Had three bottles over the last couple of weeks. As others have noted, it is on its way down. Found a substantial bottle variation (rating varying from 88 to 91+) . Even the best of the three felt a touch less round than the previous ones I had a year or more back. Will drink quickly the last three bottles I have.
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two bottles from the same case - the first with the colour, bouquet and taste of old sweet port and not rated, the other was pale and translucent, certainly mature but quite a lovely wine for food
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First taste of the Nerello Mascalese grape varietal. I'm a fan of Petite Syrah, so I was curious. Deep red-purple color with tears of wine down the side of the glass. Strong yet elegant wine with no sense of alcohol, meaning not at all hot to the taste, but definitely potent. Dry which does not mean flat. A wine of substance.
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has seen much better days- full of sediment and with the look of old port - the 2007 drunk alongside is very much alive - the drinking dates for the two wines should be exchanged!
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Popped my last bottle as a recent bottle was flawed and wanted to take a shot at this to see if it was any better. Great acidity and freshness coupled with pillowy texture. Mature and earthy but certainly correct. I would have to recommend that anyone that owns this wine put it in the drink queue.
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Lots of sediment and browning at the edges. Funky, autumnal, and over the hill. Hard to believe this wine is over the hill already. Stored perfectly and the cork was is great shape but still must have failed somewhere along the way. Oh well.
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This wine started out nice. No hint of oxidation. Red fruits, spice....Good acid...however with some air oxidative notes and xs ripeness took over that were very off putting. Perhaps an off bottle.
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A complex and enjoyable wine with fruit well integrated with tannins and could well age more if necessary but drinks well now at age ten and open since yesterday. There is a Barolo-like flavour in this and there are plums and earthy qualities too. Bold enough for braised meats or aged cheeses.
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Bright and bold. For sure gains depth and complexity with every minute open. At first this was more like a pinot in depth but after and hour behaved more like a syrah. Weight of a ripe Barolo, but similar tannic profile and acidity. Flavours more currant, red cherry and red plum, overall interesting and delicious. Drinking about peak, there was a definite hint of brown on the rim.
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PnP. I clearly should have read wine_strategies' note on this, as the wine continued to open up over the course of a couple of hours. Regardless, it was elegant and gorgeous, and I'm a bit sad that this was my last bottle of the 2008.
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Pop-n-pour light ruby color with hints of garnet around the edges. Funky nose of cherries, roses, spearmint, and leather. The wine has some slight spritz, which I pull out using a Vacuvin. On the palate it's light-bodied, with sour cherry and rhubarb notes, slight barnyard. Tannins are well resolved and the finish is all about mouth-watering acidity. Nice wine reaching maturity about now.
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compared to my last bottle 3 years ago, this has developed and the shrilly acidity has been resolved into the fruit. Showing excellent depth and ready to drink.
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Found one hidden in the cellar, two years after my last note, but I did little to help it show its best - this needs at least 90 minutes of air before it really begins to open up. As it was, it was a nice, pretty companion to pizza and pasta, but not much more. I could have aerated this to decanter but I didn't - call it lazy, or stupid, whatever, but I goofed - don't make the same mistake, let this shine, give it air. Enough structure and balance that this can carry on (in 750ml) for a least 5 more years, with good upside potential as the (very early) tertiary notes become more developed. highly recommended
PnP, served non-blind; held since release.
https://italianwine.blog/
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Dried red florals, dried red strawberry and cherry and firm tannins that seem to have not moved in the last few years. ample acidity. I kept on thinking I was drinking a form of mid evolution nebbiolo throughout the evening
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Fermented and macerated for 2 weeks in stainless steel. Aged for 18-20 months in 3000 and 5000-liter neutral oak barrels. Total production 30,000 bottles.
Luminous, translucent raspberry red color that turns to almost colorless towards the rim. Very rich, youthful and somewhat alcohol-driven nose with bold aromas of juicy dark berries, ripe black cherries, some roasted spices, a little bit of toasty pastry character and a hint of perfumed floral tones. The wine is surprisingly full-bodied and concentrated on the palate for a Passopisciaro with lots of ripeness and some sense of extraction. The wine feels quite powerful with intense flavors of sour cherry bitterness, sweet strawberries, ripe red cherries, a little bit of plummy dark fruits, a little bit of smoky minerality and a hint of tart lingonberry. Overall the wine comes across pretty structured and muscular, but atypically for a Passopisciaro, the structure seems to rely more on the firm medium-plus tannins than on the medium-to-moderately high acidity. The finish is lively, youthful and somewhat warm with ripe and pretty long flavors of bitter sour cherries, tart cranberries, some sweeter strawberry and black cherry tones, a little bit of crunchy redcurrants and a touch of peppery spice.
A big and concentrated powerhouse of a Passopisciaro that seems to be less about the crunchy, playful style of the older vintages and more about power and ripeness, as in vintages like 2006 and 2009. In a vertical tasting, the vintage 2006 felt quite big and ripe for a Passopisciaro, but this 2008 is even bigger. It doesn't feel particularly clumsy, too heavy or cumbersome, but the style feels quite distinctive. However, the wine is also very youthful still, so perhaps it will lose some of its baby fat as it gets older, becoming lither and more refined in the process. An impressive and enjoyable wine, but doesn't reach the levels of the best Passopisciaros - at least for now. Might get much better with enough age.
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Note: I use a rating scale on which 85 represents a very good wine.
A bit from memory. Did not impress me as it did some others. Certainly a very good wine, but nothing outstanding. Don't know if I am/was able to pick out the particular tastes of Etna.
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stunning and impressive Nerello Mascalese from an A-class winemaker. Opulent nose and taste with tons of ripe red fruit basically strawberries and cherries and plums mixed with a smoky hint and some balanced oak in the background. Impressive alcool at 15° that you do not feel. Very tasty. Still youthful but well in the drinking window. May only improve with age.
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Drinking well now - still reminds me of a cross between a Cali pinot noir and barolo. Dried cherry flavors, floral, chocolate, a touch rustic, with dusty tannins. Well balanced, and not too acidic. Simply a pleasure to drink!
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Popped and poured. Brownish ruby colour. Great open nose of red berry, licorice, herbs, smoke, tar, and sauerkaut. Heavy influence of smoky minerals from volcanic terrior. Intense super high acidity at attack with presence of firm muscular tannin. Some good red berry and cherry aftertaste. Drink like nebbiolo. Quite rustic. Not many people like this style but good for Italian nebbiolo fans.
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Medium to dark ruby color. The description of crunchy red fruits from the other tasting notes is a good one. Very rustic with a nice mix of dark red fruit, minerality and earth. Medium+ acid and tannin. Definitely a terroir driven wine and better with food than on its own.
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from mag. with a couple hr decant and drunk over 2 more hours; alc at 15% which didn't show as a problem but the wine is darker than other lighter alc vintages, nice crunchy red/black fruit, vibrant w/ good acidity, some tannins remain on the finish which seem to add a earthy element. I like a lot but prefer the ligher alc vintages.
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Two very nice and consistent magnums on the night. No decanting and we didn't feel it needed it. Albeit a medium wine on the palate this was quite intense, darkish, smoky side and very interesting. Cherries across. Light on the tannin side and could use some more depth but an overall very good wine. A proper 90 but nothing more. Drink from now.
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Like a cross between a Burgundy and Barbaresco, tending more heavily towards the latter. Significant floral notes with some leather, dustiness, and cherry fruit. Light to medium body a la pinot noir. Still has life left in it.
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while pleasant with high toned red fruits, I found it leaning more towards shrilly acidity and over bearing tannins without the depth of fruit. fine, but disappointing.
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Consumed over two days. Day 1, palate and nose were shy, and the wine showed more tannic and restrained than expected based on prior bottles, even with a couple of hours in the glass/open bottle. Day 2, opened up. Tannins still prominent but receded, letting cranberry/cherry notes come through, with a bit of tea and smoke, to boot, showing what this great wine has to offer. Will try not to touch my remaining bottle for 4-5 years.
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I tasted this wine in an exhibition last year but didn't take a formal tasting note. Half year later, one of my friends brought this wine for gathering. It's opened 4 hours before drinking. Its colour is very light ruby, lighter than most Burgundy Pinot Noir. From appearance it's very light body but it's full of Barolo-like tannin and minerals. Very solid mouth feel. Great elegant taste of red berry and crushed stones. Due to its elegance style, my friends and I guess its grapes were planted from a north-faced slope and it was correct. Will encore for this.
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Prickly acidity on the front; smoke and rose petals (but not in such a way that you'd mistake it for a Piedmontese) in the middle. Very balanced. Smooth, soft, ungrainy tannins. More Burgundy-weight than is typical for an Etnan, but less Burgundian than I'd remembered (and than Rimmerman primed me for).
Had side by side with 2011 Graci Arcuria. Wildly different wines. My glassmates liked them both; I thought the Graci won hands-down for its layers, brightness, nerviness, and tannic graininess -- but they were both great fun.
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Very good wine, and an interesting one. I get the Chambolle references, though I found it somewhat of a stretch. Still, the wine does show some characteristics that are unusual for Sicilia. Cherry dominated, full bodied but constructed over a deceptively lighter mid palate and lifted by ample acidity. Finish is very good - long, bone dry, refreshingly acidic, and with plenty of fine grain tannin. This wine will keep developing for quite a while and has excellent potential. A winner.
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PnP. So freakin' good right out of the bottle. Slight brickish tinge in the glass, but clear and no hint of nearing its limits. Bright berries with notes of ash, smoke and earth. Fresh acidity. ABV is well managed, with no heat on the finish.
Extremely drinkable wine, great with food, no unpleasant edges. Bright red fruit, juicy acidity and lots of character. Drinking well now, this does not seem like something to age further.
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An intoxicating nose of perfumed forest floor, red and black fruits as well as some floral aspects which lead way to much of the same on the palate along with some eucalyptus, tobacco and tar notes which carry on through the long drying finish. A great cross between a burgundy and piedmont styled offering.
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Powerfully elegant aromas while pouring in the decanter, though these had become more restrained after the long decant and an additional two hours open at the dinner table. In retrospect, I'm not sure I needed to aerate it at all, beyond say a 30-minute Audoze, as the nose and palate both said "drink me, now". But, having had five or six of these already, I wanted to see what a thorough aeration would do. What I got was all about structure, and classic lines, firm acidity and and a tense, and lengthy finish as if to say, "I'm not ready yet". So, there you have it, enjoy this as a PnP now, or wait 3-4 more years as this youngster develops and becomes more comfortable in its own skin. Black tea, cranberry, black cherry, grilled herbs, a touch of smoke. Flavors follow on the medium-bodied, dry toward austere palate. This is pretty serious juice for a $35 bottle. highly recommended, 15,0% abv (fully resolved), thru 2023.
Not decanted, consumed over 2+ hours, mostly with a lamb dinner which in retrospect probably called for a heftier wine. Also, this was our first Sicilian wine (but not our last, I expect).
This was a pretty wine, drinking smoothly from the get-go, showing primarily high-toned red berry/currant fruit alongside pleasant hints of spice and something saline or medicinal. There was a little mineral astringency as well which, in conjunction with the papery tannins, makes me think this might be the "ashiness" some refer to in Etna wines. Refreshing but not obtrusive acidity.
While enjoyable, this did seem to be holding something back on both nose and palate, and overall, it came off as a little simpler than my note probably makes it sound. I expect that this will be drinking better a few years down the road once its potential is more fully realized, but curiosity get the best of us this time. C'est la vie.
Corney & Barrow Tasting at Millbank Tower. Brief notes. Flattered to deceive. Jammy strawberry/red fruit aromas showed potential, but excessive greenness on the palate and an overdone oakiness took away any pleasure and masked any residual fruit that may have been present. Verging on the faulty. £29.95 per bottle; no way!! Wouldn't pay £5.00 for this.
SUBSEQUENTLY: Clearly this bottle must have flawed based on comments received, so I now reserve judgement to another day.
Solid Sicilian wine. Stylistically this is somewhere between burgundy and piedmont. Excellent aromatics of forest floor, tar and blackberry preserve. The palate is medium bodied with ripe forest fruits, tobacco and eucalyptus. The finish is long and it seems to integrate well the high alcohol which is there but is never obtrusive. The wine lacks some of the energy and purity of the best Sicilians, but is nonetheless quite well done.
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Garnet with medium intensity and an orange rim. Delightful bouquet so rich and layered that you cannot tell which of the dry red fruit, iodine, medlar aromas or pure notes of blood predominate. Elegantly balanced with a silky texture, similar fruit with added sour cherry and caramel and a warm, long lasting finish.
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Drinking well with some depth. Still not sure I can slobber over this like some posters do. It definitely has some Burgundy traits like weightlessness, elegance and red fruit but don't see it at the level of a higher end $75+ Burg like some folks do. Does live up to its $31 price tag though and worth a try. Not going to load up but I'll continue to try a btl here and there.
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What a delight to drink (with Lebanese food at Marouch). Red raspberry/cherry fruit and excellent acidity. Some minerals and so well-balanced. Everyone at the table enjoyed this very much. Glad to have a couple more bottles.
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PnP, served non-blind at 60F. Brilliant garnet core, vibrant aromas, but pretty tight on the palate - not something I was expecting as my bottle from May '12 was good to go after 30 minutes slow-ox. Nonetheless, it portends a trajectory, a testament to the overall structure of the vintage and the fruit itself. My remaining 5 bottles will rest for 3+ years. On day #2, the tannins had relaxed, the fruit became seamless, and the palate, quite silky . Blind, I'd have guessed $90 Burgundy. Love it! 15% abv, drink thru 2023 (extended the drinking window from 2018)
A thoroughly enjoyable wine, consumed over two nights. Really nice acidity keeps the ABV in check, balanced with a good level of fruit that is showing no signs of diminishing. Easily another 5+ years of life left in this. Thanks, wine-strategies, for the gift!
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The nose showed dusty cherry and berry tartlet, mulling spice and masses of floral notes. On the palate, it was juicy with a light to medium body and refreshing "drink me" personality. Yet there was still remarkable presences as cherry and cranberry fruit mixed with spices and minerals that lasted through the finish with a hint of structure that tugged at the sides of my cheeks. Overall, a wonderful experience and a very complete wine that pleases on many levels.
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red, orange, in the color. dark red fruit, tart cherry, floral, spice, mineral, toast, oak, on the nose. excellent mouth-feel, with light acid and big tannins, on the finish.
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Floral aroma with red fruits like strawberry. Beautiful, clear ruby color. Medium bodied wine, alcohol is covered by the higher acidity. Fresh. Crisp. Tightly wound red cherry and currant with mineral flavors. Good food wine, higher fatty foods and meats with balance the acidity well.
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consistently good. Served at cellar temp, enjoyed over 2 hours. Fresh and bright, with sweet curls on the nose hidden among the ripe pomegranate, and faint savory. Dry, medium-bodied, with silky tannins and an enjoyable mouthfeel thanks to its abundantly fresh acidity. The 15,0% abv is hidden very well. Glides along with finesse. recommended. Drink over the next 4-5 years.
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Some light cherry/cranberry/barely ripe strawberry, but this is dominated by fallen leaves, herbs, and earth. A fair amount of acidity on this and tight, fine grained tannins (similar to what you might find in a Nebbiolo based wine). A really lovey wine, and holds its alcohol incredibly well (15%!). I was hoping for more depth from this, and that is the only factor holding it back from a higher score.
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Last of five wines, and it followed a 2003 Ducru-Beaucalliou, opened by friends at a dinner they hosted. Amazing offering! Incredibly aromatic nose that features lavender, juniper, Mediterranean cooking spices; Majoran, Oregano, Thyme, etc., fragrant fruit blossoms or perhaps candied fruits, and what might be described as Sicilian garrigue. The wine is Burgundy like in color. One the palate it is a beautiful admixture of Burgundy, the finest Pugilese offerings, and high quality Spanish Garnacha. In a word, stunning!!! The mouthfeel is complete and the finish very long. The wine offers copious amounts of Sicilian terroir. It possesses ample structure with equal amounts of charm and vivacity. The wine held it's own against the hours-long-decanted, forceful, Ducru-Beaucaillou with finesse and poise.
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Rather light. Crushed red berries, leather on the nose. Medium body, tastes younger than 2009 Contrada, more tight and tannic. Very concentrated and fresh on the palate, lingonberries, slightly leathery and metallic, powerful. A bit hot on the finish. Very long. The alcohol is quite well integrated here unlike in most Franchetti. Not overly complex now, but very good.
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Cheerful sun-drenched wine; swirl of complexity on the nose, but the flavor is just a big enjoyable nut; medium short finish, but that's forgiven with friendly balance like this. 50/5/14/15/8
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Ripe fruit, sweet tannin, interesting minerality, and refreshingly tart acidity. What else do you want?! Great stuff! May be too sweet for some initially, but this toned down with some air. Only bottle at the table that was finished- a great example of how drinkable this wine is.
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Italians from Spring/Summer 2012 Parties: I could drink something like this everyday - think fine red burgundy with some italian style and sicilian volcanic dust. Structured with grippy tannins and tight acidity. Nose of tart cherries and a hint of volcanic ash, and a palate of cherry and spice with a note of juniper.
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Nose was muted and it took two hours to start getting smth on the nose. Still it was soft red berries and minerals but nothing really exciting. The palate was a good surprise after this disappointing nose: great acidity, medium bodied with a good finish. Slightly bitter. Overall the QPR is not good and I would drink lower end Etna wines which I found more appealing
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- Purple color. It's somewhat balanced with a medium body. Juicy texture with a medium finish - Decent but not great. Definitely needs some air. Good flavor for the most part, but turns a bit "grapey."
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Slow-O 30 minutes. Somewhere between Ian D'Agata's (88pts) review and Rimmerman's fluff - is the truth, for me, anyway. Offering up bright, fresh aromas and a pleasant, punchy personality, the wine was nearly as good on its own as it was with food. I'm not sure I observed Rimmerman's lava strewn and mineral swathed blah, blah, blah, but I do agree the wine displays qualities (weightless, seamless, lifted) reserved for wines well above the asking price. The abv listed on the label (15,0%) is well integrated, the tannins, fine and a touch sweet. recommended , drink thru 2018.
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Seductive and intriguing on the nose. Red berries, herbs and a flinty minerality. Hints of licorice and sweet spices.
On the palate, ripe fruit starts it all off, the ripeness never compromising elegance though. Good freshness og food friendly tannins. In full harmony. I'm amazed that this wine actually carries 15% of alcohol. Surely a great wine from Etna.
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Excellent wine with great structure. In style almost a mix of Piemonte and Burgondy. It is a great food wine, that will match a wide range of meals, as long as it is not too sweet. Great wine, but a bit expensive.
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First pull from the case; drank it a bit quick; it didn't really get to show itself. Unfortunately consumed after a slew of really gigantic wines, and was no longer in the frame of mind/nose to appreciate it properly. Still always amazed that this wine is somehow 15%! It tastes not a notch beyond 12.5% to me. I'm probably crazy, though. Whereas before it was all "the best of Barolo and Burgundy" this time around it was just a relatively pleasant wine that tickled the fancy of the wine geeks by not being anything varietally run of the mill.
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This is an exciting wine. Currently, way too young, but with tremendous potential. Due to my ignorance, I did not buy a case of this stuff! Excellent and a nice departure from most wines that I consume.
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Appealing and elegant wine. Red cherry, cranberry, hint of spice, vanilla and volcanic minerals. Nice structur, somewhat high acidity and grippy tannins. Kind of crossing between pinot noir and nebbiolo. Served with Deer, mushroom, fried potatos and rasin sauce made of port and cognac. Good pairing. Willy definately buy more of this wine.
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Beautiful red cherry and cranberry fruit, with some floral components and spice (white pepper, cinnamon, allspice) and tons of acidity...like a cross of a great Gevrey Chambertin and a red-fruited Chateauneuf (think Pegau or Charvin). The high acidity/tartness balances out what might otherwise be a problem of a certain vanillin character (presumably from oak), and creates an overall very enjoyable, food-friendly wine.
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Distant memory, had this in a mass tasting, but it was the standout offering of the evening. 50 wines in, and just having been assaulted by a Barolo and Priorat, my mouth was completely trashed, so ignore anything I can add here ... but this was remarkably agile and elegant wine with the best characteristics of Burgundy and Barbaresco combined. I know that makes zero sense, but there you have it. Vivid acidity and a lovely finish. It's not familiar, but it was lovely. Bought a case, more on this one soon, if I wasn't just making a foolish mistake.
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I don't think I've ever had a 15% alcohol wine this red fruited with real structure, balance, and sifted minerality more reminiscent of much pricier Burg. Tight at first. Should really sing in a year or two. 90+
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At Marea alongside an '07 Il Fiume di Lava. Lightly ruby, translucent. Fantastically complex nose, lending itself towards the savory side with its floral and white pepper spice aspects, along with red berry fruit. Silky sour cherry and strawberry fruits are primary now, but the structure behind it all makes me believe this is one to enjoy for 10+ years. The signature Etna minerality can be seen through the finish.
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Bright fruit, good acid, yet smooth and mellow, all at once. Hints of tar behind it. This was perfect to cut through the asian steamed and fried chicken course it was served with. I just love Etna wines like this.
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Volcanic ash, juicy tart berry, very high acidity, minerals and berries, light body with dusty tannins--awesome character but just a little hot. I like this a lot.
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Consistent notes - love the elegance of this. Will probably be at its best 2 or 3 years from now, but drinking very nicely now with an hour or so of air.
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Eric Guido nailed this with his TNs. I like this and its cool that its from Etna but at $35 its not quite matching it's price tag. The nose was pretty tight at this point and the palate a little simple for the price. I'd like this a lot better for between $15-$20 tops.
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On the nose, this showed cherry and cranberry, with floral undergrowth, baking bread and cinnamon. On the palate, I found juicy ripe cherries, holiday spices, and chalky minerals on a pretty, feminine frame. The finish is long with sour red fruits and the only place where this wine’s 15% alcohol shows through.
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Light cherry red color. Initially very tight, this opened up over an hour and really shined with food. Pinot-like nose of candied cherries, floral spices, and citrus. Light-bodied palate with flavors of cherries, raspberries, orange, and baking spices. Silky tannins and nice acidity. Herbal cherry finish. A very nice food wine. Decant for an hour if drinking now. Even better on Day 2. 90+
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Clear, bright berry-red. Aromas of red and blue fruit, smoke and gently candied citrus. Mild sweet tannin and varietal spice in balance with acid and fruit - nothing out of place and no overt oak. Very nice IGT that will be at its best in a couple of years.
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4/12/2022 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good, legit.
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2/28/2022 - Winiac Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well developed secondary and tertiary flavors, yet has solid structure and remains fresh. Impressive
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4/16/2021 - hargy Likes this wine: 91 Points
the last of my bottles and delicious it was too - this is coming to the end of its life but with style
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12/16/2020 - rsbeck wrote: 92 Points
Popped, poured, consumed over next two hours. Medium bodied. Lovely balance. Performed well from start to finish.
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9/19/2020 - itadome Likes this wine:
Had three bottles over the last couple of weeks. As others have noted, it is on its way down. Found a substantial bottle variation (rating varying from 88 to 91+) . Even the best of the three felt a touch less round than the previous ones I had a year or more back. Will drink quickly the last three bottles I have.
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5/14/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 90 Points
two bottles from the same case - the first with the colour, bouquet and taste of old sweet port and not rated, the other was pale and translucent, certainly mature but quite a lovely wine for food
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3/11/2020 - ron m wrote:
Not as impressive as the previous bottle. Solid but pretty ho-hum and not much intrigue. Tannins mostly resolved.
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11/14/2019 - der Schmecker Likes this wine: 91 Points
First taste of the Nerello Mascalese grape varietal. I'm a fan of Petite Syrah, so I was curious. Deep red-purple color with tears of wine down the side of the glass. Strong yet elegant wine with no sense of alcohol, meaning not at all hot to the taste, but definitely potent. Dry which does not mean flat. A wine of substance.
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9/22/2019 - hargy wrote:
has seen much better days- full of sediment and with the look of old port - the 2007 drunk alongside is very much alive - the drinking dates for the two wines should be exchanged!
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9/1/2019 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine:
Popped my last bottle as a recent bottle was flawed and wanted to take a shot at this to see if it was any better. Great acidity and freshness coupled with pillowy texture. Mature and earthy but certainly correct. I would have to recommend that anyone that owns this wine put it in the drink queue.
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8/2/2019 - EhrlichDY wrote: flawed
Lots of sediment and browning at the edges. Funky, autumnal, and over the hill. Hard to believe this wine is over the hill already. Stored perfectly and the cork was is great shape but still must have failed somewhere along the way. Oh well.
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7/19/2019 - marcelk Does not like this wine:
Hasn't aged well, heading towards vinegar.
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1/5/2019 - rnellans wrote: 90 Points
This wine started out nice. No hint of oxidation. Red fruits, spice....Good acid...however with some air oxidative notes and xs ripeness took over that were very off putting. Perhaps an off bottle.
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12/8/2018 - SandmanRT Likes this wine: 93 Points
A complex and enjoyable wine with fruit well integrated with tannins and could well age more if necessary but drinks well now at age ten and open since yesterday. There is a Barolo-like flavour in this and there are plums and earthy qualities too. Bold enough for braised meats or aged cheeses.
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10/20/2018 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Bright and bold. For sure gains depth and complexity with every minute open. At first this was more like a pinot in depth but after and hour behaved more like a syrah. Weight of a ripe Barolo, but similar tannic profile and acidity. Flavours more currant, red cherry and red plum, overall interesting and delicious. Drinking about peak, there was a definite hint of brown on the rim.
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9/18/2018 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Rich , dark fruits. Lots of extract. Slightly ripe. Tannins need to smooth out. Excellent potential with a few more years in the cellar.
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5/17/2018 - Mr T wrote:
One (buy) and done here. Doesn't do anything for me
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2/25/2018 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
PnP. I clearly should have read wine_strategies' note on this, as the wine continued to open up over the course of a couple of hours. Regardless, it was elegant and gorgeous, and I'm a bit sad that this was my last bottle of the 2008.
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12/11/2017 - MotoMannequin Likes this wine:
Pop-n-pour light ruby color with hints of garnet around the edges. Funky nose of cherries, roses, spearmint, and leather. The wine has some slight spritz, which I pull out using a Vacuvin. On the palate it's light-bodied, with sour cherry and rhubarb notes, slight barnyard. Tannins are well resolved and the finish is all about mouth-watering acidity. Nice wine reaching maturity about now.
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6/13/2017 - lolo66 wrote:
compared to my last bottle 3 years ago, this has developed and the shrilly acidity has been resolved into the fruit. Showing excellent depth and ready to drink.
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1/22/2017 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Found one hidden in the cellar, two years after my last note, but I did little to help it show its best - this needs at least 90 minutes of air before it really begins to open up. As it was, it was a nice, pretty companion to pizza and pasta, but not much more. I could have aerated this to decanter but I didn't - call it lazy, or stupid, whatever, but I goofed - don't make the same mistake, let this shine, give it air. Enough structure and balance that this can carry on (in 750ml) for a least 5 more years, with good upside potential as the (very early) tertiary notes become more developed. highly recommended
PnP, served non-blind; held since release.
https://italianwine.blog/
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11/27/2016 - vintage_whine wrote:
Dried red florals, dried red strawberry and cherry and firm tannins that seem to have not moved in the last few years. ample acidity. I kept on thinking I was drinking a form of mid evolution nebbiolo throughout the evening
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5/11/2016 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points
Fermented and macerated for 2 weeks in stainless steel. Aged for 18-20 months in 3000 and 5000-liter neutral oak barrels. Total production 30,000 bottles.
Luminous, translucent raspberry red color that turns to almost colorless towards the rim. Very rich, youthful and somewhat alcohol-driven nose with bold aromas of juicy dark berries, ripe black cherries, some roasted spices, a little bit of toasty pastry character and a hint of perfumed floral tones. The wine is surprisingly full-bodied and concentrated on the palate for a Passopisciaro with lots of ripeness and some sense of extraction. The wine feels quite powerful with intense flavors of sour cherry bitterness, sweet strawberries, ripe red cherries, a little bit of plummy dark fruits, a little bit of smoky minerality and a hint of tart lingonberry. Overall the wine comes across pretty structured and muscular, but atypically for a Passopisciaro, the structure seems to rely more on the firm medium-plus tannins than on the medium-to-moderately high acidity. The finish is lively, youthful and somewhat warm with ripe and pretty long flavors of bitter sour cherries, tart cranberries, some sweeter strawberry and black cherry tones, a little bit of crunchy redcurrants and a touch of peppery spice.
A big and concentrated powerhouse of a Passopisciaro that seems to be less about the crunchy, playful style of the older vintages and more about power and ripeness, as in vintages like 2006 and 2009. In a vertical tasting, the vintage 2006 felt quite big and ripe for a Passopisciaro, but this 2008 is even bigger. It doesn't feel particularly clumsy, too heavy or cumbersome, but the style feels quite distinctive. However, the wine is also very youthful still, so perhaps it will lose some of its baby fat as it gets older, becoming lither and more refined in the process. An impressive and enjoyable wine, but doesn't reach the levels of the best Passopisciaros - at least for now. Might get much better with enough age.
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5/8/2016 - John Nezlek wrote: 86 Points
Note: I use a rating scale on which 85 represents a very good wine.
A bit from memory. Did not impress me as it did some others. Certainly a very good wine, but nothing outstanding. Don't know if I am/was able to pick out the particular tastes of Etna.
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4/19/2016 - PatMatt Likes this wine: 92 Points
2008 is probably the best vintage ever in Etna area and made this wine,
Just fantastic !
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2/10/2016 - olracx62 wrote: 91 Points
stunning and impressive Nerello Mascalese from an A-class winemaker. Opulent nose and taste with tons of ripe red fruit basically strawberries and cherries and plums mixed with a smoky hint and some balanced oak in the background. Impressive alcool at 15° that you do not feel. Very tasty. Still youthful but well in the drinking window. May only improve with age.
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2/3/2016 - Mr T wrote:
ok stuff...would not rush to buy again
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1/10/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well now - still reminds me of a cross between a Cali pinot noir and barolo.
Dried cherry flavors, floral, chocolate, a touch rustic, with dusty tannins.
Well balanced, and not too acidic.
Simply a pleasure to drink!
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1/9/2016 - dimdic wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Brownish ruby colour. Great open nose of red berry, licorice, herbs, smoke, tar, and sauerkaut. Heavy influence of smoky minerals from volcanic terrior. Intense super high acidity at attack with presence of firm muscular tannin. Some good red berry and cherry aftertaste. Drink like nebbiolo. Quite rustic. Not many people like this style but good for Italian nebbiolo fans.
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12/31/2015 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium to dark ruby color. The description of crunchy red fruits from the other tasting notes is a good one. Very rustic with a nice mix of dark red fruit, minerality and earth. Medium+ acid and tannin. Definitely a terroir driven wine and better with food than on its own.
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12/6/2015 - Louvin Likes this wine: 90 Points
from mag. with a couple hr decant and drunk over 2 more hours; alc at 15% which didn't show as a problem but the wine is darker than other lighter alc vintages, nice crunchy red/black fruit, vibrant w/ good acidity, some tannins remain on the finish which seem to add a earthy element. I like a lot but prefer the ligher alc vintages.
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9/26/2015 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
On the refined side for Nerello, but still high toned, taut, tealike, echoes of Nebbiolo, improving with air, crunchy red fruit, soil. Nice stuff!
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9/5/2015 - dausau wrote:
A big step up from last time I had this wine.
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5/9/2015 - Papies wrote: 90 Points
Two very nice and consistent magnums on the night. No decanting and we didn't feel it needed it.
Albeit a medium wine on the palate this was quite intense, darkish, smoky side and very interesting. Cherries across. Light on the tannin side and could use some more depth but an overall very good wine. A proper 90 but nothing more. Drink from now.
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2/1/2015 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
seemed good, bit funky
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12/23/2014 - le fouloir wrote: 90 Points
Like a cross between a Burgundy and Barbaresco, tending more heavily towards the latter. Significant floral notes with some leather, dustiness, and cherry fruit. Light to medium body a la pinot noir. Still has life left in it.
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11/8/2014 - lolo66 wrote: 87 Points
while pleasant with high toned red fruits, I found it leaning more towards shrilly acidity and over bearing tannins without the depth of fruit. fine, but disappointing.
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10/30/2014 - Sijan wrote:
This was funky, quite tart, had some VA. Red berry fruit. Seemed off compared to the 2007 in a side-by-side tasting
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9/16/2014 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
Consumed over two days. Day 1, palate and nose were shy, and the wine showed more tannic and restrained than expected based on prior bottles, even with a couple of hours in the glass/open bottle. Day 2, opened up. Tannins still prominent but receded, letting cranberry/cherry notes come through, with a bit of tea and smoke, to boot, showing what this great wine has to offer. Will try not to touch my remaining bottle for 4-5 years.
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8/22/2014 - wormfarmer wrote: 89 Points
Needed hours to open up this time.
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7/25/2014 - dimdic wrote: 93 Points
I tasted this wine in an exhibition last year but didn't take a formal tasting note. Half year later, one of my friends brought this wine for gathering. It's opened 4 hours before drinking. Its colour is very light ruby, lighter than most Burgundy Pinot Noir. From appearance it's very light body but it's full of Barolo-like tannin and minerals. Very solid mouth feel. Great elegant taste of red berry and crushed stones. Due to its elegance style, my friends and I guess its grapes were planted from a north-faced slope and it was correct. Will encore for this.
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7/11/2014 - wormfarmer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Prickly acidity on the front; smoke and rose petals (but not in such a way that you'd mistake it for a Piedmontese) in the middle. Very balanced. Smooth, soft, ungrainy tannins. More Burgundy-weight than is typical for an Etnan, but less Burgundian than I'd remembered (and than Rimmerman primed me for).
Had side by side with 2011 Graci Arcuria. Wildly different wines. My glassmates liked them both; I thought the Graci won hands-down for its layers, brightness, nerviness, and tannic graininess -- but they were both great fun.
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5/30/2014 - ron m wrote:
Very good wine, and an interesting one. I get the Chambolle references, though I found it somewhat of a stretch. Still, the wine does show some characteristics that are unusual for Sicilia. Cherry dominated, full bodied but constructed over a deceptively lighter mid palate and lifted by ample acidity. Finish is very good - long, bone dry, refreshingly acidic, and with plenty of fine grain tannin. This wine will keep developing for quite a while and has excellent potential. A winner.
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3/10/2014 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
PnP. So freakin' good right out of the bottle. Slight brickish tinge in the glass, but clear and no hint of nearing its limits. Bright berries with notes of ash, smoke and earth. Fresh acidity. ABV is well managed, with no heat on the finish.
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3/6/2014 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Extremely drinkable wine, great with food, no unpleasant edges. Bright red fruit, juicy acidity and lots of character. Drinking well now, this does not seem like something to age further.
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3/1/2014 - Donjcorleone Likes this wine: 92 Points
An intoxicating nose of perfumed forest floor, red and black fruits as well as some floral aspects which lead way to much of the same on the palate along with some eucalyptus, tobacco and tar notes which carry on through the long drying finish. A great cross between a burgundy and piedmont styled offering.
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2/4/2014 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Powerfully elegant aromas while pouring in the decanter, though these had become more restrained after the long decant and an additional two hours open at the dinner table. In retrospect, I'm not sure I needed to aerate it at all, beyond say a 30-minute Audoze, as the nose and palate both said "drink me, now". But, having had five or six of these already, I wanted to see what a thorough aeration would do. What I got was all about structure, and classic lines, firm acidity and and a tense, and lengthy finish as if to say, "I'm not ready yet". So, there you have it, enjoy this as a PnP now, or wait 3-4 more years as this youngster develops and becomes more comfortable in its own skin. Black tea, cranberry, black cherry, grilled herbs, a touch of smoke. Flavors follow on the medium-bodied, dry toward austere palate. This is pretty serious juice for a $35 bottle. highly recommended, 15,0% abv (fully resolved), thru 2023.
https://italianwine.blog/
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1/3/2014 - JFI wrote: 91 Points
Snv
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11/26/2013 - Senor_Underhill Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Much better than a year ago.
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11/2/2013 - bretrooks wrote: 90 Points
Not decanted, consumed over 2+ hours, mostly with a lamb dinner which in retrospect probably called for a heftier wine. Also, this was our first Sicilian wine (but not our last, I expect).
This was a pretty wine, drinking smoothly from the get-go, showing primarily high-toned red berry/currant fruit alongside pleasant hints of spice and something saline or medicinal. There was a little mineral astringency as well which, in conjunction with the papery tannins, makes me think this might be the "ashiness" some refer to in Etna wines. Refreshing but not obtrusive acidity.
While enjoyable, this did seem to be holding something back on both nose and palate, and overall, it came off as a little simpler than my note probably makes it sound. I expect that this will be drinking better a few years down the road once its potential is more fully realized, but curiosity get the best of us this time. C'est la vie.
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10/30/2013 - NickBurwood wrote: flawed
Corney & Barrow Tasting at Millbank Tower. Brief notes.
Flattered to deceive. Jammy strawberry/red fruit aromas showed potential, but excessive greenness on the palate and an overdone oakiness took away any pleasure and masked any residual fruit that may have been present. Verging on the faulty.
£29.95 per bottle; no way!! Wouldn't pay £5.00 for this.
SUBSEQUENTLY: Clearly this bottle must have flawed based on comments received, so I now reserve judgement to another day.
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10/16/2013 - pifcho Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Sicilian wine. Stylistically this is somewhere between burgundy and piedmont. Excellent aromatics of forest floor, tar and blackberry preserve. The palate is medium bodied with ripe forest fruits, tobacco and eucalyptus. The finish is long and it seems to integrate well the high alcohol which is there but is never obtrusive. The wine lacks some of the energy and purity of the best Sicilians, but is nonetheless quite well done.
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9/8/2013 - dausau wrote: 86 Points
Good nose and nice structure. Pinot-like feel. But the alcohol is a little bit to dominating for my taste.
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7/29/2013 - BBG London wrote: flawed
This was corked. shame
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4/7/2013 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 92 Points
Garnet with medium intensity and an orange rim. Delightful bouquet so rich and layered that you cannot tell which of the dry red fruit, iodine, medlar aromas or pure notes of blood predominate. Elegantly balanced with a silky texture, similar fruit with added sour cherry and caramel and a warm, long lasting finish.
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3/15/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well with some depth. Still not sure I can slobber over this like some posters do. It definitely has some Burgundy traits like weightlessness, elegance and red fruit but don't see it at the level of a higher end $75+ Burg like some folks do. Does live up to its $31 price tag though and worth a try. Not going to load up but I'll continue to try a btl here and there.
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3/11/2013 - Colima74 Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a delight to drink (with Lebanese food at Marouch). Red raspberry/cherry fruit and excellent acidity. Some minerals and so well-balanced. Everyone at the table enjoyed this very much. Glad to have a couple more bottles.
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3/3/2013 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP, served non-blind at 60F. Brilliant garnet core, vibrant aromas, but pretty tight on the palate - not something I was expecting as my bottle from May '12 was good to go after 30 minutes slow-ox. Nonetheless, it portends a trajectory, a testament to the overall structure of the vintage and the fruit itself. My remaining 5 bottles will rest for 3+ years. On day #2, the tannins had relaxed, the fruit became seamless, and the palate, quite silky . Blind, I'd have guessed $90 Burgundy. Love it! 15% abv, drink thru 2023 (extended the drinking window from 2018)
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3/1/2013 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
A thoroughly enjoyable wine, consumed over two nights. Really nice acidity keeps the ABV in check, balanced with a good level of fruit that is showing no signs of diminishing. Easily another 5+ years of life left in this. Thanks, wine-strategies, for the gift!
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2/25/2013 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose showed dusty cherry and berry tartlet, mulling spice and masses of floral notes. On the palate, it was juicy with a light to medium body and refreshing "drink me" personality. Yet there was still remarkable presences as cherry and cranberry fruit mixed with spices and minerals that lasted through the finish with a hint of structure that tugged at the sides of my cheeks. Overall, a wonderful experience and a very complete wine that pleases on many levels.
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2/23/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 92 Points
red, orange, in the color. dark red fruit, tart cherry, floral, spice, mineral, toast, oak, on the nose. excellent mouth-feel, with light acid and big tannins, on the finish.
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1/27/2013 - Cphofmann wrote: 89 Points
Floral aroma with red fruits like strawberry. Beautiful, clear ruby color. Medium bodied wine, alcohol is covered by the higher acidity. Fresh. Crisp. Tightly wound red cherry and currant with mineral flavors. Good food wine, higher fatty foods and meats with balance the acidity well.
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12/19/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistently good. Served at cellar temp, enjoyed over 2 hours. Fresh and bright, with sweet curls on the nose hidden among the ripe pomegranate, and faint savory. Dry, medium-bodied, with silky tannins and an enjoyable mouthfeel thanks to its abundantly fresh acidity. The 15,0% abv is hidden very well. Glides along with finesse. recommended. Drink over the next 4-5 years.
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12/17/2012 - Sakas Likes this wine: 90 Points
Some light cherry/cranberry/barely ripe strawberry, but this is dominated by fallen leaves, herbs, and earth. A fair amount of acidity on this and tight, fine grained tannins (similar to what you might find in a Nebbiolo based wine). A really lovey wine, and holds its alcohol incredibly well (15%!). I was hoping for more depth from this, and that is the only factor holding it back from a higher score.
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12/6/2012 - thenakedvine wrote: 84 Points
Unimpressive. Odd bacony flavor. Didn't improve much on day 2. May need more time laying down.
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12/2/2012 - Johnny C NYC wrote:
Almost a note of Amarone after thorough aereation (days); so interesting character may be revealed over long term.
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11/13/2012 - Motz wrote: 94 Points
Last of five wines, and it followed a 2003 Ducru-Beaucalliou, opened by friends at a dinner they hosted. Amazing offering! Incredibly aromatic nose that features lavender, juniper, Mediterranean cooking spices; Majoran, Oregano, Thyme, etc., fragrant fruit blossoms or perhaps candied fruits, and what might be described as Sicilian garrigue. The wine is Burgundy like in color. One the palate it is a beautiful admixture of Burgundy, the finest Pugilese offerings, and high quality Spanish Garnacha. In a word, stunning!!! The mouthfeel is complete and the finish very long. The wine offers copious amounts of Sicilian terroir. It possesses ample structure with equal amounts of charm and vivacity. The wine held it's own against the hours-long-decanted, forceful, Ducru-Beaucaillou with finesse and poise.
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11/7/2012 - igaf wrote:
Rather light. Crushed red berries, leather on the nose. Medium body, tastes younger than 2009 Contrada, more tight and tannic. Very concentrated and fresh on the palate, lingonberries, slightly leathery and metallic, powerful. A bit hot on the finish. Very long. The alcohol is quite well integrated here unlike in most Franchetti. Not overly complex now, but very good.
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10/24/2012 - Johnny C NYC wrote: 92 Points
Cheerful sun-drenched wine; swirl of complexity on the nose, but the flavor is just a big enjoyable nut; medium short finish, but that's forgiven with friendly balance like this. 50/5/14/15/8
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9/13/2012 - Rezy13 wrote: 92 Points
Ripe fruit, sweet tannin, interesting minerality, and refreshingly tart acidity. What else do you want?! Great stuff! May be too sweet for some initially, but this toned down with some air. Only bottle at the table that was finished- a great example of how drinkable this wine is.
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8/6/2012 - pgb67 wrote: 94 Points
Italians from Spring/Summer 2012 Parties: I could drink something like this everyday - think fine red burgundy with some italian style and sicilian volcanic dust. Structured with grippy tannins and tight acidity. Nose of tart cherries and a hint of volcanic ash, and a palate of cherry and spice with a note of juniper.
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7/14/2012 - Edouard84 wrote: 90 Points
Nose was muted and it took two hours to start getting smth on the nose. Still it was soft red berries and minerals but nothing really exciting.
The palate was a good surprise after this disappointing nose: great acidity, medium bodied with a good finish. Slightly bitter.
Overall the QPR is not good and I would drink lower end Etna wines which I found more appealing
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6/21/2012 - thenakedvine wrote: 87 Points
- Purple color. It's somewhat balanced with a medium body. Juicy texture with a medium finish - Decent but not great. Definitely needs some air. Good flavor for the most part, but turns a bit "grapey."
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6/10/2012 - christiaan wrote: 92 Points
Great wine as always!
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5/12/2012 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Slow-O 30 minutes. Somewhere between Ian D'Agata's (88pts) review and Rimmerman's fluff - is the truth, for me, anyway. Offering up bright, fresh aromas and a pleasant, punchy personality, the wine was nearly as good on its own as it was with food. I'm not sure I observed Rimmerman's lava strewn and mineral swathed blah, blah, blah, but I do agree the wine displays qualities (weightless, seamless, lifted) reserved for wines well above the asking price. The abv listed on the label (15,0%) is well integrated, the tannins, fine and a touch sweet. recommended , drink thru 2018.
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4/25/2012 - oslogooner Likes this wine: 93 Points
I'm wow'ed.
Seductive and intriguing on the nose. Red berries, herbs and a flinty minerality. Hints of licorice and sweet spices.
On the palate, ripe fruit starts it all off, the ripeness never compromising elegance though. Good freshness og food friendly tannins. In full harmony. I'm amazed that this wine actually carries 15% of alcohol. Surely a great wine from Etna.
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4/16/2012 - mutantwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent wine with great structure. In style almost a mix of Piemonte and Burgondy. It is a great food wine, that will match a wide range of meals, as long as it is not too sweet.
Great wine, but a bit expensive.
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12/25/2011 - atubbs wrote:
First pull from the case; drank it a bit quick; it didn't really get to show itself. Unfortunately consumed after a slew of really gigantic wines, and was no longer in the frame of mind/nose to appreciate it properly. Still always amazed that this wine is somehow 15%! It tastes not a notch beyond 12.5% to me. I'm probably crazy, though. Whereas before it was all "the best of Barolo and Burgundy" this time around it was just a relatively pleasant wine that tickled the fancy of the wine geeks by not being anything varietally run of the mill.
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12/17/2011 - Oskar Nyman wrote: 93 Points
Pure & intense vulcanic nectar of red berries & minerals - lovely acidity, silky tannins, a treat to drink.
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12/7/2011 - raginbajan wrote: 93 Points
This is an exciting wine. Currently, way too young, but with tremendous potential. Due to my ignorance, I did not buy a case of this stuff! Excellent and a nice departure from most wines that I consume.
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11/25/2011 - kpeder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Appealing and elegant wine. Red cherry, cranberry, hint of spice, vanilla and volcanic minerals. Nice structur, somewhat high acidity and grippy tannins. Kind of crossing between pinot noir and nebbiolo. Served with Deer, mushroom, fried potatos and rasin sauce made of port and cognac. Good pairing. Willy definately buy more of this wine.
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11/23/2011 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful red cherry and cranberry fruit, with some floral components and spice (white pepper, cinnamon, allspice) and tons of acidity...like a cross of a great Gevrey Chambertin and a red-fruited Chateauneuf (think Pegau or Charvin). The high acidity/tartness balances out what might otherwise be a problem of a certain vanillin character (presumably from oak), and creates an overall very enjoyable, food-friendly wine.
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11/13/2011 - atubbs wrote: 90 Points
Distant memory, had this in a mass tasting, but it was the standout offering of the evening. 50 wines in, and just having been assaulted by a Barolo and Priorat, my mouth was completely trashed, so ignore anything I can add here ... but this was remarkably agile and elegant wine with the best characteristics of Burgundy and Barbaresco combined. I know that makes zero sense, but there you have it. Vivid acidity and a lovely finish. It's not familiar, but it was lovely. Bought a case, more on this one soon, if I wasn't just making a foolish mistake.
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11/12/2011 - danibus Likes this wine: 90 Points
I don't think I've ever had a 15% alcohol wine this red fruited with real structure, balance, and sifted minerality more reminiscent of much pricier Burg. Tight at first. Should really sing in a year or two. 90+
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10/13/2011 - troutmonster wrote:
At Marea alongside an '07 Il Fiume di Lava. Lightly ruby, translucent. Fantastically complex nose, lending itself towards the savory side with its floral and white pepper spice aspects, along with red berry fruit. Silky sour cherry and strawberry fruits are primary now, but the structure behind it all makes me believe this is one to enjoy for 10+ years. The signature Etna minerality can be seen through the finish.
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8/26/2011 - Wamrod Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright fruit, good acid, yet smooth and mellow, all at once. Hints of tar behind it. This was perfect to cut through the asian steamed and fried chicken course it was served with. I just love Etna wines like this.
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8/3/2011 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Volcanic ash, juicy tart berry, very high acidity, minerals and berries, light body with dusty tannins--awesome character but just a little hot. I like this a lot.
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6/19/2011 - cartime wrote: 91 Points
Consistent notes - love the elegance of this. Will probably be at its best 2 or 3 years from now, but drinking very nicely now with an hour or so of air.
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5/24/2011 - Winevestor wrote: 90 Points
Cherry, vanilla, kirsch on the nose. Earthy, light to medium body. Beautifully balanced, good acidity and fine grained tannins. Great drinking.
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4/30/2011 - chablis28 wrote: 89 Points
Eric Guido nailed this with his TNs. I like this and its cool that its from Etna but at $35 its not quite matching it's price tag. The nose was pretty tight at this point and the palate a little simple for the price. I'd like this a lot better for between $15-$20 tops.
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4/9/2011 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 90 Points
On the nose, this showed cherry and cranberry, with floral undergrowth, baking bread and cinnamon. On the palate, I found juicy ripe cherries, holiday spices, and chalky minerals on a pretty, feminine frame. The finish is long with sour red fruits and the only place where this wine’s 15% alcohol shows through.
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3/5/2011 - cartime wrote: 90 Points
Light cherry red color. Initially very tight, this opened up over an hour and really shined with food. Pinot-like nose of candied cherries, floral spices, and citrus. Light-bodied palate with flavors of cherries, raspberries, orange, and baking spices. Silky tannins and nice acidity. Herbal cherry finish. A very nice food wine. Decant for an hour if drinking now. Even better on Day 2. 90+
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2/9/2011 - darvid wrote:
Clear, bright berry-red. Aromas of red and blue fruit, smoke and gently candied citrus. Mild sweet tannin and varietal spice in balance with acid and fruit - nothing out of place and no overt oak. Very nice IGT that will be at its best in a couple of years.
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