RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  12/8/2010 (link) 91 points

  (Serafini & Vidotto il Rosso dell'Abazia) Dark red violet color; tart plum, tart black fruit, olive, herbaceous nose; tasty, tart black fruit, tart plum, herbaceous palate; medium-plus finish

• By Richard Jennings
  10/1/2010 (link) 91 points

  (Serafini & Vidotto il Rosso dell'Abazia) Bricking medium red violet color; mushroom, maturing, tart plum nose; tasty, mature, Bordeaux-like, tobacco, tart plum, cedar, mineral palate; medium-plus finish 91+ pts.

• By Richard Jennings
  1/30/2009 (link) 92 points

  (Serafini & Vidotto il Rosso dell'Abazia) Dark red violet color; Cab Franc, green olive nose; nice tart plum, green olive and mineral palate, juicy, with depth; medium finish

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  5/23/2008 (link)

  (ROSSO Dell'Abazia Serafini) Friday SPECIAL - Deal of the Year #4 Dear Friends, I've certainly been accused of hyperbolic enthusiasm on more than a few occasions, but there are times when even my strongest use of adjective-laced verbiage cannot do a deal justice. Call this a Memorial Day send-off or whatever but (to put this in perspective) it would be like getting Tignanello or something like that . Serafini & Vidotto's Rosso dell'Abazia is their "first growth" wine and it is one of the most decorated entrants in the annals of Gambero Rosso. For years, this cool-climate Bordeaux-like wine had the longest GR3 (Tre Bicchieri) streak of any wine in Italy (I'm in not sure it's ever received less than a GR3 but I could be wrong?), and the current praise continues with the just released 2004 version (Veronelli Blue 3-Star, etc). It is deep red wine akin to a mix of St. Estephe, St. Julien and the Veneto with the ageing potential to boot. Grown in rocky, poor soil that forces the strongest to survive, this wine is vinified like a $100+ wine that normally sells for $40-60 (what they consider to be a fair and relatively low price versus other top wines of Italy). It is fastidiously crafted in the vineyard and the owners will put it up against any wine from anywhere. While I wouldn't go that far, I don't think it matters if it's better than 2000 La Mission or not? This wines seems to be very consistent year in and year out but the 2000 version reminds me of a combination of the 1995 and 1997. It is from a ripe year that is still terroir-specific and the cool-toned showcase of Cabernet, Franc and Merlot is ambitious to say the least. The glycerol content is more in keeping with a warmer climate (than Bordeaux) but I would say it compares favorably to a warm growing season in the Medoc like 2000 or 2005 (not like 2003). This wine should age well for at least 10-15 more years and I think the paltry investment is about as close to a can't-miss as we've offered this year. A crazy deal. This parcel has pristine provenance, stored under ideal conditions since release (it is not a cast off lot): 2000 Serafini & Vidotto "Il Rosso dell'Abazia" (GR3) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy6140