mineraally and lead, needs some more time

Modus is a super seductive blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot. Like a greasy breakfast sandwich in the hands of an unshaven, hat wearing gangster. It smells like smokey jacket, dirty money and overcooked bacon. But it disappears in your mouth like “you’ve been hit by Smooth Criminal“. My Modus Operandi is steal as many of these off the shelf before you do.

OK, so didn’t return the last 4 bottles (see review below) and here was another attempt at seemingly perfectly good bottle. The 2007 Modus has intense aromas of barnyard, pine, oak, vanilla, earth, dark chocolate and cherry on the nose and yogurty blackberry, cranberry and pomegranate on the palate. It is a medium bodied, extra-dry, integrated to aged wine, with forward acidity, refined, chalky, tannins (decant for 30+ min) and a long finish. Drink as a sipper; still closed - drink 2015-2020+. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 92 pts - would recommend if still available. Tasted June/13.

The 2007 Ruffino Modus, composed of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, was aged for 12 months in French and American oak casks and was rated #25 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2010. It has strong penicillin/corked notes upon opening that diminish after about half an hour of decanting and allowing the wine to be reasonably enjoyable. Once decanted, it is a medium bodied, integrated to aged wine, with intense aromas of black cherry, red currant, chocolate, leather, cedar/oak and vanilla. It has a nice structure, tannins that are refined to tannic and a long finish. Though made with aging in mind, I would not recommend aging it as more funky notes will emerge. My impression: NICE, 90 pts tasted once in December 2011 shortly after it was released, and again in June 2012 (didn't publish the review of the first bottle, as I thought it was corked). Bought 6 bottles, will return the remaining 4.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:

http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections

or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

July 2018
Joly 2019

On the last bottle of four (sigh), this one finally started working for me, revealing its Tuscan origins, with decent complexity. Fruit has faded to reveal earthy notes, and flavours linger. Clearly should have cellared it for longer.