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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.3 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 34 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by robmatic on 6/14/2023 & rated 94 points: Lucky bottle. Though the cork was trashed, the wine was superb. Immediately stunning nose, then deep dark fruit, with layers of flavor. Greatly exceeded expectations. (394 views) | | | Tasted by Klugi Wine on 10/3/2020 & rated 91 points: Excellent matured Sangiovese from Felsina. Bouquet of dried cherries, sandalwood and some tertiary notes of forest floor and mushrooms. The tannins are still strong and the acidity gives this wine a vibrant freshness, even at this age. Can easily be enjoyed over the next 5 years. (1254 views) | | | Tasted by eboracum on 7/18/2018 & rated 93 points: IIRC 1998 was considered a mediocre vintage but this bottle rivals a 1995 for my best Fontalloro since I have been using CT. It was singing eloquently immediately on opening and was deep and harmonious showing rich but still lively fruit, suave texture, balsamic hints and touches of earthy minerals and leather together with some forest floor, mouth-watering acidity and ripe tannins supporting the finish. An impeccable cork only stained on its bottom millimetre undoubtedly helped freshness. Excellent. (2008 views) | | | Tasted by NiklasW on 12/24/2017 & rated 92 points: Decanted for 20 mins. Superb nose of cassis and barnyard with strong cherry as well. Great on the palate as well, elegant red fruit with tertiary tastes. This is ripe and ready now, will not get better. (2226 views) | | | Tasted by Lyubomir Lefterov on 12/20/2017 & rated 92 points: Intriguing nose of leather and tobacco with depth and complexity - I could smell this for hours, the body is following the nose but with less of that complexity I was expecting. This bottle is fully matured, if not on the downside already, tertiary aromas and food friendly acidity, balanced and pleasurable, but time to drink up. (2152 views) | | | Tasted by NJwineguy on 11/22/2017 & rated 93 points: Excellent (2085 views) | | | Tasted by NJwineguy on 9/1/2017 & rated 95 points: Delicious (1646 views) | | | Tasted by NarunP on 6/7/2017 & rated 91 points: 100% Sangiovese
Bricked, orangey red. Still concentrated and opaque. Compact rim. Youthful looking despite its 19 years of age.
The bouquet is the most enticing part of this wine. Grilled sun-dried tomato, slightly stewed fruits but not at all unpleasant, dried prune, mocha, with a hint of animalistic undertone. I can literally smell the aromas all day.
Presence of substantial tannin but integrated, medium high acidity, dry. Sour cherry, red cherry, blackcurrant. Gunpowder. Antique leather. Great mineral character. Finish with a trace of cedar, and spicy new oak.
Absolutely no reason to wait, although it has just approached the peak drinkability and thus can last another solid decade. Paired with Joe's pizza, the best NYC has to offer! 91. (1229 views) | | | Tasted by SlimShaney on 11/2/2016 & rated 90 points: 2009 bottle. Volumous saline sangiovese. Sophisticatedly aged. Think Italian leather brief case. (1452 views) | | | Tasted by Ludi on 10/10/2016 & rated 91 points: Granato cupo. Caffè americano, carruba, incenso, miele, prugna, terriccio smosso, pepe e cumino, goudron e sandalo. Intatto nella freschezza e nell’equilibrio, ha tannino setoso e compostezza assoluta (1468 views) | | | Tasted by forceberry on 7/7/2016 & rated 90 points: Served blind in a tasting of 1964-1999 Italian wines.
Dark, slightly translucent cherry color; more youthful color than the other wines. Ripe, opulent, rich and moderately developed nose with aromas of raspberry and blueberry jam, dried dark cherries, juicy sunny fruit, some dried tobacco, a little baked plums and a hint of licorice. Juicy, bold and quite full-bodied in the mouth with slick, velvety mouthfeel. Rich, a little bit matured flavors of ripe red cherry bursting with flavor, intense sour cherry, some cherry chocolate, sunny dark fruit, a little dry, savory wood and a hint of licorice. Quite high acidity and ample, yet very ripe, fine and smooth tannins that have a quite easy grip yet give the wine structure and density. Moderately long, developed and sinewy finish with flavors of sour cherry, cranberry, some baked dark fruit, a little licorice and a hint of dusty earth. Overall the wine feels aged, but not old; however, lacking a bit in the complexity when compared to the other wines of the tasting.
Fontalloro 1998 is a very enjoyable, complex and nicely developed Tuscan red, but I am not sure if the sweet, baked and even a bit jammy aromas and flavors were typical of this wine, or if the wine had been stored in a temperature above optimum. The wine had good structure and attractuve matured characteristics, but overall the wine came across a bit too ripe and sweet for my taste; I prefer Sangiovese with less dark fruit, less sweetness and a bit more grip and acidity. Nevertheless, the wine was really good and thoroughly enjoyable, no doubt about it! It was just overshadowed by all the other wines in the tasting (the woes of having a wonderful wine in a tasting of even better wines). Probably in any other setting I would have swooned over this wine; now it just managed to stir up only a lukewarm reaction. Overall: very, very good, but not excellent. (1713 views) | | | Tasted by kuumies on 5/23/2015: A beautifully deep, bricking color. A complex and compelling, savory nose of dark cherry, wet leaves, tobacco, prune and dried herbs. Very vivid and nuanced. On the palate first mouth caressingly silky, then the polished tannins emerge, gripping quite powerfully. Completely dry, yet abound with sweet, almost liquor-like cherry fruit, along with some iron and leather notes. Pleasantly coarse and extremely bright with great sense of vitality. Finishes very dry but balanced and tangy. Absolutely devoid of fat or notes of oak, this is a beautifully matured and integrated Sangiovese (or -veto, whatever) with all the vibrant acidity one would wish for. Not going downhill but I would guess that this is peaking right now, at least for my personal preferences. (2762 views) | | | Tasted by swapdoc on 1/27/2015: EWS: A Study of Sangiovese with Ian D'Agata: Fresher nose than the two preceding bottles. Soft, voluptuous and graceful. More fruit driven, with sweeter, sexier profile than the cola and wood driven older wines. Dark ripe fruit. The group preferred the more 'classic' aged wines -- call me a sucker for this beautiful fruit driven sangio. (2117 views) | | | Tasted by elledeca on 1/20/2015: Fontalloro vertical: very opaque, similar note to the 1999 with a bit more plum. mouth very different, this time on bitter coffee/bay leaf notes, liquorice and some iron filings. seems will last less than 1999 but no hurry. (2510 views) | | | Tasted by Ludi on 4/21/2014 & rated 93 points: Granato cupo ed intatto. Al naso tabacco, cuoio, incenso, goudron, amarena, mora, violetta appassita, menta, pepe, erbe aromatiche. Bocca intensa, intatta la freschezza, lunghissima la persistenza (2639 views) | | | Tasted by Nubian on 9/18/2013 & rated 92 points: Deeply coloured with first signs of ageing, animating nose, density, some sweetness, slightly tannic after 2 hrs decant. Not overdone, finesse and depth. Finish is long and fruity. First bottle of this Sangiovese ballerina for me. Bringing much fun today, with many years ahead. Delicious wine. (3025 views) | | | Tasted by Ludi on 3/11/2013 & rated 93 points: Granato cupissimo con giovanili lampi rubino. Al naso piccoli frutti rossi e bacche nere, scatola di sigaro, menta, cacao, pepe nero, chiodo di garofano, note ematiche. Bocca giovanile, rigorososa, da tannini importanti ma setosi e fresca persistenza (2993 views) | | | Tasted by Ludi on 8/17/2012 & rated 91 points: Granato compatto. Al naso cuoio, tabacco, pellame, poi pepe bianco, prugna, eucalipto, lieve cannella. Bocca sorprendentemente giovane, vitalissima e mobile, sostenuta da notevole acidità e tannicità. (3131 views) | | | Tasted by FastTrack on 2/13/2012 & rated 92 points: nose of cherries, licorice and black pepper. on the palate strong but lively tannins. long finish (3252 views) | | | Tasted by avp on 4/8/2011: Aged red cherry, earth, leather, graphite, smoke, tobacco and slight balsamico.
Medium bodied balanced palate in a dry and refreshing style. Quite meaty with worchester-sauce and blackpepper. Mid-length finish showing classy oak and minerality.
Visually and aromatically the age is evident, but the structure is kickig it good. Very nice. (2986 views) | | | Tasted by jariha on 1/8/2011 & rated 93 points: After 2 hours decanting very powerful wine with lively bright red fruits. The color still quite young looking. Tannins and acids in really nice balance. Can be still cellared for several years. (3706 views) | | | Tasted by Ludi on 11/8/2010 & rated 91 points: Dark red with garnet rim. Nose reminds of dark cherrries, tobacco, earth and sweet spices. Velvety tannins in the mouth, with sweet spices and a nice acidity in the long finish. (2672 views) | | | Tasted by Lorien on 11/1/2009 & rated 89 points: Better now than the 99 and 2001. Very nice personality, with a lot more expression in the armors than in the flavors. Good balance and solid concentration. Tannins could soften further. I'd actually hold a year more. Needs a good few hours to open up and shine. Excellent wine (7313 views) | | | Tasted by mmh on 7/4/2009 & rated 87 points: Decanted for 1 hour and had it with lamb. Mature colour with orange-brown rim. Yet the nose and the taste is not really mature at all. In the beginning the acids and tannins are really tight. It works with food, but not too well without. Dark sour cherries are predominant, but hints of leather and earth are also found. After 6 hours in the decanter it started opening up and actually drank quite nicely without food. Can be cellared for several more years. If you drink it now I recommend decanting for 5-7 hours. (1865 views) | | | Tasted by NiklasW on 5/16/2009 & rated 91 points: Decanted for about an hour. I was a bit worried about this bottle as the cork bulged a tiny bit under the capsule, but the cork seemed fine and was wet only at the bottom. The wine itself is in good condition, with a nice brownish red colour. The nose is bright with red cherry and a side whiff of oranges. A very nice aroma. On the palate, there are lots of tannins still and tastes of red fruit with some tertiary tastes as well. A very nice wine at 11 years old! I think it might even get better with some more cellar time, but it is good now too. 50+5+12+16+8=91 (2905 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Producer website
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This historic estate, which dates to the Middle Ages, was purchased by current owner Giuseppe Mazzocolin's father-in-law, Domenico Poggiali, in 1966. Winemaker Franco Bernabei draws on vines more than 50 years old from three vineyards-Fontalloro in Chianti Classico and the Casalino and Arcidossino vineyards in Chianti Colle Senesi-for this red. Because it straddles two DOCG zones, the wine is classified as Indicazione Geo-grafica Tipica (IGT). After fermentation, it was aged in barriques for 20 months. SangioveseSANGIOVESE: (Pronounced "sahn-joh-vhe-se").
Sangiovese - Italy's claim to fame, the pride of Tuscany. Traditionally made, the wines are full of cherry fruit, earth, and cedar. It produces Chianti (Classico), Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano, Montefalco Rosso, and many others. Sangiovese is also the backbone in many of the acclaimed, modern-styled "Super-Tuscans", where it is blended with Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc) and typically aged in French oak barrels, resulting a wine primed for the international market in the style of a typical California cabernet: oaky, high-alcohol, and a ripe, jammy, fruit-forward profile.[16]
Semi-classic grape grown in the Tuscany region of Italy. Used to produce the Chianti and other Tuscan red wines. Has many clonal versions, two of which seem to predominate. The Sangiovese Grosso clone Brunello variety is used for the dark red, traditionally powerful and slow-maturing "Brunello di Montalcino" wine. The other is the Sangiovese Piccolo, also known under the historical synonym name Sangioveto, used for standard Chianti Classico DOC wines. Old vine derived wine is often used in the better versions, needing several years ageing to reach peak. A third clone, Morellino, is used in a popular wine blend with the same name found in the southern part of the province. Recent efforts in California with clones of this variety are very promising, producing medium-bodied reds with rich cherry or plumlike flavors and aromas. Among the available clonal versions are R6 and R7, derived from the Montalcino region of Italy, having average productivity/ripening and producing small berries on medium size clusters. R10 and R24 are well-recommended. R23, listed as deriving from the Emilia-Romagna region, has good vigor with medium-small clusters with earlier ripening. R102 derives from the Montepulciano region and reported to have average vigor with moderate productivity that results in higher sugar levels and good acidity from medium-small berries on medium-small clusters. Has synonym name of Nielluccio where grown in Corsica.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorTuscany Tuscany (ItalianMade.com) | TuscanytToscana IGTHere is the Wikipedia entry for Toscana wine. |
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