A blend mainly composed of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio with a small addition of local cultivars Acitana, Calabrese (Nero d'Avola), Cappuccio Tignolino, Galatena and Nocera. Aged for a year in oak barrels. 13,5% alcohol.
Pale and moderately translucent reddish-copper color with a little bit of aged mahogany hue. The nose is somewhat underwhelming and even slightly mute with aromas of raisins, some strawberry jam, a little bit of raw meat, light iron notes of rusty nails, a volatile hint of nail polish and a touch of cherry marmalade. The wine is medium-bodied, tertiary and very silky on the palate with flavors of smoky notes of roasted game, some mushroomy tones, a little bit of sous-bois, light old-wine flavors of cardboard, a sweet hint of raisins and a salty-umami touch of soy sauce. The acidity feels modest-to-medium, so the structure seems to rely more on the firm and moderately grippy tannins. The finish is quite grippy and somewhat oxidative with flavors of meaty umami, sweet raisiny tones, a little bit of meat consommé, light gamey tones, a hint of mushroomy funk and a lifted touch of VA.
A still drinkable but already somewhat tired and slightly oxidized Faro. The wine still retains quite a bit of fruit and richness, but the tertiary and slightly oxidative flavors are dominating the wine for the most part and it is slowly venturing into the anonymous "old wine" territory. Offers still a little bit of pleasure, but probably it has left its plateau of maturity some 5 or so years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vini Rossi-L'Ultimo Piano (Asti Trattoria): The overall favorite of the flight, what was not to like. This seemed a feminine wine, light in color, quite floral and spicy, might even work with seafood. It was elegant and had a silky mouthfeel, and a sweet tea character. It had some good fruit and a dark chocolate component that faded at the midpalate, and a short finish. An interesting and tasty wine, liked by all though not in the top half of this salon's wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TNs as for my last bottle, except for - a little muted on the nose on opening, developing aromas with airing - definite sun-dried tomatos on the nose compliment the fruit and herb. Tannins still drying, but the package is so smooth and mouth filling! Same score - 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
transluscent garnet color with some reddish-amber highlights. Nose is earthy and tarry at first and moves towards more grapy and red fruit aromas later. The palate is red fruits and cherry and strawberry but at first the flavors are more secondary than primary and more buried in structure than later on: herbs, anise, gout de goudron, etc. dominate at first but this dissipates. The tannins are clearly present and have some astringency but in the end are fine and sweetish. There is a little fresh vanilla bean in the very late finish, although this fades after an hour. Elegant wine, indigenous grapes, non-international flavours, great development in the glass, fruit that rises over the top of the structure -- I should have some more of this for 4-6 years more of cellaring but I don't.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Savoury! This was my first impression of the dusty, prunish-hued 2000 Palari Faro. Raspberry, dates and assorted herbs from the glass - not decanted. Red fruits and herbs balance the acidity, with slighly drying tannins on a medium length finish. Market fresh virgin olive oil with a hint of fennel on the finish. Medium-bodied. Plenty of gritty sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Without doubt, one of my favourite Italians so far.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A16, SF, CA a blend of nerello mascalese, nerello cappuccio, and nocera grapes. I don't have a lot of experience with these grapes, but understand they are native to Sicily. This wine was much more restrained than the 'Don Toto' that hit the table at the same time. After opening up, this wine had enjoyable fruit, nice balance with tannins and acidity playing their roles perfectly. The wine just seemed a little more stylized, a little more crafted and slighty too much wood for my taste. Most at the table preferred it to the Don Toto. If I were to drink this wine by its self I would be perfectly happy, but I kept gravitating back to the Don Toto.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/13/2019 - forceberry wrote: 83 Points
A blend mainly composed of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio with a small addition of local cultivars Acitana, Calabrese (Nero d'Avola), Cappuccio Tignolino, Galatena and Nocera. Aged for a year in oak barrels. 13,5% alcohol.
Pale and moderately translucent reddish-copper color with a little bit of aged mahogany hue. The nose is somewhat underwhelming and even slightly mute with aromas of raisins, some strawberry jam, a little bit of raw meat, light iron notes of rusty nails, a volatile hint of nail polish and a touch of cherry marmalade. The wine is medium-bodied, tertiary and very silky on the palate with flavors of smoky notes of roasted game, some mushroomy tones, a little bit of sous-bois, light old-wine flavors of cardboard, a sweet hint of raisins and a salty-umami touch of soy sauce. The acidity feels modest-to-medium, so the structure seems to rely more on the firm and moderately grippy tannins. The finish is quite grippy and somewhat oxidative with flavors of meaty umami, sweet raisiny tones, a little bit of meat consommé, light gamey tones, a hint of mushroomy funk and a lifted touch of VA.
A still drinkable but already somewhat tired and slightly oxidized Faro. The wine still retains quite a bit of fruit and richness, but the tertiary and slightly oxidative flavors are dominating the wine for the most part and it is slowly venturing into the anonymous "old wine" territory. Offers still a little bit of pleasure, but probably it has left its plateau of maturity some 5 or so years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2010 - austinwinesalon wrote:
Vini Rossi-L'Ultimo Piano (Asti Trattoria): The overall favorite of the flight, what was not to like. This seemed a feminine wine, light in color, quite floral and spicy, might even work with seafood. It was elegant and had a silky mouthfeel, and a sweet tea character. It had some good fruit and a dark chocolate component that faded at the midpalate, and a short finish. An interesting and tasty wine, liked by all though not in the top half of this salon's wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2009 - 1800kidney wrote: 88 Points
brooding, tannic, involuted...needs to open up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2006 - PeterC wrote: 92 Points
TNs as for my last bottle, except for - a little muted on the nose on opening, developing aromas with airing - definite sun-dried tomatos on the nose compliment the fruit and herb. Tannins still drying, but the package is so smooth and mouth filling! Same score - 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2005 - Calistoga wrote: 89 Points
transluscent garnet color with some reddish-amber highlights. Nose is earthy and tarry at first and moves towards more grapy and red fruit aromas later. The palate is red fruits and cherry and strawberry but at first the flavors are more secondary than primary and more buried in structure than later on: herbs, anise, gout de goudron, etc. dominate at first but this dissipates. The tannins are clearly present and have some astringency but in the end are fine and sweetish. There is a little fresh vanilla bean in the very late finish, although this fades after an hour. Elegant wine, indigenous grapes, non-international flavours, great development in the glass, fruit that rises over the top of the structure -- I should have some more of this for 4-6 years more of cellaring but I don't.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2005 - PeterC wrote: 92 Points
Savoury! This was my first impression of the dusty, prunish-hued 2000 Palari Faro. Raspberry, dates and assorted herbs from the glass - not decanted. Red fruits and herbs balance the acidity, with slighly drying tannins on a medium length finish. Market fresh virgin olive oil with a hint of fennel on the finish. Medium-bodied. Plenty of gritty sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Without doubt, one of my favourite Italians so far.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2004 - lorenzo wrote: 91 Points
A16, SF, CA
a blend of nerello mascalese, nerello cappuccio, and nocera grapes.
I don't have a lot of experience with these grapes, but understand they are native to Sicily.
This wine was much more restrained than the 'Don Toto' that hit the table at the same time.
After opening up, this wine had enjoyable fruit, nice balance with tannins and acidity playing their roles perfectly. The wine just seemed a little more stylized, a little more crafted and slighty too much wood for my taste. Most at the table preferred it to the Don Toto.
If I were to drink this wine by its self I would be perfectly happy, but I kept gravitating back to the Don Toto.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment