JM 1ST APPROACH

Blood plum, nuts, licorice and some chocolate on a middle weight palate that delivers plenty of flavour along with attractive chewiness and freshness. The length is particularly impressive and closes with a desirable Italianate bitterness, like chicory or similar. Is it the best release of Gran Sasso to date? I suspect so. I defy you to find a more interesting, savoury wine with modest alcohol and food friendliness at the price. If you do, please let me know. It’s ever so slightly better than a 90 point wine ... Rated : 91 Points Winefront

Decent, quaffable pinot noir for under $20? It's almost impossible to find but this terrific value import from the south of France manages it ... “the best French Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy” .... It's on the riper side of the pinot spectrum, certainly no shrinking violet, but no brash bogan either. The (French) girl next door with smoothness, dark cherry fruit flavours, hints of earthiness and plenty of length. It can be found on special for as low as $15 but the RRP is $19.  Windsor Dobbin

Though I’ve scored it the same, I suspect I like the style of this better than the previous vintage.  Importer: Fourth Wave Wine Lavender and thyme perfume, spice, blue fruit and boysenberry. Medium bodied with a good uptake of fleshy berry fruit, but
tasty southern French elements taper it off neatly. Tannin well tucked in and a juicy, but dry finish. Spot on. No largesse. Great affordable spicy Shiraz drinking. 91 points

...The southern Rhone may not be my bag, but again I’d be jumping into this. Violets, peanuts, dark cherries, kirsch. Controlled. Tight. Needs some bottle age or a decent decant. Takes the more popular opposition in its class to task. Flavour and interest at a terrific price. Rated : 91 Points Winefront