Tasting Notes 30 found

This was such a bargain. 2005 had hail destroying much of the 2005 wine crop in Montalcino, but many producers used 2004 reserve juice or 2006 regular juice to bolster the small crop and keep the production levels to keep their wineries from going under. This is a perfect example of this as the 2006 is a stunning wine and the 2004 wasn’t anything short of wonderful.

I pulled this from the demise and poured the first glass and it was much to cold to get a good impression. I got heavy tannin and high acids with some red fruit and forest floor to go with the oak that hadn’t resolved. This 2005 was built to enjoy brand new or to be laid down for enjoyment 15-29 years down the road.

As it was a bit closed down, I ran it through a Venturi and let it sit in the decanter for a while. My next glasses were more in the range of what red wine should be served st and as I swirled, the fruit, the florals and mineral began to sing.

Now it’s been an hour after the cork was pulled. The wine has been swirled. The legs are long and form very fast. Purple flowers, shale type mineral, heavy tannin that grips the mouth gums and acids that make the mouth water. The oak is still present but some has turned to dark cocoa. Just a bit of deep red fruit is there for the nose, but upon drinking the rich deep red fruit is the first thing you notice after the gripping tannin and mouth-watering acidity. The mineral backbone can’t be disregarded as it combined with the tannin make the mouth feel so clean as you strip your mouth of any Italian cheese and red sauce from the food. This is definitely a palate cleanser.

I see that this should be kept in the cellar, for another year or two to see if this oak/tannin/acid can form into dark chocolate, but there is no denying the deep red currant or dark, but tart red raspberry. In this regard it reminds me a bit of Pommard or a masculine Barolo, minus the cola and burnt tire. Instead you have tertiary flavors of saddle leather and earthy forest floor. Once again hinting at a strong Burgundian influence in the wine making process.

While I have 6 bottles if the 2006 left, perhaps I should have held more 2005. To think how inexpensive this was, and how complex the wine is right now is ridiculous.

This tastes like a 2001 Reserve that just needs a couple of year. Cigar box is lightly in the background as well. I just hope the fruit holds for a few more years to see if this really turns into something special. I have 2 bottles remaining from a case purchase.

Enjoy. Drink or hold for another year or two. (2457 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Really singing now. 3 hour decant. Red berries and plum with cigar box, saddle leather and sweet tannins good acidity. This is classic Brunello Di Montalcino. Unaffected by the hail of 2005 or they used up some 2004 Riserva juice, or perhaps some 2006 juice added. Excellent right now with a healthy future ahead of it. (2105 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

A solid buy. I wish I ad more. Less juicy than the 2011 at this point but much more elegant and showing aging potential. Bummer that I only had a single left and I needed a good sangiovese, but didn't want to sacrifice a Brunello. I will scout around for more. (3759 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Solid Brunello from a difficult 2005 vintage. Double decanted allowing the wine several hours of breathing time. Plenty of dark cherries, saddle leather, cigar box and baking spices. Plums and acidic and mineral backbone. This really held up to a ton of manicotti that was served with Christmas dinner.

Drink or hold. No rush on this wine. (2061 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Such a nice and juicy showing tonight with pizza. Loads of cherries and plums. Maybe a hint of forest floor. Not your typical Sangiivese but a good companion to thin crust with melted cheese, good pizza sauce with oregano and toasted little pepperoni slices. (3038 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

The fruit is really singing on this sangiovese right now. Excellent silky mouthfeel and palate staining with the dark cherries, blackberries and plum. Acid is crisp and this is really good. long finish and a serious qpr at $22. (2168 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

this would have made a very good food wine and the wood hadn't fully integrated but nice Sangiovese fruit, tannin and mineral. The secondaries had a touch of green tobacco and the cedar wood going. I think if this was held in the cellar for the next 5 years maybe more might be seen from this bottle but an entirely acceptable pizza or pasta wine. Red fruit dominant. (1621 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Young, very young but concentrated Sangiovese fruit, of deep cherry, dark plums and some red cassis. Dusty tannins, acids and thick viscosity. secondary of the leather and tobacco, no real overbearing wood. Enjoyable food wine. (2462 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

WOW! is all I can say after giving away 3 of these to friends as they were shipped without me ordering them. I should have. really nice Sangiovese that isn't over-oaked in Hungarian wood. beautiful dusty cherries and dark plum, with a touch of leather and tobacco. Some spices and again the dustiness with good acid and decent mineral to make this better than most Rosso di Montalcino. I actually prefer this to many over oaked BdM, though they are a favorite, but the fruit stands out nicely. Impressed. Recommend as well, for a minuscule tariff. (1356 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Didn't decant, which was a mistake. The flavor profile was same, but the nose was really tight and the tannins really firm. No real tertiary notes. Had with pizza, and it was nice even if stiff. I saved half a bottle and will reaches tonight. I forgot that previous bottles had much airtime, and just wasn't thinking when I pulled this at the last minute. Still a great qpr BdM. (3890 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Solid Brunello, but it seems to have tightened up since the last time I had this. I actually anticipated this and pulled the 2 bottles out today around noon and double decanted. We arrived at dinner at 5pm and re-opened the wines. The were especially tight, acidic showing red berries, some plum and tart cherry, but dusted coca, leather and tobacco were very apparent as well as oak, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was very big, and very young and I think there is a lot more to come with this wine, but glad to have brought this to a Mother's day and birthday dinner of pasta, salad and italian breads. Definitely appropriate for the meal, I just miss how well integrated the 2001 vintage was around this time. (1975 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Really a nice bottle from the 2001 vintage. deep and dark, I decanted this 2 hours prior to rebottling and taking to the restaurant. Nice silky but present tannins paired with well integrated acidity. The nose was full of dark cherries, saddle leather a touch of dark cocoa and some mint. On the palate things were similar, though no mint and plenty of earthy flavors with some baking spices. Really a lovely bottle pairing so well with Osso Buco. Good finish, no hurry to drink as it is drinking extremely young. (4878 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

This was drinking so nicely, especially since it is really young for me to be popping a BdM this young. Deep garnet with clear ring on the sides. Beautiful nose of red fruit, some tobacco, cocoa, cooking spices a touch of cola. This was really nice on the palate with vibrant acidity complementing a mineral backbone. The fruit was running the show with dark red cherries, pomegranate and plum, but still the nuances of cooking spices were there as was some dusty saddle leather. Really nice mouthfeel and I was truly impressed by how enjoyable this was to drink. The tannin was very polished and hardly noticeable, but just hit all the right notes. It paired well with a homestyle Neapolitan Ragu served over pan Italian and covered with shredded Parmesan cheese. 92+ I will definitely be drinking more from this case a lot earlier than I had expected. highly recommended. (3047 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

I guess i have been due for a corked bottle but not real happy about it. It was PnP and just a touch f tCA was noticeable so drank a glass. Hard to write any TN it because the CA got stronger with each sip. Poured the rest out. (2571 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Time to drink.Dark fruit, leather, a touch of green tobacco still had some tannin that needed integrating, but was holding its own now. I think this could have lasted 10 more years. A shame that it wasn't in its peak, but still wonderful if you love brunello. (3526 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $