Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I bought this as Sofia & I visited the property in September of 2015 when this was being birthed. I meant to enjoy it on her birthday a while back but ended up in the ER from food poisoning I had at a restaurant. Ugly for a week.

Franciacorta is Italy’s sparkling region much like Champagne is to France. It is very near to the Italian summer hot spot, Lake Garda.

The body on this is beautiful, rich, almost fluffy with tiny beads. Starts with lemon chiffons, green apple, grapefruit, yellow melons, some lime notes, white cream, dry herbs, white spice, slightly moist, powdery to crushed chalkiness, saline, yellow & white flowers, perfect acidity and a well made, knitted, beautiful balanced & tensioned, elegant finished that lasts two-minute that falls on minerality.

Annamaria Clementi Reserve is tribute to the founder, Maurizio Zanella’s mother and made in only the very best of years.

It is a blend of; 82% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero & 3% Pinot Bianco. 6 months is small oak casks, 63 mg of sulfur dioxide per L. Zero dosage and 13% alcohol.

Happy belated birthday honey! — 5 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.0

Santa Croce franciacorta brut

Nose : closed

Palate: fruity. Good. Not super mineral. — 3 years ago

John Hagood

9.3

From DCanter 2019 on 7/31/2021. Clear light ruby. Cherry lollipop scent. Silky, pronounced tannin, long finish. Non-ripe Stone fruits esp red plum. Emily has s right: hibiscus, violet, cranberry, pomegranate. Some pepper on back end. Good balance as medium body. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

For our reception, I packed a magnum of this in 2007 into my suitcase.. Same as it was that night, it is tonight. Every 750ml I/we have had since then has better than the magnum I brought. The magnum was good, but a touch broken down. This is in amazing shape. Storage is everything w/ wine of this age.

The nose was straight up brighter, aged fruit profile with mushrooms, sweetened led pencil & barnyard. Beautiful. Classic 80’s seminole Bordeaux. 48 years from inception & 46 years in bottle, amazing.

Happy anniversary Sofia! ❤️ you endlessly!

This is a perfect example of why I love Bordeaux. — 7 months ago

Chris N

9.3

✅S&C - a lovely fresh Rosé. M&S. definitely buy again. — 2 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

700's signature is a distinct sweet core of baked apples, sweet prunes, and Ceylon cinnamon. The aromas don't give too much away - juicy dark blackberries, cocoa dusted raspberries, and cherry leather could go left to bright acid or right to dark concentrate. Right we go into a rich cauldron of sweet stewed fruits.

Open on a cold night with a breeze. This thing will fill your belly and keep you warm. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

10

We had this at our wedding reception in Cortona out of magnum. Ten in memory. 💒 🌹❤️🍷

The fruit/wine in 750ml is better tonight than the magnum we had in 2007. I love 80’s Bordeaux for the style of that decade and 12-13% ABV. Fruit is beyond still fresh & floral. 35 years later in bottle! For me, 86 was a seminal vintage. The wine is 94-95 on the palate. Storage on this secondary market purchase was perfect.

Ripe, floral and hints of pruny; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, raspberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, rhubarb notes & hovering blue fruits. Perfect, sweet lead pencils for days, sandy top soil, powdery limestone, dry river stone, perfectly, softened, dark spice box, cigar box, sandalwood, American, moist tobacco, used leather, dry dates & figs, sun tea, cherry cola/licorice, black rich earth with dry leaves, dry herbs-sage/bay leaves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, red, blue, purple bouquet, insane acidity, with stunning evolution/integration, excellent, balance, still intense structure with a polished finish for days…wire to wire beautiful with phenomenal length & polish that seems endless. This bottle would hold another 5 years.

Sofia, love you & miss you every second of every day. — 2 years ago

Rita Ernst

10

Terre s Di San Vito blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon — 2 years ago

Charles Duncan

9.0

Gift from Kayla S from her sustainable wine club. LJB like it a lot. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

Nose is wild and funky. Verset like immediately comes to mind. It’s wild and funky but also has class, deep Syrah character and refinement. Some VA, some funk, some elegance, leather, berry fruit, some brett, it is all there and coming out to play but somehow it works. Way better than the ghastly 12’s. Palate is juicy and rustic, with nice juiciness and purity. Definitely get a Sicilian vibe from this. Tinny but in a good way. Wild, rustic and pure. Juicy with good fruit and lovely tannins. Rustic, charming and juicy. Long. No finesse but it makes up for it in charm. Very good.

BIG improvement on day 2. Gorgeous aroma. Meaty, floral and gamey. Palate is silky and sweet. 8.9 to 9.1. Juicy and terrific florals. Sappy. — 5 years ago