Vin santo 1990 Avignonesi (Vino tavola di toscana - Cortona-italia). Friends of ours had just come back from Italy (2 week vacation). They experienced some amazing, amazing stuff. Anyway, they like wine, but are not as 'in' to it as me. Anyway, they told us a little story about having some Vin Santo in a restaurant and they ended up going shopping for some while they were there so they could bring some home since they liked it so much. I have no idea if this is what they had in the restaurant, but this is what they brought home.

Let me just tell you, as soon as I saw it pouring out of the bottle, my jaw dropped. It was liquid caramel. O MY GOD! Some of this wine and some tiny biscotti. Amazing. I was in heavan. I loved it so much and I HAD to look it up. Look it up in the wine ratings yourself. This is the one and only wine I have ever had with this high of a rating. Even if it wasn't rated as high by 'professionals', it was truly an amazing experience.

I would rate this an unprecedented 97. I have never rated anything that high. It might be too high, but it was an other-worldly experience.

I actually ran across this TN in my email from a while ago and decided to dredge it up and to finally post it.

Do you know how much? Is it available here?

Not sure how much. When we hinted at it, they said they paid a 'very dear' price for it. This is coming froma guy who insists on buying sub $10 wines, and 'splurges' on $20 bottles. "Very dear" price to me sounds like a goodly bit.

Not sure if it is available here/

You could see if anyone here on the board still has WS access, I think it rated really well.

How about Parker?

no idea, sorry. I am a dork who doesn't yet get Parker anything

I believe this is a WS 100 pt wine. I've seen the '91 vintage of the Vin Santo for $180. You're very lucky to have tried this. (Edit: price was for 375ml) Hey TJ, get your friend to bring a bottle to our DC offline...

Well hey, I think that bottle was a one and only purchase. So it's probably gone for good (man was it good). But it is certainly worth a try!

This was not rated by Parker, but here is what Wine Spectator had to say on Oct. 2000:

100 points
"Absolutely amazing. Looks like liquid caramel coming out of the bottle when poured. It's full-bodied, thick and very sweet, with butterscotch, toffee, honey and caramel aromas and flavors. One of the world's great dessert wines. Will age for a long time to come. Drink now through 2020. 265 cases made. (JS)"

Thanks for the TNs. It was a truly amazing wine. I just wish I had one for a future special event. Man-o-man!

TJ:

there is only one shop in the chicago area that i know has it, not sure of the vintage, but the price is $125 or thereabouts per 375 sold in a nice wooden box of three. unsure if he'd break up the three pack. the owner, otis knows of whom i speak, told me he's the only person in the chicago area that got this, and i don't doubt him a bit. it's where dame frankie got me the imperial of fontalloro. is (edit for state) maryland a felony state, for shipping that is?

TJ: I think that your friend decided to spend some $$$ on this.

yes indeed

I had this again (WOO-HOO!!!!) last night. What a treat. I think I might even rate it a 98. No, 97+.

If any of you EVER find this stuff, and you want to splurge, BUY IT. You will not be disappointed. Trust me.

I had this a few months ago and agree..WOOHOO!!

There is some for sale at one of the local wine stores still.

I saw this in a wine store in San Diego. This was ~>$150.00 IIRC. I've hoped to try this, but it is priced quite accordingly to its' rarity, import markup, and WS score.

$150 is very rich. Now, if anyone is talking about wanting to do a split on this for the VC Anniversay offline, that might be very interesting.