Noble Rot Sagrantino Dinner (Noble Rot, Swan Lane, Wellington, New Zealand): A good Sagrantino from McLaren Vale, Australia, with 6% Cinsault. Ripe and concentrated, a little floral and spice on the nose with the big black plums and boysenberry fruit. Not quite a fruit bomb, but next to the Montefalco wines, lighter and more fruit driven, tannins softer. A little unfair after the Paolo Bea!
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Initially on opening, the wine was quite “tight” with prominent acidity, and was quite tannic. It definitely would have benefited from decanting for an hour or so at least.
However after a few hours, and indeed into the next day (can’t finish a bottle between two in one sitting!), the “Ceno Cat” really opened up and showed what a wonderfully unique wine it is.
Hints of stewed cherries and floral note to the aroma make for a pleasant introduction to this wine. After sufficient time to breathe, the wine tastes less dry (still acidic but feels balanced) on the palate, and whilst still quite tannic, it adds more of a pleasant “oomph” and texture to the feel of the wine. There’s cherry, rhubarb, and maybe a hint of chocolate to taste. The finish was decently long and lingering. Interestingly at one stage in the wines development as it was breathing, I almost felt like there was a biscuity oak finish to it as if it were an aged chardonnay.
Overall this was a really interesting bottle of wine and I will definitely try and cellar for a couple of years and re-taste. It can probably cellar for 3 more years but unlikely to improve much beyond that.
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12/12/2020 - JCH2019 wrote: 88 Points
Agree with Jon and Bec!
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12/31/2019 - marcellonegro wrote: 87 Points
Ripe, red fruit on the nose with a hint of dust and timber. Smooth, full mouth feel with medium finish and moderate tannins.
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10/30/2018 - Jon and Bek Likes this wine: 88 Points
Noble Rot Sagrantino Dinner (Noble Rot, Swan Lane, Wellington, New Zealand): A good Sagrantino from McLaren Vale, Australia, with 6% Cinsault. Ripe and concentrated, a little floral and spice on the nose with the big black plums and boysenberry fruit. Not quite a fruit bomb, but next to the Montefalco wines, lighter and more fruit driven, tannins softer. A little unfair after the Paolo Bea!
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6/16/2018 - lovemandrew Likes this wine:
Ultra ripe peaches, blackberries, savoury chewiness. Long and lingering. An interesting and delicious drop.
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6/7/2018 - Simplistication Likes this wine: 93 Points
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Initially on opening, the wine was quite “tight” with prominent acidity, and was quite tannic. It definitely would have benefited from decanting for an hour or so at least.
However after a few hours, and indeed into the next day (can’t finish a bottle between two in one sitting!), the “Ceno Cat” really opened up and showed what a wonderfully unique wine it is.
Hints of stewed cherries and floral note to the aroma make for a pleasant introduction to this wine. After sufficient time to breathe, the wine tastes less dry (still acidic but feels balanced) on the palate, and whilst still quite tannic, it adds more of a pleasant “oomph” and texture to the feel of the wine. There’s cherry, rhubarb, and maybe a hint of chocolate to taste. The finish was decently long and lingering. Interestingly at one stage in the wines development as it was breathing, I almost felt like there was a biscuity oak finish to it as if it were an aged chardonnay.
Overall this was a really interesting bottle of wine and I will definitely try and cellar for a couple of years and re-taste. It can probably cellar for 3 more years but unlikely to improve much beyond that.
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