December 12, 2019 - A massive and powerful Merlot. No detailed notes taken.
Decant for 60 min; dark ruby with some brown hue. Closed dusty nose of leather, oak, black fruit. Dry, medium acidity, high powerful tannin, medium(+) alcohol and overfull body. Fruit is somewhat depressed/not showing, cedar, earth tobacco flavors, some spice. Long dry finish which became more integrated as time passed.
At least 5 yr more cellaring potential.
January 27, 2019 - Jetzt perfekt trinkbar, besser wird er nicht mehr.
November 9, 2018 - I marked as defective and didn't score, but only in that seemed like it was literally the bottom of the barrel. It had much more sediment than I've ever seen on a bottle like this or of this age. It didn't taste flawed if filtered, but simply like the dregs. I had another bottle a few weeks ago and it was solid if not overly memorable or complex with decent fruit, but international in style as one would expect for a Merlot from Italy. Just wanted to share since this doesn't happen too often even with unfiltered wines.
June 15, 2015 - Weekly tasting group #171; Italy (@ BD): Beautiful bouquet with some subtlety. Cherries, violets, some earth, oak and pleasant barnyard. On the palate cherries and red forest fruits, some herbs and spices, some oak, medium plus acidity and mild tannin and bitterness. A very good and elegant wine. Very early maturity now and it will improve over the next 2+ years.
November 1, 2014 - Old World Blind Tasting >$25 (Bin 75): Dark crimson core with medium + extraction, larger crimson rim; mushroom, dusty, dried red cherry, roses, sandalwood, Slavonian oak; med+ body, spicy, cedar, menthol, medicinal, some alcohol on finish; good, still very young.
October 1, 2014 - Monthly Tasting Group EEE #032; Tuscany (@ JD): Menthol, herbs and spices like white pepper and earthy impressions in the bouquet. On the palate rustic with autumn impressions, cherries, sweet spices, autumn impressions, a good balance between acidity and sweetness and beautifully round tannin with a bite. Good length as well. Beautiful wine, maturity stage now and a future of at least 6+ years.
August 7, 2014 - Dark purple color. Nose of blueberries, plum, minerality and menthol. On the palate there are notes of menthol, dark berries and some graphite. Medium-full body with medium tannin and medium acidity. Good length. A very nice Desiderio with new world fruit and old world structure.
April 14, 2014 - Weekly tasting group #115; Merlot from Europe. (@ BD): This bottle was slightly corked. Not bad enough to not write any notes. In the bouquet extremely ripe fruits and some chocolate. On the palate the same. Some earth as well. A light dose of acidity and a considerable amount of sweetness. The tannin is a bit sticky. No score for tonight.
March 29, 2014 - Prominent bouquet of Tuscan Merlot, oak in the process of integrating, dark berry fruits, violets, charcuterie, tobacco, black farm soil, and minerality. Intensely concentrated palate, ripe, typical Merlot attack, stalwart and bracing mid palate, long chewy finish. Pronounced, dusty, Tuscan terroir makes this wine exceptionally enjoyable.
This needs time. Dark crimson to purple in color. Fresh, lively, and a veritable kick in the pants! It should develop complexity and nuance over the next three to five years and drink nicely for five to seven years thereafter.
December 27, 2013 - It's geat to come across something I forgot I had. Opened on Boxing Day, and the guests loved it. Too late to decant, but very drinkable right out of the bottle. (Note to self that it would make a good restaurant choice.). Cassis, toasty oak, and typical new world favors. Not much tannin. Nice long finish. Wanted to shoot the guest who left 3 ounces in the glass, but too finicky to drink it myself. Wanted to, though.