4/23/2024 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This is the fifth bottle opened of six purchased in November, 2022. My wife made fettuccine Alfredo with langoustines which brought out darker flavors of bitter black cherry, fig, and hints of anise and fume. This is a Skirnuk import which I have generally found to be worthy wines at their price point.

7/2/2023 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

During our October, 2021 visit to Boscarelli we purchased two bottles each of the 2015 Vino Nobile de Montepulciano Susino, 2015 Costa Grande, and 2017 Riserva. This is the first bottle to be opened. This shows lovely aromatics of black cherry and notes of leather and spices. In the mouth it is not overly plush but very smooth with a long finish. This held its own with homemade spaghetti made only of semolina and eggs and a homemade red sauce.

5/24/2023 - twfwinedude wrote:

This was just absolutely superb! Showing berry and plum fruit, some earthiness, pencil lead mineral note, slight anise. The mouthfeel is luscious with a long finish. We purchased this at the property in October, 2012. I wish that we had bought more.

5/11/2023 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This is very good quality for the price. It shows true Barbera character with good fruit and some spice on the long finish.

4/24/2023 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Frankly, I am surprised at the comments on this wine. I bought six bottles recently, and last night we opened our first. We found it to be a very good example of Dogliani. Some had mentioned fizziness, but we found none. (Usually that would indicate insufficient sulfites leading to a slight fermentation in the bottle.) Ours had a plush mouthfeel, lovely dark fruit, and a long finish. If I believed in the 100-point scale (which has actually become a 20-point scale from 80 to 100), I would certainly rate it higher than the scores seen here.

4/15/2023 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This is drinking absolutely wonderfully right now. Great depth of flavor and complexity. Dark fruit, spice, black licorice all backed with good acidity. Well worth the price. Four bottles left in the cellar to tempt me.

7/11/2022 - twfwinedude Does not like this wine:

This was awful. It tasted more like cough syrup than Pinot Noir. Poured out.

4/28/2022 - twfwinedude wrote:

The two Barbera Superiore that we brought back from Italy last year have me longing for more. The Ugo Lequio more refined yet bold as well. This Scarzello has more pronounced oak with hints of mushroom and forest floor to the black cherry fruit. Alas, we only brought back one bottle.

12/17/2020 - twfwinedude wrote:

Opened the last bottle of a case for my wife's birthday. Beautiful...the wine and the wife. Very smooth, subtle complexity....the wine and the wife.

4/29/2020 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Our last bottle of this, and it was beautiful. Very smooth tannins, lovely fruit, and a long finish.

4/17/2020 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This was gorgeous! Beautifully balanced between fruit, sweetness, and acidity. Apple, melon, and citrus play off each other. Sadly, this is my last bottle of this in the cellar.

4/16/2020 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Opened the first of three bottles in the cellar last night. Very smooth, seductive wine. Floral aromas. Dark fruit. One of my favorite wines. We also have 3 each of 2015 and 2016.

3/24/2020 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Lovely. Since it is screw capped, it has not been oxidized at all. Still a lovely, light gold color. Full of flavor, and held up well to a slightly spicy stir fry. One more left in the cellar, and it should be fine for another decade.

9/21/2019 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This was the third bottle drunk of four that I purchased in December, 2017. Each one has shown better than the last. At first it showed bright cherry fruit, and then gradually more minerality came through. By the second glass it had developed nicely with notes of earth, damp forest floor, spice, and black licorice. This has really turned out to be a pleasant surprise for the price that I paid. I would score it 3+ on my 4-point scale. (The 100-point scale should have been retired with Parker.)

10/16/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

I found this on closeout in a local store for $25. Beautiful Chardonnay with a bit more citrus and mineral than most white Burgundy. But it was a truly graceful wine, smooth on the palate, and with a long finish.

10/8/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Outstanding depth of flavor, smooth, and complex. Black fruits with notes of licorice, spice, and earth.

7/17/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Fantastic! Complex, plush, plenty of depth. Dark fruit, licorice. Evolved beautifully in the glass.

5/17/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Plush black cherry fruit with a creamy palate and notes of charred oak and mild spice.

4/29/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Fantastic! Silky smooth bursting with dark plum fruit laced with black cherry. Scents of forest after a warm rain in the background. A superb effort by Franck Faugere.

4/17/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Decanted and drunk with dinner on my 71st birthday. Mellow dark fruit that developed notes of earthy mushroom and licorice as it opened up. Last of a case bought on futures for $325 in 2002.

3/7/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Fantastic Chardonnay! Opens with aromas of nutmeg and ripe apple. Smooth palate and long finish. Very balanced.

1/29/2018 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This is actually quite good for an inexpensive red. It's on the softer side with decent red plum fruit.

12/5/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This developed beautifully over two glasses. Decanted just before dinner, at first it was somewhat tight and had a tart edge. By the second glass, it had smoothed out and softened. It showed lovely dark cherry fruit with notes of rose, licorice, and spice.

11/7/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This is the first bottle opened of six purchased at the winery. Amazing for this stage in its development. Quite a bit of sediment thrown already. Flavors of plum, tea, spice with a definite Cote Rotie-like note of roasted earth on the finish. Can't wait to open another. I'll try to wait six months.

10/26/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Plush feel. Warm black cherry fruit with notes of baking spices on the long finish. Beautiful Pinot.

10/24/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Really a beautiful Chablis for the price ($17.98 from B-21.)

10/22/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Absolutely beautiful. Incredibly complex flavors of red berry jam, cherry, and hints of pomegranate and rose. Almost citrusy acidity and a mineral finish. You can smell the Jory soil.

10/11/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Aging beautifully. This is the eighth bottle of a case bought in 2015. It has developed from flavors of plum and dark cherry to flavors of currants and quince paste with notes of leather on the finish. Had the first glass with dinner and savored the second over the next three hours.

10/10/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

An absolutely beautiful rosé. Luscious flavors of strawberry and citrus on a caressing frame.

9/29/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Just opened the first of six bottles bought on close-out at Costco for $7.97. Fantastic Cabernet with dark cassis flavor on a lithe frame. Still some tannins on the opening but smoothed out nicely over dinner. Complex finish with dark chocolate and spice notes.

9/28/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

I found this to be a very pleasant Merlot with typical fruit, notes of earth and tobacco, and a smooth finish.

9/27/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Very nice. White fruit and citrus flavors up front with a hint of butter on the finish.

9/26/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

The last of a case purchased in 2014. Showing lovely blackberry and blueberry fruit with some oak. Tannins are very smooth with a moderately long finish.

9/6/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This has developed beautifully in the seven years since harvest. The black cherry and blackberry flavors have been augmented with notes of loam, nutmeg, anise, and other warm spices. I had the first glass with dinner and then lingered over the second for the next three hours.

8/28/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This was the last bottle of a case bought on futures. Unlike the bottle that we took to the restaurant the night before, this had plenty of fruit left. Flavors of plum and red cherry carried through to the high-toned finish. Not exceedingly complex but very satisfying.

8/27/2017 - twfwinedude Does not like this wine:

Losing fruit, tannin and alcohol coming through.

8/14/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Very nice ripe Carmenere.

8/14/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Starting to come along nicely. Very smooth with nice complexity. Decanted an hour before serving.

7/4/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Lovely Dolcetto with lush fruit and a smooth feel.

7/1/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Tremendous Zin. Complex, fruity, a bit rustic.

6/26/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This has smoothed out nicely, lovely flavors of cassis and blackberry, not big, but very satisfying.

6/17/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Plush, with cherry, spice, and smoke with a tart edge that is not unpleasant due to the silky frame.

4/27/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

A beautiful rosé with aromas of strawberries with flavors of the same finishing with a tangerine note.

4/19/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Phenomenal!

3/6/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Absolutely amazing. This may be the best Barbaresco that we've ever had. Astonishingly complex, smooth, great finish, beguiles you into taking another sip.

2/23/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

An excellent Langhe Nebbiolo for the price. A great choice if you can't afford to drink Barbaresco every night.

2/12/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

Tasty inexpensive monastrell.

2/12/2017 - twfwinedude wrote:

An absolute smash with shrimp cocktail.

2/12/2017 - twfwinedude wrote:

Very tasty Rueda with or without food.

2/12/2017 - twfwinedude Likes this wine:

This Chardonnay Gresy is a beautiful expression of Chardonnay, perfectly balanced, plush, with just the right amount of buttery creaminess. What I wouldn't give to be able to buy this in America.