6/5/2014 - dfresh wrote:

Coffee and plum. Limited structure and out of balance.

5/22/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Underlying burnt Tupperware and raisins throughout bouquet and mid-pallette. The initial pallette gives you some hope as it shows some smoke (the good kind) and toasted vanilla. But not enough hope.

11/26/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Four years since last tasted. Less fruit but the aging has burned off the vanilla, toasted oak and other extractable flavors. Today....very enjoyable smoke, cigar, orange peel, loam and pencil lead. Enjoyable wine. Drinking nice.

3/3/2013 - dfresh wrote:

This wine was completely boring with limited distinctive characteristics. Enjoyable enough but not an award winner

3/5/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Menthol and burnt plastic on nose. Slightly hot. Pallet of black licorice and coffee. Not as balanced as I had hoped for.

12/8/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Really nice bouquet of loam, dark fruit and vanilla. Not a lot of structure and soft tannins are the first impression. However, it is a winner for these is really balanced, has a nice mouthfeel, is tart on the palette and is ultra approachable.

2/18/2017 - dfresh wrote:

Cloudy. Initially upon opening received a lot of vanilla and oak. That burned off after an hour. Rich deep bouquet of plums, molasses, sweet and sour sauce, orange peel, currant and bacon fat. Impeccable balance; no dominant alcohol, tannin or acid components. Immediately on mouthfeel is a chewy, massive, concentrated, structured wine that is dominated by sour red fruit and rich dark currant notes. A wine of contrasts in that I'm getting tart and sweet fruit flavors. Long finish, easily 60 seconds, with tingling sensation on tongue throughout. In my opinion, this wine is in the tenderloin of the drinking window.

11/12/2017 - dfresh wrote:

Seductive rich dark fruits dominate bouquet. Game and spice notes mesh with young but integrated tannins followed by seductive dark fruit. Mega long finish that is tantalizing and unforgettable.

8/30/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Not too bad on day one. Much more delicious on second day. Meat, black tea and bramble with some spice and dark fruit. Medium long finish.

3/5/2012 - dfresh wrote:

Non-descript nose. Little to no tannins. Ultra acidic---tart mouth pucker, sour cherry and strawberry. Short but pleasant finish. Burgundian style pinot, or could be confused with Oregon pinot.

9/3/2012 - dfresh wrote:

Modest nose. Rich and thick pallet. Plush and long finish. Characteristics of a Sauternes, could substitute as a dessert wine.

5/22/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Wine was very bland and uninteresting. Not entirely unpleasant but not expressing itself like others report in CT. Clearly in an awkward closed state. Try again in a year.

4/17/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Fruity inviting bouquet. Well balanced with creme de cassis graphite and licorice notes, mellow tannins and modest alcohol. Short but pleasant finish.

1/29/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Needed two hours decanting to achieve optimal drinking. I could go on and on about a lot of aspects of this pinnacle of wines but three aspects stand out to me. First, the wine is massive and brooding and could be confused with a much younger wine. Second, the balance is perfect and I've never had a wine that was so seamless. Including structure, nose, pallet, finish, acidity, tannins. Finally, the finish is multi-layered and continues for well over one minute. So glad I finally tried the 82 vintage, was not disappointed.

4/5/2014 - dfresh wrote:

Medium garnet hue. Soft, fruity and pleasant bouquet. Not showing a lot of fruit, integrated but dominant grippy tannins, with some medicinal herbal notes. Fairly shut down.

9/21/2014 - dfresh wrote:

Opened up within one hour. Nice fragrance; robust yet approachable and complex. Dark currant, graphite, smoke and musty earth notes. Medium to long finish.

9/7/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Beautiful gorgeous expressive bouquet. Firm and structured but somewhat closed on the pallet. Wonderful full bodied and bold expression of Bordeaux. Needs more time in the bottle .

6/12/2016 - dfresh wrote:

Gold yellow. Perfume, stone and cooking spice bouquet with a tad of sulfur. Round mouthfeel and alluring acidity make you want more. Notes of Asian spice, crumb cake, minerals and lychee nuts. Delightful. Complex. Long finish.

11/27/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Bright, tart, floral and expressive bouquet highlighted by mineral expressions. Explosive flavor notes include lemon Crème pie and hazelnut. Finish slightly out of balance with dominant acidity profile.

5/31/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Definitely drinking window is now, very approachable within 30 minutes. Deep, musty, earth with some modest red cherry flavors, although somewhat muted fruit notes. A slight funkiness never blows off, giving it a true old world characterization. A tad bit of cork or is that Burgundian earthiness?

10/30/2016 - dfresh wrote:

Bright floral earthy bouquet with some brown sugar delight; soft delicate mouthfeel, compelling strawberry fruit notes; delightful, long finish. This is an incredible complex wine and drinking window is open now.

8/14/2016 - dfresh wrote:

Still not in drinking window. Austere and stringent upon opening with exception of bouquet, which was surprisingly approachable and pleasant. After 24 hours started to open up but the flavor notes are more stewed prunes, black tea and forest floor. Far from any expressions of fruit.

2/14/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Completely closed phase. Not an ounce of fruit. Zero finish. Even waited 3 hours. The only notes that eeked out were forest floor and mushroom. Hard too imagine this ever expressing any fruit or even drinkability.

9/3/2012 - dfresh wrote:

This wine was very old world relative to any cali or oregon pinots; impossible to think it could ever be second guessed for new world. Mushrooms, smoke and earth-flavors dominate the wine, not fruit. Expected more acidity but was very very pleased with this wine.

3/26/2017 - dfresh wrote:

Nutty and savory. A beautiful, dry champagne.

5/1/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Nice and balanced with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted oak.

12/31/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Third bottle. Didn't do it for me. Strike three.

1/3/2012 - dfresh wrote:

Surprisingly balanced and delicious. Crowd pleaser for New years eve get-together. Nice mineral and floral notes.

4/5/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Right in line with other CT reviews. Enjoyable with or without food. Medium body and finish. Nothing overly special but nothing detrimental, a safe wine to serve with guests.

4/5/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Very nice balance. Smooth and structured. Food friendly. Not a long finish but really great wine. Will buy more at first chance.

6/14/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Austere, tannic, powerful. Still has ageability but drinking window is available after several hour decant.

1/19/2014 - dfresh wrote:

Darker and more fruit than I expected. Modest structure and finish Did not get the earthiness I expected but did thoroughly enjoy the floral, mineral and red fruit notes.

2/17/2017 - dfresh wrote:

Perfume bouquet. Loads of tannins, wet, damp earth and mushroom notes. Long finish---30 seconds plus.

4/17/2012 - dfresh wrote:

This wine is ultra refreshing, balanced and fruit forward. The tannins remind you it is sangiovese otherwise, you might confuse it with a zinfandel. Very few floral, mineral, leather, or musty/earthy elements I so often find in Tuscan wines. Buy more for sure.

3/4/2012 - dfresh wrote:

The most balanced and structured brunello I've ever had. Such well integrated and refined tannins...and luscious fruit. Much lighter color than I'm used to with Brunello, almost like a Barolo in color. But certainly not lacking power or punch. Bravo.

2/17/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Nose is best aspect of this wine. Floral perfume and mineral on bouquet. Also notes of caramel. Pallet has mushroom and crushed rocks. Fine and well integrated tannins. Acidic food friendly. Medium finish.

10/30/2021 - dfresh wrote:

Parker got this right. As close to a perfect wine as I’ve ever had. Bouquet is perfume, floral, blueberry, black tea, fig, soy sauce, baking spice notes and inviting. The pallet is refined and seductive but not in a fruit forward way; far from it; structured and complex; soft yet powerful; tight yet forgiving; delicate yet concentrated. Finish is long and inviting. It is like watching a close game, riveting and enjoyable. Highest wine score I’ve ever given.

11/27/2015 - dfresh wrote:

Rhubarb, plumb, perfume and earth nose. Completely closed down right now, even on day 2. Harsh tannins create drying effect and wine is unwilling to show much fruit or elegance. Wait 3-5 years for next bottle

2/8/2018 - dfresh wrote:

Somewhat reserved bouquet. Minerals, perdume, earth and dark fruits with plum as headliner. Leather and dark fruits dominate palette, tannins are fruit and wine is mostly closed but not a disappointment. Medium mouthfeel, not yielding much softness but definitely power and early stage finesse. This wine has some Oregon Pinot qualities. Medicine finish.

10/27/2012 - dfresh wrote:

Thinner and non-descript than my favorite Brunellos

1/15/2016 - dfresh wrote:

Aromas of wet earth, candied red berries and spice cake. Notes of plumb, forest floor and orange peel. Ultra fine micro tannins are drying and offer a medium mouth feel. You can imagine the contrast when you experience a firm powerful and structured wine.

2/25/2018 - dfresh wrote:

Magnificent and powerful showing rustic forest floor nuances and massive amount of fresh plump, cola and Asian spice. Yielding fruit but structure, earth and refined qualities permeate.

3/6/2016 - dfresh wrote:

Damp earth bouquet. Sour cherry, graphite and stewed prune notes. Tart and dry throughout front and finish. Not an elegant or overly enjoyable sipping wine.

4/11/2014 - dfresh wrote:

Didn't believe all the reviews that this wine could be worthy of 5 years more of cellar time. Now I'm convinced. So tannic it dries your mouth out. Some really strong fruit shows through which is tart and structured. A wine of contrast but certainly not in its drinking window.

3/5/2011 - dfresh wrote:

I love this wine for its bouquet, balance and every day drinking ability. But that is the point, it is an every day drinking wine, not as special as some other Brunello's I've had.

5/31/2010 - dfresh wrote:

More new world than typical brunello, much more approachable for average drinkers. Yet classic brunello perfume and rose petal bouquet. Loads of chocolate, dark fruit and managable tannins make it enjoyable without food but it didn't send me into the stratosphere like Gary Vaynerchuck or WS.

1/31/2016 - dfresh wrote:

Positively within drinking window. Polished fine tannins. Perfectly balanced with flavor notes of wet stone, graphite, and chocolate. Medium plus finish.

1/8/2011 - dfresh wrote:

Decanted for 1 hour. Dark, thick and brooding in glass. New world =nose of alcohol, caramel, and blueberry pie. Tastes of floral, perfume, and cassis----blend of new and old world. Fairly tannic and 15 second finish. Will try with heavily marinated, seasoned flank steak and report back later.

11/5/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Inviting bouquet. Dense and grippy tannins. Limited expression of fruit on initial profile but some modest medium red fruit comes out in mid-pallet. Overall, a nice wine and best with food.

5/25/2013 - dfresh wrote:

Not a wine to sip alone, must pair with food. Thick chewy grippy tannins are the story of this wine. Coupled with high alcohol and a flat finish, it is a hard wine to like and closed down. Maybe in a dormant phase? (Hopeful this opens up tomorrow night---)