I don't recall ever having a Pirramimma that I didn't like, and this one keeps the streak alive.

Dark almost opaque ruby in colour intensity with high intense nose. The nose shows a lot Zin characteristics such as raisin, prunes, dates, figs, mocha, cherry tobacco pipe smoke, cedar, vanilla, blackcurrants, white pepper, violets & eucalyptus. The taste is as complex as the nose. The taste is more skewed to what a Cab is. It's dry, medium+ tannins & acidity, full body & powerful with long length, high alcohol but balanced. Notes show cedar, raisins, plum, dark cherry, blackcurrants, dates, mocha, turmeric, leather, vanilla, black & white pepper, eucalyptus & some pencil shavings. This is a smooth wine with a velvet touch on your tongue. Love this wine. There are only 2 negatives. 1) Even though I love the nose, I want my Cab to smell like a Cab, and 2) The high alcohol. Drink now on it's own or with grilled steak. Tasted 24 Aug 11. Best Buy & Top Pick. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 9.5/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Flavourful, surprisingly subtle...overall excellent!

This is a complex multi-layered wine that offers up wave after wave of dark and dried fruit, notably cassis, black cherry that transforms into dark plum. The initial strong and deep fruit is then overpowered by a tsunami of fuzzy tannin, itself infused with this fruit. Just now the wine demands to be drunk with food such as ossu bucco, lamb, or other strongish meat dishes. This wine needs to sleep a few more years (until 2013+) before the true balance and taste complexities coalesce into a plush wine experience.

I have yet to try a Pirramimma wine that doesn't impress. Their wines are dense and powerful but without compromising complexity and balance ... something for new world and old world wine lovers alike.