Tasting Note                         

93   1997 Isole et Olena  Collezione de Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana (I.G.T.) 2/26/11

13.5% alc 
Color: Very deep garnet, young looking for 13+ with no clearing or browning. (3.5) Bouquet: Black ink, rich cassis, nuts and integrated cigarbox. Intense, with excellent acidity. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with excellent fruit, tannin and acidity. Very well balanced. (3.0) Flavor: Delicious cassis fruit with cigarbox and fine tannins. Smooth for its size. Shows a dusty, bittersweet component reminiscent of Chianti Classico. (3.5) Finish: Cassis lingers nicely, but not as multilayered and intense as bouquet with a little nutty bitterness. (3.0)
Overall: Terrific Tuscan Cabernet, best I’ve had from outside Bolgheri. Stylistically, it’s somewhere in-between a Napa Cabernet and a Medoc with some dusty/nutty Tuscan terroir thrown in. May be at its best now, but should hold for several more years. (16.5)

 

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