Daniel Ciolek

8.8

I have written notes from 9 months ago that I liked this. This bottle not as much. Very tight on opening with heavy tannins. Took about 4 hours of slow ox to open up some. Nose was dark cherry, spice and smoke. On the palate the cherry and spice was overwhelmed by tar, tobacco and leather. The long finish was very dry and had a mineral aftertaste. It just didn’t have the pop or Barolo elegance my prior notes suggested. — 24 days ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.0

This is an interesting wine. Almost fruit backwards. Garnet with slight bricking at edges. Musky floral scent. Took about an hour to start opening. Balanced acidity and tannins. Leather, tobacco, sweet undergrowth and charcoal at the front with little fruit - very earthy and pleasant. Unexpectedly a lengthy finish transformed into a BURST of light berry flavors - strawberry, raspberry, blueberry - yet with a hint of earthy graphite and mossy undergrowth. Quite unique. — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.1

Sweet floral aroma. Juicy well balanced acidity with strawberry and raspberry on the palate. Crisp and sweet. Almost effervescent. Short finish. Delightful. — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.2

Recommended by a staffer at Enoteca Di Piazza in Montalcino after I explained my preferences. After 2 hours slow-ox - Bold on the nose with earthy dark fruit. Mouthwatering acidity and nominal oaky tannins making it quite smooth. On the palate a complex melange of dark cherry, licorice, cinnamon, undergrowth, and a touch of leather and sweet balsamic. Finish is moderately long and tobacco-dry. Delightful. — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

8.9

Surprisingly fun and tasty sweet wine with a nice balance between the blueberry infusion and the Pinot Noir. — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.0

Monte de Oro seems to step up their game every year with the Zinfandel (22% Petite Syrah). I’m not a fan of the grape but this winery makes it work. Dark fruit and tobacco on the nose. Dense on the palate. Earthy tobacco, graphite, black pepper, date, nutmeg. Moderate finish of oak and tobacco. — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

8.9

Light straw color. Light floral nose. Crisp and fresh. Well balanced juicy acidity with light fruits of pear, tangerine, and a slight hint of butter at the front and grapefruit at the finish. Slight granite mineralogy. Moderate finish. — 2 months ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.1

Hints of Amarone at 1/3 the price. Musky dark fruit and spice on the nose. After an hour of slow-ox it has mouthwatering acidity with a touch of tannins for bite throughout with a long finish. Dark cherry/blueberry/fig are pronounced while the cinnamon/nutmeg/pepper spiciness and leather provide balance. Somewhat a cross between old world earthiness and new world boldness. Lots of layers. — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

8.6

Maybe I’m tough because I just spent some time in Montalcino and tasted some outstanding Brunello - but this was disappointing. It seemed shy and closed the first evening - recorked and tried day 2 and nothing. It has the color and a spicy nose of a Brunello and dark fruit and earthiness on the palate with moderate tannins - but otherwise I didn’t sense many layers and it just didn’t “pop”. I have a couple other bottles - maybe after a couple more years it may open? — a month ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.0

If you like a fruit forward somewhat sweet red with lots layers this is for you. Cherry/watermelon with cinnamon on the nose. Mouthwatering with cherry/strawberry/watermelon/mild tangelo and cinnamon/pepper with a tingle. Slight leather and oak in a moderately long finish. Could almost pass as a less dense dessert wine. — a month ago