11/4/2012 - moscafj wrote:

Maybe not what you are expecting...but certainly not "terrible"...or to be scored in the "avoid" category. This is a low alcohol (5%), frizzanti, fruity, red wine. It is on the sweet side, but has some acidity, which balances it nicely. The bottle I am drinking right now has a lot of sediment, but other than that, I find it pleasant. It is working with some fennel salami.

5/10/2010 - moscafj wrote:

Nice. Well integrated tannins. Berry aromas and flavors...blackberry over raspberry. Heavy on the fruit, but nicely balanced, quite pleasing. Typical earthy, Tuscan flavors. Went well with sausage based pasta dish. Would nicely complement grilled meats. Enjoyable.

4/15/2010 - moscafj wrote:

Popped and poured through the vinturi and the first glass was quite pleasant, however the nose was fairly restrained. I found it light in body with some sour cherry coming through. Unfortunately, it seemed to fall apart the longer it hung around. By hour 2, it seemed that it would have been nice to have some food left, as the acidity and lack of fruit started making it less enjoyable on its own. Doesn't rank highly for me. I have a couple left, but would not seek out more.

6/21/2009 - moscafj wrote:

Drinking nicely. Not much visual appearance of age. Still some tannins showing, so there is time left. Opened up with a little time in the decanter. Decent cab nose and flavors of berry coming through strong. Complimented the grilled rib eye nicely. A solid bottle of wine. For the $30 or so I paid, a fine, maturing Cali cab.

6/9/2009 - moscafj wrote:

Found this rather thin, not well integrated...slightly acidic...average at best. Some berry on the nose...a little heat, even. Some tannins present and some green pepper. Fairly short finish...just not interesting in any way. Maybe use the others for cooking.

4/1/2009 - moscafj wrote:

Totally unlike the last, hay-fest, bottle. This was very good. Big fruit. Balanced. Quite good. Nose and taste of berries. Soft/round mouth-feel. Based on the other notes here, there are some funky bottles out there. If you happen to get a good one it is quite enjoyable.

2/5/2009 - moscafj wrote:

Light garnet color. Nice pinot nose of berry...raspberry, unmistakable pinot, nice, but not "knock your socks off" nose. Good fruit and plenty of acid makes this a nice pair with roast chicken. An enjoyable wine...light in body, plenty of berry but not overly fruity....well balanced.

9/15/2008 - moscafj wrote:

Light in color. Fruity pinot nose. A lot of fruit...crushed berries...raspberry. Not well integrated. Opened for cooking. Good for what it is...a $10 Chilean Pinot.

8/20/2008 - moscafj wrote:

Red brick color clearly shows the age of this wine. Interesting nose of pencil shaving, maybe a little prune, but also a brighter aspect as well. I also do pick on on something that makes me think of red meat. I find no "onion" or "brett" that previous tasters encountered. It has a nicely round mouth-feel and acidity with flavors of cherry. This is really enjoyable.

5/28/2008 - moscafj wrote:

Out of the bottle, pretty, garnet color. Noticeable alcohol on the nose, along with the smell of leather. In the mouth, nice acidity, some tannins, blackberry, raspberry...a fairly long finish, but the alcohol and acidity overpowers. It would probably work well with a plate of pasta or a homemade pizza.

3/14/2008 - moscafj wrote:

Wet hay on the nose for me. It certainly smells of the barn, but, initially, I like the interesting aroma. Acidic in the mouth, some tannins, but a decent mouth feel. The fruit is somewhere in that bale of hay..The barnyard continues on the finish...while not entirely unpleasant, this can't be typical.

2/14/2008 - moscafj wrote:

Deep garnet color, slightly browning around the edges. Aromas of pencil shavings. Nice mouth feel, rounded. Taste of stewed prunes and a moderate finish. Very nice.

1/31/2008 - moscafj wrote:

Nice Burgundy color. Perhaps approaching brick around the edges of the glass. The nose doesn't knock my socks off, but there is some barnyard that is pleasant enough. In the mouth, this feels a little thin. Sour cherry predominates. A little tannic on the finish with very little length. This is good. I am enjoying it, but I wouldn't place it in the "outstanding" category.

1/28/2008 - moscafj wrote:

The color of this wine is darker than the typical sauvignon blanc, I think...almost golden. It does have some age on it. I am not picking up much on the nose. In the mouth, it is all grapefruit...and some bitterness that I associate with the pith. The acid requires food to balance. I don't see this as a stand alone.

1/24/2008 - moscafj wrote:

I agree that this does not seem like a Barbaresco. This bottle may be flawed, however not enough to put me off entirely. The color is brick red, but looking like it has some age around the edges. I am picking up oxidation on the nose and in the mouth. To me a Barbaresco is more rounded...lush even. This is tannic and acidic. For me this does not rate highly, particularly if I am comparing it to other Barbarescos. Judging from the other notes, if you are looking for a true example of this purported style, move on.

1/8/2008 - moscafj wrote:

I'll refrain from giving a score since this is the first counoise I've had. This wine has an interesting, crushed fruit nose, although I am also picking up the alcohol. In the mouth, we are talking fruit, fruit and more fruit...raspberry and cherry. There is some tannic structure. Not a wine that is encouraging me to keep sipping. The fruit intensity is wearing on me...perhaps with some food.

1/4/2008 - moscafj wrote:

You are correct. Finally, after 2 hrs decanted this wine is singing! Some early wet cork aromas and flavor has given way to...cherries mixed with green peppers? Very nice on its own, but enough acid that I wish I still had dinner left to go with it. Finish goes on and on. Plenty of life left.

8/17/2007 - moscafj wrote:

Decent nose. Noticable alcohol. Black cherry....black pepper....just ends, not much on the finish.