Tom Casagrande

9.0

Another big boi from this producer. Obviously uses at least a significant proportion of partially dried grapes. Fairly saturated color. Nose is rather subdued, reluctantly giving up scents of leather, underbrush, crushed rock, and dark cherry underneath all of that non-fruit stuff. In the mouth, it’s big, with initial slightly bitter, extracted notes. Tannic. Dissimilar from straight Valpos in its size and austerity. Dissimilar from Ripasso-style Valpos in that the fruit is not especially ripe or sweetish. It will go well with our stuffed shells in red sauce, but is a little challenging on its own. It occurs to me that this might fit in well in a tasting of 2017s from the left bank in Bordeaux. In other words, very atypical for a Valpo. Still, it’s pretty good, as long as you don’t harbor any expectations of typicity.

UPDATE: two nights later (using a vacuum closure), this has actually improved. Kind of amazing for a Valpo of this age. The fruit has moved closer to front-and-center, and it seem a bit more Calpo-like, though it’s still pretty large-framed. Upping score from 8.8 to 9.0. — 10 months ago

Paco Suro

8.9

This was fun. Worked well with my coconut milk seafood stew. — 4 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

8.9

Nariz: mora, arandano, ciruela, cassis, vainilla, eucalipto, tierra

Boca: Tanino M/M+, Acidez M, Alcohol M+

Necesita algo de aire. — 4 years ago

Derek Shanahan

8.9

Not sure we’ve ever had Valpo before. Big fan. — 5 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

9.0

Nariz: cereza, mora, algo de regaliz, tierra

Boca: Seco, Tanino M, Acidez M, Alcohol M+. Cuerpo robusto, algo joven.

Muy bueno por el precio. — 6 years ago

Jordi Pazo

8.9

Garage Bar. Tast Clot de les Soleres.
18.05.19 — 6 years ago

Jason Sliwa

9.2

Daniele recommended for its pepperiness and light body. Very nice. — 7 years ago

with Colby and Vicki

Walter Fahr

9.1

Nicely balanced Rioja.with deep ruby color and medium body. Paired with pork sausage and turkey gumbo, it was a perfect match, especially with the sausage. Drank in January 2025 At 6 years old it had aged well! — 10 months ago

Juan Pablo Perez

9.1

Nariz: mora, arándano, ciruela, cassis, eucalipto, vainilla. Aromas primarios dominan todavia.

Boca: Tanino M/M+, Acidez M, Alcohol M/M+

Lo Aguantaría 5 años mas. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Nose is very rocky with loads of flowers and fresh cherries and some cassis. Lovely wet earth as well. Echoes of Burgundy. Also that metal smell I get from Nerello and Etna wines. Fresh and energetic with an invigorating palate and not as much depth as the Chiuse Vidalba which is the high end cuvee but this is delicious and very well made. Nose has a floral-cassis thing that is so appealing. Nose now has hits of tar and forest floor. Really dig this. Super juicy and so pure. Excellent. Long as f. — 4 years ago

Tom Heckert

8.9

White for the non red sauce entrees — 4 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Aromas of freshly cut oak trees, purple flowers and plums. Flavors of Dark cherry, baking spices, minerals and dill. Tannins are there, but they are refined. Excellent expression of this Umbrian wine. — 5 years ago

Mike Holzer

9.1

Typical very good toro wine. Great black fruit. Good length — 6 years ago

with Ania

Juan Pablo Perez

9.0

Nariz: arandano, mora, eucalipto, ciruela, cassis y algo de pimiento verde

Boca: Tanino M, Acidez M, Alcohol M/M+

Bueno evolucion de la ultima vez. Tambien bueno por precio. — 10 months ago

Daniel M

9.0

No notes, aperitive pour by the pool at friends. Crushed rocks, zippo lighter scents on the nose. Some peary and lemony notes too. Great acid drive carrying the wine very far. Pear and lemon. Minerally through and through. Great stuff for about 11 eur retail price here in France. It's a steal! — a year ago

Michael Walker

9.7

First of the Sicilian entries, less popular than the Tancredi afterward though excellent pairing with Greek chicken/salad…more the traditionally Mediterranean earth though far more elegantly done — 4 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

9.0

Nariz: mora, cereza, ciruela, cassis, eucalipto

Boca: Tanino M, Acidez M, Alcohol M — 4 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

9.0

Nariz: Mora, arándano, cassis. Aromas primarios y algo cerrado todavía.

Boca: Tanino M+, Acidez M/M+, Alcohol M+.

Necesita aire. Mas tiempo en botella también. — 5 years ago

Tran

9.9

Delicious tasting Malbec. Easy to drink and relax. — 6 years ago

Gina

9.5

Excellent! — 6 years ago