Surprisingly dark, almost fully opaque black cherry color. A classically Tuscan nose with aromas of sour cherries, some pungent smoky tones and charred game, a little bit os sweet blueberry, light leathery tones, a hint of warm fireplace ashes anda touch of wizened dark fruits. The wine is dry, medium-bodied and quite ripe on the palate with quite weighty and concentrated flavors of juicy black cherries, some sweet dark fruits, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness, light toasty notes of oak, a hint of wild strawberry and a touch of pipe tobacco. The wine is moderately high in acidity with grainy and relatively grippy medium tannins. The finish is powerful, dry and moderately grippy with long flavors of black cherries, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of pipe tobacco, light meat consommé tones and a woody hint of savory oak spice.
A classy, sinewy and surprisingly muscular Chianti Classico Riserva that doesn't remind me as much of those playful, crunchy and delicate Sangioveses of Chianti than of those brooding, muscular powerhouses of Montalcino. The style is quite concentrated and powerful to begin with, and the exceptional 2006 vintage has granted the wine noticeable ripeness and impressive structure that make it feel atypically bold for a Chianti. All in all, perhaps not that typical an expression of Chianti Classico, but an impressive wine all the same. Starting to drink really well right now, but most likely will continue to develop for many years more. Recommended.
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Cf to the bottle in February, this one has no mint in bq, tannins are much softer. Acidity still high, but wine is more balanced now. Some elegance here. Fruit is going down, so drink it up!
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Decanted 2 hrs. Blackish red, a bit paling on edge. Medium bq w cherries, barnyard, tobacco, minerals, mint. Medium+ body w high acidity, drying (and sharp) tannins, plenty of cherry fruit, but beginning to dry out. Aftertaste dominated by dry tannins. Professionally made, but bland. A long way from the Oros of the 80 -90s. Drink up!
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I bought 3 bottles; gave one away and drank one - didn't like it and now my last 2 years later that I also don't like. I thought aging might help - it didn't. Color is good, the taste is a little hollow, but the real negative is the lingering taste that is very tinny and harsh. I poured out my half glass and went back and aerated another and waited 15 minutes - no improvement
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Maybe the extra bottle aging has taken away the tannins some. But very nice balance between the fruitiness at front/mid tongue, and the olive bitter tastes at the back of the tongue.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black currant (cassis), fig, forest floor and mushroom. It tastes like cedar, black currant (cassis) and raisin. The body is medium. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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Very good, but not $30 a bottle good. Tannins have mellowed leaving a pretty heavy and strong Chianti. Good berry and vanilla flavors on the palate. Balanced and smooth.
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We had a bottle with dinner tonight. It is a real big Chianti, not sure I like it. It was way over priced and I got sucked in. The day before they had the 2005 and when I went back I did not notice the 2005's were gone. The reviews are all over the place but for $25.00, I feel I got screwed!
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The nose has strong earth and dirt notes along with a first taste that has similar characteristics but with nice dark fruit integrated into the earth tones. A bit to much earth for my taste, but this Chianti is smooth and balanced.
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Opaque garnet with ruby rim, bricking towards the edge. Medium to full bodied with sweet aromas of currants, blackberries, blueberries, and licorice. Secondary notes of tobacco, earth, leather, black pepper, and nail polish. Clean with bright freshness on the palate. Picks up plum and black cherry before closing with a coffee finish. Would have like a little more red fruit and more focus but still very good.
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Poured through Vinturi™ into decanter, let sit for about 90 minutes prior to serving. I agree with other CT members' TNs as far as expecting more from the top of the line Chianti offering from Ruffino. Noticed a softening and more complexity after about 4 hours from bottle opening. Overall, enjoyable. On the plus side, I paid $28.97 at Total Wine, below the CT community average price.
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A gift, so not sure of its provenance. Bitter, bordeaux like wine, tannins galore, no fruit, perhaps one of those beasts designed to be consumed years in the future, but clearly, a problem wine six years into its existence. Skip it if you have a chance until 2020. I have my doubts about its viability even then.
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Light bright notes of strawberry and cherry open this medium bodied medium length Chianti. Nice weight, and silky, but largly non distinct making for a pleasant but unremarkable experience. Better with time open as the fruit tends to darken and secondary flavors like cedar and black pepper appear.
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Blackberry, loamy earth, chocolate, spice, tobacco and cedar flow from the glass. This has a soft velvety texture and a medium finish. Although a solid wine, I would really like to see a little more in a top bottling from such a big name producer, especially in a high quality vintage like 2006. (Drink 2012-2018)
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PnP. Definitely an interesting bottle of chianti. Nose is very floral, with some bright fruit, mostly strawberry and raspberry. Palate, on the other hand, is a bit more complex that your standard Italian table wine. Where many chianti's suffer from one-dimensional sour cherry sangiovese fatigue, this is more subtle. For starters it's much earthier, and the fruit, while unmistakably sangiovese, also brings notes of plum to mind. Ample oak lends a smoky quality as well. But tied together nicely with a smooth, soft finish. Definitely a nice wine, not sure it's worth $25+ though.
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Very enjoyable compared to anti nori reserva but 2005 was much better quality. 2006 has strong alcohol kick. Nice color and clarity. Need at least hour decanting and enjoyable finish.
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Le nez est relativement fermé, on sent des petits fruits rouges et un peu de bois. En bouche, c’est un peu épicé, les tannins sont présents, la finale est correcte mais sans plus. Malgré une structure évidente, une bouche intéressante, je trouve qu’il manque de distinction…
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WSET Advanced L7 Italy-Spain: Medium(+) ruby, purple rim, wide and thick legs. Medium(+) developing nose with aromas of red cherries, ripe black fruits, leather, some raisins, wood. Dry, medium acidity, medium(-) tannins, high alcohol,. Medium(+) body, with medium(+) flavours of ripel fruits like red cherries, strawberries, and black plum, chocolate, pepper. Very well balanced, medium(+) finish. Drink now or cellar, good, very good at this price point (AED 115).
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The Italian Wine Masters (Hilton, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York): On the nose, I found dark red fruits with hints of chalk dust. On the palate, it showed and ethereal elegance that I found lacking in the 2004. Hopefully this may be a sign of the producer moving away from the dark brooding character that this wine seemed to epitomize over the last few vintages. The palate showed vibrant black cherry with tobacco, minerals. The finish, was long yet slightly tannic. This bottle may find its way into my cellar.
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Tried for a while, but failed to find any signs of Italy what so ever in this bottle. No tempered signoras, no rolling tuscan countryside, no spritzig sangiovese acidity. Dull, international style and a sad experience. Not in a million years would I have guessed 2006 Chianti Riserva.
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Simple, but nothing substantial wrong with it. Good mix of countryside scents and some red cherry fruit, though the nose was very muted. Decent acidity, would not be bad with some standard pasta dishes. But clearly mass produced and no real soul to it.
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Medium to full body, bright garnet color. Highly intense black fruits, flowers, smoked oak and tobacco aroma. Dominant black cherry and plummy palate, long finish. Powerful and rich, velvety texture, complex and balanced, well integrated tannins and lovely berries acidity. Serve 18º - 22º. Drink now and next six/eight years, perhaps longer.
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Chianti Classico (29 TN inside!) (Firenze (Italy) - Stazione Lepolda): In bottle, but not yet distributed. 36 months in Tonneaux. Original nose, with a scent of game, then fruit: complex, but the "wild" reminds appear in mouth too... Too young and tannic, alcoholic. Intra: NR 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
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9/29/2021 - ATL wrote:
Very nice. Drink or hold.
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6/29/2021 - ATL wrote:
Nice now, but no rush - will improve with time.
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10/27/2018 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
13,5% alcohol.
Surprisingly dark, almost fully opaque black cherry color. A classically Tuscan nose with aromas of sour cherries, some pungent smoky tones and charred game, a little bit os sweet blueberry, light leathery tones, a hint of warm fireplace ashes anda touch of wizened dark fruits. The wine is dry, medium-bodied and quite ripe on the palate with quite weighty and concentrated flavors of juicy black cherries, some sweet dark fruits, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness, light toasty notes of oak, a hint of wild strawberry and a touch of pipe tobacco. The wine is moderately high in acidity with grainy and relatively grippy medium tannins. The finish is powerful, dry and moderately grippy with long flavors of black cherries, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of pipe tobacco, light meat consommé tones and a woody hint of savory oak spice.
A classy, sinewy and surprisingly muscular Chianti Classico Riserva that doesn't remind me as much of those playful, crunchy and delicate Sangioveses of Chianti than of those brooding, muscular powerhouses of Montalcino. The style is quite concentrated and powerful to begin with, and the exceptional 2006 vintage has granted the wine noticeable ripeness and impressive structure that make it feel atypically bold for a Chianti. All in all, perhaps not that typical an expression of Chianti Classico, but an impressive wine all the same. Starting to drink really well right now, but most likely will continue to develop for many years more. Recommended.
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10/14/2018 - Leto South wrote: 86 Points
Cf to the bottle in February, this one has no mint in bq, tannins are much softer. Acidity still high, but wine is more balanced now. Some elegance here. Fruit is going down, so drink it up!
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2/18/2018 - Leto South wrote: 85 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. Blackish red, a bit paling on edge. Medium bq w cherries, barnyard, tobacco, minerals, mint. Medium+ body w high acidity, drying (and sharp) tannins, plenty of cherry fruit, but beginning to dry out. Aftertaste dominated by dry tannins. Professionally made, but bland. A long way from the Oros of the 80 -90s. Drink up!
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12/25/2017 - Patrickcro Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice even at this age. Strong earth tones, leathery flavors, and dark berries. Finish is mellow but lingers. Would recommend drinking now.
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4/21/2016 - dalemosier Does not like this wine: 83 Points
I bought 3 bottles; gave one away and drank one - didn't like it and now my last 2 years later that I also don't like. I thought aging might help - it didn't. Color is good, the taste is a little hollow, but the real negative is the lingering taste that is very tinny and harsh. I poured out my half glass and went back and aerated another and waited 15 minutes - no improvement
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1/2/2016 - Mpiche wrote:
Timpani dinner
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4/1/2015 - camdawg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Maybe the extra bottle aging has taken away the tannins some. But very nice balance between the fruitiness at front/mid tongue, and the olive bitter tastes at the back of the tongue.
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2/6/2015 - CMARSHALL Likes this wine: 86 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
It smells like black currant (cassis), fig, forest floor and mushroom. It tastes like cedar, black currant (cassis) and raisin. The body is medium. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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4/13/2014 - Steve's Cellar wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color - Drank w/Kim's parents. Was good, but a bit thin and too spicy.
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1/3/2014 - dalemosier Does not like this wine: 83 Points
I found the wine to be harsh and astringent. Not sure age will help
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12/4/2013 - kmicho Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very good, but not $30 a bottle good. Tannins have mellowed leaving a pretty heavy and strong Chianti. Good berry and vanilla flavors on the palate. Balanced and smooth.
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7/24/2013 - swifty6 wrote: 85 Points
We had a bottle with dinner tonight. It is a real big Chianti, not sure I like it.
It was way over priced and I got sucked in. The day before they had the 2005 and when I went back I did not notice the 2005's were gone.
The reviews are all over the place but for $25.00, I feel I got screwed!
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6/18/2013 - milliskins wrote: 88 Points
Dark, luscious fruit, coffee, dark chocolate. Ready to drink now.
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3/29/2013 - bbmd10 wrote: 88 Points
Very full bodied, smoothed tannins, ripe walnuts.
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3/24/2013 - jkvedar wrote:
Paired well with a home made tomato pasta sauce. Decanted for a couple of hours and that helped soften the tannins.
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2/17/2013 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 89 Points
The nose has strong earth and dirt notes along with a first taste that has similar characteristics but with nice dark fruit integrated into the earth tones. A bit to much earth for my taste, but this Chianti is smooth and balanced.
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12/21/2012 - Marusso wrote: 90 Points
Splendid! Great with the tannis, woody but nice for drinking with meat or without it. Just Splendid
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11/26/2012 - sstitt wrote: 91 Points
very light fruity yet integrated tannins drank easily without food but could be with food as well and not over filling.
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11/11/2012 - Baron Slick wrote: 88 Points
Opaque garnet with ruby rim, bricking towards the edge. Medium to full bodied with sweet aromas of currants, blackberries, blueberries, and licorice. Secondary notes of tobacco, earth, leather, black pepper, and nail polish. Clean with bright freshness on the palate. Picks up plum and black cherry before closing with a coffee finish. Would have like a little more red fruit and more focus but still very good.
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10/13/2012 - Sid_Mac wrote: 88 Points
Poured through Vinturi™ into decanter, let sit for about 90 minutes prior to serving. I agree with other CT members' TNs as far as expecting more from the top of the line Chianti offering from Ruffino. Noticed a softening and more complexity after about 4 hours from bottle opening. Overall, enjoyable. On the plus side, I paid $28.97 at Total Wine, below the CT community average price.
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10/7/2012 - jpinsb wrote: 84 Points
A gift, so not sure of its provenance. Bitter, bordeaux like wine, tannins galore, no fruit, perhaps one of those beasts designed to be consumed years in the future, but clearly, a problem wine six years into its existence. Skip it if you have a chance until 2020. I have my doubts about its viability even then.
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8/31/2012 - Buck naked wrote: 88 Points
Smokey oak on the nose, slight strawberry on the palate. Over all a nice chianti, not to complex but satisfying.
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8/13/2012 - Vervelb wrote: 90 Points
Woodsy, more earthy and less acid than usual chianti, smooth finish.
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7/8/2012 - smphelps wrote: 87 Points
Light bright notes of strawberry and cherry open this medium bodied medium length Chianti. Nice weight, and silky, but largly non distinct making for a pleasant but unremarkable experience. Better with time open as the fruit tends to darken and secondary flavors like cedar and black pepper appear.
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7/5/2012 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 90 Points
Blackberry, loamy earth, chocolate, spice, tobacco and cedar flow from the glass. This has a soft velvety texture and a medium finish. Although a solid wine, I would really like to see a little more in a top bottling from such a big name producer, especially in a high quality vintage like 2006. (Drink 2012-2018)
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6/27/2012 - madia wrote: 91 Points
"Open Cellar" at Wine Route Tel Aviv (Wine Route Tel Aviv): Impressive. Ripe and black fruits, chocolate. Light to medium bodied (46$)
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5/15/2012 - Double-A Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smoky, flinty, currant nose with toast, mineral and coffee. Full with dark flavours and balanced structure. Long, spiced finish.
4/5
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5/5/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 92 Points
Some funk and earth on the nose. Nice spice with red fruit.
-Wine Spectator Grand Tour 5/5/12
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4/15/2012 - Krakajack wrote: flawed
Corked bottle will return to edge water wine. Cork was dry and very hard
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2/16/2012 - mguglielmo wrote: 87 Points
PnP. Definitely an interesting bottle of chianti. Nose is very floral, with some bright fruit, mostly strawberry and raspberry. Palate, on the other hand, is a bit more complex that your standard Italian table wine. Where many chianti's suffer from one-dimensional sour cherry sangiovese fatigue, this is more subtle. For starters it's much earthier, and the fruit, while unmistakably sangiovese, also brings notes of plum to mind. Ample oak lends a smoky quality as well. But tied together nicely with a smooth, soft finish. Definitely a nice wine, not sure it's worth $25+ though.
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2/6/2012 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
Opened 50 mins prior to pouring. Bigger than I remember this wine from 97 and 98 vintages. Well balanced, nothing sticks out, well made Chianti.
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1/7/2012 - Krakajack wrote: 87 Points
Very enjoyable compared to anti nori reserva but 2005 was much better quality. 2006 has strong alcohol kick. Nice color and clarity. Need at least hour decanting and enjoyable finish.
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12/19/2011 - Opusone99 wrote: 87 Points
Le nez est relativement fermé, on sent des petits fruits rouges et un peu de bois. En bouche, c’est un peu épicé, les tannins sont présents, la finale est correcte mais sans plus. Malgré une structure évidente, une bouche intéressante, je trouve qu’il manque de distinction…
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12/4/2011 - Barolo Raymond wrote: 90 Points
WSET Advanced L7 Italy-Spain: Medium(+) ruby, purple rim, wide and thick legs. Medium(+) developing nose with aromas of red cherries, ripe black fruits, leather, some raisins, wood. Dry, medium acidity, medium(-) tannins, high alcohol,. Medium(+) body, with medium(+) flavours of ripel fruits like red cherries, strawberries, and black plum, chocolate, pepper. Very well balanced, medium(+) finish. Drink now or cellar, good, very good at this price point (AED 115).
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2/18/2011 - snaff wrote: 81 Points
Tight and tannic, dominated by sour cherries with a thin finish.
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2/9/2011 - GregGH wrote: 84 Points
this bottle looks oxidized or the wine has peaked ... looks & tastes as if it is tired ...
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2/8/2011 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Italian Wine Masters (Hilton, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York): On the nose, I found dark red fruits with hints of chalk dust. On the palate, it showed and ethereal elegance that I found lacking in the 2004. Hopefully this may be a sign of the producer moving away from the dark brooding character that this wine seemed to epitomize over the last few vintages. The palate showed vibrant black cherry with tobacco, minerals. The finish, was long yet slightly tannic. This bottle may find its way into my cellar.
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10/29/2010 - JesperR wrote:
Tried for a while, but failed to find any signs of Italy what so ever in this bottle. No tempered signoras, no rolling tuscan countryside, no spritzig sangiovese acidity. Dull, international style and a sad experience. Not in a million years would I have guessed 2006 Chianti Riserva.
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10/5/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote:
Terrible. This is an insult to Sango. Just awful.
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9/12/2010 - cadamson wrote: 83 Points
Simple, but nothing substantial wrong with it. Good mix of countryside scents and some red cherry fruit, though the nose was very muted. Decent acidity, would not be bad with some standard pasta dishes. But clearly mass produced and no real soul to it.
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9/4/2010 - ikileo wrote:
CULINA "Our Wines, Our Style" (Grand Ballroom, Marriott, Singapore): Nose: Big hits of barnyard (poop included) and hay. Fruit was secondary
Taste: Rather underwhelming. Nothing much to describe, I found it to be thin and not as robust as the 05.
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8/5/2010 - Wrighty wrote: 88 Points
Quite a meaty nose, chewy tannic palate. Fruit to start but disappeared. Has a long life ahead of it.
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5/26/2010 - vlzat wrote: 92 Points
Medium to full body, bright garnet color. Highly intense black fruits, flowers, smoked oak and tobacco aroma. Dominant black cherry and plummy palate, long finish. Powerful and rich, velvety texture, complex and balanced, well integrated tannins and lovely berries acidity. Serve 18º - 22º. Drink now and next six/eight years, perhaps longer.
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2/17/2010 - quaglia wrote: 78 Points
Chianti Classico (29 TN inside!) (Firenze (Italy) - Stazione Lepolda): In bottle, but not yet distributed. 36 months in Tonneaux.
Original nose, with a scent of game, then fruit: complex, but the "wild" reminds appear in mouth too...
Too young and tannic, alcoholic. Intra: NR
20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
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