TheSkip

10

So, I came home yesterday and there was a package at the door. I wasn't expecting anything and looked at the sender. @Martin G Rivard ! Well then! I knew santa was over, but perhaps Easter Bunny Rivard had struck?

I opened the box with haste. Surely anything from @Martin G Rivard would be of high quality. I saw a flash of orange and though, oh my! But there was only one bottle and it was oddly shaped. This must be the limited edition, double magnum of @Jason Chang's Nine Suns cuvée! I ripped open as if it were Christmas and out came Carlo Rossi.

I'd never heard of this producer but I trusted Martin. This bottle came with a very handy pour handle at the top. I was excited. Although it was only 4pm, I remembered what @Bill Bender said about 3pm so, I thought to myself, why not?

Hurriedly, I came into the kitchen and got my favorite Zalto glass, as inspired first by @Roman Sukley. I retrieved my corkscrew and opened the knife only to discover that this was a convenient screw cap! How thoughtful of Martin!

Open it went and the room filled with a lovely sweet grape must. I knew this would be special. I grabbed my winestop given to me by @Ron R and inserted to to insure there would be not a drop wasted.

Into the glass and my excitement prevented any thought of a decant.

What a wine! Those Concord grapes - what has Welch's been thinking? They've missed out on one of the finest varietals I've ever encountered. I knew I was truly lucky to try this rare wine.

But something felt...off. And I realized, I had nothing to pair with this! Thankfully there was a full 4L in this bad boy. And the screw cap allowed for prompt resealing.

Away I went in the car. What oh what to have? Aih! Exactly! @Paul T told me about the heaven of pairing McNuggets. Off to Ol' McDonalds I went.

Twenty McNuggets and sweet and sour sauce please!

I scurried to the back, and carefully withdrew my Zalto from my backpack. Opening the McNuggets, I knew this would be special. And indeed, I am with words to describe the experience. Yet, again, I knew something just wasn't right. The wine wasn't presenting itself. So I thought, how can I classy this up? And then I remembered all of @David L's posts with the classy silver wine coaster.

I had to have one. I asked the chap at the counter of McDonalds, but the response I received was less than satisfactory. I had to solve this issue myself. Thankfully , while returning to my table, I spotted a HomeGoods store immediately next door. I ran across and found a lovely silver charger.

And finally, returning to my table, I was now all smiles! More smiles than @Mike R !

What a special evening. I really wanted to end this off right. I grabbed a dozen roses and rushed home to the wife. Half a bottle Rossi still intact!

I showed her the bottle and wow! You should have see her eyes. I then suggested we retire to the bedroom and this was met with prompt approval.

And with such a great night, I wanted a lovely memento. I gently placed the bottle against her and snapped a lovely shot that is sure to be on the cover of the next issue of BBB with @Bill Bender !

Thanks for thinking of me @Martin G Rivard ! — 8 years ago

Caleb Krell

9.0

Should have bought more- a lot more. — 9 years ago

Eric Guido

9.2

The nose was luxurious and spicy with wild berries in sweet cream, then salty, smoky, dusty spice. It was incredibly soft on the palate, displaying a mix of ripe blueberry, cherry, blackberry, spice and flaky, toasty pie crust. The acidity was perfectly balanced and the '06 Rossi Ranch flawlessly carried it's 16% acl. It finished on brambly berries and hints of sweet spice. — 9 years ago

Jenna Weil

9.1

Liked it for a champagne — 10 years ago

Eduardo Bolaños

Sommelier Terroni Downtown LA

9.0

Tasted like a cross of an Oloroso and a Marsala — 10 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.1

Excellent wine. Great tannins giving it a nice bite and great finish. Grips your mouth top, bottom, cheeks. Just great! — 10 years ago

with Tammy and Todd

See Taleggio

10

One of my top red wine discoveries of the year. Pure red fruit up front, complex layers of minerals, subtle tannins, raspberry and brambles. — 11 years ago

with Erika

Garrett Pierce

Sales Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant

9.0

I'm a Vernaccia fan when done right, and Contini nails it with both their aged whites and their brand new ones. This is all melon (cantaloupe and honeydew) with some spice and phenolic fuzziness. — 11 years ago

Richard Eung Joon Chang

9.1

Field blend from a 100+ year old vineyard. Rocking good! — 8 years ago

Kevin Ware

9.0

Solid Rossi di Montalcino from a fantastic producer. Makes some of the best brunellos. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Very little Petite Sirah left in the RRV, dominated by Pinot's, however David Rossi has performed magic! Very dark purple with aromas of deep dark fruit and exotic spices. On the palate big flavors of blackberry and ripe blueberry with smoky oak, floral notes and dusty drying smooth tannins. Well balanced on a long finish ending with a mineral tang. Tasting Sample. — 8 years ago

Jonathan Raymon

9.3

Great example of a Rossi do Montalcino. — 8 years ago

Kyle Mueller

9.6

Incredible wine. Beautiful on the nose and a smooth velvety feel. Need to find more... — 9 years ago

Kaitlin Ohlinger

9.0

Showed really well, bright outgoing nose with the darker negroamaro fruit, but a tangy red streak. Good juice. — 9 years ago

Amy McLaughlin

9.0

A staple camping jug! — 10 years ago

Graeme Findlay

9.6

Surprisingly smooth dry red, and comes in a super cool jug-style glass bottle! — 10 years ago

Caroline Tunnell-Jones

9.0

Loving this. Been opened a few days now and still looking the goods, unrefrigeeated. Nutty flor notes mingle with fruit freshness. — 10 years ago

Kc Ann Cardenas

9.4

Carlo Rossi Moscato Sangria :)

Loved it a lot! Will definitely buy again. — 11 years ago

Adam Shaylor

9.5

Very sweet. Medicinal—from the cinchona bark from what I’ve been told—although not as strong as Carpano. Makes a good bourbon Manhattan. Superior to Dolin (and, by extension, Martini & Rossi). — 12 years ago

Ben Edwards

8.9

Thick, dense, heavy, dry fruit. Good, clean, but not terribly versitile. Good that it was a dessert pairing. Will try again. — 8 years ago

Mark Grammer

9.1

Really well balanced with lots of fruit and a touch of spice on the nose. Wine did well with pasta and paired well with the cheese at the end of the meal. Good finish that seemed to improve after a couple hours of breathing. — 8 years ago

Marcello Moro

9.3

A disappearing wine that is a real wonder. A sherry Italian style from a beautiful island. Well integrated 15.5% alcohol, nutty, still vivid (13yrs old) with dried apricot and dates scents. A rare pearl that worth every penny! — 8 years ago

Hailey Bassett

9.3

This is a great, smooth drinking wine. Take your time, it's worth it. — 9 years ago

Mihaela

9.0

What a Beautiful wine — 9 years ago

Michele Busanero

10

Pinot nero atipico, lunghe macerazioni e lungo affinamento in legno grande; al naso ha una complessità importante a partire da fuori e frutti rossi, liquirizia, una balsamicità importante con accenni di pietra focaia ed una spezzatura decisa di pepe cubebe... un grande vino — 9 years ago

Isabelle Parenti

8.9

Could have waited a couple more years, should be decanted 30-60 minutes before serving. Needs a little time to open up — 10 years ago

with Nancy

Greg Sorensen

9.1

On the bitter side of red vermouth and I like it. Needs a bit of taming from the ice but a nice special release from Martini. — 10 years ago

Jacqueline Roy

9.3

A great cannonau, perfect for fresh pasta!
— 11 years ago

with Michaela

Erika Turner

10

Balanced dark berrylicscious fruit. — 11 years ago

Jeremy Rose

10

My wine buyer Mark Taylor ordered this one for me. Exceptional grape! That's right IV I have a wine buyer. — 12 years ago