I bought a case of this a year or so ago based on the Parker rating of 90 and the cost of about $8 or $9 per bottle. If I recall correctly this is "super tuscan" style blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese. Please correct me if I am wrong. I cracked open the eighth or so bottle last night with homemade spaghetti.

This has shed a bit of it's fruit since my last visit. Much more noticeable tannins and acid. Improved a bit with air, but overall not as enjoyable as before, but still paired well with the food. Although I am definitely not an expert in Italian wine, I would say drink up, this won't age well.

Lots of reports of bottle variation too. Have not had one in several months. 1/3 cab, 1/3 merlot, 1/3 sangiovese IIRC.

this is a wine that must be drunk in its first six months. because there is so much of this produced, it makes no sense in stocking up. there is always next year.

yeah, I also heard about bottle variation, but never experienced any. For me, this has simply gotten older and has lostsome of it's appeal.

Didn't realize it was merlot as well.

Must have read my mind, i was going to grab this to drink last night! However, I pulled a 00 Onix Priorato (which is quite excellent for $10!). I have two bottles left of the '00, I'll pull one out within the next month. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks for the TN on this. Looks very interesting for the $$$. Will keep my eyes open.

Thanks, smaug. No big surprise that it lost some of what it had, but @ <$10, one of my QPR "greats."

Would be curious to know from anyone that has tried the 2001 to see how it compares...

Based on this thread I decided to pull one of my last two bottles out this evening with some spaghetti. At first, the blackberry aromatics were beautiful, but there was a serious lack of fruit and a hollow mid-palate. Gave it 2 1/2 hours. The blackberry fruit is really shining from beginning to end with touches of vanilla, toasty oak, tar, earth, and licorice on a lingering finish. I've never gotten the 91 rating that Parker gave it, but this was the best bottle I've had out of 5. 89

Smaug, I just drank a bottle of the the 2001 the other night ($8, 89 pts. WA). A terrific bottle of wine and a great QPR. I liked it every bit as much as the 2000. Tons of dark fruit, nice bit of spice, great balance and lengthy finish.

Buy all you can.

I just had the 2001 also. Has to be drank now (agree with ojeffso). Light on the nose/aroma. Nice fruit, but light on the body & dies on the finish. A good bottle for $8.00-$9.00. Yes. But, I wonder about the bottle-variation (that mountainman brought up). Because I was not getting the lengthy finish. Solid Wine for the $$$ if thinking of spending under $10.00.

LCC, I guess Falesco (or at least the Vitiano) is known for bottle variation. As a matter of fact, the bottle that I had recently was the best "bottle" that I have had thus far. I have been stuck with a few mediocre bottles over the last couple of years.

Try another...

Vitiano is known for variation, the merlot is much more predictable.

I had the 2000 and 2001 side by side this past weekend and at this stage the 2001 is drinking better. It was fresher and more lively, the aromas were much more clean. I think that that I agree with the WA rating for the 2001, but the 2000 is biting the dust fast.

TCK

I had the 2001 several nights ago, just a few glasses. I think I mentioned that in a chat. I found the wine to be rather rough around the edges and, interlaced with the dark fruits I found a distinctly nutty, roasted nuts to be exact, character. I would not rate this wine in the 90s for sure. I'd probably rate it an 85-86. It just seemed a bit out of balance, a bit too tannic and slightly more acidic than would be called for to keep it all in check. The finish was OK, but a little on the short side. I am hoping I got what was a more 'off' than 'on' bottle. I have two more, so we'll see.