4/28/2024 - uve wrote:

Great northern Rhone Syrah. Lip-smackingly dry; no jammy new-world nonsense. No rush.

4/25/2024 - uve Likes this wine:

At 10 years of age, this is drinking beautifully. Silky blackcurrant notes, floral notes and undergrowth. So pretty. More time will allow further secondary notes to come through - I expect with 5 more years it will be spellbinding.

3/23/2024 - uve wrote:

Decanted 5 hours. Has the bones , and nice red fruit profile… but not revealing too many secondary notes now. Try again in 5 years!

3/16/2024 - uve Likes this wine:

Firing on all cylinders - an explosive mix of tar, cola, roses, red fruit, turned earth. Produttori’s entry-level barbaresco remains one of the world’s best bargain fine wines, and this is an outstanding vintage. This was the first of 12 - looking forward to seeing how it develops over time.

3/2/2024 - uve Likes this wine:

I tried one from 2012 a few weeks ago, but I think this one has the edge over it. Similar distinctive profile, on the sour side and quite heavy on the balsamic. But this is perhaps more rounded with more secondary notes- leather, cocoa, eucalyptus. Maybe this vintage just matured sooner - definitely in a good place right now.

3/1/2024 - uve Likes this wine:

Flavour profile: lychees, smoke, grapefruit, steel. Very long finish. Absolutely dry but cannot hide the sweetness or aromatics of the gewurztraminer grape. Outstanding tasting experience but actually will be best paired with food. Definitely entered its drinking window - but no rush.

2/24/2024 - uve Likes this wine:

Textbook fine barolo. Even with its bottle age and after a 3-hour decant. It started off very tight. It did open up over time to show grilled herbs alongside the classic tar and roses. The last glass was the best. Feels like it’s holding back some of its secrets, and I expect there’s some upside from here.

12/8/2023 - uve wrote:

Cooked. Another LCBO fail. Not sure if it’s how they ship it or how they store it, or both.

10/13/2023 - uve wrote:

Pnp. Very fruit forward, brambly, jammy and slightly cloying right now. Good concentration so maybe needs some more time or needed a decant. Very new world, not so much my style. .

4/8/2023 - uve Likes this wine:

I was a little sceptical about this one, it doesn’t normally get the highest scores for brunello. But hard to say no when priced at £23 at Costco… and my scepticism was misplaced. This is quite a charming wine. Medium bodied, not too extracted and quite approachable. This allows the red fruit to sing, especially when this young. But there are good secondary notes of leather, herbs, and that softly spicy depth that you get with good brunello which you don’t normally get with a rosso di montalcino. Well done! Would buy again

1/21/2023 - uve Likes this wine:

So good, what a great buy. Couldn’t be anything other than Italian. Astringent but with ripe flavours, red fruit mainly sour cherries, secondary notes of leather, herbs. Concentrated with decent length but in no way overbearing and a good food wine. It’s young - tasted a few times and has been best with a a few hours’ decant. This has more energy and charm than several other Tuscans with a higher price tag - so have ordered another case.

12/4/2022 - uve Likes this wine:

Predominantly cabernet franc which gives plenty of cedar and mint. Very tight, much better after a decant of at least two hours and would probably benefit from a few more years. Excellent value.

9/30/2022 - uve wrote:

A sound wine, almost good - had me yearning for a classier Bordeaux with more concentration and complexity. No harm in drinking now.

5/21/2022 - uve Likes this wine:

My goodness this is classy. If this is in its drinking window, it's at the beginning of it. Decanted for 6 hours before trying, but it was still so reluctant to reveal itself fully. When we got there, it was a revelation. Lip-smackingly inviting: red and black fruit, cherries and blackberries, the secondary notes include spiced cake, ground cloves, cinnamon, herbs too but nothing overpowering, everything finely balanced. The finish goes on forever.

Interesting to see the difference in scores this wine received. WA 100, JS 99, Galloni 89?? He mentions astringency, lack of persistence, neither of which I find. In fact, try as I might, I cannot find fault with it.

5/20/2022 - uve Likes this wine:

Elegance on the nose with cassis and roasted herbs, also some rustic tones, barnyard coming through. On the palate, red fruit, concentrated to the point of being stewed, baked stones. Probably at the beginning of a slow decline but still very enjoyable.

4/1/2022 - uve wrote:

A crowd pleaser! Fruit driven at this point and mainly black fruit, accessible, smooth, some herbs coming through. I wouldn’t have guessed chianti if tasting blind, and this may be a drawback for some. I decanted for 3 hours and it was singing - but pnp may also be fine. Will aim to try that with the next bottle and if so, will post another tasting note.

2/12/2022 - uve Likes this wine:

Is there a better region of the world for bargain fine wines than Bordeaux? Saint Emilion has some of the very best of them. Choose a vintage like 2017 that was unpopular but basically sound, and you can find even better QPR.

The flavours of this wine are so pretty right now while it’s young: intense black fruits, incense, stones, graphite, the concentration giving a really good length too. It has the stuffing to develop over the next 10 years, but is drinking so well now with a three-hour decant.

You can pay almost double for the 2015 or 2016 Badette right now in the UK. Pretty similar reviews for thise ones, and if buying again, I’d probably stick with this vintage.

12/23/2021 - uve wrote:

Nice red fruit profile, quite tannic still and maybe a bit thin? Will give a longer decant next time.

7/31/2021 - uve Likes this wine:

If tasting blind, I’d have gone confidently for barbaresco. It’s the tannins and raspberry cherry cola profile; Also the colour’s a good match if just a touch darker. Really very refined and it wears its 15% alcohol lightly. It’s very approachable and there’s a lot to like here - it would be outstanding if it had just a little more complexity in the mid palate and a longer finish. So I also don’t quite see the 97 that Vinous gave it. But it’s excellent QPR and I’d definitely recommend it.

7/16/2021 - uve Likes this wine:

In view of previous tasting notes, decanted for 5 hours, double decanted - then poured through an aerator. So it got plenty of coaxing!

Bright crimson, with just the slightest hint of bricking at the rim.

This is a wine with incredible purity, concentration and length. At this point in its evolution, it feels tightly wound, coiled, and waiting to reveal some of its tertiary flavours. You get the typical kirsch, roasted herbs and maybe some petrol, smell of rain on hot tarmac on the nose. It's also defined in part by what isn't there: not a hint of heat, with the 15% alcohol being exceptionally well integrated. It's an incredibly smooth and rounded wine.

96 for now - probably scoring more in time.

4/16/2021 - uve Likes this wine:

I came across this while checking out our local Laithwaites (UK). They had this vintage, which happened to be the year my wife was born, so...

This bottle was definitely in good condition and structurally sound. While doubtless on the decline, it's still a great experience to drink - more mature than anything we've tried before. A strong core of dried cranberries, goji berries, the authentic sourness of sangiovese. A good experience!

4/1/2021 - uve wrote:

Wow. Awesome wine. Thick, honeyed, unctuous but somehow focused, saline with some minerality. It has the stuffing to develop and improve over the next 8-10 years.

I’m more of a red wine fan so lack some of the vocab to describe this - and looking at the holdings on CT it’s likely no one will read this note in any case. Anyway - buy if you have the chance, you will not be disappointed.

2/26/2021 - uve Likes this wine:

Inky, oaky, concentrated, well constructed, and still too young. This had a 5-hour decant and it’s not giving too much right now. It will give more in 5 years. Very pleasant now too - just a little too much vanilla from the oak.

2/22/2021 - uve Likes this wine:

This vintage has been my first taste of Musar - and I’m a fan! It has some of the characteristics of a mature barolo - a fruit core of red cherries and dried berries, dusty tannins, then leather and tobacco. It’s more herby than a Barolo and has secondary flavours that only a genuinely fine wine can give - and bags of character. Marked down just a tad by a very slight astringent note on the finish.

Other tasting notes have mentioned some inconsistency between bottles. This is my fourth bottle - so far 3 have been consistent, the other was drinkable but flawed.

1/9/2021 - uve Likes this wine:

Third bottle from a case. The best yet, probably because of a longer decant, 4 hours. Very open with a real purity of red and black fruit - cherry, boysenberry, blackcurrant, and the ripeness giving plenty of glycerine. At this age the oak is there but seamlessly integrated, and not overpowering. The wine is concentrated and the finish is long with a hint of wet stones.

About as good as a Rioja gets, in my experience so so far anyway. Absolutely ready, but I expect this will hold its own for the next 10 years at least.

9/5/2020 - uve wrote:

Nice enough claret - definitely mature. Saint-Emilion - so merlot dominant.

Still plenty fruity on the nose - plums, prunes, and can tell there’s good concentration there.

Typical Bordeaux cigar box flavours, still lots of oak giving strong vanilla flavours, and cassis. Fairly long on the finish but would benefit more integration and complexity.

Absolutely fine and if it was selling for a third of the price, I’d recommend. I suspect this is an over-ripe vintage and would like a chance to try another year.

8/29/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

Decanted for 4 hours. Beautiful garnet colour. On the nose, showing more age than I expected with aromas of prunes, baked cinnamon and black liquorice.

In the mouth, the tannins are still present but fine and provide some structure. The dominant notes are of black cherries, toasted almonds, tar, and molasses. Dark flavours!

Quite a mature profile - and it's already an exceptionally rounded wine - but I have no doubt that there's more on the way for those who wait another 5 or 10 years.

By the way, this estate's Rosso tends to be outstanding and would beat a fair few brunellos, at a fraction of the cost. It can't compete with this brunello, though.

8/22/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

A chance to try the latest vintage of my favourite bargain fine wine! It’s held a special place for me ever since I lived in Piedmont some years ago - and for me, Produttori always gave the best expression of Nebbiolo for the money.

I wouldn’t normally try it so young, but saw the interest that this vintage was getting - so bought an extra case to try now. Given the recent hype for the 2016, I wanted to be objective in my tasting. So I also opened a bottle of the Produttori 2012 and compared the two directly. I gave both a 2-hour decant before tasting. And it was really interesting. The 2016 is an excellent wine. It comes across as fresh, lush, and harmonious, with a profile of red fruits. Incidentally, its relative lightness makes it an excellent food wine right now. Altogether, it’s impressive, but quite primary. The 2012 is more brooding, with a darker profile, tobacco notes, a little more closed but hinting at more - and for me, a more profound wine when drinking today. If asked to choose, right now I would opt for the 2012 over the 2016.

I think my points here are - firstly, nebbiolo rewards ageing and I do believe that’s true of the Produttori wines which are very well-made. I should really have held the 2012 for longer too, but for the 2016, 4 years from vintage does not give a true reflection of the wine. Secondly, a point for those who have discovered this wine because of the popular 2016 vintage. It’s not an outlier for Produttori - seek out their other vintages! They are very consistent in terms of quality.

My other case of 2016 will stay in the cellar for at least 10 years from vintage, if I can summon the patience ;-)

8/14/2020 - uve wrote:

I wanted to like this more than I did, being English and all. Perfectly drinkable - like a Sauvignon Blanc, dry with hints of grass and maybe a hint some hazelnuts. There are also strong undertones of something that could be generously described as floral, maybe elderflower - or if I’m feeling less generous, a bit soapy.

7/17/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

This delivers in spades - an immediate, roaring hit of ripe black fruit, roasted herbs and espresso. The finish is long and gives further notes of stones, there’s maybe a rough edge right at the finish but doesn’t diminish its charm. A rock star!

6/26/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

A rather classy white. It’s the white floral notes that really stand out for me. The oak is well judged and provides depth and balance. This will be better in a couple of years, but opens up nicely now.

6/20/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

Bought on the strength of the 2002 vintage for this wine, which was magical. This one is not quite as concentrated, not quite the depth of tertiary flavours. There’s also a touch of shrill acidity that a young Pinot gives. But there is also some forest floor and Chinese five spice. It’s good but gives hints of how great a mature burgundy can be - therefore leaves me wanting a bit more!

4/13/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

An amazing tasting experience - like it's been passed through a barrel of candied dates and figs. It's incredibly sweet and OTT and I wouldn't want more than a glass or two at one time. Just enough to help the sticky toffee pudding go down.

3/28/2020 - uve wrote:

Consistent with previous note December 2019. A genuinely outstanding wine.

3/14/2020 - uve Likes this wine:

A reminder of why I love the sangiovese grape so much. Bright, tart and lively but very very smooth, this would give plenty of brunellos a run for their money. It's all cherry cola and spicy berries, but with a round creaminess on the finish, which is very long. A genuinely impressive wine. I have a case of their 2010 brunello - looking forward to trying that too.

12/20/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

Yes it's too young. But I'm still sitting on a couple of cases of CNDP from 2010 and waiting for reviewers to say they're out of the dumb phase. So i thought i'd try this early. It took about an hour's decant to open up, and then it's a very fine wine indeed. As smooth as velvet, inviting you to try again and again. With air came hints of herbs - lavender, maybe rosemary. Very concentrated red fruit on the finish, which is long.

Will it be better in 10 years' time? Yes, and you can tell it has the structure to age for 20 years beyond that. Do I regret opening now? Not for a second :-)

11/2/2019 - uve wrote:

Wild, rustic and brambly. Definitely has character.

11/2/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

An approachable, supple wine - absolutely ready to drink this young. Dark in colour, it gives gorgeous aromas of rich, dark red and black fruits. On the palate, dark cherries, wet stones and a hint of mint - a long finish which is kept from being cloying by some good, fresh acidity. I read one pro review which reckoned this was an off vintage and gave it 87 - which I think is too mean by some margin. Glad i went ahead and gave it a try.

10/5/2019 - uve wrote:

This is really singing right now. Aromas spring out of the glass - tobacco, wet black fruit, stewed prunes, toasted herbs. Still tannic, but juicy, with added notes of tar and scorched stones. 15.5% alcohol but it wears it pretty lightly. Plenty of sediment... a really distinctive wine.

9/28/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

A fine well-balanced barbaresco with the classic nebbiolo traits of tar, roses, turned earth and iron. For me this wine is drinking well right now - the acidity is still there but gives it a nice edge, and it's not nearly as sour as other young nebbiolos I've tried in the past. And it's autumn in a glass, so a great time to try a bottle!

9/27/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

Attractive fruit core of dusty apricots. This wine has probably reached its peak. Not a bargain - other than in the context of mature 1er cru burgundy.

8/17/2019 - uve wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours before trying. Was rewarded with a wine that remained tightly wound and rather surly. The colour shows a young wine and that was borne out when tasting. It feels authentic, with the sour bite you get from sangiovese, and some leather coming through, but not many secondary notes and enough charm yet. Not to be written off, despite the mixed reviews. Just not in a good place right now. Try again in 2 or 3 years.

8/3/2019 - uve wrote:

First one out of a case of 12, and completely corked to the point that no score can be made. The balance on the palate told me the wine should be a fine one, so I look forward to leaving an update once I've tried the next bottle.

7/12/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

Probably the finest wine at my local Tesco's. Not saying much as I despair at the choice available - but I was pleased to find a 10-year old claret from an independent maker amongst the Blossom Hill, Hardy's fruit bombs etc. By no means a grand vin and a little past its best - getting a bit dried out but still recognisably authentic Bordeaux.

2/23/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

I waited to taste this a few times before rating - this time was the best yet, after decanting for an hour. Finely balanced, red and black fruit, crushed stones on the finish. Very refined and actually quite savoury. I'm sure it will evolve further so I'm holding my other case - but it's drinking really well right now.

2/16/2019 - uve wrote:

At first jam - layer after layer of it. But there is more, with air. Leather and perhaps some crushed stones. Perhaps more time or more air would make it less cloying and more complex. Unfortunately this bottle doesn't dispel my bias for old world - a Rhone syrah would have given more pepper and spice. But this is very smooth. Great label too, by the way :-)

2/2/2019 - uve Likes this wine:

Plenty of oak in evidence here, even at 12+ years of age. Definitely a more modern style. However, I respectfully disagree with Il_Diavolo on this one - this wine couldn't be anything other than a nebbiolo from Piedmont. There's the familiar mix of freshly turned earth, leather, tar, violets and roses. And then there's the bricking - looks like a wine 3 times its age from any other variety, but this can plateau for another few years. Very good, makes me want to try their other varieties.

1/19/2019 - uve wrote:

Love this wine so much I bought a second case - unusual for me (there are too many great wines out there so why repeat!). Doubtless at its peak right now - generous bramble fruits, liquorice, smoke and crushed stones. A great buy and great QPR

8/10/2018 - uve Likes this wine:

I love tasting wines that are just beginning to wane. This one has some bricking - plenty of stewed red fruit and good concentration. Drink up.

4/27/2018 - uve Likes this wine:

Very clear taste of raspberries and stones. Quite light flavours for a CNDP. Entirely pleasant - but the alcohol is strong and not particularly well integrated.