Settle Ponti has always been a polarizing wine for me, sometimes Bretty, occasional TCA, sometimes just not good and sometimes really good. This was a good bottle with juicy berry and herbs in the nose with berry, leather and a pleasant acidic bite.
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last bottle and like saying goodbye to a friend. should have decanted but still quite good. remains very deep, dark and rich with many years to go. still a little bit of tannin. excellent
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decanted for about 45 minutes and poured. Initially, this showed absolutely nothing on the nose, but had nice mouthfeel and was flavorfull and a bit tannic on the palate. After about two hours open, a nose suddenly appeared out of no where. I think this is in its drinking window, but could certainly go a bit longer
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My last bottle and it still had plenty of legs left. Drank along side a Biondi Santi BdM 2006 and Conterno Cicala 2012 and it didn't wilt. Interesting to try Barolo, Brunello and a Bordeaux blend wine from Tuscany together. Lovely wine with great fruit, smooth and a very pleasing velvety texture. Must get more..
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Showing a bit of maturity on the edge and a dark core, it does not appear to be a 15 year old wine. The nose has elements of dark fruit, tobacco and a hint of tar. Flavours include cherry, dark fruit and chocolate. Delicious with a very long finish.
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After lunch we all went back to the office to work on the budget so we decided to open a bottle. This bottle was much better than the one we had 6 months ago. We pnp'd. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish.
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This one still has a lot of ripe fruit. Plenty of spice box, dark chocolate & cassis still, but there is development too in the mushroom, licorice, dried cedar, juniper and incense. Very well balanced on the palate, tannins still fuzzy but lifted enough to match the richness of the fruit. Has a sanguine tinge on the finish that is crazy good but the alcohol/spice is there as well. A little bit more full throttle but this has aged very well. . 45 Merlot, 40 Cab, 15 PV.
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lots of plum, dark red fruits; tannins are medium - not the smoothest finish; pretty big core of fruit which made this a solid enjoyable wine with a marinated skirt steak. i dont see this getting better with age so good time to drink up
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I keep dipping back into this every now and then and expecting the wine to show some more age each time but it never seems to and I would say this has still got a few years to run. Shame it's taken me 5 bottles to find that out so I've only got one left which I will bury for a while. Bordeaux style Tuscan with a beautiful rich berry nose and great silky smooth fruit on the palate. Lingers long in the mouth.
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Great pizza wine tonight. Dense and powerful black berries and cherries throughout with espresso and dark chocolate, all with very good concentration and freshness. Very good now.
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I popped the cork about 1.5 hours before dinner. It tasted harsh and tannic. I poured some through an aerator into a decanter and let it sit. Still would not soften up. Put the cork back in and let it stand in the fridge overnight. Tried it again last night. It did soften up and became drinkable but not great. I had a glass and used the rest for cooking. What I drank had dark berries, plums and hints of menthol.
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At my birthday lunch at the club. We pnp'd. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish. This wine is aging well.
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I have to tell you, this one surprised me. Bought it at least 10 years ago when I collected more Italian wine. I really enjoyed this. Feel like it’s bold fruit forward style has diminished and now has a more integrated balance palate with soft tannins. It’s in a great spot.
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Opened for me and my fiancés engagement celebration with a vintage celebrating the year we originally met. Still a really nice amount of fruit on this one and went perfectly with the pasta served at dinner.
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Very deep nose of plums and cherries, with some leather and wet forest. Still very good acidity, with plenty of dark fruit left, and then more tertiary notes of leather and some oak/vanilla on the nice ending that show well-integrated tannins (but still present). Enjoy now but this should evolve nicely for a few more years. A great drink.
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2 hour decant. Floral flavors are overpowering, delicious but not jammy. Big and bold wine, nose of red fruits, forest floor, leather. Tannins are softening but still powerful. Well structured. Aromas are detected from afar. Nice lingering finish. Still has life for a few years.
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From a cooler vintage and blended with 20% Sangiovese, the last year Oreno was made with this grape. Medium plus intensity ruby with a youthful rim. Aromas explode from the glass. Powerful, woody, campfire note. Brand spanking new belt leather. Rich core of black fruit. Ripe but not quite jammy. Blackberry, blueberry, black cherry. Tannins are quite fine but still firm and youthful. Nicely balanced acidity, not overwhelming. Hot on the finish. Flavours are almost sweet with ripe black plum, black cherry and blueberry. Milk chocolate. Medium length finish. Still young. Will improve.
My third experience with this vintage, and along with other similar wines, a lower score represents a change in my palate, away from massive, high-decibel offerings. My sentiment, however, should take nothing away from this superior vintage of Oreno.
Loud bouquet, primarily of purple and black fruits, muddled flower petals, strong notes of sweet herbs (mint and rosemary), a balanced medicinal element, and Tuscan terroir.
Huge! An all senses flooder, in very good ways. Complete to the point of being almost overwhelming. Strapping Old World wines, particularly from Tuscany and Right Bank Bordeaux, tend to turn muddled as they age, which this wine now shows. For this reason, recommend enjoying with rich foods, marbled steak or beef stews, etc., over the next three to five years. A delightful kick in the backside!
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Cork was intact upon opening, and wine was very fragrant and could be detected several feet away from open bottle. That doesn't happen often. Very smooth wine and fully integrated. I've had Italian made cab blend before and they all seem to follow this softer but well integrated profile. Did hold together well in the bottle for next day glass. Feel its ready now. Should go well with softer meats and pasta. Recommended.
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Delicious wine that is drinking on point right now. However if I was blindfolded I would guess Cali Cab or Cab blend and not old world. This is a big new world expression of a Bordeaux blend with new oak present. It is a very very good wine but not sure I see it improving from here. Nonetheless it is excellent,
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Similar to the bottle I drank last October. My wife wanted pasta last night so we went to one of our local byob's that specializes in Italian cuisine for dinner. I opened the bottle two hours before we went and let it slow ox. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish
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PnP at a restaurant and ready to go at first pour. Lush dark fruit and good structure of acidity and resolved tannins that kept everything nicely balanced. Great wine to drink alone or with food. Not overly complex or nuanced, just a very tasty and balanced wine that will appeal to many. Great time to drink this as the fruit is still in its prime.
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Last bottle of three cellared at 57 degrees since release. This wine has many years left. Upon opening, tannins were massive. Slow oxed for about 5 hrs then drank 1/2 the bottle over the next 3 hours. From memory, awesome nose of dark fruits, great acid and monster tannins. Caulked the remaining bottle and drink the following night. Still great structure, but the wine opened up to be much better than the already-good previous night.
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A decent wine but I expected a bit more to be honest. Very musty nose but its flavors were far from it. Subtle hints of clove and dark berries while tannins has mellowed considerably. Not very dense for this type of cabernet and I feel it may be past its prime. Tremendous amount of sediment on the bottle after decanting.
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Decanted for about 2 hours. This, my second and last bottle, was much improved from the first one. Not an overly powering nose, but deep, complex flavors and excellent balance. Good to the last drop.
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Initially decanted over an hour. The wine seemed to be closed down. Flavors and aroma were surprisingly muted. Not undrinkable, but certainly unremarkable. After about 3 hours, it started showing... a little. I didn't save any for day 2. Maybe I need to wait longer on the second bottle - or decant longer?
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Bang in the drinking window. Seems to have really softened out and is a very enjoyable smooth silky wine with bags of rich dar velvety fruit. Lovely. Two left, no hurry.
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A magnificent wine. Rich and warm. Sophisticated and balanced. Cherry and smokey evergreen. A deep caramelly tar. The long vivid finish is as personal as a private cabin in spring.
Super with dark chocolate. Drink now-2024.
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This wine still had a youthful appearance with not much maturity showing on the edge; a very dark core colour. It has a richness and length that is very appealing with enough acidity to balance the predominantly black fruit flavours. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
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A very good, full bodied super tuscan that should benefit from further maturation.
Medium, dark cherry color with a little russet encroaching. Fairly intense aroma promising a rich flavor and leaving you in no doubt that it's a well developed wine. Ripe blackberries, stewed plums, vanilla and cinnamon.
Firm acid backbone and mouth coating tannins suggest this wine has a good runway left. The tannins are still reasonably robust. The flavors match the aroma - big, juicy blackberries - but also milk chocolate and a bit of a herbal and floral character - roses, mint and oregano. Quite a big body, warmth suggesting fairly high alcohol, and a nice length finish dominated by the herbs and spices.
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Great evolved nose, classic with cedar, tobacco and dark fruits, this is monolithic on the palate, pretty short finish, well made but lacking wow factor.
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Dark color with slight bricking. Black fruits with some wood on the nose. Big on palette with some spiciness and mouth-coating soft tannin that probably needs more time to resolve. Finish was short when compared to the mouthfeel.
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Have not tried a bottle since Xmas Eve 2018. (what a different world it was then huh) Anyway my wife wanted pasta so we went to one of our local byob's that specializes in Italian cuisine for a outside dinner. I opened the bottle two hours before we went and let it slow ox. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish. My wife was happy with her pasta and low carb me opted for Bronzino which obviously was not the best food paring on my end. Oh well - you got to keep the wives happy.
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Certainly growing on me, and quite good on day two also. Has characteristics of an old world wine, even with 14.5% alcohol. Plum colored with a pleasant nose. Integrated smooth fruit that complements food, but could enjoy maybe a glass on its own. Somewhat delicate finish.
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Dark hue and initial bouquet more closely resembles Calif cab than Super Tuscan. After short decant, currant aromas and flavors integrate with olive, mineral & spices. Soft, silky polished tannins and a long spicy finish. Great blend of power and elegance. Drinking very well right - 2 more years.
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Simply delicious! everyone loved it. decanted for 1.5 hours and then put it back in the bottle for an hour. Tannins completely integrated. I noticed many comments on tannins, but this might be bottle variation. Our wine was very nice. Big and full dark fruits, tobacco and leather on the secondary side. Wish I had bought more
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3 1/2 hour decant, paired with grilled strip steaks. Lovely nose and flavor, however the finish was short and lacking any qualities that would call you back for more. This was extremely disappointing in light of the 96 point reviews by Galloni "The finish is utterly exquisite in its beguiling beauty" & Suckling "with an impressive and persistent finish". I've had much better wines for a fraction of the price.
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Last bottle of 3 and at at nice point in the drinking window. Mature/Excellent. Still a sizable wine at 12 years old, even with an hour+ of air before dinner. Tannins, once huge, have settled out with some good earthy notes on nose and pallet. Nice dark fruit with a little nice spice that paired well with our grilled beef. Could be a left bank fooler in at blind tasting. I don't expect it to get a whole lot better but last for a few more years before fruit really dissipates. Has been cellared well since release.
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Still surpringly mouth puckering tannins at 12 years old. Poured into a decanter and left for two hours hours while steaks were grilling. When I came back with the steaks after decanting and the food was paired after some air the magic happened. This was great stuff with medium rare New York strip after the 2 hour decant. Integrated oak, raspberry, hints of cherry and flowers? Very smooth and balanced. Nice complexity. Judging by the tannic power on opening it’ll still hold and maybe improve a little bit for another 5-10 years but into a good drinking window with aeration now.
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Wow, a drinkable, aged Italian red. An exception to the cases that I have tasted that are bad. This wine was triple decanted, opened up an hour later, and was great with food. Showed some good fruit, good body, soft tannins. Still not enough trust from me to buy again.
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Much better than the last one I had, this was big but well balanced. Deep, penetrating dark savory fruit. Well aged, this is drinking very well right now though no sign of fading either.
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strong fruit aromas & fragrance, big structure, black fruit, aged barrel, cigar, graphite, full body like blood color, polished tanin, long lasting (food: red meats)
30mins btl breathing
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No rush on this one. Huge structure, formidable tannins, vibrant fruit. Decayed 4 hrs and it needed probably 20 more to really show its stuff. Black cherry, red licorice, leather.
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Gorgeous! Fill bodies and rich with blackberry and balsa notes giving way to a smooth and refined finish. Will be better in a year or three, but excellent now.
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Excellent Super Tuscan, 50 % Sangiovese and 25 % CS and Merlot, nice acidity, red cherry, espresso, elegant, vanilla, plum, medium to full body, long strong finish. In a great spot, drink or hold up to 5 years.
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Wine six of nine, all 2008 Bordeaux varieties (also tasted the following evening):
Along with the Pontet-Canet, the standout of the evening. While fruitier and more robust than the Pontet-Canet, the wine featured tremendous balance of fruit, oak, terroir, and structure (medium plus to high acid and medium plus tannin), along with exceptional poise and verve. It has evolved beautifully since 2014, integrating oak, and what were once gum-numbing tannins. The wine's complexity and range top the charts. It calls for food, the richer the better.
Ever more seductive on the second day, and again it ran neck and neck with the Pontet-Canet. My preference ran toward the restrained earthiness and technical precision of the Bordeaux, and yet the Oreno proved exceptionally difficult to come away from. I probably missed it more once both bottles were empty.
Still evolving, and likely to do so for another decade. It should last through 2035, give or take a year or two. Recommend holding for three to five years. 96...97?
Quick note from a 2008 bdx varietal tasting -Tight as a drum with a little bit of a green note in this bottling. Still all structure amd power with crème de cassis and dark dark fruit, tannins that reach your gums needs lots of time.
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Deep dark garnet color; opaque; some yellowing on the rim. Cherry, blackberry, cinnamon, spice, earth. Rich and intense fruit. Has the structure of a long lived wine. Long, but suttle finish. Score 93+.
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Huge nose of peperoni, a bit too much alcohol, anis & spices... Huge ripe fruit concentration, but nice freshness in the finish, hint of drying tannins.
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From a magnum opened 6 hours before our Xmas eve dinner at Harry's. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, leather , tree bark and a touch of spice. The finish was lush and full. It might have scored higher but it was served along with the 2004 Oreno which was definitely the better of the wines.
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Like so many Italian wines, this wine has taken a while for the tannins to settle and soften. On first opening, closed in and pretty tannic. I immediately decanted and it really started to open up. Tannins softed immediately, and wine was much better. Really got complex and reminded me of a well made BDX.
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Blackberry, spice, earth, sage, olive and cherry. Seems quite young and vibrant, with style and richness. A long finish and a righteous intensity. There’s some silky tannin and a long life ahead. These wines, evidently, can age rather well. Drink now - 2030.
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Decanted & enjoyed over 6 hours, last glass with Sunday Sauce. Still lots off life left in this wine, flavors of black cherries, plum & spice. Medium to full bodied with light tannic structure. Really good, perhaps more complex than other Oreno vintages.
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Evolving nose of red fruit (plum) , some blackberry, spice , vanilla and some floral aromas (violets).
Medium plus body with medium tannin and plenty of acidity to stay fresh in spite of what seems to be high alcohol. Just delicious on the palate- lots of similar flavor characteristics with great balance and a long finish. Drinking great now and will likely hold for another 10 years easily if stored properly.
The one thing this wine isn't- typically Tuscan. This is a dead ringer for a St Emilion from a warm year or a Washington State blend. I suspect there is a good portion of merlot in here.
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Still very youthful. Needed at least a 90 minute decant, but then exploded with flavours of blackberries, charcoal, and graphite. The tannins were still grippy at four hours. Concentrated, with a 50-second+ finish. Will probably leave my last bottle for 5+ years.
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Good cork, decanted for 6 hours before pairing with grilled prime rib roast. Was poured alongside an identically decanted bottle of 2005 Neal Fifteen-Forty Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Super Tuscan showed greater complexity and acidity than the Neal, and was our favorite paired with the medium rare roast. 91-93
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A serious super Tuscan than needs serious food. Paired this bottle with osso bucco and it was fantastic but on its own before dinner arrived it was very much a fighter. Still firm tannic grip with even a decade in the bottle. Boysenberry and blackberry on the palate. High acid. To repeat myself, needs food. Preferably heavy Italian food.
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A fine, well balance wine that needs an hour of air to come into its own. Silky red fruit with some spice and rocks. Not overly complex and multi layered but very pleasing to drink.
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Lovely wine very much in the Bordeaux style. Deep and dark in the glass with smooth velvety palate of dark fruit. Young though so needs plenty of air. Drank alongside some heavyweight Clarets and held it's own.
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Superbe Super-Toscan, tellement bon en ce moment. Belle structure pour encore plusieurs années. Beau fruit avec de l`anis et du thym, finale longue et fraiche sur le menthol. EXCELLENT!
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Gorgeous wine - balanced, with power, finesse and a long long finish. Expressive nose of black fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. It's rich in the mouth but also seductive caressing fruit that goes long with perfectly integrated tannins. Better after an hour+ in the decanter. Would give this another 5 years in the bottle and this blows away the 2006 tasted recently.
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Loads of current, with touches of mint and bitter chocolate. Good depth, dense, with lots of material: copious fruit, copious tannins and that strong line of high-toned acid I find in many super tuscans. It's not what I would call elegant, but the acid lends a cut that keeps it from being ponderous and maintains the fine balance. Even at 10 years or so it felt young. With all of the stuffing, it seems it can go out a long time; I don't have enough experience with this wine to know if it will turn into something more complex with age or if it is best enjoyed with the fullness of the fruit. Excellent now, though.
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Bright red fruit, smooth tannins and plenty of energy. Drinking very well at 10 years. Very good now- I don’t think this is one for linger tier, aging.
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Has a nice licorice note that reminds me of a Ripasso or light Amarone. This has a deep tone but the structure is medium-bodied. Pleasant enough but was hoping for a bit more.
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Pop and pour and tasted with food (fettucine with a tomato-basil sauce, with roasted meatballs, in case you were wondering). Dark purple color. Nose offers some back cherries, and red clay notes. Rich and luxurious offerings of black fruits with a spicy citrus core that keeps the wine lively and inviting. Nice red clay notes on the finish that gives the wine a Tuscan flair. Delicious.
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Still a bit brooding and young but almost at peak with dark chocolate and oak aromas on the nose with blackberry and chocolate notes on the palate. Fine integrated tannins that are a bit grainy on the finish but doesn’t take away from the elegance in the wine. Long finish. I’d open up in the next 5 years to get it at its peak.
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Tasted at a Kobrand event. This is a Wow! wine...It had been decanted for some time before I got my taste but not sure how long. Color is a medium to dark garnet. Lots of depth and concentration and a smokey, blackberry and cassis middle. Lots of structure and power but all in balance. This will last a long time. I wouldn't open one for at least another half decade.
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Opened and poured into a decanter. Fair level of sediment in the bottle. Dark purple color suggesting a wine younger than 9 years. Tasted with food and then followed for about 2 hours without food. Wonderful nose of dark cherries, and some chocolate notes and red clay. Full bodied and rich with dark fruits, some vanilla notes, and dark chocolate. Slight notes of oak (vanilla). Good depth of flavors. Has enough acidity to help carry the richness of the fruit. Simply delicious wine.
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Pop and pour. Rich, dark and expressive black fruits (plum and currant) but not as over the top as some vintages, with tobacco leaf notes. I thought the tannins were petty well integrated despite no decanting (which I'd still recommend).
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2008 TENUTA SETTE PONTI ORENO TOSCANA- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot; as with all of the wines in this flight, the colour was a rich, dark purple denoting a youthful wine; we had an excellent bottle with aromatics suggesting something full bodied and highly energetic; for sure, this is what followed; layers of fruit unfolded with spicy and leather laden black cherry, blackberry and black currant most prominent; there was an underlying note of oak toward the end; both me and the group head got it as #2 in a blind flight.
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Popped cork, aerated in glass for an hour then drank over 2 hours. Dark purple, tannic and tight, not getting any of the brighter notes of Sangiovese here, rather the cab merlot is primary fruit profile. Maybe decant next time, maybe tannins will resolve in a few years?
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Bone dry. Takes many hours to open. Even on second day, there remains a tightness. Aromas begin to unravel and entice by that time. Massive legs indicate high alcohol. Acidity outweighs suppleness. Yet, memorable progression over two days indicates this wine will evolve into a spectacular Tuscan gem, given years of patience and slumber in the cellar.
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No, no, no. Just too early 2/3 hours out of the bottle. You can tell it's good and the rich dark fruit is under there somewhere but it just needs more time for the acidity to soften. Cork back in for another four days or so and then we'll see...
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Abundant aromas upon opening, including red currants, flora and liquid smoke. I let this breathe up for two hours, but it actually seemed to tighten up. Saturated entry. This is black hearted with blackberry reduction, cassis and ash. Very dry, medium minus finish. Classy texture. This could pass for Bordeaux. Modern. This could use another 1-3 years. 92
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Great! I agree with the ratings of the professionals. Old world wine made modern. Wife guessed Napa but then questioned the choice. Red fruits, currants, rose pedals. A hint of limestone. Good acidity. Blackberries emerging after an hour. Gaining weight now. A hint of lavender. Floral. Dried flowers. Cassis. Mint is now coming out which is overpowering the fruit. Just wow.
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First and foremost- if you are a fan of "place" (whatever that means) this wine is not for you. There is not a hint of Tuscany in this wine.
Deep Ruby appearance .
Evolving and complex nose of candied red fruits, baking spices, vanilla and cigar tobacco.
Full bodied with medium tannin and plenty of zippy acidity at age 9 to keep things fresh. Tons of fruit, vanilla , tobacco and minerality on the palate with a long finish.
My best guess is that this is higher on the Merlot than the Cabernet with a bit of sangiovese thrown in.
A great wine that would be a dead ringer for a St Emilion from a warm year in a blind tasting . Drink now or hold for a decade.
Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, roses and wood spices. Ripe, nicely integrated, low acid fruit in the mouth with excellent depth and a long, somewhat voluptuous finish. Very elegant and suave on the palate. I found this delicious wine to be at the very beginning of its peak drinking period.
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Very solid cork and stained deep burgundy. Very fragrant upon first opening. Knew this was majority cabernet when I bought it but tasted more like a blend of perhaps Sangiovese, except I understand there is none in it. Never really had that distinct cab flavor but the blend was still very nice. Pro review called elegant and I agree. There is a nice balance and profile of different fruits and grapes in this wine that works, and a lightness I can only describe as finesse. The most astounding and impressive thing was I had wine in the bottle for over a week, and it was best today, the last day, and this is where I did detect more cabernet. I've never had a wine stay together for so long. Most degrade or the fruit recedes and other flavors, not all good, surface. With this wine it was the opposite. That was impressive. Recommended and wondering what my last bottle will be like. Plan at least another five years for aging and it should make it standing on its head.
Beginning its prime. Very good balance, blackberry and plum. Tannins still very present with acidity (not overwhelming) on the finish. Good length but not very complex.
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Two magnums: one slo-oxed for 4 hours and decanted for another 4; one opened shortly before being poured. Killer nose of dark currants, pepper and a touch of charcoal. Vibrant minerality, well balanced with the savory fruit notes and some mint. Harmonious and lush. Killer finish.
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Drinking well, continued to open up for a couple hours after decanting. Nice mouth-feel, good balance, round tannin and some acidity that was in no way excessive. 93-94 pts
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Scoring this a bit lower than last time as it had a slightly "off" taste that might have been a flaw but my palate was fatigued as this was the last bottle opened after dinner with friends.
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Decanted for two hours; light sediment. Medium ruby red to the rim. Lovely floral nose of blueberries and licorice. Delicious medium-to-full bodied red fruit on the palate, well-balanced by acids and tannins, plus a little sweetness. Lengthy finish. Overall, a beautiful wine that is probably reaching its prime drinking window. Should drink well for at least five more years.
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Drank at Campiello with Minnesota relatives celebrating Joe's graduation. Was eye opening as I know almost nothing about Italians. Drank as cocktail, so no food to fight with. Round, fruit-forward, long. Enjoyed a lot, as did everyone at the table.
Just purchased a case of this. This time had no decanting. Its an opulent, juicy and modern super tuscany. Very fleshy with big oak on both the nose and palate. It was better last time with a long decant. Its enjoyable and good qpr
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Lack of acidity is odd -- even for a "modern style" Super Tuscan. Really nice flavor and nose with prominent, but sweet tannins. I liked this a lot, but can see how Tuscany purists could be disappointed.
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Deep purple hue. Delicate perfume of dark berries and vanilla. Certainly an international style Super Tuscan. Good structure but a bit hot and lacking fruit mid palate. One of the more disappointing wines I've had in some time.
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Drank at Christmas Day dinner following a 1990 Conterno Cicala Bussia Barolo. Mint, cassis and big red fruit. Tannins still grippy but lots of acid too, keeping things in balance. A good 7-8 years to go. Wonderful wine.
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Slow oxed for 8 hours. Nose had cedar wood, blue fruits, black fruits, violets, and some tobacco leaf. The palate expressed sweet red fruits, blue fruits and cinnamon. A balanced wine. Palate was better than the nose. Drinking nicely now.
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Best I can remember this wine. Blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, espresso. Lots of concentration. Better balance and length vs a couple of bottles from 6-12 months ago.
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from magnum. very much a dark bitter cherry, with profound bitterness well into the midpalate and finish. more palatable with food, but i couldnt find much attractive going on here. dumb phase?/young
Brought to CT SEA Super-Tuscan tasting night, where it came in tied for 2nd (and third) out of 6. Most thought this was from 2010 or 2011 on initial taste, another sign of how slowly wines age in my cellar. Lots of red fruit on the nose, and lots of tobacco on the finish. It softened the second night (one glass left over), and was even better, thought likely still behind the 2004 Tig I had last night.
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Lovely wine - full bodied, tannic with loads of fruit. Well balanced. Drinking beautifully now. I imagine this will improve over time, but why wait. I just discovered Fine & Rare selling this for £166 per 6-pack - I quickly bought another.
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Aroma of raspberries, mint, cassis, and licorice and rose petals. Strikingly smooth and elegant with blackberry and spice. Full to medium bodied. It seems to have the weight and balance of a wine from Margaux. Very refined. Drinking well now
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This is still too early but I really wanted to try it. Rewarding. The wine has a warm, expressive nose though with an off-putting whiff of alcohol. All is forgiven when the wine gets in the mouth. Lush and soft opening with black cherry compote, evolving to warm stewed red fruit preserves. (Sorry. Tried to nail it down but failed.) the finish is long with a bit of eaucalyptus and minerality and ripe red fruit, though shut down by strong fine tannins. If I had half a case of this in the cellar which, sadly, I do not, I would open one every two years and be dramatically rewarded on bottles 3 - 6. This is a special wine, even with its youthful indiscretions.
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Black and blue fruit with some vanilla and chocolate notes. Much like another bottle from a few weeks ago, but slightly more firm, slightly less evolved/ nuanced.
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Nicely floral start with black and blue fruit. Still a bit firm, but with nicely rich, rounded fruit, hints of chocolate and espresso. Lots of energy. Good now, better with some air. Probably better in a few more years.
Opened by smartlysauced. My favorite red at the tasting. Deep purple color. Violet aromas. Firm tannins. Notes of lavender, cocoa, currant and mint. Round texture. This was the best Oreno I have had which includes the 2001, 2004 and 2005. 93-94 points.
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Two 750ml bottles, courtesy of smartlysauced. Licorice, plum and dark fruit aromas. Tannins are still quite firm and chalky in texture. Flavors of plum, dark fruit and leather with spice and plum on the finish. Needs some time. Drink from 2018+.
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Quick notes from a blind tasting with Motz - the 1st note I pulled from this wine was this beautiful mineral-cherry-seaweed thing that I get out of some of my favorite wines that happen to be biodynamically farmed. This was absolutely explosive on the palate with teeth staining and palate enveloping flavors and complexities with pine/eucalyptus , cherry, tomato paste, earth/rock, lush dark berries, bitter coco and a finish that would not quite. The is the perfect example of a massively hedonistic wine that somehow keeps everything in check and balanced. This is a wine I would love to decipher a meal. Thanks again for sharing Motz.
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Consumed over three days; among the most memorable tasting experiences of this year. Opened Friday morning and finished Sunday evening. Upon opening, it featured a remarkably appealing bouquet and a smooth, polished mouthfeel. After about 8 hours of slow-oxed air, the wine began to show its teeth, and by the second day tremendous tannic structure had come out to play.
A wine of countless layers, including dark chocolate, espresso, gravel, ink, graphite, juniper, mint, eucalyptus, Mediterranean herbs, Tuscan dustiness, alluvial silt, blackcurrant, and crème de cassis. Stupendous texture and balance, incredible harmony. Structure to go enhances a finish that does not quit. By Sunday, this stunner had fully come into its own, delivering indescribably seamless pleasure. Charming, sophisticated, and stalwart.
Recommend holding this as it will likely improve. Indeed, this could score 97+ with 5+ years of cellaring. If drinking now, decant for at least 8 hours. This is the third vintage of Oreno it has been my privilege to sample, and for my money it ranks among the very best Super Tuscans in quality, and unquestionably the best valued.
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Still could use some years, but very well made and enjoyable. Dark fruits, cocoa and some spices, with a decent finish. All done as good as can be, just lacking a full on wow factor for some reason.
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First bottle since December, 2011. Noticeably less tight and restrained now. Still not particularly impressive on the nose, but very rich and focused on the palate. There is remarkable depth and definition to the raspberry, plum and dark currant fruit here. Finishes much longer now - with abundant, mouth-puckering tannins that have barely begun to integrate. True to its pedigree, this wine is built for the long haul and has clearly improved over the past two and a half years. Not yet quite as broad and complex as the 2006 or 2007, but it is closing the gap. Should continue to develop nicely over the next 3-5 years. 92+ 50+5+12+17+8=92
Good wine. Pleased me. Floral aromas, plum, and minerality. In the mouth, harsh tannins, good acidity and long. Young needs time to integrate its components. The problem with this wine is the price, very expensive. One can find similar wines or even more expressive in terms of the region, at lower prices.
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PnP. Beautiful floral nose of violets, roses, blueberries, essence of cassis and a trace of earth. Plush and refined fruit forward mouthfeel. Long, slightly mineral finish with abundant fine tannins. Excellent blend with the merlot being the most obvious. Very enjoyable and came across more like a California wine than Italian.
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Not easy to love at this age. Deep purple, with a nose of cassis sorbet, licorice, tar, torrified coffee. But savage and closed, very tannic, mouth puckering acidity. Needs another five or eight years! At peak could merit 94. Or maybe not: very hard to judge right now.
Dinner with the Keegan's (Our house): Bottle 2 with dinner. A close #2 for me, tied for first overall. The girls favorite. This really opened up after 3 or so hours and I had the impression even more time would have been better. Really nice black cherry note with the darker fruits, probably the most balanced of the 4 wines not leaning too much to the fruit or too much to the leaner side. Glad I have another bottle to hold for a few more years. Expect in to jump a point or 2.
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Two-hour decant. Mint, cassis and red fruit on the nose, with cocoa, cherry, and plum notes. Medium bodied, with firm tannins and balanced acidity. At least five more years of growth to go here. Not worth popping another one of these for a while. All the makings of a gem, but not there yet.
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Antonio Galloni @ Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and James Suckling all award this wine 96 Points (which is why I thought to buy it) and other CT reviews seem very positive. I guess I'm the odd man out.. mint and smoke on the nose (nicest part IMHO). On the palate: light candied cherries with minerality, acidity and fairly heavy tannins -- really nice, but nothing extraordinary. Guess it's just me.
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PnVnD let air for 3 hrs. Dense saturated purple black with a violet rim. Closed noise with hints of cassis tobacco and dark chocolate. Medium(+) weight with grippy yet polished tannins. Cassis Bing cherry dark chocolate and a slight herbal note. Drank over several hours and kept opening up and getting better. Don't think I see it as a 96 point wine but lots of life ahead. Will not open another for at least 2 years.
Sealed the rest of the bottle and left in the fridge for three days. What a difference. has opened up with abundant fruit and complex mineral notes with tons of balance. Awesome. +2
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Beau vin élégant à la texture soyeuse, beaucoup de classe ici. Un nez envoutant sur les framboises, les bleuets et une pointe florale. La bouche est gourmande, beaucoup de fruits et de mâche. Les tannins sont fins et a finale longue et persistante. Très beau et équilibré...ça coule bien.
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Decanted 4 hours. Tannins still quite evident. Suggest 2 more years prior to opening next bottle. Medium to Full bodied with a taste of blackberry, cherry & tobacco.
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Infanticide even with aeration, but you can taste the possibilities, actually opened the '07 but it was corked and wanted to maintain the theme of spectacular Italian Thanksgiving wines, okay we're not Italian but wanted to have spectacular wines and for some reason the Oreno and the Sassacaia that is to follow seemed appropriate - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black fruit, plum, earth, tobacco and vanilla, intense tannic structure, very complex, dusty dry on the palate with amazing length, should've waited on this one! (95 Points).
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Chocolate, coffee, mocha. Red, black and stone fruit. Lots going on. Some spice. Some minor high notes. Broad and expansive on the palate. Mouth filling and coating palate is not yet fully integrated. Great acid holds it together though. Better later, I suspect; I'll be back in 2015 for the next one... PDQ93
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A little aggressive yet, very young, but it has the makings of something quite remarkable so long as I keep my hands off it for about five to ten years. Still a bit too much oak, striking an unbalanced note, but deep black flavors with a bit of chocolate on the finish. Bakers chocolate. This is good stuff, once one gets past the oak and still tight, drying tannins. Better than this note indicates. Patience will be rewarded, I believe.
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Dark berries, chocolate, and oak are the main flavors. None of the olive or licorice flavors that are often associated with italian wines. It was still pretty tight after an hour and a half decant. It's enjoyable now but I think it will be a lot better in a couple of years once the flavors have had more time to separate themselves out.
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Elegant, balanced, and complex, and very drinkable now unless you're one of those who insists on waiting until the fruit dies down. But why do that when the flavors are so appealing now? Of course, if you have several bottles it will be fun to see how the wine evolves. I'm far from sad that I drank mine now.
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this wine is so young with so much potential. it is dense but light on the palate, great tannins so i can imagine this will be a 20 year wine if you wanted to lay it down and forget about it. i think between 2015-2020 it would be at it's peak. consistent tasting notes.
to sum it up - old world style italian super tuscan that you just want to drink the shit out of!
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Little muted on the nose, nice fruit and you can really notice the silky quality but there is still a fair amount of tannin that seems like it will need at least 3+ years.
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Much different than other vintages and at this point, my least favorite. Reticent nose of plum. Dark ruby, medium body, sweet plum and cassis fruit overwhelms the delicate structure. This drinks more like a Grenache blend, maybe Priorat or Roussillon wine than an Italian. Wait to see what happens in the next few years.
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Tenuta Sette Ponti "Oreno" Dinner (Otto e Mezzo, Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong): From magnum, ex-chateau library. 100% Bordeaux blend (the first year they dropped the Sangiovese). Compared to the 2006 it is a lighter semi-transparent velvety pluch ruby colour transparent at the meniscus. Nose is deeper than the Sangiovese-influenced 2006….oaked but rounded blackberry and raspberry fruit, , a smoky element… overall, fresh, bright and young. Palate is lovely easy-to-like velvety Merlot-driven satin and good red fruits at the raspberry spectrum wrapped in a very elegant, re ined nd bright acidity. Extremely well made. A very good drinker…..actually, it’s brilliant to drink now as long as you like fruit-forward wines, which I guess is what they are trying to achieve by dropping the traditional Sangiovese component. Actually, when re-visited at the end of the evening it had started to display more violet-driven perfumed Italian typicity….but more like a Barbaresco than a Tuscan wine..so I’m still confused but intruiged. Brilliant but 90-91.
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Very nice, however, it is clearly very Bordeaux-like (soft, elegant, milky/creamy/silky), with none of the cherry and little of the acidity that was apparent in older vintages (circa 2001) of this wine. Tannins are soft and "easy". Oak a bit too prominent, but may age into a nice claret-styled wine. There is some spice here, and fruit concentration is nice...wish the oak were dialed down a bit.
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‘Oreno’ is the flagship wine of the Tenuta Sette Ponti (Chianti region, 20 km northwesterly of the city of Arezzo) ; an internationally styled Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese-blend, that was aged for 12 months in new oak barriques. Decanted: 3 hours before tasting. Nice, bright ruby-red color (yet lighter in color than most of the other Super Tuscan wines) and an alluring nose of blueberries, smoke, saddle leather and a touch of oak. Very (too) elegant, medium-bodied palate displaying refined red and black fruit components, polished tannins, but (in my opinion) the wine could be a bit more concentrated. Harmonious finish. (Perhaps it was opened prematurely.)
'Oreno' is het vlaggenschip van de Tenuta Sette Ponti (Chiantistreek, 20 km ten noordwesten van de stad Arezzo); een Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese-blend, gemaakt in een internationale stijl, die een rijping van 12 maanden op nieuwe eik meekreeg. Gedecanteerd: 3 uur voor consumptie. Mooie, heldere robijnrode kleur (lichter van kleur dan de meeste andere ‘Super Tuscans’) en een verleidelijke neus van bosbessen, zadelleer, rokerige nuances en een vleugje eik. Een zeer (te) elegante wijn, middelkrachtig van smaak, met verfijnde componenten van rood en zwart fruit, gepolijste tannines, doch hij kon wat geconcentreerder zijn (naar mijn mening). Harmonieuze afdronk. (Misschien werd de wijn wat te vroeg ontkurkt).
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seriously i dont understand y tis bttl cn score 96 pts.its definitely a veri young bttl as i cn detect the heat of the alcohol.rather chewy with nice tannins.nt a balance wine.tis bttl realli need at least 8yrs.overall stil a decent bttl at the present moment.
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Expressive nose of blackberry, violets, tobacco and cocoa. medium plus body of black currants, sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and earth. Medium plus balanced finish.
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Hmm. This one took 3 days to open up. On the first night it was good but a little messy and tight. Second night wasn't much dif. Third night hits the spot but there is more to come I'm sure.
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Nice easy drinking Tuscan with good depth but very little resolve; not particularly tannic, just dull on the back end. This is night and day from the '06 which is a bit monolithic and dense. While I think I enjoy this style more, it needs to offer a bit more over the coming years to be something worth following in the long run.
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Drank at an italian restaurant in Orange county. A massive wine! Very bold and concentrated. Crashed berries, jammy, chunky tannins, chewy, but very refined, smooth while so powerful. Unbelieveable. Just bought a case (6). Buy it when you can - you won't regret. Cellar it for 10-20 yr.
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The 2008 Oreno is really alive and more elegant than previous vintages. It is packed with gorgeous blackberry, crushed floral, saddle leather, smoke and mineral notes. The rock solid structure and beautiful balance combined with a super long finish that carries on and on make this is a superb wine. The 2008 blend consists of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. (Best from 2013-2026) - JD
93+ POINTS
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Very dark in color with a slightly closed nose of blackberries and spice. This is very rich and tannic. There's no Sangiovese in the blend for 2008 and it's noticeably absent from the nose and the palate. Much more in the style of a Bordeaux/Claret than previous vintages. The tannins are very fine and persist well into the silky finish which contains a nice mineral streak. This is obviously a very well made and highly polished wine, but still quite tightly wound and reserved at this early stage. Not yet drinking like a nearly $70 bottle. Will need at least another 3-4 years in the cellar before realizing its full potential. 50+5+12+16+8=91
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What ChrisW97 said. I know the pros say to wait a few more years but with a lot of air these are good now. Had a glass with an hour of air and it was good. Corked the bottle and finished it the next night and it was wonderful.
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A nice dark purple color. Almost sweet strawberry jam on the nose, with a mix of raspberry vanilla and blueberries. Beautifully strong fruit, with some flowers. This was gorgeously lush and silky on the palate with the continuation of fruit that was still contained and elegant. Tannins came in soft and late almost like an after thought, almost chewy. A really elegant and balanced effort from Tenuta Sette Ponti and has a great qpr. My colleague brought this to a blind tasting and won straight against 18 other super tuscans on that evening.
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First night was a bit sour and harsh, despite having sat in the decanter for a few hours. Re bottled and drank the next night, at which point it had gotten much better. Going to put away my other two for awhile.
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2011 Casual Session - 6 @ ES: Alcohol :: 14.5% First access, very dark ruby that is bright with red hue. Plum, tobacco, mineral, wood spice slightly backward metallic nose that is deep with good scale. Fresh, with fine tannin and medium structure that covered the concentrated blakcurrant and plum infuse flavor that sail alongside with wood spice, linear with fine grained powdery texture tannin that caressing the palate and leads all the way to the detail, focus finish. With time, this turn juicier with flavors of coffee, sweet creamy vanilla oak, dark chocolate and blackberry. At this price, this clearly delivered. Buy - Maybe - Yes.
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Sunday Afternoon after Cycling (Extra Space, Boon Keng, Singapore): Deep dark color. Some medicated oil on the nose and clearly not a Bordeaux. Big, ripe and dark fruited although the tannins were not as huge as expected. A wine of relative finesse with good structure and extract. A well made wine.
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Popped and poured. First glass closed. Gradually opened up after 2 hrs. Nose had notes of cedar, forest floor, cigar box, licorice, bitter dark chocolate. Smooth tannins. Odd impression of sweetness. More 89 points at the beginning, but 93-94 as it's opened up.
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Un vin avec une belle ampltitude, robe foncée, le fruit est bien présent. Toutefois, le vin est à ce stade-ci un peu trop alcooleux. Tout de même un beau vin, mais il n'est pas aussi équilibré que je l'aurai espéré dû à l'alcool trop prononcé. En espérant que ce défaut se réglera avec le temps.
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I received my shipment on Friday, 4/1/11, and opened a bottle on Saturday. I was pleasantly surprised at both the taste, color, and smell of this young wine. I expected it to be a little brash and young, but it was well balanced and very, very nice. I did not have to let it breathe long, just an hour or so and I would agree with the WS rating of 96 points. I should have ordered more.
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4/16/2024 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
Settle Ponti has always been a polarizing wine for me, sometimes Bretty, occasional TCA, sometimes just not good and sometimes really good. This was a good bottle with juicy berry and herbs in the nose with berry, leather and a pleasant acidic bite.
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2/12/2024 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Highish volatile acidity with a silky mouthfeel, keytone and herbs in the nose. A little thin. I’d drink within 2024
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1/2/2024 - DravlaH wrote: 93 Points
Drinks great, but its now Jan 2 so this is from memory!
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11/5/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I probably like these more than others. Needs to have a short decant, and is a little old world, but is refiined and smooth.
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9/16/2023 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unfortunately, the end.
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9/10/2023 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely. Drink up.
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7/26/2023 - cweiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Will only improve over time.
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6/22/2023 - Mr T wrote:
last bottle and like saying goodbye to a friend. should have decanted but still quite good. remains very deep, dark and rich with many years to go. still a little bit of tannin. excellent
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6/16/2023 - cweiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decant first
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6/12/2023 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lot's of time left.
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5/20/2023 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Should have decanted.
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4/30/2023 - thalver wrote:
decanted for about 45 minutes and poured. Initially, this showed absolutely nothing on the nose, but had nice mouthfeel and was flavorfull and a bit tannic on the palate. After about two hours open, a nose suddenly appeared out of no where. I think this is in its drinking window, but could certainly go a bit longer
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4/15/2023 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to the 1/28/17 bottle.
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4/11/2023 - DFBW Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle and it still had plenty of legs left. Drank along side a Biondi Santi BdM 2006 and Conterno Cicala 2012 and it didn't wilt. Interesting to try Barolo, Brunello and a Bordeaux blend wine from Tuscany together. Lovely wine with great fruit, smooth and a very pleasing velvety texture. Must get more..
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2/10/2023 - LuckyLars Likes this wine: 93 Points
Showing a bit of maturity on the edge and a dark core, it does not appear to be a 15 year old wine. The nose has elements of dark fruit, tobacco and a hint of tar. Flavours include cherry, dark fruit and chocolate. Delicious with a very long finish.
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1/21/2023 - DravlaH Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank for Xmas dinner. Fantastic!
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11/21/2022 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid, smooth, pairs well with fruit. Reasonably full-bodied. Drinks to its price point.
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11/8/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
After lunch we all went back to the office to work on the budget so we decided to open a bottle. This bottle was much better than the one we had 6 months ago. We pnp'd. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish.
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11/6/2022 - Mr T wrote:
I thought this was fantastic
Great fruit
Balanced acid and tannin
94
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9/21/2022 - rjmp96 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This one still has a lot of ripe fruit. Plenty of spice box, dark chocolate & cassis still, but there is development too in the mushroom, licorice, dried cedar, juniper and incense. Very well balanced on the palate, tannins still fuzzy but lifted enough to match the richness of the fruit. Has a sanguine tinge on the finish that is crazy good but the alcohol/spice is there as well. A little bit more full throttle but this has aged very well. . 45 Merlot, 40 Cab, 15 PV.
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9/3/2022 - winelover1808 Likes this wine: 91 Points
lots of plum, dark red fruits; tannins are medium - not the smoothest finish; pretty big core of fruit which made this a solid enjoyable wine with a marinated skirt steak. i dont see this getting better with age so good time to drink up
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7/15/2022 - DFBW Likes this wine: 93 Points
I keep dipping back into this every now and then and expecting the wine to show some more age each time but it never seems to and I would say this has still got a few years to run. Shame it's taken me 5 bottles to find that out so I've only got one left which I will bury for a while. Bordeaux style Tuscan with a beautiful rich berry nose and great silky smooth fruit on the palate. Lingers long in the mouth.
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7/12/2022 - KL1975 wrote: 92 Points
More Bordeaux than Tuscany (different to a Giusto di Notri 2007 some weeks ago), still quite young and 5-10 years left for further development, 92+
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6/7/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Great pizza wine tonight. Dense and powerful black berries and cherries throughout with espresso and dark chocolate, all with very good concentration and freshness. Very good now.
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5/2/2022 - markcic wrote: 88 Points
I popped the cork about 1.5 hours before dinner. It tasted harsh and tannic. I poured some through an aerator into a decanter and let it sit. Still would not soften up. Put the cork back in and let it stand in the fridge overnight. Tried it again last night. It did soften up and became drinkable but not great. I had a glass and used the rest for cooking. What I drank had dark berries, plums and hints of menthol.
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4/26/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
At my birthday lunch at the club. We pnp'd. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish. This wine is aging well.
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1/22/2022 - Zunga Likes this wine: 91 Points
I have to tell you, this one surprised me. Bought it at least 10 years ago when I collected more Italian wine. I really enjoyed this. Feel like it’s bold fruit forward style has diminished and now has a more integrated balance palate with soft tannins. It’s in a great spot.
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12/21/2021 - nccaps20 wrote: 93 Points
Opened for me and my fiancés engagement celebration with a vintage celebrating the year we originally met. Still a really nice amount of fruit on this one and went perfectly with the pasta served at dinner.
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11/15/2021 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very deep nose of plums and cherries, with some leather and wet forest. Still very good acidity, with plenty of dark fruit left, and then more tertiary notes of leather and some oak/vanilla on the nice ending that show well-integrated tannins (but still present). Enjoy now but this should evolve nicely for a few more years. A great drink.
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11/14/2021 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Floral flavors are overpowering, delicious but not jammy. Big and bold wine, nose of red fruits, forest floor, leather. Tannins are softening but still powerful. Well structured. Aromas are detected from afar. Nice lingering finish. Still has life for a few years.
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11/5/2021 - DMET Likes this wine: 96 Points
Big, bold and fruity… decanted for 4 hours and that wasn’t enough still at its peak. Have 5 more bottles left
Awesome wine.
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10/27/2021 - MS86 Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a cooler vintage and blended with 20% Sangiovese, the last year Oreno was made with this grape.
Medium plus intensity ruby with a youthful rim.
Aromas explode from the glass. Powerful, woody, campfire note. Brand spanking new belt leather. Rich core of black fruit. Ripe but not quite jammy. Blackberry, blueberry, black cherry.
Tannins are quite fine but still firm and youthful. Nicely balanced acidity, not overwhelming. Hot on the finish.
Flavours are almost sweet with ripe black plum, black cherry and blueberry. Milk chocolate.
Medium length finish. Still young. Will improve.
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10/8/2021 - Motz wrote: 94 Points
Tasted over two days.
My third experience with this vintage, and along with other similar wines, a lower score represents a change in my palate, away from massive, high-decibel offerings. My sentiment, however, should take nothing away from this superior vintage of Oreno.
Loud bouquet, primarily of purple and black fruits, muddled flower petals, strong notes of sweet herbs (mint and rosemary), a balanced medicinal element, and Tuscan terroir.
Huge! An all senses flooder, in very good ways. Complete to the point of being almost overwhelming. Strapping Old World wines, particularly from Tuscany and Right Bank Bordeaux, tend to turn muddled as they age, which this wine now shows. For this reason, recommend enjoying with rich foods, marbled steak or beef stews, etc., over the next three to five years. A delightful kick in the backside!
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9/28/2021 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking really well at the moment with aeration and one hour decant. Dark fruit and more modern version but smooth with a long elegant finish,
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7/31/2021 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork was intact upon opening, and wine was very fragrant and could be detected several feet away from open bottle. That doesn't happen often. Very smooth wine and fully integrated. I've had Italian made cab blend before and they all seem to follow this softer but well integrated profile. Did hold together well in the bottle for next day glass. Feel its ready now. Should go well with softer meats and pasta. Recommended.
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6/13/2021 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious wine that is drinking on point right now. However if I was blindfolded I would guess Cali Cab or Cab blend and not old world. This is a big new world expression of a Bordeaux blend with new oak present. It is a very very good wine but not sure I see it improving from here. Nonetheless it is excellent,
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5/21/2021 - markcic wrote: 92 Points
Similar to the bottle I drank last October. My wife wanted pasta last night so we went to one of our local byob's that specializes in Italian cuisine for dinner. I opened the bottle two hours before we went and let it slow ox. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish
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5/15/2021 - vinole wrote: 93 Points
PnP at a restaurant and ready to go at first pour. Lush dark fruit and good structure of acidity and resolved tannins that kept everything nicely balanced. Great wine to drink alone or with food. Not overly complex or nuanced, just a very tasty and balanced wine that will appeal to many. Great time to drink this as the fruit is still in its prime.
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5/3/2021 - erictayl wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle of three cellared at 57 degrees since release. This wine has many years left. Upon opening, tannins were massive. Slow oxed for about 5 hrs then drank 1/2 the bottle over the next 3 hours. From memory, awesome nose of dark fruits, great acid and monster tannins. Caulked the remaining bottle and drink the following night. Still great structure, but the wine opened up to be much better than the already-good previous night.
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3/4/2021 - gamlingman Likes this wine: 89 Points
A decent wine but I expected a bit more to be honest. Very musty nose but its flavors were far from it. Subtle hints of clove and dark berries while tannins has mellowed considerably. Not very dense for this type of cabernet and I feel it may be past its prime. Tremendous amount of sediment on the bottle after decanting.
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2/13/2021 - Intellectual Sasquatch Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours. This, my second and last bottle, was much improved from the first one. Not an overly powering nose, but deep, complex flavors and excellent balance. Good to the last drop.
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12/31/2020 - Intellectual Sasquatch wrote: 89 Points
Initially decanted over an hour. The wine seemed to be closed down. Flavors and aroma were surprisingly muted. Not undrinkable, but certainly unremarkable. After about 3 hours, it started showing... a little. I didn't save any for day 2. Maybe I need to wait longer on the second bottle - or decant longer?
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12/31/2020 - matt.gordon5000 Likes this wine:
92. Honestly was expecting more from a maker of this stature. Nothing wrong with it but I've had equally good from bottles costing much less.
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12/26/2020 - DFBW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bang in the drinking window. Seems to have really softened out and is a very enjoyable smooth silky wine with bags of rich dar velvety fruit. Lovely. Two left, no hurry.
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12/18/2020 - Rollerball wrote: 96 Points
A magnificent wine. Rich and warm. Sophisticated and balanced. Cherry and smokey evergreen. A deep caramelly tar. The long vivid finish is as personal as a private cabin in spring.
Super with dark chocolate. Drink now-2024.
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11/26/2020 - LuckyLars wrote: 92 Points
This wine still had a youthful appearance with not much maturity showing on the edge; a very dark core colour. It has a richness and length that is very appealing with enough acidity to balance the predominantly black fruit flavours. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
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11/15/2020 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very good, full bodied super tuscan that should benefit from further maturation.
Medium, dark cherry color with a little russet encroaching. Fairly intense aroma promising a rich flavor and leaving you in no doubt that it's a well developed wine. Ripe blackberries, stewed plums, vanilla and cinnamon.
Firm acid backbone and mouth coating tannins suggest this wine has a good runway left. The tannins are still reasonably robust. The flavors match the aroma - big, juicy blackberries - but also milk chocolate and a bit of a herbal and floral character - roses, mint and oregano. Quite a big body, warmth suggesting fairly high alcohol, and a nice length finish dominated by the herbs and spices.
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11/10/2020 - matt182 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great evolved nose, classic with cedar, tobacco and dark fruits, this is monolithic on the palate, pretty short finish, well made but lacking wow factor.
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10/29/2020 - eatdrinkrepeat Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark color with slight bricking. Black fruits with some wood on the nose. Big on palette with some spiciness and mouth-coating soft tannin that probably needs more time to resolve. Finish was short when compared to the mouthfeel.
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10/7/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Have not tried a bottle since Xmas Eve 2018. (what a different world it was then huh) Anyway my wife wanted pasta so we went to one of our local byob's that specializes in Italian cuisine for a outside dinner. I opened the bottle two hours before we went and let it slow ox. The nose was plum and tobacco. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, some leather and hints of spice leading to a moderate to long finish. My wife was happy with her pasta and low carb me opted for Bronzino which obviously was not the best food paring on my end. Oh well - you got to keep the wives happy.
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9/23/2020 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Certainly growing on me, and quite good on day two also.
Has characteristics of an old world wine, even with 14.5% alcohol. Plum colored with a pleasant nose. Integrated smooth fruit that complements food, but could enjoy maybe a glass on its own. Somewhat delicate finish.
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9/17/2020 - eags25fla wrote: 92 Points
Dark hue and initial bouquet more closely resembles Calif cab than Super Tuscan. After short decant, currant aromas and flavors integrate with olive, mineral & spices. Soft, silky polished tannins and a long spicy finish. Great blend of power and elegance. Drinking very well right - 2 more years.
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8/23/2020 - gesusser Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hr decant...great again w/veal parm & calamari fra diablo
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8/8/2020 - Eags25 wrote: 90 Points
Good but didn't blow me away. Cherries, berries, crush rock, spices and currant. Full bodied and elegant but maybe past its prime. Drink now!
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7/26/2020 - Highlander wrote:
Simply delicious! everyone loved it. decanted for 1.5 hours and then put it back in the bottle for an hour. Tannins completely integrated. I noticed many comments on tannins, but this might be bottle variation. Our wine was very nice. Big and full dark fruits, tobacco and leather on the secondary side. Wish I had bought more
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7/18/2020 - Eantnay wrote: 89 Points
3 1/2 hour decant, paired with grilled strip steaks. Lovely nose and flavor, however the finish was short and lacking any qualities that would call you back for more. This was extremely disappointing in light of the 96 point reviews by Galloni "The finish is utterly exquisite in its beguiling beauty" & Suckling "with an impressive and persistent finish". I've had much better wines for a fraction of the price.
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7/13/2020 - BordeauxBoy wrote: 94 Points
Last bottle of 3 and at at nice point in the drinking window. Mature/Excellent. Still a sizable wine at 12 years old, even with an hour+ of air before dinner. Tannins, once huge, have settled out with some good earthy notes on nose and pallet. Nice dark fruit with a little nice spice that paired well with our grilled beef. Could be a left bank fooler in at blind tasting. I don't expect it to get a whole lot better but last for a few more years before fruit really dissipates. Has been cellared well since release.
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7/5/2020 - gesusser Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of sediment ..need to drink with food
in its drinking window
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6/21/2020 - BostonSteve wrote: 94 Points
Still surpringly mouth puckering tannins at 12 years old. Poured into a decanter and left for two hours hours while steaks were grilling. When I came back with the steaks after decanting and the food was paired after some air the magic happened. This was great stuff with medium rare New York strip after the 2 hour decant. Integrated oak, raspberry, hints of cherry and flowers? Very smooth and balanced. Nice complexity. Judging by the tannic power on opening it’ll still hold and maybe improve a little bit for another 5-10 years but into a good drinking window with aeration now.
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6/13/2020 - GregThrasher Does not like this wine: 82 Points
I thought this wine sucked. Very little fruit, drying tannins and little complexity. Very disappointed and didn’t even bother finishing the bottle.
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5/16/2020 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blackberry and plum. Lovely, silky mouth. Long finish. Gorgeous wine!
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4/27/2020 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow, a drinkable, aged Italian red. An exception to the cases that I have tasted that are bad. This wine was triple decanted, opened up an hour later, and was great with food. Showed some good fruit, good body, soft tannins. Still not enough trust from me to buy again.
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4/19/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Much better than the last one I had, this was big but well balanced. Deep, penetrating dark savory fruit. Well aged, this is drinking very well right now though no sign of fading either.
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4/7/2020 - cougarshk Likes this wine: 95 Points
strong fruit aromas & fragrance, big structure, black fruit, aged barrel, cigar, graphite, full body like blood color, polished tanin, long lasting (food: red meats)
30mins btl breathing
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2/7/2020 - erictayl wrote: 93 Points
No rush on this one. Huge structure, formidable tannins, vibrant fruit. Decayed 4 hrs and it needed probably 20 more to really show its stuff. Black cherry, red licorice, leather.
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12/7/2019 - Leejgreen wrote:
Fucking stunning
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10/19/2019 - LARich wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous! Fill bodies and rich with blackberry and balsa notes giving way to a smooth and refined finish. Will be better in a year or three, but excellent now.
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9/18/2019 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big and juicy. Very Merlot like. Drinking really well and I suspect it has 5 years or more to go.
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9/3/2019 - Eags25 wrote: flawed
Corked
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6/22/2019 - bonedoc wrote:
Took an hour to open up, but held its own against super Tuscans 2-3 times the price... a pleasant surprise.
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6/10/2019 - rmodak wrote: 91 Points
At peak, with black cherry, mint, and leather. Tannins are integrated and this was a medium bodied, elegant showing.
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5/31/2019 - Mark van Delft Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent Super Tuscan, 50 % Sangiovese and 25 % CS and Merlot, nice acidity, red cherry, espresso, elegant, vanilla, plum, medium to full body, long strong finish. In a great spot, drink or hold up to 5 years.
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4/28/2019 - gesusser Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent after a 2 hour decant..great with hot sausage peppers & onions
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4/26/2019 - Motz wrote: 96 Points
Wine six of nine, all 2008 Bordeaux varieties (also tasted the following evening):
Along with the Pontet-Canet, the standout of the evening. While fruitier and more robust than the Pontet-Canet, the wine featured tremendous balance of fruit, oak, terroir, and structure (medium plus to high acid and medium plus tannin), along with exceptional poise and verve. It has evolved beautifully since 2014, integrating oak, and what were once gum-numbing tannins. The wine's complexity and range top the charts. It calls for food, the richer the better.
Ever more seductive on the second day, and again it ran neck and neck with the Pontet-Canet. My preference ran toward the restrained earthiness and technical precision of the Bordeaux, and yet the Oreno proved exceptionally difficult to come away from. I probably missed it more once both bottles were empty.
Still evolving, and likely to do so for another decade. It should last through 2035, give or take a year or two. Recommend holding for three to five years. 96...97?
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4/24/2019 - bajayngo wrote:
Quick note from a 2008 bdx varietal tasting -Tight as a drum with a little bit of a green note in this bottling. Still all structure amd power with crème de cassis and dark dark fruit, tannins that reach your gums needs lots of time.
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3/29/2019 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very BDX like. Hard to tell it comes from Italy. Still could age. Cigar and cedar, like any good BDX.
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2/25/2019 - maxima wrote: 93 Points
Très beau vin, franc de gout, bien complexe
et dense avec un fruit croquant et des épices.
Tanins bien enrobés et finale longue.
Délicieux.
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2/10/2019 - Chainthroer wrote: 93 Points
Deep dark garnet color; opaque; some yellowing on the rim. Cherry, blackberry, cinnamon, spice, earth. Rich and intense fruit. Has the structure of a long lived wine. Long, but suttle finish. Score 93+.
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1/11/2019 - Philippe_C wrote: 92 Points
Huge nose of peperoni, a bit too much alcohol, anis & spices... Huge ripe fruit concentration, but nice freshness in the finish, hint of drying tannins.
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12/24/2018 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a magnum opened 6 hours before our Xmas eve dinner at Harry's. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark plums, tobacco, leather , tree bark and a touch of spice. The finish was lush and full. It might have scored higher but it was served along with the 2004 Oreno which was definitely the better of the wines.
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12/21/2018 - SLOFred wrote: 93 Points
Like so many Italian wines, this wine has taken a while for the tannins to settle and soften. On first opening, closed in and pretty tannic. I immediately decanted and it really started to open up. Tannins softed immediately, and wine was much better. Really got complex and reminded me of a well made BDX.
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12/15/2018 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blackberry, spice, earth, sage, olive and cherry. Seems quite young and vibrant, with style and richness. A long finish and a righteous intensity. There’s some silky tannin and a long life ahead. These wines, evidently, can age rather well. Drink now - 2030.
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11/22/2018 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still fruit forward with a bold nose of cherry and dark fruit. Plenty of life left. A bit backward ? Powerful.
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10/7/2018 - AAJR Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted & enjoyed over 6 hours, last glass with Sunday Sauce. Still lots off life left in this wine, flavors of black cherries, plum & spice. Medium to full bodied with light tannic structure. Really good, perhaps more complex than other Oreno vintages.
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9/8/2018 - df1962 wrote: 94 Points
PnP let air for 2hrs.
Consistent with previous notes. Delicious ripe good balance of old and new world.
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8/17/2018 - Vancouver wrote: 93 Points
Medium Ruby Appearance.
Evolving nose of red fruit (plum) , some blackberry, spice , vanilla and some floral aromas (violets).
Medium plus body with medium tannin and plenty of acidity to stay fresh in spite of what seems to be high alcohol. Just delicious on the palate- lots of similar flavor characteristics with great balance and a long finish. Drinking great now and will likely hold for another 10 years easily if stored properly.
The one thing this wine isn't- typically Tuscan. This is a dead ringer for a St Emilion from a warm year or a Washington State blend. I suspect there is a good portion of merlot in here.
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8/11/2018 - nm10 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still very youthful. Needed at least a 90 minute decant, but then exploded with flavours of blackberries, charcoal, and graphite. The tannins were still grippy at four hours. Concentrated, with a 50-second+ finish. Will probably leave my last bottle for 5+ years.
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7/4/2018 - wicozani Likes this wine:
Good cork, decanted for 6 hours before pairing with grilled prime rib roast. Was poured alongside an identically decanted bottle of 2005 Neal Fifteen-Forty Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Super Tuscan showed greater complexity and acidity than the Neal, and was our favorite paired with the medium rare roast. 91-93
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6/23/2018 - mreinhard74@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
A serious super Tuscan than needs serious food. Paired this bottle with osso bucco and it was fantastic but on its own before dinner arrived it was very much a fighter. Still firm tannic grip with even a decade in the bottle. Boysenberry and blackberry on the palate. High acid. To repeat myself, needs food. Preferably heavy Italian food.
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6/15/2018 - gbbwino wrote: 93 Points
A fine, well balance wine that needs an hour of air to come into its own. Silky red fruit with some spice and rocks. Not overly complex and multi layered but very pleasing to drink.
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6/14/2018 - DFBW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely wine very much in the Bordeaux style. Deep and dark in the glass with smooth velvety palate of dark fruit. Young though so needs plenty of air. Drank alongside some heavyweight Clarets and held it's own.
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6/3/2018 - maxima wrote: 94 Points
Superbe Super-Toscan, tellement bon en ce moment.
Belle structure pour encore plusieurs années.
Beau fruit avec de l`anis et du thym, finale longue et fraiche sur le menthol.
EXCELLENT!
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6/3/2018 - benny wrote: 95 Points
This is wonderful and ready to drink.
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6/1/2018 - eags25fla wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous wine - balanced, with power, finesse and a long long finish. Expressive nose of black fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. It's rich in the mouth but also seductive caressing fruit that goes long with perfectly integrated tannins. Better after an hour+ in the decanter. Would give this another 5 years in the bottle and this blows away the 2006 tasted recently.
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5/19/2018 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Loads of current, with touches of mint and bitter chocolate. Good depth, dense, with lots of material: copious fruit, copious tannins and that strong line of high-toned acid I find in many super tuscans. It's not what I would call elegant, but the acid lends a cut that keeps it from being ponderous and maintains the fine balance. Even at 10 years or so it felt young. With all of the stuffing, it seems it can go out a long time; I don't have enough experience with this wine to know if it will turn into something more complex with age or if it is best enjoyed with the fullness of the fruit. Excellent now, though.
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5/17/2018 - maxima wrote: 94 Points
De mieux en mieux, super beau Toscan.
Fruité, complexe, dense, équilibré, long et délicieux.
Tout est là!
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4/21/2018 - decaturwinedude wrote:
Not really my cup of tea. Ripe. Broad. Oak. Polished. Sweet. Tannic.
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3/31/2018 - SteelerFan wrote: 91 Points
Bright red fruit, smooth tannins and plenty of energy. Drinking very well at 10 years. Very good now- I don’t think this is one for linger tier, aging.
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3/16/2018 - df1962 wrote: 94 Points
PnD let air for 2hrs. Consistent with previous notes. Rich complex and balanced.
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3/14/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Has a nice licorice note that reminds me of a Ripasso or light Amarone. This has a deep tone but the structure is medium-bodied. Pleasant enough but was hoping for a bit more.
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2/17/2018 - JuliannaD wrote: 90 Points
I think this needs more time. It had nice fruit flavors and earth/leather but it was very primary and simple.
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1/1/2018 - Honeyburst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very enjoyable and straightforward
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12/30/2017 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
dark cherry, earth and great balance
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12/26/2017 - t_moderne wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour and tasted with food (fettucine with a tomato-basil sauce, with roasted meatballs, in case you were wondering).
Dark purple color. Nose offers some back cherries, and red clay notes.
Rich and luxurious offerings of black fruits with a spicy citrus core that keeps the wine lively and inviting. Nice red clay notes on the finish that gives the wine a Tuscan flair. Delicious.
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12/11/2017 - mimik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still a bit brooding and young but almost at peak with dark chocolate and oak aromas on the nose with blackberry and chocolate notes on the palate. Fine integrated tannins that are a bit grainy on the finish but doesn’t take away from the elegance in the wine. Long finish. I’d open up in the next 5 years to get it at its peak.
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10/20/2017 - tim m wrote: 93 Points
This was wonderful. Does not need a long aerate. Nice fruit now, long finish, super fine tannin. Acid is in balance.
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10/14/2017 - Vancouver wrote: 94 Points
Drank with traditional fare on Canadian Thanksgiving 2017.
This is a great "international" style wine.
Lots of red and black fruit purity, toasted oak, vanilla and spice.
Obviously well made and most similar to a right bank Bordeaux.
I love this wine which will easily age another 10 years or so.
If you are looking for Tuscan "typicity" however, this wine is not for you.
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10/3/2017 - _Xenon wrote: 91 Points
Just average showing. Nothing (nose, palate, fruit) stood out. Reading the latest notes I probably expected more.
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9/21/2017 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at a Kobrand event. This is a Wow! wine...It had been decanted for some time before I got my taste but not sure how long. Color is a medium to dark garnet. Lots of depth and concentration and a smokey, blackberry and cassis middle. Lots of structure and power but all in balance. This will last a long time. I wouldn't open one for at least another half decade.
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9/10/2017 - t_moderne wrote: 94 Points
Opened and poured into a decanter. Fair level of sediment in the bottle.
Dark purple color suggesting a wine younger than 9 years.
Tasted with food and then followed for about 2 hours without food.
Wonderful nose of dark cherries, and some chocolate notes and red clay. Full bodied and rich with dark fruits, some vanilla notes, and dark chocolate. Slight notes of oak (vanilla). Good depth of flavors. Has enough acidity to help carry the richness of the fruit. Simply delicious wine.
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8/29/2017 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Rich, dark and expressive black fruits (plum and currant) but not as over the top as some vintages, with tobacco leaf notes. I thought the tannins were petty well integrated despite no decanting (which I'd still recommend).
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8/1/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine:
2008 TENUTA SETTE PONTI ORENO TOSCANA- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot; as with all of the wines in this flight, the colour was a rich, dark purple denoting a youthful wine; we had an excellent bottle with aromatics suggesting something full bodied and highly energetic; for sure, this is what followed; layers of fruit unfolded with spicy and leather laden black cherry, blackberry and black currant most prominent; there was an underlying note of oak toward the end; both me and the group head got it as #2 in a blind flight.
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7/14/2017 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Popped cork, aerated in glass for an hour then drank over 2 hours. Dark purple, tannic and tight, not getting any of the brighter notes of Sangiovese here, rather the cab merlot is primary fruit profile. Maybe decant next time, maybe tannins will resolve in a few years?
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7/4/2017 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 91 Points
Bone dry. Takes many hours to open. Even on second day, there remains a tightness. Aromas begin to unravel and entice by that time. Massive legs indicate high alcohol. Acidity outweighs suppleness. Yet, memorable progression over two days indicates this wine will evolve into a spectacular Tuscan gem, given years of patience and slumber in the cellar.
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4/19/2017 - DFBW Likes this wine:
No, no, no. Just too early 2/3 hours out of the bottle. You can tell it's good and the rich dark fruit is under there somewhere but it just needs more time for the acidity to soften. Cork back in for another four days or so and then we'll see...
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4/2/2017 - swade wrote: 92 Points
Abundant aromas upon opening, including red currants, flora and liquid smoke. I let this breathe up for two hours, but it actually seemed to tighten up. Saturated entry. This is black hearted with blackberry reduction, cassis and ash. Very dry, medium minus finish. Classy texture. This could pass for Bordeaux. Modern. This could use another 1-3 years. 92
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4/1/2017 - happytom Likes this wine: 96 Points
Great! I agree with the ratings of the professionals. Old world wine made modern. Wife guessed Napa but then questioned the choice. Red fruits, currants, rose pedals. A hint of limestone. Good acidity. Blackberries emerging after an hour. Gaining weight now. A hint of lavender. Floral. Dried flowers. Cassis. Mint is now coming out which is overpowering the fruit. Just wow.
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3/4/2017 - Vancouver wrote: 95 Points
First and foremost- if you are a fan of "place" (whatever that means) this wine is not for you. There is not a hint of Tuscany in this wine.
Deep Ruby appearance .
Evolving and complex nose of candied red fruits, baking spices, vanilla and cigar tobacco.
Full bodied with medium tannin and plenty of zippy acidity at age 9 to keep things fresh. Tons of fruit, vanilla , tobacco and minerality on the palate with a long finish.
My best guess is that this is higher on the Merlot than the Cabernet with a bit of sangiovese thrown in.
A great wine that would be a dead ringer for a St Emilion from a warm year in a blind tasting . Drink now or hold for a decade.
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1/28/2017 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, roses and wood spices. Ripe, nicely integrated, low acid fruit in the mouth with excellent depth and a long, somewhat voluptuous finish. Very elegant and suave on the palate. I found this delicious wine to be at the very beginning of its peak drinking period.
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1/21/2017 - Jack wrote:
Needs more time. Hold.
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12/22/2016 - jcasey555 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Softened nicely. Much better than younger vintages and earlier tastings of this vintage.
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12/12/2016 - pmarlo wrote: 94 Points
Very solid cork and stained deep burgundy. Very fragrant upon first opening. Knew this was majority cabernet when I bought it but tasted more like a blend of perhaps Sangiovese, except I understand there is none in it. Never really had that distinct cab flavor but the blend was still very nice. Pro review called elegant and I agree. There is a nice balance and profile of different fruits and grapes in this wine that works, and a lightness I can only describe as finesse. The most astounding and impressive thing was I had wine in the bottle for over a week, and it was best today, the last day, and this is where I did detect more cabernet. I've never had a wine stay together for so long. Most degrade or the fruit recedes and other flavors, not all good, surface. With this wine it was the opposite. That was impressive. Recommended and wondering what my last bottle will be like. Plan at least another five years for aging and it should make it standing on its head.
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11/20/2016 - benny wrote: 95 Points
Decanted and drank over two hours. Outstanding and may get better.
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11/12/2016 - jocelyng wrote: 92 Points
Beginning its prime. Very good balance, blackberry and plum. Tannins still very present with acidity (not overwhelming) on the finish. Good length but not very complex.
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11/5/2016 - Mr T wrote:
Not decanted and a big mistake. There is a lot here and needs air to soften up
90-91 last night but I don't think that's what's in the bottle
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9/10/2016 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Two magnums: one slo-oxed for 4 hours and decanted for another 4; one opened shortly before being poured. Killer nose of dark currants, pepper and a touch of charcoal. Vibrant minerality, well balanced with the savory fruit notes and some mint. Harmonious and lush. Killer finish.
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9/8/2016 - thalver wrote:
Drinking well, continued to open up for a couple hours after decanting. Nice mouth-feel, good balance, round tannin and some acidity that was in no way excessive. 93-94 pts
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9/6/2016 - Arch57 wrote: 89 Points
Scoring this a bit lower than last time as it had a slightly "off" taste that might have been a flaw but my palate was fatigued as this was the last bottle opened after dinner with friends.
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8/1/2016 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours; light sediment. Medium ruby red to the rim. Lovely floral nose of blueberries and licorice. Delicious medium-to-full bodied red fruit on the palate, well-balanced by acids and tannins, plus a little sweetness. Lengthy finish. Overall, a beautiful wine that is probably reaching its prime drinking window. Should drink well for at least five more years.
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7/10/2016 - levinml wrote: 94 Points
Drank at Campiello with Minnesota relatives celebrating Joe's graduation. Was eye opening as I know almost nothing about Italians. Drank as cocktail, so no food to fight with. Round, fruit-forward, long. Enjoyed a lot, as did everyone at the table.
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5/30/2016 - TGOT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Balanced, but with little tannins left. Nice, red fruit flavored.
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5/2/2016 - irish95 wrote: 94 Points
Delicious! Give it time.
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4/15/2016 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just purchased a case of this. This time had no decanting. Its an opulent, juicy and modern super tuscany. Very fleshy with big oak on both the nose and palate. It was better last time with a long decant. Its enjoyable and good qpr
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3/12/2016 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lack of acidity is odd -- even for a "modern style" Super Tuscan. Really nice flavor and nose with prominent, but sweet tannins. I liked this a lot, but can see how Tuscany purists could be disappointed.
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3/11/2016 - Tig78 wrote: 84 Points
Deep purple hue. Delicate perfume of dark berries and vanilla. Certainly an international style Super Tuscan. Good structure but a bit hot and lacking fruit mid palate. One of the more disappointing wines I've had in some time.
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12/25/2015 - BBencz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank at Christmas Day dinner following a 1990 Conterno Cicala Bussia Barolo. Mint, cassis and big red fruit. Tannins still grippy but lots of acid too, keeping things in balance. A good 7-8 years to go. Wonderful wine.
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10/14/2015 - Dust Likes this wine:
fantastic!
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10/4/2015 - Burgnick wrote: 91 Points
Slow oxed for 8 hours. Nose had cedar wood, blue fruits, black fruits, violets, and some tobacco leaf. The palate expressed sweet red fruits, blue fruits and cinnamon. A balanced wine. Palate was better than the nose. Drinking nicely now.
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9/22/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Best I can remember this wine. Blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, espresso. Lots of concentration. Better balance and length vs a couple of bottles from 6-12 months ago.
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8/13/2015 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good. Balanced concentration of red fruits. Rounded tannins. Floral aromas. Improved compared to June 2014.
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6/30/2015 - soyhead wrote:
from magnum. very much a dark bitter cherry, with profound bitterness well into the midpalate and finish. more palatable with food, but i couldnt find much attractive going on here. dumb phase?/young
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6/12/2015 - bonedoc wrote: 92 Points
Dark, rich, oaky, tobacco, new world style
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6/5/2015 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
Brought to CT SEA Super-Tuscan tasting night, where it came in tied for 2nd (and third) out of 6. Most thought this was from 2010 or 2011 on initial taste, another sign of how slowly wines age in my cellar. Lots of red fruit on the nose, and lots of tobacco on the finish. It softened the second night (one glass left over), and was even better, thought likely still behind the 2004 Tig I had last night.
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6/1/2015 - peterk Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely wine - full bodied, tannic with loads of fruit. Well balanced. Drinking beautifully now. I imagine this will improve over time, but why wait. I just discovered Fine & Rare selling this for £166 per 6-pack - I quickly bought another.
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5/1/2015 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aroma of raspberries, mint, cassis, and licorice and rose petals. Strikingly smooth and elegant with blackberry and spice. Full to medium bodied. It seems to have the weight and balance of a wine from Margaux. Very refined. Drinking well now
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3/31/2015 - randyjc wrote: 94 Points
This is still too early but I really wanted to try it. Rewarding. The wine has a warm, expressive nose though with an off-putting whiff of alcohol. All is forgiven when the wine gets in the mouth. Lush and soft opening with black cherry compote, evolving to warm stewed red fruit preserves. (Sorry. Tried to nail it down but failed.) the finish is long with a bit of eaucalyptus and minerality and ripe red fruit, though shut down by strong fine tannins. If I had half a case of this in the cellar which, sadly, I do not, I would open one every two years and be dramatically rewarded on bottles 3 - 6. This is a special wine, even with its youthful indiscretions.
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2/12/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Black and blue fruit with some vanilla and chocolate notes. Much like another bottle from a few weeks ago, but slightly more firm, slightly less evolved/ nuanced.
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1/31/2015 - slippytoad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a little chewy but opened up after an hour. Lots of black fruit in the middle with a decent finish.
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1/24/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Nicely floral start with black and blue fruit. Still a bit firm, but with nicely rich, rounded fruit, hints of chocolate and espresso. Lots of energy. Good now, better with some air. Probably better in a few more years.
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1/11/2015 - Justinwine wrote: 94 Points
Lush with beautiful fruit. Great finish. A delight to drink.
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12/23/2014 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Limited notes, Tannic, dark fruits, paired well w red meat sauce, wanting for more fruit/concentration.
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12/19/2014 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
Opened by smartlysauced. My favorite red at the tasting. Deep purple color. Violet aromas. Firm tannins. Notes of lavender, cocoa, currant and mint. Round texture. This was the best Oreno I have had which includes the 2001, 2004 and 2005. 93-94 points.
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12/12/2014 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Two 750ml bottles, courtesy of smartlysauced. Licorice, plum and dark fruit aromas. Tannins are still quite firm and chalky in texture. Flavors of plum, dark fruit and leather with spice and plum on the finish. Needs some time. Drink from 2018+.
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11/17/2014 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
This was impressive. Solid. Precise, balanced and lots of fruit. It tasted more Bordeaux than anything else to me. It has plenty of time left. 93+
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10/8/2014 - bajayngo wrote:
Quick notes from a blind tasting with Motz - the 1st note I pulled from this wine was this beautiful mineral-cherry-seaweed thing that I get out of some of my favorite wines that happen to be biodynamically farmed. This was absolutely explosive on the palate with teeth staining and palate enveloping flavors and complexities with pine/eucalyptus , cherry, tomato paste, earth/rock, lush dark berries, bitter coco and a finish that would not quite. The is the perfect example of a massively hedonistic wine that somehow keeps everything in check and balanced. This is a wine I would love to decipher a meal. Thanks again for sharing Motz.
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10/6/2014 - Motz wrote: 96 Points
Consumed over three days; among the most memorable tasting experiences of this year. Opened Friday morning and finished Sunday evening. Upon opening, it featured a remarkably appealing bouquet and a smooth, polished mouthfeel. After about 8 hours of slow-oxed air, the wine began to show its teeth, and by the second day tremendous tannic structure had come out to play.
A wine of countless layers, including dark chocolate, espresso, gravel, ink, graphite, juniper, mint, eucalyptus, Mediterranean herbs, Tuscan dustiness, alluvial silt, blackcurrant, and crème de cassis. Stupendous texture and balance, incredible harmony. Structure to go enhances a finish that does not quit. By Sunday, this stunner had fully come into its own, delivering indescribably seamless pleasure. Charming, sophisticated, and stalwart.
Recommend holding this as it will likely improve. Indeed, this could score 97+ with 5+ years of cellaring. If drinking now, decant for at least 8 hours. This is the third vintage of Oreno it has been my privilege to sample, and for my money it ranks among the very best Super Tuscans in quality, and unquestionably the best valued.
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8/21/2014 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not much nose, but nice flavor - maybe a little muted, though. Soft with less acidity than I expected.
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8/19/2014 - cadamson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still could use some years, but very well made and enjoyable. Dark fruits, cocoa and some spices, with a decent finish. All done as good as can be, just lacking a full on wow factor for some reason.
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6/22/2014 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 92 Points
First bottle since December, 2011. Noticeably less tight and restrained now. Still not particularly impressive on the nose, but very rich and focused on the palate. There is remarkable depth and definition to the raspberry, plum and dark currant fruit here. Finishes much longer now - with abundant, mouth-puckering tannins that have barely begun to integrate. True to its pedigree, this wine is built for the long haul and has clearly improved over the past two and a half years. Not yet quite as broad and complex as the 2006 or 2007, but it is closing the gap. Should continue to develop nicely over the next 3-5 years. 92+
50+5+12+17+8=92
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6/6/2014 - LFCHALA wrote: 91 Points
Good wine. Pleased me. Floral aromas, plum, and minerality. In the mouth, harsh tannins, good acidity and long. Young needs time to integrate its components. The problem with this wine is the price, very expensive. One can find similar wines or even more expressive in terms of the region, at lower prices.
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5/23/2014 - DarinC Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP. Beautiful floral nose of violets, roses, blueberries, essence of cassis and a trace of earth. Plush and refined fruit forward mouthfeel. Long, slightly mineral finish with abundant fine tannins. Excellent blend with the merlot being the most obvious. Very enjoyable and came across more like a California wine than Italian.
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5/12/2014 - sellerscellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Everything is in perfect balance right now. Rich and creamy in tune with tannin and acidity. Excellent with food or on its own. Excellent.
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4/8/2014 - KPB wrote: 91 Points
Not easy to love at this age. Deep purple, with a nose of cassis sorbet, licorice, tar, torrified coffee. But savage and closed, very tannic, mouth puckering acidity. Needs another five or eight years! At peak could merit 94. Or maybe not: very hard to judge right now.
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3/29/2014 - yeti575rider wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with the Keegan's (Our house): Bottle 2 with dinner. A close #2 for me, tied for first overall. The girls favorite. This really opened up after 3 or so hours and I had the impression even more time would have been better. Really nice black cherry note with the darker fruits, probably the most balanced of the 4 wines not leaning too much to the fruit or too much to the leaner side. Glad I have another bottle to hold for a few more years. Expect in to jump a point or 2.
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3/22/2014 - BBencz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Two-hour decant. Mint, cassis and red fruit on the nose, with cocoa, cherry, and plum notes. Medium bodied, with firm tannins and balanced acidity. At least five more years of growth to go here. Not worth popping another one of these for a while. All the makings of a gem, but not there yet.
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2/22/2014 - marcroth wrote:
3.5 -- score in my 5 pts system
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2/1/2014 - agiles wrote: 92 Points
VERY GOOD WINE , TASTE IN A FEW MORE YEARS
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1/9/2014 - princeton wrote:
Antonio Galloni @ Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and James Suckling all award this wine 96 Points (which is why I thought to buy it) and other CT reviews seem very positive. I guess I'm the odd man out.. mint and smoke on the nose (nicest part IMHO). On the palate: light candied cherries with minerality, acidity and fairly heavy tannins -- really nice, but nothing extraordinary. Guess it's just me.
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12/25/2013 - df1962 Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnVnD let air for 3 hrs. Dense saturated purple black with a violet rim. Closed noise with hints of cassis tobacco and dark chocolate. Medium(+) weight with grippy yet polished tannins. Cassis Bing cherry dark chocolate and a slight herbal note. Drank over several hours and kept opening up and getting better. Don't think I see it as a 96 point wine but lots of life ahead. Will not open another for at least 2 years.
Sealed the rest of the bottle and left in the fridge for three days. What a difference. has opened up with abundant fruit and complex mineral notes with tons of balance. Awesome. +2
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12/21/2013 - AMM3RD Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great Cab Blend, perfect with grilled Tenderloin. Drink over the next 5 years...AM. PS Not sure this is the best QPR, but i did not buy it!
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12/18/2013 - maxima wrote: 93 Points
Beau vin élégant à la texture soyeuse, beaucoup de classe ici.
Un nez envoutant sur les framboises, les bleuets et une pointe florale.
La bouche est gourmande, beaucoup de fruits et de mâche. Les tannins sont fins et a finale longue et persistante.
Très beau et équilibré...ça coule bien.
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10/13/2013 - AAJR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Tannins still quite evident. Suggest 2 more years prior to opening next bottle. Medium to Full bodied with a taste of blackberry, cherry & tobacco.
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10/12/2013 - Tarrant wrote: 95 Points
Infanticide even with aeration, but you can taste the possibilities, actually opened the '07 but it was corked and wanted to maintain the theme of spectacular Italian Thanksgiving wines, okay we're not Italian but wanted to have spectacular wines and for some reason the Oreno and the Sassacaia that is to follow seemed appropriate - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black fruit, plum, earth, tobacco and vanilla, intense tannic structure, very complex, dusty dry on the palate with amazing length, should've waited on this one! (95 Points).
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10/10/2013 - Hawk94 wrote: 92 Points
A great red, powerful, smooth, complex, long aftertaste.
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8/25/2013 - pdemaio Likes this wine: 93 Points
Chocolate, coffee, mocha. Red, black and stone fruit. Lots going on. Some spice. Some minor high notes. Broad and expansive on the palate. Mouth filling and coating palate is not yet fully integrated. Great acid holds it together though. Better later, I suspect; I'll be back in 2015 for the next one...
PDQ93
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8/17/2013 - randyjc wrote: 91 Points
A little aggressive yet, very young, but it has the makings of something quite remarkable so long as I keep my hands off it for about five to ten years. Still a bit too much oak, striking an unbalanced note, but deep black flavors with a bit of chocolate on the finish. Bakers chocolate. This is good stuff, once one gets past the oak and still tight, drying tannins. Better than this note indicates. Patience will be rewarded, I believe.
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6/20/2013 - mreinitz wrote: 90 Points
Dark berries, chocolate, and oak are the main flavors. None of the olive or licorice flavors that are often associated with italian wines. It was still pretty tight after an hour and a half decant. It's enjoyable now but I think it will be a lot better in a couple of years once the flavors have had more time to separate themselves out.
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3/4/2013 - Lessthanzero wrote:
This seemed out of balance. A little alcoholic and green. I will wait a few years before trying again.
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2/16/2013 - awise45 wrote: 91 Points
Nice end to the evening that started with sea smoke Pinot and Cade cab. Subtle and understated in comparison, with nice blend of flavors.
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2/10/2013 - V.O.Key Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant, balanced, and complex, and very drinkable now unless you're one of those who insists on waiting until the fruit dies down. But why do that when the flavors are so appealing now? Of course, if you have several bottles it will be fun to see how the wine evolves. I'm far from sad that I drank mine now.
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2/2/2013 - SMZ wrote: 92 Points
Way too young...but still, flavorful and intriguing.
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11/28/2012 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 95 Points
this wine is so young with so much potential. it is dense but light on the palate, great tannins so i can imagine this will be a 20 year wine if you wanted to lay it down and forget about it. i think between 2015-2020 it would be at it's peak. consistent tasting notes.
to sum it up - old world style italian super tuscan that you just want to drink the shit out of!
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11/5/2012 - Mondial wrote: 96 Points
fabulously balanced. Really performed after a 3-hour decanting.
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10/31/2012 - xtian wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and good but without much fruit or complexity.
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10/15/2012 - pnwskibum wrote: 91 Points
Little muted on the nose, nice fruit and you can really notice the silky quality but there is still a fair amount of tannin that seems like it will need at least 3+ years.
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9/30/2012 - WDK wrote: 90 Points
Much different than other vintages and at this point, my least favorite. Reticent nose of plum. Dark ruby, medium body, sweet plum and cassis fruit overwhelms the delicate structure. This drinks more like a Grenache blend, maybe Priorat or Roussillon wine than an Italian. Wait to see what happens in the next few years.
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9/17/2012 - Goldstone wrote: 90 Points
Tenuta Sette Ponti "Oreno" Dinner (Otto e Mezzo, Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong): From magnum, ex-chateau library. 100% Bordeaux blend (the first year they dropped the Sangiovese). Compared to the 2006 it is a lighter semi-transparent velvety pluch ruby colour transparent at the meniscus. Nose is deeper than the Sangiovese-influenced 2006….oaked but rounded blackberry and raspberry fruit, , a smoky element… overall, fresh, bright and young. Palate is lovely easy-to-like velvety Merlot-driven satin and good red fruits at the raspberry spectrum wrapped in a very elegant, re ined nd bright acidity. Extremely well made. A very good drinker…..actually, it’s brilliant to drink now as long as you like fruit-forward wines, which I guess is what they are trying to achieve by dropping the traditional Sangiovese component. Actually, when re-visited at the end of the evening it had started to display more violet-driven perfumed Italian typicity….but more like a Barbaresco than a Tuscan wine..so I’m still confused but intruiged. Brilliant but 90-91.
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8/4/2012 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent stuff. Very earthy with lots of fresh berries.
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6/23/2012 - Robyung wrote: 93 Points
This wine is absolutely ready to drink and lives up to its "super Tuscan" moniker.
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4/25/2012 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, however, it is clearly very Bordeaux-like (soft, elegant, milky/creamy/silky), with none of the cherry and little of the acidity that was apparent in older vintages (circa 2001) of this wine. Tannins are soft and "easy". Oak a bit too prominent, but may age into a nice claret-styled wine. There is some spice here, and fruit concentration is nice...wish the oak were dialed down a bit.
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4/12/2012 - huse wrote: 90 Points
‘Oreno’ is the flagship wine of the Tenuta Sette Ponti (Chianti region, 20 km northwesterly of the city of Arezzo) ; an internationally styled Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese-blend, that was aged for 12 months in new oak barriques. Decanted: 3 hours before tasting. Nice, bright ruby-red color (yet lighter in color than most of the other Super Tuscan wines) and an alluring nose of blueberries, smoke, saddle leather and a touch of oak. Very (too) elegant, medium-bodied palate displaying refined red and black fruit components, polished tannins, but (in my opinion) the wine could be a bit more concentrated. Harmonious finish. (Perhaps it was opened prematurely.)
'Oreno' is het vlaggenschip van de Tenuta Sette Ponti (Chiantistreek, 20 km ten noordwesten van de stad Arezzo); een Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese-blend, gemaakt in een internationale stijl, die een rijping van 12 maanden op nieuwe eik meekreeg. Gedecanteerd: 3 uur voor consumptie. Mooie, heldere robijnrode kleur (lichter van kleur dan de meeste andere ‘Super Tuscans’) en een verleidelijke neus van bosbessen, zadelleer, rokerige nuances en een vleugje eik. Een zeer (te) elegante wijn, middelkrachtig van smaak, met verfijnde componenten van rood en zwart fruit, gepolijste tannines, doch hij kon wat geconcentreerder zijn (naar mijn mening). Harmonieuze afdronk. (Misschien werd de wijn wat te vroeg ontkurkt).
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4/11/2012 - clairenclarence wrote: 92 Points
seriously i dont understand y tis bttl cn score 96 pts.its definitely a veri young bttl as i cn detect the heat of the alcohol.rather chewy with nice tannins.nt a balance wine.tis bttl realli need at least 8yrs.overall stil a decent bttl at the present moment.
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3/25/2012 - Robyung wrote: 95 Points
Very smooth and full of flavor. Really a delightful example of Italian wine at its best.
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3/7/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 92 Points
Expressive nose of blackberry, violets, tobacco and cocoa. medium plus body of black currants, sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and earth. Medium plus balanced finish.
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2/18/2012 - Jack wrote:
Hmm. This one took 3 days to open up. On the first night it was good but a little messy and tight. Second night wasn't much dif. Third night hits the spot but there is more to come I'm sure.
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2/16/2012 - SevenDayMile wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for four hours, no detailed notes.
Nice easy drinking Tuscan with good depth but very little resolve; not particularly tannic, just dull on the back end. This is night and day from the '06 which is a bit monolithic and dense. While I think I enjoy this style more, it needs to offer a bit more over the coming years to be something worth following in the long run.
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2/15/2012 - Hawk94 wrote: 95 Points
Same as previous note. Outstanding!
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2/12/2012 - Hawk94 wrote: 95 Points
Drank at an italian restaurant in Orange county. A massive wine! Very bold and concentrated. Crashed berries, jammy, chunky tannins, chewy, but very refined, smooth while so powerful. Unbelieveable. Just bought a case (6). Buy it when you can - you won't regret. Cellar it for 10-20 yr.
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12/21/2011 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
The 2008 Oreno is really alive and more elegant than previous vintages. It is packed with gorgeous blackberry, crushed floral, saddle leather, smoke and mineral notes. The rock solid structure and beautiful balance combined with a super long finish that carries on and on make this is a superb wine. The 2008 blend consists of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. (Best from 2013-2026) - JD
93+ POINTS
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12/16/2011 - Bam_Man wrote: 91 Points
Very dark in color with a slightly closed nose of blackberries and spice. This is very rich and tannic. There's no Sangiovese in the blend for 2008 and it's noticeably absent from the nose and the palate. Much more in the style of a Bordeaux/Claret than previous vintages. The tannins are very fine and persist well into the silky finish which contains a nice mineral streak. This is obviously a very well made and highly polished wine, but still quite tightly wound and reserved at this early stage. Not yet drinking like a nearly $70 bottle. Will need at least another 3-4 years in the cellar before realizing its full potential.
50+5+12+16+8=91
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12/2/2011 - Jack wrote: 95 Points
What ChrisW97 said. I know the pros say to wait a few more years but with a lot of air these are good now. Had a glass with an hour of air and it was good. Corked the bottle and finished it the next night and it was wonderful.
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10/26/2011 - DTWOB wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark, tight nose, big and powerful new world profile with dark fruits and well integrated tanins; heavy body, great bottle!
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8/28/2011 - Chrisw97 wrote: 95 Points
A nice dark purple color. Almost sweet strawberry jam on the nose, with a mix of raspberry vanilla and blueberries. Beautifully strong fruit, with some flowers. This was gorgeously lush and silky on the palate with the continuation of fruit that was still contained and elegant. Tannins came in soft and late almost like an after thought, almost chewy. A really elegant and balanced effort from Tenuta Sette Ponti and has a great qpr. My colleague brought this to a blind tasting and won straight against 18 other super tuscans on that evening.
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8/22/2011 - xtian wrote: 88 Points
First night was a bit sour and harsh, despite having sat in the decanter for a few hours. Re bottled and drank the next night, at which point it had gotten much better. Going to put away my other two for awhile.
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8/21/2011 - Lee Fining wrote: 88 Points
Medium red. Aromas of butter and carmel. Moderate tannins with very little fruit present at the time.
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5/29/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
2011 Casual Session - 6 @ ES: Alcohol :: 14.5%
First access, very dark ruby that is bright with red hue. Plum, tobacco, mineral, wood spice slightly backward metallic nose that is deep with good scale. Fresh, with fine tannin and medium structure that covered the concentrated blakcurrant and plum infuse flavor that sail alongside with wood spice, linear with fine grained powdery texture tannin that caressing the palate and leads all the way to the detail, focus finish. With time, this turn juicier with flavors of coffee, sweet creamy vanilla oak, dark chocolate and blackberry. At this price, this clearly delivered. Buy - Maybe - Yes.
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5/29/2011 - Dbrane wrote: 86 Points
Sunday Afternoon after Cycling (Extra Space, Boon Keng, Singapore): Deep dark color. Some medicated oil on the nose and clearly not a Bordeaux. Big, ripe and dark fruited although the tannins were not as huge as expected. A wine of relative finesse with good structure and extract. A well made wine.
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5/15/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 88 Points
Big tannin! It's a big, rustic style wine.
- WS Grand Tour 2011
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5/1/2011 - VindependenceDay wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. First glass closed. Gradually opened up after 2 hrs. Nose had notes of cedar, forest floor, cigar box, licorice, bitter dark chocolate. Smooth tannins. Odd impression of sweetness. More 89 points at the beginning, but 93-94 as it's opened up.
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4/21/2011 - OttawaB wrote: 91 Points
Needs
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4/17/2011 - jefiset wrote: 91 Points
Un vin avec une belle ampltitude, robe foncée, le fruit est bien présent. Toutefois, le vin est à ce stade-ci un peu trop alcooleux. Tout de même un beau vin, mais il n'est pas aussi équilibré que je l'aurai espéré dû à l'alcool trop prononcé. En espérant que ce défaut se réglera avec le temps.
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4/4/2011 - ManjuDaddy wrote: 96 Points
I received my shipment on Friday, 4/1/11, and opened a bottle on Saturday. I was pleasantly surprised at both the taste, color, and smell of this young wine. I expected it to be a little brash and young, but it was well balanced and very, very nice. I did not have to let it breathe long, just an hour or so and I would agree with the WS rating of 96 points. I should have ordered more.
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