Good; in its golden years. Some recent notes suggested this was either past it, or approaching that stage. This particular bottle had a near perfect fill, and a near perfect cork. As a result, the color was still holding fast, with a ruby core, and slight fading at the rim. The nose is pretty classic, mature Cabernet, and in a blind may have had several guessing on the left bank. But, I think the acid gives it away as Italian - others commented to this effect, too. Fully mature, with a gentle medium body, and mature, lightly sweet tannins providing a capable frame. More interesting/good, than say exuberant fruit good, but then I appreciate this genre as much as any these days. Drink now, it's not improving. h/t to others' recent notes suggesting time to drink up. 13,5% abv. recommended
Very nice youthful nose, classic elements in place, crunchy and brambly. Ultimately, the mid-palate was a little dull but the attack and finish were still nice and shiny. Jonathan liked it more than I did - I found it a bit past its prime in the end. Fun to drink these singletons and see how they are holding up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful and complex nose of plum, chocolate, tobacco, liquorice. Silky and elegant drink with good acidity and long finish, for a 22 years old wine still in perfect shape. Great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another fine showing. Dark fruit, licorice, leather, zingy acidity, fully resolved tannins. Longer finish than the previous bottle. What's not to like?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tart black fruit, vivid acidity and drying tannins in equal balance. Quite austere. Reminds me of an old school Cali Diamond Mountain cab. The biggest drawback: the short finish. It falls off the cliff at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still quite taut and tannic after 20 years, but it relaxed after an hour or so. Plenty of wood spice to balance the tart red fruit. It's a lean and angular Cab Sauv - something I associate with Tuscan cabs - as opposed to a rich, full-bodied California style. Very attractive, if you're a fan of that style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just a beautifully balanced wine: fresh, red and black fruit with dominant licorices; bright acidity; savoury leather and earth notes. The tannins have resolved to the point where they are soft and round, but still add weight and gravitas. A winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork stained one inch. Decanted for 90 minutes; moderate sediment. Deep ruby/garnet color with surprisingly little browning at the edges for a 17 year old wine. Delightful flowery nose of blackberries and some minerals. Medium bodied and angular on the palate: the fruit has faded a bit making acids and tannins the dominant notes. Medium length finish. Given the glowing reviews others have given this wine recently, I suspect that this bottle, recently bought at auction, may not have been properly stored. My lot of 11 bottles was bought for only $27 per bottle, which is about half of the CT Community average. I plan to consume my remaining bottles over the next two years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I absolutely loved a bottle of this wine 3.5 years ago. Alas, my 2nd and last bottle was much more austere, dried out, and lacked the depth and tipicity of the prior bottle. This has plenty of acid, nice herbal touches, and a nice nose of iron and forest floor. The palate moves to tart cranberry with a hint of raspberry. Chewy, dry, and distinctly ungenerous. I kept wanting more from this wine. Not a bad wine by any stretch but a pale shadow of my prior bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Isole & Olena Dinner with Paolo de Marchi (The Ledbury, London): Just like the 01, the Cab Sauvs where the suprise find and even eclipsed the cepparellos. Beautiful,great nose with lots of fruit and a very layered wine. Big, lush and dense on the palate. Very well made, maybe a touch of too much oak, and we loved it. Similar comment with the 01 though that the cab sauvs of I&O and unlike the cepparello lack a sense of place and origin. Could have been made anywhere but we would enjoy them nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious bottle of wine. Slighty funky nose and tannic upon opening, but within 1.5 hours, was beautiful. Such a different flavor profile than what you see from CA. Much less black currant and graphite. Fruit is still strong. The wine is not declining in any way yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A real stunner!! Shows true varietal notes together with unmistakeable terroir characteristics: a Cab from Chianti! Great backbone and nice acidity that makes it also great with food. I wish I had bought more bottles.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep blackish-purple in colour. Brooding/heavy aromatics and flavours, mainly earthy, peppery, savoury. Moderate acidity and alcohol; high level of just-right tannins (grippy). Nicely balanced and well-structured.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a beautiful, impeccable bottle of Cabernet. Tobacco, rust, cranberry, and some dried Oregano on the nose. The palate is fairly taut with good acidity and a decidedly herbal edge, definitely seems Tuscan. But wow, this is such a nice example of Cabernet with notes of olive, nice grip and excellent freshness. With some Coriander crusted, seared-rare Ahi, this was just perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/23/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Good; in its golden years. Some recent notes suggested this was either past it, or approaching that stage. This particular bottle had a near perfect fill, and a near perfect cork. As a result, the color was still holding fast, with a ruby core, and slight fading at the rim. The nose is pretty classic, mature Cabernet, and in a blind may have had several guessing on the left bank. But, I think the acid gives it away as Italian - others commented to this effect, too. Fully mature, with a gentle medium body, and mature, lightly sweet tannins providing a capable frame. More interesting/good, than say exuberant fruit good, but then I appreciate this genre as much as any these days. Drink now, it's not improving. h/t to others' recent notes suggesting time to drink up. 13,5% abv. recommended
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2020 - NYC_Maenad wrote:
Very nice youthful nose, classic elements in place, crunchy and brambly. Ultimately, the mid-palate was a little dull but the attack and finish were still nice and shiny. Jonathan liked it more than I did - I found it a bit past its prime in the end. Fun to drink these singletons and see how they are holding up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2020 - blank blank wrote:
ripe, plummy, but very very good in the vernacular of Tuscan cab. full, rich, and not cracking up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2020 - dox84 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful and complex nose of plum, chocolate, tobacco, liquorice. Silky and elegant drink with good acidity and long finish, for a 22 years old wine still in perfect shape. Great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2018 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another fine showing. Dark fruit, licorice, leather, zingy acidity, fully resolved tannins. Longer finish than the previous bottle. What's not to like?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2018 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tart black fruit, vivid acidity and drying tannins in equal balance. Quite austere. Reminds me of an old school Cali Diamond Mountain cab. The biggest drawback: the short finish. It falls off the cliff at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2018 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still quite taut and tannic after 20 years, but it relaxed after an hour or so. Plenty of wood spice to balance the tart red fruit. It's a lean and angular Cab Sauv - something I associate with Tuscan cabs - as opposed to a rich, full-bodied California style. Very attractive, if you're a fan of that style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2017 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just a beautifully balanced wine: fresh, red and black fruit with dominant licorices; bright acidity; savoury leather and earth notes. The tannins have resolved to the point where they are soft and round, but still add weight and gravitas. A winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2016 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 89 Points
For the most part, I'll stand by my tasting notes of 12/04/15. However, this mature cab is growing on me, and I'm going to up its score by a point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2015 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 88 Points
Cork stained one inch. Decanted for 90 minutes; moderate sediment. Deep ruby/garnet color with surprisingly little browning at the edges for a 17 year old wine. Delightful flowery nose of blackberries and some minerals. Medium bodied and angular on the palate: the fruit has faded a bit making acids and tannins the dominant notes. Medium length finish. Given the glowing reviews others have given this wine recently, I suspect that this bottle, recently bought at auction, may not have been properly stored. My lot of 11 bottles was bought for only $27 per bottle, which is about half of the CT Community average. I plan to consume my remaining bottles over the next two years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Cgallivan wrote: 94 Points
Unbelievable expression of Italian Cabernet!
Still has some years left, beautifully crafted!
Great notes of berries and licorice. Great finessed finish. I love this producer.
Consumed before the 1999, which clearly was the lesser offering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2011 - Eric wrote: 87 Points
I think I waited too long...
I absolutely loved a bottle of this wine 3.5 years ago. Alas, my 2nd and last bottle was much more austere, dried out, and lacked the depth and tipicity of the prior bottle. This has plenty of acid, nice herbal touches, and a nice nose of iron and forest floor. The palate moves to tart cranberry with a hint of raspberry. Chewy, dry, and distinctly ungenerous. I kept wanting more from this wine. Not a bad wine by any stretch but a pale shadow of my prior bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2011 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Isole & Olena Dinner with Paolo de Marchi (The Ledbury, London): Just like the 01, the Cab Sauvs where the suprise find and even eclipsed the cepparellos. Beautiful,great nose with lots of fruit and a very layered wine. Big, lush and dense on the palate. Very well made, maybe a touch of too much oak, and we loved it. Similar comment with the 01 though that the cab sauvs of I&O and unlike the cepparello lack a sense of place and origin. Could have been made anywhere but we would enjoy them nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2010 - kenthargis wrote: 93 Points
Delicious bottle of wine. Slighty funky nose and tannic upon opening, but within 1.5 hours, was beautiful. Such a different flavor profile than what you see from CA. Much less black currant and graphite. Fruit is still strong. The wine is not declining in any way yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2008 - Filippo wrote: 93 Points
A real stunner!! Shows true varietal notes together with unmistakeable terroir characteristics: a Cab from Chianti! Great backbone and nice acidity that makes it also great with food. I wish I had bought more bottles.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2008 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Just a nice, slightly mature Cab in all ways.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2007 - Barbara B wrote: 87 Points
Deep blackish-purple in colour. Brooding/heavy aromatics and flavours, mainly earthy, peppery, savoury. Moderate acidity and alcohol; high level of just-right tannins (grippy). Nicely balanced and well-structured.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2007 - Eric wrote: 93 Points
This was a beautiful, impeccable bottle of Cabernet. Tobacco, rust, cranberry, and some dried Oregano on the nose. The palate is fairly taut with good acidity and a decidedly herbal edge, definitely seems Tuscan. But wow, this is such a nice example of Cabernet with notes of olive, nice grip and excellent freshness. With some Coriander crusted, seared-rare Ahi, this was just perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment