Completely crumbling cork that also, I think, may have imparts just a hint of cork (not TCA, more like dirty barrel) flavor to the wine. Ready to drink, moderate tannins wrap velvety berry, saddle leather and drying notes. The best is this wine was a couple of years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I won't get into all the minutia of flavor profile as I did with my previous three notes, but it is worth commenting on for historical perspective. It is evolving beautifully... The first one I had 10 years ago I thought it would age beautifully, but as of 4 years ago I was concerned that I let them go too long. No longer fear, though... it's still holding together quite well. The fruit is definitely evolving a bit, but it's still quite bright and fresh, with lovely acidity carrying things throughout. As I said last time (before waiting three years until my next bottle...!), no hesitation to drink these now as I think its best days are now or behind it. This bottle needed 15 minutes to settle into its beauty, and peaked for the first hour, before remaining solid through the next day. Ideally paired with food, this is a great pop and pour dinner wine as its best right after opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright purple core to strawberry edges. A whiff of alcohol at first, then nose of modest warm red fruit, the palate is medium weight with slightly sweet edges, dark red stone fruit and a bit of creosote, very light tannins. The finish is long and clean, and more tannic. Apparently Croatina, Barbera and Vespolina.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I liked this a lot. It was very primary, fruity, young on opening. Over time it became more Italian, sour cherry, leather, tea leaf. Tightened a bit. Nose was lifted berry, sous bois, cola.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had no idea what this was going to taste like, but I ended up enjoying it more than I expected. Fruit was very much present at 12 years and had a cabernet profile but I don't know for sure if it is. Brilliant ruby in the glass and balance was fine but there was more fruit in this that I expected. A nice surprise. Is there sangiovese in this as well? Maybe as it had a slightly bright and tangy edge but ever so lightly so.
Very dark in color, almost purple. Not purple in aroma though... it smells like a beautiful, herbal, spicy tea, slathered in blueberries. The fruit is dark, but not like a dark Cabernet way. Very ripe blue and red fruit, to me. But it's somehow the most elegant expression of those fruits. Super sexy in the mouth, showing more of that blueberry fruit. It's tart in the mouth, but really rich and ripe. In the mouth the fruit is just so delectable and delicious; it's like a dessert, but without the sweetness. It has the texture and suaveness of fruit that's hard to match. The finish hits you with acid, but it's so beautifully integrated in a dance with blue fruit, strawberries, and beautifully integrated tannins. Everything is hand in hand, without anything over powering. Great balance. I think this wine works perfectly by itself and doesn't need food. This wine I think is likely in its perfect window. A couple years ago it was a bit too tannic, and a few years from now I worry about it losing some of its fruit vibrancy. The acid is also perfectly integrated today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I may have made a vital mistake with this wine... it was so good 5 years ago I decided to let all of my bottles age for the 5 years I suspected it'd take to really begin to come around. However, it was drinking so well five years ago that despite the fact that I thought it'd improve there really was no reason not to go hog wild with them. Anyway, onto the note of the second bottle of this that I've opened. On a pop and pour this was showing quite a bit of aged funky notes, but luckily most of this blew off after 30 minutes. The wine has now been in the glass an hour. Color is very dark, with a little haunting blood color to it. Aromas are lovely, showing some strong, deep fruit tones, but this is balanced nicely with heavy graphite and wet stone notes. The palate texture is quite elegant and soft, on the lighter end of the spectrum, but soft and pretty. The flavors are smooth and graceful showing blueberry notes, but this time a little older, with complete acidity and on the lighter end of tannins. Moderate to light acid on the finish, this is now showing more middle mature fruit tones that are muted in comparison to the expression five years ago. Tannins are present but integrated quite finely, and certainly not imposing or in the way as with the original bottle. The finish is actually quite less expressive than the first bottle was, almost feeling tired compared to that exuberant wine. This is most certainly a lovely wine today, just not near the example it was on release. I'll probably get into another bottle in the next year to confirm this sampling. If this bottle is representative I won't hesitate to begin regular consumption.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine, a "ringer", was tasted in what was to have been single-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. (Veneto/Fruili-Venezia Guilia theme tasting). The bottle was kindly provided by John Pollack, and was serially tasted over a two-hour period. The robe is opaque ruby and the nose shows explosive aromas of ripe plums, earth, iron and cherries. Full-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity and big sweet tannins. The flavors are luscious and primarily those of ripe plums and tart cherries. The middle palate is full and the finish is very long and smooth. Simply beautiful! Drink now-12/20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yup... this wine rules. Popped and poured. In glass one hour. Nice, dark garnet color. Nose is beautiful Italy, showing graphite, chalk, soil, black raspberry, flint, a freshly built barn, and blueberry seeds (what, you've never de-seeded a blueberry?). Beautiful stuff. I could smell this for days. The beauty continues to the palate where this shows quite a bit of minerality, violets, dirt clod, bigger, vibrant fruits (blueberry, strawberry, maybe even some cranberry), with very nice integration of acid and tannin. The transition to the finish is sheer class, as a velvet drape envelops the palate leaving a mix of charcoal, red and blue fruits, minerals, some cracked pepper, and just lasts and lasts on the tongue... more than the flavors, this wine is about class with seamless beauty throughout. I think this will become a rock star in 10 years, but it is so gorgeous today it will be hard to keep my hands off the remaining bottles. The 6 I have is not enough...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/3/2020 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Completely crumbling cork that also, I think, may have imparts just a hint of cork (not TCA, more like dirty barrel) flavor to the wine. Ready to drink, moderate tannins wrap velvety berry, saddle leather and drying notes. The best is this wine was a couple of years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2019 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 92 Points
I won't get into all the minutia of flavor profile as I did with my previous three notes, but it is worth commenting on for historical perspective. It is evolving beautifully... The first one I had 10 years ago I thought it would age beautifully, but as of 4 years ago I was concerned that I let them go too long. No longer fear, though... it's still holding together quite well. The fruit is definitely evolving a bit, but it's still quite bright and fresh, with lovely acidity carrying things throughout. As I said last time (before waiting three years until my next bottle...!), no hesitation to drink these now as I think its best days are now or behind it. This bottle needed 15 minutes to settle into its beauty, and peaked for the first hour, before remaining solid through the next day. Ideally paired with food, this is a great pop and pour dinner wine as its best right after opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2017 - SteveG wrote:
Bright purple core to strawberry edges. A whiff of alcohol at first, then nose of modest warm red fruit, the palate is medium weight with slightly sweet edges, dark red stone fruit and a bit of creosote, very light tannins. The finish is long and clean, and more tannic. Apparently Croatina, Barbera and Vespolina.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2017 - guitarguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
I liked this a lot. It was very primary, fruity, young on opening. Over time it became more Italian, sour cherry, leather, tea leaf. Tightened a bit. Nose was lifted berry, sous bois, cola.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2017 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was very nice indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2017 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 91 Points
I had no idea what this was going to taste like, but I ended up enjoying it more than I expected. Fruit was very much present at 12 years and had a cabernet profile but I don't know for sure if it is. Brilliant ruby in the glass and balance was fine but there was more fruit in this that I expected. A nice surprise. Is there sangiovese in this as well? Maybe as it had a slightly bright and tangy edge but ever so lightly so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/18/2016 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points
Very dark in color, almost purple. Not purple in aroma though... it smells like a beautiful, herbal, spicy tea, slathered in blueberries. The fruit is dark, but not like a dark Cabernet way. Very ripe blue and red fruit, to me. But it's somehow the most elegant expression of those fruits. Super sexy in the mouth, showing more of that blueberry fruit. It's tart in the mouth, but really rich and ripe. In the mouth the fruit is just so delectable and delicious; it's like a dessert, but without the sweetness. It has the texture and suaveness of fruit that's hard to match. The finish hits you with acid, but it's so beautifully integrated in a dance with blue fruit, strawberries, and beautifully integrated tannins. Everything is hand in hand, without anything over powering. Great balance. I think this wine works perfectly by itself and doesn't need food. This wine I think is likely in its perfect window. A couple years ago it was a bit too tannic, and a few years from now I worry about it losing some of its fruit vibrancy. The acid is also perfectly integrated today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2016 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Dark cherries..lush, sweet tannins. Crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2015 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 91 Points
I may have made a vital mistake with this wine... it was so good 5 years ago I decided to let all of my bottles age for the 5 years I suspected it'd take to really begin to come around. However, it was drinking so well five years ago that despite the fact that I thought it'd improve there really was no reason not to go hog wild with them. Anyway, onto the note of the second bottle of this that I've opened. On a pop and pour this was showing quite a bit of aged funky notes, but luckily most of this blew off after 30 minutes. The wine has now been in the glass an hour. Color is very dark, with a little haunting blood color to it. Aromas are lovely, showing some strong, deep fruit tones, but this is balanced nicely with heavy graphite and wet stone notes. The palate texture is quite elegant and soft, on the lighter end of the spectrum, but soft and pretty. The flavors are smooth and graceful showing blueberry notes, but this time a little older, with complete acidity and on the lighter end of tannins. Moderate to light acid on the finish, this is now showing more middle mature fruit tones that are muted in comparison to the expression five years ago. Tannins are present but integrated quite finely, and certainly not imposing or in the way as with the original bottle. The finish is actually quite less expressive than the first bottle was, almost feeling tired compared to that exuberant wine. This is most certainly a lovely wine today, just not near the example it was on release. I'll probably get into another bottle in the next year to confirm this sampling. If this bottle is representative I won't hesitate to begin regular consumption.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2011 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
This wine, a "ringer", was tasted in what was to have been single-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. (Veneto/Fruili-Venezia Guilia theme tasting). The bottle was kindly provided by John Pollack, and was serially tasted over a two-hour period. The robe is opaque ruby and the nose shows explosive aromas of ripe plums, earth, iron and cherries. Full-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity and big sweet tannins. The flavors are luscious and primarily those of ripe plums and tart cherries. The middle palate is full and the finish is very long and smooth. Simply beautiful! Drink now-12/20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2009 - rbschreier wrote: 88 Points
A bit plain. needed much more time in the glass than we gave it (1 hour). Simple, not complex. Young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2009 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
92 is very conservative. This wine needs 4-6 years before touching next, but probably 12-16 is when you'll really want to drink it. A LOT going on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2009 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 94 Points
Yup... this wine rules. Popped and poured. In glass one hour. Nice, dark garnet color. Nose is beautiful Italy, showing graphite, chalk, soil, black raspberry, flint, a freshly built barn, and blueberry seeds (what, you've never de-seeded a blueberry?). Beautiful stuff. I could smell this for days. The beauty continues to the palate where this shows quite a bit of minerality, violets, dirt clod, bigger, vibrant fruits (blueberry, strawberry, maybe even some cranberry), with very nice integration of acid and tannin. The transition to the finish is sheer class, as a velvet drape envelops the palate leaving a mix of charcoal, red and blue fruits, minerals, some cracked pepper, and just lasts and lasts on the tongue... more than the flavors, this wine is about class with seamless beauty throughout. I think this will become a rock star in 10 years, but it is so gorgeous today it will be hard to keep my hands off the remaining bottles. The 6 I have is not enough...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment