Winery - San Fabiano Calcinaia
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Right off the bat it smells beautiful--gorgeous black cherries and deep chocolaty earth. It’s a little less overwhelming in the mouth, but by no means is it shy or faulty. A blend of Sangioveto, Cabernet, and Merlot that works like a charm with food. The plummy fruit and soft woody elements make their mark without being too forward.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The bold, meaty nose portends a wine of strength, which is basically what you get. It’s burly and fresh, with blackberry and blueberry fruit bolstered by tasty spice. It’s a bit hard and tannic, and the acidity fosters a juicy sense. By no means is this a petite, elegant wine, but it’s still satisfying. —M.S.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a unique and distinctive wine (85-15 Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc) marked by a pungent herbal piquancy that might not be loved by everyone. The aromatic offerings include yellow fruit, pine nut, herbal notes and soapy lavender fragrances.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The label is from San Fabiano Calcinaia, and the wine opens with clean berry aromas and plenty of oak. The palate is overtly fruity, with bright cherry and blueberry flavors. The finish brings back some of that powerful oak from the nose, and you taste mocha and coffee as a result. Well balanced, so the whole sings louder than the parts. —M.S.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
As Super Tuscans go, this is a model wine, always consistent and exciting. This version is a rich, deep, balanced beauty with aromas of mocha, molasses, fudge and plum. The palate bursts with boysenberry, plum and chocolate, while the mildly tannic finish is toasty and full of coffee. Modern in style but lovely.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
An oak cloak envelopes this smooth, medium-weight wine, yielding a seamless black-plum and espresso profile. It’s handsome, even seductive, in the modern manner, with earth, licorice and caramel notes.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Spicy and foresty up front, with aromas of hickory and pine. That heavy oak quotient creates a chocolaty nuance in the mouth, where wood meets ripe red-berry fruit square on. The finish holds on to that smoky, woody quality. The tannins turn starchy and hard at the end, indicating that food should be present.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Blueberry, sweet cherry and forest fruit set the tone, followed by a distinctly perfumed aroma. Musky, spicy favors appear in the mouth and seem to reinforce the firm tannins and a slightly sour finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Cerviolo is a blend that builds in intensity on the palate, offering excellent extraction and a distinctive mix of Christmas spice followed by dry flowers and red fruit. This wine has loads of personality, jackhammer tannins and natural licorice and spice nuances on the finish. But those tannins definitely need more time to relax, so drink after 2012.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dark is the word here, with lots of deep toast, licorice, chocolate and coffee notes throughout. The pleasurable mouthfeel has nice weight and the finish offers solid cherry and cocoa notes and good length. This wine has some tannins to lose and can be cellared for a year or two.
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