Taurasi Riserva 'Cinque Querce'

Score

92

"The 2012 Taurasi Riserva Vigna Cinque Querce is a big, dark, and smoky effort from Salvatore Molettieri. Here I'm finding a massive display of crushed black cherry, offset by sour citrus, with notes of damp earth and air-dried meats. It cascades across the palate, mixing ripe dark fruits and minerals with grippy tannins, as tongue-curling acidity adds a much-needed refreshing thrust. The structured finish goes on and on, painfully youthful, but with enough residual fruit and spice to carry its tannic clout. It will be interesting to follow the 2012 vintage through five to ten years of cellaring; at which point, it may deserve a higher score."

Score

92

"Showing good balance, the 2010 Taurasi Riserva Vigna Cinque Querce is a powerful, full-bodied wine. The bouquet deals out intense aromas of dried fruit, cinnamon, clove and campfire ash. The wine closes with 15% alcohol, and you definitely feel that power. Like the other important red wines from Salvatore Molettieri, this wine ferments in stainless steel. Only this Riserva ages for a long 60 months in both barrique and large oak casks. Only 2,916 bottles were made."

Score

94

"Beautiful, bright fruit with blueberry and hot-stone character. Medium body, integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Very refined, fresh and subtle. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"Deep ruby. Menthol, dark berries, ripe red cherry and oaky vanillin aromas and flavors are complicated by hints of coffee and black pepper. Multilayered and very dense, but strikes me as less perfumed and less graceful than the 2011 Taurasi. Finishes very smooth, long, clean and fresh. No shortage of power here, but manages the neat trick of never going over the top."

Score

94

"More than a wine, the 2007 Taurasi Riserva Vigna Cinque Querce is an experience. Dig your nose deep into the glass, and you feel as if you are absorbing the aromas from a fistful of moist volcanic earth. Dark fruit, cola, mineral tones, blackberry, spice, licorice, tar and candied chestnut all lift from the beautifully intricate bouquet. The complexity here is truly outstanding and the wine evolves slowly with each additional minute in the glass. It boasts a super smooth texture, with enormous richness and persistency. This is an outstanding achievement that should continue its slow evolution in the bottle."