Our server’s favorite Amorite at Ricardo’s — 7 days ago
Not the amarone I’ve been searching for but I’d get this again — a month ago
Another big boi from this producer. Obviously uses at least a significant proportion of partially dried grapes. Fairly saturated color. Nose is rather subdued, reluctantly giving up scents of leather, underbrush, crushed rock, and dark cherry underneath all of that non-fruit stuff. In the mouth, it’s big, with initial slightly bitter, extracted notes. Tannic. Dissimilar from straight Valpos in its size and austerity. Dissimilar from Ripasso-style Valpos in that the fruit is not especially ripe or sweetish. It will go well with our stuffed shells in red sauce, but is a little challenging on its own. It occurs to me that this might fit in well in a tasting of 2017s from the left bank in Bordeaux. In other words, very atypical for a Valpo. Still, it’s pretty good, as long as you don’t harbor any expectations of typicity.
UPDATE: two nights later (using a vacuum closure), this has actually improved. Kind of amazing for a Valpo of this age. The fruit has moved closer to front-and-center, and it seem a bit more Calpo-like, though it’s still pretty large-framed. Upping score from 8.8 to 9.0. — 22 days ago
Saw this wine At Ricardo’s — 7 days ago
So tasty!!!! Boldly aromatic with lots of fruit like cherry, plum, loads or chocolate and tobacco. Full bodied with strong tannins balanced by a cleansing fruity acidity. Love this wine but getting to taste an older vintage is special. — a month ago
Bought at Pine Orchard 11/24 $14. Great value. Light and bright fruit flavors but with good tannins for balance. — 5 days ago
Lovely. Soft and drinkable. Almost finished the bottle in one sitting. — 24 days ago
Gilbert Van Hassel
Very hot year with very ripe fruit, blackberries, plums, leather and tar. Extremely well balanced in spite of the 16.5 alcohol. Wonderful. — 3 days ago