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2017 Anthony Road Chardonnay Unoaked, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Seneca, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Light golden in color.  The nose has some grapefruit on it along with a bit of lemons and slight apple note.  On the palate, this has tons of grapefruit.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  A very unique take on Chardonnay in many ways more resembling a Sauvignon Blanc.  Would work with a wide variety of foods.  Porbably best drunk in the next few years.  

2005 Château Rol Valentin, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purple in color.  This is drinking quite well now.  Pretty classic right bank but perhaps still a skosh more room to develop.  The nose is nice with cherries, some cassis, cigar box and chocolate shavings.  On the palate, this has nice cherries, not super ripe, but nothing green.  Undertones of tobacco and damp earth.  Good balance.  Drank over two nights and while different just as good on each night.  Will work with most foods.  Really everything you could want from this wine at this point.  

2003 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color, slightly flat.  The nose has black cherries, cinnamon, and spice.  On the palate, sweet black cherries and sweet black raspberries.  Tasty but slightly jammy.  Some depth.  Not a lot of acidity.  Drinking quite well.  When the vintage was revealed, it made sense that it was the hot 2003 vintage.  No hurry on this though.  

2013 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with black cherries and an almost liqueur quality to it.  On the palate this is slightly bitter.  Slightly noticeable alcohol.  There is a lot of depth though tight.  Medium tannins.  Plenty of cherry fruit and some black cherry.  This needs time but has a lot of potential.  If drinking now, give it plenty of air.  Good acidity and it needs some food.  Some upside potential for sure.  

2015 Conte di Bregonzo Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

A great value in Amarone.  It actually tastes like an Amarone for $26.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries and slight dried leaves.  On the palate, a nice combination of sweet black cherries and sour cherries.  Also some underlying crushed leaves.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  This might not make old bones, but for this price, it would be fun to lay a bottle down and try.  In any event, this should be good for 5 to 7 more years.  

2012 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Ruby in color.  At first there seemed to be some TCA on the nose, but that blew off after about an hour.  TCA, however, does not blow off, it gets worse, that must have just been some bottle stink of some kind.  Eventually, it showed nice cherries with some nutmeg.  On the palate, this has plums and slightly sour cherries.  It is a bit candied as well.  Clean after about an hour.  Good acidity.  Not sure if this was a proper bottle but it was nice.  Retails for around $50. 

1997 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color but the sheen is flat.  On the nose there is some VA here.  Black cherries, some damp tea leaves, a hint of cigar box and slight funk.  Old but nice.  On the palate, this is much more alive.  Complex and deep.  Black cherries, cherries, slight prunes with slight tannins.  Also some underlying decaying forest floor.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Worked better with some cheeses.  Probably varies from bottle to bottle but I would think this has five years easily and maybe more before slowly sliding downhill.  

2012 Famiglia Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This showed quite well and was quite well received.  Purple in color, with some ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with cherries, black cherries and baking spices.  On the palate, this has fresh cherries and black cherries.  It is slightly sweet/ripe.  It did take a few minutes to open and then kept opening.  There is an underlying forest floor note.  Good finish.  Very food friendly but drinks well on its own.  Has a decade left in it.  

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