5/16/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Some marmalade, brown sugar, honeyed pineapple and apricots. Same as previous although I am also getting a bit of bitterness on the finish. Nice.

5/14/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Yellow/hay in colour, clear. Aromas showing lemons, stone fruit, granny smith apples, caramel, smokiness.
Flavours follow. Medium weight, acidity + with some tanginess. Vanilla, spices, steeliness. This is aged in oak (there is an unoaked version). Nice wine. Lemon custard creaminess as well.

5/12/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely. Good balance. Acidity a bit high, but nothing unusual for cool climate wines. Good ripeness to the fruit. Getting red berries, cherries, blackberries, baking spices. Some herbal qualities, and a touch of saline minerality. Also getting some cedar and graphite. All in all, a tasty medium bodied wine. Not a lot of depth or heaviness to the wine. A bit of tanginess and some black tea bitterness. This is not a sweet fruited wine overall, but there is some sweetness to the fruit (but a dry wine). Dusty smooth tannins on the finish. This is not a big wine, definitely a cool climate wine on the lighter mouthfeel side.

5/7/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Still reddish but turning garnet. Blackberry/cherry fruits, spices, vanilla, black pepper. Good balance, slight tartness. Medium acidity. Vague dusty tannins, on the sweetish side (not bitter). A touch of black tea. Very nice and gentle wine overall.

5/4/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

61% Malbec, 39% Petit Verdot ... 13% alc
Interesting wine. Deep reddish/purple hues. Aromas showing fresh berry fruit, lavender, forest floor, baking spices. Still young. Fresh feeling, medium weight. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries .... a slight tanginess overall. Getting baking spices, licorice, along with tobacco and an herbal streak. Long finish. Nice wine. Different.

5/1/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Another Quintarelli great wine. Colour is garnet with a little more browning at the edges. But still a touch of red at the core. Moderate color intensity.
Much like the last bottle I had , 8 years ago. Aromas start with dried cherries, dried dark berries, hints of spiciness/incense, cedar, graphite. Also hints of tar, and a subtle floral element. Absolutely beautiful and gently wafts out of the glass. Hints at the how great this wine will be when you finally taste it.

Dry, medium bodied. A bit on the bitterness side, not sweet fruited. Terrific structure. This wine could age another decade, but unfortunately this is my last bottle. Dusty tannins. Long finish. Very nice complexity without the weight or thickness.
Overall you get the dried cherries and red berries as well as ripe cherries and berries and plums. There is a nice spice cake flavors with an herbal/savoury element. A nice streak of minerality runs through the mid palate to finish. Notes of leather and cedar and a touch of tar on the finish as well. More balsamic flavours creeping in now.
Beautiful complexity. Wonderful to sip away at.

4/27/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Overall, a really good experience with this wine. Nice acidity and still a bit of tanginess overall. My guess is somewhere around 8-15g/L of residual sugar but the acidity keeps this in check. Good fruit, showing peaches, apples and some lime and lime zest. Gives it a touch of bitterness on the finish before the off-dry kicks in. Nice minerality running throughout. Not overly complex, but a tasty wine.

4/20/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

50% Nebbiolo, 50% Barbera
Same basic notes as before. Better on 2nd day with a decant.
A beautiful wine. Brilliant purple core and red edges. Glass staining ....... thicker then expected. Aromas of lavender and violets lead the way, with rich dark berries, graphite, and black tea.
Medium to full bodied, integrates the alcohol well. But the overall mouthfeel has a thickness to it (not viscous) as you roll it around. A bit of funkiness to the flavour. Tannins are drying on the finish, with a bitter tea/tar ..... grainy and firm. Nice sweet ripe dark berry flavours from start to mid palate. Long finish.
Let this breath to bring more out.

4/20/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Took a while to open up fully. Very nice. Drank without taking notes.

4/20/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable wine. Nice medium weight, good berry fruit, spices. Not much in the way of detailed notes.

4/18/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Took an hour or so to fully open up. Medium to full bodied. Dark berry fruits, cassis, spices. A bit mulled or muddy in mouthfeel, not clean and crisp in flavours. Medium acid, dusty ripe tannins, but on the slightly bitter side. Nice wine. Kind of average for the price.

4/11/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Very nice, hitting all the cab sauv flavour highlights. A bit on the rustic side overall, but tasty. Not smooth and round .... some rough edges. But getting cherries, cassis, cedar, herbal qualities, tobacco.

4/11/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine. Medium to full bodied, nicely balanced. A pleasant thickness to the wine. Dark berries, plums ... along the darker segment for fruit. Some herbal qualities and black tea. Medium length to finish. Served with several friends and all remarked that they very much enjoyed this wine.

4/5/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely now, but young. Still a bit shrill on the acidity. Fruit is on the sour side, but nice. Blueberries and dark fruit berries. Some spices on the finish. Very tasty. But wanted a bit more depth to the wine. Seemed a bit watery at first but put on some weight by the end.

4/3/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable wine. Medium to full bodied with nice firm structure. Blueberries, mulberries, plums, cherries. But the fruit is a bit mulled and has some tanginess .... a touch of sour and bitter. A bit more on the sweet fruited spectrum. Dusty smooth tannins. Some sage and thyme as well. Medium acidity. Good balance overall. I like the florality you get in the aromas. Nice length to the finish.

3/29/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Nice tasty wine. Decent complexity and length.

3/29/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Great wine. Smooth and long finish. Dusty tannins, medium acidity. Great balance. Really nice fruit ... cherries, cassis ... on the sweeter side of the spectrum. Beautiful "Rutherford Dust" element. Really enjoying this wine. Has years to go for aging if wanted. Still 2 bottles left.

3/26/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Better on Day 2 ... more fruit expression. Dusty ripe tannins. More on the bitter end of the spectrum ... not sweet end. Dark berries, cherries. Some meatiness, licorice. Long finish. Nicely made and very enjoyable. Aging well.

3/22/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Very nice pinot. More on the minerality/herbal flavour side. Fruit is nice but not as prevalent. Medium acid, dusty and fading tannins. Fruit is more on the bitter side with cranberry and pomegranate flavours. Good minerality.

3/17/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Similar to previous note. Good dark brambly fruit element.

3/15/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

(in concrete eggs and extended period with the grape-skin contact)
DO Islas Canarias, bottle 0130 of 1325 total
I am enjoying the wine. Mild flavours, maybe missing some acidity? It is not a funky/weird style of wine, but it is an Orange wine. Pleasant wine with modest complexity. But something seems to be missing (is there a "flatness" to this wine?).
Orange marmalade in colour, maybe a touch cloudy.
As before, aromas are a bit shy but mainly orange citrus in nature with some grapefruit, and a slight weird funkiness. Some spices, minerality.
As before ... Flavours follow with orange with some pith bitterness, pink grapefruit, spices (maybe a touch of Grand Marnier without the sweetness). Definite minerality/wet stone. Dry wine, no tannins to speak of, medium length to finish. Light to medium body. Maybe a touch of tanginess on the mid palate to finish.

3/12/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine to sip for the evening. Berry fruit, dusty smooth tannins. Overall a little sweetness and some black tea bitterness. Well balanced, longish length to the finish.

3/5/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Purple/red colour, can see through, no visible sediment. Light to medium bodied with the telltale PEC minerality on the flavour. Nice slightly bitter fruits of cranberry, cherry. Drying but not dominating tannins. Some florals as well as red fruits and minerals on the aromas.
Overall, well balanced. Not a showy, or big/dense pinot. Flavours more on a minerality taste. A bit of saline element on the finish.

3/2/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine. So well rounded and balanced. Flavours showing blackberries, cherries, plums, prunes. Then the meatiness and herbaceaous side shows up. Dusty smooth sweet tannins. Juicy. Some dried fruits creeping in as well. Really enjoying this bottle.

2/25/2024 - OttawaB wrote:

This has aged well. A bit more on the bitter fruit spectrum then sweet fruited. But still some lingering sweet fruit. Cherries, dabs of chocolate. Nice medium acidity, vague dusty tannins. I am enjoying this one.

2/24/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Good fruit showing lemons, pineapple, mandarins. Medium acidity, dusty tannins to close. Nice minerality. But I do find the oak to be a bit more then needed. But still good overall balance. Buttery, vanilla coming through. Decent length to the finish.

2/22/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

I really enjoyed this bottle. Started off a bit rough, funky, balsamic. Then this went away after a few hours of air.
Aromas showing graphite, cherries, dried berries, some mustiness. Also some herbs, and leather.
Flavours of dark cherry, dried berry, on the sweet berry spectrum but then getting cranberry bitterness. An earthiness with some sage/herbs tossed in, and a nice minerality. Picking up leather on the finish. Longish length to the finish. Sweet berries on the finish with some bitterness blended in ... a good mix. Savoury overall. Medium acidity helps keep everything wrapped up nicely. Dusty smooth tannins, just there in the background.

2/16/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Aromas showing concentrated dark berry fruits …. cassis, blackberry and ripe black cherries. A bit of cedar and leather on the finish with an herbal component. Flavours follow aromas. Still a juicy mouthfeel. Ripe berries, and cassis . Smooth and round. Good balance. Medium acidity. Dry tannins. Long finish.

2/13/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Nice solid drinking wine. Good balance, medium minus acidity. Lemon drops, melons, a smidge of orange, and a definite herbal component.

2/13/2024 - OttawaB wrote:

Nice overall balance. Better on 2nd day ... taste filled in and less shrill on the acidity. Good fruit flavours of red berries and dark cherries. Spices, and some herbal component on the finish. Tannins still present ... slightly chewy/grainy. Medium length to finish.

2/5/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely. I enjoyed this, but found the acidity still a bit high. Still overall good balance ... red berry fruit, pomegranite, spices, earthy, medium length to finish . Dusty smooth tannins, but still a little shrill on the acidity.

2/2/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

On the first day I did not like this wine. Took the evening for some funkiness to blow off. Opened up nicely on day 2. Some dark berry fruits, stewed plums, incense, figs. Not very complex but okay enough. Not a heavy wine. I tend to find a more ooomph in my Amarones, but this was more of a light weight.

1/29/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Pretty much the same as previous bottle but I am getting a better fruit component.

1/27/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

same as previous note. A very enjoyable bottle of wine.

1/24/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Drinking really nicely. Good balance, although maybe the acidity is still a bit on the high side which does still add to the freshness feeling. Good dark red berry fruit, forest floor to a degree. Nice length to the finish.

1/22/2024 - OttawaB wrote:

Coravin'ed several ounces to try out. Really nice spot. Some marmalade, brown sugar, honeyed pineapple and apricots. I will try this again in a few months.

1/22/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine. Rich, good depth of flavours with a long finish. Dusty to slightly crunchy tannins. Flavours showing plums, red berries, black cherry kirsch. Herbal component ... sage/garrigue. There is something interesting in that the mid palate really shows the acidity and the kirsch lessens .... then the full flavours return.

1/17/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine with balance. Flavours showing ripe plums, dark berries, some mint, herbal notes. Dusty drying tannins in the background.

1/12/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Light straw colored wine. Aromas are crisp and refreshing with green apple, grapefruit, hay, and lime. Pleasant, easy drinking, crisp with good acidity. Balanced, clean. Flavours follow aromas ... maybe more lime flavours as it warms to room temp. There is also a creaminess, like lime curd. Decent length to finish.Nice mineral/flinty component. A different overall presentation then a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Nice overall and a steal at this price.

1/11/2024 - OttawaB wrote:

flawed. Definitely oxidized.

1/11/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

I've enjoyed this wine. Nice flavours of blackberries, dried dark berries. A bit stewed berry fruit which is fine. Some herbal flavours, cured meats. Medium drying tannins, more in the background. More bitter flavours on the finish. Not sweet fruited. Medium length to the finish. Good overall structure, balanced.

1/6/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Red and purple in colour. No apparent sediment. 75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Still primary fruit with cassis and blackberry leading the way on the aromas. Some hints of minerality/graphite/flint, and a floral element.
A freshness to the overall wine. Blackberry, plums, lively acidity. Fruit leads the way. Dusty tannins, drying , maybe slightly chewy. Decent length to the finish. Can age. Good balance but maybe needs another year or two.

1/5/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Delicious. Nice red berry notes, cassis, medium acidity, medium tannins. Still a bit juicy feeling, but drying fruit as well. Cedar, spices, graphite. Nicely balanced. Last bottle.

1/2/2024 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

No cork. A pop cap. Just flat out, a tasty/delicious sparkling wine. Not complex, or yeasty/bready .... just really enjoyable and primary.
Nice albeit a brief mousse. But the bubbles stay for a long time when you drink/swish it around in your mouth. Primary flavours of lemons (a bit of sweetness to the lemons .... 12 g/L of residual sweetness, so not a dry sparkling wine) and some green apples. You do get some biscuity aromas and flavours. Good acidity, and a tanginess to the fruit. There is a leesy element to the wine although I don't know how long it sat on its lees.

12/31/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Very nice wine. Showing cherry, dark fruits. A bit of sour still detected on the fruit.
Lots of sediment in this bottle. Definitely needed a decant. Medium tannins, but not that noticeable. Long finish.
Also getting an herbal component, some black tea, coffee and tobacco and leather. Nice overall complexity.
Rustic in feel. But tasty. Not a smooth wine. Some bumps along the way, but very tasty.

12/31/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely. Very smooth, round. Good structure ... medium acid, medium tannin, medium fruit. Rich and elegant.
Dark ruby colour, not much sediment. Aromas showing plums, cherries, dark berries. A bit barnyard funky at first but this blows off.
Flavours follow aromas, also getting partly dried berry fruits. Nice complexity. Leaning more to bitter fruits then sweet fruits at this point. Savoury herbs, black tea, and truffles also showing. Long finish on the bitter side. Dusty smooth tannins.

12/26/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Beautiful chardonnay. Well balanced with zippy acidity, orange peel/grapefruit/lemon curd flavours. Some vanilla and baking spice. Dusty smooth tannins, not really noticeable. Really enjoying this wine. Good overall depth of flavours. Long finish.

12/26/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Well balanced, great acidity and depth. Yeasty/bready aromas, berry fruit. Thick mousse but it disappears in a dozen or so seconds. Wonderful overall flavours. Drinking beautifully at this point.

12/26/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Well balanced. Dusty smooth tannins, medium acidity. Cassis, dried berry fruit, cedar. Bitterness creeping into the fruit profile (not sweet fruited palate but still a bit of the sweet fruit left over). Very tasty.

12/19/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine:

Reddish in colour. An interesting wine ..... Mainly getting that bitter side of the fruit spectrum, but through that you can also get some vague fruit sweetness. Cherry fruit dominates, but it is drying out. Not much on the nose except a bit of ash, freshness to a cherry aroma, minerality. Medium weight, northern style pinot. Getting a good dose of minerality, stony feel.