Jay Kline

9.2

This is the Gran Reserva “Edición Limitada”.

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and some significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cherries and raspberries with some red plum, old leather, old cedar chest, a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Aglianico, or Cabernet Sauvignon (and based blends) from Italy, France or the United States. With the fruits and non-fruits presenting the way they were, the use of some new small format oak, throupled with the significant structure despite what was obvious age (I was thinking 40+ years), I went with Sangiovese from Italy, from Tuscany, from Chianti Classico, Riserva level from a modern leaning producer like Antinori, 1985. Damn…Tempranillo didn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t think the color was dark enough and I didn’t really get American oak the way I would expect with Rioja…but here we are. Now that I think about it, Antinori may not have using barrique back then. Perhaps I was trying to be too be too clever; I’ll learn from this. Regardless, I thought this was freaking delicious and showing really well! Fully mature but should enjoy this stage for the next ten years. Drink now through 2033. — 2 days ago

Nagib Nasr

9.3

Just what the doctor ordered — 2 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

A 25 year old gem pulled by Joel Peterson himself. I was one of the lucky ones to snag a mixed case of his cellar selections from 1991-2013 for BD16. Still going strong with such incredibile fruit. Gonna share them of course but sneak a Coravin taste here and there … — 3 months ago

Hum

9.2

Rich cassis and tobacco … vanilla frosting … everything well integrated… faint graphite ? Touch of bell pepper. — 10 days ago

Sam Friedland

9.2

Very pleasant, soft tannins — a month ago

Monique Blanchard

9.4

Great nose. Smooth throughout — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

An inviting IGT from central Tuscany, 75% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 10% Cab Sauv. Very tasty and raisiny, tons of dates, multi-layered, already crossing its peak prime time!
Soft tannins, and silky texture and soft finish! — 2 months ago

Tom Swennes

9.0

2008. Borderline port, but delicious in its own right. — 20 days ago

David Kline

9.7

2000 Monte Faustino Amarone
Showing age with brick red and brown. Dark cherry nose showing baked fruit, brown sugar. Cinnamon, cedar, raisin, bread pudding, treacle, dried roses. Palate of dried cherry, dried red currant, baked plum, cola, sarsaparilla and clove.

#montefaustino #montefaustinoamarone #amaronedellavalpilicella #valpolicella #classico #amarone #rosso — a month ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.0

Medium gold in color; peach, honeydew, and orange blossom on the nose; high acidity; tastes like tangerines, saline, and lemon with a long finish. Nellie and I like it. — 2 months ago

with Nellie