Mini-vertical of Calabretta, with an ’07 Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie and Etna Rossos from ’03 and ’01. All three were delicious, savory wines in the same rustic Calabretta style, with very complex aromatics and flavors, good structure, good acid, but also plenty of mid-palate sweetness, integrated tannin, and a long finish, great QPR, and still many years ahead of them. All showed a mix of red and black fruits, especially sweet dark fruits, as well as mushrooms, tar, leather, smoke, and the typical Nerello Mascalese raw steak. All three showed some similarity to mature Nebbiolo and mature Pinot Noir.
The 2007 NMVV was decanted two hours ahead of dinner, and was the biggest of the three wines, with a bit more barnyard and exotic spices than the others, plus a medicinal note and a finish featuring plum, bitter cherry and black cherry. Drink to 2035+. 93.
The 2003 ER was also decanted two hours ahead of dinner, and featured more rosemary and minerals than the others, plus sweet cranberry, and a gentle liqueur aftertaste. Drink to 2030+. 94.
The 2001 ER was decanted and served immediately and took about 30 minutes to open. It was the most balanced and silky of the three, and the least rustic, and featured bittersweet cherry, cherry liqueur, and dried herbs, and a very long, satisfying mineral and beetroot finish. Drink to 2027+. 95.
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It's been two years since my last bottle, and the wine has changed very little; it is a bit softer and even smoother, and I raise my vote one point. Decanted through a gravity aerator and served 90 minutes later, the wine's initial funk had, just like with previous bottles, blown away by serving time, and the wine was fully open at the two hour mark. Great structure, with very complex aromas and flavors, and a long mineral and cherry liqueur finish. Outstanding QPR.
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the brett on this masks a lot of flavor typicity, leaner than mature bordeaux in body, and with the fineness of tannins of a grand cru burg from Morey. absolutely stunning wine, can be drunk alongside the best of the best
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What a fabulous wine! This is probably my eighth bottle of the 2001, and it is better than ever. Decanted one hour before dinner, it has a typical Calabretta funkiness that dissipates with aeration, a wonderful complexity of aromas and flavors, great structure, a medium+ body, and a long, long, sappy, mineral and beetroot finish. The wine is a feast for the senses, with forest floor, leather, tar, bittersweet cherry, cherry liqueur, smoke and dried herbs. It also has the color and acid profile of a wine that will continue to be delicious for many more years. Outstanding QPR.
Equally good on night two, but different. The wine’s aromatics are more straightforward, less complex, but it has gained heft and sweetness, and the tannins are more prominent. The acid and structure are there in spades. Magnificent.
Might be my last bottle. A light bretty funkiness on the nose, but I don't find it objectionable.
Seamless on the palate, red fruits, decent acidity & persistence. And still drinks lively, so at least IMO, no worries about immediate consumption as it nears 20 years old.
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Very nice today - I get some bottle variation as a general rule with Calabretta's wines, but this is a pretty clean bottle. Just the faintest whiff of brett on the nose.
A light-bodied red, good acidity and persistence. This will work on a snowy Saturday.
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Same score and similar notes from my last bottle two years ago, with perhaps a bit more forest aromas and a longer finish than I remember - although the finish is still powerfully infused with bittersweet cherry and minerals. Even if the wine is showing a bit more age than before, it clearly has many fine years ahead of it. Subtle, silky, complex, great structure - Outstanding.
I just love this wine. Nose is dried roses, leather and some ashiness to it. The palate is a kaleidoscope of minerals with just a hint of tart red fruit. The finish is med+ with med+ acidity.
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Not familiar with this producer nor the varietal(s), so its a bit difficult to figure out this wine. Tasted couple of days after the 2010 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Calderara Soutane. I found this wine much more intriguing than the Terre - especially with a little additional time in the glass.
Good color for a wine produced in 2001, resembling a younger Pinot Noir with just a touch of age around the edge. A floral nose of flowers - especially peoni and lots of darker elements of smoke, meaty leather, and a citrus element. I think the age has helped this wine develop some secondary character, but this is just a guess. Pretty high in acidity too. Overall, good and interesting, and offered at a reasonable price.
Served with pasta.
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Bricked color with a warm, familiar, oxidative nose that doesn't change during the period this is open. Some volatility and funk, but some pretty interesting aromatics and structure too. Good pairing for red sauce pizzas.
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Mature nose with notes of soy sauce, tomato, tobacco, barnyard and bouillon. Taste is not as mature and acidity is still very lively. Should probably have been opened a few years ago.
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Dried cherry, balsam, resin, mahogany, and leather. Sweet on the palate with a warm, earthy, and piney finish. Shows improvement with an hour of air, but may not have the weight it once had. Might be best drunk now.
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Two points up from my previous bottle. As always, this needed an hour of air to open up, so those consuming it in a restaurant should consider double-decanting in order to accelerate the aeration so as not to miss the wine’s full potential. Medium garnet color; powerful and complex aromatics, with sweet dark cherries, rose, barnyard, smoke, tar, dried herbs; lovely and complex flavors including red meat, sweet citrus and minerals, with hints of dried plums; medium body, excellent length. Lively acidity and still-prominent tannins suggest lots of time still left.
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Translucent ruby in the glass; red fruits, spices, menthol - I've had some bottle variation in the past with this wine, but this is a very "clean" & focused nose right now.
Sweet & sour red fruits, light- to medium-bodied, nice persistence on the finish. I would say fully mature at this point, but who's to say how much longer this wine might last. Maybe a touch "thin", but otherwise no complaints here tonight
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Dark, dried fruits, mature, complex, earthy-funky (possibly Bretty) character. Full and deep, with plenty of acidity and tannins. Plenty of life left, but for me the fruit is moving into a more dried and tired direct than I'd prefer.
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Appearance: Clear wine with a pale, cherry-red colour. Surprisingly little fading on the rim.
Nose: Clean nose with a Medium+ intensity. This wine is developing.
A very mixed and pleasing bouquet of baked sour cherries, ashen-oak, tea-leaves and very subtle oak notes of vanilla and spice. Very balanced and expressive.
Palate: Dry Medium+ acidity Medium+ tannins Medium+ alcohol Medium+ intensity Medium body Medium+ finish
This wine actually steps up a level on the palate; with such a developing nose with lots of tertiary notes, the vibrance and freshness of the flavours is a very pleasant surprise! Fresh acidity, slightly drying tannins and a great intensity of flavour. Wonderful!
Outstanding quality Nerello Mascale from Sicily, Italy. Can be drank now but has the fruit and structure to age for another 5-10 years whilst gaining complexity. At 18 euros a bottle, the QPR is simply incredible. Buy it all!
Cherry red light fresh almost Burgundian nose, surpringly deep earthy mineral warm on palate. Good acidity lifts finish. Very good and apparently the current release!
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Cooked cherries, leather, black tea, mushrooms, tar, bitter almonds, and astringency. Doesn't sound very nice, but the pieces fit together and make an enjoyable wine.
My second bottle of the second release of the 2001. I'm giving this bottle one point less, as I find it slightly less complex than the first one two months ago.
Needed 45 minutes decanted to open up. Beautiful clear medium red color with slightly bricked edges. Lovely mineral nose, slightly medicinal, menthol, white pepper, ripe strawberries, sweet red cherries. These same flavors, plus an earthy, slightly sweet taste that belies its medium body. Silky but firm tannins; sappy, firm acidity. Needs food, not a cocktail wine. Typical Calabretta rusticity, with slightly exotic pine notes.
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Again off Marta's list. This bottle seemed even better. A bit more acidity and even brighter fruit but still that terrific ashen frame. Really terrific.
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Perfumed nose of roses, strawberry, cranberry and cherry. Some mushrooms, tar, liquorice and light, sweet tobacco. Rounded on the palate but still good vibe to the acidity. More red fruit with a few darker notes. Finegrained, soft tannins coat the palate towards the slightly warm, long cherry/mineral finish. Great bottle of a great wine. Lovely balance between maturity and freshness.
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Popped and poured. Beautiful clear light red color with a blackish center; surprisingly, it doesn’t show typical ageing edge colors such as orange. Nice barnyard opening aromas, then ripe warm strawberries, minerals, tar, sweetness. After 45 minutes some floral notes and lots of dried herbs, hints of oriental spices. Lots of spiciness and complexity, tobacco, great acidity throughout; silky, satiny tannins; great structure, earthy, very long. What a joy!
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Back to an impeccable bottle of this, and boy was it nice. Consistent with the best bottles of this that I've had - funk, fruit, earth all in a fine and heady balance. Sad to see the last bottle go.
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Uncle Rob's Visit: Very classic etna, resembling a burgundian pinot noir with some Italian spiciness layered in. Nose of strawberry and tamarind with a light-bodied but deep flavor profile of cherry and raspberry with sophisticated oak accents. Yet another party where I turned people onto Sicilian wine. Was WOTN for some of the more sophisticated palates.
One of my favorites... During last two years we opened about 10 of these and they were all remarkably consistent. Light and brownish very clear color and medium body; on the nose first you get cooked mix of cherries and strawberries immediately followed by very gentle spices and some mushrooms. Palate is smooth, balanced and tasty, with very soft tannins. Medium to long finish
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Excellent bottle. Excellent nose with bramble and ash and smoke. A great palate with more ash and dark fruit and lead pencil. Good finish. Worked very well with food, almost better in its own. At peak, drink up.
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This is the stuff that first got me captivated by wine, and I continue to love it. To anybody I think it will be unique and interesting, and if you love old barolo, funky pinot, roses, cherries, acid, mushrooms, leather and all things sour, it should also be super delicious. But it's a love it or hate it wine, and I've given it to a number of people who thought it was flawed when it was not. I love serving it with truffle Mac and cheese, or at the end of a tasting to throw people off. 92-93. The 01's are better than the 00's. Haven't had the 04's yet. I'd drink these soon, I think there's more downside than upside to holding them further, it might be starting to fade a little without getting any more complex
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And so the bottle variation continues. Lots of energy and life here, though more VA than I've experienced on other '01s. Just up to the line between lifted and flawed, but not beyond. A nice pairing with braised leg of lamb.
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Not nearly as brilliant as my previous bottles. Based on reviews, I guess I was due for a bad one. Even then, it wasn't bad. The funk is there, of course, but some of the woodsy/earthy nuance of previous bottles now seemed to veer toward prune.
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Old world nose with some funk, spice, nice complexity; palate is medium bodied, great acid, red cherry fruit, very nice. Medium finish. Excellent. 90-91
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After a series of pretty bad bottles, this has reaffirmed my taste for these. There's some funk, some VA, some slight oxidation but all barely within my tolerances. Warm, ripe fruit with traditional winemaking; cocoa powder, raspberry, crunchy, glimpses of Musar, Spanna, and Colheita Port, fresh and old at the same time. Tannin textured like a warm vintage Nebbiolo. Huge finish, very interesting, and great with food, perhaps more intellectual than pleasurable.
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Slightly murky at the core, lightening out to translucent ruby on this rim. I had mentioned the funkiness in the '04, and on opening this takes it to another level; funky/barnyardy enough that folks who are more sensitive to that kind of aroma (like my better half) might find this to be objectionable. We'll see if it blows off with some air.
More "rounded" and less delineated on the palate than the '04; with all due respect to the many laudatory notes on this particular wine, I've yet to have one that was anything more than "good", however one calibrates that term, but like the first wine, maybe with food and more air it comes around - we shall see.
Smells very barrely, herbal, floral. Quite tannic immediately after opening. Even the following day, it's a bit astringent. Has honey, pear notes in the taste. Interesting and complex.
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Quick decant. Dark crimson color. Big nose of baked red fruits, baking spices and some dried fruitcake like aromas with a little heat and a touch of acetone showing as well. Similar flavors on the palate with spicy red fruit flavors, cedar, tobacco and a bit of balsamic reduction and dried plum and cherry notes on the back end. Medium acid and tannins with a nice finish. Definitely on the bigger, riper side in terms of fruit compared to previous bottles I have had. Seems to me this wine still has a good run ahead of it.
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Pop and pour, this performed brilliantly. Layers of red and dark fruit complicated by brand new beach ball, tobacco, cedar, lavender, earth, saline minerality, and savory spices, maintains its intensity through the lengthy, well balanced finish.
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A little tired compared to other recent bottles. Still delivered great crunchy red fruit, rocky minerals, earth and a lifted floral note. One of the great Sicilian QPRs.
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Nice solid wine, but didn't think it stacked up against the 03 which, while a hair riper, seemed to have a bit more depth of flavor and a longer finish.
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Not a great bottle of this. Gross diaper nose on opening, tar, dried flowers, red cherry, some light oxidative tones too. Overall a bit roasty and flat, I know how good these can be and this isn't it.
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Funky, almost bretty nose on the initial open. Blew off to reveal a complex, earthy nose with some red fruit and funk. Nice lively high toned red fruit, minerals and earth. Medium bodied, long complex finish. Really nice for the price, will seek out more.
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Damn, this is good. Opened for some creative homemade pizzas and it really shined with ripping acidity, tart cherry fruit, earth, spice. Beautiful aromatics. Admired by winos and non winos alike. I keep thinking this is too good to open for reluctant wine drinkers, but then I remember it's $25.
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Consistent with prior note. Quite well-developed nose, very open and enticing. Intense palate, big tannins, medium weight yet muscular. Definitely a good bottle.
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Wow, really nice, lived up to the hype. Gorgeous bouquet of old wood, cacao powder, pine, cherries. Lots of acidity and some rustic tannins on the end, intense yet light bodied. Just says "Italy" more than anywhere specific-- blind it could be nebbiolo, or maybe sangiovese . Wide open now, can be enjoyed casually with pizza but also offers enough nuance for introspection. 91-92 pts.
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Wow. Just about the best way I can imagine to spend $25 (maybe along with Baudry Grezeaux). This was beautiful after about 30 minutes of air. Funky, acidic, and lithe with cherries, leather, tobacco, aged hard cheese (let's say parmigiano reggiano since this is Italian wine and absurd specificity is the key to any great tasting note). Rebuy. And rebuy, and rebuy...
Fairly rustic, with lots of leather, soil, tar, and a bit of brettiness poking through too. Pruny fruit, cherry, plum, rust, some similarity to a very warm vintage Nebbiolo too. Not nearly as good as my last bottle, but still have hope for these.
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Perhaps this bottle was not aligned with those others had, because we felt it was weak, not delicate, and no one looked froward to finishing their glass. But as this was our only bottle, we'll allow that the bottle was off a bit. If we were rating we'd go 82. Would not buy again.
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Earthy volcanic soil Sicilian which has blended nicely. Spicey, clay, smoke and briar back the medium dark red fruits and lingonberry flavors. Tannins are not fully resolved . Rustic but nice especially at a restauant.
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Very Italian! Attractively rustic, complex, and unique. Wide open aromatically with roses, soil, and game, a real bouquet. Lovely mix of dried red fruit flavors, refreshing acidity, prominent minerality, and maturing tannins in a middle-weight package. The inner aromas are reminiscent of Nebbiolo, particularly mountain Nebbiolo in N. Piedmont or Lombardy, with tar and floral aromas lingering. A little heat on the finish as the alcohol level is significant, but that's a minor nitpick with so much going on in this wine.
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Sensational. Wonderful aromatics, dusty red fruits with a talc-like high note (think your grandmother's facial powder), and a soft, muted garrigue base. Delicious - beautifully balanced fruit and acidity, multi-layered, and crisp. Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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This is just right in my wheelhouse and drinking fantastically right now. I'm a fan of these producers that hold back their wines until ready to drink. Needed a quick 30 min. in the decanter to come together. Cloudy garnet color, but no sediment in the bottle. Beautiful knockout nose of roses, cherry, soil, dry leaves, eucalyptus, tar, and mineral. Blind I might guess nebbiolo, but the mineral might clue me to think more southerly. Medium bodied with bright acid, medium+ finish, and flavors of cherry, raspberry, soil, iron, orange peel, and black tea. This is rocking my world right now. Perfect with Mario Batali's bolognese recipe.
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Even better than I remember. Similar to previous impressions but more intensity and verve. Really impressive. Hard to believe this is 12 years old. This has a long life ahead of it.
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The first from a case recently purchased at retail and originally released 3 years ago. This was decanted 2 hours for airing with negligible sediment. It was served with a mid week meal of pasta and Arriabbata eggplant sauce then finished with a selection of cheeses. The color was a medium density Vermillion red with a shimmering clarity and distinct browning at the edge. Relying on memory and my tasting notes, this seems much like the 2002 but leaning toward an earthier presentment while the 2002 seemed a bit more high toned and elegant with a little higher acidity. Both clearly emphasize finesse over force. Medium weight in the mouth and beautifully balanced with good acidity and smooth tannins. Fall leaves, mushrooms, pipe tobacco, savory spices, sour cherries, anise, old leather, and orange rind. Very solid mid palate and a satisfying long finish. Excellent now with food and it should keep over the next 6-9 years. Exceptional value in a mature red wine at $24 (with shipping). 91 points
UPDATE 11/23/2013 Slo-ox for 3 hours and then splash decanted 30 minutes before serving with ratatouille over polenta and Italian sweet sausage then finished with a selection of cheeses. This wine is astonishingly good. At first pour, the aromatics just leapt out of the glass and could be discerned from 6 feet away. If you enjoy older Rioja, Nebbiolo, Burgundy, Pegau, and Musar, this is a must try. 93 points for this bottle.
UPDATE 06/03/2014 Slo-ox for 3 hours then decanted 30 minutes before serving. This paired perfectly with chicken cacciatore over fettuccine and sauteed Broccoli Rabe as a side. The bottle was finished with chunks of 2 year Parmigiano Reggiano and a mix of Gaeta olives and oil cured Sicilian olives. Another magnificent bottle.
UPDATE 11/16/2014 Twelve bottles opened and this is the first dud; moderately flawed.....bummer. This is so good when it is on.
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Brick red, showing age. Intense aroma of pomegranate, wild raspberry, spices, dried plums. Delicious! Elegant, neither flamboyantly fruity, tannic, or earthy, but moderate quantities of each in perfect harmony.
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This has aged nicely out of magnum and sports a lean, classic style with lovely flavors of dark cherry spice, tree bark and black earth. Finishes quite complex and dry with a unique taste of what must be the volcanic soils. I really enjoyed this and to me it reminded me of an aged Brunello.
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Took about an hour to open up and then showed nicely. Cloves, roses and olives on the nose and a little bit of leather. I kept trying to detect tar, but none alas. Maybe if I had nursed it longer. On the palate, mostly dark fruits and some nice earthiness. Excellent finish. A pleasure to drink from attack through the finish. A great value. By the way, the CellarTracker! drinking window says drink by 2014 but this will go another five years easily. Imported by Rare Wine Co.
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Bricking with a clear miniscus; strong, gorgeous nose that strikes me as tulips or barnyard infused smokey cherries; medium weight body; mineral driven cherry and clove spiked orange palate, ash, with great acidity and well integrated tannins making for a fresh wine and a very nice graduated finish. This is very similar to the 2002, and that's a good thing. It's hard to say which I prefer but from memory this is very close if not on par. Great stuff. From a magnum.
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Reductive and bretty when first opened. Then we decanted it and let it sit for 4 hours and it showed pretty aromas of dark and red berry fruit, blue flowers, leather, spice and earth. Still had some tannic grip, but had a quite nice velvety mouthfeel. Good length. Quite different than other Nerellos that I've had probably due to being made in a more traditional style.
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Doft: Mogna körsbär, moget och kompakt med toner av aceton och läder. Smak:Moget, elegant och lång eftersmak. Med frukten härligt inbäddad med de tydliga tanninerna. Ett balanserat och underbart vin som passar utmärkt till viltgryta!
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Reminiscent of other wines I've had from this region like the '05 Shardana. Definitely a sense of leathery, almost firery spice, but soft and very easy to drink. Seems to be in its prime now.
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Delicate and elegant, a beautiful mix of maturity and ripe red berries and cherry. This bottle felt a bit dried out, bottle variation or is it getting late?
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Fantastic, delightfully complex wine that evolves tremendously as it breathes. At first, the nose is heavy with sulphur, ash and a noticeable undercurrent of Brettanomyces, and the flavor is fruity and tart. Give it an hour (better yet, give it two or three), and everything rounds out beautifully. The ashy note's still there in the nose, joined with dates, cranberry and fresh herbs (I got cilantro and a bit of parsley). The Brettanomyces note evolves into rich, earthy tones, with some truffle, leather and damp wood to go along with them. Medium body, with soft fruity notes up front that quickly give way to noticeable acidity and tannins that come off as almost juicy, and only slightly drying. Incredibly intriguing and engaging wine that evolves over several hours. Absolutely be sure to plan ahead, as it needs at least an hour of air to pull itself together (2-3 hours is better).
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This was a real underperformer. Tired, dried out, with old funky wood spice aromas but not much else. I am hopeful this was not a representative sample.
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Raspberries, strawberries, tobacco and floral notes. Elegant. Well-integrated tannins, this must have been austere when young…after all, it’s eleven years of age. Nice grip. From 100% Nerello Mascalese. Not your everyday grape. Fantastic.
Check out my blog at misternordin.com!
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What a fun find. Haven't had nerello mascaralese with such bottle age before. Great acid, with barolo-like fruit leather qualities. Starts thinner-bodied, mediums up 60-90 minutes in. Tannins began exploding then, too. 120 minutes in we were mostly done, but it was beginning to enter a softer, slightly less grippy, Barolo-ey stage at that point. I want more, and next time will hope to open it a few hours earlier to see how it develops. Drank solo for a bit, began craving fat & salt to go along with -- quickly made some kale w/ garlic & bacon and it was right on.
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Smell of cranberries, tomatoes and the slighest hint of truffles I think. Taste is high in acidity still, 10 years after harvest. There's lingonberries, minerals and leather in there, and the tannins are the kind that sneak up on you. Soft, but definitely there in a big way. It's not hard to imagine this wine's heritage from the slopes of a volcano, the minerals and sulphur are easy to find in an otherwise Barolo/Barbaresco-like wine. Difficult wine to rate as well. I personally would have liked some sweeter fruit to go with the acid and tannins, and will rate this a conservative 89 based on my preferences.
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Barolo type wine. Brick red and orange, clearly transparent. Dried floral notes, shoe polish. High in acidity.. Great QPR. Third day; my god, the flowery perfume coming out of this one. Amazing.
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9/10/2023 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mini-vertical of Calabretta, with an ’07 Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie and Etna Rossos from ’03 and ’01. All three were delicious, savory wines in the same rustic Calabretta style, with very complex aromatics and flavors, good structure, good acid, but also plenty of mid-palate sweetness, integrated tannin, and a long finish, great QPR, and still many years ahead of them. All showed a mix of red and black fruits, especially sweet dark fruits, as well as mushrooms, tar, leather, smoke, and the typical Nerello Mascalese raw steak. All three showed some similarity to mature Nebbiolo and mature Pinot Noir.
The 2007 NMVV was decanted two hours ahead of dinner, and was the biggest of the three wines, with a bit more barnyard and exotic spices than the others, plus a medicinal note and a finish featuring plum, bitter cherry and black cherry. Drink to 2035+. 93.
The 2003 ER was also decanted two hours ahead of dinner, and featured more rosemary and minerals than the others, plus sweet cranberry, and a gentle liqueur aftertaste. Drink to 2030+. 94.
The 2001 ER was decanted and served immediately and took about 30 minutes to open. It was the most balanced and silky of the three, and the least rustic, and featured bittersweet cherry, cherry liqueur, and dried herbs, and a very long, satisfying mineral and beetroot finish. Drink to 2027+. 95.
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6/11/2022 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 95 Points
It's been two years since my last bottle, and the wine has changed very little; it is a bit softer and even smoother, and I raise my vote one point. Decanted through a gravity aerator and served 90 minutes later, the wine's initial funk had, just like with previous bottles, blown away by serving time, and the wine was fully open at the two hour mark. Great structure, with very complex aromas and flavors, and a long mineral and cherry liqueur finish. Outstanding QPR.
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9/6/2020 - vintage_whine wrote:
the brett on this masks a lot of flavor typicity, leaner than mature bordeaux in body, and with the fineness of tannins of a grand cru burg from Morey. absolutely stunning wine, can be drunk alongside the best of the best
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8/22/2020 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a fabulous wine! This is probably my eighth bottle of the 2001, and it is better than ever. Decanted one hour before dinner, it has a typical Calabretta funkiness that dissipates with aeration, a wonderful complexity of aromas and flavors, great structure, a medium+ body, and a long, long, sappy, mineral and beetroot finish. The wine is a feast for the senses, with forest floor, leather, tar, bittersweet cherry, cherry liqueur, smoke and dried herbs. It also has the color and acid profile of a wine that will continue to be delicious for many more years. Outstanding QPR.
Equally good on night two, but different. The wine’s aromatics are more straightforward, less complex, but it has gained heft and sweetness, and the tannins are more prominent. The acid and structure are there in spades. Magnificent.
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7/16/2020 - Bob H wrote:
Might be my last bottle. A light bretty funkiness on the nose, but I don't find it objectionable.
Seamless on the palate, red fruits, decent acidity & persistence. And still drinks lively, so at least IMO, no worries about immediate consumption as it nears 20 years old.
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4/13/2020 - Bob H wrote:
A funky note on the nose here - I get a fair amount of bottle variation with Calabretta, and this nose is a little funkier than my previous bottle.
Red & black fruit on the palate with an earthy note as well. Good acidity & persistence. Solid showing, if less than stellar.
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1/18/2020 - Bob H wrote:
Very nice today - I get some bottle variation as a general rule with Calabretta's wines, but this is a pretty clean bottle. Just the faintest whiff of brett on the nose.
A light-bodied red, good acidity and persistence. This will work on a snowy Saturday.
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6/1/2019 - vintage_whine wrote:
nose of nebbiolo tannins of a great pinot noir vintage. could hold for quite some time
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3/30/2019 - Bob H wrote:
This bottle has a touch of bretty funk, although not enough that I find it a detriment.
Fully open on the palate, good supporting acidity, tart red fruits - this is quite pleasant on a warm Spring Saturday afternoon.
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6/16/2018 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same score and similar notes from my last bottle two years ago, with perhaps a bit more forest aromas and a longer finish than I remember - although the finish is still powerfully infused with bittersweet cherry and minerals. Even if the wine is showing a bit more age than before, it clearly has many fine years ahead of it. Subtle, silky, complex, great structure - Outstanding.
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10/14/2017 - bags wrote:
drinking beautifully pop n' pour. Served a couple of bottles to a group of non-geeks and they drank it down quickly.
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9/9/2017 - wirelesswine wrote: 92 Points
Unbelievably young for 16 years of age. Complex wine with lots of barnyard, earth, smoke. Firm acid, this wine has many years to go.
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6/6/2017 - bags wrote:
remarkably, this delicious rosso probably hasn't even reached its peak yet. built like a sh*t brick house....
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3/15/2017 - mulder wrote:
I just love this wine. Nose is dried roses, leather and some ashiness to it. The palate is a kaleidoscope of minerals with just a hint of tart red fruit. The finish is med+ with med+ acidity.
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11/15/2016 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not familiar with this producer nor the varietal(s), so its a bit difficult to figure out this wine. Tasted couple of days after the 2010 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Calderara Soutane. I found this wine much more intriguing than the Terre - especially with a little additional time in the glass.
Good color for a wine produced in 2001, resembling a younger Pinot Noir with just a touch of age around the edge. A floral nose of flowers - especially peoni and lots of darker elements of smoke, meaty leather, and a citrus element. I think the age has helped this wine develop some secondary character, but this is just a guess. Pretty high in acidity too. Overall, good and interesting, and offered at a reasonable price.
Served with pasta.
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10/22/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Tasty and aged and not well remember.
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10/17/2016 - andtheodor wrote: 88 Points
Bricked color with a warm, familiar, oxidative nose that doesn't change during the period this is open. Some volatility and funk, but some pretty interesting aromatics and structure too. Good pairing for red sauce pizzas.
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9/28/2016 - aekenback wrote:
Mature nose with notes of soy sauce, tomato, tobacco, barnyard and bouillon. Taste is not as mature and acidity is still very lively. Should probably have been opened a few years ago.
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9/26/2016 - MarkLA wrote: 91 Points
Dried cherry, balsam, resin, mahogany, and leather. Sweet on the palate with a warm, earthy, and piney finish. Shows improvement with an hour of air, but may not have the weight it once had. Might be best drunk now.
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5/21/2016 - rsbeck wrote: 94 Points
Popped, poured, consumed over next hour. This bottle was just open and singing from the first sip to the last. Another brilliant bottle!
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4/16/2016 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two points up from my previous bottle. As always, this needed an hour of air to open up, so those consuming it in a restaurant should consider double-decanting in order to accelerate the aeration so as not to miss the wine’s full potential. Medium garnet color; powerful and complex aromatics, with sweet dark cherries, rose, barnyard, smoke, tar, dried herbs; lovely and complex flavors including red meat, sweet citrus and minerals, with hints of dried plums; medium body, excellent length. Lively acidity and still-prominent tannins suggest lots of time still left.
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3/12/2016 - Marole wrote: 91 Points
Slightly earthier and less multifaceted than previous bottle but still smashing! When will I learn and buy more of this when stumbled across.
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1/22/2016 - Bob H Likes this wine:
Translucent ruby in the glass; red fruits, spices, menthol - I've had some bottle variation in the past with this wine, but this is a very "clean" & focused nose right now.
Sweet & sour red fruits, light- to medium-bodied, nice persistence on the finish. I would say fully mature at this point, but who's to say how much longer this wine might last. Maybe a touch "thin", but otherwise no complaints here tonight
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12/30/2015 - Cabfrancophile wrote:
Dark, dried fruits, mature, complex, earthy-funky (possibly Bretty) character. Full and deep, with plenty of acidity and tannins. Plenty of life left, but for me the fruit is moving into a more dried and tired direct than I'd prefer.
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12/17/2015 - Dar3 wrote: 92 Points
92-93. Very balanced. Strong flavors of cherries and a bit of barnyard
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12/13/2015 - WineCuentista wrote: 91 Points
Appearance: Clear wine with a pale, cherry-red colour. Surprisingly little fading on the rim.
Nose: Clean nose with a Medium+ intensity. This wine is developing.
A very mixed and pleasing bouquet of baked sour cherries, ashen-oak, tea-leaves and very subtle oak notes of vanilla and spice. Very balanced and expressive.
Palate:
Dry
Medium+ acidity
Medium+ tannins
Medium+ alcohol
Medium+ intensity
Medium body
Medium+ finish
This wine actually steps up a level on the palate; with such a developing nose with lots of tertiary notes, the vibrance and freshness of the flavours is a very pleasant surprise! Fresh acidity, slightly drying tannins and a great intensity of flavour. Wonderful!
Outstanding quality Nerello Mascale from Sicily, Italy. Can be drank now but has the fruit and structure to age for another 5-10 years whilst gaining complexity. At 18 euros a bottle, the QPR is simply incredible. Buy it all!
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10/14/2015 - bags wrote:
drinking seriously delicious when just opened, and still has a number of years left.
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8/31/2015 - redders Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherry red light fresh almost Burgundian nose, surpringly deep earthy mineral warm on palate. Good acidity lifts finish. Very good and apparently the current release!
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6/21/2015 - andtheodor wrote: 89 Points
Cooked cherries, leather, black tea, mushrooms, tar, bitter almonds, and astringency. Doesn't sound very nice, but the pieces fit together and make an enjoyable wine.
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6/13/2015 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
My second bottle of the second release of the 2001. I'm giving this bottle one point less, as I find it slightly less complex than the first one two months ago.
Needed 45 minutes decanted to open up. Beautiful clear medium red color with slightly bricked edges. Lovely mineral nose, slightly medicinal, menthol, white pepper, ripe strawberries, sweet red cherries. These same flavors, plus an earthy, slightly sweet taste that belies its medium body. Silky but firm tannins; sappy, firm acidity. Needs food, not a cocktail wine. Typical Calabretta rusticity, with slightly exotic pine notes.
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6/8/2015 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
Again off Marta's list. This bottle seemed even better. A bit more acidity and even brighter fruit but still that terrific ashen frame. Really terrific.
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4/10/2015 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfumed nose of roses, strawberry, cranberry and cherry. Some mushrooms, tar, liquorice and light, sweet tobacco. Rounded on the palate but still good vibe to the acidity. More red fruit with a few darker notes. Finegrained, soft tannins coat the palate towards the slightly warm, long cherry/mineral finish. Great bottle of a great wine. Lovely balance between maturity and freshness.
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4/3/2015 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Beautiful clear light red color with a blackish center; surprisingly, it doesn’t show typical ageing edge colors such as orange. Nice barnyard opening aromas, then ripe warm strawberries, minerals, tar, sweetness. After 45 minutes some floral notes and lots of dried herbs, hints of oriental spices. Lots of spiciness and complexity, tobacco, great acidity throughout; silky, satiny tannins; great structure, earthy, very long. What a joy!
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3/19/2015 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
Back to an impeccable bottle of this, and boy was it nice. Consistent with the best bottles of this that I've had - funk, fruit, earth all in a fine and heady balance. Sad to see the last bottle go.
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3/12/2015 - pgb67 wrote: 93 Points
Uncle Rob's Visit: Very classic etna, resembling a burgundian pinot noir with some Italian spiciness layered in. Nose of strawberry and tamarind with a light-bodied but deep flavor profile of cherry and raspberry with sophisticated oak accents. Yet another party where I turned people onto Sicilian wine. Was WOTN for some of the more sophisticated palates.
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3/10/2015 - greidy Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of my favorites... During last two years we opened about 10 of these and they were all remarkably consistent.
Light and brownish very clear color and medium body; on the nose first you get cooked mix of cherries and strawberries immediately followed by very gentle spices and some mushrooms.
Palate is smooth, balanced and tasty, with very soft tannins. Medium to long finish
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2/26/2015 - Rechrom wrote: 93 Points
Excellent bottle. Excellent nose with bramble and ash and smoke. A great palate with more ash and dark fruit and lead pencil. Good finish. Worked very well with food, almost better in its own. At peak, drink up.
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2/13/2015 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
Off the list at Marta, ashy like the 2002 but less brett, more fruit purity and slightly more refined. Enjoyable with a variety of foods and flavors.
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1/12/2015 - sp4388 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is the stuff that first got me captivated by wine, and I continue to love it. To anybody I think it will be unique and interesting, and if you love old barolo, funky pinot, roses, cherries, acid, mushrooms, leather and all things sour, it should also be super delicious. But it's a love it or hate it wine, and I've given it to a number of people who thought it was flawed when it was not. I love serving it with truffle Mac and cheese, or at the end of a tasting to throw people off. 92-93. The 01's are better than the 00's. Haven't had the 04's yet. I'd drink these soon, I think there's more downside than upside to holding them further, it might be starting to fade a little without getting any more complex
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12/26/2014 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
And so the bottle variation continues. Lots of energy and life here, though more VA than I've experienced on other '01s. Just up to the line between lifted and flawed, but not beyond. A nice pairing with braised leg of lamb.
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12/23/2014 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
Not nearly as brilliant as my previous bottles. Based on reviews, I guess I was due for a bad one. Even then, it wasn't bad. The funk is there, of course, but some of the woodsy/earthy nuance of previous bottles now seemed to veer toward prune.
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11/1/2014 - JJKinch wrote: 91 Points
Nice red fruit, nice spice. Lingering finish. Slight funk.
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10/7/2014 - Pknut wrote: flawed
Mildly corked. Too bad, as this was showing some nice fruit and dried spices under the TCA.
Dinner at Brad's with Greg and Chris.
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10/4/2014 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Old world nose with some funk, spice, nice complexity; palate is medium bodied, great acid, red cherry fruit, very nice. Medium finish. Excellent. 90-91
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9/20/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
After a series of pretty bad bottles, this has reaffirmed my taste for these. There's some funk, some VA, some slight oxidation but all barely within my tolerances. Warm, ripe fruit with traditional winemaking; cocoa powder, raspberry, crunchy, glimpses of Musar, Spanna, and Colheita Port, fresh and old at the same time. Tannin textured like a warm vintage Nebbiolo. Huge finish, very interesting, and great with food, perhaps more intellectual than pleasurable.
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8/22/2014 - Bob H wrote:
Slightly murky at the core, lightening out to translucent ruby on this rim. I had mentioned the funkiness in the '04, and on opening this takes it to another level; funky/barnyardy enough that folks who are more sensitive to that kind of aroma (like my better half) might find this to be objectionable. We'll see if it blows off with some air.
More "rounded" and less delineated on the palate than the '04; with all due respect to the many laudatory notes on this particular wine, I've yet to have one that was anything more than "good", however one calibrates that term, but like the first wine, maybe with food and more air it comes around - we shall see.
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8/8/2014 - shleepy wrote: 89 Points
Smells very barrely, herbal, floral. Quite tannic immediately after opening. Even the following day, it's a bit astringent. Has honey, pear notes in the taste. Interesting and complex.
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7/22/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 89 Points
VA, sharpie, old leather, carob, a bit stinky. Quite rustic, deceptively drying tannin still, pronounced biting acidity, totally Italian as usual.
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7/3/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quick decant. Dark crimson color. Big nose of baked red fruits, baking spices and some dried fruitcake like aromas with a little heat and a touch of acetone showing as well. Similar flavors on the palate with spicy red fruit flavors, cedar, tobacco and a bit of balsamic reduction and dried plum and cherry notes on the back end. Medium acid and tannins with a nice finish. Definitely on the bigger, riper side in terms of fruit compared to previous bottles I have had. Seems to me this wine still has a good run ahead of it.
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6/26/2014 - cartime Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red fruits, leather, purple florals. Smooth palate. Drinking very well now with a quick decant.
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6/20/2014 - rsbeck wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour, this performed brilliantly. Layers of red and dark fruit complicated by brand new beach ball, tobacco, cedar, lavender, earth, saline minerality, and savory spices, maintains its intensity through the lengthy, well balanced finish.
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6/10/2014 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
A little tired compared to other recent bottles. Still delivered great crunchy red fruit, rocky minerals, earth and a lifted floral note. One of the great Sicilian QPRs.
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6/10/2014 - jcha24 wrote:
Nice solid wine, but didn't think it stacked up against the 03 which, while a hair riper, seemed to have a bit more depth of flavor and a longer finish.
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5/16/2014 - andtheodor wrote: flawed
Fuck, another nasty mess. These can be brilliant, but the batting average is sinking. Diaper, horseshit, stewy, VA, yuck.
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4/22/2014 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
Another glorious bottle. Consistent with previous note.
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4/11/2014 - Grape_ape Likes this wine:
consistent with previous note
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3/30/2014 - andtheodor wrote:
Not a great bottle of this. Gross diaper nose on opening, tar, dried flowers, red cherry, some light oxidative tones too. Overall a bit roasty and flat, I know how good these can be and this isn't it.
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3/24/2014 - Grape_ape wrote:
Funky, almost bretty nose on the initial open. Blew off to reveal a complex, earthy nose with some red fruit and funk. Nice lively high toned red fruit, minerals and earth. Medium bodied, long complex finish. Really nice for the price, will seek out more.
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3/6/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
Damn, this is good. Opened for some creative homemade pizzas and it really shined with ripping acidity, tart cherry fruit, earth, spice. Beautiful aromatics. Admired by winos and non winos alike. I keep thinking this is too good to open for reluctant wine drinkers, but then I remember it's $25.
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3/3/2014 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine:
Consistent with prior note. Quite well-developed nose, very open and enticing. Intense palate, big tannins, medium weight yet muscular. Definitely a good bottle.
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2/17/2014 - chavito Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. Could've been Burgundy. Elegant, refined, well balanced. What a treat for the price.
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2/13/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 90 Points
Potpourri, chocolate, resinous & a bit rustic. Bright, mouthwatering acidity, totally Italian.
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2/12/2014 - blanquito wrote: 91 Points
Wow, really nice, lived up to the hype. Gorgeous bouquet of old wood, cacao powder, pine, cherries. Lots of acidity and some rustic tannins on the end, intense yet light bodied. Just says "Italy" more than anywhere specific-- blind it could be nebbiolo, or maybe sangiovese . Wide open now, can be enjoyed casually with pizza but also offers enough nuance for introspection. 91-92 pts.
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2/12/2014 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
Wow. Just about the best way I can imagine to spend $25 (maybe along with Baudry Grezeaux). This was beautiful after about 30 minutes of air. Funky, acidic, and lithe with cherries, leather, tobacco, aged hard cheese (let's say parmigiano reggiano since this is Italian wine and absurd specificity is the key to any great tasting note). Rebuy. And rebuy, and rebuy...
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1/31/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 89 Points
Fairly rustic, with lots of leather, soil, tar, and a bit of brettiness poking through too. Pruny fruit, cherry, plum, rust, some similarity to a very warm vintage Nebbiolo too. Not nearly as good as my last bottle, but still have hope for these.
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1/29/2014 - bags wrote:
what everyone says: a point.
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1/24/2014 - Tim and Bonnie wrote:
Perhaps this bottle was not aligned with those others had, because we felt it was weak, not delicate, and no one looked froward to finishing their glass. But as this was our only bottle, we'll allow that the bottle was off a bit. If we were rating we'd go 82. Would not buy again.
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1/24/2014 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine:
Expressive nose of plum, mixed berries, tobacco leaf, blue cheese, brush, leather, musty, funk.
Palate has medium viscosity, nice fruit extract, dry, good soil signature and freshness. Finish has medium plus persistence and intensity.
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1/20/2014 - Sotto325 wrote: 90 Points
Earthy volcanic soil Sicilian which has blended nicely. Spicey, clay, smoke and briar back the medium dark red fruits and lingonberry flavors. Tannins are not fully resolved . Rustic but nice especially at a restauant.
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1/12/2014 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very Italian! Attractively rustic, complex, and unique. Wide open aromatically with roses, soil, and game, a real bouquet. Lovely mix of dried red fruit flavors, refreshing acidity, prominent minerality, and maturing tannins in a middle-weight package. The inner aromas are reminiscent of Nebbiolo, particularly mountain Nebbiolo in N. Piedmont or Lombardy, with tar and floral aromas lingering. A little heat on the finish as the alcohol level is significant, but that's a minor nitpick with so much going on in this wine.
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1/10/2014 - IJC Likes this wine:
Sensational. Wonderful aromatics, dusty red fruits with a talc-like high note (think your grandmother's facial powder), and a soft, muted garrigue base. Delicious - beautifully balanced fruit and acidity, multi-layered, and crisp.
Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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1/8/2014 - baroloboy55 wrote: 91 Points
Like it. Still seems young. Great value. A bit chewy. But for the wine/vintage, a real value
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12/27/2013 - ant-1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beau nez de rose et de fumée, parfums de cerise et de terre en bouche, le vin est sur un beau plateau, j'adore et beau RQP.
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12/17/2013 - studleytrey wrote: 93 Points
This is just right in my wheelhouse and drinking fantastically right now. I'm a fan of these producers that hold back their wines until ready to drink. Needed a quick 30 min. in the decanter to come together. Cloudy garnet color, but no sediment in the bottle. Beautiful knockout nose of roses, cherry, soil, dry leaves, eucalyptus, tar, and mineral. Blind I might guess nebbiolo, but the mineral might clue me to think more southerly. Medium bodied with bright acid, medium+ finish, and flavors of cherry, raspberry, soil, iron, orange peel, and black tea. This is rocking my world right now. Perfect with Mario Batali's bolognese recipe.
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12/16/2013 - Zumboto wrote: 92 Points
Excellent. Thought it may have been overrated but was pleasantly surprised.
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11/26/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Even better than I remember. Similar to previous impressions but more intensity and verve. Really impressive. Hard to believe this is 12 years old. This has a long life ahead of it.
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11/5/2013 - InternationalWineReport wrote:
Dried blackberries and wild berries mixed with smoke, scorched earth, crushed stones and hints of basil...
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10/12/2013 - Rich S wrote: flawed
Corked!
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8/30/2013 - VTCellarDweller Likes this wine: 92 Points
The first from a case recently purchased at retail and originally released 3 years ago. This was decanted 2 hours for airing with negligible sediment. It was served with a mid week meal of pasta and Arriabbata eggplant sauce then finished with a selection of cheeses.
The color was a medium density Vermillion red with a shimmering clarity and distinct browning at the edge. Relying on memory and my tasting notes, this seems much like the 2002 but leaning toward an earthier presentment while the 2002 seemed a bit more high toned and elegant with a little higher acidity. Both clearly emphasize finesse over force.
Medium weight in the mouth and beautifully balanced with good acidity and smooth tannins.
Fall leaves, mushrooms, pipe tobacco, savory spices, sour cherries, anise, old leather, and orange rind.
Very solid mid palate and a satisfying long finish.
Excellent now with food and it should keep over the next 6-9 years.
Exceptional value in a mature red wine at $24 (with shipping). 91 points
UPDATE 11/23/2013
Slo-ox for 3 hours and then splash decanted 30 minutes before serving with ratatouille over polenta and Italian sweet sausage then finished with a selection of cheeses.
This wine is astonishingly good. At first pour, the aromatics just leapt out of the glass and could be discerned from 6 feet away.
If you enjoy older Rioja, Nebbiolo, Burgundy, Pegau, and Musar, this is a must try. 93 points for this bottle.
UPDATE 06/03/2014
Slo-ox for 3 hours then decanted 30 minutes before serving. This paired perfectly with chicken cacciatore over fettuccine and sauteed Broccoli Rabe as a side. The bottle was finished with chunks of 2 year Parmigiano Reggiano and a mix of Gaeta olives and oil cured Sicilian olives. Another magnificent bottle.
UPDATE 11/16/2014
Twelve bottles opened and this is the first dud; moderately flawed.....bummer. This is so good when it is on.
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7/25/2013 - cardsandwine wrote:
I was not impressed by this wine. Perhaps the wine was in decline or it was an off bottle. Not a lot going on on the palate and finish was very harsh.
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7/20/2013 - jibby Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brick red, showing age. Intense aroma of pomegranate, wild raspberry, spices, dried plums. Delicious! Elegant, neither flamboyantly fruity, tannic, or earthy, but moderate quantities of each in perfect harmony.
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7/8/2013 - Ludi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Granato piuttosto trasparente. Al naso deciso goudron, pepe nero, prugna, eucalipto, rosa appassita. Bocca molto fresca, minerale, buona la lunghezza
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12/29/2012 - SO14 wrote:
804
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9/5/2012 - Puteljen! wrote: 90 Points
Perfumed with some development. Still bright acidity and elegant fruit. Nice!
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8/11/2012 - dream wrote: 91 Points
This has aged nicely out of magnum and sports a lean, classic style with lovely flavors of dark cherry spice, tree bark and black earth. Finishes quite complex and dry with a unique taste of what must be the volcanic soils. I really enjoyed this and to me it reminded me of an aged Brunello.
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8/3/2012 - stevetimko wrote:
Took about an hour to open up and then showed nicely. Cloves, roses and olives on the nose and a little bit of leather. I kept trying to detect tar, but none alas. Maybe if I had nursed it longer. On the palate, mostly dark fruits and some nice earthiness. Excellent finish. A pleasure to drink from attack through the finish. A great value. By the way, the CellarTracker! drinking window says drink by 2014 but this will go another five years easily. Imported by Rare Wine Co.
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6/30/2012 - bullmrkt wrote: 92 Points
Bricking with a clear miniscus; strong, gorgeous nose that strikes me as tulips or barnyard infused smokey cherries; medium weight body; mineral driven cherry and clove spiked orange palate, ash, with great acidity and well integrated tannins making for a fresh wine and a very nice graduated finish. This is very similar to the 2002, and that's a good thing. It's hard to say which I prefer but from memory this is very close if not on par. Great stuff. From a magnum.
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5/13/2012 - FredrikL wrote: 90 Points
Mature. Leather and mineral. Rocks.
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4/22/2012 - peblin wrote: 90 Points
This bottle felt more mature and bretty than the last one. Still great.
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4/13/2012 - AtoZ wrote: flawed
Overly bretty and just not right.
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4/8/2012 - wickedwax wrote:
Reductive and bretty when first opened. Then we decanted it and let it sit for 4 hours and it showed pretty aromas of dark and red berry fruit, blue flowers, leather, spice and earth. Still had some tannic grip, but had a quite nice velvety mouthfeel. Good length. Quite different than other Nerellos that I've had probably due to being made in a more traditional style.
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4/1/2012 - sonnybonnet wrote: 91 Points
Doft: Mogna körsbär, moget och kompakt med toner av aceton och läder.
Smak:Moget, elegant och lång eftersmak. Med frukten härligt inbäddad med de tydliga tanninerna. Ett balanserat och underbart vin som passar utmärkt till viltgryta!
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3/7/2012 - mikeaukenbals wrote: 92 Points
buy more
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3/3/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Reminiscent of other wines I've had from this region like the '05 Shardana. Definitely a sense of leathery, almost firery spice, but soft and very easy to drink. Seems to be in its prime now.
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3/3/2012 - peblin Likes this wine: 89 Points
Delicate and elegant, a beautiful mix of maturity and ripe red berries and cherry. This bottle felt a bit dried out, bottle variation or is it getting late?
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2/3/2012 - Oskar Nyman wrote: 91 Points
Autumn leaves, dried fruit, leather & minerals - on top of its game, splendid in all its rustic charm.
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1/29/2012 - rcmcb wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding and complex. Bursting with earth, leather, and other secondary characteristics that are wonderful with the remaining berry fruit.
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1/20/2012 - stvjackson wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic, delightfully complex wine that evolves tremendously as it breathes. At first, the nose is heavy with sulphur, ash and a noticeable undercurrent of Brettanomyces, and the flavor is fruity and tart. Give it an hour (better yet, give it two or three), and everything rounds out beautifully. The ashy note's still there in the nose, joined with dates, cranberry and fresh herbs (I got cilantro and a bit of parsley). The Brettanomyces note evolves into rich, earthy tones, with some truffle, leather and damp wood to go along with them. Medium body, with soft fruity notes up front that quickly give way to noticeable acidity and tannins that come off as almost juicy, and only slightly drying. Incredibly intriguing and engaging wine that evolves over several hours. Absolutely be sure to plan ahead, as it needs at least an hour of air to pull itself together (2-3 hours is better).
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12/24/2011 - 5laton wrote:
This was a real underperformer. Tired, dried out, with old funky wood spice aromas but not much else. I am hopeful this was not a representative sample.
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12/17/2011 - misternordin wrote: 89 Points
Raspberries, strawberries, tobacco and floral notes. Elegant. Well-integrated tannins, this must have been austere when young…after all, it’s eleven years of age. Nice grip. From 100% Nerello Mascalese. Not your everyday grape. Fantastic.
Check out my blog at misternordin.com!
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12/9/2011 - wormfarmer wrote: 90 Points
What a fun find. Haven't had nerello mascaralese with such bottle age before. Great acid, with barolo-like fruit leather qualities. Starts thinner-bodied, mediums up 60-90 minutes in. Tannins began exploding then, too. 120 minutes in we were mostly done, but it was beginning to enter a softer, slightly less grippy, Barolo-ey stage at that point. I want more, and next time will hope to open it a few hours earlier to see how it develops. Drank solo for a bit, began craving fat & salt to go along with -- quickly made some kale w/ garlic & bacon and it was right on.
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10/29/2011 - jrick wrote: 89 Points
Smell of cranberries, tomatoes and the slighest hint of truffles I think. Taste is high in acidity still, 10 years after harvest. There's lingonberries, minerals and leather in there, and the tannins are the kind that sneak up on you. Soft, but definitely there in a big way. It's not hard to imagine this wine's heritage from the slopes of a volcano, the minerals and sulphur are easy to find in an otherwise Barolo/Barbaresco-like wine. Difficult wine to rate as well. I personally would have liked some sweeter fruit to go with the acid and tannins, and will rate this a conservative 89 based on my preferences.
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12/10/2010 - pepeelvis wrote:
juicy red. i think this will continue to improve over the next couple years.
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10/18/2010 - linuhage wrote: 92 Points
Mogen, komplex, animalisk, härlig doft. Intensiv, matvänlig, italiensk smak.
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8/8/2010 - FredrikL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Barolo type wine. Brick red and orange, clearly transparent. Dried floral notes, shoe polish. High in acidity.. Great QPR. Third day; my god, the flowery perfume coming out of this one. Amazing.
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