with sister and LR. super dusty - as if the glasses had been sitting in a cardboard box for a decade. but it wasn't corked. some dark fruit emerged, the tannins had softened out, but in any interesting way. this didn't turn into anything special.
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Over 2 years in between bottles and very little traffic on this wine in over a year so I'll add my impression, although this is my last bottle. Open 2 full days. Pours very dark and comes across as inky, grapey and burly. The fruit has that earthy/crushed feel, juicy, without being ripe or alcoholic. This is a wine with a big path of fruit but it's in the vein of olive, soili and black cherry, dark blackberry. Needs another couple years but more approachable now than it was in 2009 when I last noted it.
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Northern Italian Whites and then Syrahs - Controversy in the tasting Group: My first time trying this producer. It is still young and for me, the oak was prevalent. I have no doubt, however, that a year or two in bottle will cure that issue and this will be a couple of points or so higher. Very pretty in the glass, purple with a ruby rim. Big nose with black raspberries and pepper and oak turning to cedar. On the palate, lots of tannins and an oaky black raspberry quality. I hope to be lucky enough to revisit this in 2013.
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immediately after opening this was wonderful! juicy, ripe & balanced with just the right acidity & tannins. after about 20 minutes, a veil was drawn over it & it continued to withdraw for a while. it was still quite good & i believe it will only get better with a little more time in the bottle. how much? i don't know, but i am going to give it another year before i open another.
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OC KB and Shane Dinner--With Michael Browne and Shane Finley (The Murray Casa): Peppercorn nose, some florals. Big, dense and dark with lots of chalk. Deep black fruit. As Steve Nordhoff said during the dinner (who also tasted the same wine with me back in December), "Shane, this thing has not moved since". You know, he's right, as this wine is so dense and large in tannin and stuffing, if you open it now and try and judge it right from the bottle on pour, then shame on you. Like with Shane's other 2007s, either air the hell out of it or age and enjoy down the road.
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Double decanted 24hrs ahead. Fantastic nose of pure blackberry, a strawberry note, ink, tobacco leaf, bittersweet choc and rocky earth. Very serious and structured on the palate where it displays more earthiness. Tannins are very strong and rather earthy. Great raw material but needs at least 5 years.
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Popped and poured a small amount out. Then did the mollydooker shake to release any trapped gas. Wine fizzed up. Let rest and then poured. Dark color; good nose of licorice, some menthol, bacon and tar. Lots of blackberries and meat. Has a slightly sweet edge to it. Finished the bottle the next day; a bit of heat showing when sipped with food (odd). Still concentrated and approachable now. Nice wine.
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I actually planned to open the Valenti ... but grabbed the wrong V. Very nice elements of whole cluster with more complexity showing up in white pepper and light flowers. Very enjoyable. So young right now so the fruit still as the head of the structure. I would assume this will start to tighten up. Best plan would be to wait but this is a heck of a wine right now.
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Purple-black color. More floral aspect to the nose, with smoke and black fruit. Big time structure in the mouth, with plenty of fruit to balance it out. An almost herbal note to the fruit and smokiness. Hugely tannic. Another structured effort that needs time but is going to be excellent. A-
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Shane Finley Comes to the OC (Casa Murray - San Juan Capistrano, CA): A little Aussie in character (in a good way) with plush notes of blueberries, plum compote, lava rocks, and crushed minerals. Harmonious on the palate with a rich yet lithe texture. This wine just kept getting better in the glass. My Shane WOTN. 91-92 points.
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Shane Finley Visits The OC (The Murray's): Added to the CT database, a new wine for Shane. A blend, mainly Alder Springs, to be released next month. Listed alcohol of 14.2%. Over dinner, a few people at the table seemed to prefer this bottling over the 2007 Valenti bottling. This one was like the others, dark in color, still chalky and tarry and very young. This bottle, like a few others, retasted after sitting overnight. Still tight and chalky with menthol, tarry, with berries and licorice.
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4/11/2015 - moveablesirkus wrote:
with sister and LR. super dusty - as if the glasses had been sitting in a cardboard box for a decade. but it wasn't corked. some dark fruit emerged, the tannins had softened out, but in any interesting way. this didn't turn into anything special.
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1/12/2013 - tooch wrote: 85 Points
Saturday with David White (Domaine Wine Storage & Sun Wah - Chicago, IL): Dark fruit at its core with some pepper and florals. Had nice balance to it, but just didn't strike a chord with me.
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2/10/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Over 2 years in between bottles and very little traffic on this wine in over a year so I'll add my impression, although this is my last bottle. Open 2 full days. Pours very dark and comes across as inky, grapey and burly. The fruit has that earthy/crushed feel, juicy, without being ripe or alcoholic. This is a wine with a big path of fruit but it's in the vein of olive, soili and black cherry, dark blackberry. Needs another couple years but more approachable now than it was in 2009 when I last noted it.
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11/5/2010 - gdenton wrote: 89 Points
Good. Not great. Let's see how it is tonight.
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8/25/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 89 Points
Northern Italian Whites and then Syrahs - Controversy in the tasting Group: My first time trying this producer. It is still young and for me, the oak was prevalent. I have no doubt, however, that a year or two in bottle will cure that issue and this will be a couple of points or so higher. Very pretty in the glass, purple with a ruby rim. Big nose with black raspberries and pepper and oak turning to cedar. On the palate, lots of tannins and an oaky black raspberry quality. I hope to be lucky enough to revisit this in 2013.
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5/7/2010 - gfleener wrote: 92 Points
immediately after opening this was wonderful! juicy, ripe & balanced with just the right acidity & tannins. after about 20 minutes, a veil was drawn over it & it continued to withdraw for a while. it was still quite good & i believe it will only get better with a little more time in the bottle. how much? i don't know, but i am going to give it another year before i open another.
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8/15/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OC KB and Shane Dinner--With Michael Browne and Shane Finley (The Murray Casa): Peppercorn nose, some florals. Big, dense and dark with lots of chalk. Deep black fruit. As Steve Nordhoff said during the dinner (who also tasted the same wine with me back in December), "Shane, this thing has not moved since". You know, he's right, as this wine is so dense and large in tannin and stuffing, if you open it now and try and judge it right from the bottle on pour, then shame on you. Like with Shane's other 2007s, either air the hell out of it or age and enjoy down the road.
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7/13/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Double decanted 24hrs ahead. Fantastic nose of pure blackberry, a strawberry note, ink, tobacco leaf, bittersweet choc and rocky earth. Very serious and structured on the palate where it displays more earthiness. Tannins are very strong and rather earthy. Great raw material but needs at least 5 years.
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4/20/2009 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured a small amount out. Then did the mollydooker shake to release any trapped gas. Wine fizzed up. Let rest and then poured. Dark color; good nose of licorice, some menthol, bacon and tar. Lots of blackberries and meat. Has a slightly sweet edge to it. Finished the bottle the next day; a bit of heat showing when sipped with food (odd). Still concentrated and approachable now. Nice wine.
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4/9/2009 - jasonh wrote: 91 Points
I actually planned to open the Valenti ... but grabbed the wrong V. Very nice elements of whole cluster with more complexity showing up in white pepper and light flowers. Very enjoyable. So young right now so the fruit still as the head of the structure. I would assume this will start to tighten up. Best plan would be to wait but this is a heck of a wine right now.
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3/17/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
Purple-black color. More floral aspect to the nose, with smoke and black fruit. Big time structure in the mouth, with plenty of fruit to balance it out. An almost herbal note to the fruit and smokiness. Hugely tannic. Another structured effort that needs time but is going to be excellent. A-
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12/13/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Shane Finley Comes to the OC (Casa Murray - San Juan Capistrano, CA): A little Aussie in character (in a good way) with plush notes of blueberries, plum compote, lava rocks, and crushed minerals. Harmonious on the palate with a rich yet lithe texture. This wine just kept getting better in the glass. My Shane WOTN. 91-92 points.
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12/13/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Shane Finley Visits The OC (The Murray's): Added to the CT database, a new wine for Shane. A blend, mainly Alder Springs, to be released next month. Listed alcohol of 14.2%. Over dinner, a few people at the table seemed to prefer this bottling over the 2007 Valenti bottling. This one was like the others, dark in color, still chalky and tarry and very young. This bottle, like a few others, retasted after sitting overnight. Still tight and chalky with menthol, tarry, with berries and licorice.
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