Really complicated on these so suspect days, expose themselves with concepts such as: tradition, terroir, identity without falling into the most sinister rhetoric if not sounds just trite and hypocritical as the counterfeit currency with which even large-scale industries - supported by marketing - pays back its inattentive mass audience riding the wave of the country of origin or protected typicality. A diabolical mechanism this one for which even the most noble ideas probably the right practices and good experiences completed in the scale of centuries to human measure and not on massive industrial scale, are trivialized by sleazy slogan, emptied of meaning to be more or less surreptitious thanks to barbaric persuasion techniques and brain-washing propaganda.
Yet with the Valentini's Trebbiano you may not groped to summarize in words if not by drawing on terms so appropriate to express it. Now concerning this iconic label we've got behind it a local grape variety, a real family and a great wine that collect in a bottle the past and present story of a side of Abruzzo who claims to defeats victories and sacrifices to dominate the abuses (on and of) nature, miseries and splendours of agricultural seasons. Places, people, vision, wines such as Valentini are here to remind us how each bottle stay so proudly standing as non-reproducible beauty and fermented goodness expressing all its artisanal uniqueness and authenticity which are just that suspect to industrial wine production in manufacturing chains on standardized quantities; wines that are all equal to themselves even though wine itself is not much left at the end of the day/cycle. Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Valentini 1998 is what we have to rate right now: rusticity with class; style, purity and glory of a local grape recognized by many admirers from all over the world: act local think global this is another slogan-cliché which in this specific Valentini's wine exemple could sounds a little less false and more effective. — 10 years ago
Great aromatics with lovely dry finish thats unexpected given the fruit and floral characteristics on the nose — 10 years ago
Love the sour zing in this Tassie Pinot almost like orange rind. Loads of black fruits and black cherries, fine tannins that fade just a little too quickly for my liking, probably because it's an '11. French oak nicely balanced and doesn't overpower. Could be mistaken for an Otago. — 11 years ago
Med body, med + acidity. Soft, medium tannins. med + finish. CEDAR. vanilla. Spice. lots of acidity--would have mistaken for Sangiovese. Drink now or age 5-10 years. — 12 years ago
What? Happy canyon SB? I don't know if it has any identity, as I have nothing to judge it against. But it's all sorts of green melon, pomelo, and maybe some oak? Wasn't expecting it, but there might be some barrel here. Worth a try. — 9 years ago
Cherry notes with some dust and spice. Medium bodied at best yet ripe fruit with traces of spice on palate. Marg River Shiraz from the north does not have a definitive identity. Shiraz seems to do better in the south ie Voyager, Cape Mentelle and Leeuwin Estate. — 10 years ago
This very good Piedmont red and its distinct Nebbiolo grape will never be mistaken for a southern Italian cousin. Good now but still young for a Barolo and with time the rich tannin flavour will soften out. But why wait it is a beauty right now. Aromas of earth, slight tar and rose petals. Enjoy — 10 years ago
Easily mistaken for a puligny Montrachet. The richness even for the '11 vi tags would indicate this is part of the modern Chablis style — 10 years ago
Dark inky purple. Black currant, fresh earth, and baking spice on the nose. A rich & powerful style. Tannins are nice and integrated in the mouth, leading to a medium-long finish redolent of dark fruit and mocha. This seems big and overripe on the nose but could be mistaken for top-growth Pauillac in the mouth. Not my style yet I love this wine. Decanted. #Napa #Cabernet — 11 years ago
Soft ,light .
this Syrah could be mistaken for a Pinot in 2011 — 11 years ago
On the other hand...singing at this point. Restrained yet present. Lovely light body with interesting tannic note was mistaken for neb by one guest. Paired great with 14 lb slow roasted fresh ham. — 12 years ago
Warning: Could be mistaken for French — 10 years ago
This was apparently a very tough vintage, but I was still impressed. Could easily be mistaken for a solid pomerol. Lush tannins and herbaceousness, backed up with subtle fruit — 10 years ago
Love! Maybe I'm new to this blanc de noir thing but I didn't know a Grenache could do that. So delicious. — 10 years ago
Granny Smith apples, hints of toast balanced with good acidity and clean finish . A grower champagne with true identity. — 10 years ago
2007. Mistaken for a Tempranillo at opening. Juicy n chewy, bit spicy is typical for a new merlot, has structure. I do think right bank n margaux 07 r a bargain. Drink. — 11 years ago
All old vine Verzenay, about 2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Chardonnay, all from massal selections. Unbelievable focus, cut, chalky power and length, with the signature hazelnut flavors that can be easily mistaken for wood. Patrick Arnould made a tiny us nitty of this, not to sell, but only to give away! — 11 years ago
Josh Watts
So many levels. The true barnyard on the nose as it opens up to its true identity. Will slowly evaporate your pallet, causing you to focus on the aged cassis with a good dose of tobacco with subtle chocolate. We gave it about an hour and a half to open up and we enjoyed every last drop. YUM!! — 9 years ago