The wine is clear and bright with a deep garnet colour and presence of dense legs. The nose is clean and fully developed, showing medium(+) intensity aromas of black olives, forest floor, cedar, tobacco, liquorice and hints of dark plums. The wine is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has medium(+) slightly coarse tannins and a high warm alcohol. It has a medium(+) body and medium(+) intensity flavours of black olives, tobacco, cedar, liquorice, dark cherries and hints of dark plums. The finish is long.
It is an outstanding quality wine. It has a lingering finish, a very nice fruit concentration well-balanced by the tannins, and it shows a decent degree of complexity provided by bottle ageing. Can drink now, but it has enough tannic structure to be kept for another 2-3 years, although it is unlikely to develop more complexity.
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Wow. Picked this up in a little wine shop in Florence, after the owner heard me telling my wife about Sagrantino (he had some nice ones). I bought this on his recommendation, then carried it from Florence to a Chianti hill town to Siena and finally to Rome, because the wine seller insisted we open it for 24 hours before drinking. He was spot on. Last evening on opening, it was extremely tannic; this evening, the tannin had mellowed sufficiently to reveal something like a cross between port and amarone, but with none of the raisin factor. Absolutely opaque in the glass, with only a garnet rim to tell you it's not ink. Deep and rich, every sip a pleasure. Would pair wonderfully with a hearty meal like, say, wild boar stew, but was great with thinly-sliced Milanese-style salami, taleggio cheese, green olives, and Rosemary corn crackers. I will definitely return to the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo varietal, and seek out the Masciarelli label. Just remember: let it age, then give it 24 hours. This was a 2001, and I have no doubt it can go for some years.
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To be released mid 2006. Made from old vines from a single vineyard; aged for six months in large foudres and then eighteen months in French oak barriques. A very young, dark, dark ruby colour and very glass-coating. Ripe black fruits, tobacco and leather on the nose. Very concentrated attack. Incredible depth and power. Significant tannins dominate the finish. Seems remarkably young - I'd guess at a 2004 wine with six months in bottle. Very Good.
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9/2/2014 - Man in Black wrote:
The wine is clear and bright with a deep garnet colour and presence of dense legs. The nose is clean and fully developed, showing medium(+) intensity aromas of black olives, forest floor, cedar, tobacco, liquorice and hints of dark plums. The wine is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has medium(+) slightly coarse tannins and a high warm alcohol. It has a medium(+) body and medium(+) intensity flavours of black olives, tobacco, cedar, liquorice, dark cherries and hints of dark plums. The finish is long.
It is an outstanding quality wine. It has a lingering finish, a very nice fruit concentration well-balanced by the tannins, and it shows a decent degree of complexity provided by bottle ageing. Can drink now, but it has enough tannic structure to be kept for another 2-3 years, although it is unlikely to develop more complexity.
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11/12/2011 - G_H Likes this wine: 93 Points
10 Years Tasting (The same wines now and in 10 years) (Martin's House): Blackcurrant, deep black color, milk chocolate, prunes, lots of tanins, and nice sweetness. Good stuff but needs more time.
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10/7/2011 - G_H Likes this wine: 94 Points
5 Years Tasting (The same wines now and in 5 years) (Martin's House): Leather, chocolate, tobacco, mixed herbs, nice black color, long and fat in the palate. Good stuff
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12/29/2010 - Jossik wrote: 86 Points
colore rosso scuro ma vivo un po' di alcool ma piacevole, naso scuro di prugna, ma si riesce a bere
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10/27/2010 - prism wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Picked this up in a little wine shop in Florence, after the owner heard me telling my wife about Sagrantino (he had some nice ones). I bought this on his recommendation, then carried it from Florence to a Chianti hill town to Siena and finally to Rome, because the wine seller insisted we open it for 24 hours before drinking. He was spot on. Last evening on opening, it was extremely tannic; this evening, the tannin had mellowed sufficiently to reveal something like a cross between port and amarone, but with none of the raisin factor. Absolutely opaque in the glass, with only a garnet rim to tell you it's not ink. Deep and rich, every sip a pleasure. Would pair wonderfully with a hearty meal like, say, wild boar stew, but was great with thinly-sliced Milanese-style salami, taleggio cheese, green olives, and Rosemary corn crackers. I will definitely return to the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo varietal, and seek out the Masciarelli label. Just remember: let it age, then give it 24 hours. This was a 2001, and I have no doubt it can go for some years.
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6/14/2008 - socidelvino wrote:
Opened with Dad - very full bodied - just as I remembered the Valentini also.
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11/26/2005 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 88 Points
To be released mid 2006. Made from old vines from a single vineyard; aged for six months in large foudres and then eighteen months in French oak barriques. A very young, dark, dark ruby colour and very glass-coating. Ripe black fruits, tobacco and leather on the nose. Very concentrated attack. Incredible depth and power. Significant tannins dominate the finish. Seems remarkably young - I'd guess at a 2004 wine with six months in bottle. Very Good.
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