Tasting Notes                         

91   2000  Barone Ricasoli  Casalferro   10/1/11 ($40)

      75% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot    13.5% alc
Color: Deep garnet with slight browning, but little clearing. (3.0) Bouquet: Very creme de cocoa with elegant cedar complementing cherry and lush blackberry fruit. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with lively acidity and some tannin complementing the fruit and oak. Coats mouth nicely. (3.5) Flavor: The smooth vanilla and cocoa combined with fruit are still delicious, but not as expressing as bouquet. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with some astringency. (3.0)
Overall: Like the 1999, it's ready to go, but is more CA in style with fancy vanilla and cocoa infusions from oak and more ripe and lush. Shows delicious Sangiovese cherry and Merlot blackberry with smooth, but firm tannins. The more prominent, but integrated, oak and lush Merlot fruit mixed with the Sangiovese character may be too much for Tuscan purists to take, but still drinks delicious. Drink now and in the next 1-2 years. (16.0)

 

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