3/30/2024 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Quite golden colour for a fiano. Nose has vegetal touches (grass, asparagus, green bell pepper) and stone fruit (peach) but also more tropical (mango, passion fruit). Enters like a fruity sauvignon blanc, but in the middle it becomes much more serious; you get typical smoky, ashy fiano notes. I expect it will become more harmonious with bottle age. Good acidity and good length. For €12 in Belgium, this is really great rqp.

3/10/2024 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Opened 3 hours in advance. Colour: dark ruby red with some browning on the rim. Initial nose: barnyard, mourvedre funkiness, leather, some dried fruits, but the dried character fades away and gives place to fresher fruit. Later also dried green herbs (peppermint!). On the palate this is really still alive. Fruit (blackberries, cassis) hasn't faded at all and is accompanied by some meat stock, black pepper, mintiness and some ink. Tannin still healthy, med acidity, good length. Amazing how this wine is full of life at 20 yrs. At €29, amazing pqr. Glad I bought some of the younger vintages too, as this wine certainly could be a birth year wine for my godchild (2014) and my own son (2020)...

2/4/2024 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

2nd of 6. This bottle was quite evolved. Blind tasting with 3 Burgundy fans who taste blind on a weekly base. Everybody liked it but guessed it was 2009 or even 2003. Very typical nose of bottle-ripened pinot: mushroom, coffee, cigar, cherry jam. On the palate it still had good freshness and appeared a little younger. Very enjoyable, but apparently, there is some considerable bottle variation (compared to the first bottle, which tasted much younger).

12/3/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Slightly corked.

11/26/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

This needed a serious time in the decanter to shed off all the initial funk. After 5 hours a refined, well defined and elegant yet rustic wine emerged. Atypical for the region, the acidity could mislead you and take you to Central or even South Italy. The fruit is still in a quite primary state and the wine belies its 15% abv. Probably there is still room for evolution for those who appreciate that. The acidity will probably keep this young for another five years or even more. I’d never select it in a restaurant, given the preparation needed, but I’m happy to have three bottles more in my cellar.

11/24/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Corked. I had another bottle five months ago which was approaching maturity.

8/13/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Red, still quite fresh fruited after 6 years (strawberries like the best sangioveses), soft and harmonious, low tannins, good freshness, good length. High level winemaking, not aiming at spectacle by the first impression but really full of class.

8/5/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Beautiful perfume, roses and tomato leaves. Clean red fruit, good acidity and some structure. Apostolos Thymiopoulos is like Midas. Everything he touches becomes gold. This is crazy value for money.

8/1/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

This is open for business. Saline, fresh, lemon and pear, a little nutty. Good texture, almost oily. Could develop further complexity but already very enjoyable.

7/24/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Juicy, spicy GSM blend with good freshness and a little less alcohol (14 abv) than its cousins from the southern Rhône.

7/21/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Initially some reductive notes, not too much. A shake in the decanter helped a lot. Then clean and pure red and black fruit, some leather, some herbs. Good med high acidity, fine tannins, alcohol low (13 abv) and well integrated. Went very well with osso buco. Broachable with food for the company (the bottle was empty in a whip), I could already enjoy it by itself. Quite some life ahead.

7/16/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

High acid, complex and saline young white wine with a huge structure. Both very Burgundian and at the same time very Portuguese (cedary). Acidity and barrel aging will lend it an impressive potential to age further in the bottle, but it is already very enjoyable.

7/16/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Very fresh, young light red wine (only 11 abv). Went very well a bit cooled. Other, more restrained style than the 2015 Conciso. Don’t know about the aging potential or is this just a phase?

5/19/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Corked

5/14/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Very pure, fresh, dark fruited, stony, elegant wine. Amazing qpr.

4/22/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

First bottle of 6. Dark ruby red, almost opaque. Very reductive smell, under the reduction black fruit and some stoniness. On the palate very fresh, clean fruit, high acidity and high tannin. Hard work at the moment, austere, not hedonistic but great aging capacity and impressive purity of fruit. HOLD for 5 more years or give it a massive decant; open up a day before and shake that decanter to remove reduction...

4/8/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Very fruit forward at the moment. Enough acidity and a saline touch to keep it going on for a while. Delicious and mouthwatering.

4/8/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Excellent Greco di Tufo, sapid, lemon, some petrol, high acid, well-structured. Small under the radar producer. For €12 in Italian enoteca, you get a lot of wine.

4/5/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Sapid and savoury, red fruited, low tannic wine. A little smokiness and a vegetal streak. Workhorse, Swiss-army knife at the table. Matches with every Mediterranean dish, even fish with tomatoes.

4/2/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

This is not an easygoing pop’n pour glug glug wine. Upon uncorking, I considered the possibility it was past its peak or defective. Very rustic, rusty and tarry. It needed a couple of hours in the decanter to come together. After 3 hours it revealed itself as an austere, subalpine, perfumed, elegant and, frankly, quite young Nebbiolo wine with aromas of iron, cherry, tar and a whiff of blond tobacco and leather (no significant markers of dried fruit or strong dark tobacco of mushrooms). Strong acidity and a considerable amount of tannins, although gentler and more levigated than before, hold up the structure. The last glass, after 6 hours was actually the best one so I’m not afraid to hold onto my last bottle for a couple of years more. These Vallana bottles are no immediate crowd pleasers but they really are worth cellaring and they reward patience. Decant and drink or hold...

4/2/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Light cherry red, quite translucent. Very pure nose of cherries and roses, and with airing also strawberries and white pepper. On the palate very young and pure, but broachable. Good acidity, fine but powerful tannins. Very good length. This is a very pure and elegant nebbiolo wine. Can imagine it would be too light for some palates (those who are more into powerhouse wines), but I loved it. Of course it will last a decade or more but already now it’s really enjoyable. Apparently the house style has changed significantly last years. Had the opportunity to buy this on Vivino at the price of the regular Langhe Nebbiolo, so very good pqr. Glad I bought a case!

2/20/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

This is really becoming something. Still youthful (pear and lime) but adding in complexity (some nuttiness and smokiness) through bottle age. Salty too. Good acidity. The reasons why I love this variety so much. It’s nice in its youth but then it doesn’t stand out to other varieties. And in their youth, Sabino’s greco wines are much more expressive. But oh my, his fiano after 4 or 5 years…

2/20/2023 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Drank over 3 nights. Very young and a bit monodimensional on the first night (a mix of fresh and ripe red fruit) with room for further complexity through aging. Interesting variety which seems to enter the palate as grenache (light color, red ripe fruit) but then starts to behave like nebbiolo. Good acidity, sturdy but fine-grained tannins. Very palatable at 13.5 abv. Drank it om the last night alongside a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva which was much more dominated by barrel tannins. This wine is made to let the variety shine, not the winemaker. As with xinomavro, my first red love in Greece, i’d be happy to explore this variety further on. Good qpr at €13,5. Bought at Lito Ghent.

2/4/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Contrary to the last bottle two years ago which wasn’t ready yet, this was totally over the top. Bought at the winery in 2018 and properly cellared. Not corked but only leather and mushroom, as if it were a 1970’s mediocre claret.

1/31/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Corked

1/14/2023 - plinymajor wrote:

Drank over two nights. Dark purple. Nose of wild cherry, brambleberry and raspberry, then cloves and spices. Enters on the fruit which keeps on giving. Good acidity and med fine tannins. A bit inky. Med length, persistence on the fruit. Good and with room for evolution. As the back label suggests, this gets better with airing, and needs subtle, not too spicy food. Good, but compared with the Luis Pato vinhas velhas 2018 (same price, other vintage) I tasted recently, my first pick would be that wine. On the other hand, if we go one step up, If I had to choose between Filipa’s Nossa Calcario and Luis’ Vinha Pan, I would prefer Filipa’s. But both father and daughter make lovely wines.

12/9/2022 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Color is becoming golden yellow, but nothing to worry about excessive maturity. Still fresh fruit and zingy acidity. Emptied in a whiff.

7/21/2022 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

In comparison to former bottles, which were a bit too vanilla/oaky, this is hitting its early adult stride. Red fresh fruit, roses and violets, good freshness, very long. If not for the different floral aromatics, we’d be in Burgundy…

3/18/2022 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

3rd bottle of six. Dark purple red colour. Pure and fresh nose of ripe raspberries, blackberries, some cassis, dark chocolate. No pyrazine markers. Good freshness on palate, attack on the fruit. Med- Tannin, well integrated. Aromatic persistence on fruit and chocolate. This has entered a phase of integration and young maturity. Lacks the structure to keep more than say 3 to 5 years but very enjoyable right now. Not unlike a Beaujolais cru in terms of fruit and fun. Good qpr at €13,5.

3/11/2022 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Approaching early maturity. Bright straw yellow. Nose of lemon, a bit grassy, pear, wet stones. Palate medium body, good acidity, fresh fruit, some honey, minerality. Good persistence. At 13 abv it is very moreish, and went very well with a salad and with tuna pizza.
If encruzado is the Portuguese equivalent of chardonnay, then this is at the level of a good premier cru Chablis.

12/28/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Last bottle of three. While the second seemed a bit over the top, too acidic and rustic, this last one didn’t suffer of any of those and was actually very elegant and enjoyable, especially at the table. I actually preferred it over a Celsi Aglianico from Fiorentino from the warmer 2015 vintage. Most of the Irpinia reds from the cooler 2013 appear to be very elegant and classical and this vintage might turn out to be better than exspected initially.

12/11/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

6 years old and not a hint of tiredness or decay. Citric and mineral, lean yet structured. In comparison to the 2016 a bit more warmth of alcohol in the end, though it's only 13.5 abv. Quite complex, so not your easy quaffer/appetiser wine...

11/26/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

This 2011 has come more together than last year. However, this is still a baby with lots of upwards potential. Great wine 92++

9/4/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Translucent brick red. Nose: strawberry and cherry, some flowers, herbs and cured meat. Enters with little evolution in the fruit, followed by good freshness. Little or no tannin. Super light, since there is only 11degrees abv. Very high fun factor. By no means simple or banal. Highly enjoyable with light food. Should buy a case of this…

8/16/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Pop and pour.
Ruby red, no signs of evolution.
Nose: black fruit (blackberries, bramble berries), bacon, cured meat, coffee, noble wood.
Palate: attack on the fruit, very fresh and juicy, a whiff of red bell pepper, spices and smokiness. Good freshness and supple tannins. 13,5 abv, well integrated, good length, persistence on the fruit.
Not being a Bordeaux drinker, this was a very nice surprise for me. I could have this kind of claret every week.
Very classy, well-made. Can understand the reputation of this wine as an outsider.

8/16/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Though totally unexpected, this turned out to be a very subtle and elegant aged St. Julien. Beautifully evolved fruit, good acidity. Tannins fully resolved.

8/16/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Bottle opened in the morning, consumed during lunch and dinner.
Med intense dark Ruby red, no signs of evolution.
Nose: intense black cherries, rose petals, some sandalwood, cloves and black pepper, smoke
Palate: attack on the fruit, intense, fresh and young cherries and bramble berries; on the middle palate high acidity kicks in, followed by strong but very ripe and noble tannins. Impressive finish. Very long persistence of the fruit.
A very young but very impressive Taurasi, already approachable but with a bright future ahead. Probably a decade or two...

8/2/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Pale salmon pink.
Nose: clean, lemon, a little bit of yoghurt (fermentative)
Palate: attack of freshness, pure fruit (apple, lemon, strawberries). Length . Alcohol very well integrated. Persistence on the fresh fruit.
Very approachable, not for long cellaring. Almost like a fresh fruity white, but the light strawberries remind you that this is a rosé. At 12% abv, this is suitable as appetizer but also with a light entry. Well made and not banal.

6/11/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

This chianti classico was already gorgeous on opening, but gained a lot by aeration. Elegant and classy Radda!

5/30/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

92+. Two years later, there is virtually no evolution in this wine. This can probably have ten more years. Bravo!

5/8/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

Last bottle of 6. Sadly oxidized like the bottle we had last summer. However in December, we had a beautifully evolved wine which was still full of life.

5/8/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

I can relate to the former note. This is ok but not ok, knowing the reputation of the vintage and the appellation. One blind taster placed this in Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2017 and I could agree with that. Quite light.

5/2/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

This oaked version of a Fiano di Avellino outclassed a Puligny villages in finesse and complexity. Stony, mineral yet creamy trough intelligent use of wood. Had this with steamed turbot and a reduction of white wine, cream and mustard and cooked chicory.

5/1/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

1st of 6. Obviously very young at this stage. I opened it one day before consuming. Dark purple colour. Very pure and generous black/blue fruit (cassis, brambleberry, blackberry) in the nose, combined with some yoghurt and a vegetal streak. Mouth confirms this, ripe fruit but good freshness, a little vegetal, very tight and tannic, though enjoyable with food. Long long future ahead. I'm not opening the next bottle before 2025... At €15 very good qpr.

4/24/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

Very pure and elegant Taurasi. Tasting still young but approachable. Recommended!

4/16/2021 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Considering this is just a Bourgogne Blanc, this is really good. A bit of evolution but only in a positive way. I can imagine there are lesser producers that don’t reach this level even in 1er cru.

3/13/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

Quite some evolution since last TN. Still good acidity and structure, but now notes of honey, quince and marmelade. Drink now.

1/13/2021 - plinymajor wrote:

Initially a very reductive smell (has this anything to do with the DIAM 10 cork?), which spoiled lots of the fun for me...

Only on the second day it became clear that this is still a very young wine with a beautiful clean red fruit palate, good acidity and a powerful tannic load. Next bottle in 2025...

11/29/2020 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

When visiting the Buçaco Palace Hotel in summer 2018 and having dined over there, I was delighted with their "house wines" both white and read. House wine is really an underestimating denomination for what these exceptional wines are.
You can have a gastronomical 7 courses dinner in the restaurant for €90 and for a really ridiculous extra €20, you get with each course a glass of a different recent Buçaco vintage (except for the sparkler and the port at the beginning and end of the meal).
We had the 2010 and 2014 whites and the 2013 red.

This 2015, which I didn't taste then, was for sale at €30. Here in Belgium, it goes for twice that price.

Colour: intense straw yellow
Nose: mix of apple, lemon, more exotic fruits like pineapple, hazelnuts, quite intense oak butter and vanilla
Mouth: buttery mouthfeel countered by intense acidity, retronasal fruit, very intense flavours and great length.

This is a serious, high quality wine but for the moment, its still too young and too oak driven for my taste. For the moment, it appears more like an impressive Californian Chardonnay than the 2014 which really brought me in the high end appellations of the Côte de Beaune.

Knowing that these wines can last multiple decades (oldest wine on the restaurant list was a 1944 white, for a humble €1500, followed by a 1945 red!), I'll let my other bottles rest for, er... many years...

11/22/2020 - plinymajor Likes this wine:

Intense ruby red. Raspberry, black cherry, some cloves and black peper. Very juicy and fresh. Med+ tannin and acidity. Elegant aglianico, a beautiful, more accessible second wine in the same way as a Rosso Di Montalcino or a Langhe nebbiolo. Compared to Maffini’s Kleos, this is more restrained, austere and more cool climate.