4/5/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

This just may be my go to here on out.

3/31/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Light caramel. Aroma of caramel, orange, and carrot cake. Sweet upfront, oak in the middle, and spice on the back end. Long finish.

3/27/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The port wine adds a lovely red hue to the whiskey. Sweetish aroma of chocolate-covered cherries. Easy sipping, kind of a rum raisin, spiced-chocolate flavor. Port seems to be adding a subtle sweetness to the palate, and there's a hazelnut nuttiness on the backend. Down to the last 0.75 ounces of the 750ml bottle, I did not find it syrupy. I used it for an Old Fashioned or two along the way, which was excellent, but in a way it's already a pre-mixed cocktail as is and doesn't need simple syrup. I also blended it with Jack Daniels Bonded, which was very good. At $48, a very good value.

3/26/2024 - BlackSpruce wrote:

A lightish, semi-translucent cranberry color. Aroma is strikingly briny. Is it the Mediterranean? Shades of graphite. A vanilla-scented pencil, perhaps. Or maybe fresh tomato sauce. The taste is surprisingly semi-sweet, semi-fruity. Nice balance of acidity and tannins. Solid, and I sense it will continue to improve.

3/26/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Clear, light-gold color. Aroma of green apples and key lime. Acidic, bright, and fruitfully zesty. Nicely balanced. Good.

3/24/2024 - BlackSpruce wrote:

Dark ruby. Dark plum aroma. Very tannic and full-bodied. Very good.

3/2/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

My goodness that's tasty. Light-white, clear gold, just beautiful to look at. Grapefruit and key lime aromas hit you in your face. Big, fat round aroma, a grapefruity IPA sans hops. Apple blossoms. The taste: pure juicy fruit. Highly acidic, highly refreshing and fresh and juicy and fruity. Nice, acidic finish.

2/28/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Red Burgundy. Tasted with Mandarin Orange Chicken, and paired well. Light and translucent ruby-garnet. Fresh fruit aroma, dark cherries. Very easy-drinking, low alcohol, fresh, smooth. No sign of oak. Nice, medium finish. Drinkable is the main impression.

3/24/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Deep, rich red. Aroma of tomato sauce, dark berries, and earth. Smooth, low alcohol, flavorful, and surprisingly fresh and bright. Savory and dry, not heavy. Very good. +1

February 17, 2024 - Second tasting, with steak tips, but no notes on the first. Darkish ruby color. Earthy, terroir-driven aroma. I haven't been to the Andes, but this must be what it smells like. Forest floor, hint of mushroom. Aged. On to the taste. Very dry. Again mushrooms, pairing well with the steak. The oak is there, but not heavy-wooded. Some spearmint. Nice finish, if not particularly long. Overall, very good. In fact, I think I'll have another glass.

2/15/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color with vibrant maroon at the edges. Flora aroma with blueberry-cherry pie in the background. Medium, silky body. Medium tannins and acidity. Dried cherries and cranberries, with a subtle savoriness within. Nice finish.

2/13/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Really wowed by this wine. Just the most dazzling dark purple, gorgeous color. The aroma - fresh fruit, cherry blossoms, and fresh baked bread - will knock you off your feet. Soft up front, medium tannins in the middle, nice long finish. Cherry vanilla, fresh blackberries, velvety.

1/27/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Holds up. Surprisingly dry, and non-fruity. Very much grapefruit pith, in a very good way. Crisp, a little bitter, a lot of acidity. Very good. +1

January 21, 2024 - Very light blonde color. Aroma of key lime pie, fresh fruit, and a hint of pine, and tastes like lime-grapefruit. Very light, with high acidity. Light body with a smooth texture and a short-medium, mostly tannin-free, finish. Good, if underwhelming. And then I look at the price tag and realize, yeah, this is good for the price.

3/6/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Finishing this one tonight. It tastes good, but a little muted. We'll see what aeration brings. Definitely pick up a chalky minerality on the palate. Not as fruity as noted last time, but still a pleasing, if restrained and subtle, fruitiness. Medium body verging on the light side. Nice acidity on the finish.

More alive in aroma and taste and acidity with time exposed to air (a little over an hour). Still cloudy. Fruitier.

January 21, 2024 - Exceeded my expectations, which were admittedly low. Cloudy out of the bottle (is this an IPA?) but clears as it settles. Yellow/light gold. Aroma of Flintstone vitamins and peach marmalade. Not complex, but tasty; hard to sip slowly. Light and fruity. Low tannins, appealing acidity, and a nice finish. Crisp. Peaches, lightly salted. It screams out for scallops, shrimp, and ceviche, and looking out at the ocean. Nice.

12/25/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Clear white-gold. Fruity aroma of lime with a hint of honeydew. Tart and dry with high acidity and low tannins. Nice long and smooth finish. Paired very well with the rich earthiness of Alta Langa La Tur.

12/24/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

With Italian cheeses and prosciutto. Clean and clear light yellow-gold color. Aroma of fermented pears and Flintstone vitamins. Crisp, bright and fruity flavor, particularly citrus. Medium-high acidity. Nice, lengthy finish. Very good.

1/24/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Better this go round. Aroma of chocolate-covered cherries and sweet balsamic vinegar. Tastes of crabapples. Nice, mouth-gripping tannins. Smooth body. Nice, unshort finish. I like it.

First tasting - I don’t dislike it, but I don’t love it. It’s a serviceable red wine. Very dry and muted aroma and flavor. Pleasant, but ultimately average.

12/21/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Beautiful, clear light yellow-gold color, like liquid crystal. Crisp, fresh, fruity aroma, a combination of citrus, Honeycrisp apple, peach, and bubblegum. The flavor is citrusy and acidic, while also medium-sweet, full of fresh fruit and hints of Bit-o-Honey. It is mouth-watering, silky, and luscious. Delicious.

1/30/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Better than I noted 47 days ago. Ruby red with garnet edges. Soft, warm aroma of boozy strawberries. Soft body, nice tannins and dry, yet full of fruit while slightly resinous. Middle is not missing. Nice finish. +1

December 14, 2023 - Appearance is shimmering and shiny garnet. Aroma is fresh berry salad. Tastes tart and somewhat flavorful with a medium body, but it feels a little hollow, like the middle is missing. Good, but missed my expectations, which may have been too high and/or not a great tasting moment.

2/1/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

It’s fine. It’s like you can drink it without even noticing it. 87 stands.

January 27, 2024 - Better. It’s nothing if not drinkable, yet inimitably ordinary. +2

December 14, 2023 - Faint aroma. Faint flavor. Not fruity; No. 2 pencils, bitter. Average tannins. Overall, boring.

2/10/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Following 2022 Cantine di Neoneli Rosso, a red blend from Sardinia, it's darker in every sense. Peppery aroma. Pairing with a spicy gumbo that I have no problem tasting despite being on day 6 of Covid, the taste seems muted. Notably not fruit-forward. A little hot. Slightly overrated, at least on this night. - ONE HOUR LATER - Pairing better with dark chocolate than spicy gumbo. Has almost certainly opened up. Still, -1.

January 25, 2024 - Following 2021 Browne Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Heritage. Very dark, with a garnet edge. Forest floor, mushrooms, and campfire aroma. Lush body with a very long finish. Excellent.

December 12, 2023 - Dark, opaque body with garnet at the edges. Aroma is pepperoni pizza, black pepper, and smoked oysters. Flavor is smoky, savory, and dry with pleasing tannins.

1/27/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

That is one blackity black wine, a deep, dark truthful mirror. Deep, rich aroma, can smell the grill in the background. Body is lighter than its appearance, but dry and mildly peppery with gripping tannins, savory and smokey. Almost, but not quite, creamy. Nice finish. Very good. +1

December 12, 2023 - Color is dark ruby. Aroma is smoky, hit of savory brine, cherry pie, and dark chocolate bar wrapper. Tastes of crabapple, cranberry, and dark berries. Body is medium with high tannins.

3/23/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

It's good!

February 1, 2024 - Light garnet. Floral aroma, slightly musty in the background. Easy drinking, light. Neither big nor rich to me. Paired well with Dijon chicken.

January 25, 2024 - With cheese. Light ruby color. Light, soft floral aroma, with a hint of black olives and new car smell. Mellow body, light with nice aftertaste. Good, not spectacular. -2

December 2023 - Pale. Soft, somewhat delicate, and light. Low tannins. Smooth, good.

1/30/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Dark ruby color. Aromatic, soft body, surprisingly light and off-dry. May be my favorite from the Fall 2023 Roscioli Italian Wine Club.

January 20, 2024 - Maybe it's my state of mind, but this is delicious. The wine is ruby colored with an aroma of cherry, blackberry and violet. It has flavor notes of cherry, plum, and rose with a medium, smooth, and elegant body with medium finish and acidity. Excellent.

December 2023 - Deep purple color with the aroma of teaberry and mint chocolate ice cream. Very soft, and silky, with low tannins. Very good.

2/10/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Dark garnet to me now. Balsamic aroma, then dark, ripe cherries with an hour of breathing. Tannins up front, and soft. Very much balsamic (but may be affected by day 6 Covid).

January 30, 2024 - Light ruby color, semi-translucent. Warm focaccia bread aroma. Dry, semi-gripping tannins. As before, easy to drink. Simple, clean, flavorful, good. From Sardinia.

December 11, 2023 - Soft and fruity, easy to drink and hard to drink slowly. Supposedly 15% ABV, but it fools me. Not deep, but still flavorful. Would be good chilled, served with ravioli and Parma Rosa Sauce.

2/17/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The final tasting, with steak tips. Light cranberry color. Dark cherry aroma. Smooth, medium body, nice finish. Clean, fresh, and unfussy from beginning to end. Thank you for your service.

February 5, 2024 - Big, round, cherry-plum marmalade aroma. Silky, soft, smooth. Delicious. +1

January 30, 2024 - From Sicily, Nero d'Avola grape. Pale garnet, and more translucent than the Tempranillo Blend, Zinfandel, or Sardinia Red Blend before it. Anise, soft leather aroma. The fresh fruit is still there, the fresh tomato sauce has faded. Light-medium body, some green pepper, peach-strawberry, blackberry, acidic. Long finish. It's good. -1

December 9, 2023 - Translucent ruby color. Light body. Fresh fruit aroma turns into fresh tomato sauce aroma. Easy drinking, low alcohol. Smooth finish. Would be good with rare tuna or Shrimp Fra Diavolo. Look forward to a second tasting.

12/9/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

December 9, 2023 - Ruby color. Aroma is savory with a hint of volatile acidity. Good, fruity flavor with a medium body and strong tannins. Cherry licorice on the finish. On first tasting, I like it.

https://www.roscioliwineclub.com/portfolio-item/merla-della-miniera-2021-terenzuola/

2/5/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Very nice. Sardinia. Ripe, dark berry and rose aroma. Medium body. Loads of tannins, not to the extent last noted. Calls for a mushroom pizza with grated Romano.

November 30, 2023 - Tannins out the wazoo. I like it! Light-medium body, low acid. And the tannins, my God, the tannins. The aroma has a hint of something. Old Spice, I think. The color of cranberry jelly. Exceeds my expectations.

3/26/2024 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

You've become a trusted old friend at this point, Scarzello Barbera d'Alba Superiore. Thank you for your service. (Probably my favorite of the Roscioli Italian Wine Club, Fall 2023 Edition.) +1

February 15, 2024 - Following 2021 Pico Maccario Barbera d'Asti Lavignone and paired with cured Italian charcuterie meats. Cuts through and softens the saltiness of the meat. Color as described below. Aerated the second glass in this tasting for about an hour. Not picking up the bread aroma of earlier tastings. Dark cordial cherries still there. Savory and dry. Not as fruity as last time, and oak is more noticeable. Nice finish. Very good.

January 27, 2024 - Darker than Merlot, a tick lighter than Carménère. Aroma of fresh Italian bread and dark chocolate-covered cordial cherries. Surprising fruity, soft and creamy, pairing well with softened cheeses. Big, but not overpowering. Sweetness buried in the back. Very nice. +2

November 29, 2023 - Deep, dark, opaque, beet purple in color. It smells bready, with traces of an old wood barn floor, and wafting dark chocolate-covered cherries. The body is full and round and finishes long with soft tannins. It tastes like plum, cherry, oak, and bell pepper. Very good.

11/29/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The wine is very light gold colored and crystal clear with medium legs and no sedimentation in the bottle. It smells like cut green grass, apple, peach, and grapefruit crossed with lime. It tastes like green apple, peaches, kiwi, and grapefruit. The body is light with a silky texture, long finish, and high acidity. Clean, crisp, and very tasty.

11/23/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Serviceable in the service of Aperol spritzes

11/25/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

Beautiful deep, glowing yellow gold. Aroma of fermented pears and peaches. The legs are medium and there is no sediment in the bottle. Crispy, juicy, and snappy like a Honeycrisp apple, which it tastes like. Silky smooth with medium body and a long finish.

11/23/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The wine looks light-purple colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cran-raspberry, lemon, peach and a touch of earthy stoniness. It tastes like raspberry, lemon and chocolate-covered cherry. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture and finishes medium with light-medium acidity.

11/18/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The bourbon looks light caramel colored and the legs are slow. It smells like butterscotch, caramel, dark cherry, cedar and toasted almond. It tastes like hazelnut and oak with a dash of black pepper. The body is medium with a smooth texture and a medium finish.

11/13/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The rye whiskey looks light copper colored. It smells like banana, dust, medicinal, cedar, vanilla and alcohol/hot. It tastes like pine, medicinal, vanilla and alcohol/hot. The body is medium with a smooth texture and finishes medium.

11/2/2023 - BlackSpruce Likes this wine:

The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cherry, rose and black pepper. It tastes like raspberry, cherry, plum, chocolate and black pepper. The body is medium. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity. Overall, excellent, and wish I had more.