Gorgeous color already, medium amber. This stuff is pretty amazing. The purity Of apricot on the nose and palate is simply stunning. The palate has a creamy mouthfeel, very rich with great depth. The finish is extremely long. Well balanced. This could be a classic with some age.
Very nice nose with fresh ripe mulberry, dark berries, spice, leather. The palate is somewhat grippy right now, but I think as this oak mellows the fruit will show though more. 89-90pts.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This was pretty aggressive on the palate right now, tannins that will leave a mark, but the evidence for the future is there. There is a nice sandalwood note along with leather, quite earthy, spice, and red fruits. this will require some significant cellar time to mellow though. 92(+)pts.
This was a little tight right off the bat, but it came around rather nicely, nose brings leather, sandalwood, earthy, cedar, deep red berries. This will continue to improve, but is drinking pretty nicely now. 92+pts.
Medium dark red color. Nose is open and glorious, floral perfume of roses, dried spices, red licorice, red fruits. The palate is velvety smooth, rich layers of fruit, silky tannins, spices, dried herbs, leather, dense, long finish. My WOTN. Stunningly good right now.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Nose is bright, ripe fruits, cherry, berry, chocolate, subtle florals notes. the palate comes across as medium-light bodied, fairly elegant, nicely balanced.
This is a honey. I love this wine. Very approachable even now, bringing forth florals, bright red fruits, and hints of espresso. The palate is elegant and velvety in texture, bringinglayers of rich red fruits, chocolate sauce, spices, and a long finish. Tannins are prominent, but well managed. Nice. 93-94pts.
Another winner was the '07 Coppo Barbera Pomorosso. This was singing with earthy aromas, rich, deep berry fruit, licorice, leather. A little rustic character and way good.
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali
From 60yr old vines, this white is absolutely delicious. Gorgeous nose with white flowers, melon, pear, very lively and fresh on the palate, light and lifted, long finish. Great find.
Great base bottling Barolo from Oberto. This is drinking really well, open, leather, spices, roses, berries, earthy, medium body and elegant on the palate. 92+pts.
Excellent, nose brims with violets, rapsberry, cherry, mint, saddle leather. The palate is fresh, lively, pure and energetic with firm velvety tannins. 93+pts.
Great nose with perfume of leather, florals, dark red fruits, spices, licorice, tobacco. Palate is bright, medium bodied, deep, tannins are more round, long finish.
Another nice showing for this wine. Very bright, cedar, earth, flroal, dried cherry, leather. Layers of fruit on the palate, balanced, firm tannins, long finish. 93+pts.
2009 Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé 94 Points
Italy, Sicily, Passito di Pantelleria
Gorgeous color already, medium amber. This stuff is pretty amazing. The purity Of apricot on the nose and palate is simply stunning. The palate has a creamy mouthfeel, very rich with great depth. The finish is extremely long. Well balanced. This could be a classic with some age.
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2006 Gaja Barolo Dagromis 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Roses, leather, red fruits, niely balanced. Dbl decanted.
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2008 Gaja Barbaresco 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Dbl decant. Very floral, red berries and cherry, leather, firm tannins. Very young.
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2006 Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Very nice, nose is smoky with leather, red fruits, spices. Nice silky tannins.
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2009 Elvio Cogno Barbera d'Alba Bricco dei Merli 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba
Nicely balanced, ripe fruit, cherry, some berries, spice. Medium light body. 89+pts.
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2007 Capezzana Carmignano Villa di Capezzana 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Carmignano
Very nice nose with fresh ripe mulberry, dark berries, spice, leather. The palate is somewhat grippy right now, but I think as this oak mellows the fruit will show though more. 89-90pts.
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2007 Còlpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino 89 Points
Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino
Rustic, tannic, red fruits. Needs time and food.
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2011 Feudo di Santa Tresa Terre Siciliane Frappato 80 Points
Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane
Over the top herbal profile, spices, and light body, cherry.
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2011 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino 91 Points
Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Really refreshing, lovely nose bursting with white flowers,citrus, some tropicals. Palate is balanced, consistent, adds pineapple, medium plus finish.
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2007 Podere il Palazzino Chianti Classico Argenina 88 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
This is a pretty serviceable Chianti. Red fruit profile, darker cherries, earthy, light-medium body. Tannins are a somewhat angular but tolerable.
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2007 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This was pretty aggressive on the palate right now, tannins that will leave a mark, but the evidence for the future is there. There is a nice sandalwood note along with leather, quite earthy, spice, and red fruits. this will require some significant cellar time to mellow though. 92(+)pts.
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2006 Mazzi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Punta di Villa 88 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Dark red color. Raisin, dried cherry, dark cocoa, earth, quite tannic currently.
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2005 Malvira' Roero Trinita' Riserva 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero
Medium red color. Medium body, nice cherries, and raspberry, spice, firm tannins.
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2007 Sottimano Barbaresco Cottá 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
This was a little tight right off the bat, but it came around rather nicely, nose brings leather, sandalwood, earthy, cedar, deep red berries. This will continue to improve, but is drinking pretty nicely now. 92+pts.
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2005 Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco 95 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Medium dark red color. Nose is open and glorious, floral perfume of roses, dried spices, red licorice, red fruits. The palate is velvety smooth, rich layers of fruit, silky tannins, spices, dried herbs, leather, dense, long finish. My WOTN.
Stunningly good right now.
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2006 Bruno Giacosa Spumante Extra Brut 88 Points
Italy, Lombardia, Lombardia Spumante
Carmelized sugar, pear, spice. Pleasant, but spendy.
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2011 Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis 86 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero
Lemon, mineral, pretty bland and simple.
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2004 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rùfina Riserva Castello di Nipozzano Montesodi
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina
Floral, leather, very grippy tannins, lots of alcohol burning through. Past peak? Fading fruit? low 80's.
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2005 San Giorgio Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Nose is bright, ripe fruits, cherry, berry, chocolate, subtle florals notes. the palate comes across as medium-light bodied, fairly elegant, nicely balanced.
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2009 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri
This is a honey. I love this wine. Very approachable even now, bringing forth florals, bright red fruits, and hints of espresso. The palate is elegant and velvety in texture, bringinglayers of rich red fruits, chocolate sauce, spices, and a long finish. Tannins are prominent, but well managed. Nice. 93-94pts.
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2007 Donna Olimpia 1898 Bolgheri 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri
Not in my wheel house, very herbal, green profile.
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2007 Coppo Barbera d'Asti Pomorosso 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti
Another winner was the '07 Coppo Barbera Pomorosso. This was singing with earthy aromas, rich, deep berry fruit, licorice, leather. A little rustic character and way good.
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2008 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Very good, savory nose and palate, leather, dried cherry, dried herbs, chocolate. Medium finish.
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2007 Le Vigne di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Friulano Vigne Cinquant'anni 92 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali
From 60yr old vines, this white is absolutely delicious. Gorgeous nose with white flowers, melon, pear, very lively and fresh on the palate, light and lifted, long finish. Great find.
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2004 Le Vigne di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Pignolo 92 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali
Great perfume on the nose, lovely blueberries as well, nicely balanced. Earth and minerals.
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2007 Andrea Oberto Barolo 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Great base bottling Barolo from Oberto. This is drinking really well, open, leather, spices, roses, berries, earthy, medium body and elegant on the palate. 92+pts.
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2007 Oddero Barolo 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Very oaky currently, gripping tannins, very spicy, tight on the nose. Dense and tough at present.
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2007 Roagna Barbera d'Alba 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba
Rustic, earthy, cherry, medium body, medium plus finish. Very good.
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2004 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Excellent, nose brims with violets, rapsberry, cherry, mint, saddle leather. The palate is fresh, lively, pure and energetic with firm velvety tannins. 93+pts.
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2007 Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella
Lots of chocolate, quite rich and lush on the palate, dried cherry, anise, and berry. Fruit has a nice freshness.
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2007 Giuseppe Contratto Alta Langa Millesimato Pas Dosé 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Alta Langa
Consistent with previous note.
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2007 Giuseppe Contratto For England Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé 84 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Alta Langa
bitter, unimpressive, forgetable.
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2008 Giuseppe Contratto Asti Gilardino 87 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Asti
No detailed notes, rather earthy on the nose. Decent sparkler, but spendy.
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2006 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Really nice, vanilla, cherry, tar, tobacco, spice, perfumed. Palate is medium full bodied with layering, cherry, tobacco, leather, spice,long finish. Drinking nicely now. 92+pts.
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2007 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Sarmassa 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Great nose with perfume of leather, florals, dark red fruits, spices, licorice, tobacco. Palate is bright, medium bodied, deep, tannins are more round, long finish.
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2008 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Via Nuova 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Another nice showing for this wine. Very bright, cedar, earth, flroal, dried cherry, leather. Layers of fruit on the palate, balanced, firm tannins, long finish. 93+pts.
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