4/6/2024 - owr wrote:

Masi 2015 Campofiorin

A five-star vintage wine (according to Masi themselves). You can usually trust these wines to age well, and so at 9 years from vintage date it's time to try it.

👃 & 👅 - starts with smoky-mocha sensations.

1 hr - fruit leather and mocha with dark chocolate.

2 hr - tannins show up with dried fruit, subtle cedar / oak and dark chocolate

2.5 hrs - suddenly there's red fruit, more leather than fresh: Jerry, strawberry combable samic- there's a lightness that has emerged ... Tannins of softened, oak has dropped to a background flavor ... Long finish. The best it has been so far. This is the sweet spot of this wine.

3 hrs - last few sips with back to mocha and fruit leather with acidity and tart finish.

Great journey tonight with this bottle - lots of fun.

4/5/2024 - owr wrote:

Corked

3/31/2024 - owr Likes this wine:

Minty, cassis, blackberry
follows the nose with pencil shavings, mocha and dark chocolate.

1hr - smooth dark fruit and dark chocolate - subtle mocha, black cherry and vanilla.

2.5hrs - more earthy and smoky with barrel notes that overwhelm the fruit.

Best between opening and and hour and a half with no decanting.

5/21/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Rich exciting wine with good acidity, plus coffee, cassis, vanilla, cedar and anise along with balsamic, blueberry, and smoke layers, all with a long finish. There is a spicy / acidity interplay here at about the hour and a half mark- but this wine proves to be silky smooth, but also maintains a spice edge with good acidity - there's also some mocha, blackberry, black cherry and cassis on the lingering finish.

3/21/2024 - owr wrote:

Smells dusty and dried with notes of cassis and cedar, plus smoky, coffee and a little chicory. On the palate things move quick with notes of spiced-black cherry coming to the fore as it opens, then other dark fruits, and other complimentary notes, emerge: cassis, mocha, black cherry, blueberry, licorice, cedar, smoky - it just keeps on giving ... good wine to drink now - It takes some time to open and it peeks around the hour and a half mark, before slowly sliding into more tertiary flavours.

3/9/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

Tasted this with two Chardonnay fans and boy was this a big disappointment. Nose had a hint of Band-Aid maybe a little bit of pineapple and fig with some vanilla herbal and cedar notes, but that charred barrel or Band-Aid note never really gave up on the nose or palate; so we gave up on it. It was a very very disappointing bottle.

3/9/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Aromas of golden plum (odd), ripe cherry along with some dark fruit, plus hints of cedar and smoke; actually very smoky, but the bones are there and the tannins are quite ripe. As the bottle opened nice red and dark fruit appeared well-spiced and there was great balance to the wine - I'm thinking it is peaking. As the wine continued to remain open it seemed to go a little downhill, so the optimal drink window is probably about an hour to 2 hours.

3/8/2024 - owr wrote:

Definitely a wine with an aged quality ... Smoky nuances, dried cassis, spiced-blackberry, subtle wood and pencil shaving notes. When I tasted this wine a number of years ago in Spain, I was shocked at how good it was, and that it was a 100% Petit Verdot; today, I'm still pretty impressed with it, 8 years from vintage date.

1/14/2024 - owr wrote:

This wine is really showing its age.

1/4/2024 - owr wrote:

This is a 10 year old Cabernet Franc from a mediocre vintage (that saw a huge crop, largest on record to that point for Ontario). Sadly, not even Queylus' good name and winemaking team can save what this has become: liquid bell pepper. And that's being kind. Fruit is long gone. Even at the times when the green pepper subsides, there is very little to be excited about. The best thing I can say here, is that oak was not a factor in my tasting - it did not show up. Which was a saving grace for this wine.

12/26/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

Wow ... simply wow. I had no hope for this bottle considering CellarTracker said the window ended in 2017 - but someone had a bottle in Jan of 2022 and they said there was still life in this bottle. Hallelujah and pass the Zin this thing still is loaded with spicy chocolate notes, blueberry, black plum and cherry-cola. I suspect it'll drop off as the night progresses but I think Girard knocked it out of the park with this one.

12/12/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

This started off a little odd, but within about 20 minutes things got back to normal, lots of dark fruit and menthol.

11/3/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

Lots of great fruit, rich flavour. Drank over the course of two days.

10/27/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

A delicious bottle of Bonarda. Lots of dark fruit, silky tannins and nice medium length finish.

10/27/2023 - owr wrote:

This has a little bit of VA that keeps getting in the way. Otherwise the fruit notes slip in and out.

10/27/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

This wine is still in great shape. You need to give it some time to open - but do not decant, you'll kill it. Let it open over the course of a few hours.

7/16/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

This one is sealed under screwcap, I am assuming the same blend numbers apply, and it still says 2-3 years drinking window on the back. The CellarTrack folks have given this one an 88. This one starts out all fruit, sweet and succulent with notes of blackberry and cherry kicking it off and giving it charm, while the acidity seems to punch at the tongue. Lots more dark fruit emerges then adds in roasted coffee beans and mocha - this is a deliciously aged Australia red, with a long finish. Even as it opens it remains lovely and drinkable for a couple of hours anyway - or until the bottle was gone.

7/16/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

This one is sealed under cork, and the CellarTracker folks had given it a combined score of 80.5; not great, but heck it's a wine that says drink within 2-3 years - I suspect many people, like I did, waited too long - and so with too many years under its belt I decided to give it a try. This 70/30 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend starts off herbal, floral, maybe even some fauna. On the palate, it is port-like with herbs and smoke. The fruit, whatever is there any way, is dried out with hints of blackberry on the finish - surprisingly drinkable when first opened, with licorice and spice beginning to show signs of life ... but then about 30 minutes in it falls off the table with almost no finish, grit and sediment are everywhere and that is pretty much all you can taste ... this wine has nothing left to give.

9/17/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Licorice and mocha - Smoky-mocha, black cherry, blackberry, currants and smoked-vanilla oak with hints of coffee bean.

10/8/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Coffee, mocha and dark fruit ... What a delicious smooth sexy bottle of wine with cassis, blackberry, hints of smoke ... Yummy. Paired with smoked flanked steak.

10/1/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Nose has oak, smoky, graphite, pencil shavings and cassis
Palate is cigar box, dried blackberry, dried black cherry and leather.
There's a smoky mocha character with a tobacco / cigar box finish.

10/18/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

Nothing fantastic, but it is tasty and drinks well.

9/24/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

Slightly oxidized with dried fruit (prune-ish) smoky, earthy, dried strawberry, cassis, oaky-ish, really shows its age and not well. Has not aged well.

3/20/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

This is a Michel Rolland wine. Sweet oak notes of vanilla smoke and definite tannin bite. Still very much alive, though I'll have to wait till it opens a little bit to see where it goes. There's a darkness to the fruit, but it's slightly dried with a hint of burnt coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Nice finish, by the end of the wine it is quite delicious with all it's smoky, mocha, and dark dried fruit.

3/20/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Red and black fruit with hints of mocha and a good tannin structure ... When first opened you really get the wood, but that dissipated as it remained open. By the hour mark we're looking at a wine rich in dried raspberry - smoky - meaty - and dark cherry.

3/20/2021 - owr wrote:

There is bricking around the edges, but it still has a nice color, it is a wine made with Grenache, Carinena & Syrah. Certainly, it is old and earthy with slightly smoky notes, but there is a smoothness to it and maybe some dried fruit lingering in the background - 100% better than the Coronas.

3/20/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

Totally undrinkable plonk. It's a brown liquid, calling it forest floor would be kind and an upgrade.

3/7/2021 - owr wrote:

opening it's got earthy nuances, sour and dried cranberry with a little burnt / charred bark; there is some really good acidity (not surprising for the vintage).

As it opens the nose quiets and so does the palate - 20 mins in things are almost muted ... with a subtle cedar note on the palate.

Now 30-40 mins in ... Something is happening, there is flavour (smoke, black cherry-cranberry - dried and leafy).

1.5 hrs ... Soft with a little tobacco/cigarette ash. Acidity still good, hints of red currant and dried cranberry ... Nose is almost non-existent. It's ok - if you've got any it's now or never.

3/27/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

Quite pruny from the get go, there is some black cherry, but also an alcohol note that is quite in-your-face.

1 hr + ... fruit is sitting on a layer of smoke along with notes of earth, plum, and spice with a smoked-cola note. Not sure it will ever get smooth in that Zin-way, in fact it leans more smoky-earthy-oaky, which lingers, unpleasantly. I'm missing the sweet fruit note and a silkiness; and although only 13.8% - I find the wine disjointed: More spicy than fruity, more earthy than expected, more oaky than I want. ... This did not age like I wanted it to.

8/8/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Leather and coffee / mocha and blackberry / hints of smoke - vanilla and oak - Still has good acidity - at 19 years of age this one is still vibrant.

6/13/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Blue and black fruit, hints of vanilla and spice - smooth, almost creamy with cassis and semi-sweet chocolate plus a nice acidity that comes across more mellow than harsh.

7/30/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Leathery and smoky with lots of black fruit and acidity.
Hints of mocha still nice tannin grip.
Shows well over the hour and a half it took to drink it.

7/18/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

Mocha, blackberry ... silky with white pepper notes and subtle cedar.
Touch of vanilla, black cherry, spiced plum with Christmas spice and Christmas cake. I was not thrilled with this wine - but I was not offended by it either. It was, as a good friend of mine used to say, "meh".

7/17/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Earthy, coffee bean, smoke, licorice, clove and other interesting spices. Subtle cedar/oak (very subtle) with a dark fruit sensation across the tongue and a long finish of coffee, mocha and smoke ... I drank this over a number of hours and it stay relatively consistent.

7/4/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Smooth and silky
Blackberry and black cherry
This is beautiful now ... Decent acidity - pleasant and drinking well.

6/19/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

A little insular when opened with leather and smoky notes, but little else.
30-45 mins later ... the wine has opened into a beautiful experience and the blah nature of the wine when first opened has become delightful.
Deep dark fruit, vanilla oak and a subtle smokiness.

5/11/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Chocolate, black cherry, succulent dark fruits and a hint of white pepper ... A true delight with some really sweet fruit notes - but then I turned the bottle around (what fresh hell is this???) - 16% alcohol - guess bed will come early. Yes, this is liquid chocolate black cherry and spiced-plum ... Gorgeous - and yet another tip of the hat to screwcap wines.

5/25/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

nuts and cherries with subtle orange peel and fig notes.

5/25/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Still light and fresh - nice cherry and good acidity. Pretty one note, but it's a lovely note and so easy drinking.

6/20/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Syrah (60) Merlot (20) Xinomavro (20)
What a lovely bottle: Fruit, spice and licorice with great mocha, blackberry , silky tannins , black cherry and red pepper corns ... Lasted the whole night. Rich strawberry compote nose.
Silky smooth palate ... Just noticed the 14.5% shit - that is masked very well.

6/27/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Floral, smoky, mocha
Blueberry, cassis, good acidity
Tasty wine

6/25/2021 - owr wrote:

Smoky, cedary, oaky, dried up, dusty, lacks fruit ... at least it is hiding in the background, but it never emerges ... Everything is dusty and dried.

Showing that screwcap can't save everything - went well with slightly burnt homemade / Pillsbury Chocolate chip cookies

5/6/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Cline is still exciting with spice, acidity and plumy-spicey-cola notes ... vanilla, cherry, spiced-plum ... Lots of great flavour (15%) makes it dangerous, but it's tasty as hell.

5/6/2021 - owr wrote:

The Book of Shadows is uneventful - tasty, but nothing that makes you want to keep drinking, except that it's wine and tasty enough.

5/4/2021 - owr wrote:

Lots of black fruit and cedar from the outset ... Slightly dusty. Moves into tobacco / cigar box. Turns a little dusty - devoid of fruit after an hour.

5/21/2021 - owr wrote:

Starts off plain, almost watery, but once it opens there are layers of dark fruit and spice with good acidity - but then notes of mocha, black licorice and leather with a touchy earthy start showing up ... Tannins seem to grab the tongue, and the fruit dissipates rather quickly: there one minute, gone the next, but replaced by a long smoky finish. By my last glass it was smoky-mocha-coffee bean.

5/23/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

Leather, plum and smoke / Licorice and baked fruit / Spiced-plum and mocha
Alcohol seems to be quite prevalent, there's plenty of heat here - tertiary characters are all over this one - really has a disappointing character as it opens; fruit has totally disappeared moving to forest floor with earthy-smoky and fig ... This is a real disappointing wine.

10/13/2023 - owr Likes this wine:

Ten years from vintage date ... I found this wine in my cellar, shocked that it was still around - but the screw cap did entice me.

Last night I posted a story asked you what you thought was goiing to happen when I untwisted that cap... Now we're going to find out.

Shockingly, this wine is still very much intact. The fruit seems a little bit on the sweeter side, and the acidity is downright in your face - but it's not a wine that has offensive middling characteristics.

It is past its prime... But not too far gone... And it really is a delicious bottle to sip on; even better when paired with food, and chilled.

4/9/2021 - owr Likes this wine:

Beautiful dark color, blackberry nose / spicy dark chocolate.

Mocha, blackberry, cassis, black cherry, nice spice. Tannins are less aggressive, slightly smoky, spicy finish really great bottle peaking yet still has time.

Nicely balanced 13.9% alcohol

5/8/2021 - owr Does not like this wine:

A cedar-ish nose ... Palate has dark fruit with licorice and burnt coffee bean ... Silky mouthfeel with good tannins structure and smoke: tobacco and mocha.

Mocha-licorice-coffee bean finish. That dark fruit disappears quick.

Merlot / CF / CS (80%)
PV / Malbec (20%)