This is drinking pretty well. The tannins still have a bit of grip but are not overbearing. The fruit is solid and the acidity is lively. On an absolute scale, it's a pretty austere wine, so I think much better with food than on its own. Probably will go a couple more years easily.
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Decanted 90 minutes, slow ox 30 minutes in glass. Lighter in color than expected, slightly orangish rim, somewhat translucent. Perfumed, spices, mint, a hint of white pepper and roses. Rich on the palate with slightly sweet fruit, great mid-palate, very integrated tannins, long satisfying finish with more spices. Amazingly approachable yet elegantly structured to improve for several years. Wish I had more!! Many experienced tasters (blind) thought this was a 20+year old Barolo single cru! 93+
Translucent and energetic, the 2012 offers a super appealing combination of Montefico tension in a mid-weight, relatively accessible style that will offer plenty of pleasure with minimal cellaring."
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Medium reddish orange in color. Attractive nose shows pine/mint, orange peel, bright red stone fruits and spice. A well balanced and medium bodied palate shows sweet red fruits, medium acidity, silky tannins and a long spice tinged finish.
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Wow, I get what all of the fuss is about. This was fantastic. Red fruits and earthy undertones with great acidity and still lots of tannin. This is wonderful now, and I am sure has 5++ years left of evolution.
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The problem with great Barolo and Barbaresco, particularly offerings that never really shut down, is that I tend to drink them earlier than I would have liked to. At least I can tell myself that I did good by holding onto this bottle for four years after the last one. That is an accomplishment, right?
Every bit as perfumed and delicious as before. All it should be, and a whole lot more, given the price point. I am amazed at the quality this producer continuously churns out for the money.
This bottle had no less than ten years of life a head of it. Still evolving. 93-94.
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It does take some decanter time to tease the most out of this wine at this point in time. Oak, leather, tar, and roses are more prominent, with red fruits taking a back seat. I would expect this to change with another 3-5 years in bottle. Quite good now, but I'll leave my next bottle for a few years.
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Drank side by side with the 2012 “Montestefano” bottling. The “Mentina Montecito” was a bit leaner, more emphasis on the floral aromatics, not as plush. Still very enjoyable and a worthy effort in a challenging vintage. Probably at or near peak.
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Drank over two nights. Agreed w/ a few previous comment re: the rusticity. That gave way to leafy green, floral, balsamic flavour. Didn’t get the ripe red fruit others experienced, somewhat restrained. Light orange zest. Solid QPR. Revisit in two years. Recommended.
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Very pretty. Red cherries, loads of balsamic, roses, and sweet spices. The nose is highly aromatic and quite evolved, but the palate is still awash in ripe fruits; that being said the tannins have mostly resolved. Fresh and fruity, but with plenty of secondary elements to keep it interesting. Nothing too cerebral, but highly appealing.
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Writing this note a week after consumption with a group at dinner. This one really pleased, working great with a slow cooked beef dish with a red wine sauce. From memory, this showed a really nice touch of funk and green, it felt a bit rustic all the way across and I liked that. I've got another bottle and think keeping my hands off of it for a few years is worthwhile.
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last of six - regrettably. Excellent quality-price point (less than 20 USD) and long finish that opened up over the evening, with rich ripe berries and a dusky undertone. Light tannic touch.
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Home run QPR here, changing throughout the night on a base of pomegranate, peat moss, and black cherry in a sturdy, medium weight frame, shifting from sweet to savory on the palate. There's a thick, simple phase in the middle, otherwise a prodigy child. I'm going to try and hold the 2nd and final bottle 3-5 years.
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A little tight tonight, and never quite opened up. Really fruity for a Barbaresco, but just not much of a finish. Should have paired better with pasta and sausage.
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I just cannot get over this producer; just excellent wine at a crazy fair price. Despite seeming the opposite of manufactured, every vintage I have had has similarities of fruit, acid and tannin profiles, almost like a non vintage high end house champagne (in terms of stylistic typicity). Don't get me wrong, you can get vintage differences coming through, but I am amazed at how consistently good this is for the price point. Very approachable despite being only 5 years old.
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Could not keep my hands off another bottle of this. A spectacular effort for such a small producer, and a ridiculous value. The bouquet and palate feature the fruitier (raspberry, pomegranate, and strawberry) side of Montefico's terroir up front, with rockin' tannins kicking in from the middle back. It has the substance to age for a long while.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Alpharetta, GA): Starter wine; see through crimson, pale rim with orange hues; young and fresh on the nose, rose petals, elegant, floral, wild strawberry, soft red strawberry, slight orange, fresh; more linear on the palate, slight bitter note in back, softer fruit, firm acid but not really hard tannins, mineral, some age, not the friendliest; thought this was an earlier developer like an '09 Perbacco.
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Elegant and concentrated bouquet of candied citrus, raspberry compote and tea, lemongrass, herbs, peat, smoke, and metallic ore minerality. Delivering power and focus on the palate, powerful acid and tannin, gripping mouthfeel with more than a little panache, black rock back and finish. Versatile with food, and a standout pairing with Manchego. It should add depth and complexity over the next ten to fifteen years and last beyond 2030. 93-95.
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2/7/2024 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is drinking pretty well. The tannins still have a bit of grip but are not overbearing. The fruit is solid and the acidity is lively. On an absolute scale, it's a pretty austere wine, so I think much better with food than on its own. Probably will go a couple more years easily.
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12/8/2023 - BHRH Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 90 minutes, slow ox 30 minutes in glass.
Lighter in color than expected, slightly orangish rim, somewhat translucent.
Perfumed, spices, mint, a hint of white pepper and roses.
Rich on the palate with slightly sweet fruit, great mid-palate, very integrated tannins, long satisfying finish with more spices.
Amazingly approachable yet elegantly structured to improve for several years. Wish I had more!!
Many experienced tasters (blind) thought this was a 20+year old Barolo single cru! 93+
Translucent and energetic, the 2012 offers a super appealing combination of Montefico tension in a mid-weight, relatively accessible style that will offer plenty of pleasure with minimal cellaring."
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1/2/2023 - devraj Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium reddish orange in color. Attractive nose shows pine/mint, orange peel, bright red stone fruits and spice. A well balanced and medium bodied palate shows sweet red fruits, medium acidity, silky tannins and a long spice tinged finish.
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12/29/2022 - MaineMark Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, I get what all of the fuss is about. This was fantastic. Red fruits and earthy undertones with great acidity and still lots of tannin. This is wonderful now, and I am sure has 5++ years left of evolution.
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5/31/2021 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
The problem with great Barolo and Barbaresco, particularly offerings that never really shut down, is that I tend to drink them earlier than I would have liked to. At least I can tell myself that I did good by holding onto this bottle for four years after the last one. That is an accomplishment, right?
Every bit as perfumed and delicious as before. All it should be, and a whole lot more, given the price point. I am amazed at the quality this producer continuously churns out for the money.
This bottle had no less than ten years of life a head of it. Still evolving. 93-94.
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1/9/2021 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 93 Points
NFN
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10/27/2020 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
It does take some decanter time to tease the most out of this wine at this point in time. Oak, leather, tar, and roses are more prominent, with red fruits taking a back seat. I would expect this to change with another 3-5 years in bottle. Quite good now, but I'll leave my next bottle for a few years.
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10/5/2020 - EastBayPhil Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank side by side with the 2012 “Montestefano” bottling. The “Mentina Montecito” was a bit leaner, more emphasis on the floral aromatics, not as plush. Still very enjoyable and a worthy effort in a challenging vintage. Probably at or near peak.
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6/21/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely clear bright red smooth Babaresco. So enjoy Nebbiolo grape, second to only Cab Franc
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3/29/2020 - ayoungvintage Likes this wine:
Drank over two nights. Agreed w/ a few previous comment re: the rusticity. That gave way to leafy green, floral, balsamic flavour. Didn’t get the ripe red fruit others experienced, somewhat restrained. Light orange zest. Solid QPR. Revisit in two years. Recommended.
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6/16/2019 - brettay Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pretty. Red cherries, loads of balsamic, roses, and sweet spices. The nose is highly aromatic and quite evolved, but the palate is still awash in ripe fruits; that being said the tannins have mostly resolved. Fresh and fruity, but with plenty of secondary elements to keep it interesting. Nothing too cerebral, but highly appealing.
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2/8/2019 - tward Likes this wine: 90 Points
Writing this note a week after consumption with a group at dinner. This one really pleased, working great with a slow cooked beef dish with a red wine sauce. From memory, this showed a really nice touch of funk and green, it felt a bit rustic all the way across and I liked that. I've got another bottle and think keeping my hands off of it for a few years is worthwhile.
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11/4/2018 - bacchusnyon wrote: 90 Points
last of six - regrettably. Excellent quality-price point (less than 20 USD) and long finish that opened up over the evening, with rich ripe berries and a dusky undertone. Light tannic touch.
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10/4/2018 - RWG Likes this wine: 92 Points
so good. Wish I had more. great QPR and nice age on this Barbaresco.
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9/7/2018 - Rune_73 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Supernice!
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8/5/2018 - RWG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely barbaresco, tannic, cherries, have 1 more and wish I had 10.
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3/28/2018 - silton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Home run QPR here, changing throughout the night on a base of pomegranate, peat moss, and black cherry in a sturdy, medium weight frame, shifting from sweet to savory on the palate. There's a thick, simple phase in the middle, otherwise a prodigy child. I'm going to try and hold the 2nd and final bottle 3-5 years.
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3/27/2018 - stbraunt Likes this wine: 89 Points
A little tight tonight, and never quite opened up. Really fruity for a Barbaresco, but just not much of a finish. Should have paired better with pasta and sausage.
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1/10/2018 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous wine... pretty, floral. Ripe and spicy but just perfectly so. Fine balance with plenty to contemplate over.
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12/1/2017 - domco wrote:
Not sure I can add too much vs the most recent notes. Good stuff... need to keep my eye out for this one again.
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8/2/2017 - cadamson Likes this wine: 91 Points
I just cannot get over this producer; just excellent wine at a crazy fair price. Despite seeming the opposite of manufactured, every vintage I have had has similarities of fruit, acid and tannin profiles, almost like a non vintage high end house champagne (in terms of stylistic typicity). Don't get me wrong, you can get vintage differences coming through, but I am amazed at how consistently good this is for the price point. Very approachable despite being only 5 years old.
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3/31/2017 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
Could not keep my hands off another bottle of this. A spectacular effort for such a small producer, and a ridiculous value. The bouquet and palate feature the fruitier (raspberry, pomegranate, and strawberry) side of Montefico's terroir up front, with rockin' tannins kicking in from the middle back. It has the substance to age for a long while.
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3/14/2017 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Alpharetta, GA): Starter wine; see through crimson, pale rim with orange hues; young and fresh on the nose, rose petals, elegant, floral, wild strawberry, soft red strawberry, slight orange, fresh; more linear on the palate, slight bitter note in back, softer fruit, firm acid but not really hard tannins, mineral, some age, not the friendliest; thought this was an earlier developer like an '09 Perbacco.
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2/20/2017 - cadamson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Too young, not surprisingly so. Still very bright red fruit dominate, some hints of floral notes and just a tiny tad of herby minerality.
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11/28/2016 - bajayngo wrote:
Very regionally correct with rose water, rose stems, tart strawberries, fresh fennel, a touch of smoke with powerful tannin grip. Delicious.
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10/25/2016 - bajayngo wrote:
Pretty straight forward barbaresco with rose and thorns, fennel, dust, field herbs with tart strawberries with framing tannins.
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7/25/2016 - Motz wrote: 94 Points
Elegant and concentrated bouquet of candied citrus, raspberry compote and tea, lemongrass, herbs, peat, smoke, and metallic ore minerality. Delivering power and focus on the palate, powerful acid and tannin, gripping mouthfeel with more than a little panache, black rock back and finish. Versatile with food, and a standout pairing with Manchego. It should add depth and complexity over the next ten to fifteen years and last beyond 2030. 93-95.
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