2009 Cantina di Santadi Carignano del Sulcis Grotta Rossa

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 87.9 points

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  10/18/2018 - Soteriologist wrote: 89 Points

  Double decant of maybe an hour. A little milder than last time, as I remember it, but the difference between solist and food wine still warrants the same applause for the latter application and reservation regarding the former: the acidity remains stellar, even though the nicotine note is not so dominating anymore. Licorice, anise, very herbal, cured meat and barnyard over the fruit. This should go very well with molluscs. Improved by day 3 despite the initial decant. 88 on days 1 and 2, 90 on day 3.

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  8/1/2016 - JonnyG wrote: 88 Points

  A bit of a hot mess. Juicy & straightforward. Jammy red fruit. A touch flabby.

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  12/1/2014 - rebs1 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Great value! I agree with the other reviews that it's better with food but I enjoy it by itself as well. I think if someone didn't know the price it would get a better rating.

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  10/19/2014 - Edouard84 wrote: 88 Points

  Very nice surprise. The over the top acidity made this a fantastic pair with black risotto with seafood

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  9/18/2014 - Soteriologist wrote: 90 Points

  DISCLAIMER 9/20/2014: Alright, I am now going to give this a 90 because it is awesome as a food wine with heavy, fatty, foods, partly due to its acidity. But this note is to remind myself that opening it is otherwise wasted. I would only give it an 84 as a solist ! So rather than averaging the rating to an 87 between the functions of food wine/solist, I will use the rating that is appropriate when used optimally - and it is much better even as a solist on day 3. And given the acidity, I will claim that it should be ok at least until 2017.
  
  Note dated day 2 of this most recent bottle 9/19/2014: So strange, just had it with fatty food again, delicious ! So please understand my 86 is based on the fact that I tend to judge wines also as solists. And this is not my choice for that purpose.
  
  Note dated 9/18/2014:
  
  OK, time to re-assess this wine ...
  
  It's so funny, I have to praise this wine yet I cannot like it anymore ! Great qpr at under 8 €, and such a bold and unique wine !
  
  And no, the glass is straightforward ruby, medium density.
  
  The nose is phantastic: a curious, intense, complex and very aromatic mix of leather, shoe polish, nicotine, barnyard, herbal notes, not exactly oregano or Herbes de Provence, but somewhat in that direction, a little anise... but then it isn't as confusing as it sounds, all these descriptors want to point to a single, complex scent which is hard for me to describe otherwise.
  
  So smelling this is highly recommended, but then the problem with this wine is you have to drink it too. And on the palate it is very acidic, and a bit numbing too since what seems to be dominating is a nicotine-like note. So that palate is interesting for half a glass, but then unless you have something to eat with it which is really in need of cutting through, such as a pizza or spaghetti with a garlic laden sauce, it can be too much pretty quickly.
  
  So all in all, as a food wine with pugnacious, combative dishes I would give it an 88, yet still recommend to use it rarely. As a solist it gets an 84 from me although technically I think I am not doing it justice. It's brilliant and should get an 87 or so, however I just don't like it.
  
  As you get drunk from it, it seems to improve, lol...

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