Nice and totally fine for the price, but plastic cork (seriously the first time I experienced that with a Barolo) is a no go for me especially when it’s about that kind of wine.
JG’s mainly Barolo 2018s (Terra Rossa, London N1): Quite a brooding 2018 with all of the smart MGA fruit declassified into the "normale". There's a darker profile to this wine yet there are still strawberries on the nose and there is substantial concentration and interest on the midpalate that showcases the v pure fruit. Lovely balance again to this 2018. Really good and should cellar well.
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Very pure wine. red berries, stony, mineral on the nose. Very interesting. Very pure also on the palate with a very nice and complex body. Long finishing. Already nice for drinking and will only get better.
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PnP. Ruby with brick edge in color. Nose of violets, rose water, cherries and subtle leather notes. On the palate: bright cherries, sweet tobacco, beef jus and flinty, saline minerality. Chewy tannins are perceived on gums and cheeks. Long finish of red berries, rose water, red delicious apple skin and salinity. Day two: wine really opened up...nose was more pungent, tannins were silky smooth and the cherry was moving towards morello. Will unsurprisingly benefit from more time in the cellar, but is approachable now (just decant it for ~2 hours).
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Pure, yet savory, with a stony, mineral punch to the orange peel, strawberries and dried herbs. I love the clarity and the tautness on the palate, with elegant but gutsy flavors of minerals and fruit, together with firm tannins that show Barolo etherealness and power at the same time. Already approachable.
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Masterclass Nebbiolo med Alf Tumble (Vinkällan, Göteborg): Hallondoft (verkligen?) Bärig / frukt aromatisk lång extraktion, lite vinmakartoner Serralunga-dominerat i druvor Årgång 2018 har med druvor från Vignarionda då det inte gjordes en barolo vignarionda det året.
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I was expecting this to be a little more giving and enjoyable than it was. Quite firm and closed, especially on day one but it remained in a similar ilk on day 3 (recorked and stored in the fridge) though it was a touch more expressive. Red fruit, floral notes, mineral too. Pleasantly sappy palate with a salty edge and good intensity. Just feels a touch raw all round, even considering it’s age. Revisit in 5+ years I think.
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Massolino is always a delightful drink. It doesn't disappoint here either and delivers a product that is probably above the average quality for its price range. It has an intense and deep ruby color with noticeable garnet hues on the edge. On the nose, it is intense, and the alcohol is quite prominent from the first whiffs. I recommend serving it at around 14°-16°C to fully enjoy it. The fruit here is ripe, both on the nose and on the palate, and the tannin is less dusty than the '17, which seems to have (at least at this stage) a greater aging potential. In the mouth, it reveals a pleasant sweetness and richness, always supported by a medium-high acidity. The hint of licorice on the nose enhances the bouquet and, in my opinion, represents the producer's signature in this wine. Medium persistence, overall an excellent wine; however, I still prefer the '17
Massolino è sempre una bella bevuta. Anche qui non si smentisce e tira fuori un prodotto probabilmente sopra la qualità media della sua fascia di prezzo. Colore rubino intenso e profondo ma che già presenta notevoli sfumature granate sull’unghia, al naso è intenso, l’alcol viene fuori con una certa forza già dalle prime olfazioni, consiglio di servire a circa 14°-16° per goderne al meglio. Il frutto qui è maturo, sia al naso che al palato, il tannino è meno polveroso della ‘17 che sembra avere (almeno in questa fase) un potenziale di invecchiamento maggiore. In bocca tira fuori una bella dolcezza e avvolgenza sempre sostenuta da una acidità medio-alta. La nota di liquirizia al naso amplia il bouquet e rappresenta a mio avviso la firma del produttore in questo vino. Persistenza media, in complesso un ottimo vino, preferisco la ’17 tuttavia.
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Day one this showed ok fruit, not as closed and tannic as on might expect from a young Barolo but still. Put the cork back, tasted day two and what a revelation it was. Lovely bouquet with perfumes. The palate has all the usual Barolo suspects, rose petals, tar, black tea, orange peel, stony minerals etc. with a beautiful floral lift, probably thanks to MGAs Margheria, Parafada, Parussi, and Vigna Rionda included in this "basic" blend of Massolino in 2018 - talk about no reason for the consumer to gripe about the vintage. The fresh acidity and non-obtrusive tannin complement this attractive package. More light than big and bold but not the most delicate flower and, yes, there are more complex high brow Barolos out there. Nevertheless, wonder if one can get much higher at this price point in the context of fairly expensive Barolos.
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Excellent Barolo. Having just returned from a visit to Piemonte region and having tasted some of the best Barolos there. Opened a bottle 4 days back and enjoyed it after letting the wine breathe and open up in the glass. Let it sit in an open bottle with argon for 4 days. Tarty, full bodied. Bursting with tannins. Loved the puckering taste. I am not good with aromas and don’t want make something up.
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Notes from day 2. N red cherry, floral, tar, salty brine P strawberry, savaoury herbs, brine, spice F above average finish, decent mouthfeel, tannin and acidity. Overall a solid bottle fo wine in a difficult vintage. 50+5+11+16+7 3
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Transparent crimson in colour and delicate, after an hour or so, there’s more weight and aromatics, with cherry, rose petal, wild strawberry, a touch of tar, leather and an emerging leafy green streak, sitting above a layer of vanilla. The tannins are grippy and increasingly assert themselves. The palate is medium bodied with elevated, juicy acidity. All the elements are there, but this needs more time.
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I know there are some opinions about the 2018 vintage in Piemonte being less than ideal. And while there may be some truth to that sentiment, great producers managed to make beautiful, classic wines. Massolino falls into that category. In 2018, they decided to forgo bottling their individual crus and instead, focused their best fruit from Margheria, Parafada, Parussi, and the great Vigna Rionda into their “classico”. The results were phenomenal. The wine is beautifully perfumed with ripe, dark and red fruits along with all the roses and tar you expect. It’s the structure, however, that’s most impressive at this point in its youth. The tannins are big, as is the acid, suggesting this will have a long life. I expect this will be winning well past 2038. That being said, it is already enjoyable now.
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Cranberries, black walnut shell, white truffles and plums. Savory, and almost sappy. Long and focused, with layers. Drinking well, another year or a decant is recommended. Medium body. Drink 2024 - 2034.
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-- decanted for approx. 1 hr. before initial taste -- -- tasted no-blind over approx. 2 hrs on Day 1; revisited on Day 2 --
NOSE: Day 1: light and red-fruited with a distinct caraway seed note; light asphalt; pomegranate and earthy strawberry; moderately expressive. Day 2 saw the aromatics turn more towards medicinal cherry.
BODY: pinkish/mahogany/ruby color of medium-shallow depth; light to medium-light bodied.
TASTE: Day 1: lightly drying tannins; red-fruited; medium to medium+ acidity; seems closed/reserved right now, which is to be expected, of course. Day 2: still light/tight, but it did seem a bit more full today; dark red fruits; still tannic; a bit savory; 14.5% alc. is somehow well-hidden. HOLD.
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Piemonte: Back to the truffling!; 11/24/2022-12/3/2022 (Wineries and various restaurants): So everyone who claims to have a single vineyard 2018 is wrong. All of those vineyards went into this wine. It creates a somewhat different and unique creation, but also surprisingly approachable and nice esp with a bit of time in the glass. It starts all floral/handsoap. Then maybe some red fruits. A bit more just easy and accessible all around which is interesting when you blend what are a lot of Serralunga fruit. Not as much as I expected, but I like it and would love to keep following. Somehow there’s something that makes me think this ages too.
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A very pretty nose of strawberries, cherries and sage. It is accessible and fleshy and possesses good detail. It has plenty of perfume and lift and is quite a delicious proposition as a youngster, but with the propensity to age.
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I liked this Barolo. Violets, berries, roses, pretty decent depth and complexity. Liked the structure as well. Could benefit from a bit more cellaring, but already delicious now.
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Beautiful color. Nose of violets and cherries and tar. So approachable, fresh - violets, rose, cherries, then some oak on the ending. Extremely approachable and a very good drink already.
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Tjäran finns där, bärigheten med dominans av röda körsbär, lite baroloparfym, 5 på skalan kanske. Någon sekundär not som jag inte riktigt kan namnge. I munnen är den uttorkande, cestigt bitter men sötfruktig, mycket koncentration för en standardbarolo, eftersmaken dröjer sig kvar länge.
Bara druckit 16 av denna innan. Vad jag minns var den mer sluten. Denna är där direkt ur flaskan!
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A private lunch (Restaurant Ron Gastrobar *, Amsterdam, NL): Massolino did not produce its single vineyard Barolos in 2018, and this (generic) Barolo benefits from being a blend of top-class vineyards such as Vignarionda, Margheria, Parafada and Parussi. Elegant and fragrant yet with good concentration, lovely definition and precision, complex fruit and a hint of cold tea, supple but with just the right level of crunchy tannic grip, zesty finish with roses and excellent length. Youthful charm, good future.
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3/23/2024 - Robeng wrote:
Nice and totally fine for the price, but plastic cork (seriously the first time I experienced that with a Barolo) is a no go for me especially when it’s about that kind of wine.
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3/13/2024 - fussyeater Likes this wine: 92 Points
JG’s mainly Barolo 2018s (Terra Rossa, London N1): Quite a brooding 2018 with all of the smart MGA fruit declassified into the "normale". There's a darker profile to this wine yet there are still strawberries on the nose and there is substantial concentration and interest on the midpalate that showcases the v pure fruit. Lovely balance again to this 2018. Really good and should cellar well.
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2/10/2024 - HWG99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pure wine. red berries, stony, mineral on the nose. Very interesting. Very pure also on the palate with a very nice and complex body. Long finishing. Already nice for drinking and will only get better.
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1/21/2024 - Scottmichaels wrote: 92 Points
Great bottle. Could hold for even better score.
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1/3/2024 - caesar77 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. Ruby with brick edge in color. Nose of violets, rose water, cherries and subtle leather notes. On the palate: bright cherries, sweet tobacco, beef jus and flinty, saline minerality. Chewy tannins are perceived on gums and cheeks. Long finish of red berries, rose water, red delicious apple skin and salinity.
Day two: wine really opened up...nose was more pungent, tannins were silky smooth and the cherry was moving towards morello. Will unsurprisingly benefit from more time in the cellar, but is approachable now (just decant it for ~2 hours).
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12/1/2023 - HyphenNation Likes this wine:
Pure, yet savory, with a stony, mineral punch to the orange peel, strawberries and dried herbs. I love the clarity and the tautness on the palate, with elegant but gutsy flavors of minerals and fruit, together with firm tannins that show Barolo etherealness and power at the same time. Already approachable.
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11/15/2023 - Kinell Likes this wine:
Masterclass Nebbiolo med Alf Tumble (Vinkällan, Göteborg): Hallondoft (verkligen?)
Bärig / frukt
aromatisk
lång extraktion, lite vinmakartoner
Serralunga-dominerat i druvor
Årgång 2018 har med druvor från Vignarionda då det inte gjordes en barolo vignarionda det året.
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10/24/2023 - dcbell wrote: 89 Points
I was expecting this to be a little more giving and enjoyable than it was. Quite firm and closed, especially on day one but it remained in a similar ilk on day 3 (recorked and stored in the fridge) though it was a touch more expressive. Red fruit, floral notes, mineral too. Pleasantly sappy palate with a salty edge and good intensity. Just feels a touch raw all round, even considering it’s age. Revisit in 5+ years I think.
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9/29/2023 - Golfer70 wrote:
Big fan
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9/28/2023 - Bolognese Diner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Massolino is always a delightful drink. It doesn't disappoint here either and delivers a product that is probably above the average quality for its price range. It has an intense and deep ruby color with noticeable garnet hues on the edge. On the nose, it is intense, and the alcohol is quite prominent from the first whiffs. I recommend serving it at around 14°-16°C to fully enjoy it. The fruit here is ripe, both on the nose and on the palate, and the tannin is less dusty than the '17, which seems to have (at least at this stage) a greater aging potential. In the mouth, it reveals a pleasant sweetness and richness, always supported by a medium-high acidity. The hint of licorice on the nose enhances the bouquet and, in my opinion, represents the producer's signature in this wine. Medium persistence, overall an excellent wine; however, I still prefer the '17
Massolino è sempre una bella bevuta. Anche qui non si smentisce e tira fuori un prodotto probabilmente sopra la qualità media della sua fascia di prezzo. Colore rubino intenso e profondo ma che già presenta notevoli sfumature granate sull’unghia, al naso è intenso, l’alcol viene fuori con una certa forza già dalle prime olfazioni, consiglio di servire a circa 14°-16° per goderne al meglio. Il frutto qui è maturo, sia al naso che al palato, il tannino è meno polveroso della ‘17 che sembra avere (almeno in questa fase) un potenziale di invecchiamento maggiore. In bocca tira fuori una bella dolcezza e avvolgenza sempre sostenuta da una acidità medio-alta. La nota di liquirizia al naso amplia il bouquet e rappresenta a mio avviso la firma del produttore in questo vino. Persistenza media, in complesso un ottimo vino, preferisco la ’17 tuttavia.
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9/1/2023 - Lype Likes this wine:
Day one this showed ok fruit, not as closed and tannic as on might expect from a young Barolo but still. Put the cork back, tasted day two and what a revelation it was. Lovely bouquet with perfumes. The palate has all the usual Barolo suspects, rose petals, tar, black tea, orange peel, stony minerals etc. with a beautiful floral lift, probably thanks to MGAs Margheria, Parafada, Parussi, and Vigna Rionda included in this "basic" blend of Massolino in 2018 - talk about no reason for the consumer to gripe about the vintage. The fresh acidity and non-obtrusive tannin complement this attractive package. More light than big and bold but not the most delicate flower and, yes, there are more complex high brow Barolos out there. Nevertheless, wonder if one can get much higher at this price point in the context of fairly expensive Barolos.
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8/26/2023 - shiva94539@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent Barolo. Having just returned from a visit to Piemonte region and having tasted some of the best Barolos there. Opened a bottle 4 days back and enjoyed it after letting the wine breathe and open up in the glass. Let it sit in an open bottle with argon for 4 days. Tarty, full bodied. Bursting with tannins. Loved the puckering taste. I am not good with aromas and don’t want make something up.
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8/18/2023 - gnsti Likes this wine: 94 Points
체리, 자두, 산딸기, 시원한 허브향? 박하향?(이게 그 수박향인가??), 흑연, 담배의 노즈
탄탄한 구조감, 좋은 산도, 입자 큰 타닌인데 참 고르고 모나지않은, 매력적으로 느껴진다.
우아하지만 강렬한 피니쉬
너무 맛있음
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7/9/2023 - BottleScholar Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bigger more solid Barolo, fruit is not dark, but is darker than average. Very enjoyable.
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7/2/2023 - manonthemoon wrote: 89 Points
Notes from day 2.
N red cherry, floral, tar, salty brine
P strawberry, savaoury herbs, brine, spice
F above average finish, decent mouthfeel, tannin and acidity.
Overall a solid bottle fo wine in a difficult vintage.
50+5+11+16+7
3
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5/5/2023 - Sun_Ship Likes this wine: 91 Points
Transparent crimson in colour and delicate, after an hour or so, there’s more weight and aromatics, with cherry, rose petal, wild strawberry, a touch of tar, leather and an emerging leafy green streak, sitting above a layer of vanilla. The tannins are grippy and increasingly assert themselves. The palate is medium bodied with elevated, juicy acidity. All the elements are there, but this needs more time.
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4/10/2023 - Chris Davies Likes this wine: 89 Points
Young but approachable. Not life changing but enjoyed this. 3.5+
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3/4/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 94 Points
I know there are some opinions about the 2018 vintage in Piemonte being less than ideal. And while there may be some truth to that sentiment, great producers managed to make beautiful, classic wines. Massolino falls into that category. In 2018, they decided to forgo bottling their individual crus and instead, focused their best fruit from Margheria, Parafada, Parussi, and the great Vigna Rionda into their “classico”. The results were phenomenal. The wine is beautifully perfumed with ripe, dark and red fruits along with all the roses and tar you expect. It’s the structure, however, that’s most impressive at this point in its youth. The tannins are big, as is the acid, suggesting this will have a long life. I expect this will be winning well past 2038. That being said, it is already enjoyable now.
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12/25/2022 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cranberries, black walnut shell, white truffles and plums. Savory, and almost sappy. Long and focused, with layers. Drinking well, another year or a decant is recommended. Medium body. Drink 2024 - 2034.
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12/12/2022 - grafstrb wrote:
-- decanted for approx. 1 hr. before initial taste --
-- tasted no-blind over approx. 2 hrs on Day 1; revisited on Day 2 --
NOSE: Day 1: light and red-fruited with a distinct caraway seed note; light asphalt; pomegranate and earthy strawberry; moderately expressive. Day 2 saw the aromatics turn more towards medicinal cherry.
BODY: pinkish/mahogany/ruby color of medium-shallow depth; light to medium-light bodied.
TASTE: Day 1: lightly drying tannins; red-fruited; medium to medium+ acidity; seems closed/reserved right now, which is to be expected, of course. Day 2: still light/tight, but it did seem a bit more full today; dark red fruits; still tannic; a bit savory; 14.5% alc. is somehow well-hidden. HOLD.
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11/25/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Piemonte: Back to the truffling!; 11/24/2022-12/3/2022 (Wineries and various restaurants): So everyone who claims to have a single vineyard 2018 is wrong. All of those vineyards went into this wine. It creates a somewhat different and unique creation, but also surprisingly approachable and nice esp with a bit of time in the glass. It starts all floral/handsoap. Then maybe some red fruits. A bit more just easy and accessible all around which is interesting when you blend what are a lot of Serralunga fruit. Not as much as I expected, but I like it and would love to keep following. Somehow there’s something that makes me think this ages too.
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10/27/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinks fantastic right now. Pop-and-pour of two bottles at a quality London restaurant. Everyone at the table concurred.
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10/25/2022 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
A very pretty nose of strawberries, cherries and sage. It is accessible and fleshy and possesses good detail. It has plenty of perfume and lift and is quite a delicious proposition as a youngster, but with the propensity to age.
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10/13/2022 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
WINE & SPIRITS TOP 100, SAN FRANCISCO (San Francisco, Ca.): Nose of black cherry, sage, floral notes, and oak, same on the palate, bi body, tasty, mouth filling, long finish.
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10/9/2022 - Philolesen Likes this wine: 89 Points
I liked this Barolo. Violets, berries, roses, pretty decent depth and complexity. Liked the structure as well. Could benefit from a bit more cellaring, but already delicious now.
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10/5/2022 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful color. Nose of violets and cherries and tar. So approachable, fresh - violets, rose, cherries, then some oak on the ending. Extremely approachable and a very good drink already.
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9/18/2022 - derrock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great for early drinking.
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9/9/2022 - Ulveström Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tjäran finns där, bärigheten med dominans av röda körsbär, lite baroloparfym, 5 på skalan kanske. Någon sekundär not som jag inte riktigt kan namnge. I munnen är den uttorkande, cestigt bitter men sötfruktig, mycket koncentration för en standardbarolo, eftersmaken dröjer sig kvar länge.
Bara druckit 16 av denna innan. Vad jag minns var den mer sluten. Denna är där direkt ur flaskan!
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7/26/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private lunch (Restaurant Ron Gastrobar *, Amsterdam, NL): Massolino did not produce its single vineyard Barolos in 2018, and this (generic) Barolo benefits from being a blend of top-class vineyards such as Vignarionda, Margheria, Parafada and Parussi. Elegant and fragrant yet with good concentration, lovely definition and precision, complex fruit and a hint of cold tea, supple but with just the right level of crunchy tannic grip, zesty finish with roses and excellent length. Youthful charm, good future.
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5/29/2022 - hfc Does not like this wine:
Bottle variation? Vintage issue?
Too ripe without showing promise (at least not visible to me). Got even sweeter on the 2nd day.
Huge disappointment after the 2017.
Hope it’s only a bad bottle.
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