I was pleasantly surprised by how good this wine was as it is long past it's theoretical drinking interval. This is basically a "Super Tuscan" from California - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Petite Sirah. When first opened it was closed on the nose but did open up after about an hour. There was black fruit still present and a nice finish. I have one more bottle left and I will drink it soon.
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From a magnum, sacrificed for the greater common good at our wine club Christmas party. Highly recommend, very good QPR wine and given how extraordinarily well the magnum held up my guess is that with proper cellaring the 750's should still be drinking very well as well. Our only bottle, acquired as part of a much larger cellar acquisition. Nose initially dark and brooding with a hint of funk up front which quickly blew away with aeration leaving well balanced dark fruit, black pepper, a hint of anise / licorice and finally a more floral lilac or violet note. Very smooth, completely integrated and full bodied with a long aftertaste. With proper cellaring in this magnum format this easily has at least another 5-7 years to go - not youthful at this point but fully prime with no hint of degradation or decline. Initial dark fruit gave way to more red fruit / dark cherry with earthier notes of stone, tar, anise, cigar box and leather developing on the mid-late palate. This was just excellent.
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I purchased 2 of these magnums from auction. This is the first.
Rich red with a ripe in mouth flavor. Large enveloping mouthfeel with cherry, black fruits and vegetable flavors. I get fig on the mid palette and a finish of cedar laden tobacco leaf (a good thing BTW). I loved it.
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Pnp and drank over 90 min. Rather cheap and very 80s like bottle and label design. Unlike the label, the wine is however not showing its age in the glass with a medium garnet almost to the rim. This is showing slightly unbalanced initially, like a Tuscan red from a hot vintage with good acidity but a very ripe profile of dark fruit, clearly the Sangiovese in the blend showing. Later the wine fills out nicely and the Cab becomes much more dominant which provides overall a nicer balance. Very pretty nose with some wood spices and bell peppers indicating that the Cab Sauv (perhaps unlike the Sangio here) was for sure not picked overly ripe. On the palate still plenty of fruit and good acidity but also tobacco and leather, fine to medium tannins and short to medium finish. A very moderate 13.5% alc - good old times... Shows best with perhaps 45-60 min of air in the open bottle, and for sure still not at the end of its life. While there are no signs of oxidization would still drink remaining bottles over the next 5-7 years. Initially 89, later a solid 91-92
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The "divine kiss," this has lost most of its fruit during its years in the bottle. Upfront vanilla notes (American oak?) that persist through the finish. Mostly secondary at this stage, with tar, molten chocolate and espresso notes throughout. No browning and a great necklace. Was in its glory a decade ago. Today it's a novelty. (= Pass, as it sits in the glass today)
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Deep garnet. Still young looking, but showing early signs of bricking. Dark red fruit and vanilla on the nose. Juicy dark red fruit -- black cherry, currant -- with a hint of tobacco on the palate with fine but fading tannins on the back palate and finish. Calls out for food, especially hearty Italian-American fare. On the way down, perhaps, but the acidity will make it a slow journey. 3-5 years left easily.
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Despite its age, still had nice fruit which lasted through the evening and even smoothed out. Good leather, red meat flavors, very nice finish. This was a pleasant surprise.
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Dinner on the Lower east side; 10/4/2007-10/6/2007: Curiously sangio nose of violet, earth, and almond at first with solid plummy fruit that turns more cabernet based with airing offering up ripe cassis notes and gently leafy herbs. Big and rich with lovely balance reamining fresh as each layer of flavor reveals itself. An unusual blend that is a success, lovely tannin and good acidity keeps this interesting and food friendly
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From magnum at quince last night. Decanted for about an hour before pouring. Nose of dark fruit and tobacco. A lot more tannin than I was expecting given the age. Drinking beautifully. Going strong but not sure how much it can improve from here. I plan to drink the rest of mine in the next year or two at most. Fun wine.
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Had the deck stacked against it; tasted with a 03 metisse. But I have seen a decline in my lot of 95s. This is my 4 or 5th. Fruit less and less with each. This wine was DOA. Dumped it. None of the typical Bacio qualities. No fruit, all wet earth. Not was I was looking for. I've been meaning to drink these, but now I might just hold on it for 5-10 years and see it the cab improves at all. But doubt it.
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Had this wine with a Charlie Trotter salad with BBQ Filet Mignon. Bottom line: smooth and awesome. No spectacular tasting notes here. Just plain great wine. Wish I had more.
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Though the Sangiovese makes up less than 1/4 the blend, it was very prominent. Currant, spice, smokey, fine tannins; developed some vanilla toward the end. Needs at 2-4 hours in the decanter. (****)
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6/28/2022 - Vascular46 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprising good since it is well past it's recommended drinking interval. Still a dark ruby color with some black fruit on the nose and palate.
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4/10/2022 - Vascular46 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this wine was as it is long past it's theoretical drinking interval. This is basically a "Super Tuscan" from California - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Petite Sirah. When first opened it was closed on the nose but did open up after about an hour. There was black fruit still present and a nice finish. I have one more bottle left and I will drink it soon.
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12/4/2021 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a magnum, sacrificed for the greater common good at our wine club Christmas party. Highly recommend, very good QPR wine and given how extraordinarily well the magnum held up my guess is that with proper cellaring the 750's should still be drinking very well as well. Our only bottle, acquired as part of a much larger cellar acquisition. Nose initially dark and brooding with a hint of funk up front which quickly blew away with aeration leaving well balanced dark fruit, black pepper, a hint of anise / licorice and finally a more floral lilac or violet note. Very smooth, completely integrated and full bodied with a long aftertaste. With proper cellaring in this magnum format this easily has at least another 5-7 years to go - not youthful at this point but fully prime with no hint of degradation or decline. Initial dark fruit gave way to more red fruit / dark cherry with earthier notes of stone, tar, anise, cigar box and leather developing on the mid-late palate. This was just excellent.
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9/4/2021 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
I purchased 2 of these magnums from auction. This is the first.
Rich red with a ripe in mouth flavor. Large enveloping mouthfeel with cherry, black fruits and vegetable flavors. I get fig on the mid palette and a finish of cedar laden tobacco leaf (a good thing BTW). I loved it.
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6/25/2021 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pnp and drank over 90 min. Rather cheap and very 80s like bottle and label design. Unlike the label, the wine is however not showing its age in the glass with a medium garnet almost to the rim. This is showing slightly unbalanced initially, like a Tuscan red from a hot vintage with good acidity but a very ripe profile of dark fruit, clearly the Sangiovese in the blend showing. Later the wine fills out nicely and the Cab becomes much more dominant which provides overall a nicer balance. Very pretty nose with some wood spices and bell peppers indicating that the Cab Sauv (perhaps unlike the Sangio here) was for sure not picked overly ripe. On the palate still plenty of fruit and good acidity but also tobacco and leather, fine to medium tannins and short to medium finish. A very moderate 13.5% alc - good old times...
Shows best with perhaps 45-60 min of air in the open bottle, and for sure still not at the end of its life. While there are no signs of oxidization would still drink remaining bottles over the next 5-7 years. Initially 89, later a solid 91-92
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11/23/2016 - TJK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruit, smooth and very enjoyable. still had life!
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8/2/2016 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
The "divine kiss," this has lost most of its fruit during its years in the bottle. Upfront vanilla notes (American oak?) that persist through the finish. Mostly secondary at this stage, with tar, molten chocolate and espresso notes throughout. No browning and a great necklace. Was in its glory a decade ago. Today it's a novelty. (= Pass, as it sits in the glass today)
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11/26/2015 - Slammin Sammie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hint of chocolate and berries with a (somewhat) alcoholic finish. Went very well with Thanksgiving dinner.
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7/11/2014 - closdupapes wrote: 92 Points
Still full bodied and a good amount of life left in the bottle.
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9/3/2012 - iByron wrote:
Deep garnet. Still young looking, but showing early signs of bricking. Dark red fruit and vanilla on the nose. Juicy dark red fruit -- black cherry, currant -- with a hint of tobacco on the palate with fine but fading tannins on the back palate and finish. Calls out for food, especially hearty Italian-American fare. On the way down, perhaps, but the acidity will make it a slow journey. 3-5 years left easily.
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12/10/2011 - RAD2626 wrote: 90 Points
Despite its age, still had nice fruit which lasted through the evening and even smoothed out. Good leather, red meat flavors, very nice finish. This was a pleasant surprise.
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9/27/2010 - Adventr.us wrote: 91 Points
Opened my last bottle. Drinking well, decent fruit, it's hanging in there- but we all agreed that it was probably downhill from here.
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9/12/2010 - uberoh wrote: 90 Points
Good fruit, still very fresh -no sign of ageing
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8/7/2009 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Excellent California tuscan style wine. Dark berry, earth, spice flavors, nice texture. At Anteprima in Chicago, a great wine with a great dinner!
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8/14/2008 - no leashes wrote: 92 Points
This is a wonderful California tuscan -- dark, sweet berry, earth, spice flavors, excellent texture and balance, soft texture. Drinking beautifully.
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10/17/2007 - Bressler wrote: 88 Points
pleasant but reasonable simple. earlier bottles were better
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10/5/2007 - Gregory Dal Piaz wrote: 91 Points
Dinner on the Lower east side; 10/4/2007-10/6/2007: Curiously sangio nose of violet, earth, and almond at first with solid plummy fruit that turns more cabernet based with airing offering up ripe cassis notes and gently leafy herbs. Big and rich with lovely balance reamining fresh as each layer of flavor reveals itself. An unusual blend that is a success, lovely tannin and good acidity keeps this interesting and food friendly
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10/4/2007 - dehbach wrote:
Drinking beautifully. Evolved really nicely over the night.
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8/4/2007 - mappleton wrote: 95 Points
From magnum at quince last night. Decanted for about an hour before pouring. Nose of dark fruit and tobacco. A lot more tannin than I was expecting given the age. Drinking beautifully. Going strong but not sure how much it can improve from here. I plan to drink the rest of mine in the next year or two at most. Fun wine.
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5/12/2007 - buckeye76 wrote: 95 Points
BLACK CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES WITH HINTS OF CHOCOLATE IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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1/19/2007 - no leashes wrote: 92 Points
At Trattoria Roma with Jeannine -- silky, fine tannins, delicious fruit flavors. Drinking beautifully right now.
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8/6/2006 - 97mjr wrote:
Had the deck stacked against it; tasted with a 03 metisse. But I have seen a decline in my lot of 95s. This is my 4 or 5th. Fruit less and less with each. This wine was DOA. Dumped it. None of the typical Bacio qualities. No fruit, all wet earth. Not was I was looking for. I've been meaning to drink these, but now I might just hold on it for 5-10 years and see it the cab improves at all. But doubt it.
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5/29/2006 - jnewlander wrote: 95 Points
Had this wine with a Charlie Trotter salad with BBQ Filet Mignon. Bottom line: smooth and awesome. No spectacular tasting notes here. Just plain great wine. Wish I had more.
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2/5/2006 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
RICH BLACK CHERRY FRUIT AND CHOCOLATE IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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11/2/2005 - 97mjr wrote: 91 Points
[Cafe Loup] Tasted a little flat at first. But was great with food. Strawberry, licorice, anise, vanilla; very nice
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9/27/2004 - 97mjr wrote: 92 Points
Though the Sangiovese makes up less than 1/4 the blend, it was very prominent. Currant, spice, smokey, fine tannins; developed some vanilla toward the end. Needs at 2-4 hours in the decanter. (****)
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11/11/1998 - buckeye76 wrote: 95 Points
INCREDIBLE RICH FRUIT WHICH KEPT GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. LAYERS OF BERRIES AND BLACK CHERRIES WITH CHOCOLATE. LONG FINISH.
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