Nose of wild strawberry, rose petals and traces of spearmint. Piercing and linear. Cherry fruit, then earthy minerality then orange-y acid. Finish is tannic, but they (the tannins) feel more mature than I'd expect for the vintage (in general - I don't have deep experience with Sicilian reds vinified in clay pots). Compelling beyond the novelty. 89+
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Bricky red. Medium body. Funky nose. Almost oxidized. Lighter on palate than I feared. Minerality? What would you eat with this? It ain't for drinking alone.
Astor: $40 The Cerasuolo di Vittoria area is located in central Sicily. This delightful red was both vinified and aged in clay amphorae - an ancient practice that still works wonderfully - as this wine ably shows. The smooth, pleasant palate impression is of raspberry, mandarin, and minerals.
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Ended up foregoing the Occhipinti on the list and went instead with an 05 COS Pithos. What a stunner. Plums and roses. Raised in amphorae (!). Since my reference is French, this made me think of some of the really old school CNPs like Mourre du Tendre and Pegau Laurence - ie the long aging in foudre style (I'd add Bonneau, but I've never had it). One of the best wines I've had all year.
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Natural Wines of Italy (Jug Shop, San Francisco, CA): Bitter herbs and minty red fruit nose. Lots of fresh berries, with slightly bitter, herbs and root flavors. Funky tincture and fernet-like flavors. Neat stuff that is more complex that the normale, and not as polished.
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8/29/2009 - Greg B wrote: 86 Points
Interesting earthy nose reflecting the fact that this wine was raised in clay pots. Pleasant acidity. Went well with beef tenderloin.
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12/7/2008 - RationalDenial wrote: 89 Points
Nose of wild strawberry, rose petals and traces of spearmint. Piercing and linear. Cherry fruit, then earthy minerality then orange-y acid. Finish is tannic, but they (the tannins) feel more mature than I'd expect for the vintage (in general - I don't have deep experience with Sicilian reds vinified in clay pots). Compelling beyond the novelty. 89+
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11/16/2008 - Lawgirlt wrote: 77 Points
Bricky red. Medium body. Funky nose. Almost oxidized. Lighter on palate than I feared. Minerality? What would you eat with this? It ain't for drinking alone.
Astor: $40 The Cerasuolo di Vittoria area is located in central Sicily. This delightful red was both vinified and aged in clay amphorae - an ancient practice that still works wonderfully - as this wine ably shows. The smooth, pleasant palate impression is of raspberry, mandarin, and minerals.
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10/27/2008 - Brad L wrote:
Ended up foregoing the Occhipinti on the list and went instead with an 05 COS Pithos. What a stunner. Plums and roses. Raised in amphorae (!). Since my reference is French, this made me think of some of the really old school CNPs like Mourre du Tendre and Pegau Laurence - ie the long aging in foudre style (I'd add Bonneau, but I've never had it). One of the best wines I've had all year.
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8/13/2008 - nwk wrote:
Natural Wines of Italy (Jug Shop, San Francisco, CA): Bitter herbs and minty red fruit nose. Lots of fresh berries, with slightly bitter, herbs and root flavors. Funky tincture and fernet-like flavors. Neat stuff that is more complex that the normale, and not as polished.
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