A positive surprise for both in terms of drinkability and aging potential. Think this can easily go another 5 years with no issues at the current aging curve. Very Italian on the nose and the palate but not clearly Piemontese in origin if I was blinded. A modern wine which is well made, if this ever saw new oak, there is no trace of it now. It had the classic Nebbiolo roses & tar on the nose and on the palate has a tinge of sweetness from the fruit and a bit of drying finish. Acidity is comparatively low for a Barbera and Nebbiolo blend and the finish is a bit on the shorter side. That being said, for the price, couldn't have asked for better. Drink or hold 5 years at the least.
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Opened a Magi and it was a spectacular suprise! Delicious, fruity still and well balance. I shared it with some strangers and they loved it! This bottle was much better than the previous bottle and makes me say more long than now! 92+
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Really good. Dark berries, a bit of tea (could have used more), and some orange of all things. Really nice were the smooth tannins -- a bit sweet, and nicely mellow for such a strong wine. Acidity in proper balance.
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Really, really good; continually improved over the 2+ hours it was open. Fresh, med>full body, with medium density, sweet tannins, good soil notes, and plenty of fresh acids to balance the copious ripe fruits. If this bottle is characteristic, then this has another 8-10+ years of very good drinking ahead of it. Cork and fill in VG condition. 13,5% abv. recommended
Another really nice bottle. In a good place right now. The wine looks red to garnet colored, a bit dull, can see through. There is no sediment. Aromas of blueberry, blackberry, forest floor, mineral and a vibrant floralness. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry, a touch of fig/raisin. Mineral notes, forest floor, tea, and a splash of balsamic. The body is medium with medium to high acidity (nebbiolo and barbera blend). The wine has fleshy texture and it has a medium length finish.
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From a magnum. Decanted for 2 hrs (a bit closed at the beginning), enjoyed over a long dinner, it kept coming better and better. Beautifully tuned, delicious, good acidity, harmony is the key for me here which rounds the wine and make it very likable. Great affordable Piedmont.
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The nose immediately jumps out of the glass with a mix of black tea, florals, perfume and high toned almost candied black cherry fruit. The palate is rich but balanced by very lively acidity. The Barbera softens and rounds the mouthfeel leaving a very polished and full texture on the mid-palate. The Nebbiolo is still present on the finish with a good tannic grip and lingering finish with some spice and anise notes. While the wine has clearly seem some time in oak I feel like it’s an appropriate level of treatment (at least at this stage of its development) as the wine has so much depth and power it can tolerate it well.
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A bit too full-bodied for a Nebbiolo/Barbera blend. The oak came through a touch too much for my taste preference. A definite modern red wine. I probably wouldn't buy it again for my personal consumption, but most people I know would like it.
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DoktaP, JoeG and Basecadet Visit KW (Dave's House): Popped and poured, served blind. Deep purple in the glass, with a slint hint of bricking. Complex nose showing dark fruits, black cherry, licorice, iron, blood, tar, florals and dried tobacco. On the palate tart dark cherries, iron, meat, bitter chocolate, licorice and tar. Very concentrated and dense, with some big tannin and acidity, making way for a nice long finish. I knew this was Italian, and thought Nebbiolo, but I had no idea there was Barbera in the mix. Really nice wine.
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In my humble opinion, IWC has given this wine a much more realistic rating of 88. Just not enough depth of character to justify any rating in the 90s. Solid wine...just doesn't stand out from the crowd. Needs a one hour decant.
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Decanted for 30 minutes Dark colour with a sweet nose of plum, licorise, sour cherries, tar, cigarbox and florals. The palate is dark, dense and layered with cherry, licorise, bitter chocolate, tar, and floral notes with medium tannin and medium+ acid Finish is long with dark cherry, anise, dark chocolate, leather, cigar, tar and lavendar.....WOW....really nice!
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3/18/2023 - Dibbs Likes this wine: 92 Points
A positive surprise for both in terms of drinkability and aging potential. Think this can easily go another 5 years with no issues at the current aging curve. Very Italian on the nose and the palate but not clearly Piemontese in origin if I was blinded. A modern wine which is well made, if this ever saw new oak, there is no trace of it now. It had the classic Nebbiolo roses & tar on the nose and on the palate has a tinge of sweetness from the fruit and a bit of drying finish. Acidity is comparatively low for a Barbera and Nebbiolo blend and the finish is a bit on the shorter side. That being said, for the price, couldn't have asked for better. Drink or hold 5 years at the least.
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8/6/2021 - DWStyle wrote: 92 Points
Opened a Magi and it was a spectacular suprise!
Delicious, fruity still and well balance.
I shared it with some strangers and they loved it!
This bottle was much better than the previous bottle and makes me say more long than now!
92+
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7/21/2021 - cebo2hot wrote: 92 Points
The window is not closed - still ripe, fruit, tart, tannin. Need two hours to become tasty. Went well pork chops.
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11/28/2020 - Sean McGrath Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good. Dark berries, a bit of tea (could have used more), and some orange of all things. Really nice were the smooth tannins -- a bit sweet, and nicely mellow for such a strong wine. Acidity in proper balance.
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10/5/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Really, really good; continually improved over the 2+ hours it was open. Fresh, med>full body, with medium density, sweet tannins, good soil notes, and plenty of fresh acids to balance the copious ripe fruits. If this bottle is characteristic, then this has another 8-10+ years of very good drinking ahead of it. Cork and fill in VG condition. 13,5% abv. recommended
http://www.italianwine.blog
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7/3/2017 - Mad Wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened a 3 liter for a BBQ. Blueberries on the nose. Drinking very nicely now. Well received by the crowd.
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9/18/2016 - Dave Canada wrote:
This was an OAK bomb….a mess
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11/8/2015 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another really nice bottle. In a good place right now.
The wine looks red to garnet colored, a bit dull, can see through. There is no sediment.
Aromas of blueberry, blackberry, forest floor, mineral and a vibrant floralness.
Flavors of blackberry, blueberry, a touch of fig/raisin. Mineral notes, forest floor, tea, and a splash of balsamic. The body is medium with medium to high acidity (nebbiolo and barbera blend). The wine has fleshy texture and it has a medium length finish.
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4/27/2015 - Lyubomir Lefterov Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a magnum. Decanted for 2 hrs (a bit closed at the beginning), enjoyed over a long dinner, it kept coming better and better. Beautifully tuned, delicious, good acidity, harmony is the key for me here which rounds the wine and make it very likable. Great affordable Piedmont.
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4/5/2015 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needed some air to open up. Medium to full bodied, but light mouthfeel .... not heavy feeling.
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10/19/2013 - Greg_O wrote: 92 Points
The nose immediately jumps out of the glass with a mix of black tea, florals, perfume and high toned almost candied black cherry fruit. The palate is rich but balanced by very lively acidity. The Barbera softens and rounds the mouthfeel leaving a very polished and full texture on the mid-palate. The Nebbiolo is still present on the finish with a good tannic grip and lingering finish with some spice and anise notes. While the wine has clearly seem some time in oak I feel like it’s an appropriate level of treatment (at least at this stage of its development) as the wine has so much depth and power it can tolerate it well.
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6/3/2013 - mutantwine Likes this wine: 86 Points
Much more Barbera style, then before.
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4/12/2013 - DStone wrote: 90 Points
A bit too full-bodied for a Nebbiolo/Barbera blend. The oak came through a touch too much for my taste preference. A definite modern red wine. I probably wouldn't buy it again for my personal consumption, but most people I know would like it.
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11/8/2012 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
this needed some air to open up.....nice wine.
pipe tobacco, spice, leather, cherry, chocolate and minerals....
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11/4/2012 - Higgie wrote: 89 Points
Smooth and yet powerful. Very pleasant and it was even better on 2nd Day. Considering Price I stay below 90
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9/20/2012 - Al-Vino wrote: 90 Points
Needed an hour of decanting to open up. Very nice bottle.
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4/9/2012 - mutantwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruit, leather, good acid and a burnt element that made it a great partner for spring rolls (With meat). At 16 bucks this is great value.
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3/9/2012 - alittle wrote: 92 Points
DoktaP, JoeG and Basecadet Visit KW (Dave's House): Popped and poured, served blind. Deep purple in the glass, with a slint hint of bricking. Complex nose showing dark fruits, black cherry, licorice, iron, blood, tar, florals and dried tobacco. On the palate tart dark cherries, iron, meat, bitter chocolate, licorice and tar. Very concentrated and dense, with some big tannin and acidity, making way for a nice long finish. I knew this was Italian, and thought Nebbiolo, but I had no idea there was Barbera in the mix. Really nice wine.
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1/9/2012 - Dave Canada wrote: 92 Points
Give this another 2 years still.....
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4/9/2011 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
wait on this......not ready yet
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11/10/2010 - Zweder wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #052; Italy: Barolo vs. Barbaresco (By RvD): Too few notes and I forgot to score the wine due to too much conversation. It was very pleasant though and had a lot of sweetness. Hope to taste it again. 90+
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7/31/2010 - Al-Vino wrote: 89 Points
In my humble opinion, IWC has given this wine a much more realistic rating of 88. Just not enough depth of character to justify any rating in the 90s. Solid wine...just doesn't stand out from the crowd. Needs a one hour decant.
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11/30/2009 - Greg_O wrote: 94 Points
Stunning wine. Consistent notes with Dave.
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10/30/2009 - Dave Canada wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes
Dark colour with a sweet nose of plum, licorise, sour cherries, tar, cigarbox and florals.
The palate is dark, dense and layered with cherry, licorise, bitter chocolate, tar, and floral notes with medium tannin and medium+ acid
Finish is long with dark cherry, anise, dark chocolate, leather, cigar, tar and lavendar.....WOW....really nice!
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