Ugly Duckling
Ca' del Bosco
Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Brut Franciacorta Champagne Blend 2015
Le P'tit Paysan
Le P'tit Pape Monterey County Grenache Blend 2019
Of course I bought this bottle because I am a chateauneuf du pape slave. But Cockork! I like the label, I like the cork, I like the varietals. I’m a Cali girl with a heart for rhone wine.
Let’s start with the good: the nose. Omg. Seriously dirty, earthy and a hint of cinnamon and spice. Screams rhone. The first palatial flavors suggest soft baking spices and strawberry. The finish has pleasant acid.
Now the bad/ugly: that’s where it stops. The palate goes flat. Void of body, complexity and everything else châteauneuf du pape!
Is it an ok wine? Yes. Would it be appropriate at $18 or less? Yes. But not at $25 plus that I paid. Sorry, just slightly overpriced for underdelivery, but I’m still going to drink it because it is a decently made wine. — 3 years ago
Ségla
Margaux Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
The ugly duckling not so much. This vintage did not get love. It was pretty damn lovely. — a year ago
Fornacina
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
This wine is massive. Intense and deeply balsamic nose, Worcestershire sauce and iodine, very savory. Some dark berry fruit extract underneath. Dense and intensely mouthfilling. Again, little discernible fruit but copious savory flavors. Massive body. Lengthy finish. A Shrek of a wine. (But the label is awful, very ugly.)
UPDATE: Night 3, this is softer and more in balance, with more ripe fruit peeking through to balance the previously inky savoriness. Upping from 8.9 to 9.1, but for the next few years, make sure this gets plenty of air. — 2 years ago
Cà de’ Rocchi (Tinazzi)
Aurum Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Corvina Blend 2016
Despite the weird, ugly label this wine is an outstanding Amarone and great value. (Costco!) — 4 years ago
Grattamacco
Bolgheri Superiore Red Blend 2016
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
Loved it. Best of the second flight blind of #supertuscan #bolgheri wines #italy is fun and serious once in a while. This is in my opinion a very ugly label for an honest, expressive solid wine. Outstanding — 4 years ago
Malvirà
Langhe Nebbiolo
I Likey. Smooth clean fruity nose. Musky mid palate. Fruity berry end. Nebbiolo is an ugly grape with a beautiful taste. Therefore May I say, for a cheap wine, it’s a nice sipper. — 2 years ago
Bodega Garzon
Reserva Maldonado Tannat 2018
This is only my second bottle of Tannat ever. Hated the first. It was ugly and funky in the wrong way. This is, however, ugly and funky in the right way. If the light hits it right, it’s almost a neon purple. The kind of neon you would find in the sign of your favorite dive bar. That favorite dive bar is pungent and almost offensive on the inside, but you keep going back. Where else are you going to go? I am a convert. — 4 years ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I bought this as Sofia & I visited the property in September of 2015 when this was being birthed. I meant to enjoy it on her birthday a while back but ended up in the ER from food poisoning I had at a restaurant. Ugly for a week.
Franciacorta is Italy’s sparkling region much like Champagne is to France. It is very near to the Italian summer hot spot, Lake Garda.
The body on this is beautiful, rich, almost fluffy with tiny beads. Starts with lemon chiffons, green apple, grapefruit, yellow melons, some lime notes, white cream, dry herbs, white spice, slightly moist, powdery to crushed chalkiness, saline, yellow & white flowers, perfect acidity and a well made, knitted, beautiful balanced & tensioned, elegant finished that lasts two-minute that falls on minerality.
Annamaria Clementi Reserve is tribute to the founder, Maurizio Zanella’s mother and made in only the very best of years.
It is a blend of; 82% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero & 3% Pinot Bianco. 6 months is small oak casks, 63 mg of sulfur dioxide per L. Zero dosage and 13% alcohol.
Happy belated birthday honey! — a month ago