1997 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino

Community Tasting Notes (47) Avg Score: 89.8 points

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  10/19/2021 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points

  Aged for 2 years in oak barriques and demi-muids, followed by a shorter period in large botti casks. Aged for a minimum of 4 months in bottles before release. 13% alcohol. Tasted in Barbi Brunello 2010-1968 vertical.
  
  Quite deep, dark and almost fully opaque cherry red color with moderately evolved, syrupy-brown highlights. The nose feels developed and quite sweet-toned with aromas of wizened dark plums and dried figs, some leathery tones, a little bit of cigar, light autumnal notes of damp leaves, a hint of balsamic richness and a sweet touch of toasty oak spice. The wine is evolved, medium-bodied and moderately savory on the palate with flavors of wizened sour cherries, ferrous notes of blood, some balsamic tones, a little bit of leather and pouch tobacco, light crunchy notes of cranberries, mature hints of soy sauce and mushroomy funk and a sweeter touch of dried figs. Although rather mature, the wine still retains impressive sense of structure, thanks to its high acidity and firm, rather grippy tannins. The finish is long, grippy and quite savory with developed flavors of sour cherry bitterness, leather, some sanguine notes of iron, a little bit of meaty umami, light sweeter notes of dried figs, a hint of balsamic richness and a touch of autumnal leaves.
  
  A very developed yet still quite lively Brunello at its peak. The wine shows a great deal of evolution, but even though it is starting to get moderately tertiary, it still retains a good deal of vibrant fruit, intensity and sense of structure, never really coming across as tired or particularly oxidative. However, I doubt there is very little if any room for further development, which is why I'd drink the wine sooner rather than later. I have a hunch that the wine's structure is going to outlive its fruit. Good stuff, albeit nothing mindblowing. Recommended, all the same.

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  5/8/2021 - ippon Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Had a bottle last night with fontina stuffed pork.it was excellent beautiful color ,soft tannins and still fruit but could have needed a little more
  Rate it 90

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  2/21/2020 - mflesh wrote: flawed

  There is no possible way that this wine could have been corked more than it was. This was fully corked. Like, 93 octane corked. I thought I was going to spill some of it onto the ground with the speed that it was moving away from my nose.

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  9/23/2018 - Richstephen wrote:

  Still has plenty of fruit and life.

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  6/26/2017 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Mid-ruby, amber edges; older Brunello nose; earth, mushrooms, leather; mid-body; balanced; nice style; food wine; with steelhead salmon

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