4/6/2024 - Doc90 Likes this wine:

Tasted triple blind. Immediately charming, violet top aromas with suggestions of tea tree and molasses. As it opens, it expresses a lovely coffee shop nose that establishes impressive oak integration. Dynamic mocha latte coziness on the palate, sleek and sexy. Recollective maturity that demands respect even amongst younger, more brawny wines. My WOTN.

4/3/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Soft nose of pine needles and boysenberries. Juicy, with lively fruit. In a very nice place now. Paired with elk steaks and cornbread.

4/3/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Well this is definitely a stern, dry Aglianico. I thought it would be in a perfect spot now, but I wonder if the fruit would have been fresher a few years ago. It's hard for me to judge when an Aglianico reaches apogee. Still, there's a gritty earthiness here that is primal and interesting.

4/1/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Beautiful nose with top aromas of white flowers and a deep core of cherry cola and poppyseed. Light in weight but still maintaining a stern tannic structure. Racy acidity accents cherry fruit and rosewater. Drink now.

3/9/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Quite woody and damp on the nose, with spiced red fruit. Mature, comes across as a tad tired. Nice harmony and structure. Drink up.

3/2/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Chocolate and loam on the nose. Stern and dry and uptight. Blueberry primary flavors are overwhelmed by dry gravel.

2/14/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Young and fruitful at this stage, with very plummy fruit and approachable tannins.

2/14/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Light and humble, with a sense of purity. Drink up.

2/11/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Layered nose of horse blanket, wood chips, and mashed cherries. Still quite vibrant and lively with impressive harmony. Very enjoyable.

2/10/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Hints of oxidation, with a centralized vanilla bean palate. Kind of strange.

2/8/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Cozy and open. Mocha latte aromas. Pleasant Chianti that is at peak. Drink now. Paired with pizza.

2/8/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Ripe red raspberries; early summertime. Substantial oak. You can taste the barrique, but you can also taste healthy, thriving raspberry fruit. Lush and jammy.

2/2/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Very woody. Sleek and silky with a simplistic palate. A casual Madeira.

1/26/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Tasted triple blind. Distinguished nose with aged balsamic, ink, and mashed cherries. Saturating palate, notes of balsamic and fresh lemonade that intensify on the finish. I rarely say this, but the acidity is actually a little out of hand here. I'm in Italy here, likely Tuscany.

1/22/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Filled with peppercorns- textbook Rhone Syrah. Paired with potatoes au gratin.

1/18/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Funky nose of worn boots, reduced strawberries, and mud. Light in body and spirit, and lacks vigor. Still, there's charming spice that is most apparent in the first glass. I hate to say it because I love these, but I believe this is at a terminal stage.

1/18/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Quiet nose of plums and anise. Softened by age and food-friendly. A bit of textural grittiness that becomes more apparent with each sip. Strong anise finish that dominates other flavors. Good, though not the best bottle of Montiano I've had.

1/13/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Feminine aromas- roses and cherry Italian soda. Open, easygoing, integrated. Mellow and lighthearted. Paired with pasta carbonara.

1/12/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Nose of cherry Dr. Pepper. Soft and welcoming. Rich cherry core with a silky finish. Paired with chicken parm.

1/9/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Fruit-forward with an odd sourdough bread outlier. Full of brown sugar and roasted red fruit.

1/9/2024 - Doc90 Does not like this wine:

Anemic with piney flavors and red fruit. Drink up.

1/3/2024 - Doc90 wrote:

Burnt nose of grilled meat. Murky red fruit with a stale finish.

1/1/2024 - Doc90 Likes this wine:

Very redolent and expressive, my favorite of the night. Loaded with bread dough and swagger.

12/31/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Vibrant, fresh. Crunchy apples and pears. Lively, fun, and simple.

12/29/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

An interesting blend for sure. Nutty with unresolved sweetness that creates some confusion over what this is trying to be.

12/29/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Signature smoky green nose that I am very fond of in Cabernet Franc. Silky with a sensitive touch. Simple but delicious.

12/24/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Mild with oak presence. Soft but a bit underwhelming.

12/24/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Warm spice, moody forest. Quite typical Saint-Estephe, and totally enjoyable while cooking on Christmas Eve.

12/22/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Driven, mature fruit with no rough edges. Suggestions of pencil lead. Quite soft, and the tannic structure has faded into the background. Drink up.

12/20/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Earthy nose of horse blanket, wood shavings, and Indian spices. Abundant spice and herbs on the palate. Very woody with a grounding presence in the mid. Begs for a nice meal.

12/13/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Smells like a vibrant pine forest. This is an excellent overachiever.

12/13/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Supple, jammy, and full of glycerine. This doesn't seem to be transforming in any significant way, and will probably not benefit from further cellaring.

12/6/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Rich aromas of cherry cordial and fig paste. Full bodied and organized, but the fruit is a little bit overcooked. Lingering finish of figs and spice. Drink up.

12/6/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Subdued with hefty tannins. An every day drinker, but not a serious Saint-Emilion.

11/26/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Nicely oaked Chardonnay with exotic tropical fruit and a long tranquil finish.

11/23/2023 - Doc90 Likes this wine:

Smells very much like a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of age. Dark and very structured. Not jammy but has substantial body and it's full of dark fruits. Not necessarily serious or overly complex, but it does hint at mint secondaries on the finish. Drink now.

11/23/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Consistent with previous note. Drink up.

11/23/2023 - Doc90 Likes this wine:

Soft nose of pleasant oak and lemon souffle. A calming and approachable Chardonnay with soothing flavors and a nice texture.

11/17/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Woodsy nose of moss and marionberry. Soft and silky with blossoms of wild forest berries. Healthy without any rough edges. Drinking nicely now.

11/15/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Light nose of raspberry tea. Strong acidity with surprisingly mellow tannic structure. Simple and casual Barolo.

11/15/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Rambunctious nose of blueberries and wood spice with plenty of EtOH. Full and jammy, lots of fig and blueberry. Warming on a cold night.

11/11/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Pretty aromas of cherries, rose water, tangerines. Very slow-paced and polished. Heavy flow of tannins is matched by correct acidity. Great with pizza.

11/10/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Whew- stinky nose. Some floral essence is detectable. I don't know what happened with this- it doesn't come across as overtly corked/tainted, but man this is just a dirty wine (not in a good way).

11/7/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Fruity nose of strawberries and raspberry popsicle. Licorice notes up front. The fruit is a bit overcooked. Improves with kielbasa.

11/6/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Wonderful aromas of pine resin, poppy, and cola. This humble Shiraz has aged beautifully and developed really interesting secondary characteristics. Strong leather overtones on a lingering finish. Drinking nicely now.

11/6/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Pretty aromas of perfume and rose petals. Polished and fruit-friendly; good with charcuterie. Nice low-price Nebbiolo.

11/2/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Harmonious and soft, refreshing orange blossoms with a hint of caramel. It seems to be open and expressive right now.

10/30/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Chocolate on the nose. Cozy warming wine. Viscous in texture. Lingering blackberry finish. Drinking well now.

10/26/2023 - Doc90 Likes this wine:

Inarguable whiffs of Brett; this wine will certainly divide those that don't mind some horse blanket from those that do. It's energetic on the palate with excellent acidity without being explicitly sour. I like the structure of this and its lingering animal essence.

10/26/2023 - Doc90 wrote:

Dark, warming nose of blueberry pie and graphite. Cool-toned, full-bodied with moderate grip for the style. Rich fruit but not overly complex. Hints of menthol on the finish. A casual but tasty wine.