February 11, 2024 - A good bottle that, when served cold and allowed to open up in the glass, showed some unusual complexity and notes thanks to the blend of five grape varietals. Not for everyone, but can surprise (positively) the most dubious among us. This is my second and final bottle of this and its not subjectively good enough for me to buy again.
December 21, 2023 - Poured into a Boa decanter about 30min prior to service. The 2016 “Santa Chiara pours a brilliant, deep and slightly hazy copper gold color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with desiccated apricots, dried apples, yellow flowers, and curaçao. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium- tannins. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and super amazing. This is such a wonderful bottle of Bea. When his whites hit, well…they really hit. Drink now with a short decant or over the next 3-5 years. Bottle 1641/6133
July 8, 2023 - Super interesting dark orange color. Good flavors and body and paired quite well with soy sauce at an Izakya. $85ish at Seki.
October 20, 2022 - Every wine has a time and place to be enjoyable (unless badly made of course). While this wouldn't be an everyday drinker it was enjoyable but like other "orange" wines no matter what the grape or appellation, they all taste very similar with no sense of place. I didn't think this had excessive skin contact but those that do are unrecognizable from one another.
I do think this would be great with food that incorporates soy sauce like sushi or a soy braised protein.
March 20, 2022 - Totally oxidized dark butterscotch color.
September 18, 2021 - A little volatility, orange and peach, herbs, some bitter earth. On day 2 the structure recedes and it's a little juicier and friendlier. I've liked other vintages of this wine more.
July 3, 2021 - I am a fan of Paolo Bea's wines. Not this one. Flawed by brettanomyces, A shame because underneath the barnyard there is hiding a refreshing wine with very good acid/fruit balance and pleasant spice. But this wine's beautiful face is obscured by whatever it fell into face-first in the horse stall. The more you drink, the simpler it gets. Bought two bottles, won't buy again. I'll save my money for the Pipparello and Pagliaro instead.
April 1, 2021 - Horse sweat, barnyard & varnish on the nose for two hours & gave up on it. Palate wasn’t bad but couldn’t get past the nose.
January 16, 2021 - Equal parts Grechetto, Malvasia, Garganega, S.B. and Chard fermented 25 days on the skins. Gold with an orange hue. Med (+) nose of white blossoms, ripe citrus, apple, dried apricots, honey, pine resin. Very complex. Developing. Dry, with med (+) acidity, med (-) tannins and med (+) alcohol (13.5%). Substantial body, with a creamy, oily mouthfeel and med (+) flavor intensity. Finishes chewy, with a note of phenolic bitterness. Drinking well now but with many years of improvement ahead. One of the better orange wines I have had.
January 12, 2021 - Orange blossom, marmalade, marzipan, fine tannin, great texture