While this was initially a bit funky with some barnyard earthiness which burned off after decanting and aerating back and forth three times, it was better than our previous tasting, due likely to bottle variation over two decades of aging.
This was dark garnet colored with a bit of browning on the rim, medium full bodied, powerful full and forward black fruits are starting to give way to notes of cedar, black tea, olive tapenade, leather and hints of creosote on the deep, full, lingering tannic finish. https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/12/team-dinner-and-go-to-casalferro-wines.html
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An orphan in my cellar. Double decanted, with lots of sediment. Dark garnet with little browning. First whiff was lots of oak, and with soft dark fruit flavors. Seemingly, a bit tired at first, but we enjoyed its complex flavors. Impossible for me to have a clue of its varietal makeup, so I looked it up and it's 75% sangiovese and 25% merlot. It does not have the bright sangiovese character, maybe because of time, oak and Parkerized merlot added.
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Well cellared, solid cork. An off nose which faded after ~20 mins, firm bodied, substantial mouth feel, tannins resolved. Delicious fruit came on after some breathing.
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Better in nose than in mouth. Most tasting notes said the wine was over the hill but given that this was a magnum it was still reasonably good. Took some time to open and still had structure and fruit.
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PopnPour, tasted over 3 hrs -nearly opaque somewhat murky moderately bricked dark red -cedar caramel oak with fully mature sous bois elements -med acidity, med- weight not much flesh on the mid-palate, finishes with some sweet oak and still a bit of gritty tannic structure -unfortunately not enough guts to outlive the oak, past its prime
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Slightly perfumy dark fruit on the nose with pencil shavings, meat and coffee. Fullbodied palate with some healthy grip and carrying acidity. Dried fruit character, vegetals and leather towards the mid-length finish. Rather mature for its age. Pass.
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Even though I thought this wine was at its peak two years ago, it keeps getting better and better. Very elegant and refined. Increadibly smooth, it is very good by itself.
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Might have waited too long on this one. Last two bottles have been pruny and tired. Nothing showing through at all. Color is tawny and hints at slight oxidation. This was much better a few years back. NR
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Lots of sediment. Decanted and then rebottled. Nice nose of blueberries and spice, but the palate lacked any sense of fruit. I primarily sensed dusty, muted spices on the palate and finish. This would pair well with a hearty beef stew or chili. This has been stored well since purchase, so I am fairly disappointed in how this has aged. I'll have to drink my one remaining bottle soon.
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Big and bold, almost a fruit bomb. Rich and ripe fruit, smooth silky tannins and just enough acidity to give the wine lift. This is a very large-scaled wine and needs intensely flavored food to pair with. As with most wines of this style, the bold flavor and bouquet deprive the wine of nuance. As such, it speaks to the hedonistic, not intellectual, side of me.
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If only I had let this stand upright for an hour or so before decanting, as there was sediment throughout, despite careful pouring into the decatner. That being said, this had a wonderful nose, and was full bodied. It went lovely with slow cooked pot roast. Enjoyed by all.
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Black fruit, vanilla, toasted oak on the nose. Very elegant and at its peak now. Clean black fruit, espresso, leather with a beautiful woodsy finish. Muted, silky tannins and a bright acidity make it very food-friendly, although it is so smooth that it is very approachable by itself.
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Nose of black cherry, tar, soy sauce and licorice. Chalky tannins at the finish. Seems it could last a year or more but why wait with how beautifully it's drinking now.
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A decent Super Tuscan however not worth the tarriff. The nose showed very well with leather, resin, and bordeaux like qualities. The palate however is somewhat thin. Unfortunately this is as good as I think this wine will get.
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About what I expected. Very good Italian blend of sangiovese and merlot. Medium in weight. Nose of black fruit and cedar. Tastes of mostly dark fruits, with a touch of coffee, some mineral and smoke. Clean, crisp flavor with decent 15-20 second finish. Still a a little tannin left, but drinking very smooth right now. Not enough there to justify the price though.
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Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, I think I waited too long too drink. Or maybe this supertuscan ins't everything is written. Dark colored, medium bodied, the nose when the bottle was oppened was only funghi, funghi, funghi. Than evolved to tar, leather and plum. Round tannins, but the toast and berry flavors were unballanced and there was un unpleasent bitterness.
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The wine seems to be on the edge. At the start of the bottle there is nothing fruity and only strong tannins. Last glass of wine there is something which I expect to be there. And I have 10 bottles left...
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First the nose was quite awful with a very strong cherry candy and vanilla. With aeration it evolved to some cherry and earthy notes with still some vanilla in the background and some dark fruits notes. On the palate it is more or less the same with spices, silky texture. Lingering finish. Overall, this is ok but I was expecting a little more for $26..Let's just say this wine is boring.
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Very nice wine. . .we found that it matched well with our meal, which was an easy to make epicurious.com recipe (from May 2000 Bon Appetit) for veal cutlets with tomato and basil sauce.
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Nicely developed with notes of barnyard,tobacco and some cassislike dark fruit.The frutiness seemed to be fading,suggesting this is starting to reach its peak.
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Very nice typical Italian without that overt funk that we seem to get with so many Italian wines. This was lovely, smooth leather and dried dark fruit. Would like to try the 01 and see how that compares.
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just poured in the decanter and poured an ounce or so to taste. leather up front with dark fruit in ther background. has a complexity to it. very pure and smooth no tightness whatso ever. the nose also shows the leather with some dried dark fruit
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Dark ruby/garnet colour with pink tinges. Aromas of figs, vanilla, mint, violets, and roses. Full-bodied, lush wine with figs, vanilla, violets, and black berry fruits. Nice finish, ~35-40s with floral notes. Needs 3-4 years to start to see its full potential.
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12/17/2022 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
While this was initially a bit funky with some barnyard earthiness which burned off after decanting and aerating back and forth three times, it was better than our previous tasting, due likely to bottle variation over two decades of aging.
This was dark garnet colored with a bit of browning on the rim, medium full bodied, powerful full and forward black fruits are starting to give way to notes of cedar, black tea, olive tapenade, leather and hints of creosote on the deep, full, lingering tannic finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/12/team-dinner-and-go-to-casalferro-wines.html
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1/24/2021 - WinoRick wrote: 91 Points
An orphan in my cellar. Double decanted, with lots of sediment. Dark garnet with little browning. First whiff was lots of oak, and with soft dark fruit flavors. Seemingly, a bit tired at first, but we enjoyed its complex flavors. Impossible for me to have a clue of its varietal makeup, so I looked it up and it's 75% sangiovese and 25% merlot. It does not have the bright sangiovese character, maybe because of time, oak and Parkerized merlot added.
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11/10/2019 - Bill Martin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well cellared, solid cork. An off nose which faded after ~20 mins, firm bodied, substantial mouth feel, tannins resolved. Delicious fruit came on after some breathing.
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9/6/2018 - frontenac Likes this wine: 90 Points
Past it's prime, but a great wine! Full of fruit, leather, and just the right amount of soft tannins. Great with food.
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12/23/2016 - Michaelaron Likes this wine: 88 Points
Better in nose than in mouth. Most tasting notes said the wine was over the hill but given that this was a magnum it was still reasonably good. Took some time to open and still had structure and fruit.
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11/20/2015 - Cote d'Or wrote:
PopnPour, tasted over 3 hrs
-nearly opaque somewhat murky moderately bricked dark red
-cedar caramel oak with fully mature sous bois elements
-med acidity, med- weight not much flesh on the mid-palate, finishes with some sweet oak and still a bit of gritty tannic structure
-unfortunately not enough guts to outlive the oak, past its prime
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11/30/2013 - nickgorski wrote:
Definitely past its prime. Acid, some fruit but not jammy as others described, structure, tannins. Enjoyed it but wished I had popped it 5 years ago.
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6/22/2013 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
Drank in Tuscany
Big fruit forward nose with plumbs, red berries and cherries. Lovely complex mouth. Great to be introduced to it.
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9/30/2012 - Wheels104 wrote: 91 Points
Very berry, jammy, fruit-forward. Rich nose. Juicy. Excellent drink. Only negative was excess sediment.
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3/15/2012 - avp wrote:
Slightly perfumy dark fruit on the nose with pencil shavings, meat and coffee.
Fullbodied palate with some healthy grip and carrying acidity. Dried fruit character, vegetals and leather towards the mid-length finish.
Rather mature for its age. Pass.
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12/3/2011 - CDStrombom Likes this wine: 89 Points
Notes of blueberries, chocolate and spices. This bottle was still drinking quite well. Fairly smooth tannins.
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2/27/2011 - TannicBeast wrote: 92 Points
Even though I thought this wine was at its peak two years ago, it keeps getting better and better. Very elegant and refined. Increadibly smooth, it is very good by itself.
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1/31/2011 - fatsdmx wrote:
Might have waited too long on this one. Last two bottles have been pruny and tired. Nothing showing through at all. Color is tawny and hints at slight oxidation. This was much better a few years back. NR
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10/4/2010 - CDStrombom wrote: 88 Points
Lots of sediment. Decanted and then rebottled. Nice nose of blueberries and spice, but the palate lacked any sense of fruit. I primarily sensed dusty, muted spices on the palate and finish. This would pair well with a hearty beef stew or chili. This has been stored well since purchase, so I am fairly disappointed in how this has aged. I'll have to drink my one remaining bottle soon.
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9/21/2010 - thwacker wrote: 88 Points
Big and bold, almost a fruit bomb. Rich and ripe fruit, smooth silky tannins and just enough acidity to give the wine lift. This is a very large-scaled wine and needs intensely flavored food to pair with. As with most wines of this style, the bold flavor and bouquet deprive the wine of nuance. As such, it speaks to the hedonistic, not intellectual, side of me.
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5/30/2010 - igaf wrote: flawed
Moderately corked.
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2/15/2010 - mtdv wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyed this powerful seductive offering with venison wrapped in pancetta. Excellent pairing.
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11/26/2009 - CDStrombom wrote: 90 Points
If only I had let this stand upright for an hour or so before decanting, as there was sediment throughout, despite careful pouring into the decatner. That being said, this had a wonderful nose, and was full bodied. It went lovely with slow cooked pot roast. Enjoyed by all.
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8/6/2009 - TannicBeast wrote: 91 Points
See July 2009 review.
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7/19/2009 - TannicBeast wrote: 91 Points
Black fruit, vanilla, toasted oak on the nose. Very elegant and at its peak now. Clean black fruit, espresso, leather with a beautiful woodsy finish. Muted, silky tannins and a bright acidity make it very food-friendly, although it is so smooth that it is very approachable by itself.
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5/9/2009 - CDStrombom wrote: flawed
Perhaps I have waited too long to consume this or maybe this bottle was just off, as it has lost a lot of the endearing qualities of past bottles.
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2/16/2009 - keepitreal wrote: 90 Points
Herbs, licorice and soy on the nose. Lush black berries on the palate with minerals, tar and chalk. Just delicious--depressed this is my last bottle.
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1/7/2009 - keepitreal wrote: 90 Points
Nose of black cherry, tar, soy sauce and licorice. Chalky tannins at the finish. Seems it could last a year or more but why wait with how beautifully it's drinking now.
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12/23/2008 - Lax wrote: 89 Points
A decent Super Tuscan however not worth the tarriff. The nose showed very well with leather, resin, and bordeaux like qualities. The palate however is somewhat thin. Unfortunately this is as good as I think this wine will get.
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12/8/2008 - wine4ever wrote: 89 Points
About what I expected. Very good Italian blend of sangiovese and merlot. Medium in weight. Nose of black fruit and cedar. Tastes of mostly dark fruits, with a touch of coffee, some mineral and smoke. Clean, crisp flavor with decent 15-20 second finish. Still a a little tannin left, but drinking very smooth right now. Not enough there to justify the price though.
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9/7/2008 - Cahors wrote: 90 Points
Very ripe fruit, good structure and an earthy taste I enjoyed. Good structure with lots of tannins.
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8/2/2008 - MarcoAzevedo wrote: 83 Points
Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, I think I waited too long too drink. Or maybe this supertuscan ins't everything is written.
Dark colored, medium bodied, the nose when the bottle was oppened was only funghi, funghi, funghi. Than evolved to tar, leather and plum. Round tannins, but the toast and berry flavors were unballanced and there was un unpleasent bitterness.
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5/28/2008 - noksu99 wrote: 87 Points
The wine seems to be on the edge. At the start of the bottle there is nothing fruity and only strong tannins. Last glass of wine there is something which I expect to be there. And I have 10 bottles left...
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5/14/2008 - noksu99 wrote:
The wine might has been too warm at the moment of drinking so its taste was exhausted.
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1/25/2008 - french16 wrote: 88 Points
First the nose was quite awful with a very strong cherry candy and vanilla. With aeration it evolved to some cherry and earthy notes with still some vanilla in the background and some dark fruits notes.
On the palate it is more or less the same with spices, silky texture. Lingering finish.
Overall, this is ok but I was expecting a little more for $26..Let's just say this wine is boring.
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4/30/2007 - rmodak wrote: 90 Points
Very dark wine. Tar, black cherry, licorice and tobacco. Still seems young, as the firm tannins mellowed over the evening.
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4/22/2007 - CDStrombom wrote: 90 Points
a bit unbalanced at opening, but quickly smoothed out... with dark berries, bitter chocolate and tabacco.
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3/11/2007 - GHAHIL wrote:
Very nice wine. . .we found that it matched well with our meal, which was an easy to make epicurious.com recipe (from May 2000 Bon Appetit) for veal cutlets with tomato and basil sauce.
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1/27/2007 - vinaigre wrote: 92 Points
Montreal Offline: Tuscany (Restaurant Bleu Raisin): Nice ruby red, floral nose with oak, spices, and meat. Nice mouth-feel of fruits, with gripping tannins and present acidity. Medium length.
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3/22/2006 - amax wrote: 89 Points
Excellent structure that expanded as the bottle sat open; leather, dark color, fruity. A good bottle.
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2/22/2006 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Edinburgh Offline (Centotre, Edinburgh): Violets and liquorice, dusty cherry fruit, good wine
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2/16/2006 - Henman wrote: 88 Points
Nicely developed with notes of barnyard,tobacco and some cassislike dark fruit.The frutiness seemed to be fading,suggesting this is starting to reach its peak.
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1/22/2006 - BonnieM wrote:
Very nice typical Italian without that overt funk that we seem to get with so many Italian wines. This was lovely, smooth leather and dried dark fruit. Would like to try the 01 and see how that compares.
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1/21/2006 - charbo wrote:
just poured in the decanter and poured an ounce or so to taste. leather up front with dark fruit in ther background. has a complexity to it. very pure and smooth no tightness whatso ever. the nose also shows the leather with some dried dark fruit
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1/15/2005 - SadEdjo wrote:
dark ruby. lots of sweet oak on the nose & finish. sweet cherry & at the end a hint of licorice.
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5/23/2004 - futronic wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby/garnet colour with pink tinges. Aromas of figs, vanilla, mint, violets, and roses. Full-bodied, lush wine with figs, vanilla, violets, and black berry fruits. Nice finish, ~35-40s with floral notes. Needs 3-4 years to start to see its full potential.
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