Tommaso Bussola Recioto Della Valpolicella Tb 2003

Previous bottle from this batch was corked, so I was apprehensive about opening this one for a group. Turned out to be a phenomenal bottle of Valpolicella! Great dark berry fruit, with outstanding minerality I've come to expect from Bussola's Valpolicellas. Drinking extremely well right now, straight from the bottle.

Bad earthy/musty/mildew smell and taste. Group determined "cork taint". Sad...

Again, this was from Vini Volo's BBQ Reds collection, the BBQ title is non sly aside. This corvina blend has dark fruits and the right blend of spices. Delicious with marcona almonds

FIVE DAYS LATER: Wow! Two ounces kept in my Eurocave with the idea that I might get to it the night after but the week got away from me and so it sat (exposed to a good amount of air) for five days until now. The nose has remained very similar but has taken on raisin, plum and some cedar notes. The palate has darken significantly and lost a bit of its detail but not all as you still has the roasted nuts, raisin and cherry but the balsamic notes have really taken control and i must say... It's good!

Dark red almost black in the glass and showing aromas of caramel, chocolate sauce, roasted chestnuts and spiced cookie with a bit of fresh latex paint which added an odd complexity that I'm still not sure if I hated it or loved. Very much like one of those childhood smells that appeal in a strange way. A big syrupy giant in the glass that coated the edges and crept down over minutes after swirling but with only 12% alcohol. On the palate I found cherry cough syrup, raisins, roasted nuts, balsamic and dark, dark chocolate all carried by a fresh acidity that kept it all together and far from overwhelming. The finish was long and palate staining.