Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
-- popped and poured-- -- tasted non-blind --
Deep purple-garnet color; somewhat tight on the nose, but giving-up aromas of cigar and dark fruits with a vegetal streak. Loganberries and a hint of funk on the impeccably well-balanced palate. IMO, seems to be in its prime drinking window right now.
I thought this was an excellent wine; had an enticing bouquet of chalky minerals, deep florals, and cool raspberry. Very smooth on the palate, with flavors of cigar, earth, black cherry, and a hint of funk. Well-integrated tannins and the 13% alc. not-at-all noticeable. Full palate. Powerful wine, but not in punch-you-in-the-face sort of way ... more in a kneading-bread-dough sort of way --- this wine leans on your palate with a genuine firmness. Fine tannins come through on the long finish; wonderful acid; drinking great now, but I would venture to guess another 5-10 years left in this wine.
Smoked meats and a hint of funk on the somewhat-tight nose; strong sense of cigar wrapper and spice, as well as loganberry on the palate; well-balanaced; still tight. Very good now, great in 5+ years. Hold.
-- decanted for 5 hours before tasting -- -- tasted non-blind --
Spicy, tannic. Same as two previous notes below. I'm not sure the fruit will out-run the tannins, but it does pair very nicely with food. Drink now with food, otherwise hold.
2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
-- decanted 5 hours before tasting --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: spicy; cherries; hint of Pinot funk
BODY: orange-red color of light depth; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: smooth red fruits; herbaceous; smooth; incredibly well-balanced; long finish. Gorgeous wine.
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1993 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio All'Oro
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
-- popped and poured--
-- tasted non-blind --
Deep purple-garnet color; somewhat tight on the nose, but giving-up aromas of cigar and dark fruits with a vegetal streak. Loganberries and a hint of funk on the impeccably well-balanced palate. IMO, seems to be in its prime drinking window right now.
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1993 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia Vino da Tavola
Italy, Tuscany, Vino da Tavola
-- tasted non-blind --
I thought this was an excellent wine; had an enticing bouquet of chalky minerals, deep florals, and cool raspberry. Very smooth on the palate, with flavors of cigar, earth, black cherry, and a hint of funk. Well-integrated tannins and the 13% alc. not-at-all noticeable. Full palate. Powerful wine, but not in punch-you-in-the-face sort of way ... more in a kneading-bread-dough sort of way --- this wine leans on your palate with a genuine firmness. Fine tannins come through on the long finish; wonderful acid; drinking great now, but I would venture to guess another 5-10 years left in this wine.
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1997 Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga d'Alba
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
Smoked meats and a hint of funk on the somewhat-tight nose; strong sense of cigar wrapper and spice, as well as loganberry on the palate; well-balanaced; still tight. Very good now, great in 5+ years. Hold.
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2002 Lone Madrone Nebbiolo Il Toyon
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
-- decanted for 5 hours before tasting --
-- tasted non-blind --
Spicy, tannic. Same as two previous notes below. I'm not sure the fruit will out-run the tannins, but it does pair very nicely with food. Drink now with food, otherwise hold.
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