PnP - still dark in color with only just a tad brickening at the edge. Promising color! Explotion of cherry, tar, cedar and forest floor on the nose, telling me this beauty is starting to grow up. Still some youthful characters, but definately entering next level. Fresh acidity combined with tannins that both are present but obviously starting to fade. But make no mistake - they are still there, and can easily be set to work with the right dish. Looking forward to see how this develops during the evening.
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Lovely bouquet, spicy and citric with a captivating sweet florality that reminds me of syrah. Smooth, rounded, with nice fruit and flesh, but the palate can’t run with the nose. Tasty and so easy to enjoy… the fruit fades with ah hour of air, time to drink up.
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A Sangiovese at 16 years, is it any good? Yes, this wine clearly is. The color is quite aged, verging on amber, but with a fine ruby core. The nose is dusty at first, almost like being in a bookshop with old books. The dusty nose is reduced after an hour or son, giving way to tertiary aromas like camphor, tobacco, and a hint of sweet/dried fruit. Full bodied attack, lots of sweet glycerine feel an the first part. On the mid palate, the reduced fruit becomes easily detectable, and the wine dries out on the finish, leaving the aftertaste to the tones of camphor, teak polish, and tobacco. A bit of alcoholic warmth is evident at the aftertaste, but the dryness of the wine still balances the warmth quite fine. Aftertaste of camphor and ester oil, with a bit too dominating dryness. A wine for lovers of mature sangiovese wines, showing that this is a grape that is doing much better in aging than many still believe. Drink now, but - if you like the etheric quality of old wines - keep for some more years.
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Decanted for 3 hours. I cannot describe how young this is drinking. It took some time to open up, but when it did, it was fantastic. If you have a bottle, it is drinking at peak right now.
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In a blind tasting, I would have sworn that this was an old Bordeaux. The color is deep mahogany with a fine red core. The nose is dominated by sweet cherries, eucalyptus, and lots of aged aromas in the vein of balsamic oil, some teak polish (!), a hint of wet iron, as well as a nutty tone. Medium to full bodied attack, very fine but dry tannins, lots of sweet cherries and a bunch of tertiary aromas reminiscent of mahogany, teak and cigars. Almost decadent. Surprisingly fine acidity lifts the aftertaste into a fresh, minty finish that sits for almost a minute. This is just impressing and a good evidence of how well made Sangiovese may age. Fully mature, but for those of you having some bottles left in your cellar; no hurry. This will drink well for another ten years. Is this score too conservative?
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Deep garnet, very slight bricking at the rim. Concur with other recent notes: this is drinking very well. The nose has notes of baked clay earth, leather, and dark cherries. The palate is fresh and a touch glossy (is there some new oak here?), with an overall savory impression but lots of fruit remaining. The dusty tannins are in nice balance with the fruit, leading to a harmonious and satisfying finish. This will probably continue to evolve for another five years or so, but it's hard to imagine it will get better per se, just a little more mellow.
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Deep garnet core with a wide amber circle at the rim. Fascinating nose dominated by blackberries and sweet cherries, but also with tones of well hung meat, vanilla and an exotic whiff of eucalyptus. Full bodied attack with lots of sweet, dark fruit that goes all the way through the tasting curve. The aftertaste is long, dominated by sweet fruit and that mentholated/eucalyptus freshness. Fine grained tannins and good acidity. This wine is at its apex right now, but will keep for many years to come. Impressive stuff. Look forward to meeting this wine again in another 3-4 years. Much better than the last bottle I had some years ago. At this age, there will surely be large bottle variations.
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Wow, just hitting on all cylinders here. Red and black fruits with great persistence on the palate - this really spreads out and covers every nook & cranny of your taste buds.
More earthy red fruits on the nose as well - very, very nice tonight.
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Finished a great bottle of this last night. It is in a great place. Traditional stylings combined with tremendous freshness and a terrific core of unadulterated fruit. One of my favorite Tuscan wines and truly one of the world’s great QPRs at $25-30. If you enjoy chianti and never had this before, hunt down a bottle.
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Perfect dark smooth, aromatic Rufina Sangiovese. A nose of comfort, absolutely balanced. Did not do it justice with a decanter, just drank it with dinner. Satisfied to have 3 more to drink soon.
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The nose here is a little more tied down than the Castell, but there is a lot going on under the surface.
Medium-bodied, and unlike the Castell, great persistence on a finish I am still tasting as I type this. Sweet & sour cherry fruit - right now I prefer this wine.
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This is always a heavy type of Chianti, more similar to Brunello than ordinary Chianti. 2004 is no exception, but it is marked by the less than top-notch vintage. Wonderful aroma dominated by tertiary notes: tea, tobacco, dried cherries, some camphor/mentholate. Full bodied, lots of sweet fruit in the attack. The fruit soon gives way to drier tones reminiscent of tea. The wine has clearly lost fruit, and the dry tones dominate. Long, dry aftertaste with a streak of alcohol. Better with food (we had it with grilled chicken, and the fruit came out quite nice), but should probably have been drunk 3-5 years ago. Nice experience, though.
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Flott moden duft av edelt tørket trevirke, mørke moreller og varme kirsebær. Tenderer nesten mot litt bordeaux-nese etter litt luft, men svært elegant. Medium fyldig frukt i munn og fin strukturert avslutning, med syrlige kirsebær som følger helt ut. Helt perfekt å drikke nå til kullgrillet dry-age ytrefilet av ku. Veldig fin utvikling og topp value.
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5th of 6. Love this wine. Fully mature. Acids have softened a bit. Smells of earth with some underlying red fruits. Tastes like it smells. There is a roundness and richness to this wine, but yet still has the Chianti bite that I love. This is a layered and complex wine. It is time to drink these.
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Dark red with some brown, but lucent. Appealing scent. On the palate with a pronounced acid, medium bodied, complex flavours of underwood, dried fruits, mushrooms paired with black fruits. Tannins are soft and perfect for the structure. Reminds me to an Vino Nobile (di M.) from Avignonesi e.g. Pretty long. Traditional style what is perfect for food. Yum yum. Excellent value. On its peak. Drink now and the coming 5 y.
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Dekantert 1,5 t. Forholdsvis mørk farge. Fiken, plomme og kirsebær. Cedertre. Minnet litt om en bdx. Strålende munnfølelse med lett sødmefull frukt og bra syre. God konsentrasjon. Pent nedslipte tanniner, men holder godt til mat enda. God lengde. Virket drikkeklar nå, men vil fint holde til 2024.
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Saturday night blinds (Chez Nanda, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is red fruited, yet savory, with roasted herbs, red cherries, incense, licorice, earth tones, plums, and raspberries. There is excellent depth with this really showing off the savoriness that Sangiovese can be.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The structure still shows some youth with the tannins being noticeable, but they are silky as well. The feels is refined, savory, and balanced with roasted herbs, red cherries, licorice, earth tones, raspberries, and some leather.
Overall: This is drinking beautifully. It's well balanced and aromatic with a real savory take on both the nose and palate.
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Quite dark still, and sour cherry on the nose. My very experienced friends were heading for Piemonte on this, but not so fast my friends. High quality and very satisfying wine that went really well with reindeer.
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A really enjoyable wine. The suggested drinking window from the wine society suggested that this was on its way out and should be drunk up... However, there's definitely no rush - very good now and has a few years ahead of it.
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Quite reminiscent of a top quality CA Zin: tarry, pencil lead, earth and dark berry fruit wrapped up in a nicely acidic package. Very lively right now, it's good for another 5-10 years, but will it ever taste like Sangiovese ?
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Slightly maderized, perhaps indicative of a flawed cork. Beneath the maderization, a tarry, earthy wine with plentiful fruit. I'll have to see if my other bottle is sound.
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Decanted for several hours before drinking. This is still quite young. There is ample dark fruit and typical Sangiovese dust in the aromas, and on the palate the concentrated fruit depth is tightly wrapped in slightly gritty tannins. There's good freshness here, and I think the wine has a good balance of components to continue to develop well for some years yet. It drinks well enough with the right food now, but this is a young wine to be sure.
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Make sure you have this with food so that you can enjoy the bright clear strawberry fruit and not be frightened off by the racy acidity. Delicious and kept coming back to it over the course of the dinner. Looking forward to my others!
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This is a terrific Chianti. The acidity here is brighter and the wine is more rich and complex than the 2006 we just had. Really drinking well. Has years to go.
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First bottle of this opened since purchase, soft but still interesting. Dark red fruit, with herbal, tobacco and slight medicinal qualities. Medium, finely gritty tannins.
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Almost four years since my last bottle. Not as forward and as intense as in the past, this is now smoother, with red to black fruit, smokey-cherry palate, dried herbs. This has a sandy texture, fine grained. Cherry-menthol finish. With air, very furry tannins, thick mouthfeel, definitely more of an aged aspect than in the past, but still plenty vibrant. Blood orange notes on the finish. Bottle 3 of 6.
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Not my best bottle of this and it took some coaxing to unwind. May be in between the youthful exuberance of a few years ago and mature stage, but there just wasn't as much sweet fruit there.
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Deep brick-tinged purple. Dust on nose. mouth-watering acidity dominates the first impression, the fruit hangs back. Earthy cherry, and plum tones linger. Enough tannins are present to indicate that there may be a few more years left in this one, but I think you should drink 'em if you've got 'em.
Selvapiana produces textbook sangioveses.
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Impressiona la sua integrità. Naso che urla Chianti appena lo versi nel bicchiere. Frutto, fiori, erbe balsamiche. Bocca memorabile ricca di sensazioni tattili dove tannino, acidità e alcool si uniscono in una lunga sinfonia che invita alla beva. Da bere da solo in una fresca serata estiva.
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Verticale Chianti Rùfina Fattoria Selvapiana (Radisson, Roma): Vendemmia nei primi giorni di ottobre. Scuro di cuoio su un bouquet di fiori, integro, fresco, esile, sobrio, rosolio, frutto di bosco e un leggera nota minerale ferrosa (ferrovia). La bocca segue in leggiadria il naso, perfetto equilibrio, frutto integro. Il vino è immobile e pare non sentire i 10 anni che si porta sulle spalle.
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Sappy, incense, tart berry fruit. Bright, fresh, and very Italian with licorice and high acidity. Still seems quite young, but finding some semblance of maturity.
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Great mature sangiovese. Impressive wine with lots of power, concentration and amazing texture. Lovely acidity and great tannins. Best buy in Norway! Still young.
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Tuscany Tasting: Clean dark fruit, lots of tannin, very structured, develops in the glass, some tobacco after a while. Emerging complexity. Bright future. A steal at current prices.
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Upon opening this wine had soaring aromatics of cherry and earth. With air the aromas become more muted. Lovely cherry fruit, earth, with plenty of tannin and grip. This is a big, rich and powerful Chianti Rufina. I think I will keep my remaining bottles a while longer to give the tannins some more time to soften. Very good indeed. Has upside.
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Black cherries, raisins and almond on the nose. Cherries and very ripe fruit, raisins. Moderate freshness, fine but present tannins. Long taste and ending in some honey. The wine is fresh enough to a good balance. I would drink up, but it could be my bottle.
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Very dependable Rufina Riserva. Well made dark and full of berries with a musky note. Decanted for a couple hours and didn't get all the tannins other got. Enjoyed it.
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Nose: Stewed fruit and musty basement. A little bit of leather, almost like new sneakers. Taste: Still really tannic. Needs to decant. Finish is pleasantly bitter. Almost grapefruit on the approach, a nice tartness. Midpalate is a little metallic. Not classic Chianti but really nice. Probably needs another year in the bottle but coming along since the last note.
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So much for "wait a year or so before drinking another"...That's what happens when you pull a bottle during a power outage without access to CT... Similar notes. Comes off a bit thin. Dark fruit, way too much tannin. QPR loser.
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Opaque purple, with slight signs of ageing on rim. Intensely aromatic nose: sour cherries, and something savoury like charred beef, and perhaps a slight note of decay like a forest floor. On the palate, high acidity is the first striking feature - as it often is with Rufina - but that's not a problem, especially with the right food. Tannins are pretty well integrated at this age, though no doubt it will mellow even more. Fruit flavours are there in the shape of black cherry preserve. I have come to love Selvapiana's wines, but they are not always easy to like and this is a good example: it is a wine of place, a wine of character, a wine that challenges the drinker and asks questions. What it doesn't do is slip down smoothly and un-noticed. This bottle is not the best Bucerchaile I've encountered (youthful 2007s win that accolade) but I am glad I will be able to experience it maturing further, and challenging me more over the years.
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Some nice, classy, dark fruit covered in tannin. Shame, it tastes like someone hit this with too much oak. Better after a bit of air, but I'm not seeing Galloni's drinking window to 2022. Will wait a year or so before drinking another, but right now I overpaid on this wine.
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Second bottle from a six pack bought on release, and it's smoother, not as primary, slightly more evolved than that first bottle years ago, but it still needs years more in the cellar. Drank over three nights. On the first, plenty big, too big even, stacked with fruit and structure, bright acidity, but needs to relax. Lots of fine sediment swimming around. On the second night, the tannins have really clamped down, the palate shows like a cone of compressed fruit and energy just waiting to burst. It's not until the third night when the wine has calmed; no degradation, showing very pure and calm and enjoyable. Check again in three years. Should be great.
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P & P - lots of tannins, a little bitter edge. Also lots of dark, dark, blue fruit and cherries. Bad stuff blew off after awhile, nice drinking wine. Very acidic, excellent choice for what Chianti's good for. Enjoy with Southern Italian fare. 2004, but I think it still needs more bottle time.
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One of my favorite wines in all Tuscany, here at a ridiculous price, just $24. Full-bodied and racy, with a sexy musky overtone that seems to be a hallmark of this particular wine. Deep red and black fruits, that heady perfume, perfectly balanced and great with food. The labeled 14% alcohol is a touch hot near the finish but I suspect it will integrate with a little more time.
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Tasted blind. Green, vegetal nose with some olive and red fruit. Black cherry, licorice on the palate with a little chocolate in the background. High acid and medium high tannins mask the fruit at this point, but very interesting profile. This probably could've used a little more time in the decanter.
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Nose: Herbs, dirt, funk/poop, leather, fruit. Taste: Nice tartness and acidity on the approach though still quite tannic which dulls the finish. Has potential, but still needs time in the bottle or a big decant.
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Really good. Satisfying, fruity, good tannins. Aging nicely and seems pretty-well ready to drink. Color is lightish, nose is a bit reticent, but all-in-all, delicious & worth the money.
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This wine is stacked! Definitely needs more time to show its best. Gorgeous medium to dark red. Smells of black cherry, earth and leather. Tart and tannic. The fruit is hiding between a wall of tannins and acids. That being said, you know this wine will be much better in another 2-3 years. Maybe longer. 88 tonight/probably 92 in time.
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100% Sangiovese: Lush, fruity nose. Spicy, with cherry, orange peel, incense, violets. Somewhat lifted and very potent. This was absolutely singing after an hour in the glass. Pretty racy acidity, big tannic stucture, lots of tart cherry and bitter almond. Really nice wine. 91-92
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same comments as wineinsider below with the addition of growing tertiary notes of mushroom and loam. My bottle tasted like it was stored just a little too warm and was a little ahead of schedule.
took it out to dinner at Piccolino in Seattle. It paired very well with the carpaccio, gnocci with goat cheese in rich red sauce, and, especially, the house made chocolate mousse cake plated on cherry syrup. With this dessert the wine was absolutely ideal. It was a little much w/ the pasta frutti di mare.
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Very high toned nose of violets, cherries, patent leather, some dark fruits. Fairly tart palate good body, fruit, and unresolved tannins. Excellent stuffing; would give another 2 years. Seems a steal at $22.
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Young Chianti in the Fort: This was my favorite wine, as it possessed the most depth and richness. But still, it was very Chianti in flavor and acid. It seems like there could be some new oak used here, but it's very subtle and a positive. This wine is already very nice, with an expressive bouquet of red currants and cranberries, with a lovely layered mouthfeel, good concentration and length. Drinkable now, better later.
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This is very good and ready to drink now. Modest nose, but very nice balance of fruit and tannin on the palate. Long, lovely finish. If you like a little fruit in your Chianti, this ones for you. I will buy some more.
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Baby Brunello. Aromas of Big dark fruit, tobacco, tar, some toasted oak. Dense and focused with big tannins. This is approachable now but will also benefit from a few more years of cellar age. Tasted twice, consistent notes. (Best from 2009-2015) - JD91
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Decanted two hours. On the nose, showing blueberry, crushed stone, walnut shell, gravel, and glue, with strawberry tailing at the end. The nose is REALLY fantastically beautiful here. Light to medium bodied, showing quite a bit of drying tannins in the mouth, along with the wonderful blueberry. Finish is actually very dry with some intense bitter tannins (something the '03 didn't show). I think this one's too young to be drinking today (very tightly wound on the finish), but definitely has the structure to evolve into a true beauty. 91 today, but will surely be a few points higher given a couple years.
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Opaque with a hint of age. Very youthful nose, slightly fruity. Very rip luscious fruit, very soft tannins, soft mid palate, great length, good drinking now but keep 5-10 years.
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5/19/2023 - Apotheca Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP - still dark in color with only just a tad brickening at the edge. Promising color! Explotion of cherry, tar, cedar and forest floor on the nose, telling me this beauty is starting to grow up. Still some youthful characters, but definately entering next level. Fresh acidity combined with tannins that both are present but obviously starting to fade. But make no mistake - they are still there, and can easily be set to work with the right dish. Looking forward to see how this develops during the evening.
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11/3/2022 - blanquito wrote:
Lovely bouquet, spicy and citric with a captivating sweet florality that reminds me of syrah. Smooth, rounded, with nice fruit and flesh, but the palate can’t run with the nose. Tasty and so easy to enjoy… the fruit fades with ah hour of air, time to drink up.
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10/21/2022 - dagij Likes this wine: 90 Points
A Sangiovese at 16 years, is it any good? Yes, this wine clearly is. The color is quite aged, verging on amber, but with a fine ruby core. The nose is dusty at first, almost like being in a bookshop with old books. The dusty nose is reduced after an hour or son, giving way to tertiary aromas like camphor, tobacco, and a hint of sweet/dried fruit. Full bodied attack, lots of sweet glycerine feel an the first part. On the mid palate, the reduced fruit becomes easily detectable, and the wine dries out on the finish, leaving the aftertaste to the tones of camphor, teak polish, and tobacco. A bit of alcoholic warmth is evident at the aftertaste, but the dryness of the wine still balances the warmth quite fine. Aftertaste of camphor and ester oil, with a bit too dominating dryness. A wine for lovers of mature sangiovese wines, showing that this is a grape that is doing much better in aging than many still believe. Drink now, but - if you like the etheric quality of old wines - keep for some more years.
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6/7/2022 - Joeyskills Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. I cannot describe how young this is drinking. It took some time to open up, but when it did, it was fantastic. If you have a bottle, it is drinking at peak right now.
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12/7/2021 - Bob H wrote:
Gorgeous - but sadly, also my last bottle.
Mature nose with earthy red & black fruit; expansive on the palate, with decent acidity. Rustic in a good way, and very satisfying.
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6/13/2021 - dagij Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a blind tasting, I would have sworn that this was an old Bordeaux. The color is deep mahogany with a fine red core. The nose is dominated by sweet cherries, eucalyptus, and lots of aged aromas in the vein of balsamic oil, some teak polish (!), a hint of wet iron, as well as a nutty tone. Medium to full bodied attack, very fine but dry tannins, lots of sweet cherries and a bunch of tertiary aromas reminiscent of mahogany, teak and cigars. Almost decadent. Surprisingly fine acidity lifts the aftertaste into a fresh, minty finish that sits for almost a minute. This is just impressing and a good evidence of how well made Sangiovese may age. Fully mature, but for those of you having some bottles left in your cellar; no hurry. This will drink well for another ten years. Is this score too conservative?
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6/3/2021 - jlm wrote:
Deep garnet, very slight bricking at the rim. Concur with other recent notes: this is drinking very well. The nose has notes of baked clay earth, leather, and dark cherries. The palate is fresh and a touch glossy (is there some new oak here?), with an overall savory impression but lots of fruit remaining. The dusty tannins are in nice balance with the fruit, leading to a harmonious and satisfying finish. This will probably continue to evolve for another five years or so, but it's hard to imagine it will get better per se, just a little more mellow.
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4/21/2021 - dagij Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet core with a wide amber circle at the rim. Fascinating nose dominated by blackberries and sweet cherries, but also with tones of well hung meat, vanilla and an exotic whiff of eucalyptus. Full bodied attack with lots of sweet, dark fruit that goes all the way through the tasting curve. The aftertaste is long, dominated by sweet fruit and that mentholated/eucalyptus freshness. Fine grained tannins and good acidity. This wine is at its apex right now, but will keep for many years to come. Impressive stuff. Look forward to meeting this wine again in another 3-4 years. Much better than the last bottle I had some years ago. At this age, there will surely be large bottle variations.
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9/21/2020 - Bob H wrote:
Wow, just hitting on all cylinders here. Red and black fruits with great persistence on the palate - this really spreads out and covers every nook & cranny of your taste buds.
More earthy red fruits on the nose as well - very, very nice tonight.
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4/4/2020 - blanquito wrote:
Finished a great bottle of this last night. It is in a great place. Traditional stylings combined with tremendous freshness and a terrific core of unadulterated fruit. One of my favorite Tuscan wines and truly one of the world’s great QPRs at $25-30. If you enjoy chianti and never had this before, hunt down a bottle.
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10/6/2019 - jenniaa wrote: 89 Points
Perfect dark smooth, aromatic Rufina Sangiovese. A nose of comfort, absolutely balanced. Did not do it justice with a decanter, just drank it with dinner. Satisfied to have 3 more to drink soon.
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7/13/2019 - guitarkim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still going strong. Excellent stuff. Consistent with last note
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2/9/2019 - Bob H wrote:
The nose here is a little more tied down than the Castell, but there is a lot going on under the surface.
Medium-bodied, and unlike the Castell, great persistence on a finish I am still tasting as I type this. Sweet & sour cherry fruit - right now I prefer this wine.
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2/6/2019 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last bottle. Ready to go. Lovely. Dark cherry, plenty of grip. Damp earth. Vibrant. Long finish.
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11/11/2018 - dagij Likes this wine: 88 Points
This is always a heavy type of Chianti, more similar to Brunello than ordinary Chianti. 2004 is no exception, but it is marked by the less than top-notch vintage. Wonderful aroma dominated by tertiary notes: tea, tobacco, dried cherries, some camphor/mentholate. Full bodied, lots of sweet fruit in the attack. The fruit soon gives way to drier tones reminiscent of tea. The wine has clearly lost fruit, and the dry tones dominate. Long, dry aftertaste with a streak of alcohol. Better with food (we had it with grilled chicken, and the fruit came out quite nice), but should probably have been drunk 3-5 years ago. Nice experience, though.
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8/24/2018 - Henda wrote: flawed
Mega-ox.
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6/17/2018 - Henda wrote: 91 Points
Flott moden duft av edelt tørket trevirke, mørke moreller og varme kirsebær. Tenderer nesten mot litt bordeaux-nese etter litt luft, men svært elegant. Medium fyldig frukt i munn og fin strukturert avslutning, med syrlige kirsebær som følger helt ut. Helt perfekt å drikke nå til kullgrillet dry-age ytrefilet av ku. Veldig fin utvikling og topp value.
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4/24/2018 - bcg14 wrote: 86 Points
Lacked fruit to go with the structure.
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1/25/2018 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
5th of 6. Love this wine. Fully mature. Acids have softened a bit. Smells of earth with some underlying red fruits. Tastes like it smells. There is a roundness and richness to this wine, but yet still has the Chianti bite that I love. This is a layered and complex wine. It is time to drink these.
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12/21/2017 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
More oak nose and palate than remembered. It was a pleasant bottle, but didn't meet my expectations / remembrances.
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9/24/2017 - Dancing with bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red with some brown, but lucent. Appealing scent. On the palate with a pronounced acid, medium bodied, complex flavours of underwood, dried fruits, mushrooms paired with black fruits. Tannins are soft and perfect for the structure. Reminds me to an Vino Nobile (di M.) from Avignonesi e.g. Pretty long. Traditional style what is perfect for food.
Yum yum.
Excellent value. On its peak. Drink now and the coming 5 y.
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7/24/2017 - kfinsrud wrote: 91 Points
Dekantert 1,5 t. Forholdsvis mørk farge. Fiken, plomme og kirsebær. Cedertre. Minnet litt om en bdx. Strålende munnfølelse med lett sødmefull frukt og bra syre. God konsentrasjon. Pent nedslipte tanniner, men holder godt til mat enda. God lengde. Virket drikkeklar nå, men vil fint holde til 2024.
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1/21/2017 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Saturday night blinds (Chez Nanda, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is red fruited, yet savory, with roasted herbs, red cherries, incense, licorice, earth tones, plums, and raspberries. There is excellent depth with this really showing off the savoriness that Sangiovese can be.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The structure still shows some youth with the tannins being noticeable, but they are silky as well. The feels is refined, savory, and balanced with roasted herbs, red cherries, licorice, earth tones, raspberries, and some leather.
Overall: This is drinking beautifully. It's well balanced and aromatic with a real savory take on both the nose and palate.
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1/8/2017 - olemski wrote: 92 Points
Quite dark still, and sour cherry on the nose. My very experienced friends were heading for Piemonte on this, but not so fast my friends. High quality and very satisfying wine that went really well with reindeer.
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1/7/2017 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
Cherry and pine aromas with earthy notes. Reminded of a Barolo on the nose. Powerful, firm and structured. A bit raw and rustique.
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12/24/2016 - wari Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nail polish. Well integrated tannins. Overall quite excellent.
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10/7/2016 - Lordswood wrote: 90 Points
Coffee and chocolate and dark fruits. Very nice and arguably requiring drinking within the next 2 - 3 years.
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6/1/2016 - bvin Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really enjoyable wine. The suggested drinking window from the wine society suggested that this was on its way out and should be drunk up... However, there's definitely no rush - very good now and has a few years ahead of it.
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5/14/2016 - MLipton Likes this wine:
Quite reminiscent of a top quality CA Zin: tarry, pencil lead, earth and dark berry fruit wrapped up in a nicely acidic package. Very lively right now, it's good for another 5-10 years, but will it ever taste like Sangiovese ?
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1/26/2016 - JGinMO wrote: 90 Points
aging nicely. give 45 mins in the glass
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1/19/2016 - MLipton wrote:
Slightly maderized, perhaps indicative of a flawed cork. Beneath the maderization, a tarry, earthy wine with plentiful fruit. I'll have to see if my other bottle is sound.
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12/17/2015 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Lovely resinous incense, sour cherry nose. Sweet-tart palate, plum, pie cherry, bitter orange peel. Really good.
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12/4/2015 - jlm wrote:
Decanted for several hours before drinking. This is still quite young. There is ample dark fruit and typical Sangiovese dust in the aromas, and on the palate the concentrated fruit depth is tightly wrapped in slightly gritty tannins. There's good freshness here, and I think the wine has a good balance of components to continue to develop well for some years yet. It drinks well enough with the right food now, but this is a young wine to be sure.
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11/8/2015 - olemski wrote: 91 Points
Full and fruity, with a sweet-and-sour core. Some secondary aromas, but this can go much further.
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8/24/2015 - andtheodor wrote: 87 Points
Not my best bottle, quite marred by brett.
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5/17/2015 - Lordswood wrote: 91 Points
Make sure you have this with food so that you can enjoy the bright clear strawberry fruit and not be frightened off by the racy acidity. Delicious and kept coming back to it over the course of the dinner. Looking forward to my others!
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5/7/2015 - winemaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a terrific Chianti. The acidity here is brighter and the wine is more rich and complex than the 2006 we just had. Really drinking well. Has years to go.
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4/3/2015 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
First bottle of this opened since purchase, soft but still interesting. Dark red fruit, with herbal, tobacco and slight medicinal qualities. Medium, finely gritty tannins.
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2/28/2015 - Pknut wrote:
Almost four years since my last bottle. Not as forward and as intense as in the past, this is now smoother, with red to black fruit, smokey-cherry palate, dried herbs. This has a sandy texture, fine grained. Cherry-menthol finish. With air, very furry tannins, thick mouthfeel, definitely more of an aged aspect than in the past, but still plenty vibrant. Blood orange notes on the finish. Bottle 3 of 6.
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2/5/2015 - andtheodor wrote: 90 Points
Not my best bottle of this and it took some coaxing to unwind. May be in between the youthful exuberance of a few years ago and mature stage, but there just wasn't as much sweet fruit there.
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2/1/2015 - BernieMSY wrote: 91 Points
Deep brick-tinged purple. Dust on nose.
mouth-watering acidity dominates the first impression, the fruit hangs back. Earthy cherry, and plum tones linger. Enough tannins are present to indicate that there may be a few more years left in this one, but I think you should drink 'em if you've got 'em.
Selvapiana produces textbook sangioveses.
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8/13/2014 - paolonardi wrote:
Impressiona la sua integrità. Naso che urla Chianti appena lo versi nel bicchiere. Frutto, fiori, erbe balsamiche. Bocca memorabile ricca di sensazioni tattili dove tannino, acidità e alcool si uniscono in una lunga sinfonia che invita alla beva. Da bere da solo in una fresca serata estiva.
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8/1/2014 - LWI wrote: 90 Points
Still tannic, lacking some in the mid tasting curve
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3/6/2014 - Openwines Likes this wine: 87 Points
Drinking well with dried fruit character of ageing alongside the cherry and earth notes.
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1/26/2014 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
Cherry aromas with earthy notes. Firm and structured. Does not appear as oaky as the 1999. Still young, and seems to have a long life ahead of it.
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1/25/2014 - paolonardi wrote:
Verticale Chianti Rùfina Fattoria Selvapiana (Radisson, Roma): Vendemmia nei primi giorni di ottobre. Scuro di cuoio su un bouquet di fiori, integro, fresco, esile, sobrio, rosolio, frutto di bosco e un leggera nota minerale ferrosa (ferrovia). La bocca segue in leggiadria il naso, perfetto equilibrio, frutto integro. Il vino è immobile e pare non sentire i 10 anni che si porta sulle spalle.
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1/11/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Sappy, incense, tart berry fruit. Bright, fresh, and very Italian with licorice and high acidity. Still seems quite young, but finding some semblance of maturity.
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9/26/2013 - BrunelloBob wrote: 88 Points
Better, but tannin still a bit heavy over dark fruit. Nice nose. If I had another bottle, I'd push it out 5 years and see what happens.
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9/1/2013 - larsrog wrote: 93 Points
Great mature sangiovese.
Impressive wine with lots of power, concentration and amazing texture.
Lovely acidity and great tannins.
Best buy in Norway!
Still young.
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8/6/2013 - guitarkim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aroma: cherries, leather, earth, cellar, tobacco
Full-bodied with excellent acidity and firm tannins. Excellent balance with meaty texture.
Excellent length.
This one has rested som years in my cellar, and finally I dicided to try one. Wow, what a wine! Amazing Sangiovese from Rufina.
Decanted 3 hrs. Mature, but with many, many years left. Do decant or hold.
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5/9/2013 - pvd420 wrote: 92 Points
Classic
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3/15/2013 - LWI wrote: 92 Points
Tuscany Tasting: Clean dark fruit, lots of tannin, very structured, develops in the glass, some tobacco after a while. Emerging complexity. Bright future. A steal at current prices.
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11/1/2012 - JGinMO wrote: 92 Points
Still young. Give it air
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10/19/2012 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
Upon opening this wine had soaring aromatics of cherry and earth. With air the aromas become more muted. Lovely cherry fruit, earth, with plenty of tannin and grip. This is a big, rich and powerful Chianti Rufina. I think I will keep my remaining bottles a while longer to give the tannins some more time to soften. Very good indeed. Has upside.
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9/7/2012 - Morten Overwien Sletten wrote: 86 Points
Black cherries, raisins and almond on the nose. Cherries and very ripe fruit, raisins. Moderate freshness, fine but present tannins. Long taste and ending in some honey. The wine is fresh enough to a good balance. I would drink up, but it could be my bottle.
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5/23/2012 - Duncan wrote: 90 Points
In line with my earlier note, but I'm feeling less eloquent tonight so will say no more.
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4/30/2012 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 92 Points
Great wine
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3/3/2012 - brunellolover wrote: 90 Points
Very dependable Rufina Riserva. Well made dark and full of berries with a musky note. Decanted for a couple hours and didn't get all the tannins other got. Enjoyed it.
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12/7/2011 - oog wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Stewed fruit and musty basement. A little bit of leather, almost like new sneakers. Taste: Still really tannic. Needs to decant. Finish is pleasantly bitter. Almost grapefruit on the approach, a nice tartness. Midpalate is a little metallic. Not classic Chianti but really nice. Probably needs another year in the bottle but coming along since the last note.
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11/3/2011 - BrunelloBob wrote: 87 Points
So much for "wait a year or so before drinking another"...That's what happens when you pull a bottle during a power outage without access to CT...
Similar notes. Comes off a bit thin. Dark fruit, way too much tannin. QPR loser.
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10/16/2011 - JGinMO wrote: 93 Points
Very big for a chianti, feel like I should let these rest another 3-4 years before re-trying. Very enjoyable, just feel it will improve as it mellows
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10/13/2011 - nschmidt wrote: 91 Points
Drank with pasta at home. Very good chianti but still quite tannic. Can definitely last quite a few more years.
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9/17/2011 - Duncan wrote: 90 Points
Opaque purple, with slight signs of ageing on rim. Intensely aromatic nose: sour cherries, and something savoury like charred beef, and perhaps a slight note of decay like a forest floor. On the palate, high acidity is the first striking feature - as it often is with Rufina - but that's not a problem, especially with the right food. Tannins are pretty well integrated at this age, though no doubt it will mellow even more. Fruit flavours are there in the shape of black cherry preserve. I have come to love Selvapiana's wines, but they are not always easy to like and this is a good example: it is a wine of place, a wine of character, a wine that challenges the drinker and asks questions. What it doesn't do is slip down smoothly and un-noticed. This bottle is not the best Bucerchaile I've encountered (youthful 2007s win that accolade) but I am glad I will be able to experience it maturing further, and challenging me more over the years.
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5/30/2011 - BrunelloBob wrote: 87 Points
Some nice, classy, dark fruit covered in tannin. Shame, it tastes like someone hit this with too much oak. Better after a bit of air, but I'm not seeing Galloni's drinking window to 2022. Will wait a year or so before drinking another, but right now I overpaid on this wine.
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5/20/2011 - Pknut wrote:
Second bottle from a six pack bought on release, and it's smoother, not as primary, slightly more evolved than that first bottle years ago, but it still needs years more in the cellar. Drank over three nights. On the first, plenty big, too big even, stacked with fruit and structure, bright acidity, but needs to relax. Lots of fine sediment swimming around. On the second night, the tannins have really clamped down, the palate shows like a cone of compressed fruit and energy just waiting to burst. It's not until the third night when the wine has calmed; no degradation, showing very pure and calm and enjoyable. Check again in three years. Should be great.
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5/4/2011 - MuseMaven wrote: 89 Points
P & P - lots of tannins, a little bitter edge. Also lots of dark, dark, blue fruit and cherries. Bad stuff blew off after awhile, nice drinking wine. Very acidic, excellent choice for what Chianti's good for. Enjoy with Southern Italian fare. 2004, but I think it still needs more bottle time.
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4/24/2011 - bevetroppo Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of my favorite wines in all Tuscany, here at a ridiculous price, just $24. Full-bodied and racy, with a sexy musky overtone that seems to be a hallmark of this particular wine. Deep red and black fruits, that heady perfume, perfectly balanced and great with food. The labeled 14% alcohol is a touch hot near the finish but I suspect it will integrate with a little more time.
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4/16/2011 - pete s. wrote: 88 Points
Tasted blind. Green, vegetal nose with some olive and red fruit. Black cherry, licorice on the palate with a little chocolate in the background. High acid and medium high tannins mask the fruit at this point, but very interesting profile. This probably could've used a little more time in the decanter.
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4/13/2011 - oog wrote: 89 Points
Nose: Herbs, dirt, funk/poop, leather, fruit. Taste: Nice tartness and acidity on the approach though still quite tannic which dulls the finish. Has potential, but still needs time in the bottle or a big decant.
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3/24/2011 - MuseMaven wrote: 91 Points
Really good. Satisfying, fruity, good tannins. Aging nicely and seems pretty-well ready to drink. Color is lightish, nose is a bit reticent, but all-in-all, delicious & worth the money.
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3/12/2011 - brunellolover wrote: 89 Points
great drink that never disappoints.
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1/8/2011 - nschmidt wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Ah Pizz. Wonderfully dry and smooth. All the chianti flavors with a big mouth feel.
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8/11/2010 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
This wine is stacked! Definitely needs more time to show its best. Gorgeous medium to dark red. Smells of black cherry, earth and leather. Tart and tannic. The fruit is hiding between a wall of tannins and acids. That being said, you know this wine will be much better in another 2-3 years. Maybe longer. 88 tonight/probably 92 in time.
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6/30/2010 - the godfather wrote:
very tasty as always
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6/10/2010 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
100% Sangiovese: Lush, fruity nose. Spicy, with cherry, orange peel, incense, violets. Somewhat lifted and very potent. This was absolutely singing after an hour in the glass. Pretty racy acidity, big tannic stucture, lots of tart cherry and bitter almond. Really nice wine. 91-92
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2/7/2010 - the godfather wrote:
once again this was all over, started very tight but opened nice
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2/6/2010 - the godfather wrote: 92 Points
lots of variation with these bottles, this one was extraordinary
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1/31/2010 - hankj wrote: 90 Points
same comments as wineinsider below with the addition of growing tertiary notes of mushroom and loam. My bottle tasted like it was stored just a little too warm and was a little ahead of schedule.
took it out to dinner at Piccolino in Seattle. It paired very well with the carpaccio, gnocci with goat cheese in rich red sauce, and, especially, the house made chocolate mousse cake plated on cherry syrup. With this dessert the wine was absolutely ideal. It was a little much w/ the pasta frutti di mare.
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12/20/2009 - the godfather wrote: 90 Points
this wine has been all over the place from beautifull aged and developed, to tannic beast
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12/10/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Very high toned nose of violets, cherries, patent leather, some dark fruits. Fairly tart palate good body, fruit, and unresolved tannins. Excellent stuffing; would give another 2 years. Seems a steal at $22.
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11/14/2009 - the godfather wrote: 89 Points
Same great nose but tight and a bit leathery on this occasion
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10/29/2009 - blanquito wrote: 92 Points
Young Chianti in the Fort: This was my favorite wine, as it possessed the most depth and richness. But still, it was very Chianti in flavor and acid. It seems like there could be some new oak used here, but it's very subtle and a positive. This wine is already very nice, with an expressive bouquet of red currants and cranberries, with a lovely layered mouthfeel, good concentration and length. Drinkable now, better later.
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10/13/2009 - the godfather wrote: 92 Points
an incredible chianti, firing on all cylinders, i'm proabably under rating this
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9/5/2009 - jamesmenendez wrote: 92 Points
Decanted an hour before and served at just below room temperature - very good indeed and set to get even better, I reckon.
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8/30/2009 - the godfather wrote: 91 Points
this is a lovely modern styled chianti, very drinkable
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8/30/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 91 Points
Totally open and enjoyable. Great nose. Bursting with red fruit on the palate. Spice and some earthiness. Great with food.
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6/20/2009 - timsmith wrote: 93 Points
Very full bodied, rich, old world Chianti - delicious. Lovely bouquet - lasted the whole bottle
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6/11/2009 - 97edwardc wrote: 92 Points
This is very good and ready to drink now. Modest nose, but very nice balance of fruit and tannin on the palate. Long, lovely finish. If you like a little fruit in your Chianti, this ones for you. I will buy some more.
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2/15/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 91 Points
Baby Brunello. Aromas of Big dark fruit, tobacco, tar, some toasted oak. Dense and focused with big tannins. This is approachable now but will also benefit from a few more years of cellar age. Tasted twice, consistent notes. (Best from 2009-2015) - JD91
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9/12/2008 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 91 Points
Decanted two hours. On the nose, showing blueberry, crushed stone, walnut shell, gravel, and glue, with strawberry tailing at the end. The nose is REALLY fantastically beautiful here. Light to medium bodied, showing quite a bit of drying tannins in the mouth, along with the wonderful blueberry. Finish is actually very dry with some intense bitter tannins (something the '03 didn't show). I think this one's too young to be drinking today (very tightly wound on the finish), but definitely has the structure to evolve into a true beauty. 91 today, but will surely be a few points higher given a couple years.
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8/27/2008 - il_diavolo wrote: 90 Points
plum, cherries, drinking well and only moderately tannic. nice chianti for sure
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11/26/2007 - tendring wrote: 91 Points
Opaque with a hint of age.
Very youthful nose, slightly fruity.
Very rip luscious fruit, very soft tannins, soft mid palate, great length, good drinking now but keep 5-10 years.
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