8/4/2017 - Chiantihound wrote:

Drank along side regular 2007 riserva. Much stronger nose of chocolate/coffee. Surprised by the youthful nose and palate. Feel it was much more modern in style but holding well. Showing it's longer/more intense barrel treatment.

5/25/2017 - Chiantihound wrote:

Too dark to the eye. Low aromatics. Tannic. Leaning way too modern for me. I hope I am wrong, I have 2010s lying down, and I did like the lower end offering better.

1/20/2017 - Billigan Likes this wine:

Really enjoyable, old school PC. Loads of tobacco smoke, leather, crushed gravel, and even some whiffs of menthol and mint on the very expressive nose. Smoky, black-fruited, and slightly tannic on the more clenched up palate, but with a few more years, this will really be shining. Pop it now for the nose alone, or let this sleep a bit longer to truly unfurl.

11/16/2015 - Chiantihound wrote:

4 hr decant. Initial nose of cork than wanes but never goes away. Wife thought barnyard. Clear translucent Hard to assess other than the fruit tried to come forward and the wine improved somewhat with time. However, cork never left in my mind. Had a 2007 a couple of weeks ago that was much smoother and had classic Bordeaux like profile..

If anyone has thoughts on these, happy to hear. I liked the 2007, and thought an under-the-radar find, but am uncertain given the funky cork. (also looked weird).

3/30/2014 - Chiantihound wrote:

4 1/2 hr decant. On open looks clear ruby throughout, no signs of bricking. Reticent nose of baking spices: brown sugar, nutmeg, lard. After 4 hours a cherry/plum scent joins. Initial taste was smooth, baking spices, good acidity, into a shortish finish. After 5 + hours the palate becomes a nice mix of red berry/cherry fruit and baking spice, and seemed to develop a longer finish with food. Wife thought it got "rougher" after airing. There was a nice change to my mind with the emergence of the fruit notes. Overall this seemed young, energetic and fruit driven. Low complexity with resolved tannins. This might last for years, but very nice and smooth at present. Blind you would think younger than 1999 due to fruit, but older due too resolution of tannins. A wine that defies easy classification.

2/21/2013 - Chiantihound wrote:

2hr decant. Deep opaque purple edging towards brick red, but only slightly. Soft nose of cassis. More light plum and cassis on palate. Low acidity to me and medium finish. Overall surprised given other comments. (I did not have steak with it). Maybe I had a small cold, did not take it outside for a taste, but thought it was one dimensional, simple, just nothing to get excited about. Did not see complexity. Had a '97 Silveroak AV a couple of weeks ago, and that had spices to go along with fruit flavors. Have to score below....it did improve with time, but overall seemed restrained.

1/25/2013 - Chiantihound wrote:

Youthful look. Dark ruby with no bricking. Medium nose of fruit and baking spice. Wife says fruit and alcohol, but oak integrated for sure. Cherry and cassis along with pie flavors on mid-palate. Shortish finish is largest negative. Low complexity at the moment. Overall very youthful, not showing age at all but for smoothness and integration of oak. This might age for quite a while.

1/12/2013 - deidominus wrote:

I seemed to have overpaid a bit for this wine, at $17.99. It was still worth it. Very delicious. Aerated and decanted for 20 minutes. Paired with extremely dark Dagoba dark chocolate. Very good pairing. Medium to dark ruby in color. Sour cherries and vanilla on the nose. Cherries, tobacco and currant on the palate.

I think this wine is still a bit young and may even improve. If you can get this for < $15 as some have stated on this forum, buy it by the case. You will not regret it. Best sub $30 Chianti Classico Riserva I have had.