With adobo chicken and couscous salad, etc. Not sure about the pairing, but most of it seemed to disappear before the food was ready anyway. This is my favorite of the Franscioni's vineyards, and the winemaker is Roar's original from when I liked the wines the best. So this really hit the spot. Opened with cranberry and pomegranate notes, some roses, and a silken texture. ABV is fairly high, but there's no heat, no overripeness, and the use of oak is judicious and complementary. Sorry that it was the last bottle. Need to be on the lookout for more.
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Red cherry & raspberry fruit. Kind of muddled in the middle, and then a nice Pinot funk finish.
12/27/2020 Similar notes except I didn't comment about the muddled middle. Without that, it's a very nice wine, albeit not quite as complex as some vintages. Upped my rating from original 89.
3/31/2022 Observed a little of that confusion mid palate again. But overall still really enjoyed the funk and earthiness in the finish.
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With chicken shawarma. At first this was pretty flat, nothing special. But after it had been open for a while, those Rosella's notes came out. Floral, at times a little soapy, really intoxicating aromas. Silky smooth on the palate. This is still young, and I'll put one aside for a few years at least. Same winemaker who made the Roar Rosella's in their heyday, so he knows the grapes.
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Nose of pretty red raspberry and cool strawberries. It's super expressive and pure. Palate shows a wispy bright and airy style of Pinot I have come to respect. It's poised and profound while being whimsical and playful. The ruby red berries control this and it is all and everything I have come to expect from the Bien Nacideo region; classy yet fun while being steadfast and based in purity and elegance. Balance is lithe, tannins are finely delineated, this gives such abundance now yet it has an easy 5-7 awesome years ahead of it, I am of the mind 'why wait'? Long and true with a bold finish and all you find yourself wanting is.......more. Nice job , Ed. Very nice.
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This deep ruby wine was tasted in single-blind fashion at a Central Coast Pinot Noir tasting. The bottle was kindly provided by M.C. Ripe black fruit and spice are accompanied by a hint of "bubble gum" on both the nose and palate. Round and with relatively high viscosity, it presents its flavors in a frame of medium-weight tannins and warm alcohol (14.7%). Solid in the middle, it follows with a medium-length finish which shows a whiff of heat. A bit over-ripe for my taste, this is a wine where it is imperative that the serving temperature not creep above 60°F (lest you experience the not-so-subtle alcohol). Drink now-2018.
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I liked this wine a lot. Great QPR at $30 at Greenblatts deli in LA. I think it's possibly a bit young, but even now it's very good. Lots of cherry and some barnyard funk on the nose. Will buy again.
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Falltacular 2014 (FMIII in the OC): Dark cherry aromas with sweet cherry flavors. Fine tannins and decent amount of structure. Medium finish. This only improve as the fruit and structure integrate.
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7/17/2020 - Not647f wrote:
With adobo chicken and couscous salad, etc. Not sure about the pairing, but most of it seemed to disappear before the food was ready anyway. This is my favorite of the Franscioni's vineyards, and the winemaker is Roar's original from when I liked the wines the best. So this really hit the spot. Opened with cranberry and pomegranate notes, some roses, and a silken texture. ABV is fairly high, but there's no heat, no overripeness, and the use of oak is judicious and complementary. Sorry that it was the last bottle. Need to be on the lookout for more.
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4/5/2020 - underwds wrote: 91 Points
Red cherry & raspberry fruit. Kind of muddled in the middle, and then a nice Pinot funk finish.
12/27/2020 Similar notes except I didn't comment about the muddled middle. Without that, it's a very nice wine, albeit not quite as complex as some vintages. Upped my rating from original 89.
3/31/2022 Observed a little of that confusion mid palate again. But overall still really enjoyed the funk and earthiness in the finish.
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3/20/2019 - Not647f wrote:
With chicken shawarma. At first this was pretty flat, nothing special. But after it had been open for a while, those Rosella's notes came out. Floral, at times a little soapy, really intoxicating aromas. Silky smooth on the palate. This is still young, and I'll put one aside for a few years at least. Same winemaker who made the Roar Rosella's in their heyday, so he knows the grapes.
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11/18/2017 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious ripe red cherry, strawberry, and spice on the nose and silky smooth palate with moderate sappy finish. Classic AW Rosella's!
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10/19/2017 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle, but with a touch of heat on the finish.
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5/4/2017 - norsktorsk wrote: 92 Points
I like it.
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4/18/2017 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious ripe red cherry, strawberry, and earth on the nose and silky smooth palate with moderate sappy finish. At this stage still prefer the 2011.
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10/4/2016 - King Cab wrote: 93 Points
Nose of pretty red raspberry and cool strawberries. It's super expressive and pure. Palate shows a wispy bright and airy style of Pinot I have come to respect. It's poised and profound while being whimsical and playful. The ruby red berries control this and it is all and everything I have come to expect from the Bien Nacideo region; classy yet fun while being steadfast and based in purity and elegance. Balance is lithe, tannins are finely delineated, this gives such abundance now yet it has an easy 5-7 awesome years ahead of it, I am of the mind 'why wait'? Long and true with a bold finish and all you find yourself wanting is.......more. Nice job , Ed. Very nice.
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10/21/2015 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Red cherry, strawberry, and plum fruit with a nice core of cinnamon spice and caramel throughout. Nice acidity and long finish, great wine!
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11/21/2014 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 86 Points
This deep ruby wine was tasted in single-blind fashion at a Central Coast Pinot Noir tasting. The bottle was kindly provided by M.C. Ripe black fruit and spice are accompanied by a hint of "bubble gum" on both the nose and palate. Round and with relatively high viscosity, it presents its flavors in a frame of medium-weight tannins and warm alcohol (14.7%). Solid in the middle, it follows with a medium-length finish which shows a whiff of heat. A bit over-ripe for my taste, this is a wine where it is imperative that the serving temperature not creep above 60°F (lest you experience the not-so-subtle alcohol). Drink now-2018.
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6/8/2014 - alex4wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
I liked this wine a lot. Great QPR at $30 at Greenblatts deli in LA. I think it's possibly a bit young, but even now it's very good. Lots of cherry and some barnyard funk on the nose. Will buy again.
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4/20/2014 - Castle Peak wrote: 92 Points
Smooth with nicely rounded edges of ripe cherries, mushrooms, cedar and subtle peppery notes. Mildly acidic. Polished tannins. Elegant.
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2/23/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Falltacular 2014 (FMIII in the OC): Dark cherry aromas with sweet cherry flavors. Fine tannins and decent amount of structure. Medium finish. This only improve as the fruit and structure integrate.
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1/19/2014 - dhammer53 wrote:
Tasted this at Pinot Days in NYC with Ed Kurtzman. Nice nose. Nice color. Very enjoyable.
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