JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  8/13/2015, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Scalette, Il Carbonaione IGT Alta Valle della Greve Red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  Poggio Scalette: Il Carbonaione 1992-2007 (Jul 2008), (See more on Vinous...)

  (Poggio Scalette Scalette Il Carbonaione) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  Tuscany: The Best of 2005 and 2006 (Jun 2008), (See more on Vinous...)

  (Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione) Login and sign up and see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  9/27/2010, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (IL CARBONAIONE) Il Carbonaione Dear Friends, We just received our shipment of the 2005 Il Carbonaione and I wanted to get a current read on the wine’s evolution - someone has to be the guinea pig, so I volunteered to “study” the wine last night over 6-8 hours. The good news is that my original enthusiasm was timid – the wine is even better now than last winter/spring. The 2-3 years in bottle have integrated the wine and it is already gaining aromatic and textural complexity while shedding some of the foursquare quercous tones that overshadowed the fruit just after bottling. In some way, this wine reminds me of 1988 Left Bank Bordeaux, a vintage you either love or find to be too “classic” without any excess glycerol weight. After tasting hundreds of the finest 2006 and 2007 Super Tuscan wines over the summer (including all the big names), for the tariff, this wine has to represent one of the very finest buys in age-worthy Tuscan wine. While a different style than most of the 2006s and 2007s (not as alcoholic and not as stuffed with fruit/tannin), the 2005 is no less satisfying - in some way, it is even more so due to the femininity of fruit. I'm almost hesitant to reprint my original offer from earlier in the year (February?) but it’s interesting to read it with the hindsight of last night firmly in my memory (I’ve cut and pasted it below). In addition, the original WA/WS reviews back in 2008 have little bearing on what is in the bottle today but I will reprint them anyway. Keep in mind, this wine has not yet reached its apogee – we can look forward to another 6-8 years of movement with an ideal drinking window between 2016-2018 or so. If you enjoy the classic leaning of 1988 in Bordeaux, you will enjoy this wine immensely (not to mention it’s the lowest priced Il Carbonaione of the past decade, if not the lowest priced IGT wine of its ilk in all of Tuscany). This is the final parcel of this wine available – I called them this morning after tasting it and secured the last of it... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as a diamond in the rough at a terrific price for top-end Tuscan wine 2005 Il Carbonaione (Poggio Scalette) IGT - (compare at more, $35-55+) FIRST COME FIRST SERVED at this price up to 36/person until we run out To order: niki@garagistewine.com This parcel is set to arrive in 2-3 weeks – please check OARS for local pick up after October 20th. If the weather cooperates, we should be able to ship it late in the season (Nov). Out of state orders will be held for free under ideal storage conditions (56 degrees/70%humidity) until shipping is possible. Locals may pick up at their leisure. For current local pick up and arrival/ship information, please see your OARS link below (at the bottom of this offer) - don’t know how to access your OARS? Simply click the link and see your account. You can also paste the link into your browser. If you are having trouble with your link or your account, please contact: support@garagistewine.com NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, W Click here to view the status of your orders in O.A.R.S. ******************************** (original offer from last winter): 2005 Il Carbonaione Dear Friends, This wine has come a long way since it’s debut two years ago, where the wood dominated and its medium-weight persona was not up to the task of masking it. I’m not sure why they released it back in 2008, in my opinion the winery should have waited until it settled down and a better representation emerged of this Tuscan stalwart. Two years on (circa February 2010) and the 2005 has finally turned a corner that is all in finesse - the perfume is intoxicating and its continued trend toward fulfillment now makes it an easy wine to recommend – especially at this bizarre price. If you are a fan of feminine but still structured Bordeaux (in a Margaux meets St Julien way) this wine brings much needed pricing relief to a Tuscan segment that has increased in price two and three fold over the last decade (competitive wines are at least $50-75 at this point). The best part is that it does so with an elegant and regal hand – one that is sure to please a wide variety of palates (including your own). A lovely wine, with deceptive power, that will continue to gain in stature and balance over the next 6-8 years - much like a top bottle from the Left Bank: ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price – about the same as the cellar door: 2005 Poggio Scalette “Il Carbonaione” - SOLD OUT

• By Jon Rimmerman
  3/23/2010, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (IL CARBONAIONE) Il Carbonaione Dear Friends, This wine has come a long way since it's debut two years ago, where the wood dominated and its medium-weight persona was not up to the task of masking it. I'm not sure why they released it back in 2008, in my opinion the winery should have waited until it settled down and a better representation emerged of this Tuscan stalwart. Two years on (circa March 2010) and the 2005 has finally turned a corner that is all in finesse - the perfume is intoxicating and its continued trend toward fulfillment now makes it an easy wine to recommend - especially at this bizarre price. If you are a fan of feminine but still structured Bordeaux (in a Margaux meets St Julien way) this wine brings much needed pricing relief to a Tuscan segment that has increased in price two and three fold over the last decade (competitive wines are at least $50-75 at this point). The best part is that it does so with an elegant and regal hand - one that is sure to please a wide variety of palates (including your own). A lovely wine, with deceptive power, that will continue to gain in stature and balance over the next 6-8 years - much like a top bottle from the Left Bank: ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price - about the same as the cellar door: 2005 Poggio Scalette "Il Carbonaione" Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy4577