This has aged quite well. Medium plus weight, dark fruits are very well balanced, smooth and silky at this point. Finishes with mild tannins. Mid palate is well blended and not acidic as in past years. Friends enjoyed it very much.
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A muted nose, brickish in color. A medium to full bodied red, with black cherry, plum, some cola and spice on finish, has held up well, drink now. www.winelx.com
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Hey that's really nice. Subtle, restrained, elegant. Medium garnet; lightly bricking edges. Smells like dry leaves, subtle red fruits, maybe some black too, mushrooms, earthy funk, graphite. Medium bodied, smooth and luscious on the palate, with medium acid and finish, and flavors of lemon, faded red fruits, spice, and minerals. Nice
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Solidly good. Nothing that says great. But solidly and unapologetically good. And that's perfectly fine and respectable at this price point. I just popped the cork about 30 minutes before pouring (no decant), to go with a simple, make it up as you go, gemelli with meat sauce. (Though it was hardly hamburger-helper ... because all the ingredients were best-in-class: handmade ancient grain pasta direct-from-Sicily, organic direct-from-Italy passata, grass-fed/finished beef, etc.). Given the bricking evident on the initial pour, I thought perhaps the wine may be fading. The first sip said "not a chance." The wine came on strong with dinner, still showing some tannins. Perhaps the fruit has faded a bit, but secondary notes have not yet fully emerged. IMHO, this bottle still had plenty of life left. May delay a bit on opening my final bottle, even though CT window says drink up. (Very interesting looking at this in context of my previous tasting note from years ago. I guess it was solidly good then - it was just overshadowed in comparison.)
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Just another Brunello Soldier. Initial impressions were not good, but improved significantly after being decanted in the fridge for a week or two. Seriously. Warm to room temp; perfect. But not spectacular.
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Barnyard nose. Nice presentation at this point. Fairly rich in fruit. Still has the Sangiovese sharpness but not too much. Lingering astringency. It feels good in the mouth.
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A very, very good Brunello. When I popped the cork at 3pm to let bottle slo-ox I caught a classic whiff of textbook Brunello. That earthy dark red fruit mixed with balsamic notes. When we started drinking this at 5pm it was in a very good place. Perfect pairing with grilled sweet Italian sausage and pan fried potatoes.
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Decanted at 5pm and tasted throughout the evening. Bright, translucent medium garnet, nice earthy nose with tobacco, tar, a touch of vanilla and some dark cherry. Acidity is medium+ with mostly integrated tannin and medium bodied. Palate is bright yet earthy again with tobacco, tar/chocolate, dark red fruit (Cherry, black raspberry, pomegranate), forest floor, and maybe a touch of bitterness on the finish only after 2 hours breathing. Seemed best after about an hour in the decanter. Perfectly respectable and enjoyable for a moderately priced entry level Brunello.
P.S. Half a bottle left overnight just corked and left on counter. After 26 hours it was very round and rich showing earthy and dark fruit flavors much more than the previous evening. Excellent by itself but curiously not nearly as interesting with food, especially my moderately spiced chili. Plenty of tobacco, cedar, chocolate, and dark berries on the palate and a soft mouth feel. Raised score based on the longevity. 91-92
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Purchased a case when first released. Storage was in cellar with temp range from 64 to 68'ish. Consumed one bottle ~ early '17. Other than being a brick'ish/tight it was not flawed/faulty in any way so decided to wait and let it mature for another year or so. Until this past summer. Fast forward - out of 11 remaining bottles only three were drinkable and those were way down the maturation curve. Eight were moderately to severely oxidized. I've had one off ox'ed bottles before but have never experienced this level of wine gone bad before.
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A more drak brunello with some power- the nose was rather closed in the beginning - opened it 4 hours before drinking - and in the end this actually came out as quite a balanced wine - where you get plum, mature cherries, some cheddar and some pepper - quite a long finish. The balance is fine - but bot tannins and acidity are medium plus - for me this is a big 90 but no more - maybe in 5 years it will have opened up more.
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A meh Brunello. Clunky flavors muddled together with cherry, licorice, cedar, a hint of mint. Big, bold, and heavy handed bordering on Port-like sappyness. Best with pizza, pasta, and meatballs.
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Geat Brunello. Rather modest, at least to someone who generally prefers cabs, but well balanced, beautiful structure, and long finish. Opened to drink with an eggplant parm, but instead of making dinner we went to B & T's and drank until about 8 pm. It decanted for about 4 hours before I put it back in the bottle when we got home. The following night when we did make eggplant parm this wine showed spectacular. Next bottle 2019+.
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Medium minus garnet in the glass. - Deep fruit - blackberry, juicy blackcurrant, black cherry. - Very interesting secondaries - reminds me of savory bagoong. - Sandalwood and baking spices - new oak - Development - bruised apple, some tamari soy. On the palate, ripe, full-bodied with 14.5% alcohol, medium plus acid, and high tannins - rounded but still chewy.
Given the structure and the dark fruit and oak, this seems like a classic California Cab with age. Laterals: - Rioja - would be less tannic and less ripe, and have more red fruit. - Bordeaux - wouldn't have this intensity of fruit at this age, wouldn't be as alcohol and rich. - Modern style Barolo with oak - the fruit seems too juicy.
Final call: 2000 California Cabernet from a ripe but still structured style - Lyndenhurst. $80 Actually 2007 Pietranera Brunello
Very nice! Super ripe fruit.
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Last time, I aired it too long. This time I opened and tasted and it was a bit tight and astringent. I waited 1/2 hour and it was very good, but was completely gone in 1 1/2 hours.
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Fully matured now. Color shows a shade of dark coffee. Waves of sweet aroma of blue fruits, lavender. The wine shows tertiary notes of toffee, plums, with the sweetness of fully integrated tannins adding to the complexity. Past the acidic red fruit phase; drinking as an aged sangio, even showing some signs of frailty.
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Gave it 40 minutes air and consumed in reidel Brunello glass. I'm going to wait at least a year on my other two bottles. Not sure what to think of it now, but was good.
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Decanted for around 30 mins. Nose of roasted plum, ripe cherry, a bit of cedar cigar box and some toasted oak. Similar flavors on the palate with a decent amount of oak tannin on the back end. Medium acidity. Missing some of that savory tuscan flavor and slightly masked by the oak. Maybe some more bottle time would help?
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Fully developed and drinking beautifully. Perfumed aromatics of lavender and lilacs, cocoa, and more lavender. Supple, without any harsh edges. Floral and delicate, if perhaps a tad simple in the mid-palate, with a softer overall feel.
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Strong backbone of tannins. Dried cherry and cranberry come out with some air. Good but needs some time to mellow. Won't touch the next until after 2016.
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Okay, but nothing spectacular, yet. Nose was like a weak Bordeaux. Palate evolved over the evening and while it got better, it was never great. Probably needs a LOT of time in the bottle.
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Nice, smooth, well resolved, and perfectly pleasant and acceptable ... but we should have served it before the 2003 Caparsa Chianti, because it just didn't have the same depth or richness of that first wine. Not sure if just needed a few more years? or if it that's just the way it is? (I did open it about 2 hours before serving, but did not decant.) Ultimately, no complaints, it's a fine wine.
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too early - some funk on initial pour, dissipated in about an hour - light nose of flowers, medium weight - nice sweetness balanced with acidity - paired well with pizza - better on day 2
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APPEARANCE This is the darkest of the Brunellos I've had recently. It's reddish, with some brick. Legs are medium-fast. Clarity is good. Total Appearance Score: 10/10 points.
AROMA Nice strength to the aroma. I can smell it several inches away. This is an interesting aroma that I like. It is different from the other Brunellos. I smell something more earthy and metallic than fruity. The fruit is a very earthy cherry. It is a bit young and tart. Some additional fruit notes of raspberry I think. Alcohol is noticeable at first. Other greenish notes of light pepper and herb. Total Aroma Score: 18/20 points.
FLAVOR Great balance. It is dry, bold, good tannins, slightly sweet. Just a tad acidic. The fruit is there, but not prominent. It is tart cherry and immature raspberry. I also get notes of dark espresso, bitter wood and tobacco. A bit of green pepper and spice. The flavors are tight. It needs more time to mellow. I rate the flavors high based on potential. Great intensity of flavor. Great potential for aging more. Total Flavor Score: 41/45 points.
BODY AND FINISH Medium-full bodied. texture is coarse and gritty in the mouth, but very enjoyable. Very long finish. Dry, but good. Total Finish Score: 23/25 points.
TOTAL SCORE: 92/100 points.
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Dark ruby color. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, earth and oak. Mild tannin; fairly soft when tasted with food. Good structure and balance. Moderate finish. Good pairing with prime rib.
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Regrettably, did not decant. Brett and barnyard on the nose (almost like a Nero d'Avola) gave way with time to black cherry and tobacco on the nose and palate. Round finish. Must be decanted. This has promise.
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Dark crimson color. Predominantly dark red fruit and oak driven aromas and flavors with medium acid and tannins. A bit simple at this stage but still tasty. Just missing some of those savory Tuscan qualities that I look for in a good brunello. I will let my remaining bottles age for a little while longer.
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A really good showing for this very moderate priced Brunello. It was a post-Thanksgiving Italian meal of Chicken Sorrentino with fresh pasta that begged for a Sangiovese wine and this Brunello fit the bill. Classic earthy, sour cherry notes with a perfect amount of acidity to match perfect with the food.
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Opened for 45 minutes. Rich cherry red. Nose is alcohol, black cherry, more reticent than the 2006. Soft black fruits, with a stoney edge. Nicely balanced with fruit and tannins creating a good mid-palate structure. Medium finish.
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Deep dark red in color, almost opaque. Initially reticent nose developed with decanting & extended airing with lovely ripe red fruits of cherries, berries, overtones of cedar, vanilla, some slight floral notes, earthy and herbs. Still developing, full bodied, balanced, ripe red fruit flavors of cherries, plum, minerals and sweet vanilla. Lingering finish with some still unresolved tannins. Although quite attractive at present, it still needs time to develop further.
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Primarily fruit buried beneath tannins. Well made, but this needs time. It may do well with fatty dishes, like prosciutto or a cheese plate, but it will do better with some time. Give it 8 - 10 years. Try again in 2021.
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3 hr decant. Ruby and translucent with hints of brick/orange. Medium nose of cherries and herbs. More balanced than before with good acidity and smooth tannins. Medium finish. Much better than a bottle last year. Seemed the color had even aged. Am now looking forward to others.
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Lovely wine. Everything I want in a brunello nose -- purity, sweetness, sandalwood, lavender. Open and expansive, with dominant flavors of dark fruit -- cherry, plum, blueberry. Lush and soft -- finishes short, lacking in backbone and firmness . So enjoyable now, hope for a bit of fleshing out with maturity.
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Somewhat purplish crimson but translucent to the eye. Light nose of mostly earth notes, moss, damp soil, light red berry flavors emerged. Some more cherry and berries emerged on the palette. A little jam-like flavor after 2 hours. Unbalanced with lower than expected acidity. Strong tannins lead to a short to medium finish. Clearly needs some more time in the bottle, but not sure I'd wait too long. Overall light flavor profile.
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3/9/2024 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cork was in good condition and little sign of sediment after decanting through Vinturi. Still solid, if not spectacular at ~17 years of age.
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2/3/2024 - Kentw Likes this wine: 91 Points
This has aged quite well. Medium plus weight, dark fruits are very well balanced, smooth and silky at this point. Finishes with mild tannins. Mid palate is well blended and not acidic as in past years. Friends enjoyed it very much.
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12/29/2023 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A muted nose, brickish in color. A medium to full bodied red, with black cherry, plum, some cola and spice on finish, has held up well, drink now. www.winelx.com
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12/1/2023 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hey that's really nice. Subtle, restrained, elegant. Medium garnet; lightly bricking edges. Smells like dry leaves, subtle red fruits, maybe some black too, mushrooms, earthy funk, graphite. Medium bodied, smooth and luscious on the palate, with medium acid and finish, and flavors of lemon, faded red fruits, spice, and minerals. Nice
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7/21/2023 - Adventr.us wrote: 90 Points
Solidly good. Nothing that says great. But solidly and unapologetically good. And that's perfectly fine and respectable at this price point. I just popped the cork about 30 minutes before pouring (no decant), to go with a simple, make it up as you go, gemelli with meat sauce. (Though it was hardly hamburger-helper ... because all the ingredients were best-in-class: handmade ancient grain pasta direct-from-Sicily, organic direct-from-Italy passata, grass-fed/finished beef, etc.). Given the bricking evident on the initial pour, I thought perhaps the wine may be fading. The first sip said "not a chance." The wine came on strong with dinner, still showing some tannins. Perhaps the fruit has faded a bit, but secondary notes have not yet fully emerged. IMHO, this bottle still had plenty of life left. May delay a bit on opening my final bottle, even though CT window says drink up. (Very interesting looking at this in context of my previous tasting note from years ago. I guess it was solidly good then - it was just overshadowed in comparison.)
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5/16/2021 - Nerdy Earth Boy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just another Brunello Soldier. Initial impressions were not good, but improved significantly after being decanted in the fridge for a week or two. Seriously. Warm to room temp; perfect. But not spectacular.
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2/3/2021 - Nerdy Earth Boy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Simple Brunello that works perfect for a table vino. Even better after a few days with refrigeration. Nice floral with solid robust body.
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10/1/2020 - Doblk wrote: 91 Points
Barnyard nose. Nice presentation at this point. Fairly rich in fruit. Still has the Sangiovese sharpness but not too much. Lingering astringency. It feels good in the mouth.
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9/28/2019 - Kentw wrote: 89 Points
Medium weight, shows age in color. Similar to last note. Solid acidity in mid palate with mild drying tannin on the finish.
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6/19/2019 - mike l. Likes this wine: 91 Points
consistently delicious.
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6/15/2019 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very, very good Brunello. When I popped the cork at 3pm to let bottle slo-ox I caught a classic whiff of textbook Brunello. That earthy dark red fruit mixed with balsamic notes. When we started drinking this at 5pm it was in a very good place. Perfect pairing with grilled sweet Italian sausage and pan fried potatoes.
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3/23/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted at 5pm and tasted throughout the evening. Bright, translucent medium garnet, nice earthy nose with tobacco, tar, a touch of vanilla and some dark cherry. Acidity is medium+ with mostly integrated tannin and medium bodied. Palate is bright yet earthy again with tobacco, tar/chocolate, dark red fruit (Cherry, black raspberry, pomegranate), forest floor, and maybe a touch of bitterness on the finish only after 2 hours breathing. Seemed best after about an hour in the decanter. Perfectly respectable and enjoyable for a moderately priced entry level Brunello.
P.S. Half a bottle left overnight just corked and left on counter. After 26 hours it was very round and rich showing earthy and dark fruit flavors much more than the previous evening. Excellent by itself but curiously not nearly as interesting with food, especially my moderately spiced chili. Plenty of tobacco, cedar, chocolate, and dark berries on the palate and a soft mouth feel. Raised score based on the longevity. 91-92
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2/13/2019 - Sur Lees wrote: 88 Points
Purchased a case when first released. Storage was in cellar with temp range from 64 to 68'ish. Consumed one bottle ~ early '17. Other than being a brick'ish/tight it was not flawed/faulty in any way so decided to wait and let it mature for another year or so. Until this past summer. Fast forward - out of 11 remaining bottles only three were drinkable and those were way down the maturation curve. Eight were moderately to severely oxidized. I've had one off ox'ed bottles before but have never experienced this level of wine gone bad before.
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1/23/2019 - Kentw wrote: 89 Points
Medium weight, with mix of red and black. fruits. Nice drinker with good acidity and finishing tannin. Nice but not spectacular.
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11/3/2018 - ILarsen wrote: 90 Points
A more drak brunello with some power- the nose was rather closed in the beginning - opened it 4 hours before drinking - and in the end this actually came out as quite a balanced wine - where you get plum, mature cherries, some cheddar and some pepper - quite a long finish. The balance is fine - but bot tannins and acidity are medium plus - for me this is a big 90 but no more - maybe in 5 years it will have opened up more.
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9/24/2018 - Lipsman wrote: 89 Points
A meh Brunello. Clunky flavors muddled together with cherry, licorice, cedar, a hint of mint. Big, bold, and heavy handed bordering on Port-like sappyness. Best with pizza, pasta, and meatballs.
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3/22/2018 - whudock Likes this wine: 90 Points
lots of cherry, bright, good acidity. some earth, long finish
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2/10/2018 - mike l. Likes this wine: 92 Points
maybe i just dont drink enough brunello but we really enjoyed this.
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12/10/2017 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Geat Brunello. Rather modest, at least to someone who generally prefers cabs, but well balanced, beautiful structure, and long finish. Opened to drink with an eggplant parm, but instead of making dinner we went to B & T's and drank until about 8 pm. It decanted for about 4 hours before I put it back in the bottle when we got home. The following night when we did make eggplant parm this wine showed spectacular. Next bottle 2019+.
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10/11/2017 - GGinSF wrote: 87 Points
A good value Brunello. Good fruit that also has some slight raisin notes. The wine has really softened up with 10 years of age. Drink now.
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9/17/2017 - Les Kangas wrote: 89 Points
Drink up. My last bottle. Opened it 1/2 before dinner and drank in Reidel Brunello glass. Was gone within an hour. Nice taste, thin
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6/19/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 89 Points
MNB: Old wines (Home (Noe st)): (blind)
Medium minus garnet in the glass.
- Deep fruit - blackberry, juicy blackcurrant, black cherry.
- Very interesting secondaries - reminds me of savory bagoong.
- Sandalwood and baking spices - new oak
- Development - bruised apple, some tamari soy.
On the palate, ripe, full-bodied with 14.5% alcohol, medium plus acid, and high tannins - rounded but still chewy.
Given the structure and the dark fruit and oak, this seems like a classic California Cab with age.
Laterals:
- Rioja - would be less tannic and less ripe, and have more red fruit.
- Bordeaux - wouldn't have this intensity of fruit at this age, wouldn't be as alcohol and rich.
- Modern style Barolo with oak - the fruit seems too juicy.
Final call: 2000 California Cabernet from a ripe but still structured style - Lyndenhurst. $80
Actually 2007 Pietranera Brunello
Very nice! Super ripe fruit.
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11/22/2016 - Les Kangas wrote: 89 Points
Last time, I aired it too long. This time I opened and tasted and it was a bit tight and astringent. I waited 1/2 hour and it was very good, but was completely gone in 1 1/2 hours.
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9/9/2016 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine with Italian fare at Osteria Fasulo in Davis, CA.
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5/26/2016 - swapdoc wrote:
Fully matured now. Color shows a shade of dark coffee. Waves of sweet aroma of blue fruits, lavender. The wine shows tertiary notes of toffee, plums, with the sweetness of fully integrated tannins adding to the complexity. Past the acidic red fruit phase; drinking as an aged sangio, even showing some signs of frailty.
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3/31/2016 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Full, round, balanced, long
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1/19/2016 - Les Kangas wrote: 89 Points
Gave it 40 minutes air and consumed in reidel Brunello glass. I'm going to wait at least a year on my other two bottles. Not sure what to think of it now, but was good.
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9/6/2015 - Rich S wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for around 30 mins. Nose of roasted plum, ripe cherry, a bit of cedar cigar box and some toasted oak. Similar flavors on the palate with a decent amount of oak tannin on the back end. Medium acidity. Missing some of that savory tuscan flavor and slightly masked by the oak. Maybe some more bottle time would help?
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8/31/2015 - swapdoc Likes this wine:
Fully developed and drinking beautifully. Perfumed aromatics of lavender and lilacs, cocoa, and more lavender. Supple, without any harsh edges. Floral and delicate, if perhaps a tad simple in the mid-palate, with a softer overall feel.
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11/28/2014 - pomelo wrote: 87 Points
Sur la griotte et les herbes séchées. Tannique et fermé. Pas à la hauteur du 2006.
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10/9/2014 - Rich S wrote: flawed
Slightly corked. Bummer. There was a good amount of tannin underneath though so my last bottle will age for a few years before I try it again.
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8/28/2014 - WineCPA wrote: 90 Points
Strong backbone of tannins. Dried cherry and cranberry come out with some air. Good but needs some time to mellow. Won't touch the next until after 2016.
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8/19/2014 - Number51 wrote: 90 Points
Sour cherries, fresh herbs, and a bit of spiciness come through.
This tasted lively over 3 days.
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8/10/2014 - Billiken wrote: 85 Points
Okay, but nothing spectacular, yet. Nose was like a weak Bordeaux. Palate evolved over the evening and while it got better, it was never great. Probably needs a LOT of time in the bottle.
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5/25/2014 - Adventr.us wrote: 88 Points
Nice, smooth, well resolved, and perfectly pleasant and acceptable ... but we should have served it before the 2003 Caparsa Chianti, because it just didn't have the same depth or richness of that first wine. Not sure if just needed a few more years? or if it that's just the way it is? (I did open it about 2 hours before serving, but did not decant.) Ultimately, no complaints, it's a fine wine.
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5/5/2014 - AngryPrez wrote: 89 Points
too early - some funk on initial pour, dissipated in about an hour - light nose of flowers, medium weight - nice sweetness balanced with acidity - paired well with pizza - better on day 2
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5/2/2014 - RedWine512 Likes this wine: 92 Points
APPEARANCE
This is the darkest of the Brunellos I've had recently. It's reddish, with some brick. Legs are medium-fast. Clarity is good.
Total Appearance Score: 10/10 points.
AROMA
Nice strength to the aroma. I can smell it several inches away. This is an interesting aroma that I like. It is different from the other Brunellos. I smell something more earthy and metallic than fruity. The fruit is a very earthy cherry. It is a bit young and tart. Some additional fruit notes of raspberry I think. Alcohol is noticeable at first. Other greenish notes of light pepper and herb.
Total Aroma Score: 18/20 points.
FLAVOR
Great balance. It is dry, bold, good tannins, slightly sweet. Just a tad acidic. The fruit is there, but not prominent. It is tart cherry and immature raspberry. I also get notes of dark espresso, bitter wood and tobacco. A bit of green pepper and spice. The flavors are tight. It needs more time to mellow. I rate the flavors high based on potential. Great intensity of flavor. Great potential for aging more.
Total Flavor Score: 41/45 points.
BODY AND FINISH
Medium-full bodied. texture is coarse and gritty in the mouth, but very enjoyable. Very long finish. Dry, but good.
Total Finish Score: 23/25 points.
TOTAL SCORE: 92/100 points.
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1/11/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, earth and oak. Mild tannin; fairly soft when tasted with food. Good structure and balance. Moderate finish. Good pairing with prime rib.
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1/3/2014 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 88 Points
Regrettably, did not decant. Brett and barnyard on the nose (almost like a Nero d'Avola) gave way with time to black cherry and tobacco on the nose and palate. Round finish. Must be decanted. This has promise.
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12/24/2013 - Rich S wrote: 89 Points
Dark crimson color. Predominantly dark red fruit and oak driven aromas and flavors with medium acid and tannins. A bit simple at this stage but still tasty. Just missing some of those savory Tuscan qualities that I look for in a good brunello. I will let my remaining bottles age for a little while longer.
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11/29/2013 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A really good showing for this very moderate priced Brunello. It was a post-Thanksgiving Italian meal of Chicken Sorrentino with fresh pasta that begged for a Sangiovese wine and this Brunello fit the bill. Classic earthy, sour cherry notes with a perfect amount of acidity to match perfect with the food.
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11/27/2013 - Atwellian wrote: 89 Points
Opened for 45 minutes. Rich cherry red. Nose is alcohol, black cherry, more reticent than the 2006. Soft black fruits, with a stoney edge. Nicely balanced with fruit and tannins creating a good mid-palate structure. Medium finish.
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11/15/2013 - Rob MacKay wrote: 88 Points
A very good value for $30. Nice nose of toasted oak, vanilla and spices. Dense dark fruit on the palate with a smooth finish.
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9/8/2013 - Vinnut wrote: 89 Points
Deep dark red in color, almost opaque. Initially reticent nose developed with decanting & extended airing with lovely ripe red fruits of cherries, berries, overtones of cedar, vanilla, some slight floral notes, earthy and herbs. Still developing, full bodied, balanced, ripe red fruit flavors of cherries, plum, minerals and sweet vanilla. Lingering finish with some still unresolved tannins. Although quite attractive at present, it still needs time to develop further.
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6/20/2013 - Lipsman wrote: 89 Points
Primarily fruit buried beneath tannins. Well made, but this needs time. It may do well with fatty dishes, like prosciutto or a cheese plate, but it will do better with some time. Give it 8 - 10 years. Try again in 2021.
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3/9/2013 - wirelesswine wrote: 89 Points
Red fruit, balanced, a bit of earthiness. Went very well with charcuterie.
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2/24/2013 - Chiantihound wrote: 89 Points
3 hr decant. Ruby and translucent with hints of brick/orange. Medium nose of cherries and herbs. More balanced than before with good acidity and smooth tannins. Medium finish. Much better than a bottle last year. Seemed the color had even aged. Am now looking forward to others.
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1/11/2013 - yasgurdj wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color. Nose of red fruit and muddy road. Grippy tannins. Long finish. Nice.
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11/30/2012 - PJBreheny wrote:
Bought in 2012 Wine Library
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9/8/2012 - dke wrote: 88 Points
VW tasting of '07 BdMs with some extras: Smoky nose, with musky cherries and old wood, relatively dense with some earthiness and hints of old wood.
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9/8/2012 - Davebk59 wrote: 88 Points
Nice cherry nose, easy drinking brunello. Not a whole lot of backbone or dark notes.
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5/3/2012 - swapdoc Likes this wine:
Lovely wine. Everything I want in a brunello nose -- purity, sweetness, sandalwood, lavender. Open and expansive, with dominant flavors of dark fruit -- cherry, plum, blueberry. Lush and soft -- finishes short, lacking in backbone and firmness . So enjoyable now, hope for a bit of fleshing out with maturity.
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5/2/2012 - Chiantihound wrote: 88 Points
Somewhat purplish crimson but translucent to the eye. Light nose of mostly earth notes, moss, damp soil, light red berry flavors emerged. Some more cherry and berries emerged on the palette. A little jam-like flavor after 2 hours. Unbalanced with lower than expected acidity. Strong tannins lead to a short to medium finish. Clearly needs some more time in the bottle, but not sure I'd wait too long. Overall light flavor profile.
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