4/28/2020 - pigdaddy wrote:

some funky pasture notes on the nose; ripe & concentrated high-toned dark red fruits, rustic scrape-ey tannins. food essential to enjoyment, more positive w/fatty stuff.

sunny- side up quail eggs, hot soppressata; escarole hearts, gorgonzola ranch

11/3/2018 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

This wine is delicious. So smooth and yummy. If you have never tried the Syrah from this region you need to do so. It’s not like the Syrah from CA; it’s a subtle, kinder and gentler variation that testifies to what terroir and climate can donto the same varietal.

1/10/2019 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine, lovely winemaker (who doesn't drink, and whose father grew up on the farm) that makes a great Brunello. Buy it if you can find it. Visit the vineyard as you will get a nice tour and learn what it takes to grow this varietal. Hardest working people in Italy are in the wine business.

12/17/2020 - Laz4wine wrote:

So WL Text is obviously about to go crazy on this tomorrow, their red 'WOTY' so to speak at under $30 - anyone out there have comments on whether to back up the truck or just get a couple to sample?

10/20/2018 - VegaBodega Does not like this wine:

I normally love GMS, but this was stale, old and dusty

6/9/2019 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Really nice Super Tuscan needs a good hour+ to breathe but opens into a very smooth and balanced wine.

7/3/2017 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

I have owned this for 3 years and was waiting and waiting to open it based on the reviews here. The first bottle, the cork just crumbled and the wine had turned. The second, it seems as if the best days were two years ago. Granted, it was fine, but the 05 is much better and I was humbly suggest drinking the 04 now. The color had turned to almost Brunello. It was not deep and rich. It took about 45 minutes to mute its sour start, and actually settled into a nice wine. Was concerned it had too much air already--but got better despite the coloration. It's a mystery.

12/16/2018 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Beautiful. Integrated. Smooth. Another gorgeous 2010.

10/27/2018 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

This seems to be approaching the other side. It has come together and I do not believe anyimprovement is on the horizon; very smooth, fading fruit, earthy nose. I wanted to try well-aged Italian wine, but for $85 I’d say it was about $40 too much. I did a slow ox; and the longer it sits in my glass the better it becomes. Just dont want to wait too long and have it spoil in my glass. It’s holding up after 4 hours but not in a decanter. I have one more bottle and will update with a longer prep.

5/18/2018 - David Paris (dbp) wrote:

Brought to El Gaucho, Portland to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. 1968 was a sketchy year just about everywhere in the world, but supposedly an OK vintage in Barolo, certainly surrounded by many fine vintages. During a visit to Azelia in 2014, Lorenzo Scavino gave us a tour of the old cellar of wine and showed us wines with this label, made by his grandfather. Thereafter I began seeking them out, acquiring several vintages, and this is the first one I have consumed. The bottle was stood up for weeks in advance, and brought to the restaurant at 1pm. They opened it and let it breath at cellar temp until decanted around 7:30pm. As it was being decanted the color was absolutely perfect. The som said, "it's a bit pale," but for an old Barolo, I found it to be quite red toned, and of course see through as they always are. When I brought this to my nose I knew we were home free. You could smell high fruit tones from a foot away and that's what dominated the nose. Supremely elegant, refined, yet clearly aged red fruits. There were pleasing soil notes underlying that fruit. The nose was absolutely stunning, and nearly everything I seek in old Barolo. This transferred to the palate, where entry was bright, showing really nice red fruit tones, soil, and throughout the experience it was completely coating with refreshing acidity. Not much in the way of tannins, but the acid is sufficient to keep it all together. Finish shows some earthy notes and light lingering berries. Here you get a slight sensation of tannin, but it's mostly the acidic red fruit that lingers into the finish. This wine drank absolutely wonderfully for about 45 minutes in the glass, holding steady the whole time, before finally starting to head down hill at this point. I must say we nailed the opening/decant time perfectly on this bottle. This absolutely beat my expectations for how good it was going to be, and another example of how much I enjoy drinking finely aged Barolo. Score is at first pour.

5/1/2018 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Very nice wine. Surprised me. Very smooth.

10/20/2016 - BigGDaddy wrote:

From the Winemaker: Our 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is delicious and compelling, possessing nuanced ripe fruit, complex spice, an unctuous, round mid-palate and a finish that is balanced between varietal fruit notes and tannic intensity. Cabernet sauvignon blocks planted to clones 15, 4, 6, 337, and our own Rock Arch vineyard selection were harvested between September 23rd and October 22nd and fermented in individual stainless steel vats. After gentle pressing, the wines were aged in French oak (50% new) for 19 months before being blended with 8% merlot from our Wind Whistle block and 4% petit verdot from One Acre Hill, one of the highest elevation spots on the property. The final blend expresses ripe fruit notes ranging from blackberry to plum and cassis, as well as nuances of bay laurel, chocolate, black tea, brown sugar, graphite and crushed rose petal. The texture in the mouth is definitely that of a mountain wine, with size and concentration to balance the richness and opulence of its round mid-palate.

8/2/2017 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

This bottle has improved so much since the winter, it's like a different wine. This is a wonderful Tuscan, acidic, tart, floral...yummy.

1/14/2017 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Very nice structure, and wonderful QPR. Eager to conduct a much better evaluation--as this is in between Rioja and Cabernet Sauv; but it held its own.

12/14/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

This was a surprisingly delicious and well structured treat. Taurasi has some ass; which is why I like it. Full bodied. This has aged well, very drinkable. Soft tannins, but still there. Good dark berry flavor. Complimented a meat sauce perfectly. Not enough people realize how good this varietal truly is, and I am glad because the QPR is amazing.

6/25/2016 - BigGDaddy Does not like this wine:

This was horrible. Perhaps it was a bad bottle. It had a funk, like sweaty feet in a dirty sock. I have a 2012, will give it another year and try again. Very disappointed.

3/13/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

This is a nice Barbera. Acidic, but very smooth. Surprisingly smooth for a young wine. Very light. Not a meaty nor complex wine but good with Italian food. Total Wine had it for $25 which I believe is far too expensive, but I had a coupon. This is a good $15-$18 bottle.

11/4/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Floral nose with a hint of sour cherries. It's very light. Decanted for 2 hours. Not as structured nor balanced as other 2010's. Not sure this was worth the money when other lower-cost Brunello's are much better. Don't know if this will get better with time? Maybe it's in a very weird period? Had much higher expectations. Not that it's bad--just not nearly what I had hoped for...

4/9/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Really a wonderful Brunello. Needs a long decant. 4-5 hours. Smooths out wonderfully. This is an exceptional wine but until it's ready it will be tannic and sour. Please wait. This turns into a deliciously rich and smooth wine. Nice balance and structure. So nice. Saved one for another year of aging. Will only get better.

6/24/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

Very nice, but needs time to breathe. After two hours this smooths out like a fine Bordeaux should. This does not carry the same tannic profile of a typical Italian Tuscan, it's more French and yet not as earthy. I bought a case and will add to this after the next bottle.

6/15/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

This is a spectacular Barolo that will not disappoint. Wonderful structure, smooth finish, in balance now and will only get better. Cherries, leather...well worth the price of $53 with a 20% off coupon.

4/20/2016 - BigGDaddy wrote:

Meh. Ok. Had an earthy start but faded. Maybe needs more time? Maybe it's just ok. Will see if it improves over time.

1/27/2016 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine:

The wine looks dark--inky colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like mineral, stoniness and horsey. It tastes like red currant, cranberry, cherry and alcohol. The body is light/medium. The wine has a nice smooth texture but finishes short. No real tannins with medium acidity. Its an old world wine--so don't expect a jammy Californian. This has a subtle earthy, mustiness and funk (not in a bad way) which adds to its character. Clearly, I over paid at $25, but bought it at a local specialty shop and wanted to support the business. $15-$18 would be an exceptional value. Would buy it again at that price point...

12/15/2015 - BigGDaddy wrote:

Surprisingly delicious. Jammy nose. Soft. Had with BBQ chicken. Nice finish. Slight tannins but smooth. Drinks like a much more expensive wine. Value here. Will buy more.