Darker translucent ruby. Copious floral scents of roses and violets on the nose, joined by raspberry, forest floor, and fine earth. Layers of buoyant, ripe, and gently tart red berry fruit cut with iron bits and rocky earth on the palate. Refreshing acidity and smoothed but structured tannin leading to a long finish of brier, raspberry, and grippy iron granules. Beautiful in its adolescence, this wine has a bright future.
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Gorgeous. Drinking young, and beautifully, right now. Completely different than previous bottle 4 years ago, which was either slightly off or in a closed phase.
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Popped and poured. Great nose of red fruits, and herbs. Taste of strawberry, cherry, blueberry, herb de provence. Good, rounded tannins and great acid levels. Long, smooth, finish of blackberry, cherry and leather.
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Opened with some reduction but it mostly dissipated with air. An intense wine, it finishes with some herbaceous elements. I can see it confusing some as being from California.
-- cork pulled one hour before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over two days --
NOSE: expressive; soft, medium oak; red-fruited – tangy/tart/cool; smells like it's going to be tart, ripe, and delicious.
BODY: medium-light bodied.
TASTE: a bit thin/bitter/green, which I was not expecting considering the aromatics and vintage --- a strong "dried herbs" notes pushes forward on the finish, so maybe this bitter/green thing is a concentrated dried herbs note; earthy, but not funky; 13.9% is noticeable just a tiny bit; hint of sweetness emerges approx. 3 hours after opening; a bit better on Day 2 than on Day 1: fruitier on Day 2, with perhaps a touch of sweet fruit flavor. I wonder how this assemblage compares to that of the '01 Francesca's (50% Pisoni, 25% Garys', 25% Fiddlestix).
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The 2006 Francesca's Cuvée starts off with aromas of red cherries, underbrush and spices. On the palate, the it is complex and powerful, with stong, yet well-integrated, acidity. Really coats the tastebuds, but somehow is still light on its feet. Finishes very long, with some still-unresolved tannin that will surely recede into the background given enough bottle age. My guess is that peak drinking might be five years away. However, the wine is quite good already, especially with extended aeration. 94+.
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Way too young, but an excellent pinot. Wonderful nose, full mouthfeel with flavorsof strawberry, earth, cherry and a touch of anise. Long, tannic finish. I wish I had more.
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4/9/2021 - DougLee wrote: 92 Points
Darker translucent ruby. Copious floral scents of roses and violets on the nose, joined by raspberry, forest floor, and fine earth. Layers of buoyant, ripe, and gently tart red berry fruit cut with iron bits and rocky earth on the palate. Refreshing acidity and smoothed but structured tannin leading to a long finish of brier, raspberry, and grippy iron granules. Beautiful in its adolescence, this wine has a bright future.
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11/22/2020 - scott w Likes this wine:
Drank last night and she's beautiful, dark in color but light on it's feet, good acid and medium tannin.
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8/24/2019 - grafstrb wrote:
Gorgeous. Drinking young, and beautifully, right now. Completely different than previous bottle 4 years ago, which was either slightly off or in a closed phase.
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2/14/2016 - Blue Shorts Likes this wine: 94 Points
I'm glad that I still have one bottle left. Wow.
Popped and poured. Great nose of red fruits, and herbs. Taste of strawberry, cherry, blueberry, herb de provence. Good, rounded tannins and great acid levels. Long, smooth, finish of blackberry, cherry and leather.
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1/16/2016 - decaturwinedude wrote:
Too soon.
Brilliance. Eventually
Grafs and Joes notes prior to mine are spot on.
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1/15/2016 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Opened with some reduction but it mostly dissipated with air. An intense wine, it finishes with some herbaceous elements. I can see it confusing some as being from California.
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10/21/2015 - grafstrb wrote:
-- cork pulled one hour before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over two days --
NOSE: expressive; soft, medium oak; red-fruited – tangy/tart/cool; smells like it's going to be tart, ripe, and delicious.
BODY: medium-light bodied.
TASTE: a bit thin/bitter/green, which I was not expecting considering the aromatics and vintage --- a strong "dried herbs" notes pushes forward on the finish, so maybe this bitter/green thing is a concentrated dried herbs note; earthy, but not funky; 13.9% is noticeable just a tiny bit; hint of sweetness emerges approx. 3 hours after opening; a bit better on Day 2 than on Day 1: fruitier on Day 2, with perhaps a touch of sweet fruit flavor. I wonder how this assemblage compares to that of the '01 Francesca's (50% Pisoni, 25% Garys', 25% Fiddlestix).
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8/10/2015 - J o e wrote: 94 Points
The 2006 Francesca's Cuvée starts off with aromas of red cherries, underbrush and spices. On the palate, the it is complex and powerful, with stong, yet well-integrated, acidity. Really coats the tastebuds, but somehow is still light on its feet. Finishes very long, with some still-unresolved tannin that will surely recede into the background given enough bottle age. My guess is that peak drinking might be five years away. However, the wine is quite good already, especially with extended aeration. 94+.
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6/20/2015 - Fabrini Likes this wine: 95 Points
Needed time to open up but once it did. Wow.
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6/8/2015 - doctornoah wrote: 91 Points
New world nose, older world palate. Nicely done
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8/17/2014 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Opened nicely with decanting. The bouquet was lovely. Earth, cherry and anise on the palate and the finish lingered. Beautiful.
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9/30/2011 - Blue Shorts wrote: 94 Points
Way too young, but an excellent pinot. Wonderful nose, full mouthfeel with flavorsof strawberry, earth, cherry and a touch of anise. Long, tannic finish. I wish I had more.
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12/4/2010 - xtrmjoe wrote: 91 Points
My system (nose mouth finish) /++, Still to young will get better over the next 3-5+.
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