November 28, 2020 - IWS Rest of Northern Italy tasting (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Herbaceous notes, a little leather, bonfire, medicinal herbs and liquorice, orange peel. The palate is very much a reflection of the nose; medicinal herbs, over almost candied orange peel with finely grained but drying tannins. Nah.
May 20, 2017 - Great bottle. Was a favorite at our table. Drinking very well at this moment
January 14, 2017 - Drank from Magnum at Lilia restaurant in Brooklyn. 45 minute decant. Great wine, in a great drinking window now with well integrated tannins. Fruit concentration was nice, but quite light compared to their massive amarone. Everyone really enjoyed it.
September 7, 2015 - This wasn't showing it's best tonight but still a good wine. It acted like a uncertain middle aged wine. Notes of tarragon, graphite and some said dark berries. I wish I had more time to spend with this one, but it was gone quickly with a large group drinking it.
July 3, 2014 - Via Alta: Stem, graphite, raspberry and lead with a bit of alcohol lift to it. Mostly savoury on the palate but there is an appealing fruit richness that works in support. Good length and fine balance.
July 3, 2014 - Bright dark fruit wrapped in a lush style. It's very appealing. The 15% a/v is not noticeable at all. Drink over 5+ years.
August 22, 2013 - No formal notes but I recall a lush, well balanced palate full of cherries and a lingering finish.
June 7, 2013 - Tasting with good frends. (@ MatH): Very complex and special bouquet with caramel, roasted nuts, coffee, flowers, red fruits, sweetness and also pleasant green impressions. On the palate ripe red fruits, autumn impressions and coffee again. Good acidity. Overall this is a very special, complex and juicy elegant wine. Especially the bouquet is a feast with new discoveries all the time. Ready now, but this wine can last a few more years.
June 7, 2013 - Preparing for our next Dreamtasting @ Thijs' (Netherlands): Unique, quintessential nose of grilled bell-pepper, sacher torte, cappuccino, caramel and loads of floral notes. On the palate estranging flavors like bananapeel, mango, plumcake, roasted coffee, smoke, lavender and hyacinth are tumbling over each other. Incomparable wine. (++)
August 29, 2012 - This wine is a single vineyard Valpolicella, named after a plot of land where a large Merlo (bird) sat perched on a tree overlooking the hillside.
It differs from the Valpolicella only in that the grapes come from one specific site and thus the terroir and its influence on the wine are unique.