3.3. A very nice Valpolicella, with a very smooth taste and finish. The 2021 was on sale for $17.99, regularly $21.99. The 2019?now seems to be out of stock. It was excellent. — 2 months ago
Deeper more intense colour , narrow more terracotta rim . This is quite restrained with a meaty , herbal element at first . Touch of earthy tobacco and dried spice . Menthol and anise notes also . This has nice anise, liquorice hints on the palate with darker fruit, dark cherry , red plum , touch of earthy , iron notes with some spice and smoky hints . Black tea stained finish . Good acidity with refined tannin. Quite good intensity and persistence on the finish . Drink now and over the next 3-5 years — 2 days 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. — a month ago
Shows the benefits of blending. Well balanced, ripe berry and wet bark notes, spicy and full on palate. A bit alcoholic. — 2 months ago
Bought at Pine Orchard 11/24 $14. Great value. Light and bright fruit flavors but with good tannins for balance. — 20 days ago
Full body, bold yet silky feel, plum, with spice notes — 2 months ago
Andrew Cullimore![Premium Badge Premium Badge](https://delectable.com/images/icn_premium_3x-9c5cf1b0.png)
Medium garnet with medium garnet , terracotta rim , slightly cloudy appearance . Quite different from the others in style , more ethereal and delicate on the nose , with touches of dark anise tinged ripe blackcurrant , blackberry , dark cherry notes . Richer , more alcohol noticeable perhaps on the palate . Those darker fruits from the nose predominating with some blackcurrant, dark cherry , blackberry notes , along with some dry spice and anise. Quite gritty tannins , good acidity , quite meaty and long on the finish . Drink now and over the next 3-5 years or so. — 2 days ago