmon, asparagus, and roasted vegetables. I wanted to like this better: a well-made, new-world, Bordeaux-ish wine, but the fruit is very subdued, and it lacks a component of richness that should be present, or so I would hope. Will try again next year.
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would have guess sonoma cab blind, not huge fruit but a new world style not overdone though, a little harsh veggie acidic thing, red fruit, cherry, lead, good some quality showing, but not doing it for me
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Decanted and started drinking after about 25 minutes. The wine started out with great cherry fruit on the nose, and on the palate bing cherry (some tartness) and a lot of minerality, with a pretty tannic finish. After about an hour in the glass/decanter, this started to smooth out - the tannins and minerality started to mellow out. The mouthfeel and finish on this wine was great for $20.
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[Restaurant purchase] Decanted for 45 mins. Deep ruby red. Big, bold brooding nose of dark cherries, smoke, wood. Mouth-filling palette, earthy-woodsy fruit, assertive but fine tannins, lingering finish with just enough acidic freshness. A great match with beef tenderloin in Madeira jus.
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COLOR: Deep ruby with only hints of brick. NOSE: I love the serious sangiovese power. TASTE: Nice and minerally, deep, rich and complex. Still early for a 375mL, so I plan to put this away for awhile longer. RATING: 92.
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375ml - ruby red - nice fruit forward nose that evolved over several hours with ripe red fruit, leather and baking spice - tart cherry, graphite, dark chocolate - opened up with decant - drying tannins - EtOH controlled - med body and med acid (wish both where a touch more) - overall an enjoyable bottle of wine
Excellent Tuscan wine: Nose of juicy red fruits; ripe strawberries with fresh cran-raspberry aromas. Secondary notes of flowers, subdued earth and leather saddle. The nose is generous and pretty. The same fruits are present in the flavor profile as well as some nice floral notes with a dollop of sweet cinnamon. Deep Tuscan terroir and iron minerals for secondary flavors. Great length to the finish. This is a well structured wine with well integrated tannins and everything is in balance.
popped and decanted 3 hrs. nice cedar nose. very mellow and soft with typical sangiovese character. some chocolate and oak wit hint of bell pepper. balanced. the decant really helped based on my last 2 tries with this wine. was a crowd pleaser especially wit nice italian dinner!
Popped and poured a 375 ml bottle and drank with Pasta dinner. this bottle was my favorite of the 4 bottles that I have had. Deep Dark color, Dark fruit that was more open than I have previously remembered. Still had some strong tannins, so a decant or time sideways would be a help, but it definitely starting to come around. Great Mouthfeel...Paired well with the pasta. I would definitely rebuy. A winner at <$10 I paid at WL...
Pretty good. For 9.98 nice qpr. A little tight on the nose but on palate get dark fruit and some dark chocolate notes. still firm tannins so may have more age than through 2011. i'd decant for an hour+. Bet this woudl be better on day 2 but these 375ml's don't last that long.
Only had one glass, needed the rest for cooking. Same as last time, a good value for a Tuscan blend but needs some time, tight on the PnP with firm tannins.
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Still a very nice bottle but considerably tighter than I remember. This could have done well with a good-length decant. Not at its prime on the pop-and-pour.
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Used half of the 375ml for cooking and recorked the rest. Opened 4 days later. Huge nose. Could smell it in the glass from half way across the room. Nice red fruit profile with a dry, earthy finish. This has a long life ahead of it considering how well it held up over 4 days.
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PnP was tight, gave it about an hour to open up. Nose and taste of tuscan wine, I get the sangiovese right away but the merlot in the blend gives it some body. Red fruit, nice acid, and strong tannins. This wine needs some time to really show itself, 88+
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Mrs. Coupe had popped a 375ml before I got home. Was open in bottle for abour 45 minutes, then poured into my eische breathable glass. Wine needs air and time. Red fruit with a nice mouthfeel. Wine has nice acidity, still strong tannins and nice structure to it. I think this gets better with age, but right now is a solid 88...
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On the pop-and-pour through the vinturi the wine was a little tight. Tannins not overwhelming and overall a solid 84pt wine. But a good 30-45 minutes open this wine started coming to life. Very pretty nose of almost bubble-gummy mix of red/dark fruit with some floral notes. A similar story on the palate, but definitely not candy-esque. Fine-grained tannins leave a satisfying finish on an excellent QPR for 10-dollar half-bottle.
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On initial pour, healthy dose of tuscan roast meats over subtle oak. Definite tuscan nose, but with a little air the meat subsides, and a real menthol note stes in, as in Vicks Vapo-Rub. Pretty tight nose overall
Well rounded and balanced palate. Still tight and young, but great cherry fruit and acidity to match, and loads of tannins. Oak is nicely integrated on the palate, and some of the roast meats make a slight return.
Decent length on the finish, but primarily acid, alcohol and tannins. All in all quite enjoyable.
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Great from start to finish. Have tried it several times with family and friends and every single one of them loved it. Silky mouthfeel, great flavor and elegant finish. An exceptional wine!
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Popped and pured from a 375. Good stuff. Open, accessible and fruit forward, with some nice balancing mushroom and earthy notes. The plummy character from the merlot really shines through, but is offset by good Sangiovese acidity and cherry aromatics. Some thick tannin on the back end, but it's not bitter and doesn't really detract. Long and structured, too. 91+.
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first bottle, was worried about a protruding cork so gave it a test. Obviously young, but the tannins were approachable, the fruit flavors bold, and the acidity in balance. In another 1-2 years this will be ready. VGOOD
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Dark purple color. Nose actually deteriorated with time. Initially, I found the nose very attractive; two hours after opening, the nose had a menthol component and a hot alcohol scent that reminded me of some bad hotel house wines I've experienced. On the palate, the wine was consistently good. Cherry on palate and an agreeable long finish that shows some wood. Approachable, but still some tannins. I liked the wine, my wife did not.
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From a 375ml. Decanted for 45 mins. Wonderful nose of dark cherries, earth, leather and herbs. The palate was not as good as the nose but was a good mix of cherry, cranberry and herbs. Nice mouthfeel with a long, dry finish with some dusty tannins. This should improve with age.
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Decanted for 2 hours before drinking. Deep plum color with dusty nose, cranberry and dark fruit with some smoky meat on the palate, strong tannins indicate it can last a few more years. Definitely decant to enjoy now.
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I had this with Thanksgiving dinner and it was extremely nice, flavorful and dry. Black currant, tasty oak, licorice, and berries are abundant with smooth tannins. Decanted for about 1 hour before drinking. This has still got some time to age and enjoy - perhaps 3-4 years.
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Dark ruby red color. Started out very tight with only a half hour in decanter but after about an hour of air aromas of ripe strawberry, rose petal, red licorice and spiced cookie emerged. On the palate it showed blackberry and cherry with orange rind and a little bit of oak showing through. All of this was carried by a balanced acidity that kept it all very food friendly.
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Got 6 375 mL bottles of this to drink while I'm waiting for my bottles of Setti Ponti Oreno to age. Glad I did. This is a lovely wine itself. A little tight now as you would expect, but it opens up. Certainly this has short to mid-term aging potential, but I don't think one needs feel like the baby killer popping one of these now. The nose is black cherries and a scent that is not exactly like but reminscent of menthol. Maybe pine is closer. Some wood and alcohol evident on the nose as well. The fruit is dark and ripe. Plums come to mind. Super ripe tannins, medium plus acid, full body and great polish. Medium length finish. There is room for improvement here as the elements of this wine integrate over time.
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came home and Mrs. Coupe had opened a bottle....far far too early...a little leather, a little red fruit...some good acidity and some big time tannins which left it a little rough...Needs more time
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I had a very different reaction to this wine than others. I was looking for a dryer wine. I found this a less dry (not sweet) wine. I did not find the tannins too much. Bought from PLCB on Chairman's Selection for 19.99 plus tax.
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Opened, decanted for an hour. Deep plum color. Floral nose with hints of chocolate and cranberry. Initially a tannic beast, but softened a bit with air. Dark fruit and cedar dominate the palate, with a definite alcohol note. Enough structure to last for a few years and it could probably use the time. Very dry, gripping finish, fruit fades quickly leaving heat and tannins behind. Will probably buy a few more at $20 a bottle, expecting better things in 3-5 years.
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dark plum in color...Pretty nice nose with some floral notes, baked berries and a touch of herbs..Palate: Cranberries galore along with herbs and a hint of meat..Very nice but the tannins are grippy and this could use some more time to settle down..Still very nice especially for the price..I bought these in Pa for 19.99...At that price point I had to buy a case {6}...If you live in PA get yourself some...enjoy!!
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Dark plum color, nice body, but lacking something in taste - not quite as heavy as what I expected; tasted a bit green; would probably cellar if I bought more bottles. Not up to the WS 92 rating.
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From 375. Nat cork. Very dark in color - a blackish/purple. Dark plummy nose - bordeaux-like, but with a bit of heat. Tastes reminiscent of a bordeaux too with notes of tobacco, cedar, and earth. Quite a bit of tannin at this point too.
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Down to 1 of these, wish I had more, solid value Super-Tuscan, absolutely needs decanting, flat out of the bottle but opens up significantly with complex aromas.
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Baby killed this wine, but wanted to see where it is at. At this point it is monochromatic in its aromatics and palate, with dark black fruits and wood. Great texture and acidity in the mouth, with very accessible tannin. I think this will be a great wine but its going to need 3-5.
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Dark red/purple, opaque color. I couldn't decant this wine. Reduced berry sauce, with hintes of sage and meat. Full-bodied, with dark chocolate in the finish. This has lots of tannins, and would be better in a couple of years.
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Dusty fruit nose, mellow red cranberry color ala Chianti, musty fruit and strong tannins, marred by a little but of a closed palate -- hope it gives more of itself after some aging or decanting.
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Light red. A tight nose showing cherry and cocoa. Nice structure and lots of acidity. Very nice. One of my favorite IGTs. The 98 was great last summer. Expect this wine to improve for 7 or 8 years.
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This is good stuff now after 2 hrs aeration, just as 2 mos. ago--promises to be about as lush as they come for the money, black-fruited and tarry, shared w A&H, S&J,& L; a hit at the table.
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Opened this to try after reading JS's review in WS. Tight on nose out of bottle... aerated and decanted for 30 minutes...still tight...tight on palate, tannins are gripping, acidity is high....this is way to young....needs time. Maybe this went into a closed stage as it is not syncing with James review at all.....hold for a good year before trying again.
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4/29/2020 - aveeck wrote: 85 Points
Used in the chicken cacciatore - PERFECT!
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4/14/2020 - aveeck wrote: 79 Points
Well over the hill and likely only 87 points in its prime... Would've been a good picnic bottle!
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4/1/2017 - bacchus wrote: 87 Points
shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate the end of the work week. selected this bottle because drink latest date had expired. seems that i don't like this wine as much as others do. i have to work hard to find its charms. this was a 375. rather flat overall. not off but also nothing memorable. just a hint of fruit after a few minutes of air. i have also had other disappointing wines from this producer. drink up.
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5/28/2016 - Edv Likes this wine: 91 Points
Robe grenat au disque orangé, le in est d'une belle limpidité. Son nez explose de nuances, allant d'épices, aux baies, aux fruits séchés, au café, au chocolat. Grande complexité qui nous donne beaucoup de plaisir. En bouche l'acidité rend le vin coulant, les tanins sont soyeux, une légère touche d'amertume structure le tout. Le vin pourrait encore se conserver, mais sur 2 bouteilles bues, il est maintenant à son meilleur.
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1/22/2016 - bularry Likes this wine: 91 Points
maybe my expectations were low, but this wine is still holding up really well. dark in the glass; pleasant red fruit with really nice earthy undertones on the nose and the flavors were consistent with that. but even with the strong earthy flavors the wine was still vibrant on the palate and the mouthfeel was great. medium bodied, fruit forward, well balanced.
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2/21/2015 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pleasant wine to open for any occasion, but a little big alcohol to drink on its own, really would have been better with food.
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7/14/2014 - Davidsquamous wrote: 87 Points
Slight mint and astringency enough fruit to compensate
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5/22/2014 - SeattlePaul wrote: 89 Points
Started out bold and complex both on the nose and the palate, but fell off fairly quickly and lost a lot of its balance. Did not fare well the next day, even under gas (which is unusual).
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1/1/2014 - Wine Poor wrote: 89 Points
Some aromas of blackberry. Full-bodied with a nice mouthfeel. This is a food wine for sure. Drank my last 2 2006. Looking forward to the 2007 with the addition of some cabernet sauvignon.
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1/1/2014 - Wine Poor wrote: 89 Points
A good match with Italian food.
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12/31/2013 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Cool and minty overtones above the black fruit (cherries and currants). Completely integrated tannins; oak consumed by the fruit to strike a lovely balance. Very nice; excellent food wine. (In this case, lamb slow-cooked with 40 cloves of garlic). Drink 'em up (I did) though the wine could probably go another year or even two.
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8/29/2013 - sraders Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ready to drink. Great dinner wine with a lot of character.
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7/9/2013 - CWilliam wrote:
Enjoyed with beef lasagna. Needed aeration into a decanter to come alive- no real degredation in color although starting to throw some sediment. Herbal (thyme / sage), black cherry & a fair amount of oak (didn't bother me but my wife noticed) on nose. On palate, medium body, smoke, black cherry, some sour cherry, medium+ acids & medium length finish. Still drinking well and I would not be in a rush. 90+ (at $30 not a re-buy).
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2/17/2013 - pwarms Likes this wine:
Enjoyed with the awesome Sugo Sunday at Modo Mio, Philadelphia
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2/8/2013 - Hawk94 wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark red, pleasant nose with dark fruits, smooth drinking, a bit dry and some oakyness, earthy tone, mineral, black cherry, a touch of plum, dark chocolate, good finish like expresso. I like it.
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2/5/2013 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pnp w/45 min decant. Clear with some very minor bottom sediment. Deep ruby red color w/nice & proper nose. Perfect drinking window, great balance packing good mix of black/red fruit. Definately not over the top, a great bottle, nothing off, $30.
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9/6/2012 - jahlove wrote:
I continue to be amazed at how much my palate has changed. I don't bother to rate wine anymore, but to think that I scored this wine a 90 as little as two years ago is amazing. I drink this now and it does nothing for me. Doesn't taste like Italy. It tastes like ripe fruit and oak, lots of oak. Have poured so many of my earlier purchases down the drain.
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9/1/2012 - benny wrote: 91 Points
This wine is now in a good place. Drank too early before.
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6/27/2012 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic blend...my crew of four loved it. Big expressive fruit and smooth tanins. Outstanding.
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6/16/2012 - millesime66 wrote: 90 Points
Bien qu'encore un peu jeune, ce toscan est gourmand et long en bouche avec un bel équilibre.
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6/13/2012 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
RussK at the Victorian Inn in VT. Nice nose of black cherry, sangio and China cabinet. Mouth soft med-full bodied, integrated tannins. 91-
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6/6/2012 - audicfa wrote: 89 Points
Oldest daughter (9) - smells like dying flowers, butterfly bush, gym socks, cherries, stinky cheese
2nd daughter (7) - smells like burps
Me (45) - cherries, wet stones, iodine, licorice. Medium body, very acidic
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5/24/2012 - Wine Poor wrote: 88 Points
A good balance of acid and fruit with dry tannins. Definitely a food wine.
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5/8/2012 - David J Cooper wrote: 88 Points
Dark medium red. A soft tight nose of black cherry, earth and mineral but very tight. Nice black cherry flavours and a mid weight fairly soft finish.
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4/11/2012 - sraders wrote: 91 Points
This is really a nice wine. It is getting better as it ages. The wine is dry but with a great array of fruit (particularly cherry for me) and excellent tannin balance. I enjoyed the oak overtones. Glad I have a few more bottles.
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4/1/2012 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 86 Points
When Bob popped this it really smelled like lamb and green pepper. Bitter oak on the palate with cranberry, toast and cassis. Not really my style, way too much oak.
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2/28/2012 - benny wrote: 89 Points
Lost power quite fast. I would drink now.
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1/30/2012 - KVM wrote:
Enjoyed this at Neil house. Lots of fresh fruit in an Italian framework. Drink now or age until 2014
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12/26/2011 - prism wrote: 91 Points
In the groove now (finally). Lovely crimson color, deep red fruits, nice balance of acid and fruit with well-intregrated tannins. The sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon are dancing well together at this point. Delicious.
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12/24/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 91 Points
Drank w/family at David & Lisa's for X-Mas Eve dinner. PnP, then let breathe for 2+ hrs. Rich, opulent, dry & full-bodied (which became more pronounced as it sat in the glass), nicely balanced acidity, tannins a bit firm that could use a little more time in bottle to fully integrate, and a lingering finish. Notable black cherry, red berry fruit, vanilla, oak & touch of licorice. Well received by most at dinner, w/few finding it a bit too dry later in the evening. This will drink well for another 3-5 years, and/or decant for at least 2 hours before drinking.
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12/18/2011 - KSWinegeek wrote: 91 Points
Balanced. Drinking very nicely right now.
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12/11/2011 - DRod wrote: 90 Points
Sadly my last. Should've bought a case of 350ml's when this went on sale at Wine Library. Nose: tart cranberry, cherry, strawberry with a sweet-smelling touch of vanilla. Tastes a lot like it smells. Lots of mouth-watering acidity with delicious red fruit and ripe tannin. Good stuff.
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11/26/2011 - Bella27 wrote: 89 Points
This one might be a little past its prime at this point, but still a solid Tuscan.
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11/12/2011 - Gingersnail wrote: 90 Points
a stellar entry level SuperTuscan.
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11/10/2011 - Cellar Hand Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same as the first time I tried it. Wonderful! See my prior tasting note.
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10/30/2011 - herberto wrote: 89 Points
This wasn't terrible. And since I was expecting that it might be, it was a pleasant surprise. Too much oak, but not so much as to totally mask a pretty pleasant, if heavy, Cab that really tastes like Tuscany instead of California.
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9/28/2011 - Sakas Likes this wine: 89 Points
From 375ml. a nice drink. Dried herbs, pepper, berry fruit, tar, leather. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to med plus finish. I liked this. Nice drink with herbed grilled chicken and green bean casserole. Given this is from a 375 i think a standard bottle would certainly have a few years life in it. Drink by 2015 is my guess.
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9/25/2011 - carlturcotte wrote: 90 Points
Was clearly better than the last bottle about a year ago. The nose was more expressive and the lenght extended. Time to drink now. The pairing with "Côtelette de veau grillée et champignons de saison" was absolutely perfect.
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9/3/2011 - benny wrote: 89 Points
Great nose an OK drink.
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8/28/2011 - Kirk Grant wrote: 88 Points
from a 375ml: Opaque in color. International style. Medium+ bpody, Med + fruit, med- acidity. Bold and forward in style...yet, no real sense of place.
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8/27/2011 - BSteffes wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful. Perfect right now. Everything is in check on the nose and carries its old world cherry onto the palate. Wish I had more.
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8/27/2011 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Dark color, earthy nose. Cherry and slight licorice flavors. Still young.
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8/20/2011 - Dont_panik wrote: 91 Points
I opened and let breath for an hour. Nose is very fruit forward, with some mossy undertones. Taste followed, with cherry & plum and light tannins. Medium finish, which complimented the cheese plate we had with it. Very happy with this wine.
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7/25/2011 - Rich S wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous bottle. Savory and ripe and delicious but not as complex as last time.
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7/3/2011 - wine n joy wrote: 92 Points
dark cherry color. Nose of dark red fruit; Black cherries, plum currants. Medium weigh body with nice mouthfeel. Good fruit flavor with smooth tannins, and decent but not outstanding finish. Merlot component seems to round out the sangiovese nicely. Paired well with braised short ribs.
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6/23/2011 - prism wrote: 90 Points
Dark, earthy, tannic. Nice weight, nice balance and well made, but still needs more time sideways. I've had four of these puppies over the past couple of years or so, and they always seem too young. Another year?
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6/11/2011 - Cellar Hand Likes this wine: 90 Points
Clear medium intensity darker cherry core with a light cherry/brickish rim, legs quick to form and stain the glass. Earthy clean nose with some leather, oak and ripe cherry. Med acidity and med + soft tannin, Med body and alcohol with good length. Well balanced and drinking wonderfully
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6/4/2011 - kahuna75 wrote: 90 Points
decanted this bottle 30 minutes and it made a huge difference - cherry, rasberry, cedar, leather all carry from the nose through the taste, which added a touch of earthiness - perfect 375 at a great price- everything was in balance
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4/23/2011 - pot20 wrote: 88 Points
Pas mal d'amplitude. Fruit rouge acidulé. Un excellent vin qui bien que carafé 1 hr. a commencer a se révéler a la fin du repas.
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4/6/2011 - meatman wrote:
PnP. This needs air, so I am not going to rate. The last sip 2 hrs later was definitely the best.
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3/31/2011 - pavel_p wrote: 87 Points
Was served too warm at a wine bar and perhaps a longer decant would have helped as well, still, after the excellent 2007 Crognolo I had last year, this was disappointing. The sangiovese dominated palate is rather rough, with dry tannins and excessively high acidity, and while the balance improved slightly towards the end it still tasted disjoint. The 2004 Haut Bailly following this bottle was like night and day
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3/29/2011 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with prior note - again, much better with airtime. More sour cherry noticeable with airtime. Better with food.
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3/24/2011 - johnnyo wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine. Popped and poured, pretty tight at first though great notes of red cherry,strawberry, red plum, pencil lead and leather jumped out. After an hour it really opened up and realease even more lovely aromatics of spice and smooth tannins.
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3/22/2011 - jbrater wrote: 89 Points
took a fair bit longer to open than the last bottle, but once it did...mmm. Very well balanced with some ripe red fruit, a touch of cedar and some white pepper. dry smooth tannins on the finish. even better with dinner. Good Value at $25.
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2/21/2011 - housewine37 wrote: 91 Points
Strong red Tuscan Sangiovese based red. I opened the bottle 2 hours before tasting. Aromas typical of Sangiovese, bright cherry and dark plum. Slightly closed flavor of the same fruit, however, after another hour and even more so the next day, the palette expanded with a nice round fruit and vanilla oak finish. Can easily detect the luscious Cabernet tannins on the palette. nice spice on the back of the throat.
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2/15/2011 - dlstrauss wrote: 89 Points
Needs at least a 2 hour decant to hit its stride. Nice long finish.
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2/15/2011 - KSWinegeek wrote: 91 Points
(375ml) - Improving with time. Lots of flavors including cherry and licorice. Still somewhat tannic.
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2/9/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 88 Points
similar comments to last time. maybe this needs some time? i vinturied some but not much impact
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2/4/2011 - prism wrote: 89 Points
WOTN for some. I find this a little dark, but it is tasty. Fruit is still somewhat backward, though the tannins continue to integrate nicely. Best with food. An excellent superTuscan but not an outstanding one.
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2/3/2011 - ecola wrote: 87 Points
Soft aromas of cherry and plum. Similar flavors on the palate. Very easy to drink with moderate tannins. Nothing spectacular, still an ok wine, but not a good qpr. ($20)
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12/28/2010 - Esteban wrote: 86 Points
Beau nez de sous-bois avec un peu de cèdre et de champignons. Acidité très présente en bouche avec un peu de kirsh. Meilleur après 2 heures et avec de la nourriture. Pourra sûrement vieillir mais tout simplement pas mon style.
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12/24/2010 - BigErn wrote: 90 Points
Better after the 3rd day.
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12/10/2010 - mrumilly wrote:
Needs more time
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11/7/2010 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Glistening crimson in the glass, red fruit in the nose. This wine has evolved remarkably in the five months since I last tried a bottle and is now approaching the score accorded it by WS: lovely weight, nice balance of fruit and acidity, the natural tartness of the sangiovese grape softened and rounded by the cabernet sauvignon. Very popular at the table with six on the bottle, sipping slowly with lamb stew. Day two: very little on the nose, a little sweeter than yesterday and a little dustier as well, in that the tannins are more assertive. It tastes as though the sangiovese, at 70%, is becoming more dominant and the Cabernet sauvignon is receding beyond what one might expect from its 30% share. I'm having this glass a couple of hours post-pizza, and will say that this wine absolutely needs to accompany a meal, at least at this stage. Will the bottles improve with more time? I'm sceptical....
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11/1/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 91 Points
Same as previous notes
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10/28/2010 - cpsmith33 wrote: 88 Points
nice fruits, very easy to drink. maybe too new world, i am not sure...lacked a little complexity that i was hoping for.
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10/1/2010 - Kirk Grant wrote: 89 Points
From a 375ml - Opened for a friend with dinner...nose was complex and offered a depth that the previous bottle seemed to be missing. I think this could be something special in another year or more. Next bottle should be pushing the outstanding range...I'll check back in 2011
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9/25/2010 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for ~ 1.5 hours before dinner (spaghetti w/ meat sauce). Dark red color. Nice aromatics (blackberry, cassis, tobacco, touch of rosemary). Medium bodied wine with medium plus finish (nice drying tannins on the finish). Good new / old world blend. Palate consistent iwth nose with nice herbal (rosemary / sage) elements on the finish - excellent with food. 90-92.
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9/20/2010 - Rich S wrote: 92 Points
Popped and ran through a vinturi. Dark crimson color in the glass. Really beautiful nose of roasted plum, dark cherry, perfume, a touch of bitter chocolate, some bloody meat, green pepper and dried herbs in the glass. Really quite intoxicating and the nose continued to evolve as the wine opened up in the glass. More of the same on the palate with ripe, lush red fruit mixed with earthy, savory meat flavors, minerality, and a touch of spice on the back end. Strong acid, firm yet balanced tannins, smooth mouthfeel and a long finish. Wish I would have bought more.
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9/18/2010 - dontime wrote: 89 Points
Took to PAWineTalk BYOB #11. Similar notes as before.
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8/31/2010 - dontime wrote: 89 Points
PNP. Similar notes as before. Should have taken my own advice and decanted.
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8/21/2010 - Kirk Grant wrote: 89 Points
From a 375ml - I think it's safe to say that this is not only a solid wine...it will continue to improve. This is just on the cusp of becoming something outstanding and I would imagine that with another year in the bottle it will finally be there...I have three left but as good as this is it will be hard to keep my hands off this.
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8/18/2010 - zeppo55 wrote: 88 Points
Wow some serious funkiness when first opening. Not even "barnyard" but backed up septic tank. This sulfur blows off real quickly and you get some nice pure black-cherry on the nose.
On the palate there is some nice acidity and dark cherry with some chocolate. The back-end has some significant tannins with a moderate lengthy finish.
A very nice wine with red sauce.
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8/1/2010 - EMTAME wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby, edging towards purple. Needs just a little bit of air to come together, then shows a fairly typical sangiovese perfume. Well-balanced tannins and acidity on the palate, with red cherries up front and some baker's chocolate in the background. Medium length finish. Drank the last glass 4 hours after opening and the fruit had faded significantly. I'll drink my remaining bottles over the next 3 years.
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7/26/2010 - chapel hill wino wrote:
VGOOD, a pleasant mix of earth, dark fruit, spice and structure. Balance isn't quite there yet.
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7/12/2010 - dtirsell wrote: 89 Points
Tannins calmed, a great value if you can find it.
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7/5/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 92 Points
Excellent wine as always.
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6/17/2010 - kahuna75 wrote: 89 Points
a 375 enjoyed with the wife so only could review based on 1 glass - went very will with grilled pizza-prosciutto topped- really an ideal wine in 375 format some nice cherry on the nose and a little with a hint of cocoa - carried a little earthyness and cherry with a touch of pencil shaving- enjoyed this an was really at 88 but the last few sips it seemed to be opening up a little more-have more bottles and will give some more air time- great food wine
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6/8/2010 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 89 Points
WSET Level 3 Week 8 Central & South Italy (Downtown Vancouver [AI School]): Clear, Med+ to Deep Ruby, Showing Legs
A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Youthful but starting to slow small development. Hightone notes, Cherry, Earth, Dried Herbs, Coffee, Licorice
T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med body, med alc, med+ intensity, Long finish. Dark-Cherry, Chocolate, Licorice
Conclusion, very good, mid price, can develop further, 5-7yrs
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6/5/2010 - prism wrote: 88 Points
Opened for an hour or two before drinking with salmon, asparagus, and roasted vegetables. I wanted to like this better: a well-made, new-world, Bordeaux-ish wine, but the fruit is very subdued, and it lacks a component of richness that should be present, or so I would hope. Will try again next year.
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5/25/2010 - Joelene wrote: 87 Points
would have guess sonoma cab blind, not huge fruit but a new world style not overdone though, a little harsh veggie acidic thing, red fruit, cherry, lead, good some quality showing, but not doing it for me
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5/22/2010 - flwinos wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and started drinking after about 25 minutes. The wine started out with great cherry fruit on the nose, and on the palate bing cherry (some tartness) and a lot of minerality, with a pretty tannic finish. After about an hour in the glass/decanter, this started to smooth out - the tannins and minerality started to mellow out. The mouthfeel and finish on this wine was great for $20.
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4/25/2010 - fries Likes this wine:
[Restaurant purchase] Decanted for 45 mins. Deep ruby red. Big, bold brooding nose of dark cherries, smoke, wood. Mouth-filling palette, earthy-woodsy fruit, assertive but fine tannins, lingering finish with just enough acidic freshness. A great match with beef tenderloin in Madeira jus.
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4/24/2010 - aveeck wrote: 92 Points
COLOR: Deep ruby with only hints of brick. NOSE: I love the serious sangiovese power. TASTE: Nice and minerally, deep, rich and complex. Still early for a 375mL, so I plan to put this away for awhile longer. RATING: 92.
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4/20/2010 - jhemming wrote: 90 Points
375ml
- ruby red
- nice fruit forward nose that evolved over several hours with ripe red fruit, leather and baking spice
- tart cherry, graphite, dark chocolate
- opened up with decant
- drying tannins
- EtOH controlled
- med body and med acid (wish both where a touch more)
- overall an enjoyable bottle of wine
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4/4/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 91 Points
Excellent Tuscan wine: Nose of juicy red fruits; ripe strawberries with fresh cran-raspberry aromas. Secondary notes of flowers, subdued earth and leather saddle. The nose is generous and pretty. The same fruits are present in the flavor profile as well as some nice floral notes with a dollop of sweet cinnamon. Deep Tuscan terroir and iron minerals for secondary flavors. Great length to the finish. This is a well structured wine with well integrated tannins and everything is in balance.
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3/29/2010 - grubmanda wrote: 90 Points
Very drinkable, but would have done better with a longer time to decant.
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3/28/2010 - MichaelF wrote: 90 Points
Still young, tannic. Great potential. Great nose with nice core of cherry, some menthol? Give it a little time.
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3/20/2010 - Ynelover wrote: 90 Points
popped and decanted 3 hrs. nice cedar nose. very mellow and soft with typical sangiovese character. some chocolate and oak wit hint of bell pepper. balanced. the decant really helped based on my last 2 tries with this wine. was a crowd pleaser especially wit nice italian dinner!
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3/14/2010 - Coupe 60 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured a 375 ml bottle and drank with Pasta dinner. this bottle was my favorite of the 4 bottles that I have had. Deep Dark color, Dark fruit that was more open than I have previously remembered. Still had some strong tannins, so a decant or time sideways would be a help, but it definitely starting to come around. Great Mouthfeel...Paired well with the pasta. I would definitely rebuy. A winner at <$10 I paid at WL...
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3/6/2010 - ISGOMEZ wrote: 89 Points
Pretty good. For 9.98 nice qpr. A little tight on the nose but on palate get dark fruit and some dark chocolate notes. still firm tannins so may have more age than through 2011. i'd decant for an hour+. Bet this woudl be better on day 2 but these 375ml's don't last that long.
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2/28/2010 - njAndrew Likes this wine: 88 Points
Only had one glass, needed the rest for cooking. Same as last time, a good value for a Tuscan blend but needs some time, tight on the PnP with firm tannins.
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2/19/2010 - DRod wrote:
Still a very nice bottle but considerably tighter than I remember. This could have done well with a good-length decant. Not at its prime on the pop-and-pour.
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2/18/2010 - meatman wrote: 91 Points
Used half of the 375ml for cooking and recorked the rest. Opened 4 days later. Huge nose. Could smell it in the glass from half way across the room. Nice red fruit profile with a dry, earthy finish. This has a long life ahead of it considering how well it held up over 4 days.
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2/17/2010 - njAndrew wrote: 88 Points
PnP was tight, gave it about an hour to open up. Nose and taste of tuscan wine, I get the sangiovese right away but the merlot in the blend gives it some body. Red fruit, nice acid, and strong tannins. This wine needs some time to really show itself, 88+
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2/12/2010 - Coupe 60 wrote: 88 Points
Mrs. Coupe had popped a 375ml before I got home. Was open in bottle for abour 45 minutes, then poured into my eische breathable glass. Wine needs air and time. Red fruit with a nice mouthfeel. Wine has nice acidity, still strong tannins and nice structure to it. I think this gets better with age, but right now is a solid 88...
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2/8/2010 - DRod wrote: 89 Points
On the pop-and-pour through the vinturi the wine was a little tight. Tannins not overwhelming and overall a solid 84pt wine. But a good 30-45 minutes open this wine started coming to life. Very pretty nose of almost bubble-gummy mix of red/dark fruit with some floral notes. A similar story on the palate, but definitely not candy-esque. Fine-grained tannins leave a satisfying finish on an excellent QPR for 10-dollar half-bottle.
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2/1/2010 - CaliCab wrote: 87 Points
On initial pour, healthy dose of tuscan roast meats over subtle oak. Definite tuscan nose, but with a little air the meat subsides, and a real menthol note stes in, as in Vicks Vapo-Rub. Pretty tight nose overall
Well rounded and balanced palate. Still tight and young, but great cherry fruit and acidity to match, and loads of tannins. Oak is nicely integrated on the palate, and some of the roast meats make a slight return.
Decent length on the finish, but primarily acid, alcohol and tannins. All in all quite enjoyable.
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1/24/2010 - Machiavelli wrote:
Black fruits, cedar/oak aromas. Tart acidity, hollow short-medium length. Decent but overworked.
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1/22/2010 - jmull wrote:
Consistent with earlier bottle (91+).
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1/20/2010 - Grape_ape wrote:
very good, but young and tannic. Decant for several hours, or wait a few years.
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1/19/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 92 Points
VG blend of sangiovese & merlot - drinking well now; popped & poured; same notes as before
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1/19/2010 - Bella27 wrote: 93 Points
Great from start to finish. Have tried it several times with family and friends and every single one of them loved it. Silky mouthfeel, great flavor and elegant finish. An exceptional wine!
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1/19/2010 - jmull wrote: 91 Points
Popped and pured from a 375. Good stuff. Open, accessible and fruit forward, with some nice balancing mushroom and earthy notes. The plummy character from the merlot really shines through, but is offset by good Sangiovese acidity and cherry aromatics. Some thick tannin on the back end, but it's not bitter and doesn't really detract. Long and structured, too. 91+.
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1/18/2010 - Bella27 wrote: 92 Points
Loved it! Sangiovese and Merlot blend.
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1/16/2010 - chapel hill wino wrote:
first bottle, was worried about a protruding cork so gave it a test. Obviously young, but the tannins were approachable, the fruit flavors bold, and the acidity in balance. In another 1-2 years this will be ready. VGOOD
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1/10/2010 - jahlove wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes. Majorly dark and ripe. Impressive structure. Another baby kill. Oh well. I was in a pinch and there's more to go around.
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1/8/2010 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple color. Nose actually deteriorated with time. Initially, I found the nose very attractive; two hours after opening, the nose had a menthol component and a hot alcohol scent that reminded me of some bad hotel house wines I've experienced. On the palate, the wine was consistently good. Cherry on palate and an agreeable long finish that shows some wood. Approachable, but still some tannins. I liked the wine, my wife did not.
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12/24/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 91 Points
VG - family enjoyed the wine.
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12/21/2009 - meatman wrote: 90 Points
From a 375ml. Decanted for 45 mins. Wonderful nose of dark cherries, earth, leather and herbs. The palate was not as good as the nose but was a good mix of cherry, cranberry and herbs. Nice mouthfeel with a long, dry finish with some dusty tannins. This should improve with age.
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12/19/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 91 Points
Getting better all the time - very nice Sangoviese-Merlot blend; nice tannins
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12/11/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Much better than previous tasting; loads of berry and a hint of coffee; nice blend of sangiovese & merlot; good finish
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12/7/2009 - dontime wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours before drinking. Deep plum color with dusty nose, cranberry and dark fruit with some smoky meat on the palate, strong tannins indicate it can last a few more years. Definitely decant to enjoy now.
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11/29/2009 - apes wrote:
Decant 1/2 hour plus, excellent
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11/26/2009 - Squilber wrote: 91 Points
I had this with Thanksgiving dinner and it was extremely nice, flavorful and dry. Black currant, tasty oak, licorice, and berries are abundant with smooth tannins. Decanted for about 1 hour before drinking. This has still got some time to age and enjoy - perhaps 3-4 years.
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11/25/2009 - Eric Guido wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby red color. Started out very tight with only a half hour in decanter but after about an hour of air aromas of ripe strawberry, rose petal, red licorice and spiced cookie emerged. On the palate it showed blackberry and cherry with orange rind and a little bit of oak showing through. All of this was carried by a balanced acidity that kept it all very food friendly.
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11/11/2009 - jahlove wrote: 91 Points
Got 6 375 mL bottles of this to drink while I'm waiting for my bottles of Setti Ponti Oreno to age. Glad I did. This is a lovely wine itself. A little tight now as you would expect, but it opens up. Certainly this has short to mid-term aging potential, but I don't think one needs feel like the baby killer popping one of these now. The nose is black cherries and a scent that is not exactly like but reminscent of menthol. Maybe pine is closer. Some wood and alcohol evident on the nose as well. The fruit is dark and ripe. Plums come to mind. Super ripe tannins, medium plus acid, full body and great polish. Medium length finish. There is room for improvement here as the elements of this wine integrate over time.
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11/1/2009 - Coupe 60 wrote:
came home and Mrs. Coupe had opened a bottle....far far too early...a little leather, a little red fruit...some good acidity and some big time tannins which left it a little rough...Needs more time
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10/31/2009 - wynnewood500 wrote:
I had a very different reaction to this wine than others. I was looking for a dryer wine. I found this a less dry (not sweet) wine. I did not find the tannins too much. Bought from PLCB on Chairman's Selection for 19.99 plus tax.
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10/24/2009 - Delund wrote: 89 Points
Opened, decanted for an hour. Deep plum color. Floral nose with hints of chocolate and cranberry. Initially a tannic beast, but softened a bit with air. Dark fruit and cedar dominate the palate, with a definite alcohol note. Enough structure to last for a few years and it could probably use the time. Very dry, gripping finish, fruit fades quickly leaving heat and tannins behind. Will probably buy a few more at $20 a bottle, expecting better things in 3-5 years.
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10/21/2009 - vinopa wrote: 91 Points
dark plum in color...Pretty nice nose with some floral notes, baked berries and a touch of herbs..Palate: Cranberries galore along with herbs and a hint of meat..Very nice but the tannins are grippy and this could use some more time to settle down..Still very nice especially for the price..I bought these in Pa for 19.99...At that price point I had to buy a case {6}...If you live in PA get yourself some...enjoy!!
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10/21/2009 - geneswine wrote: 92 Points
Even better than the bottle tasted last year.
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10/15/2009 - Sir Lloyd wrote: 90 Points
Opened a 375ml. Decanted for 30 minutes. Wild flowers on the nose. Dark. Complex dark berries. Easy to drink though.
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10/14/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 88 Points
Dark plum color, nice body, but lacking something in taste - not quite as heavy as what I expected; tasted a bit green; would probably cellar if I bought more bottles. Not up to the WS 92 rating.
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10/10/2009 - eyeguy wrote: 90 Points
Excellent value, really enjoy the consistency of this wine.
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10/3/2009 - Riezin wrote:
From 375. Nat cork. Very dark in color - a blackish/purple. Dark plummy nose - bordeaux-like, but with a bit of heat. Tastes reminiscent of a bordeaux too with notes of tobacco, cedar, and earth. Quite a bit of tannin at this point too.
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9/21/2009 - dtirsell wrote: 88 Points
Down to 1 of these, wish I had more, solid value Super-Tuscan, absolutely needs decanting, flat out of the bottle but opens up significantly with complex aromas.
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7/30/2009 - LPskeleton wrote: 88 Points
Baby killed this wine, but wanted to see where it is at. At this point it is monochromatic in its aromatics and palate, with dark black fruits and wood. Great texture and acidity in the mouth, with very accessible tannin. I think this will be a great wine but its going to need 3-5.
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7/4/2009 - Fontanafredda wrote: 91 Points
Dark red/purple, opaque color. I couldn't decant this wine. Reduced berry sauce, with hintes of sage and meat. Full-bodied, with dark chocolate in the finish. This has lots of tannins, and would be better in a couple of years.
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5/7/2009 - Stosh wrote: 88 Points
Dusty fruit nose, mellow red cranberry color ala Chianti, musty fruit and strong tannins, marred by a little but of a closed palate -- hope it gives more of itself after some aging or decanting.
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3/22/2009 - Surfdoc wrote: 89 Points
Slightly dusty red fruit nose. Cranberry flavor with nice body, soft tannins and medium acidity.
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3/10/2009 - David J Cooper wrote:
Light red. A tight nose showing cherry and cocoa. Nice structure and lots of acidity. Very nice. One of my favorite IGTs. The 98 was great last summer. Expect this wine to improve for 7 or 8 years.
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3/8/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 93 Points
This is good stuff now after 2 hrs aeration, just as 2 mos. ago--promises to be about as lush as they come for the money, black-fruited and tarry, shared w A&H, S&J,& L; a hit at the table.
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1/4/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 92 Points
Very nice indeed after 2 hours aeration--lush.
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12/9/2008 - MRichman wrote:
Very good. I'd buy again.
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11/3/2008 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
Retailer tasting. Red purple color. Young and tannic. Earthy old world style. Bitter red fruit at present. Needs time. 90+ points.
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10/30/2008 - MoneyDrs wrote: 88 Points
very good, full of flavor. Beautiful color. highly recommend.
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10/24/2008 - baja wrote:
Opened this to try after reading JS's review in WS. Tight on nose out of bottle... aerated and decanted for 30 minutes...still tight...tight on palate, tannins are gripping, acidity is high....this is way to young....needs time. Maybe this went into a closed stage as it is not syncing with James review at all.....hold for a good year before trying again.
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