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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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Red
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2015 Cascina Garitina Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza Margherita
more
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Deep dark ruby color, slightly cloudy, with a hint of amber at the rim.
Full aromas of blackcurrant and plum with some dark cherry and hints of hay and mushrooms. Full bodied and dense with smooth tannins and balanced acidity. A long finish that is slightly drying.
Drink now - 2026
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Red
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2017 Maeli Colli Euganei D+ Riserva
Red Blend more
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When I visited this winery in 2022 it was as part of my queste to try and taste wines from every DOCG in Italy. It was the Fior D’Arancio Colli Euganei DOCG that I came searching for. What I found was a beautiful winery with an inspiring story to tell and taste. And while the Fior D’Arancio was fascinating, I was also attracted to the red wines that I tasted, so I took home some bottles.
And only just now I have taken the time to taste this D+ Riserva from 2017 for the first time. My first thought? Where can I find more bottles of this!
Medium dark ruby with some purple at the rim. Expressive aromas of cherry, blackberry and ripe strawberry with some spicy notes and hints of green pepper and toast. Full bodied with silky-chewy tannins that are mouth coating and some fresh acidity. The finish is long and fresh.
This wine has quite a lot of structure to make it last for many years to come. But I enjoy it a lot at its current age: exciting and well balanced. Drink now -2032
Red blend from 51% Carmenere, 25% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 24 months in used oak.
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Red
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2019 Sartor Emilio Montello e Colli Asolani Campo del Pra
Red Blend more
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Revisiting this wine 2 years later I conclude that it was probably just too young when I tasted it first time (see my previous note).
The color is now medium ruby, with no purple at the rim anymore. The flavour profile stays largely the same except that the fruit has mor freshness now and there is some of this typical Cabernet S. slight herbal note. On the palate it shows good balance with smooth tannins and fresh aciddity.
I’m confident now that this wine wil last for quite a few more years and might even develop some more complexity in 5-8 years time.
It is certainly worth a notch up now.
Drink now - 2030.
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Red
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2019 Gagliole Valletta
Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more
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Medium-light ruby color. Fresh cherry, berries and some mushrooms and violets. Medium bodied with smooth, integrated tannins and lively acidity. A medium-long and fresh finish.
I’m not sure about this wine… it might be in a sleeper phase. I didn’t find it very exciting. Initially it showed quite a bit of fresh fruit, but also some reductive notes. As if it was bottled just a few weeks ago. Later (2nd day) this turned into what I describe in my note.
Pretty high acidity and lacking a bit of structure to match that.
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Red
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2021 Les Celliers de Vetroz Sonata
Valais
Red Blend more
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A pretty unique blend of local varieties Cornalin and Humagne Rouge with Syrah.
The result is a fresh wine with bright red fruit and some toast from the 6 months wood ageing. I could easily have mistaken this for a Teroldego from Alto Adige. The Alps apparently bring some bright freshness to wines.
However, I find this wine is let down a litle by its one-dimensional character. This might improve a bit with more time in the bottle. But I’m too unfamiliar with this type of blend to judge this.
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Red
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2016 Feudo Maccari Mahâris
Sicilia
Syrah more
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Cooked
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Red
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2019 Roberto Sarotto Barolo
Nebbiolo more
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Tasted this side by side with the 2018 Barbaresco Riserva. I liked this one a bit less. The overall profile is similar, but this wine has even more oak and slightly leaner fruit. Still a good QPR for those who like a bit more oak (probably 90% of the world population compared to my taste;) but not as good as the Barbaresco Riserva.
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Red
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2018 Roberto Sarotto Barbaresco Riserva
Nebbiolo more
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Great QPR, modern style, Barbaresco for those who don’t want to wait for their Nebbiolo from Piemonte to age for 20 years. Perhaps slightly too much oak for my taste. But this makes this a very accessible entry for people new to Barolo/Barbaresco.
It lacks the complexity and refinement that a classic, and properly aged, Barbaresco will give you.
This one is better than the 2019 Barolo that we tasted side by side.
Light ruby with some amber at the rim. Fresh cherry/berries with some cinnamon and floral hints initially. After some time in the glass this evolves to hints of leather and a bit vanilla. Medium-full bodied with chewy-smooth tannins and balanced fresh acidity. The finish is long and has a slightly bitter twist to it.
Nicely balanced already, will probably smooth out a bit more over time. But I don’t expect it too develop a lot more complexity. Drink now - 2030
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Red
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2009 Domaine Ponsot Griotte-Chambertin
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
Pinot Noir more
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This is my first Gran Cru from the Bourgogne region. Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe this winery just doesn’t make the most impressive Gran Cru, but I find this just a ‘fine’ wine. Well made, elegant and with the finish probably being the most impressive part.
There have been 1er Cru that I recently had that I liked much better.
Light ruby/red. Fresh aromas of cherry, some berries and strawberry and hints of wet earth and sweet tobacco. Full bodied with light and silky, integrated, tannins and fresh acidity and fruit. Following through seamlessly into a finish that seems to lingers on for ever and remains fresh throughout.
This wine retained much of its freshness and lively character on the second day. This suggests that it will still hold for many years to come. But both the structure and the limited complexity doesn’t suggest to me that it will improve a lot. Drink now - 2034.
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Red
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2021 Bodegas Petron Prómine
Ribeira Sacra
Red Blend more
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Initially, after popping the cork, I thought it might be a bit over-oaked. But already after a few minutes very expressive black and red fruit came through offering a beautifully balanced and expressive wine.
Medium ruby/red color with a hint of purple at the rim. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, sour cherry, fresh berries and some cinnamon and boxwood, with a hint of toast and lilac. Full bodied with silky tannins and mouthwatering fresh acidity. A long and fresh finish that follows through seamlessly.
Well balanced and very seductive right now, will probably develop well for the next couple if years. Drink now - 2030
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Red
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2020 Stefano Amerighi Cortona Apice
Syrah more
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This is some amazing stuff!
I’ve only recently started to explore Syrah in any earnest as a result of a wine course that I have been following.
This one from Cortona/Italy is actually the first one that sparks some serious excitement with me.
It was about one hour after opening the bottle that I wrote down this note.
Deep red/ruby color. Expressive aroma’s of blackcurrant, strawberry and some black pepper with hints of Indian spices, hay and lilac. Full bodied with smooth tannins, lively fresh acidity and loads of black fruit. The finish follows through seamlessly and lingers on for ever, striking an exciting balance between freshness and a slightly bitter hint.
This wine has certainly enough structure to develop for at least the next decade. But I’m not sure if it will get more exciting than it is right now. Drink now - 2036
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Red
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2022 Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona
Val d'Arno di Sopra
Merlot more
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Tasted at ProWein 2024
The densest and most lively Galatrona that I’ve had since the 2006. I’ve lost a bit track of Fatt. Petrolo since I found their wines becoming less exciting from the vintages ‘08 - ‘12. The ‘22 Galatrona (and to a lesser extent the ‘21 I had at the same place) is a great re-introduction for me.
Medium dark red/ruby color. Expressive aromas of red cherry, fresh berries and some strawberry and sweet tobacco evolving with some spices and hints of licorice and wet earth. Full bodied with silky mouth-coating tannins, fresh acidity and fresh fruit. The finish lasts very long and follows through seamlessly.
Very attractive in its youth already, has a Masseto-like liveliness. I expect this one to have a long and very interesting life ahead. Potentially giving it a notch up in rating in a few years. Drink now - 2037
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Red
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2021 La Braccesca (Antinori) Syrah Cortona Achelo
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Deep ruby-purple color. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, blackberries and black pepper with a hint of sottobosco. Full bodied with lively acidity snd grippy tannins. A long and fresh finish.
Perhaps a bit wild still, and needing a bit more time, but quite enjoyable already. A great vintage for this wine.
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Red
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2022 Bodegas Enguera Valencia
Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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Dense ruby/purple color. Full aroma’s of fresh dark fruit and some crushed berries and hints of toast and licorice. Full bodied on the palate with lots of ripe fruit with enough fresh acidity to keep it lively. A long, fresh, finish.
Perhaps slightly one-dimensional but well made and with enough liveliness to support the sun-stoved fruit that is in there by spades.
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Red
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2017 Château Tour Canon
Lalande de Pomerol
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Medium-dark ruby. Fresh dark fruit with a distinct smokey note. Medium body with smooth tannins. Medium finish.
A bit disappointing qpr.
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Red
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2021 Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel
Lodi
more
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Deep ruby color. Quite vanilla and coco heavy with ripe black fruit. A bit too jammy to my taste.
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Red
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2005 Château Rauzan-Gassies
Margaux
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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This wine has beautifully aged and is now a much more complex expression of a typical Margaux wine. Some time to breathe will help to express this even better. These notes were taken 4 hours after opening the bottle.
Medium ruby color, some dusty/cloudy elements from depot and some hints of amber at the rim. Remarkably bright color still for a wine that is now almost 25 years old. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, boxwood and some hints of leather, liquorice and lead pencil. Full bodied with smooth tannins that are partially coating the palate and well balanced with the fresh acidity and some sweetness of fruit. The finish is very long and remains fresh.
In great shape right now. And although it has still quite a bit of structure left, I would definitely drink this now and perhaps leave one last bottle to see what happens in the next 5 years. Drink now - 2030.
This wine certainly deserves a few notches up from the rating I gave it in 2013. I have learned a lot about wine in the meantime… and this wine has developed a lot as well!
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Red
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2020 Domaine Benedetti Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu Plan de Dieu
Red Rhone Blend more
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Medium ruby. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, pepper and a hint of truffle. Full bodied with chewy smooth tannins, fresh acidity and fresh fruit. A long finish that remains fresh.
Well balanced already, but a lot of structure left to last for at least another 10 years.
Drink now - 2034
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White
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2021 Azienda Agricola Valori Pecorino Chiamami Quando Piove
Abruzzo
more
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Lovely aromatic with apricot, passion fruit, hazel nut and bread and an interesting spicy edge. Full and fresh with a very long finish that evolves between slightly bitter and freshly acidic. Needs some food!
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White
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2019 Azienda Agricola La Casetta Albana di Romagna Secco
Albana di Romagna DOCG
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Light straw color. Fresh/aromatic flavours of apricot, some citrus and hazelnut. Creamy texture with ripe fruit and a distinct nutty profile on the long finish.
A kind of blend between Viognier and Vermentino, nice!
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White
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2020 Freie Weingärtner Wachau / Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Weissenkirchen
more
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Pale straw color. Citrus, pepper and slate aromas. Creamy texture and medium acidity. Quite persistent.
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Red
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2017 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT
Merlot more
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After having Masseto for 13 years in my profile as ‘Dream wine’ I finally was able to open a bottle. And we were lucky enough to open a 2007 and 2017 side-by-side.
The wine was popped and poured at the table in small quantities in the glass. We took about 2 hours to taste and discuss it. And had a few re-fills of the glass after that. It clearly needed at least an hour to open up. Although it was already quite fragrant from the first moment it was poured.
The 2017 was significantly more fruit-driven than the 2007, and was overall more bold and had a denser body and longer finish.
But the 2007 was shining with its amazing ccmplexity and continuously evolving aromas.
The 2017 will need a lot of years ageing to develop that complexity, but when it will, it might even go beyond the 2007 in my ratings and earn 2-3 notches up.
This wine is seductive already now, bu I would wait several more years to enjoy that beauty of complexity that we witnessed in the 2007. Drink 2027 - 2037.
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Red
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2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT
Merlot more
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After having this wine for 13 years in my profile as ‘Dream wine’ I finally was able to open a bottle. And we were lucky enough to open a 2007 and 2017 side-by-side.
The wine was popped and poured at the table in small quantities in the glass. We took about 2 hours to taste and discuss it. And had a few re-fills of the glass after that. It clearly needed at least an hour to open up. Although it was already quite fragrant from the first moment it was poured.
Deep ruby color with some amber at the rim. Expressive aromas of sour cherry, raspberry and sottobosco evolving with new aroma expressions every time I took a whiff: chocolate, caramel, leather, beef stew, pine wood, smoke. Pretty amazing how this kept on evolving! Full bodied on the palate with silky, mouth coating tannins and balanced acidity and some sweetness of fruit. A very long finish that remains fresh throughout.
This wine is at/near its peak but will certainly last for many years to come. Drink now - 2032.
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Red
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1999 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Sangiovese more
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This is why I’m such a big fan of properly aged Brunello’s! And then in particular if it is from such an excellent vintage as 1999 (better than the 1997 and 2001 IMO).
This was my last bottle of this wine, and I have only 2 other ‘99 Brunello left in my cellar (a Casa Nova di Neri Cerretalto and a Poggio di Sotto).
It showed great, much in line with my previous note.
Again I want to stress to give this wine plenty of time to enjoy it to its full potential. This time I actually opened it on the afternoon the day before Christmas dinner. It was nice when I tasted it that evening, but it was really singing the next evening during dinner.
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Red
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2013 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Cannubi
Nebbiolo more
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I finally got an opportunity to taste a Borgogno Barolo. And this 2013 Cannubi was a great introduction!
As a side note i want to mention that I also have been experimenting with different glasses lately. And in this case I compared the Riedel Performance Pinot and the Zalto Burgundy. I prefer the Riedel, the Zalto gives a slightly leaner, sharper, edge to the aroma’s. Altough I love the Zalto Bordeaux on many wines, I haven’t found a wine yet that makes the Burgundy shine. So, I continued the tasting with the Riedel Pinot, which works great on many elegant, fragrant, wines.
The note was taken 8 hours after opening the bottle.
Light ruby color. Expressive aromas of cherry, roze petals and tobacco evolving with hints of bayleaf and liquorice. Full bodied with fresh acidity and grippy-smooth tannins. The finish follows through seamlessly and remains fresh. Great balance and complexity, just lacking a bit more body excitement that would give this wine a few more points. Still an amazing wine that is in excellent shape right now. It most certainly has the structure to develop for quite some time and might develop nice tertiary aromas. Drink now - 2033.
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