Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.
Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…
So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — 5 months ago
Delightfully rustic. Wild strawberry, cranberry, red cherry, and sage. Light to medium bodied. Tannins are silky smooth. Would pair beautifully with grilled fish, roast poultry, or a rustic pizza. — 2 months ago
Dark Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, tangy herb, pepper and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe cherry with black pepper spice, vanilla and earthy sweet herbs. Soft chewy tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy oak. Nice! — 3 months ago
Very nice skin contact wine from outside Bologna. Fresh acid, depth with apricots, citrus, a little bit of tannins and yeast. — 4 months ago
Late release from the winery last year. — 4 months ago
Made with organic grapes! — 4 months ago
Joel Lara
This is a tasty, elegant Chianti where the savory elements and fruit have equal billing. On the nose, aromas of earthy spice, dark cherry, leather, and a slight hint of dried herbs. The palate has plums, dark cherries, and dried fruit with a beautiful underlying layer of leather, earth, clove, and orange zest. The persistent finish leaves a lovely taste of dried fruit and spice on the palate. Some slight hints of grilled meat come through in the finish as well. So tasty. Soft on the palate, although tannins are slightly drying in the finish. Notes are based on pour from bottle on 2nd day, as 1st day my taste buds were a bit off due to recovering from a cold. Medium bodied, medium+ acidity. Thanks to @Tom Casagrande for making me aware of the Rufina subzone. — 3 days ago