Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Reminiscing about this amazing value Super Tuscan we had at Officina last week during restaurant week in DC.
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2016 Tua Rita Rosso dei Notri
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Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
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Restaurant week at Officina and a perfect wine for our three course meal. Thank you Natalie for the recommendation. Deep ruby red in appearance. Took some time to open up on the nose but showed layers of mocha, floral, touch of minerals, blue and black fruits and spices. Medium tannins (5.5/10) with balanced acidity and a medium plus body. Plush Merlot definitely comes through in the mid palate with black currants, black cherries, chocolate, espresso and a touch of earthiness. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2023.
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Crazy good wine for only $60.00 on a wine list. Made up of 50% Sangiovese with the remainder made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, making this a true Super Tuscan Blend. All the Sangiovese is aged in stainless steel while the rest are aged in barriques. This wine is from an area in the southern part of Tuscany called Maremma, more specifically Upper Maremma in the Colline Metallifare zone. Need to find some more of this IGT. Label is designed by Raffaele De Rosa.
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91 MD Points
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$ - Purchased off the wine list at Officina in DC for $60.00. Retail price is $17.99 at MacArthur’s Beverages.
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#tastingnotetuesday #TNT #redwine #supertuscan #tuarita #rossodeinotri #sangiovese #merlot #cabernetsauvignon #restaurantweek #syrah #wine #wines #michelinstar #italy #italianwine #winelover #winelovers #winerylovers #winegasm #wineporn #winestagram #winesofinstagram #winedinner #91MDPoints #MillennialDrinkers — 5 days ago

with India

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals, black & bing sour cherries, blackberries, slightly baked strawberries, blueberries, some black raspberries, pomegranate extract and hint of plum, a fair amount of vanillin, soft limestone, whiffs of other baking spices, black tea, rich dark soils, faint crushed rocks, beautiful, fragrant, bright, blue, red and dark red florals.

The body is round & full. The tannins just starting to hit a good point of softening and rounding, yet have 10 plus years ahead. The structure, tension are hitting their stride. The length and balance are just getting to near perfect form. Two years ago, this wine was not ready and is now at the place I was hoping to get. I have two bottles left and I will have another in five years. Based on that performance, another in three to five plus years more. It’s the evolution that is so much fun to follow.

Black & bing sour cherries, blackberries show more on the palate and the pork pasta bring them out more deeply, slightly baked strawberries, blueberries, some black raspberries, pomegranate extract, cranberries and hint of plum, a fair amount of vanillin, soft limestone, nuances of volcanic minerals, soft baking spices, dark medium intensity of spice, black tea, rich dark soils, faint crushed rocks, beautiful, fragrant, bright, blue, red and dark red florals. The acidy is like a fresh water river. The long finish is unbelievably elegant, well balanced with a touch more fruit than earth, polished and persists seamlessly for several minutes.

I look forward to trying this wine again as it continues to evolve and improve over the next five to ten years...should be stunning! Well made Brunello’s simply take more than ten years in bottle to even begin to amaze.

Photos of, a wide hilltop shot of Casanuova, field hand harvesting their Sangiovese, large oak fermentation cask so there is less noticeable oak influence on the wine and their sloping vines on a sunny beautiful day.

@Oenotri Napa — 3 days ago

Martin Bergo

9.2

Produced since 2000, this Tuscan Gaja-initiative promis-es and delivers a tasty return on my investment of 30 bucks. Mostly merlot and syrah and a-tenth of sangiovese - the grapes are fermented and macerated separately and then put in semi-new barrels for a year and then another in bottle. The nose is extremely floral (almost like Gaja’s more northen wines) and it is only after several whifs that the minerals, mintyness, and red and blue berries come through. Nice and round mouthfeel with smooth tannins and great acidity and fruitiness leaves a satisfying grin on my face. Ready now but will likely evolve, so I’ll revisit in a few years. — 6 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Today, the Ferragamo family, with the help of Enologist Niccolo’ D’Afflitto have been working to develop the practices that have been used at Il Borro since 1760 under the ownership of Medici-Tornaquinci. A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cab Franc, 10% Syrah & 5% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with a berry earthy spice nose. On the palate good full dark berry flavors with a nutty oak character. Fine rustic tannins, lingering ending with earthy berry tones. — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Formed in the 1950's when DeMarchi family purchased two vineyards in the heart of Chianti Classico region, combining them into one. Aromas of full ripe berry fruits with notes of savory spice and oak on this 100% Sangiovese. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with tobacco and nutty spice. Fine tannins still needs time but approachable, lingering ending with earthy oak. Nice! — 8 days ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.2

Wow really nice. Opulent, modern but still very Tuscan with Italian genes. Aged beautifully like a ripe Bordeaux. I would like to see it go further but honestly it has a nice balance of fruit and age that I don't know can be improved upon. Might go the direction of dried / stewy fruits. Today it is pretty gorgeous actually. Very fresh and alive — 9 days ago

Andy Demaree

9.2

Tasted with a group of 2007 Tuscan peers, about a week ago. Like all the wines, it got three hours of decanting before serving. This one was perhaps the most immediately approachable of the group, and showed sweeter fruit than the other bottles in the tasting. Of all the wines in the tasting, it saw the lowest percentage of new French oak, at 35%, which probably helped the fruit shine through. However, it also gave the impression that it might not be one to hold for too many more years. — 6 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Recently tried ‘15, liked it a lot, found a ‘14, & grabbed it. In 1964, while looking for more land to expand Tenuta dell’Ornellaia vineyard, Marchese Lodovico Antinori discovered & acquired property of Tenuta di Biserno near Bibbona. A blend of Merlot, Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot & Cab Franc, aged for 12 months in French oak, intense aromas of ripe currants & sweet spice. On the palate ripe black fruit flavors, elegant fine tannins with cacao & tobacco tones. Lingering ending with an earthy character. Nice. Consistent with ‘15. — 8 days ago

Andy Demaree

9.1

One of eight wines in a 2007 Tuscan tasting, held about a week ago. This was the only one in the group that showed the heat of the vintage in its slight alcoholic warmth. However, it also sported a nicely rounded, almost creamy palate presence and a touch of cedar in the finish. I’m curious where this one might go with another few years in the cellar. — 6 days ago

Andy Demaree

9.3

Part of a tasting of 2007 Tuscans, about a week ago. This was near the top of the group, with a great mouth feel and terrific persistence of its red fruit from start to finish. The tannins are nicely rounded at this point and I don’t see this improving from here. — 6 days ago