7/12/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Not super aromatic and rich like other Gewürztraminers such as the ones of Pfaff or Ostertag, but elegant and well-balanced. Transparent and crisp (something to do with the vintage?) A very nice wine to go with food. On the nose, ginger bread, grape, lycee, green apple. Higher acidity than the typical gerwurz from Alasce. Longish finish. Drink it up. Will hold but won't improve.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

On the nose, cassis, sweet oak that is too obvious and sticking out at the moment. Tannins still very tight, as expected. Will be interested to taste it again after a year or so to really gauge the quality.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Not particularly expressive on the nose. Slight hint of leafiness, herbaceous note on top of aromas of dark fruit (from the Cabernet Franc that replaced the Syrah since 2007?). Full bodied and well-balanced. Needs time.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Tannins still tight. Slight rustic. Nose not as expressive among the flight that includes 2003, 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2013. Probably shut down at the moment.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Brickish rim. On the nose, savoury, undergrowth. On the palate, medium plus acidity and tannins. Medium plus body. Good length. Drinking well now.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

On the nose, smoke, high toned aromas of roast red pepper, barnyard, medicinal, tannins still tight. Medium plus length with a slight bitter edge.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Slightly barnyard at the first, then opens up with more dark fruit, soy, savoury, medium plus finish with notes of dark chocolate. Drink well now.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! Likes this wine:

Sweet oak, cassis, violet, hint of herbaceous note, great nose. Big, but ripe tannins. Great length with notes of cocoa at the end. Can be enjoy now but could use some bottle ageing.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Sweet dark fruit, not as expressive as the 2009 or the 2013. Much higher acidity than the 2009. Tannic and a bit rusty. Hopefully time will soften the tannins.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! Likes this wine:

Aromas of oak, vanilla, that stick out a bit at first, then comes floral, violet. Complex, tannins still tight at the moment. Well balanced and structured. Should age very well.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Half way between the leaner 2001 and the plush 2003. Nose not as expressive as the other two (shut down at the moment?) On the palate, dark fruit, dark chocolate, velvety, ripe, juicy tannins. Needs another 5 years.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! Likes this wine:

Complex nose: dark fruit, raisin, savoury, meat , smoke, hint of balsamic, slightly burnt fruit note. On the palate, great length with dark fruit, cocoa, medium plus length. Can hold for another 5 to 10 years.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Deep tawny, with brick-ish rim. On the nose, smoke, meat, savoury, soy, high toned, hint of sweet toffee. On the palate, slightly rustic. Not particularly long length. Medium (plus) body, elegant.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Made from late harvest grape (vino da uve stramature) Nasco, plus some Muscat. Deep gold. What a great nose: quince paste, floral, raisin (but still a lot of freshness), grapey, muscat-like aromas. Medium (plus) acidity. Great length that goes on forever. Medium sweetness. Good as an apertif or pair it with sharp goat cheese.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Medium plus ruby, hint of brick around the rim. First impression: some thing unclean (slightly corked?). Some dried fruit on the nose. Medium plus length with medicinal notes at the end.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Deep ruby, hint of brick around the rim. On the nose, sour cherry and black cherry. Medium plus to long finish with baking spice at the end. Tannins still a bit tight. Needs time and should age well.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Looks quite evolved already for 2009 with hint of tawny in the core. Medium plus length with notes of spice and caoco at the end. Not particularly expressive on the nose for the moment. Dried cherry, herbal, with very slight hint of oak. Probably in an awkward stage right now. Could still use some bottle ageing.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Deep purple, with a bright ruby rim.loads of dark fruit, raisin, oak, meat, smoke, slight hint of herbaceous note that adds to the complexity. Full body. Big, but ripe tannins. Long finish with dark chocolate note at the end (probably from the highly toasted barrel). Decant first, or better come back after at least 5 years. Good pqr.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Deep ruby, going almost all the way to the rim. Ripe dark fruit, alcoholic on the nose, but not excessive, quite a bit of French oak that will be integrated better in the future. Concentrated red and dark fruit, dried cherry, sweet oak, medium plus length. Medium plus acidity. Miles apart from regular Chianti classico.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Medium plus ruby. Loads of red fruit, sour cherry, raspberry, slight herbal and floral notes, medium plus acidity, medium (plus) length. Elegant.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Pale ruby. Cherry liqueur, rose, slight too candied for my taste (nose). On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium plus finish, very intense flavours of sour cherry, raspberry. Well-balanced and elegant. A food wine.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Light gold. Flinty, slight bruised apple, herbaceous (Sauvignon Blanc like that reminds me of some Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that is actually Sauvignonasse, a relative of Friulano). Very aromatic. On the palate, medium plus acidity, sappy, medium plus length with saline notes, almond.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Medium lemon. Floral, grapey, a slight touch of brioche (probably from ageing sur lie). On the palate, intense, medium plus acidity. Medium plus to long finish, with notes of bitter almond and mineral.

2/26/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Disgorged 2015. Medium gold. Yeasty, brioche, floral, iodine, Asian pear, evolved, but not over the hill. Medium plus to long length with a refined mineral note at the end. Medium plus to high acidity despite the fruitiness. Drink it within the next 5 years.

1/29/2016 - Libiamo! wrote:

Clear, pale lemon green. Nose: intense ginjo-ka, white pepper, herbal, cooked rice. Palate: off-dry to medium-dry, medium plus acidity, medium umami, medium body and alcohol. Flavour similar to the nose, medium plus finish with taste of kasu and umami. Elegant. Great introduction to the line-up of this boutique brewery. (Muku means purity in Japanese.)

7/6/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Light gold, very fine mousse. On the nose, quince paste, notes of amontillado (but no nutty notes, that indicate oxidation or wine fault), brioche, butterscotch. I wouldn't have guessed it was fermented and aged in oak as it's so well integrated. Medium plus to high acidity and very long finish with notes of mineral. The cork is still sound, but I wouldn't age it much longer.

6/4/2015 - Libiamo! Likes this wine:

What a freshness! I was told it's been disgorged recently. Pale lemon green, with very fine mousse. Yeast, brioche, lemon meringue, etc. Long, persistent finish, poised. Well-balanced. Easily trumps a lot of Franciacortas or Champagnes. From a single vineyard, 100% Chardonnay.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Deep ruby core going almost all the way to the rim. Sangiovese based with CS, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Intense nose of sour cherry, dark fruit, very well integrated oak, some meaty note. Drinking well now but could use some bottle ageing.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Intense nose of dark fruit, smoky meaty note, herbaceous (from the 20% Oseleta?), coffee ground. Touch of green pepper adds to the complexity. Very interesting. Slight grippy at the moment and could use some bottle ageing. I was told there is no Syrah for this vintage.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Very nice nose of rose petal, baking spice, red fruit, dried fruit note, still evolving. Big but ripe tannin. Media plus finish. 100% nebbiolo.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Intense dark fruit, raisin, meat, savoury, but still a lot of freshness. Grippy for now and could use some bottle ageing.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Juicy blackberry, hint of meat. Medium (plus) body, good length. Enjoy while it's fresh.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

A very interesting variety means loading up the donkey in Italian (probably because it's very productive). A natural cross between Garganega and Uva Sogra. Very plummy with a lot of dark fruit notes, assertive but ripe tannins. Medium plus body and length. Enjoy while it's fresh. Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Very ripe nose of dark fruit, hint of meat, some savoury notes. Fruit forward style but can hold.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. 50% Merlot, 40 CS and 10 CF. Dark fruit, well integrated oak, dark chocolate, cacao, well balanced. Drinking well now, but could use some bottle ageing.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Very delicate, with notes of white flower, moscato like grapey note, lower pressure than standard Prosecco. Good aperatif.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Deep ruby core, hint of brick a around the rim. Intense sweet raisin, dark fruit, baking spice, oak dark chocolate. Drinking well now, but can still use some bottle ageing. Very good.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Deep ruby core going almost all the way to the rim. Intense nose of dark chocolate, licorice, caramel, dark fruit, raisin, herbaceous note (that reminds me of slight unripe Merlot that probably comes from Oseleta. See my note of La Grola from Allegrini) that adds to the complexity. Could use some bottle ageing. Intense And long finish.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Fresh red and dark fruit, hint of raisin, good acidity. Fruit forward. Not Vin de garde, but charming nonetheless. Enjoy while it's fresh.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Built to last with good structure. Intense nose of dark chocolate, hint of meat, on top of dark fruit, not too raisiny with still a lot of fresh fruit. Medium plus length.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Brickish rim. More evolved than expected. A lot.of spice red cherry, still needs a few years to soften the tannin. 90 % nebbiolo and the rest vespolina.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Delicate, with a whiff of rose petal, red berry. Lighter than expected. Drinking well now, will probably age.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Deep ruby core, hint of brick around the rim. Intense nose of sour cherry, rose petal, medium plus length with baking spice notes at the end. Tannin still grippy but ripe. Could use some bottle ageing. Promising.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Very ripe, dark fruit, juicy, nice long finish with spice note. Will age.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. Very interesting meaty savoury note on top of dark fruit. Medium plus finish with licorice note at the end.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Intense notes of violet, meat, dark fruit. Very fragrant. Very interesting grape. Silky tannin.

6/1/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri. A lot of meaty notes, almost savory, then comes dark fruit. Still grippy and could use some bottle ageing. Medium plus finish.

5/27/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Very deep ruby core, hardly shows its age. On the nose, plum, black cherry, vanilla, well-integrated oak, baking spice. Quite intense, still a lot of freshness. Palate similar to the nose. Ripe, albeit slight grippy tannin. Medium plus acidity finish with notes of dark chocolate, again baking spice. Very good, if a bit more extracted than I prefer (compare with e.g. Lapierre). Make sure to let the bottle stand for a day or two before open it and decant slowly to remove the sediment or it will accentuate the grippiness. Should hold well for at least another 3 to 5 years.

5/20/2015 - Libiamo! wrote:

Very evolved already despite its age with brick like rim and lots of sediment. On the nose, some sweet red fruit, earthy beet-like notes, oak, alcoholic. Fruit drying out, leaving somewhat bitter finish in the mouth.

5/20/2015 - Libiamo! Likes this wine:

Deep ruby core going almost all the way to the rim. On the nose, sweet, almost Grenache like red fruit notes, hint of raisin, even meaty note. On the palate, juicy, ripe menage of red and dark fruit, soft, velvety tannin, medium (plus) body. Medium plus length with baking spice notes. Well-balanced. Very good P/Q ratio. (Note: the grape Bonarda is also known as Croatina, sometimes used as a blending grape in Valpolicella/Amarone. Bonarda from Argentina is technically Douce Noir.)