A really a nice surprise, as I forgot I had this in the cellar. Perhaps at peak or just about to peak. Slight bricking, dark ruby in the center. Full bodied. Definitely blackberry on the palate. Slight mature flavours but not as much as expected. Acidity is there and noticeable but I think it gives good lift to the wine. Some grainy tannins noticeable on the back of the tongue but the wine is smooth up front. Some wood noticeable on the nose, but well integrated on the palate. Medium-long finish. Some heat evident on the finish. I really liked this and it went well with a food. It can still age for years but I don't think it will improve.
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This is still drinking really well! Does not seem at end of life to me yet. PnP - smooth, dark fruit, some heat which mellows after an hour. Very enjoyable.
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Wow - All grown up and showing nicely. A truly enjoyable experience from sip to finish with great mouth filling depth in the fruit and long finish. A little more acid might make it a better than 90 rating.
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Drinking well now with 1 hour of air(not decanted). This wine is really spreading its wings and showing more depth with moderate acidity and smooth tannins. I picked this up for ~$30 about 3 years ago (-:
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Generally agree with the other reviews on this one. This was especially good the first night and while still cool. It was less complex and less interesting on the 2nd night.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of barnyard, berries and cherries. Flavors of berries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.
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Beautiful clear ruby garnet color and dense but somewhat translucent. The smells are currants, blackberry, cherry, and damp earthiness. The tastes are cherry, tea, espresso, blackberry, currants, vanilla, and earthiness. The tannins are fruity with fine, velvety texture. The acidity is good and the finish is delicious and long with just a little heat.
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A complex super Tuscan with a sense of place. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot, Alicante, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc, this wine opens with an expressive bouquet of dark raspberries, grilled herbs, and vanilla oak. On the palate, it shows formidable density and richness, with a warmth that captures the best qualities of Maremma. Clearly intended for the cellar, this impressive wine will continue to evolve gracefully for an additional 5-7 years.
Tenuta Poggio Verrano is the Maremma property of Francesco Bolla. In a previous life, he made Soave and other wines from the Veneto before leaving the family Bolla brand.
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Pop and pour. Dark fruits with a nice balance of acidity and a long finish. Expansive nose of sweet fruits and mild spice. I agree this is better on the cooler side as the tannins become more pronounced as the wine warms above 18 C.
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Cab/Merlot, then Alicante, Sangiovese. Nose shows black fruit, tar, spiced cherry, menthol, green pepper. Palate shows big style, blackberry, fig, wet leather, black plum, medium plus acidity and tannins, nice dry finish. This is their current release, held back in bottle and the development shows. Could use even more time to develop the mid-palate.
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Only eight months since I first sampled but wow has it improved. Powerful complex nose and initial taste. Lot's of dark and red fruit but there's graphite and leather too with just a touch of spice. Long dry finish. Good with cheese before dinner, even better with dinner. XFACTOR review nails it
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Unbeleiveable value at less than $30 from WTSO.com. Paired well with grilled ribeye, fried potatoes and asparagus. Deep, dense glass staining eggplant color, demure nose of dried black fruit, deep density on the mid palate with nice balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Excellent smooth texture resulting in a remarkable mouth feel. Great finish with tobacco and spice notes. Not a great deal of finesse, which I think is somewhat an overrated characteristic..... but packs a lot of flavor from start to finish. I agree with others, this wine is great now, but has great cellar time potential.
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Wine Spectator notes for this bottling are spot on - 100%. This is possibly the best bottle I have bought in a while, at any price. Octopus ink purple hue. Well structured red fruit and pyroxene mineral - braced with broad-leaf tobacco and sweet, dried herbs - and firm bold tannins frame a fantastic effort with a bit of a suave entry that roars to a muscular finish. Drinking superbly now, but serious longevity. Does better at a lower 60* range, becomes a bit sweeter at finish with time. 93/A= 50/5/12/9/8/9
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Excites the nose with fragrances of black berries with a touch of vanilla. Enjoyed while cooking up the evening meal but was even better with the pasta and red sauce. Nicely balanced with a long grippy finish.
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Solid and well-rounded, with velvety tannin and an integrated range of red and dark fruit on top of hints of spice. Maybe I should have decanted, but felt the wine lacked sufficient depth and complexity to justify the price. Will decant next time and see what happens.
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Gave 3 hours in the decanter, and could have used a few more. Deep jeweled purple in the glass. Interesting nose of wood, spice, animal-y funk, vanilla and drop dead ripe black and blue berries. The palate rolls with rich smooth concentrated fruit and enough still-fiery tannin to provide a spicy backbone - together giving a complex, strong shouldered profile that doesn't go over the edge at all. There's a dark earthiness all around tinged with chocolate. Finish lingers with chew in the mouth. Wondering if more time in the bottle would take this wine even farther. PJG: 90
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of sweet fruits and vanilla spice. Great full bodied mouth with medium acidity, smooth tannins and a long finish. Balanced and great now. A new Beauty from Bolgheri. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. I found this wine at the SAQ for $33!
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Let the wine air out in carafe for at least 2 hours...initial nose bad (rotten manderine) and remover... Thought the bottle was off or flawed... Then the nose became much better with a very intense mix of apricot, cherry, cedar and anise nose. The palate is equally impressive with rich elegant tannins. The wine expands in the mouth and is very complexe. This is strange but I feel like i'm drinking a mix of good barolo with added sangiovese and pomerol??. This wine is impressive and completly destabilyses me, but in a good way. The mix of the blend is very unusual (40%cab, 30%merlot, Sangiovese, cab franc and alicante) and so is the taste...The wine is very tight and of high quality and should age very well. Can't wait to see where this wine is headed!
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Le vin est très sombre, presque noir, complètement opaque. Au nez, beaucoup de fruits noirs, du bois de cèdre, des épices et un soupçon de chocolat amer. En bouche il y a de la matière, c'est tissé serré et c'est très goûteux, mais coule bien. Fruits noirs (mûres, bleuets, cerises), épices, un peu de bois, mais bien intégré. L'acidité est juste assez présente pour équilibrer le tout et laisser penser qu'un repos de 5-8 serait mérité. Appelle une belle pièce de viande. Excellent +
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Tasted at the 15/5/2010 Decanter magazine Masterclass on Tuscany headed by Steven Spurrier. Medium + purple with very evident blue hues on the rim. Nose brings to mind Cabernet blend. Sweet berries and cedar wood. In the mouth has velvety texture, the wine is rich, fleshy with ripe fruit, sweetness along with minerality and chocolatey flavours. Tannins are abundant, coarse grained but very well rounded. Certainly a young wine, but enjoyable from now. The aftertaste is very nice and complex and elusive. Finish reminds a Cabernet at first, with its berrie and cedar flavours, but as the wine goes down a classic sour cherry and earthy Sangiovese character emerges.
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12/22/2021 - cisco wrote: 91 Points
A really a nice surprise, as I forgot I had this in the cellar. Perhaps at peak or just about to peak. Slight bricking, dark ruby in the center. Full bodied. Definitely blackberry on the palate. Slight mature flavours but not as much as expected. Acidity is there and noticeable but I think it gives good lift to the wine. Some grainy tannins noticeable on the back of the tongue but the wine is smooth up front. Some wood noticeable on the nose, but well integrated on the palate. Medium-long finish. Some heat evident on the finish. I really liked this and it went well with a food. It can still age for years but I don't think it will improve.
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6/23/2020 - citizen1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is still drinking really well! Does not seem at end of life to me yet. PnP - smooth, dark fruit, some heat which mellows after an hour. Very enjoyable.
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9/29/2019 - cburgner Likes this wine: 89 Points
Last bottle. Still enjoyable and balanced, but the finish was not as smooth as I would have hoped.
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1/3/2018 - Watchster wrote: 90 Points
A bit acidic alone; better with food.
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11/17/2017 - cburgner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very well rounded and nice finish. Drank by itself and it was amazing.
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6/17/2017 - cburgner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing balance and smooth tannins. Enjoyed with ribeye then solo.
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3/4/2017 - afketter wrote: 92 Points
Still going quite strong if you like the style. Big dark fruit and a thick, chewy wine.
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7/10/2015 - MindMuse wrote: 90 Points
Clunkier right now that the 2003 and 2004 were at similar age, but promising with its considerable extract and power. 89 now with probable 90+ future.
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5/22/2015 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened an hour+ before drinking, and it went well. Good time to open them.
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5/14/2015 - fgar59 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Continues to improve. Needs an hour or two to open up.
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5/10/2015 - mrpaper126@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Wow - All grown up and showing nicely. A truly enjoyable experience from sip to finish with great mouth filling depth in the fruit and long finish. A little more acid might make it a better than 90 rating.
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4/6/2015 - Uncle John wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well now with 1 hour of air(not decanted). This wine is really spreading its wings and showing more depth with moderate acidity and smooth tannins. I picked this up for ~$30 about 3 years ago (-:
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12/4/2014 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 92 Points
Generally agree with the other reviews on this one. This was especially good the first night and while still cool. It was less complex and less interesting on the 2nd night.
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11/7/2014 - mithomps wrote:
Bold, fruit forward with a deep color and cherry taste. Finishes nicely.
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9/30/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of barnyard, berries and cherries. Flavors of berries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.
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7/6/2014 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful clear ruby garnet color and dense but somewhat translucent. The smells are currants, blackberry, cherry, and damp earthiness. The tastes are cherry, tea, espresso, blackberry, currants, vanilla, and earthiness. The tannins are fruity with fine, velvety texture. The acidity is good and the finish is delicious and long with just a little heat.
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5/17/2014 - Alain Harvey Likes this wine: 92 Points
A complex super Tuscan with a sense of place. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot, Alicante, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc, this wine opens with an expressive bouquet of dark raspberries, grilled herbs, and vanilla oak. On the palate, it shows formidable density and richness, with a warmth that captures the best qualities of Maremma. Clearly intended for the cellar, this impressive wine will continue to evolve gracefully for an additional 5-7 years.
Tenuta Poggio Verrano is the Maremma property of Francesco Bolla. In a previous life, he made Soave and other wines from the Veneto before leaving the family Bolla brand.
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4/27/2014 - Uncle John wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Dark fruits with a nice balance of acidity and a long finish. Expansive nose of sweet fruits and mild spice. I agree this is better on the cooler side as the tannins become more pronounced as the wine warms above 18 C.
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3/17/2014 - 1961Vintage wrote: 91 Points
Yummy day 2. Average of both days scores.
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2/25/2014 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really enjoyed this!
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12/3/2013 - GTFreek wrote:
Cab/Merlot, then Alicante, Sangiovese. Nose shows black fruit, tar, spiced cherry, menthol, green pepper. Palate shows big style, blackberry, fig, wet leather, black plum, medium plus acidity and tannins, nice dry finish. This is their current release, held back in bottle and the development shows. Could use even more time to develop the mid-palate.
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8/27/2013 - LEXKYWINE wrote: 93 Points
Only eight months since I first sampled but wow has it improved. Powerful complex nose and initial taste. Lot's of dark and red fruit but there's graphite and leather too with just a touch of spice. Long dry finish. Good with cheese before dinner, even better with dinner. XFACTOR review nails it
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5/31/2013 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unbeleiveable value at less than $30 from WTSO.com. Paired well with grilled ribeye, fried potatoes and asparagus. Deep, dense glass staining eggplant color, demure nose of dried black fruit, deep density on the mid palate with nice balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Excellent smooth texture resulting in a remarkable mouth feel. Great finish with tobacco and spice notes. Not a great deal of finesse, which I think is somewhat an overrated characteristic..... but packs a lot of flavor from start to finish. I agree with others, this wine is great now, but has great cellar time potential.
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4/6/2013 - goocanes wrote:
Maybe the best Italian at this price point I've ever had. Lots of fruit and spice, velvety, and full. Delicious.
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3/25/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 93 Points
Wine Spectator notes for this bottling are spot on - 100%. This is possibly the best bottle I have bought in a while, at any price. Octopus ink purple hue. Well structured red fruit and pyroxene mineral - braced with broad-leaf tobacco and sweet, dried herbs - and firm bold tannins frame a fantastic effort with a bit of a suave entry that roars to a muscular finish. Drinking superbly now, but serious longevity. Does better at a lower 60* range, becomes a bit sweeter at finish with time. 93/A= 50/5/12/9/8/9
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3/23/2013 - Iceman611 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted vs 2007 Adelaide cannubi Barolo. Barolo was a bit better.
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2/10/2013 - LEXKYWINE wrote: 89 Points
Excites the nose with fragrances of black berries with a touch of vanilla. Enjoyed while cooking up the evening meal but was even better with the pasta and red sauce. Nicely balanced with a long grippy finish.
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2/9/2013 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid and well-rounded, with velvety tannin and an integrated range of red and dark fruit on top of hints of spice. Maybe I should have decanted, but felt the wine lacked sufficient depth and complexity to justify the price. Will decant next time and see what happens.
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1/13/2013 - noahbw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Gave 3 hours in the decanter, and could have used a few more. Deep jeweled purple in the glass. Interesting nose of wood, spice, animal-y funk, vanilla and drop dead ripe black and blue berries. The palate rolls with rich smooth concentrated fruit and enough still-fiery tannin to provide a spicy backbone - together giving a complex, strong shouldered profile that doesn't go over the edge at all. There's a dark earthiness all around tinged with chocolate. Finish lingers with chew in the mouth. Wondering if more time in the bottle would take this wine even farther. PJG: 90
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12/23/2012 - Uncle John Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of sweet fruits and vanilla spice. Great full bodied mouth with medium acidity, smooth tannins and a long finish. Balanced and great now. A new Beauty from Bolgheri. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. I found this wine at the SAQ for $33!
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11/16/2012 - 1961Vintage wrote: flawed
nicely structured but had corkage...tainted. too bad
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10/1/2012 - Wine data wrote: 92 Points
Let the wine air out in carafe for at least 2 hours...initial nose bad (rotten manderine) and remover... Thought the bottle was off or flawed... Then the nose became much better with a very intense mix of apricot, cherry, cedar and anise nose. The palate is equally impressive with rich elegant tannins. The wine expands in the mouth and is very complexe. This is strange but I feel like i'm drinking a mix of good barolo with added sangiovese and pomerol??. This wine is impressive and completly destabilyses me, but in a good way. The mix of the blend is very unusual (40%cab, 30%merlot, Sangiovese, cab franc and alicante) and so is the taste...The wine is very tight and of high quality and should age very well. Can't wait to see where this wine is headed!
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7/11/2012 - dzitt wrote: 91 Points
Le vin est très sombre, presque noir, complètement opaque. Au nez, beaucoup de fruits noirs, du bois de cèdre, des épices et un soupçon de chocolat amer. En bouche il y a de la matière, c'est tissé serré et c'est très goûteux, mais coule bien. Fruits noirs (mûres, bleuets, cerises), épices, un peu de bois, mais bien intégré. L'acidité est juste assez présente pour équilibrer le tout et laisser penser qu'un repos de 5-8 serait mérité. Appelle une belle pièce de viande. Excellent +
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5/18/2010 - Stefanos T. wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at the 15/5/2010 Decanter magazine Masterclass on Tuscany headed by Steven Spurrier. Medium + purple with very evident blue hues on the rim. Nose brings to mind Cabernet blend. Sweet berries and cedar wood. In the mouth has velvety texture, the wine is rich, fleshy with ripe fruit, sweetness along with minerality and chocolatey flavours. Tannins are abundant, coarse grained but very well rounded. Certainly a young wine, but enjoyable from now. The aftertaste is very nice and complex and elusive. Finish reminds a Cabernet at first, with its berrie and cedar flavours, but as the wine goes down a classic sour cherry and earthy Sangiovese character emerges.
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