October 2, 2022 - 64% cab sauv / 22% sangiovese / 14% petit sirah. Highly recommend with the caveat that it is time to drink up any remaining holdings but no real hurry - this will hold for a bit longer. From a magnum opened at the Gamekeeper restaurant in the NC High Country for a S. African themed Chaine dinner. This magnum and 10 750 cc bottles were recently acquired as part of a much larger cellar contents purchase and the smaller bottles also holding up very well - will drink these up through 2023 if not a bit faster since wife Kim absolutely loves these wines. Dark red, peripheral bricking present, soft mouth feel, full bodied, cab dominant, fruit still very present, surprisingly complex and very well balanced with oak gone and tannins velvety. Long luscious aftertaste. Nose initially muted then dark and bold after opening up with aeration with dark stone fruit, a hint of green pepper, licorice and a more floral almost lilac or lavendar finish. Flavor profile with dark stone fruit, cassis and raspberry up front with leather and spice developing and a smokier cigar box finish. This is REALLY drinking well given how old it is.
December 24, 2020 - Was concerned about age and hadn’t had any for years. 2001 Bacio Divino. Below is my first part if tasting notes.
Pop and pour. Mint is strong, sour cherry mash sweet tobacco. More mint. Roasted meat, spring flowers. Bacon. Faint Herbs Background a faint citrusy note. Minerals. Amazing nose. Nose is 5 stars.
Palate balance is on the acidic side. But not extreme or ruinous. Tannic. Very long finish. Sumptuous. Not cali style. May improve with age.
May 13, 2020 - Still drinking very well. Enjoy!
March 30, 2019 - Decanted and served. I'd say this is past prime as the fruit was faded and the oak that remained gained prominence. I've had other vintages of this that aged better.
March 27, 2016 - This last bottle lost a bit from the previous sampling. It was pleasantly smooth, the tannins well resolved. And for periods - about 30 minutes after opening until maybe an hour later - the fruits deepened and showed some richness. But then it just faded away. It never had the cabernet-pop the previous bottle had, even as I tried to tease it out with our rack of lamb dinner. And it never developed any interesting secondary or tertiary notes while in the glass. To be fair - it never went thin or flat either, and was certainly enjoyable, if not necessarily special.
I dunno - no regrets buying this about 3 years back at a super-sale. But I doubt I'd buy this vintage at auction at this point. Or hold it much longer if I had any left.
February 28, 2016 - A bit simple. Nice but probably past its prime.
January 19, 2014 - A nice pop from the Cab with our brick-oven skirt steak; smooth through the middle from the Sangiovese. Smooth, round, substantial. Glad I have one more left. Seems like it's good for a few more years at least
May 7, 2012 - This wine really impressed with some age. Very nice and supple, I assume from the Sangiovese, with some great earthy tones.
April 9, 2012 - Interesting bottle of wine. One could certainly tell this was Cab driven, but the petit sirah was evident as well, especially with the color. I noticed the Sangiovese less. Rich, full bodied, in a very nice spot. Would recommend.
May 2, 2011 - Pop/pour. Nice blend with a bit more "nerve" than might be there if it was 100% Cab. Opens fairly forward in a Cali style, but develops in the glass to a "modern Italian" style, with good balancing acidity and tight oak. Relatively tannic on the finish. A decant for an hour or 2 would be a better treatment for this bottle than "pop/pour".