10/19/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

This is the third bottle i have tasted and it is not loosing the bitter tannins and the unbalanced flavors. I could be wrong, but I don't think time will help this problem.

8/26/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

I gave this wine a score of 94 in November of 2009, and it has improved to a lights out beauty. Drinking this just puts a smile on your face. Killer st emilion nose of exotic spice with an earthy feel. In the mouth, complex rich fruit and terrior that lasts thru the finish with soft tannins.

8/26/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

Drank along side 2000 Figeac at RSVP in Cornwal Ct, and frankly it was not fair to the Arietta, because the Figeac was lights out. However it is a nice california blend, balanced with interesting herbal and dark fruit notes. Nose was odd, hard to describe.

7/25/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

Great potential, but needs time for tanins to resolve.

7/25/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

Certainly not worth the high price tag.

5/19/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

Rich with sweet berry fruits. Can use some more time in the bottle, but drinking nicely now.

3/18/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

I am not sure why the other tasters did not give this a higher score. For the price, this was the best wine my wife and I have had in a long time. Just a joy to drink, smooth, balanced and classy, with ripe fruits. We finished the bottle at a restaurant and wished we had another bottle half way thru the dinner.

3/18/2011 - bluevespa wrote:

Really nice cab. Drinking nicely now with balance and depth. Did not know anything about this gift. Pleasently surprised.

12/10/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Tasted older then 10 years, with an earthy and barnyard taste. If you like rustic old style barolo's you will appreciate this wine.

11/19/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

My last bottle, what a shame. Smells and drinks like a old classy bordeaux. Hats off to this heidi barrett property and vintage. At it's perfect drinking window.

7/4/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Enjoyed this impressive wine at the amazing RSVP french restaurant in West Cornwall, Ct. At first I found the fruit to be over the top. Too Sweet! But after awhile it balanced out with honeysuckle and white plum. Put this up against the best Condrieu from the Rhone and let the best man win.

7/4/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Enjoyed this beauty at the amazing RSVP restaurant in West Cornwall, Ct. Is there a better nose than Haut Brion? Cheval Blanc maybe. Dark, rich, elegent, balanced. Drinking now, but years to go.

6/27/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Far too sweet with massive alcohal and a massive headache the next day.

5/17/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Drinking nicely now, with years to go. Classic Graves from nose to finish. An outstanding effort, at a great price. If you love bordeaux, this is your wine!

5/6/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Needs more time, but drinking nicely now. Tasty dark fruits with recognizable cnp terrior. A real bargain. Love this wine!

3/27/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

A big black tannic mouthfull. Needs more time in the bottle.

3/27/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

A beautiful DRC effort, but is it worth the outrageous price.

3/14/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Full bodied and rich with dark fruit flavors. A classy effort. The bottle must way 5 pounds, and could be used as a weapon.

3/14/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

This cab blend is a fruit bomb, that is drinking nicely now. more syrah then cab, but fun to drink.

2/25/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Opened this beauty on my daughters 26th birthday. Black as it poured into the decanter. A big wine, more like a great bordeaux then tuscan. Drinking now, but has many years ahead of it. Dark fruits and spice in the nose. Full, rich, concentrated and serious breed.

2/22/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

This is a outstanding chianti that is drinking nicely now, but has a few years to go. Tuscan earth with rich friut. Classy showing.

2/14/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

This is one of the finest Calif cabs I've had. Big and balanced with mocha and spice and sweet fruit, but also very classy and complex. My only bottle, what a shame!

1/19/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

An outstanding barolo that is drinking very nicely at this stage, with a few years left to enjoy this beauty. Big, rich, elegant and balanced.

1/2/2010 - bluevespa wrote:

Purchased in Marigot St. Martin and had concerns about its age and storage. What a surprise. Delicious with cheese assortment. Hiting on all cylinders with awesome fruit flavors that are rich and balanced.

12/28/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

I have bever had a sauvignon blanc that had any where near the sweet fruit in this delicicous wine. Kiwi and honeysuckle.

11/21/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Enjoyed this treat at a fantastic meal at the Copper Beach Inn in Ivoryton Ct. Hats off to new chef TylerAnderson. I have a hard time describing the magical nose of a classic Figeac. This wine is drinking beautifully now, but has pleanty of life. Smooth and velvety, but also complex, with dark earthy friut flavors.

10/17/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

This bordeaux blend from calif is drinking beautifully right now. Perfectly balanced with rich dark fruits, smooth yet complex.

10/4/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Last half bottle was the best yet. Consistant notes. An amazing calif cab.

8/31/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

This is a rustic old style Barolo that you really have to dig in to appreciate it's character. Once thru the heavy tanins, there is an earthy flavor with nuances of berry fruits. I suggest 2 to 3 hours of decanting to enjoy this wine.

7/29/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

A very fine graves, with that taste of rich fruit and terrior. Silky smooth and drinking nicely right now. The finish did fade out at the end of the bottle. For this quality you would have to pay alot more.

7/18/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Unfortunetly the waiter did not know how to pour a bottle of fine wine, so the sediment distacted from this excellent pomeral. However, this wine was big, rich, and packed with dark fruit and terrior. My only bottle, what a shame.

7/15/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

This is the best $10.00 wine I've had this year. Big, rich, smooth, nice terrior and spicy dark fruit favors. If you can find it, run to the store for this perfect everyday fine drinking wine.

7/11/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

I am sorry they do not make this wine anymore. A really great sangiovese blend. Dark rich, spicy fruit, all in balance. Full bodided with a lingering finish. Drinking now!!!!

6/15/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Consistant notes on this CNP. Ready to drink now. Smooth, silky with rich dark fruits. perfect balance.

6/9/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

I have had a number of Volnay's thru the years, some of them wonderfull light sweet fruit wines but nothing really special. This one is different, first it had a bit more stuffing with dusty tannins, and classy denser dark currant fruit. My wife insisted that it still had an unpleasant thin finish. To me still a very enjoyable cote de beaune.

6/5/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

At first I thought it was corked, but it was just an odd barrel smell. The wine also had a old barrel taste, but it had a nice fruit and terrior flavor, more like a graves. The excellent 2000 vintage saves this wine.

5/24/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

I can't recall having a wine this good at such a low price. Nothing classy, but just a real fruit forward drinking wine with a nice taste of the soil. Different, but fun to drink.

5/24/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

A really enjoyable crowd pleaser. Sufficient fruit with a spicy chocolate velvety feel to it. ready to drink now.

5/24/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

EXPLODES IN THE MOUTH WITH DARK FRUITS AND EARTHY BRUNELLO FLAVORS. STILL HAS MANY YEARS LEFT, BUT APPROACHABLE NOW.

4/15/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

This italian bordeaux blend is good, but not balanced.

4/12/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Was amazed by this wine at Cavey's in Manchester Ct. Parker notes stated the wine was past its drinking window over 10 years ago. I discussed this wiith Andre who insisted we try it and if we did not like it, he would be happy to drink it . He was absolutely dead on. What a pleasure to drink a fully mature Bordeaux. The nose of cassis and mint followed with an elegant wine with light sweet fruit and a silky finish. However, I would not tempt holding much longer.

4/7/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Outstanding earthy gravel nose that outshines the taste. enjoyed with a venison dinner, but the thin finish reduced the score.

3/30/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Consistent to prior notes. Needs time, heavy tanins distract from the wine.

3/29/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

A big barolo with classic flavors of tar, roses, cherries, and strawberries. Brought to a restaurant and didn't have time to decant, as the wine was just coming into its own at the end of the bottle.

3/15/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

A good eveyday italian with crisp fruit and a dry finish.

3/14/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

I love a good burgundy, but it seems impossible to find a good one at under $80. This wine has a wonderfull nose of flowers and earth, but it ends there. Some light pleasent fruit in the taste but diluted, and a bit bitter. The finish is thin and short. Maybe, if I had had this with a burgundy matched food???????? I don't think so.

3/13/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Even better then the last bottle. This is a very classy Margaux. I would love to date her older sister!

2/26/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

This is the worst bottle of sangiovese I can recall. Thin ,acidic, little bit of fruit. I would pass on this one.

2/23/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

A full rich oaky chardonnay. Went well with scampi and improved thru the course.

2/23/2009 - bluevespa wrote:

Classic bordeaux nose of earth, dark fruit and cedar. A real pleasure to drink. Soft, and delicious right thru. Wish I had more.