Wow! Has this come a long way. A very long way. A true stunner. Bold, savory and seductive, filled with chocolate-wrapped dark fruit. And endless pepper. Like an afternoon with Sunday gravy at a dimly lit red sauce joint.
Decanted and served with grilled pork chop ~ 30 minutes later. Black/red with slight meniscus. Nose (and palate) gained complexity with air- last glass was the best. On nose, black cherry, licorice, pipe tobacco, sweet cherry and savory spices. On palate, black cherry, iron, orange rind, black licorice & blackberry (nice sweet / savory combination). High acidity, medium tannins, medium+ body and very long finish.
First time trying this wine and I loved it. One of the best wines I have tried this year. 95+/- Will definitely buy some more.
Decantered 4+ hours. It’s a big primary wine which is fruit (cherry) dominant. Probably should be tucked away for a few years. Nice wine, but not sure it will be truly great. 92-94
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Nearly opaque; dark garnet with dark ruby edge in color. PnP Nose of newly tanned leather, cherry liqueur, sweet tobacco and hints of tomato leaf. On the palate: bing cherries, tar, minerals and five spice powder. Creamy yet astringent tannins are approachable already, perceived primarily on the cheeks. Long finish of red berries, iron & wood spice. Drank this too young and did not aerate sufficiently, but it was immensely enjoyable all the same. I expect it will only improve with time and may score higher in time or with a decant.
Decanted for 3 hours. I was cooking calamarata with a fresh pomodorini and ricotta pesto, so I needed a nice Sangiovese. This would do. Deep ruby color. Tightly sounded nose, with cherries, tobacco, a tad a licorice shining through and some oak. Nice balance with slightly chalky tannins; dark cherries, tobacco, leather - very earthy and complex. Long finish, with some toasted oak in it. This is young and needs more aging, but with proper airing it showed all of its potential. Very good!
Really great Sangiovese. Wanted to drink something non cab before Napa tomorrow and this was a no brainer paired with spaghetti and Sunday sauce. This begs for red sauce. Give it 3 hours in the decanter and pour back into the bottle - some sediment was present. Will give my other bottle a few years as I think this will only improve. Light, almost like a burgundy. Strawberry and a bit of cranberry.
A pleasant but fairly restrained and primary showing, this 2016 presents a lighter mid-palate concentration that, though showing light on its feet and airy, holds its cards back with limited fruit and flavor expansion. The requisite depth drop doesn’t materialize, instead staying obviously superficial. The polish and tannin management are most notable, as is the perfectly balanced acidic grip that forms a nice carriage for the core (...a core that is a bit shy and anemic, despite hints of decent purity of fruit - black cherry, cranberry, strawberry, tobacco, unsweetened carob chips). Finishes lithe and slightly boring at this state. Air and time in the glass didn’t do much to change its stoic posture.
If opening now, expect a sleepy showing. This is a much more sinewy animal compared to the 2015. Hold this 2016 for another 5+ years. 92-ish (93?)+ points.
I'm not familiar with this wine and perhaps it's just not ready yet but I found it rather disjointed and tannic. It settled down after some hours of being open. One for the cellar.
Young but still drinking well right now, this was really lovely, with dark fruits, graphite, leather, cherry liqueur. This will evolve, fruit is still primary but when the secondary and tertiary flavors start to perk up this is going to be very fun to drink.
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If comparison is the thief of joy then I just remember liking 15 more at this stage. Great acidity and structure but was missing something some midpalate depth. I will say just like most Italian wines this was better with food. It could just be this bottle or maybe the wine is just in a awkward phases. Glad I have more in the cellar. Hands off till 2024.
I had the '15 last week and this is clearly a step up from that (lovely) wine. This presents as very youthful and promises to become refined and elegant once the tannins resolve a bit more. It's still extremely enjoyable now if you don't mind some (fine) tannins and oak. The nose is huge - one of those wines that you can smell from across the room. On the nose: blackberry, cherry, cigar box, 5 spice, licorice, menthol - also a fair amount of oak and vanilla, but the oak balances nicely with all the other lovely scents. The wine is rich and full-bodied - the flavors are concentrated and brooding, and the finish is long. A great wine with a promising future.
The nose is relatively closed, but the intensity of the taste, the quality of the tannins, and the balance of all elements make this a no-brainer for savvy collectors. And in my personal view: this wine screams Tuscany already now, but likely a lot more in a few years time. Great wine. Really impressive at this price point. I tasted the Chianti Classico riserva 2018 yesterday and liked the style (and a few drops left in the open bottle today showed the quality of the elements here, no oxidation at all) At 20 eur the riserva is a good QP, at 55 this is a steal.
Very good>Excellent. Aerated in wide bottom decanter for 4 hours. Penetrating aromas, with deep, very precise flavors. This is a grand achievement for this bottling, seemingly having it all - structure, fresh, layered red/dark red layers of fruit, soil/sense of place, etc.; even some blood orange on the nose. At many points throughout this bottle, I was quite content just to marvel at its artistry, at nature's beautifully vivid power and grace - more than once I found myself inside the wine, or wanting to be there, it being a place of such wonder. For serious collectors of either this wine/this region or both, please consider a case purchase - a high level indeed. For my palate, drink 2025-2044, but really, there's no harm in opening one now if you prefer them young. highly recommended
Stunning, concentrated fruit, with such staying power and although there’s very evident balance, the acidity is on the lower side. This reminds me of nothing, as it truly has its own persona. Full-bodied, with black cherry, bramble berry, truffle, salumi, dried earth and spearmint. Finishes long and lovingly concentrated, there’s poise and cut. You get some decadence, yet a lot of refinement. Through all of the enjoyment, this is infanticide. Drink 2025 -. #culttoscana
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With sufficient air, this shows a gorgeous, refined style of Sangiovese with delicious flavors of purple/blue plums, sweet tar and smoky earth. It's ripe but perfectly balanced and very authentic with beautiful floral notes. The finish is tannic and classically dry but the tannins are very smooth and there is lovely mineral complexity on the back-end. Decant for two hours or hold for several more years. Really fine Sangiovese. 92+
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4/26/2024 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Continues to need generous decanting---took good 2 hours to open up and opened up considerably and nicely. Layers of flavors and very savory, overall.
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2/19/2024 - brasstab Likes this wine: 99 Points
Wow! Has this come a long way. A very long way. A true stunner. Bold, savory and seductive, filled with chocolate-wrapped dark fruit. And endless pepper. Like an afternoon with Sunday gravy at a dimly lit red sauce joint.
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10/22/2023 - CWilliam wrote: 95 Points
Decanted and served with grilled pork chop ~ 30 minutes later. Black/red with slight meniscus. Nose (and palate) gained complexity with air- last glass was the best. On nose, black cherry, licorice, pipe tobacco, sweet cherry and savory spices. On palate, black cherry, iron, orange rind, black licorice & blackberry (nice sweet / savory combination). High acidity, medium tannins, medium+ body and very long finish.
First time trying this wine and I loved it. One of the best wines I have tried this year. 95+/-
Will definitely buy some more.
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5/19/2023 - WineRay05 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Started to open up quite nicely after the 3rd hour after opening
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4/30/2023 - Gdubya Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decantered 4+ hours. It’s a big primary wine which is fruit (cherry) dominant. Probably should be tucked away for a few years. Nice wine, but not sure it will be truly great. 92-94
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4/16/2023 - Fat1Wombat Likes this wine:
Dinner with Christophe.
Magnificent wine. Inky black fruit and iodine.
Great structure and density.
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3/25/2023 - DonCharnay wrote: 98 Points
Galloni is right with this wine. Every sip you take makes you sad, because you come closer to the end. Fabulous wine!
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2/26/2023 - Tocororo wrote: 95 Points
Cherries, lavender, sage. Such a beautiful wine. Shame to drink in one sitting. Finish is looong. Had w Ossobuco pappardelle.
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12/17/2022 - caesar77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nearly opaque; dark garnet with dark ruby edge in color. PnP Nose of newly tanned leather, cherry liqueur, sweet tobacco and hints of tomato leaf. On the palate: bing cherries, tar, minerals and five spice powder. Creamy yet astringent tannins are approachable already, perceived primarily on the cheeks. Long finish of red berries, iron & wood spice. Drank this too young and did not aerate sufficiently, but it was immensely enjoyable all the same. I expect it will only improve with time and may score higher in time or with a decant.
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11/13/2022 - ThijsV wrote:
Bloem Autumn tasting (Nicolai church, Utrecht, Netherlands): Too little acidity. Mweh, too expensive,. Don’t understand the high Vinous score. 87
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8/4/2022 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. I was cooking calamarata with a fresh pomodorini and ricotta pesto, so I needed a nice Sangiovese. This would do.
Deep ruby color. Tightly sounded nose, with cherries, tobacco, a tad a licorice shining through and some oak. Nice balance with slightly chalky tannins; dark cherries, tobacco, leather - very earthy and complex. Long finish, with some toasted oak in it. This is young and needs more aging, but with proper airing it showed all of its potential. Very good!
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5/30/2022 - the godfather wrote:
This wine rocks hard, everything I love in a Tuscan wine
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5/29/2022 - JOsgood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smoking good stuff. Rich and compelling. The complexity is evident as it changes with every sip.
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5/1/2022 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really great Sangiovese. Wanted to drink something non cab before Napa tomorrow and this was a no brainer paired with spaghetti and Sunday sauce. This begs for red sauce. Give it 3 hours in the decanter and pour back into the bottle - some sediment was present. Will give my other bottle a few years as I think this will only improve. Light, almost like a burgundy. Strawberry and a bit of cranberry.
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3/17/2022 - ct1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up eventually, but should benefit from aging for several more years.
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2/27/2022 - s******n Likes this wine: 91 Points
Toller Sangiovese. So wie er sein muss.
Super Trinkfluss, einfach zu trinken. Dabei aber schon interessant.
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2/23/2022 - Decarlor wrote: 97 Points
Great wine, especially considering value-for-money
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2/2/2022 - gurmadori Does not like this wine: 83 Points
오픈직후 - 민트나 박하의 화함.
적절히 느껴지는 오크, 감초, 약간의 동물성 느낌, 진한 보라 꽃향기, 스월링 할때마다 스치는 두엄과 코를 찌르는 정향. 비싼 와인임을 짐작케 하는 진하고 고급스러운 향기들
입안에서 오물거릴수록 계속 새롭게 살아나는 산도. 옅게 흩뿌려져있는 타닌들. 미디움 풀바디. 중간에서 살짝 빠지는 당도. 긴 피니시와 엄청나게 느껴지는 열감. 좀 많이 쓰다.
두 시간 반부터 - 잘토버건디로 시음
정향, 팔각, 크림의 고소한 느낌, 흙, 졸여진 듯한 검은 과일들, 코코아가루, 연유
내가 싫어하는 향 다 모아 놓은 듯한 종합선물세트. 시간이 더 흘러도 향의 종류는 변함없지만 다행히 후반부에는 꽤 좋게 느껴졌다.
잔이며 온도며 네 시간 반 동안 별짓 다 해봤는데 끝까지 팔렛은 별로... 팔각+정향 주스에 계속 쓰다.
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1/27/2022 - csimm wrote: 92 Points
A pleasant but fairly restrained and primary showing, this 2016 presents a lighter mid-palate concentration that, though showing light on its feet and airy, holds its cards back with limited fruit and flavor expansion. The requisite depth drop doesn’t materialize, instead staying obviously superficial. The polish and tannin management are most notable, as is the perfectly balanced acidic grip that forms a nice carriage for the core (...a core that is a bit shy and anemic, despite hints of decent purity of fruit - black cherry, cranberry, strawberry, tobacco, unsweetened carob chips). Finishes lithe and slightly boring at this state. Air and time in the glass didn’t do much to change its stoic posture.
If opening now, expect a sleepy showing. This is a much more sinewy animal compared to the 2015. Hold this 2016 for another 5+ years. 92-ish (93?)+ points.
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12/28/2021 - brasstab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Unparalleled richness in a Chianti. Layers of savory wrapped in a sweet chocolate-covered cherries.
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12/16/2021 - nynrgtrader@gmail.com wrote:
Deep Ruby
Nose a bit closed but showing perfumed notes of roses, cedar, incense and dark red and black fruits
High acid and med + tannins that clearly need time to develop
Palate showing all dark fruit and some lead pencil and this brooding wine needs some more age
See you again in a few years
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12/16/2021 - gtilley wrote:
I'm not familiar with this wine and perhaps it's just not ready yet but I found it rather disjointed and tannic. It settled down after some hours of being open. One for the cellar.
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12/3/2021 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 93 Points
Young but still drinking well right now, this was really lovely, with dark fruits, graphite, leather, cherry liqueur. This will evolve, fruit is still primary but when the secondary and tertiary flavors start to perk up this is going to be very fun to drink.
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12/1/2021 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 92 Points
If comparison is the thief of joy then I just remember liking 15 more at this stage. Great acidity and structure but was missing something some midpalate depth. I will say just like most Italian wines this was better with food. It could just be this bottle or maybe the wine is just in a awkward phases. Glad I have more in the cellar. Hands off till 2024.
Hold 92+
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11/11/2021 - trumpet60201 Likes this wine: 96 Points
I had the '15 last week and this is clearly a step up from that (lovely) wine. This presents as very youthful and promises to become refined and elegant once the tannins resolve a bit more. It's still extremely enjoyable now if you don't mind some (fine) tannins and oak. The nose is huge - one of those wines that you can smell from across the room. On the nose: blackberry, cherry, cigar box, 5 spice, licorice, menthol - also a fair amount of oak and vanilla, but the oak balances nicely with all the other lovely scents. The wine is rich and full-bodied - the flavors are concentrated and brooding, and the finish is long. A great wine with a promising future.
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11/6/2021 - xeenee wrote:
Castellare I Sodi Di San Niccolo16
비비노4.4 내평점 미정?
이태리 토스카나 지역
카스텔라레 디 카스텔리나 와이너리
산지오베제85% 말바지아 네라15%
알콜14% 짙은 루비색
구매가 12만원대
워낙에 평이 좋아서 기대한 와인
얼마전 끼안띠가 좋아 호기롭게 도전!
했으나...첫날 두시간동안 열심히 스월링하다가 포기...
기대감에 살치살 구워서 고기만 맛있게 먹었네..
아직 어린건지..바틀베리에이션인지...
이튿날 2시간 병브리딩...아직은 밀당중
3시간 병브리딩 과실향과 초코 뉘앙스 스멀스멀
피니쉬도 어제와는 달라짐이 느껴진다
바디3.5 부드러운 탄닌3.5 드라이3.8 산도3.3
자두, 검은과실향, 초코, 스트로베리, 가죽, 축축한 낙엽느낌?
2020년 1월 병입했고 29,230병 중 10,925째 바틀
하나 남은 병은 한5년은 묵혔다 따봐야겠다
지금 이녀석을 판단하긴 이르다가 정답!!
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9/6/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really still needs some more time. Reticent at first but really improved over a couple of hours.
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6/20/2021 - Roughl Likes this wine: 95 Points
The nose is relatively closed, but the intensity of the taste, the quality of the tannins, and the balance of all elements make this a no-brainer for savvy collectors. And in my personal view: this wine screams Tuscany already now, but likely a lot more in a few years time. Great wine. Really impressive at this price point. I tasted the Chianti Classico riserva 2018 yesterday and liked the style (and a few drops left in the open bottle today showed the quality of the elements here, no oxidation at all) At 20 eur the riserva is a good QP, at 55 this is a steal.
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5/22/2021 - Tgood wrote: 91 Points
Opaque, plums and cocoa, velvety and alcoholic, sangio tartness checks in, extracted and ripe wine for certain - sangiovese meets warm ripe merlot.
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4/4/2021 - Slaz Likes this wine: 94 Points
So young but also tremendous, in terms of potential, texture, and structure. Delightful, worth buying more (and cellaring for another 5+ years).
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12/28/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Very good>Excellent. Aerated in wide bottom decanter for 4 hours. Penetrating aromas, with deep, very precise flavors. This is a grand achievement for this bottling, seemingly having it all - structure, fresh, layered red/dark red layers of fruit, soil/sense of place, etc.; even some blood orange on the nose. At many points throughout this bottle, I was quite content just to marvel at its artistry, at nature's beautifully vivid power and grace - more than once I found myself inside the wine, or wanting to be there, it being a place of such wonder. For serious collectors of either this wine/this region or both, please consider a case purchase - a high level indeed. For my palate, drink 2025-2044, but really, there's no harm in opening one now if you prefer them young. highly recommended
http://www.italianwine.blog
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12/17/2020 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 97 Points
Stunning, concentrated fruit, with such staying power and although there’s very evident balance, the acidity is on the lower side. This reminds me of nothing, as it truly has its own persona. Full-bodied, with black cherry, bramble berry, truffle, salumi, dried earth and spearmint. Finishes long and lovingly concentrated, there’s poise and cut. You get some decadence, yet a lot of refinement. Through all of the enjoyment, this is infanticide. Drink 2025 -.
#culttoscana
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11/4/2020 - Ennike wrote: 95 Points
Good. Very Tuscan.
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10/8/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
With sufficient air, this shows a gorgeous, refined style of Sangiovese with delicious flavors of purple/blue plums, sweet tar and smoky earth. It's ripe but perfectly balanced and very authentic with beautiful floral notes. The finish is tannic and classically dry but the tannins are very smooth and there is lovely mineral complexity on the back-end. Decant for two hours or hold for several more years. Really fine Sangiovese. 92+
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9/12/2020 - Jozefs Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking well at the moment, it may shut down but quite irresistible at present!
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