June 27, 2023 - Allowed to breathe in glass 1 hour. Clear inky dark garnet color. Fresh blueberries, sour black cherries and their liqueurs, violets, mint, thyme, leather, crushed gravel. Pleasantly tart and tannic. Seems youthful. A nice alternative to sangiovese for a change of pace.
May 6, 2023 - This bottle was marred by either the brett that can smell like TCA or TCA itself. In either case it was not pleasant. There was never enough fruit expression to combat that or the herby tannins. Given how the other bottles were I have to conclude this one was flawed.
December 23, 2021 - So much better than my bottle 2 years ago, which I am certain had some sort of flaw (that fox aroma still makes me gag whenever I remember it)
But that was then… this bottle was truly fantastic. Barnyard on the nose, dark fruit and game on the palate, some dried herbs with a hint of stems. A big wine but aging elegantly and loved by all at the table. No rush to drink this but no reason to wait.
November 24, 2021 - If cigars are your thing, this is kinda like drinking a cigar. Smoke and cigar.
August 18, 2021 - This was exceptionally good, once again. Old world elegance at its best. Awesome QPR, too. Decanted for three hrs (air is absolutely needed). On the nose, dried red fruits, sour cherries, some rose petal, mushrooms, dirt, ashes, hints of licorice and violets. On the palate, fine but assertive tannins, great acidity, good minerality, dirt, ashes, and sour cherries. I love Aglianico with age. So underrated!
February 13, 2021 - Love this wine. Wonderful expression of terroir, and especially (volcanic) soil. Very similar to my previous bottles. Same tasting note applies - so I won’t repeat myself. Incredible QPR.
September 2, 2020 - Last of 3 bottles. 93+ on opening but fruit oxidized with exposure to air (decanted for 2 hours).
Didn't note color. Tobacco, black cherry and smoke/mesquite. On palate, black cherry, sour cherry and tobacco - as noted to lead in, with airtime the fruit went from fresh to dried out. Full tannins, medim+ acidity, medium+ body and long finish. 91 once it got some air. Excellent QPR - PNP if you open (odd for an Aglianico but that worked with this one which is the opposite result from my last bottle in late 2019).
May 23, 2020 - It was ok, not something I’d gravitate to but not horrible either
December 27, 2019 - Decanted for 2 hours and paired with grilled pork tenderloin. Consistent with note from 2/2019. I really enjoyed this and the fruit was still going strong with a cigar ash/smokey note on the nose. The quality of this wine really showed as I would have expected more oxidation of the fruit at this age but the wine tasted relatively young. 93+/-
"Medium red color with slight brownish tint and fair change from rim (clear) to center.
On nose, cigar ash, cherry, dried cherry, tar and nice herbal note (spices, not green pepper).
On palate, full body, medium+ acidity, medium tannins and long finish. Flavor profile similar to the nose. I loved this. 93+/-"
October 23, 2019 - This was so, so good. Glorious with any meaty dish. (Took to Cotogna). Decanted for 4 hrs. Same tasting note as that for my previous bottle applies. Phenomenal QPR. Should try to buy more.