Ceccherini Cristiano

9.2

This is a version of Primitivo quite different to what we are used in Italy.
I am sure it has its lovers
6 months in French oak and 6 in American oak too
The wine has a deep colour
Multitude of spices over a big fruit.
It is a step away from a Barossa wine and two away from a classic Primitvo.
But it is definitely long and mouth fulling.
Top seller here downunder — 2 months ago

Eric Kememes

9.3

Slays! Tree fruit Floral macération cloudy no tannic bite apple skin finish — a year ago

Daniel Bloom

9.4

N: Black tea, tar, black cherries, the forest, earth, blood, tobacco, a sense of velvet.
P: Black depth, sanguine, slightly chewy,
But very smooth, rich w/o a trace of heaviness. Red/Black fruits, exotic flowers.
I decanted 1 hr, chilled 30 min.
Thanks @FassSelections — 2 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.7

The best from Sardinia, one of the best Grenache I have ever had. Crazy complex, persistent and expressive nose and palate. Texturallly reminiscent of those sandy soiled, fine tannin ala Chateau Rayas. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

As someone who has been described as an Italophile, I’m particularly enamored with the wines of Piemonte. You’ve probably all heard the saying, “the more you learn, the less you seem to know”. Yeah, I don’t know that it really makes sense. Yet, it seems to apply more and more these days. This wonderful bottle from Giovanni Rosso was an entire lesson of its own for me.

Okay, so I’ve been enjoying the Barolo’s from Giovanni Rosso for almost a decade now and it was not until this bottle that I realized this is not their “classico” but instead, a blend of their holdings exclusively throughout Serralunga d’Alba. A sort of “super classico” (I just made that up) I guess one could say. Since the mid-1990’s, they have been best known for their Serralunga parcels in Cerretta (Bricco). Later, in 2004, they were the first to release a single-vineyard bottling of the Serra MGA (not to be confused with the La Serra MGA in La Morra 🙄). More recently, they have picked up parcels in other Serralunga MGA’s including Costabella, Sorano, Lirano, Damiano, as well as the up and coming Meriame and their most famous of all, Vignarionda (the only other MGA from which they do a single-vineyard besides the aforementioned Serra and Cerretta). I know…it’s a lot to absorb. Let’s just get to the notes.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2019 “Del Comune Di Serralunga d’Alba” pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful, heady notes of red (mostly) and black fruit: fresh raspberries, pomegranate, blood orange, roses, talcum powder, freshly tarred roof and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is a powerful expression of the 2019 vintage that needs some time to settle down. The fruit profile is quite big but the classic Serralunga structure is there in the background. You can drink now if you’re a hedonist (guilty) but I suspect a bigger reward to come from 2029-2040+. — 2 months ago

David S. Lopez

9.1

This was an excellent wine. It’s probably only my second outing with Primitivo di Manduria. It pours a beautiful thick purple in the glass. It has a decent nose. But the flavors are quite wonderful and powerful. There’s raisins berries plums and maybe a hint of vanilla or tobacco. There’s some acidity. And a decent finish. I will absolutely be buying this again, as well as other Primitivo PDM wines. It went perfectly with the elk steaks we paired it with. — 2 years ago

Daniel Schniepp

8.9

Super! I wanted a wine that could hold up with fish. Super floral and leathery aromatics, soft red fruit, cherry, orange peel, strawberry. High acidity and no tannin, perfect with tomato and fish. This is a gem, I would highly recommend but absolutely need food. Should be a given with Italian wine but just so I’m clear. Salute! — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This is my 3000th tasting note on Delectable so I suppose I should celebrate by opening something fun. Flaccianello? Ovviamente!

While it’s labeled an IGT and colloquially considered a Super Tuscan, Flaccianello delle Pieve could legally be labeled as a Chianti Classico Riserva. However, Giovanni Manetti of Azienda Agricola Fontodi opts not to do so (despite the fact that he’s the current Chairman of the Conzorsio). The name, “Flaccianello delle Pieve” comes from the eponymous single-vineyard; the original source of grapes. However, around the turn of the millennium, Flaccianello became a blend of Fontodi’s best fruit throughout the estate. Over all the years, despite the changes in fruit source and aging regimen, Flaccianello remains 100% Sangiovese and 100% Panzano in Chianti.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2011 pours a deep, translucent garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, leather, mushrooms, cigar box, menthol, organic earth and wonderful fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, delicious and warming as the alcohol is pretty elevated. But whoa…what a beauty.

Okay, yeah…this is a modern take on Chianti Classico but my goodness, this is undeniably delicious and unabashedly Italian. Back in 2011, Flaccianello was aged in a combination of barriques from Troncais and Allier, all 100% new; an era that was arguably the most modern for this wine. Over the last 10 or so years however, there has been a shift towards less time in new barrique and large casks have now been introduced for the last six months of cellar aging. While I look forward to trying some of these more contemporary examples, I am very impressed with this 2011 and expect it will continue to show well through 2035. — 4 months ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

Rich with equal parts honey and lemon. I love the style of Northern Italy and this could be anything from Piedmont to Alto Adige. Golden glow, sweet perfumes, viscous foundation. Aromas of honey lemon almond marzipan, a bed of flowers, smoke and hint of mint. Very worth my while. — 3 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.0

Pulled from the cellar. Wasn’t expecting much but this was actually good. I dig it — 3 years ago