August 20, 2015 - Like the other bottles, meh.
December 28, 2014 - Decent bottle, correct with a bit of earth.
February 10, 2013 - Perfectly decent simple wine. Similar to a few others, I got this for a song, and so it was an excellent QPR.
December 15, 2009 - Last bottle of a case from Zachy's $5 clearance. Consistent notes: cherry forward, even some tarry notes, little structure, not for the long haul. Works with lighter Italian fare, but can't stand up to a potent papardelle Bolognese. For the price, great value in an easy and pleasant gulper, Old World style.
February 25, 2009 - Warm ripe cherries and plums, on the rounder side of Chianti, could use some more acidic vim and vigor. Still, it's clean and unflawed, and it was $5. B-/C+, but still ok value.
February 10, 2009 - A fleshier and rounder bottle. Sweet notes of cherry and plum. Acidity kept it well balanced. With time in the glass, became a little thinner and tart. A gulper.
December 8, 2008 - I'm either the unluckiest person I know or this wine is plain bad. From Zachy's blowout @$5 I bought a case; so far four btls have been bad, with no fruit whatsoever and charmless tart iron acidity. The one reasonable note I've gotten has been earth, which others have noted. The first couple times I had this, just thought I'd gotten a couple low level corked bottles in a row, not unheard of from Italian wines. But four?!? And they've all been consistent with the above description.
September 28, 2008 - Loads of acidity with bright red cherry and a bit of earth on the nose. Mouth puckering and refreshing. Definitely needs food (meaty sauce on pasta or some beef).
August 23, 2008 - There's nothing complicated here- straightforward black cherries and plums, maybe just a hint of vanilla-y oak. In time maybe a hint of tobacco, but this is a fruit driven wine, with enough acidity to keep lively. Simple mid-modern Chianti, but at the whopping price of $5 (Zachys case sale) I'm not complaining! B/B-
August 16, 2008 - Good dark cherry fruit, moderate acidity, light tannins. But something musty this way comes, and I reluctantly conclude this is corked.