Opened at 12pm - Decanted at 4pm (there was a lot of sediment) back in the bottle at 6 and brought to dinner. Giving up loads of sweet fruit with enough framework to show great in a modern style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Originally popped and poured and showed a bit tight. Decanted for four hours and it really blossomed. Becoming quite tertiary at the moment. Shows a mature nose of macerated cherries and figs with earthy notes of balsam wood, oak, candied plums and orange rind. Fantastic mouthfeel - full, deep and very satisfying. In a beautiful place but let it breathe for a long time.
Brought to a very high end party and many thought best of 14 other wines. I did like these last bottles the best of the case I bought 18 years ago. The wine is a little past it’s prime drinking window, but with a four hour decant and having aged, ot settled nicely Well structured, some pleasant spice, but no heat Excellent long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinetasters: Sangiovese (Park Ridge, IL): Served double blind. Black cherry and plums; somewhat merlot-like -- this has lost some of the fruit definition. Some spicy oak and showing a fair bit of age. The weight promised by the nose isn't there on the palate; this feels a little hollow, and finishes with some of those aged blood/iron/rust tones. The weight of the fruit, coupled with the relative freshness had me guessing 2001.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smooth as silk, low acidity, velvety tannines, macerated plummy fruit, soft spicy oak, cinnamon and sandalwood. Touches of earth, smoke, juisy pan-fried venison and black cherries. At the afge of 21, this is a modernist Brunello, perfectly mature now and thoroughly delightful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blackberries, spice, white oak, rhubarb, earth floor with even a hint of truffle, flint, river rock and raspberry. Some cassis and red currant. This wine is still drinking young and vibrant - quite aromatic and enjoyable.
p.s. cauliflower meat pizza
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (St. Genevieve, Mpls, MN): Small glass, same bottle as Chablis28, I concur with his thoughts. This was surprisingly youthful, deep brooding dark fruits, charcoal and gravelly minerality, oak and still firm tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My btl at our annual wine group holiday dinner at St Genevieve in Minneapolis, one of our group's favorite venues. The food tonight was sublime and cozy room perfect for 22 of us. Think we may have been able to squeeze in at least 10 more from our group during non-covid times. We bought out the restaurant who was normally closed on Sundays during Covid.
This drank remarkably young for 20yrs out! Still showing some oak to integrate and lush ripe fruit. I liked it but didn't love it as I was expecting a more tertiary profile. This drank like it was 6yrs old.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
45 decant. Dinner at Tesse Strawberries and herbs on the nose This has deep Sangiovese cherry with some noticeable oaky tannin. It’s drinking best after hour one, it needed a longer decant. There’s some hint of tobacco on the finish which shows the age. Pairs perfectly with the truffle pasta. This still has many good years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby red color. Mushroom, earth and wet tobacco leaves followed by a mix of mulberry, rhubarb and raspberry. Wet stone floor that opens up to plush, sweet berry flavors across the palate. Excited to try the Madonna del piano.
p.s. homemade Sicilian pizza
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One hour decant. The wine opened up a little more thereafter. Lovely red cherry and red fruit elements with plenty of mushroom and other forest floor. A great food acidity level while being smooth. Tannins were still thick but long and smooth. Some note of Oak/Cedar. Dash of minerals. This bottle had at least 3 more years of peak drinking.
Terrific 20 y/o Brunello. Dark dark red cherry fruit, with some lovely secondary notes of dried/decaying leaves, tobacco, with touches of fresh turned earth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still absolutely delicious and showing no sign of slowing down. Elegant and full with a rich fruit-filled palate of pure grace and finesse. Can keep on for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black pepper, lead pencil, plum notes, blueberry with some steel and minerality. Pretty red fruit with earthy and chalky tones. Robust, velvety brunello that is singing. Very well structured fruit - Seems much younger than it is and could easily drink 5+ years.
p.s. golapkis and butter lettuce salad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic. Sadly our last bottle. Decanted 3 hours. Paired very well with standing rib roast for christmas eve dinner. The only knock on this one was a spot of dryness on the back of the palate but that faded and was replaced with a finish that went on and on and on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TLDR: this wine is still very, VERY strong! Popped, decanted, and poured. Initially there was a fragrant nose but the palate was inscrutable; there was clearly some dark, brooding power lurking just underneath the surface with a long, warm finish. Half an hour later I would describe the nose as smelling "thick." Tingly black cherry started coming out on the palate and you could tell that this wine is still a blockbuster! One hour in there was lush red fruit on the nose and hot cherries on the palate with gorgeous, silky tannins. Two hours in there were lots of pencil shavings on the nose and the mouthfeel was undulating. Five hours in it started to fade a bit - a little more astringent - but but still delicious with lots of clove. I have previously rated this wine 93-94 but, after drinking it for eight years, I have to conclude that it is one of the best wines I have ever tasted so am adjusting its score up to 99.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a real w-o-w bottle. Plummy indulgence on the aroma that comes through on the palate. Deeply saturated brunello fruit with earthy complexity, beautiful balance, and a long, plush finish. A modern lush wine and completely seductive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big and bold, way more than your average Brunello. Dark color, needed about 3 hours to really start singing. Great balance of fruit, tannin structure, good acidity, this is a steak wine for sure. And it still have many years in it, it'll still get better and better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Agreed with the notes below. 3 hour decant is a must. Pretty funky / hot / sweet before. After, really big, bold, fruit-forward brunello. Great pairing with a steak. I might wait a few years for the next bottle to see how the fruit mellows out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am trying to come up with a description for this wine but it is extremely difficult. I read all tasting notes and even mine from 7 years ago and they are all over the place in many ways. So, I am going to say just a few things so I can remember in the future. I loved the wine and it is extremely well balanced. I did find at the begining that acid that I just don´t like about Italian wines but after 3 hours the wine changed dramatically . The nose is incredible, this is a wine for sniffing more than anything else for me. Red fruit, anise, and definitely dark chocolate all the way. The wine was dry with not a long finish, but I liked it. I am sure that the wine has a few more years ahead of it, but I think that for my new world taste the wine was better 3-5 years ago. If you are a fan of new world drink now, if a fan of tertiary flavors and more austere fruit I will wait 3 years minimum.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
love this. lots of anise/dark chocolate and dark red fruit. perfume is seductive. with the filet mignon, egglant parm and caprese salad, this was sublime. still had plenty of fruit, punch of nerve and acidity, and with food more dark chocolate and dark berries with a hint of anise with solid acidity and very mellow but pleasantly perceptible tannins. couldnt ask for a better pairing and after 19 years, this is in a great great spot for drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 4 hours and drank over a couple of hours, which helped. Still not my favorite, as a bit unsettled and not as smooth as I expected. Nice crimson color, less pleasant nose, but rich fruit made it interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Balance/balance/balance. Youthful, aged, powerful, airy, easy to drink, classic, classy, long, tannic and smooth. Great wine. Last bottle found in my cellar. Based on this bottle, it could have aged easily for another 15-20 years in a cold cellar. So happy to have the 2010 in my cellar. Will have to wait before opening them.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Limited table side notes. Good color. Going strong and with a number of years left. Didn't seem to blossom in the glass though some sandalwood/leather kind of stuff did show-up in the decanter after one hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. Similar to the two previous bottles I've had before. This shows a lot of red fruit at first, turning to more blue an hour or two later. Vibrant and full of energy but not so much overt acidity. The texture is exquisite and it has a slight earthiness which is welcome. This is balanced, classy and exciting, not overly extracted but still big and expressive. This is a bit more about flamboyance vs. power though there's nothing delicate or light about it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped , stood up for 2 hours, then decanted for 4, still took an hour in glass to really show its stuff. More sweet red fruit kept growing, acidic zingy finish with some drying tannins. Nothing but upside here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a fantastic wine. Velvety, smooth, balanced. Long nose, smooth palate. One of the better Brunellos I’ve had recently. At this point, seems better than the ‘01 BS Riserva.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2001 valdicava is known to be somewhat of a freak, but one in a very good vintage. The wine was much more extracted and thicker than usual. Be it as it may, the wine is aging wonderfully. Full bodied, still dark red and hardly any sign of aging. The nose is a bit subdued to me but I do get meaty, floral and red fruit aroma’s. The balance is great and so is the mouthfeel. The aroma’s return in the mouth set off nicely by the acidity. Long aftertaste. Excellent wine. Very well made.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My expectations were exceeded with this one. Drank from a 375ml, this is really in a nice place now. Tannins are well integrated, but there is plenty of structure left. Fruit is ripe and rich, lots of dark fruit and raisin. Very elegant and very delicious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and consumed over 5 hours. Initially there was some barnyard funk on the nose but otherwise it was classic Brunello with rich cherry blossom. a tannic, meaty palate, and a long finish. Over time the tannins mellowed and the nose become more metallic but still gave off a strong hint of cherry parfait. The palate remained rich and bold, which surprised me for the age of this wine. It's not quite as complex as it once was but it is still gorgeous.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Settled into a quiet maturity. Plush from tannic structure with a complex but quiet bouquet that includes savory strawberies, mint, and black fruits and balsamic molasses. In a really wonderful place right now. Definitely no reason to hold these, still, a few good years ahead -2022.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Super ripe fruit, dark, full bodied and structured....this is one amazing wine that is drinking perfectly right now. Absolutely must give this an hour to open and let those big tannins integrate into the sweet dark cherry fruit. Very expressive with wild strawberries on the nose...delicious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An orange cast throughout. Aging nicely. Still big and fruity with the bitter tea bags of big oak. Supple and nicely balanced, except for the oak. A fashion forward Brunello. Should continue to age gracefully for another 5-8 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This took 2 hours for the oak and the muskiness to blow away and for it to properly unfurl. Menthol, liqourice and sweet dark fruit. Modernist in style, perhaps, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Don's 50th: Decanted and aerated 2-3 hours before consuming. Wonderful wine with balance between the acidity, fruit concentration and integrating tannins. 14% alcohol that didn't come across as over-powering. Scents of charcuterie and dried meats with some dark fruit. Long and complex palate. Really enjoyed, and could continue to improve with aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fabulous. Nice fruit but not heavily extracted in a modern style. Strong acidity and moderate tannins. Paired with a spicy veal sausage bolognese that reminded me of the boar they love to serve in Tuscany. A perfect match. Everyone at the table swooned for this wine. Drink now -- it won't get any better and the fruit may start to fade soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fully mature. Earth, soy, and macerated berries. The acidity flashed in opening and died down. Nice with tomato-vodka sauce with Roman pasta (super al-dente) and pancetta. Best now and for the next few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is fabulous!. It is still quite young, but it is transitioning nicely to early middle age. Tar, tobacco and cured leather, with pretty dark cherry and earth, kitchen spice, and wet clay mineral. Balanced and quite full. Damn great wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As said in previous tasting notes: Peaking now. Don't wait a much longer. Stunning nose, fragrant sweet fruit, smoke, raisins. Good palate, signs of ageing. Everything balanced now and come together.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle needed abot 3 hours to open up. It was initially a bit muted and had some pronounced acidity.
Dark ruby color, almost black at the core and no signs of ageing yet. Aromas of ripe black fruit, tobacco and licorice with some hints of dried herbs and toast. Full bodied on the palate with chewy-smooth tannins, fresh acidity and some ripe fruit. The finish is long and slightly drying.
The initial seductive character is now gone and where some classic Brunelli then develop into some of the most complex and refined wines I know (see my note on the ‘99 Poggio di Sotto of today), this wine just smoothens out somehow. Although a great wine in many respects, I would swap my last bottle of this wine for a ‘99 Poggio di Sotto any time...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last bottle of the lot. This wine has consistently been brilliant. Every time if’ve been wowed by the seductive nose, its so intense palate, the core fruit and the looooong finish. Yuhan, Berend and Frank were also impressed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
WOW...wow. Beautiful structure and lifting acidity that helped keep the palate fresh. Smooth, resolved tannins with predominantly red fruit. Dried cherries and slight raisin on the nose. This is a Brunello firing on all cylinders...it is the why I got into Italian wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intense with hoisin and creosote but ethereally weighted and densely woven with layers of freshness and maturity. Poised and minerally. Slings dark flaming velvet arrows from the front to the back of your tongue. Carbon paper floral delicious. For how much this has going on, it's shockingly easy to drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A good BdM - cherries, spice and some vanilla. Tannis still there but well integrated. I am told that this is quite modern in style and I am a bit ashamed to admit that I enjoyed it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Corney & Barrow Italian Wines Tasting (Pasta Brava): Poured into decanter and drank over 2 hours over dinner at Pasta Brava. Generously brought by Asparagus. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, toasty vanilla oak, sweet spice, black cherries, slight rubber. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine integrated high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet black cherries, blackberries, licorice, sweet spices, new black leather, sweet dark earth, black rubber, some sour red cherries. Long finish. Very good quality. Unabashedly modern styled Brunello di Montalcino. Must have been a monster of a wine when young. Drinking very well now. Not for further ageing. The balance is great now. Modern style that is integrated well with sufficient age. World of a difference from the Soldera tasted earlier in the night. Though a good wine on its own too.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Past prime at this stage. Shows much better with food as there is a good tinge of acid in the wine. Otherwise it's mellowed out and tastes like an old italian wine that used slovenian oak - this is not a knock on the wine, it just does not show the complexity seen in earlier bottles and should have been consumed 1-3 years ago to be at prime.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and consumed over 1-5 hours. At first the nose was, I kid you not, "oily." Wow, it really hit you over the head with tannins and a very long finish. Two hours in and the nose was offering boysenberry jam while the palate was smoldering fire. For the rest of the night it was hot, fiery cherries. Very nice but lacked some of the complexity this vintage has had previously. Not sure if that is an anomaly or a trend but I gave it a 93 instead of my previous 94.
What a big wine ! And I say that in a positive note - it grows and grows as you decant it - with absolutely ripe black berries and a fine tannin dustiness jumping out to greet you, with a finely balanced acidity helping cut the fattiness of the juice - and it keeps evolving from there and I agree with others that this is an exception in terms of a brunello - it's just a different category - I loved the experience paired with a wonderfully crafted degustation menu at the La Brezza St. Regis Singapore - kudos to Chef Armando - and to the winemaker / as well as Cellar Keeper for crafting such a wonderful experience !
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with the TCWC guys (Osteria Langhe, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is immensely deep, savory, and perfumed that fills the glass with black cherries, raspberries, violets, wild herbs, licorice, wet clay, and leather tones. There is some polish to this, but it's more purity than gloss.
Taste: Full bodied with medium+ tannins and medium+ acidity. The tannins are silky, but persistent with the acidity providing a nice spine. The feel is silky and savory with black cherries, raspberries, violets, herbs, licorice, spices, and some leather notes.
Overall: This is a fantastic Brunello. It is starting to enter it's sweet spot and show off what this can be. This has a real savory elegance to it with a good dose of class.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Osteria Langhe (Chicago, IL): I'll admit, this is a very good rendition of a cult Brunello. This is a very fleshy and big wine, with lots and lots of sweet black fruit (for days!). Despite the scale and ripeness here, there's actually a nice bit of acidity that balances this out. There's no over-the-top oak here either, and what oak there once was has been dissipated by time. Soft tannins, this is drinking very nicely now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured into decanter at home and drank over a few hours. Clear, fairly dark garnet. Initially chewy and sinewy on the palate the character of this wine changes completely with about 30 min of air. Much softer and rounder dark fruit, liquorice, herbs, ripe fruit but the usual elevated acidity of the Sangiovese grape keeps things overall in balance. Fine (+) tannins. Medium length. While the softness on the palate is not a style I would associate with Valdicava, this is still not what I expect from a good Brunello. Frankly I don't understand what people find in Valdicava, this is certainly not a 98 point wine as per our friend JS, but also the 94 points here on CT, I simply fail to see. A good wine but lacks depth and aromatic complexity for a higher score. Hold or drink. 91-92.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanting for dinner. Poured few ounces in a glass. This is not a Brunello! Hahaha! Though I have limited experience with Brunellos, this is the most robust, opulent, darkest Brunello I've had so far. Meat, funk, red fruits, chewy tannins, nice acid, great fruit. An hour later, I thought I opened a box of chocolates when I took a whiff from the decanter...just wonderful experience with this bottle so far. The wine kept getting better during a 2-hour dinner. Paired well with Argentinian empanadas and steaks. Fruit started to drop off just a little towards the end of dinner. What a wonderful Brunello.
Very big wine which I think could do with as few more years of cellaring. Great depth and extremely long finish. Superb example of a Brunello. Will try it again in a couple of years.
Exceptional! Incredibly perfumed on the palate with utterly smooth tannins, sweet spices, perfect balance, plums, cherries, some mocha and tobacco. Shows great length and saturation. It opens up with a short decant. An amazing Valdicava!
Opened at midday, poured a glass and left the rest in the bottle until about 5pm, decanted it into a wide vessel and not touched until close to midnight. Actually didn't change it a whole lot... I read that someone decanted this for 24 hours, which I thought was absurd, but I see the logic in that now. This is a powerful, powerful wine. Yes, it's bretty, and for those with an aversion to brett they may want to stay away from this one. I enjoyed it though, and I saw ample complexity beneath it. Though it's a humungous, dense wine. Aromas of tobacco, dry scorched earth, campfire, blackberries, dark chocolate and cloves. And with time, sort of a faint eucalyptus, which is weird. The palate is quite dense but without a trace of heat, just firm and elegant and delicious. Lovely tannin structure which is chalky but very very fine. Lovely acid driven Sangio, best I've ever had. Maybe still a baby but I couldn't wait. If I had another I'd wait 8-10 years. I have a 2010 that won't be ready until I'm an old man.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
April Acker Auction (Marea): Wine is still in a great spot. It's been very well aged and is just hitting that point where all of the different pieces come together and the structure is just there. I like it a lot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the challenging tasting note I have ever written. My first impression was "spoiled". Kept hoping for about an hour it would come around. Horrible, bitter after taste, no fruit, dull. Simply yuck.
Because Valdicava is my favorite Brunello, this is my favorite vintage and it was our last bottle I couldn't give up and throw it away. So put it back in the bottle vacuum pump and put it in refrigerator the weekend.
2 days later I couldn't resist giving this bottle another chance. Glad I did, this wine was now singing. Dark but no longer black, fruit, licorice and earth. All with a long smooth finish.
Hard to understand the turnaround. Glad we gave it a second chance .
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Our First Acker Auction (Marea in NYC): This is one of those wines that is just in the perfect spot. Wonderful cinnamon flavors and red fruits and just delicious. Drinking excellently right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Compared to the bottle I had a couple years ago, this isn't recognizable as the same wine. Makes me wonder if the previous bottle was somehow off, or shut down.
In any event, this bottle is what I had hoped for. Rich fruit, still fairly primary, with hints of cedar in the background. A very big brunello. Still a firm acidic note, but it's in the background rather than being dominant. Fine tannins on the finish. I think this easily has another 10 years of life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It opened with unpleasant strong taste that masked any composition. The second glass was much better, earthy tones and settled. Not a favorite but will likely decant and see if better next time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lived up to the hype and expectations, but still has lots of life left. (Purchased at a wine shop in Florence in 2007 and enjoyed on my 60th birthday at Gary Danko in SF.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
K loved this. I found it very compelling, but to be excellent, needed a slight bit more complexity. Rich, hasn't declined yet, despite the age and being the base level brunello. Had the savory notes I love with brunello. Went great with the ribeye we had. Relatively long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outrageous bottle 14 years old and lots of aging left in this bottle. Great fruit and balanced tannins Bottles like this are the reason I love Brunellos. Lucky to have one more
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic wine drinking beautiful. Silky and sultry to drink, tannins soft but still lively. Very long finish. Drink now and over the next 10 years. Find more!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich well developed brunello. Full bodied, with black cherries, plums, cocoa, leather , mile black pepper. Tannins have mellowed in a wonderful place now. Such a classy elegant red
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 10 hours. Deep purple in color, cherry, plum and oak on the nose and palate. Long finish. This wine is still very young. Drinking so well now.
STEVE RAPAPORT'S 80th Birthday (Friedman Residence: 1301 N Troy St, Arlington, VA 22201): Decanted for 2 hours. The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis), mineral, oak and violet. The body is full. The wine has polished texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark purple in color. Nose mostly shut, though giving some dark ripe fruit and spice. Very nice dark fruit, concentrated, juicy extract with good resolved spice notes, not really dry at all. Sweet, powdery tannins are beautiful. Showing great right now with a double decant well in advance as per Wine Strategies.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still amazing. Popped and poured. Dark red with a ruby rim. Rose petals and shipping crates on the nose, a metallic edge and tart cherries on the palate. Decanted and, after an hour, this really improved. Not vibrant exactly but rich and opulent. Dark, spicy cherry with a looooong finish. Drank over four hours and it just kept getting better. At the 1.5 hour mark I began describing it as SUBLIME.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific nose with currant, black cherry and undertone of hickory smoke. Drinking nicely. Loads of plum and dark fruit. Nice tart bite with the finish. Tiny bit of wood still evident. Lovely wine, maybe a little short on the finish for better score? And a little modern-style for me. But very good. 93/94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
-- double decanted approximately 15 hours before first taste -- -- tasted a couple pours non-blind over a couple of hours --
NOSE: cherry; plum; blackberry; hint of earthy leather; mineral; expressive.
BODY: dark black-garnet color of great depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: a touch bitter; purple/red fruits; some earth & leather; cherry pit; very nice; packed; long finish; nice embedded acidity; medium-fine tannins at this point in time; seems like it will age beautifully; would recommend a *long* decant if drinking now, but Holding is the best option. *Fantastic* wine, and my WOTN. Gut impression score: mid to high 90's.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
10th from a case purchased on release, and for my palate/preferences, the best one yet. Having said that, I still feel it needs 3-4 more years before it's in its sweet-spot. Very well received on the day and perhaps tied for WOTD honors with the 2004 Conterno Romirasco. 13,5% abv., thru 2032. highly recommended
Double decanted 15 hours before serving, then Slow-O 4 hours before tasting event; served non-blind. Best to serve after 4-5 hours of aeration in decanter - it really opens up.
https://italianwine.blog/
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a night of stunning wines, this one stood out above the rest. Quite possibly the finest red wine I've ever had. Plum, sour cherry, and tobacco layered in beautifully with fine, integrated tannins and a long finish. Perfect cork, like the previous taster. Every mouthful was a pleasure, and the wine evolved and grew over the course of the evening. Sensational.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfect cork, no seepage. Decanted and tasted over 2h. Like pretty much all sangiovese wines I've tasted: opens on bitter cherry, then some additional aromas of citrus and a few savoury notes. Does not show much evolution. More of the same on the palate, finishes with some grip that requires more time to resolve. The wine is very well balanced. Its texture glides across the palate. Does it blow me away? Not to that extent...good wine with a lot of life ahead. I would guess it's nearing the end of its primary phase at this time, there is a lot of time to integrate ahead.
Drink or hold for another 12 years. 14% abv
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still youthful. Gorgeous nose, orange peel, caramel. Impressive depth and finish, with some earthy tones, soil, cigar box, black berry. No where near fading, but drinking great now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful pure back raspberry; leather and cigar box notes add some complexity; acidity keeps this lively; great length; international style, but so well done
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderfully fruity. Just the right amount of oak. Very complex, and smooth. Paired with a Ancient Roman bean soup and compared to a Banfi Brunello. Clearly the winner by table consensus. Love this Brunello.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
in a really good place. A large scaled brunello but with all the pieces in the right place and in balance. The wine had a real solid presence. Solid mouthfeel (although I do think a bit fuller and rounder than a typical brunello, really good texture on the palate, length of the wine was impressive. Did not lack for acidity but was also not characteristic in the forefront. While I am less experienced on Brunello I would put this wine on the more modern end but well executed with a real good balance of fruit, structure and secondary flavors.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Once in a blue moon lunch with RL (Arcane, Central, Hong Kong): Deep pungent and toasty nose of cocoa bean, caramel and tar. Some floral notes too. Definitely darker both to eye and palate than your normal Brunello. Very svelte and slinky smooth wine, expressive layers of black fruit that grew more and more chocolaty in the glass. Took its time to open up, but open up very nicely it did. Remnants I brought home from lunch were still delicious at dinner. A very nice Brunello
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big and still youthful. If I was served blind, don't think I would guess Brunello. OK, but can think of MANY other wines I could have for the cost of this. Not memorable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A touch better than the last bottle 18 months ago. Deep, dark garnet color. Nose has earthy pine forest, licorice and dark fruit. Very dense and round mouthfeel. Earth, sweet spice, vanilla, cedar and strong blackberry on the palate, especially strong blackberry in the aftertaste, which lasted a good 30-45 seconds. Great with grilled steaks and with dark chocolate and cheese for dessert.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, an almost perfect expression of Brunello sangiovese. So smooth and complex. Decanted for a few hours and it was perfect. All the edges were gone, and had way more body and power than its barely 14% alcohol would lead you to believe.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at Pasti's with Seaquam and Steve8. Tastes lovely, but I think it suffered for my palate being paired with some lovely fruit forward Pinots alongside. Holding well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cellared since release, upright for several hours prior to opening and not decanted. In the glass-deep dark ruby with excellent legs Superb nose of overripe cherries with cigar box and leather. fantastic flavors on the palate with dark red fruit with a touch of spice and mild herb and forest. Acidity is near perfect. Consumed over dinner at La Ciccia SF with pasta and red sauce and lamb secundi. Wine consumed with opening only without decanting and I can only imagine that this will be better served by more time after opening, thus the plus on rating. notes from memory.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour than drank slowly for 2 more hours. Youthful in appearance though it had a little sediment. Overall a good wine. Smell, taste, aftertaste all good, but not great. I've had the 2003 Valdicava not so long ago which I thought was much better. It was great actually. I think because it felt much older than this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): The wine looks inky colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis), licorice and mineral. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. Mark's Wine(me).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Garnet color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and vanilla. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, raspberry, cherry, tobacco and licorice anise with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Super dark, packed with rich flavors - jammy dark fruit, licorice, hint of cherry, tobacco and earth. Finish lasted forever. Was best of night (next to 2001 Salvioni which was 94/95 pts). Hard to fault. Drink now or hold several more years. Excellent, what a Brunello should be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is fantastic...decanted about an hour, could have used more. Fruit opened up nicely, classic brunello structure. Looking forward to more age on this one too.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Each sip is like taking a long slow puff of a finely hand-rolled cigar. You can almost feel the swirl of smoke creating circles after each breath. We did not decant, but drank over the course of three hours. Not much change, but flavors of licorice, and a slight hint of sour cherry emerged. Clove and tobacco added to the slow finish. It didn't even change as we ate our homemade Cioppino, and then celebrated Pi day (3/14) with apple pie. It is sophisticated, mature and confident, like a distinguished gentleman, who puts on his velvet smoking jacket and retires to his library to savor the last moments of his day. Like Pi, the excellent, richness and depth of this wine goes on and on and on and...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark and extracted which normally protends a more modern Brunello,but the oak in this wine is unobtrusive. Tobacco notes, black cherries in an elegant, silky package. Prior to this tasting, I have only tried Valdicava wines while young (tastings) and this was a whole different experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
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.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork was in perfect shape. The wine threw some fine sediment. It offered lots of cherry, black olive, porcini, earth, tobacco, chocolate, spices and tea on the nose. On the palate the wine showed lots of cherry, olive tapenade, porcini, tobacco, chocolate, spices and earthy notes, paired with medium-plus acidity and tannin, a good, slightly creamy mouthfeel and very good length. A full-bodied, rich, round, balanced Brunello; modern in style and not the most elegant of its kind, yet complex, intriguing and energetic. The wine kept improving as time passed and drank young for its age. It can be consumed now, and should continue to drink well for at least another seven or eight years. I would recommend decanting for at least an hour.
oliveto truffle dinner with M/G/W; deep layered (just) ripe plum, sous bois, mushroom, mixed dark berry; more smooth and lush, and with more tobacco notes than when tasted one year ago; good acidity is almost lost in the fruit, and i barely notice the oak or tannins; might have guessed an older syrah, but this is still a great quaff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, while also decanting the bottle & drinking it over 2 hours. Tight & tannic for first hour, last glass was the best - soft fruit & smooth. Give it more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Electric! i am moved by this. Superb. In a great place right now, but this has years ahead of it. Two btls left, next one in three years (or tomorrow perhaps). Decanted for 3 hours, last glass after 6 hours was the best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
WWW Barendrecht, 27-09-2013. Fourth time in my life I drink this wine, and everytime it has been almost perfect. I do not think brunellos get any better than this: combiming a concentrated mineral earthiness with a fresh red fruit core. Very seductive nose. Just delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's in total harmony with a medium/full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - Decanted for 3 hours. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pulled the cork at 2p, slow-O till 5p, then aerated to decanter for 2 hours. The wine began as it ended. The first moment the cork was pulled, I poured less than an ounce to inspect and then follow it on the nose over the course of the next few hours while I was cooking. Within the first few minutes the wine seemed to have raced to the highest peak, flaunting its beautiful perfume and lively expression of the grape. But in the same first few minutes, it retreated (only to emerge again, as if on some secret schedule) into a very primary version of its very expressive self, offering an array of earth-driven notes and little else. This dance continued over the course of the 2-hr dinner which was more frustrating than rewarding. To make matters worse, this was served alongside a very open-for-business 1999 Poggio all'Oro Riserva BdM (had been decanted and immediately returned to bottle 2 hours before serving).
As expected, the Valdicava wasn't very expressive at (my passive) cellar temp, 59F, though I was expecting it to become increasingly more so as it made its way up to 70F, the temp in the dining room. This worked as planned, until it didn't. Then it did again, and so on.
Simply put, if this bottle is representative, the wine is just too young right now. The '99 Poggio was dead-center in its prime drinking window, with all those tertiary notes I live for. The Valdicava on the other hand, is at least 5 years away. I have 3 bottles left from a case picked up on release, and I won't touch any till at least 2018 as I prefer the wines of this region to have more age on them as opposed to less (even if my consumption pattern doesn't bear witness to this in the instant case). 13,5% abv, thru 2023
I had very high expectations for this wine but was not blown away. Double decanted 4 hours before dinner and tasted every 45 minutes or so along the way. Comments are a composite of the experience. Dark garnet color. Nose initially had strong floral notes especially violets which faded after a few hours. Other aromas included tar, plum blueberry, vanilla and tea. Still moderately tannic, and a bit austere in a good way, but in my opinion, very young tasting. Dark fruit flavors predominate with the dry tannins. Aftertaste is shorter than expected. While certainly an outstanding wine I did not find it extraordinary on this, my first tasting of it. I suspect it will get higher scores from me in the future. I think it needs more time to develop the strong secondary flavors I love.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
S FL WS Group celebrates JC & FKG's new home (Hollywood, FL): Dark cherry fruit on a medium to full bodied frame with medium acidity. Nicely balanced with tannin and acidity with some tobacco notes on the medium plus length finish. Drank well after a few minutes in the glass following about an hour of slow ox with no decanting. Still young, but has entered its drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and decanted for an hour. Nicely perfumed on the nose, the highlight of which is a sweet tobacco-like note for me. On the palate, rich fruit but still seems a bit early to me. Or out of balance. One way or the other more acidity than I care for. Perhaps this will give it some further age-worthiness. That said, there's not a lot in the way of tannic backbone on this bottle. Nothing yet in any significant secondary development. I really can't tell where this is going longer term, but not a great QPR the way it's drinking today.
Update: the longer this is open, and the more I evaluate the wine as opposed to the label and the professional reviews....the less I like this. The palate just doesn't stand up to the hype. Very average at this point in its life. 90 points for current consumption, and honestly, that might be on the high side for me
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am sorry, I know this review wont help a lot to may of you, but I just wanted to say WOOOOW, what a great wine!!!!!! The wine is VERY VERY dry. It has the core of a good quality old world wine...but not THAT old world ! Beautiful nose, smells herbal...some tobaco mixed with wintergreen, menthol, eucaliptus.....kind of weird because the wine has 2 diferent noses, if you smell slow or fast it has very different sensations and subtleness. Short, the wine does NOT disspoint...it is a very very very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
layers of dark berry, plum, clean earth/sous bois, tobacco; powers thru the mid palate and keeps the oak/alcohol in the background; moderate acidity; great length. Still young in some ways; not sure that i would have guessed this was a brunello, but this still outclasses most other brunelli.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Brick color with medium forming legs and aromas of blackberry. It's in total harmony with a medium/full body with a medium finish - Wine Spectator Top 100: 2007; #13 One of the greatest Brunellos I have ever tasted. Tons of crushed berries. Chiseled. Chewy tannins, long fantastic finish! Release price $175
Very dark, almost opaque. Clean, medium intense nose of dark cherries and blueberries, still rather shy. Full body, dark toned, polished, with moderate acidity, dryish fruit, tar, tobacco, herbs. Rather balanced, but with a bit too dark toast. Young, slightly spicy. Some heat in the aftertaste. Very long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was singing right out of the bottle. Notes of cherry and some licorice. Long finish and dusty tannins. This has come along beautifully in the last five years since my first bottle. No hurry to open my remaining bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impression only from a few days ago - five years after my last taste of this (dec 07), it's coming along very nicely and is an excellent wine. This one was a little reticent on the nose but the palate was a home run - though it's not very evolved, the edges have eased into smoothness and this will be a stunner in the future. (note - the nose may not have shown well as we grabbed it from the "standing up pile" on the way out the door to my wife's b-day dinner, so no air before drinking - I'd recommend breathing it for a while if you drink one now)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
With Ray and Elena. This is an elegant, sensuous, delicious wine. On the nose, perfumes of dark fruits and terroir. Elegant and silky texture and tannins. Deep, concentrated flavors of dark fruits, spices, earth. Great structure. Long, lingering finish. Sorry this is my last bottle. Just entering its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of my all-time favorites next to the Madonna '01. Hints of earth and cherry while still having a powerful nose and smooth palate 11 years later. I will find more and buy what I can. Drink now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I open the second bottle of this amazing Brunello and decanted for 3 hours more to get to the right temperature than actually breathe. Color leaning towards the dark side of the red Sangiovese spectrum, nose of oak, liquorice and berries, palat: a rich velvety texture with lots of ripe berry, and fresh cherry taste, all supported by the perfect silky tannins for a never ending finish. Drink now but will improve for the next 5 years at least. A deserved 96 for this great winemaker gem...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
With Jerry and Doris. Decanted 2 hours, probably could use more. Rich wine, well balanced but not as deep as prior bottles. Typical Sangiovese flavors of earth and tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark purple. Waves of fruit on the nose. Oak has integrated. Very vital and strong. Tasty. Hints of tobacco and spice. Good mouthfeel and long finish. Not very traditional, but a nice bottle nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I last had this wine in March 2008, with Randy on Shelter Island, and he brought another bottle to dinner last night. It's not quite the barrel sample-like wine it was four years ago, although it is still dark (more dark fruit than red Sangio) and deep. Now, the wine is smoother around the sides and the tannin is softer. Still, it's rather primary and undeveloped, even while structurally it's somewhat softer. I get a slight hint of Turkish bazaar spice, but little other complexities. I would give this wine another few years in the cellar, preferably many more years for it to gain in complexity. Frankly, I'm surprised by the high praise and huge scores other CT tasters have given this wine, given its primary state. Good raw materials here, but needs many years. With Randy at Lyon, NYC.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour. On the nose, reticent initially but with a bit of glass twirling it upgrades to "elegant" with perfumed dark fruit and some secondary character. On the palate, balanced and well behaved, with a noticeable acidity that shows up as "balance/structure" as opposed to distracting. It does give this wine a sense of youth that ends up suggesting "pair this with a meal" rather than "drink this on it's own". With lamb tonight, phenomenal, with the meat cutting through the acidity and adding a sense of depth and richness. On it's own, less exciting. Scoring for tonight.....with a good pairing, 94-95 points. On its own, 90-92 pts. I would hope for further development with another 2-4 years of bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outstanding bottle of wine. Obviously a big, dense wine. Dark cherry, lead and sweet, velvety tannin. Beginning to show secondary flavors but not there yet. I should have stood my bottle longer as the sediment was substantial - and waited 5+ more years to open. Character almost reminded me of a nice St. Julien from a riper vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
after having numerous brunellos this past week, this wine clearly was the best. very dense and meaty - great aromatics... gave me hope that brunellos can give enjoyment... also made me question whether this wine was 100% sangiovese....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and consumed over 90 minutes with spaghetti and meatballs in marinara sauce. Dark red fruit, beautiful bouquet and powerful long finish. This one is drinking well now, but it is still progressing. I think it will improve for several more years. Hard to believe where it is after 11 years. I suspect easily 10 more years before it hits the apex.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Confraria - Brunellos (Restaurante Cosi): Típico sangiovese, porém ainda fechado nos aromas. Muito equilibrado, delicioso, "gordo" em camadas de fruta e complexidade. Ainda frutado no retrogosto. Excepcional. Jovem ainda. O melhor da noite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at our Italian Wine Society Dinner last night, a wonderful wine showing great depth and structure, loaded with cherry fruit and long finish. Still has a long way to go. Paired with a 2001 Scavino Barolo Bric a Fiasc. Both rocked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the very best Brunellos I've had. Really classy, soft yet strong. Strawberry notes, massive concentration. Amazing nose on this - a real sense of terroir.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OMFG, the juiciest, richest #Brunello I've ever tasted. Popped and poured, probably could have benefited from a long decant. Amazing palate but the real story here is the layered finish. This will continue improving for years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hr. double decant with another hour in the open bottle. Consumed over one hour. The nose of old world barnyard earthiness just burst out of the glass, with secondary notes of ripe cherries. Interesting taste of dark fruit and leather, with a little drop-off in the middle. The finish just roared back and lingered for 30 sec. Still on the rise, but tannins are well integrated. Drinking window is open for another ten years minimum. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Did not decant long...through Venturi and then about 20 min. Great nose of wood, blackberries and currant. Explosion of fruit on front and mid palate with one of the longest finishes I've ever had...truly a great wine that has years left in the tank.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great stuff...fantastic nose, terrific fruit (darker and denser than typical Brunello) still quite grippy and tannic...this has a long life ahead, but is delicious. Blackberry, dark cherry, cocoa/mocha, and tar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours. Nose was incredible! Great Sangiovese character - traditional earthiness, but had a real modern and fresh feel. Deep full bodied wine, still amazingly young. Even a bit sweet in the mouth and very very long finish. This wine still has many years left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially oaky, rich with sweet fruit, it seemed to just gain in complexity with layers of blackberry cassis, earth, flowers with some vanilla oak. Quite smooth, very easy to drink. Modern style but still some of that background Sangiovese structure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic first one of my seven bottles...balance, smooth and grew in fruit over the 45 min decant and two hours to drink. Should continue to age well. Looking forward to another in six months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My penultimate bottle, enjoyed at our favorite Northern Italian style restaurant. Inky dark in the glass. Fresh aromas of dark fruits. Beautifully balanced with soft tannins, suble leather and mocha flavors. A heafty wine that seems more like an Amarone. A most enjoyable wine for those who like powerhouse in a glass, drinking quite well now. Kicking myself for selling off a few bottles a couple of years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for two hours. Never really opened up until 4 hours. Then, it started to become more fruity and smooth. Still a long ways off. Had to try one, I bought three from Premier Cru from futures for $55. Wait 4 years for the next. Could definetly improve in score. The best top shelf Italian I have drank.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine was floral on the nose, with ripe fruit, plum, tea, oak and chocolate. On the palate the wine showed cherry, plum, brandy, mild tea and chocolate, with a spicy component and a nice, lingering mocha-note on the long finish. The exceptional finish really lasted for ages. The medium-bodied, inky wine completely coated the tongue. I saved one glass and had it two days later (vacuum-pumped). The flavour profile was basically the same, the wine was less inky and the cherry flavours were more pure, the mocha-finish was as impressive as on the first day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened for two hours then decanter and drank over two or three hours. Great nose floral blackberries maybe chocolate. Palate showed firm tannins and good structure. Licorice fruit good finish. Not as good as I was expecting due to tannins, would have benefitted from more time and aeration. Will hold before tying again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5 Brunelli and a 61 Climens: Not what I was expecting here. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has some serious brett/barnyard on it. I liked it but my wife found it problematic. Also some sour cherries. On the palate, this has sour cherries and boysenberries. The funk comes thru on the palate, like a wet leather quality. I liked this more than most I think. Be careful with this though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Love this wine. Only drink it on very special occasions Opened this bottle on our firsy night in our new cabin, As always so much to love about this wine - smooth, soft tannins great fruit mixed evenly with earht and leather to make for a silky finish - whats not to like
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was opened 9 hours before dinner. 2 hours after opening the bottle I took a glass to check how it was doing. And at that moment it was already very much open for business. These notes where taken 7 hours later:
Deep ruby color, not as dark as I remember it. Not even the slightest hint of ambering yet. Expressive aromas of blackberry, dark cherry leather and licorice with some hints of allspice. Following trough to a full and lush body with lots of dark fruit, silky smooth tannins against a strong backbone of fresh acidity. Rounded of by a very long finish that seems to last for minutes!
I was a bit ambivalent about this wine 3 years ago. With some serious doubts about this being the extraordinary wine that the points (both RP and WS) suggest. But now its really starting to open up and starting to show that typical black fruit+cherry+leather profile that I love so much about Brunello. And considering all the debate about this wine not being a real Brunello, I would say: If it smells like a Brunello and it tastes like a Brunello it IS a Brunello:-)
This is a big Brunello and it is very enjoyable right now, and was a perfect pairing with the Ragù di cinghiale. But I expect that it will continue to improve for some time with even some upward potential. And it surely has a long life ahead. Drink now - 2020 (at least!)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark and viscous looking. Outrageously good. Sweet dark cherry fruit, floral, distinctively spicy. Oak is well integrated. Silky ripe tannins. This is a lush, fruit-forward, very atypical Brunello, yet at the same time is clearly Sangiovese (or at least there's nothing else that it tastes MORE like than Sangio) with its signature spicy dark cherry 'n flowers profile. Don't know whether to drink this now and enjoy it as a hedonistic beauty, or to hang on for a LONG time and see if anything delicate and complex emerges....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
young but still soft. not as much fruit as I expected (wanted) but still rich and very enjoyable. tannins present but not overpowering. hoping it will evolve and improve (I have 26 more...) but not confident that it will.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Let's start with I have never had a Brunello like this. The color, density and concentration are like no other Brunello. Wine is opaque and almost black. After one taste you know it is a Brunello, albeit a unique one. Could almost mistake it for an Amarone. This wine is so amazingly rich with a long long long soft finish, silky smooth tannins are an understatement. Tastes of dark fruit along with licorice and some earthiness and a hint of oak. This wine is ready to drink though decanting or in our case an aeration device made a huge difference. Summary, could easily be the best Brunello I've ever had, certainly the most unique.
90 minutes later this wine continues to explode in a good way. The fruit blossoms, even harder to believe this is a Brunello. This finish remains amazingly soft and amazingly long and so very rich. If you can find, buy it. And decant. We're looking for more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark dark purple color. Decanted 4 hours and enjoyed with grilled steak. This is a big, rich wine with intense fruit and yet so well balanced. Soft but powerful nose of dark berries and sweet cherries that practically scream out to be tasted. The tannins and acidity were prominent and balanced perfectly with the flavors of blackberries, cherries and earth. The finish had some heat to it, but the flavors lingered forever. This is an amazing wine to be enjoyed for years. (Doris 91) With Steve B. for dinner
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 4 hours. Starting to come around a little bit but still dark dark purple/black in the glass. I have a hard time believing this could really be a Brunello with the darkness of this wine. Some old world funk, leather, buttery oak, cassis, currant on the nose. A little extracted but remarkable light on it's feet for it's dark color. Showing off some blackberry, dark cherry but not jammy. Finish was clamping down a little bit and had a touch of a charred oak finish to it. Overall drinking pretty well, if you have a few I'd give one a shot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hours before bringing out to dinner. Fragrant, floral nose with earth and blackberry. I was surprised by the vibrancy of the fruit-not over the top but a more modern style brunello. Solid finish-delicious now but should imoprove -...93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black as night, maybe hints of purple. Brunello? Really? Ok, once you look past that, one cannot argue with the taste. Sure, the nose is a bit tight, dominated by what seems like oak butter, but over time some more classic scents emerge, with some huge dark (but not jammy) fruits. Lots of cherry and sweet tannins on an overly extracted, but amazingly light on its feet palate...opens over time. A contradiction. An 85 or a 95? Strange wine for now, but I liked it. Lots of promise for the future if it can find its traditional base lurking beneath the surface.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 6 hours, rebottled and then served 6 hours later. Made a difference in softening up the wine. Beautiful, but I'll wait on opening my last bottle. More evolution still to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose out of the bottle deep and primary; decanted for one hr; gorgeous vivid cherry, blackberry with bright beautiful tannins and prominent acidity that is kept in check by the fruit; smoother and fuller/sl sappier over 2 hr;i dont even notice the oak; gorgeous balance and structure with great potential but still young and a bit primary at this point; best young brunello that i have tasted this year; hold for another couple of years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I bought 8 of these when I was in Italy the summer of '07 and had them shipped to my home. I wanted to try one now even thought I don't think it is near peak yet. I was not disappointed. I decanted for 4 hours, and the nose was aromatic, the fruit had begun to emerge, and the brilliant structure of this wine was on full display. I can only imagine how good this will be in the coming years. It makes me very happy I have many normal and reserve bottles of the 01 brunello vintage.
great color and concentration. By the second day it had opened up wonderfully leading me to believe it will get better. Good balance and acidity with a long finish. Overall very enjoyable an will get better
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Italians for the weekend; 10/15/2009-10/17/2009 (Home): Damn this bottle got my attention quickly. I opened the bottle four hours before my Bolognese would be ready. The nose was so nice instantly with aromas of tangy earthy Italian clay, and impressive blue and red fruit, dusty deep rich slate and chalk minerals. The initial taste had gripping bright red and black fruit, and something that just screamed Italy. I put the cork back in and waited four hours.
This wine just would not quit. Over the night the wine came a little more into focus, shed its sappy grip, and became a balanced, large, wonderfully rich and bright, food friendly beauty. I drank nearly the whole bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I decanted this and then let it set for several hours before drinking it. Dinner was held up for hours. I would definitely just pop and pour next time. This was losing it by the time I started drinking it. Good wine though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holiday in Tuscany, Dinner at Il Giglio in Montalcino. Absolutely fabulous bottle of wine, best Brunello I ever had and possibly best wine ever. I have three bottles of this vintage in my cellar but I still hadn't tasted the wine. Given the holiday and the reasonable price on the wine-list (€ 70 for a 98 WS wine) I decided to try my luck. And I for sure wasn't disappointed! Very dense and concentrated, extemely layered and seductive. Every sip this explosion of sweet ripe red and black fruit on the palate; each time mindblowing. A very long and lingering finish. Together with an excellent Tuscan meal with Bistecca Fiorentina as secundi, it was as religious as a wine-experience can be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
EXCELLENT young, big-boy brunello. Decanted for 2 hours. This wine is still quite young and MASSIVE--tar, berries and cherries--with a nice, long finish. I hope to have some left in 5 years. Fantastic accompaniment to a rich beef wellington.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Valdicava Vertical at Il Corso (Il Corso W. 55th St. NYC): Opened and poured. Deep, dark cherries, forest floor and a subtle note of mint. Fruit is still powerful, offsetting the solid tannins. Cherry skins and dried blackberry. Good acid support. Fine earthy finish with a bit of brown sugar. Satisfying masculine personality.
24hrs later-Continues to display a wonderful masculinity. Black cherry/cherry skins and leather with brambles and spice. Love the solid finish that grips and holds in a pleasing way. Definitely improved and integrated since last night. Elegant and powerful at the same time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elegant, pure and very approachable at this young age. Opened with a rich nose of rose petal, tar, dark spices, vanilla and bright red berries. Tannins are there, but the integration is superb so they're not in your face. This is my second one in a year and they're aging perfectly. Will try the rest beginning in about 3 or more years. Drink thru 2019+. highly recommended
Dark colored and super concentrated. Aromas of fresh roses, dark cherries, minerals, spices and touch of oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a very rich, long finish. Slightly better than the 1999. Legendary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another bottle from Domacins, this one seemingly more evolved. After a 30 minute decant a very forward nose becomes evident. On the palate, still not reconciled but clearly a wine to be reckoned with. A lot of promise for the future, but this bottle was very approachable even now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
No detailed notes, but easily the best bottle of the night at Domacin. Still a few years away from hitting its stride, but not as closed as it was the last outing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superb wine. Beautiful dark ruby in color. Big and powerful, but impeccably balanced. No signs of over-extraction or overt modernism. Great to drink today and should age really well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank from 375ml, dark color to the rim. Nose was initially dominated by vanilla which made me believe some of the notes below that this would be made in the international style, but as it sat in the glass/decanter it really came together to show the Brunello aromas I am used to. I picked up wonderful minerality that I don't find in many red wines that was wonderful. There were still some unresolved tannins, but the finish was superb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark black center with clear ruby rim; Aromas and flavors of blackberry and spice with an anise component. This wine had big tannins to resolve but also acid to balance them out. It was all over the place right out of the bottle and benefited from a 30 minute decant. Right after opening it smelled like Cab, then a grenache Rhone or Spanish wine before finally locking in on more Sangio-like aromas and flavors. It ended up being a good wine that matched well with hearty food. [14% alcohol (probably not!); Could us more time for integration; 2010 for our next bottle]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with spinach and ricotta ravioli in alfredo sauce. Opened about an hour before dinner. Drank a half glass while cooking. Had classic brunello taste. Good acidity. Black fruits. Seemed young. Got better after about 2 hours in the glass. Edges rounded out a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A truly beautiful wine. Very complex. Had pork tenderloin for dinner with this bottle. Beautiful pariing. Still young, but opened up nicely after decanting. Incredible finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this in between a number of other wines, so didn't take detailed notes. Popped and poured as no time to decant. This is a very dark wine. Right on opening the nose was expressive with dark fruit, earth and showing some oak. This is definitely a big chewy wine that is still showing plenty of tannin. Very modern style Brunello that I enjoyed but dont really think that it is that mind blowing. I generally think that WS's rating was a pretty high for this wine. I saved some for a second night and this still showed pretty good fruit and tannin, still very nice but nothing blowing me away. I still rate it relatively high simply because it is a well made wine but I probably wouldn't buy this for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At R and L's on Shelter Island. Wow, is this one dark wine, almost black. The nose shows a bit upon opening, then shuts down, but there is a fleeting offer of fruit sweetness, clove and a bit of vanilla bean. On the palate, this shows like a dry port. Very concentrated, but primary, not showing too much detail but definitely showing a lot of concentration and density. At this point, it's not showing much Sangiovese typicity, this could be a barrel sample of a number of infantile red wines. It's not so much that the tannins and acidity are too strong right now; this wine is balanced, yet way too young to really assess for where it is today. Opened much too early. Revisit in 5 years at the earliest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impressions only plus I was coming down with a cold. Great wine in the making, mine wasn't there yet. Unresolved shoe polish and licorice on the nose, quite tannic on the palate. Tons of fruit both dark and red (smells purple but tastes red, then changes) so there is plenty there. I'm just not going to touch my others for several years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brunello Bash with Carlo (the Manor): call me crazy but i like this.. yes its modern but it has serious winemaking and excellent BRUNELLO qualities. Sour cherry, great acid, good tannins. bit hot on day 1. Day 2 - wow - rich but the rustic side is showing, lots of varietal character on top of the power. an excellent wine that will trully show itself in due time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brunello evening at The Count's on the occasion of Carlo's visit (Rego Park, Queens, NY): Very dense, almost black color. Nose, much like the color, is ripe black cherry and a hint of Bordeaux band-aid. Palate has lots of roasted black cherries, chocolate. Later developed a nice grilled meat note. Solid finish, with the fruit upstaging the acid, and moderate tannins. Lots of solid components that seem ready to develop into a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had the oportunity to drink another bottle shortly after my previous note (28/10/07). This time it was much more in line with my previous encounters with this wine:
Deep dark ruby color, almost black at the core. A bit tight on the nose, still after about 1 hour in the glas. Tones of blackberry and blackcurrant with hints of tobacco and violets. Very full bodied on the palate, concentrated and layered. A long, long finish that keeps on lingering. Still seems to be closing down. Don't touch this one for some time! Drink 2012 - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color. Full aroma's of black fruit with hints of licorice, a bit less pronounced than the previous bottle.Full bodied on the palate, smooth and silky with layers of refined tanines. A long finish. Must be entering the sleeper zone right now. I'm glad that I tasted it some time ago. Otherwise I would have had some doubts on this wine. Still plenty of attraction, but not the ultra full body and refinement that I tasted on the previous encounter.
I'll let this one sleep until somebody convinces me that it has come back to life again! I expect that I will have to wait at least 5 years. Drink 2012 - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner and Wine (Casa Pelz): Opened a few hours prior to consumption. I liked this quite a bit. Although more in the modern camp of Brunello with some pretty big tannins, black fruit, and high glycerin, this still manages to come off as Brunello and with great balance so as to drink great with food. I think this wine has the longest ageing potential of the ones we tasted. Clearly a very good wine with lots of upside. If I were to compare this with Bordeaux, I think this is not unlike Monbousquet (instead of a traditional producer like Magdelaine).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Quattro, Miami Beach. Used Vinturi aerator before dinner. Not as memorable as at Arnolfo's in May, but still an exceptional wine. Approachable now, but wait a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a monster wine, not anywhere close to being ready to drink. Beautiful structure that is built for the long haul. Check back in a few years. 93 for now, but has got potential for a much bigger score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty incredible wine that's drinking well now, but seems to show hints of further favorable development. Dark in color, an initially closed nose that opens up with some time in the bottle. The highlight right now is on the palate, this has a great deal of depth, with concentrated fruit and a hint of spice and wood in the background. Very well balanced, with a structure that suggests a long life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At ARNOLFO, Colle Val dElsa, Siena vic, Italy. Extraordinary, drinking spectacularly well at this juncture. Giovanni, Arnolfo's brother popped and poured. Great bouquet fruit, and exceptional finish. The best wine we've had this week in Italy. Bravo, Vicenzo! Accompanied a great lunch at one of Italy's destination restaurants. I'm glad I have 9 more, and 2 magnums of the Pianrooso. For those who have it, you have to try one soon, you'll be replenishing it and adding more fast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark ruby color. Full aroma's of (black) berries, currant and salmiak (don't know the english word for this!) with spicey undertones. Following trough full bodied on the palate with great mouthfeel, loads of fruit and smoothness. This is one wine you feel you can almost eat! Refined tannines and great overall structure suggesting a long life ahead. Loooong finish that keeps going. Imminently drinkable right now, can hardly wait to let it evolve more, which it will definetly do over the next 10-20 years. I'm not so experienced with 95+ pts wines But this is one of the best wines I've ever had. I give it 97pts to leave some headroom for future experiences.
I did not decant this wine. It showed all of the above mentioned glory after no more than 15 minutes in the glass last night. It is still going strong this afternoon, day after. Perhaps with slightly more complexity and refinement.
WOW!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet almost black. Very intense perfumes of ripe black fruits, oak, mineral notes and earth. Dense and ultraconcentrated, this fruit bomb explode on the palate, leaving you completely knock out. Low acidity, fine tannins and a long fruity finish. I don’t know what the evolution will reveal , but now, is truly amazing. Tipical or not, this Brunello is pure sex, right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
These notes from a tasting of Brunellos from Valdicava, Friggiali, and Canalicchio, including all vintages from '95-'02, except '97. All bottles were open approximately three hours. Of all the wines, the '01 Valdicava Brunello came out on top. Very big, plenty of fruit. Would love to see this one again in ten years or so.
Of the Valdicava wines, the '02 (a Rosso - no Brunello was made) was just ok. The '99 was good, the '99 Madonna a bit better, but the '98 had some unattractive vegetable elements on the nose & palate, and the '98 Madonna was brett-affected. Of these Valdicavas, the '01 Brunello was the best and the only one I'd like to consider further.
Of the Friggiali wines, the best was the '01. Nice! Of all the '01 Brunellos tasted, this was the best bang for the buck. The '02 Friggiali (again, just a Rosso in that year) was no good, with strong vegetable influences and some volatility. The '01 Donna Olga, though more expensive than the "regular" '01, showed a watery hole in the mid-palate, and a shorter finish. The '99 was ok, but showed some vegetables (tomato, red pepper). The '99 Donna Olga also had some stewy vegetable aromas, and some volatility, but tasted ok. The '96 was browning, on its way out - don't bother.
Of the Canalicchio wines, the '98 Brunello was the best tasted, and was actually the best of all wines tasted if you want to drink a bottle NOW. The '01 "Canalicchio di Sopra" had more fruit than most of the other wines tasted, with some grippy tannins, but just ok on the taste. The '95 was browning, and had a slightly stewed vegetable nose, but actually tasted significantly better than it smelled.
In summary, the best overall was the '01 Valdicava, the best value was the '01 Friggiali, and the best for drinking immediately was the '98 Canalicchio.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/17/2024 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful brunello!! Drink up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2023 - gzim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened at 12pm - Decanted at 4pm (there was a lot of sediment) back in the bottle at 6 and brought to dinner.
Giving up loads of sweet fruit with enough framework to show great in a modern style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2023 - Rabaja Likes this wine: 95 Points
Originally popped and poured and showed a bit tight. Decanted for four hours and it really blossomed. Becoming quite tertiary at the moment. Shows a mature nose of macerated cherries and figs with earthy notes of balsam wood, oak, candied plums and orange rind. Fantastic mouthfeel - full, deep and very satisfying. In a beautiful place but let it breathe for a long time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/4/2023 - Winemusic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Discounted for six hours. Drinking beautifully. Not going to get any better but certainly in a sweet spot right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2023 - dkwins Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought to a very high end party and many thought best of 14 other wines. I did like these last bottles the best of the case I bought 18 years ago. The wine is a little past it’s prime drinking window, but with a four hour decant and having aged, ot settled nicely Well structured, some pleasant spice, but no heat Excellent long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2023 - ;p Likes this wine: 90 Points
Past its prime. Bricking. Notes of raisin. Good structure. Improved over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2022 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 91 Points
one of my favorites at vine tasters
tannins integrated
still with some fruit and length
too
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2022 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Vinetasters: Sangiovese (Park Ridge, IL): Served double blind. Black cherry and plums; somewhat merlot-like -- this has lost some of the fruit definition. Some spicy oak and showing a fair bit of age. The weight promised by the nose isn't there on the palate; this feels a little hollow, and finishes with some of those aged blood/iron/rust tones. The weight of the fruit, coupled with the relative freshness had me guessing 2001.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2022 - ReidCellar wrote:
Still drank very well. Had with Lamb stew.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2022 - Jimswinecellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2022 - jkoenen wrote: 94 Points
Smooth as silk, low acidity, velvety tannines, macerated plummy fruit, soft spicy oak, cinnamon and sandalwood. Touches of earth, smoke, juisy pan-fried venison and black cherries.
At the afge of 21, this is a modernist Brunello, perfectly mature now and thoroughly delightful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2021 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blackberries, spice, white oak, rhubarb, earth floor with even a hint of truffle, flint, river rock and raspberry. Some cassis and red currant. This wine is still drinking young and vibrant - quite aromatic and enjoyable.
p.s. cauliflower meat pizza
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (St. Genevieve, Mpls, MN): Small glass, same bottle as Chablis28, I concur with his thoughts. This was surprisingly youthful, deep brooding dark fruits, charcoal and gravelly minerality, oak and still firm tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2021 - chablis28 wrote: 92 Points
My btl at our annual wine group holiday dinner at St Genevieve in Minneapolis, one of our group's favorite venues. The food tonight was sublime and cozy room perfect for 22 of us. Think we may have been able to squeeze in at least 10 more from our group during non-covid times. We bought out the restaurant who was normally closed on Sundays during Covid.
This drank remarkably young for 20yrs out! Still showing some oak to integrate and lush ripe fruit. I liked it but didn't love it as I was expecting a more tertiary profile. This drank like it was 6yrs old.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2021 - Kevnzworld wrote: 95 Points
45 decant. Dinner at Tesse
Strawberries and herbs on the nose
This has deep Sangiovese cherry with some noticeable oaky tannin. It’s drinking best after hour one, it needed a longer decant.
There’s some hint of tobacco on the finish which shows the age.
Pairs perfectly with the truffle pasta.
This still has many good years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2021 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ruby red color. Mushroom, earth and wet tobacco leaves followed by a mix of mulberry, rhubarb and raspberry. Wet stone floor that opens up to plush, sweet berry flavors across the palate. Excited to try the Madonna del piano.
p.s. homemade Sicilian pizza
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2021 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
One hour decant. The wine opened up a little more thereafter. Lovely red cherry and red fruit elements with plenty of mushroom and other forest floor. A great food acidity level while being smooth. Tannins were still thick but long and smooth. Some note of Oak/Cedar. Dash of minerals. This bottle had at least 3 more years of peak drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/11/2021 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine:
Terrific 20 y/o Brunello. Dark dark red cherry fruit, with some lovely secondary notes of dried/decaying leaves, tobacco, with touches of fresh turned earth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2021 - guido23 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Same as previous notes - rejoice, for this is still amazing! Perfect for our Easter lamb!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2021 - LARich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still absolutely delicious and showing no sign of slowing down. Elegant and full with a rich fruit-filled palate of pure grace and finesse. Can keep on for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2021 - jmh st louis Likes this wine: 95 Points
So much bright fruit on a sleek palate. Perfectly refined. Wine of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2020 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Black pepper, lead pencil, plum notes, blueberry with some steel and minerality. Pretty red fruit with earthy and chalky tones. Robust, velvety brunello that is singing. Very well structured fruit -
Seems much younger than it is and could easily drink 5+ years.
p.s. golapkis and butter lettuce salad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2020 - PVJC wrote: 98 Points
Fantastic. Sadly our last bottle. Decanted 3 hours. Paired very well with standing rib roast for christmas eve dinner. The only knock on this one was a spot of dryness on the back of the palate but that faded and was replaced with a finish that went on and on and on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2020 - guido23 Likes this wine: 99 Points
TLDR: this wine is still very, VERY strong! Popped, decanted, and poured. Initially there was a fragrant nose but the palate was inscrutable; there was clearly some dark, brooding power lurking just underneath the surface with a long, warm finish. Half an hour later I would describe the nose as smelling "thick." Tingly black cherry started coming out on the palate and you could tell that this wine is still a blockbuster! One hour in there was lush red fruit on the nose and hot cherries on the palate with gorgeous, silky tannins. Two hours in there were lots of pencil shavings on the nose and the mouthfeel was undulating. Five hours in it started to fade a bit - a little more astringent - but but still delicious with lots of clove. I have previously rated this wine 93-94 but, after drinking it for eight years, I have to conclude that it is one of the best wines I have ever tasted so am adjusting its score up to 99.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2020 - Lipsman wrote: 97 Points
This was a real w-o-w bottle. Plummy indulgence on the aroma that comes through on the palate. Deeply saturated brunello fruit with earthy complexity, beautiful balance, and a long, plush finish. A modern lush wine and completely seductive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2020 - Jeanda wrote: flawed
Complètement madérisé.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2020 - AaronMaxwell Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. This wine has really smoothed out at this point in its journey. Brooding and delicious, complemented a ribeye very well.
As others have said, it's full bodied, quite tannic (but they're delicate), dark red fruits, and molasses.
Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2020 - rraaffaa Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big and bold, way more than your average Brunello. Dark color, needed about 3 hours to really start singing. Great balance of fruit, tannin structure, good acidity, this is a steak wine for sure. And it still have many years in it, it'll still get better and better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2020 - snsharma Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agreed with the notes below. 3 hour decant is a must. Pretty funky / hot / sweet before. After, really big, bold, fruit-forward brunello. Great pairing with a steak. I might wait a few years for the next bottle to see how the fruit mellows out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2020 - Invinoverytas wrote:
Gave to David Hsu as birthday gift
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2020 - wren460 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I am trying to come up with a description for this wine but it is extremely difficult. I read all tasting notes and even mine from 7 years ago and they are all over the place in many ways. So, I am going to say just a few things so I can remember in the future. I loved the wine and it is extremely well balanced. I did find at the begining that acid that I just don´t like about Italian wines but after 3 hours the wine changed dramatically . The nose is incredible, this is a wine for sniffing more than anything else for me. Red fruit, anise, and definitely dark chocolate all the way. The wine was dry with not a long finish, but I liked it. I am sure that the wine has a few more years ahead of it, but I think that for my new world taste the wine was better 3-5 years ago. If you are a fan of new world drink now, if a fan of tertiary flavors and more austere fruit I will wait 3 years minimum.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2020 - winelover1808 Likes this wine: 95 Points
love this. lots of anise/dark chocolate and dark red fruit. perfume is seductive. with the filet mignon, egglant parm and caprese salad, this was sublime. still had plenty of fruit, punch of nerve and acidity, and with food more dark chocolate and dark berries with a hint of anise with solid acidity and very mellow but pleasantly perceptible tannins. couldnt ask for a better pairing and after 19 years, this is in a great great spot for drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2020 - dkwins Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 4 hours and drank over a couple of hours, which helped. Still not my favorite, as a bit unsettled and not as smooth as I expected. Nice crimson color, less pleasant nose, but rich fruit made it interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2020 - Roughl wrote: 94 Points
Balance/balance/balance. Youthful, aged, powerful, airy, easy to drink, classic, classy, long, tannic and smooth. Great wine. Last bottle found in my cellar. Based on this bottle, it could have aged easily for another 15-20 years in a cold cellar. So happy to have the 2010 in my cellar. Will have to wait before opening them.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2020 - asparagus Likes this wine: 93 Points
consistent with notes in 2017. this doesnt seem to have moved an inch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2020 - Jimswinecellar wrote:
Opened and decanted for 3-4 hours and the aromas and complex flavors are amazing.
Very fine sediment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2019 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 91 Points
Limited table side notes. Good color. Going strong and with a number of years left. Didn't seem to blossom in the glass though some sandalwood/leather kind of stuff did show-up in the decanter after one hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 96 Points
From magnum. Similar to the two previous bottles I've had before. This shows a lot of red fruit at first, turning to more blue an hour or two later. Vibrant and full of energy but not so much overt acidity. The texture is exquisite and it has a slight earthiness which is welcome. This is balanced, classy and exciting, not overly extracted but still big and expressive. This is a bit more about flamboyance vs. power though there's nothing delicate or light about it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2019 - gzim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped , stood up for 2 hours, then decanted for 4, still took an hour in glass to really show its stuff. More sweet red fruit kept growing, acidic zingy finish with some drying tannins. Nothing but upside here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a fantastic wine. Velvety, smooth, balanced. Long nose, smooth palate. One of the better Brunellos I’ve had recently. At this point, seems better than the ‘01 BS Riserva.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2019 - Filippo Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a beauty!!! And it’s not even Reserve!!
Perfect now. Drink it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2019 - Rollerball wrote:
Seemed ponderous after an '02 burgundy, but then improved when accompanied by Star Pizza's deep dish All-Star (bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2019 - Thorgal Likes this wine: 94 Points
The 2001 valdicava is known to be somewhat of a freak, but one in a very good vintage. The wine was much more extracted and thicker than usual. Be it as it may, the wine is aging wonderfully. Full bodied, still dark red and hardly any sign of aging. The nose is a bit subdued to me but I do get meaty, floral and red fruit aroma’s. The balance is great and so is the mouthfeel. The aroma’s return in the mouth set off nicely by the acidity. Long aftertaste. Excellent wine. Very well made.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2019 - portguy wrote: 94 Points
Bright and fruit-forward when opened. Simple, notes of blackberry, tiny hint of citrus. Lovely!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2019 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 94 Points
My expectations were exceeded with this one. Drank from a 375ml, this is really in a nice place now. Tannins are well integrated, but there is plenty of structure left. Fruit is ripe and rich, lots of dark fruit and raisin. Very elegant and very delicious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2019 - guido23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and consumed over 5 hours. Initially there was some barnyard funk on the nose but otherwise it was classic Brunello with rich cherry blossom. a tannic, meaty palate, and a long finish. Over time the tannins mellowed and the nose become more metallic but still gave off a strong hint of cherry parfait. The palate remained rich and bold, which surprised me for the age of this wine. It's not quite as complex as it once was but it is still gorgeous.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2018 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2018 - Rollerball wrote:
Settled into a quiet maturity. Plush from tannic structure with a complex but quiet bouquet that includes savory strawberies, mint, and black fruits and balsamic molasses. In a really wonderful place right now. Definitely no reason to hold these, still, a few good years ahead -2022.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2018 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 96 Points
Super ripe fruit, dark, full bodied and structured....this is one amazing wine that is drinking perfectly right now. Absolutely must give this an hour to open and let those big tannins integrate into the sweet dark cherry fruit. Very expressive with wild strawberries on the nose...delicious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2018 - Lipsman wrote: 93 Points
An orange cast throughout. Aging nicely. Still big and fruity with the bitter tea bags of big oak. Supple and nicely balanced, except for the oak. A fashion forward Brunello. Should continue to age gracefully for another 5-8 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2018 - asparagus Likes this wine: 91 Points
This took 2 hours for the oak and the muskiness to blow away and for it to properly unfurl. Menthol, liqourice and sweet dark fruit. Modernist in style, perhaps, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine: 95 Points
Don's 50th: Decanted and aerated 2-3 hours before consuming. Wonderful wine with balance between the acidity, fruit concentration and integrating tannins. 14% alcohol that didn't come across as over-powering. Scents of charcuterie and dried meats with some dark fruit. Long and complex palate. Really enjoyed, and could continue to improve with aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - SWHighlander Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fabulous. Nice fruit but not heavily extracted in a modern style. Strong acidity and moderate tannins. Paired with a spicy veal sausage bolognese that reminded me of the boar they love to serve in Tuscany. A perfect match. Everyone at the table swooned for this wine. Drink now -- it won't get any better and the fruit may start to fade soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Fully mature. Earth, soy, and macerated berries. The acidity flashed in opening and died down. Nice with tomato-vodka sauce with Roman pasta (super al-dente) and pancetta. Best now and for the next few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2018 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is fabulous!. It is still quite young, but it is transitioning nicely to early middle age. Tar, tobacco and cured leather, with pretty dark cherry and earth, kitchen spice, and wet clay mineral. Balanced and quite full. Damn great wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2018 - Kriz wrote: 92 Points
As said in previous tasting notes: Peaking now. Don't wait a much longer. Stunning nose, fragrant sweet fruit, smoke, raisins. Good palate, signs of ageing. Everything balanced now and come together.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - Jochems Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle needed abot 3 hours to open up. It was initially a bit muted and had some pronounced acidity.
Dark ruby color, almost black at the core and no signs of ageing yet. Aromas of ripe black fruit, tobacco and licorice with some hints of dried herbs and toast. Full bodied on the palate with chewy-smooth tannins, fresh acidity and some ripe fruit. The finish is long and slightly drying.
The initial seductive character is now gone and where some classic Brunelli then develop into some of the most complex and refined wines I know (see my note on the ‘99 Poggio di Sotto of today), this wine just smoothens out somehow. Although a great wine in many respects, I would swap my last bottle of this wine for a ‘99 Poggio di Sotto any time...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2017 - Eckie Likes this wine: 98 Points
Last bottle of the lot. This wine has consistently been brilliant. Every time if’ve been wowed by the seductive nose, its so intense palate, the core fruit and the looooong finish. Yuhan, Berend and Frank were also impressed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2017 - Vino Vita Likes this wine: 96 Points
WOW...wow. Beautiful structure and lifting acidity that helped keep the palate fresh. Smooth, resolved tannins with predominantly red fruit. Dried cherries and slight raisin on the nose. This is a Brunello firing on all cylinders...it is the why I got into Italian wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2017 - Rollerball wrote: 95 Points
Intense with hoisin and creosote but ethereally weighted and densely woven with layers of freshness and maturity. Poised and minerally. Slings dark flaming velvet arrows from the front to the back of your tongue. Carbon paper floral delicious. For how much this has going on, it's shockingly easy to drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - asparagus Likes this wine: 93 Points
A good BdM - cherries, spice and some vanilla. Tannis still there but well integrated. I am told that this is quite modern in style and I am a bit ashamed to admit that I enjoyed it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2017 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 94 Points
Corney & Barrow Italian Wines Tasting (Pasta Brava): Poured into decanter and drank over 2 hours over dinner at Pasta Brava. Generously brought by Asparagus.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, toasty vanilla oak, sweet spice, black cherries, slight rubber. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine integrated high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet black cherries, blackberries, licorice, sweet spices, new black leather, sweet dark earth, black rubber, some sour red cherries. Long finish.
Very good quality. Unabashedly modern styled Brunello di Montalcino. Must have been a monster of a wine when young. Drinking very well now. Not for further ageing. The balance is great now. Modern style that is integrated well with sufficient age.
World of a difference from the Soldera tasted earlier in the night. Though a good wine on its own too.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2017 - jrkennedy37 wrote:
Past prime at this stage. Shows much better with food as there is a good tinge of acid in the wine. Otherwise it's mellowed out and tastes like an old italian wine that used slovenian oak - this is not a knock on the wine, it just does not show the complexity seen in earlier bottles and should have been consumed 1-3 years ago to be at prime.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2017 - MOCGator wrote: 98 Points
A breathtaking Brunello at its prime. I'm not sure it's ever going to get much better it is darn near perfection.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2017 - guido23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and consumed over 1-5 hours. At first the nose was, I kid you not, "oily." Wow, it really hit you over the head with tannins and a very long finish. Two hours in and the nose was offering boysenberry jam while the palate was smoldering fire. For the rest of the night it was hot, fiery cherries. Very nice but lacked some of the complexity this vintage has had previously. Not sure if that is an anomaly or a trend but I gave it a 93 instead of my previous 94.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/31/2017 - boses Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a big wine ! And I say that in a positive note - it grows and grows as you decant it - with absolutely ripe black berries and a fine tannin dustiness jumping out to greet you, with a finely balanced acidity helping cut the fattiness of the juice - and it keeps evolving from there and I agree with others that this is an exception in terms of a brunello - it's just a different category - I loved the experience paired with a wonderfully crafted degustation menu at the La Brezza St. Regis Singapore - kudos to Chef Armando - and to the winemaker / as well as Cellar Keeper for crafting such a wonderful experience !
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2017 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with the TCWC guys (Osteria Langhe, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is immensely deep, savory, and perfumed that fills the glass with black cherries, raspberries, violets, wild herbs, licorice, wet clay, and leather tones. There is some polish to this, but it's more purity than gloss.
Taste: Full bodied with medium+ tannins and medium+ acidity. The tannins are silky, but persistent with the acidity providing a nice spine. The feel is silky and savory with black cherries, raspberries, violets, herbs, licorice, spices, and some leather notes.
Overall: This is a fantastic Brunello. It is starting to enter it's sweet spot and show off what this can be. This has a real savory elegance to it with a good dose of class.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Osteria Langhe (Chicago, IL): I'll admit, this is a very good rendition of a cult Brunello. This is a very fleshy and big wine, with lots and lots of sweet black fruit (for days!). Despite the scale and ripeness here, there's actually a nice bit of acidity that balances this out. There's no over-the-top oak here either, and what oak there once was has been dissipated by time. Soft tannins, this is drinking very nicely now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2017 - pavel_p wrote: 91 Points
Poured into decanter at home and drank over a few hours. Clear, fairly dark garnet. Initially chewy and sinewy on the palate the character of this wine changes completely with about 30 min of air. Much softer and rounder dark fruit, liquorice, herbs, ripe fruit but the usual elevated acidity of the Sangiovese grape keeps things overall in balance. Fine (+) tannins. Medium length.
While the softness on the palate is not a style I would associate with Valdicava, this is still not what I expect from a good Brunello. Frankly I don't understand what people find in Valdicava, this is certainly not a 98 point wine as per our friend JS, but also the 94 points here on CT, I simply fail to see. A good wine but lacks depth and aromatic complexity for a higher score. Hold or drink. 91-92.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2016 - lolo66 wrote:
Nov 3
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2016 - grafighter Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanting for dinner. Poured few ounces in a glass. This is not a Brunello! Hahaha!
Though I have limited experience with Brunellos, this is the most robust, opulent, darkest Brunello I've had so far. Meat, funk, red fruits, chewy tannins, nice acid, great fruit.
An hour later, I thought I opened a box of chocolates when I took a whiff from the decanter...just wonderful experience with this bottle so far.
The wine kept getting better during a 2-hour dinner. Paired well with Argentinian empanadas and steaks. Fruit started to drop off just a little towards the end of dinner. What a wonderful Brunello.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/20/2016 - Sievvy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very big wine which I think could do with as few more years of cellaring. Great depth and extremely long finish. Superb example of a Brunello. Will try it again in a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/11/2016 - Pearls_b4Swine wrote: 95 Points
really fantastic. I hope the 06 matures into this, but have my doubts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2016 - Lipsman Likes this wine: 97 Points
Exceptional! Incredibly perfumed on the palate with utterly smooth tannins, sweet spices, perfect balance, plums, cherries, some mocha and tobacco. Shows great length and saturation. It opens up with a short decant. An amazing Valdicava!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/18/2016 - Milliontown wrote: 97 Points
Opened at midday, poured a glass and left the rest in the bottle until about 5pm, decanted it into a wide vessel and not touched until close to midnight. Actually didn't change it a whole lot... I read that someone decanted this for 24 hours, which I thought was absurd, but I see the logic in that now. This is a powerful, powerful wine. Yes, it's bretty, and for those with an aversion to brett they may want to stay away from this one. I enjoyed it though, and I saw ample complexity beneath it. Though it's a humungous, dense wine. Aromas of tobacco, dry scorched earth, campfire, blackberries, dark chocolate and cloves. And with time, sort of a faint eucalyptus, which is weird. The palate is quite dense but without a trace of heat, just firm and elegant and delicious. Lovely tannin structure which is chalky but very very fine. Lovely acid driven Sangio, best I've ever had. Maybe still a baby but I couldn't wait. If I had another I'd wait 8-10 years. I have a 2010 that won't be ready until I'm an old man.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
April Acker Auction (Marea): Wine is still in a great spot. It's been very well aged and is just hitting that point where all of the different pieces come together and the structure is just there. I like it a lot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2016 - afu wrote:
This is the challenging tasting note I have ever written. My first impression was "spoiled". Kept hoping for about an hour it would come around. Horrible, bitter after taste, no fruit, dull. Simply yuck.
Because Valdicava is my favorite Brunello, this is my favorite vintage and it was our last bottle I couldn't give up and throw it away. So put it back in the bottle vacuum pump and put it in refrigerator the weekend.
2 days later I couldn't resist giving this bottle another chance. Glad I did, this wine was now singing. Dark but no longer black, fruit, licorice and earth. All with a long smooth finish.
Hard to understand the turnaround. Glad we gave it a second chance .
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Our First Acker Auction (Marea in NYC): This is one of those wines that is just in the perfect spot. Wonderful cinnamon flavors and red fruits and just delicious. Drinking excellently right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2016 - Tony Molester wrote:
Perfect cork, no seepage. Decanted and tasted over 2h.
Still concur with my previous tasting note. Good but not great.
Hold
14.5% abv
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2016 - dkwins wrote: 93 Points
Definitely tasted softer and more structured after 2 hours of decanting. Solid wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2016 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
At Kapnos w Joyce and Steve Rapaport. Back to its peak. Perfect now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - Ilkkaw wrote: 94 Points
Drank at christmas dinner. Wont get better. Drink the rest soon!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2015 - vanpe003 wrote:
Compared to the bottle I had a couple years ago, this isn't recognizable as the same wine. Makes me wonder if the previous bottle was somehow off, or shut down.
In any event, this bottle is what I had hoped for. Rich fruit, still fairly primary, with hints of cedar in the background. A very big brunello. Still a firm acidic note, but it's in the background rather than being dominant. Fine tannins on the finish. I think this easily has another 10 years of life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2015 - dkwins Likes this wine: 91 Points
It opened with unpleasant strong taste that masked any composition. The second glass was much better, earthy tones and settled. Not a favorite but will likely decant and see if better next time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2015 - BoulderWine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lived up to the hype and expectations, but still has lots of life left. (Purchased at a wine shop in Florence in 2007 and enjoyed on my 60th birthday at Gary Danko in SF.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2015 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Taste and texture of macerated, dark, semi-dried cherries with milk chocolate and wonderful coffee. Hugely (too?) tannic.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2015 - kenthargis wrote: 93 Points
K loved this. I found it very compelling, but to be excellent, needed a slight bit more complexity. Rich, hasn't declined yet, despite the age and being the base level brunello. Had the savory notes I love with brunello. Went great with the ribeye we had. Relatively long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2015 - Cortona5 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outrageous bottle
14 years old and lots of aging left in this bottle.
Great fruit and balanced tannins
Bottles like this are the reason I love Brunellos.
Lucky to have one more
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2015 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Fine sediment. Deep Violet bouquet and color. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2015 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic wine drinking beautiful. Silky and sultry to drink, tannins soft but still lively. Very long finish. Drink now and over the next 10 years. Find more!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2015 - ravbik wrote: 97 Points
Rich well developed brunello. Full bodied, with black cherries, plums, cocoa, leather , mile black pepper. Tannins have mellowed in a wonderful place now. Such a classy elegant red
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2015 - SeaSmoke wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 10 hours. Deep purple in color, cherry, plum and oak on the nose and palate. Long finish. This wine is still very young. Drinking so well now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/29/2015 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
STEVE RAPAPORT'S 80th Birthday (Friedman Residence: 1301 N Troy St, Arlington, VA 22201): Decanted for 2 hours.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis), mineral, oak and violet. The body is full. The wine has polished texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2015 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine:
Deep, dark purple in color. Nose mostly shut, though giving some dark ripe fruit and spice.
Very nice dark fruit, concentrated, juicy extract with good resolved spice notes, not really dry at all. Sweet, powdery tannins are beautiful. Showing great right now with a double decant well in advance as per Wine Strategies.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - guido23 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still amazing. Popped and poured. Dark red with a ruby rim. Rose petals and shipping crates on the nose, a metallic edge and tart cherries on the palate. Decanted and, after an hour, this really improved. Not vibrant exactly but rich and opulent. Dark, spicy cherry with a looooong finish. Drank over four hours and it just kept getting better. At the 1.5 hour mark I began describing it as SUBLIME.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2015 - rcg62 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific nose with currant, black cherry and undertone of hickory smoke. Drinking nicely. Loads of plum and dark fruit. Nice tart bite with the finish. Tiny bit of wood still evident. Lovely wine, maybe a little short on the finish for better score? And a little modern-style for me. But very good. 93/94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2015 - grafstrb wrote:
-- double decanted approximately 15 hours before first taste --
-- tasted a couple pours non-blind over a couple of hours --
NOSE: cherry; plum; blackberry; hint of earthy leather; mineral; expressive.
BODY: dark black-garnet color of great depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: a touch bitter; purple/red fruits; some earth & leather; cherry pit; very nice; packed; long finish; nice embedded acidity; medium-fine tannins at this point in time; seems like it will age beautifully; would recommend a *long* decant if drinking now, but Holding is the best option. *Fantastic* wine, and my WOTN. Gut impression score: mid to high 90's.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2015 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
10th from a case purchased on release, and for my palate/preferences, the best one yet. Having said that, I still feel it needs 3-4 more years before it's in its sweet-spot. Very well received on the day and perhaps tied for WOTD honors with the 2004 Conterno Romirasco. 13,5% abv., thru 2032. highly recommended
Double decanted 15 hours before serving, then Slow-O 4 hours before tasting event; served non-blind. Best to serve after 4-5 hours of aeration in decanter - it really opens up.
https://italianwine.blog/
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2015 - Rollerball wrote: 95 Points
Citrusy. Dark chocolate brownie. Cherries. Snickers. Substantial but the weight feels effortless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2015 - drdebs Likes this wine: 97 Points
In a night of stunning wines, this one stood out above the rest. Quite possibly the finest red wine I've ever had. Plum, sour cherry, and tobacco layered in beautifully with fine, integrated tannins and a long finish. Perfect cork, like the previous taster. Every mouthful was a pleasure, and the wine evolved and grew over the course of the evening. Sensational.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2015 - Tony Molester Likes this wine:
Perfect cork, no seepage. Decanted and tasted over 2h.
Like pretty much all sangiovese wines I've tasted: opens on bitter cherry, then some additional aromas of citrus and a few savoury notes. Does not show much evolution. More of the same on the palate, finishes with some grip that requires more time to resolve. The wine is very well balanced. Its texture glides across the palate. Does it blow me away? Not to that extent...good wine with a lot of life ahead. I would guess it's nearing the end of its primary phase at this time, there is a lot of time to integrate ahead.
Drink or hold for another 12 years.
14% abv
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2015 - MichaelF wrote: 95 Points
Still youthful. Gorgeous nose, orange peel, caramel. Impressive depth and finish, with some earthy tones, soil, cigar box, black berry. No where near fading, but drinking great now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2015 - wabi47 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful pure back raspberry; leather and cigar box notes add some complexity; acidity keeps this lively; great length; international style, but so well done
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2015 - NavyGrog wrote: 95 Points
Wonderfully fruity. Just the right amount of oak. Very complex, and smooth. Paired with a Ancient Roman bean soup and compared to a Banfi Brunello. Clearly the winner by table consensus. Love this Brunello.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2015 - jpwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
I like this wine, though not as blown away as others tasting it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2015 - JBVino wrote:
in a really good place. A large scaled brunello but with all the pieces in the right place and in balance. The wine had a real solid presence. Solid mouthfeel (although I do think a bit fuller and rounder than a typical brunello, really good texture on the palate, length of the wine was impressive. Did not lack for acidity but was also not characteristic in the forefront. While I am less experienced on Brunello I would put this wine on the more modern end but well executed with a real good balance of fruit, structure and secondary flavors.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2014 - ilee Likes this wine: 94 Points
Once in a blue moon lunch with RL (Arcane, Central, Hong Kong): Deep pungent and toasty nose of cocoa bean, caramel and tar. Some floral notes too. Definitely darker both to eye and palate than your normal Brunello. Very svelte and slinky smooth wine, expressive layers of black fruit that grew more and more chocolaty in the glass. Took its time to open up, but open up very nicely it did. Remnants I brought home from lunch were still delicious at dinner. A very nice Brunello
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2014 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
Big and still youthful. If I was served blind, don't think I would guess Brunello. OK, but can think of MANY other wines I could have for the cost of this. Not memorable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2014 - Roughl wrote: 94 Points
drinking perfectly. Still youthful. Best brunello I ever had (but I don't drink Brunello very often). lots of class, power, ... great wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2014 - AWBryce Likes this wine: 91 Points
Plum and dark fruit on the nose. Some cured meat on the palate, good acidity and silky tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2014 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
A touch better than the last bottle 18 months ago. Deep, dark garnet color. Nose has earthy pine forest, licorice and dark fruit. Very dense and round mouthfeel. Earth, sweet spice, vanilla, cedar and strong blackberry on the palate, especially strong blackberry in the aftertaste, which lasted a good 30-45 seconds. Great with grilled steaks and with dark chocolate and cheese for dessert.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2014 - KenPlace wrote: 95 Points
Still young. Can easily go another 5-8 years. Smooth, well integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2014 - Tim Heaton wrote: flawed
corked, pretty badly. The second consecutive one, not good.
https://italianwine.blog/
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Velvety smooth berries on the nose and palate with hints of oak and floral culminating in a long finish with delicious tannins and acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2014 - vinoballo wrote: 97 Points
Wow, an almost perfect expression of Brunello sangiovese. So smooth and complex. Decanted for a few hours and it was perfect. All the edges were gone, and had way more body and power than its barely 14% alcohol would lead you to believe.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2014 - winelover1808 wrote: 94 Points
this was so pretty. bright cherry notes - more modern than the casanova di neri.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - ehodin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Top-notch Brunello drinking well now, with years of development ahead
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - ehodin Likes this wine:
Top-notch Brunello drinking well now, with years of developpment ahead
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2014 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Opened at Pasti's with Seaquam and Steve8. Tastes lovely, but I think it suffered for my palate being paired with some lovely fruit forward Pinots alongside. Holding well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2014 - 55degrees Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cellared since release, upright for several hours prior to opening and not decanted.
In the glass-deep dark ruby with excellent legs
Superb nose of overripe cherries with cigar box and leather. fantastic flavors on the palate with dark red fruit with a touch of spice and mild herb and forest. Acidity is near perfect. Consumed over dinner at La Ciccia SF with pasta and red sauce and lamb secundi. Wine consumed with opening only without decanting and I can only imagine that this will be better served by more time after opening, thus the plus on rating. notes from memory.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2014 - Verticalcollector wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour than drank slowly for 2 more hours. Youthful in appearance though it had a little sediment. Overall a good wine. Smell, taste, aftertaste all good, but not great. I've had the 2003 Valdicava not so long ago which I thought was much better. It was great actually. I think because it felt much older than this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2014 - Steve's Cellar wrote: 93 Points
Drank with Gershon. Very good but not as good as last bottle with Paul.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2014 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): The wine looks inky colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis), licorice and mineral. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. Mark's Wine(me).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2014 - Steve's Cellar wrote: 95 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and vanilla. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, raspberry, cherry, tobacco and licorice anise with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Super dark, packed with rich flavors - jammy dark fruit, licorice, hint of cherry, tobacco and earth. Finish lasted forever. Was best of night (next to 2001 Salvioni which was 94/95 pts). Hard to fault. Drink now or hold several more years. Excellent, what a Brunello should be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2014 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 95 Points
This is fantastic...decanted about an hour, could have used more. Fruit opened up nicely, classic brunello structure. Looking forward to more age on this one too.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2014 - MaximusT Likes this wine: 94 Points
Each sip is like taking a long slow puff of a finely hand-rolled cigar. You can almost feel the swirl of smoke creating circles after each breath. We did not decant, but drank over the course of three hours. Not much change, but flavors of licorice, and a slight hint of sour cherry emerged. Clove and tobacco added to the slow finish. It didn't even change as we ate our homemade Cioppino, and then celebrated Pi day (3/14) with apple pie. It is sophisticated, mature and confident, like a distinguished gentleman, who puts on his velvet smoking jacket and retires to his library to savor the last moments of his day. Like Pi, the excellent, richness and depth of this wine goes on and on and on and...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2014 - dtrall wrote: 93 Points
- Garnet color.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2014 - mkaskowitz wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color - Notes of cherry and leather.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - mraabpfg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good but not as strong as the last time we had a bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote: flawed
TCA. Sigh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/27/2013 - KSWinegeek wrote: 95 Points
Dark and extracted which normally protends a more modern Brunello,but the oak in this wine is unobtrusive. Tobacco notes, black cherries in an elegant, silky package. Prior to this tasting, I have only tried Valdicava wines while young (tastings) and this was a whole different experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 94 Points
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.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2013 - PSPatrick wrote: 92 Points
The cork was in perfect shape. The wine threw some fine sediment. It offered lots of cherry, black olive, porcini, earth, tobacco, chocolate, spices and tea on the nose. On the palate the wine showed lots of cherry, olive tapenade, porcini, tobacco, chocolate, spices and earthy notes, paired with medium-plus acidity and tannin, a good, slightly creamy mouthfeel and very good length. A full-bodied, rich, round, balanced Brunello; modern in style and not the most elegant of its kind, yet complex, intriguing and energetic. The wine kept improving as time passed and drank young for its age. It can be consumed now, and should continue to drink well for at least another seven or eight years. I would recommend decanting for at least an hour.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/24/2013 - wabi47 wrote: 95 Points
oliveto truffle dinner with M/G/W; deep layered (just) ripe plum, sous bois, mushroom, mixed dark berry; more smooth and lush, and with more tobacco notes than when tasted one year ago; good acidity is almost lost in the fruit, and i barely notice the oak or tannins; might have guessed an older syrah, but this is still a great quaff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2013 - patwjr Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP, while also decanting the bottle & drinking it over 2 hours. Tight & tannic for first hour, last glass was the best - soft fruit & smooth. Give it more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2013 - Roughl wrote: 94 Points
Electric! i am moved by this. Superb. In a great place right now, but this has years ahead of it. Two btls left, next one in three years (or tomorrow perhaps). Decanted for 3 hours, last glass after 6 hours was the best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2013 - eyeguy wrote: 97 Points
Have a hard time imagining a better bottle of Brunello!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2013 - Eckie wrote: 97 Points
WWW Barendrecht, 27-09-2013. Fourth time in my life I drink this wine, and everytime it has been almost perfect. I do not think brunellos get any better than this: combiming a concentrated mineral earthiness with a fresh red fruit core. Very seductive nose. Just delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2013 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
yawza!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2013 - Serge Birbrair Likes this wine:
top notch wine and in top notch shape
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2013 - boxedwine wrote: 96 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's in total harmony with a medium/full body. Juicy texture with a long finish - Decanted for 3 hours. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Pulled the cork at 2p, slow-O till 5p, then aerated to decanter for 2 hours. The wine began as it ended. The first moment the cork was pulled, I poured less than an ounce to inspect and then follow it on the nose over the course of the next few hours while I was cooking. Within the first few minutes the wine seemed to have raced to the highest peak, flaunting its beautiful perfume and lively expression of the grape. But in the same first few minutes, it retreated (only to emerge again, as if on some secret schedule) into a very primary version of its very expressive self, offering an array of earth-driven notes and little else. This dance continued over the course of the 2-hr dinner which was more frustrating than rewarding. To make matters worse, this was served alongside a very open-for-business 1999 Poggio all'Oro Riserva BdM (had been decanted and immediately returned to bottle 2 hours before serving).
As expected, the Valdicava wasn't very expressive at (my passive) cellar temp, 59F, though I was expecting it to become increasingly more so as it made its way up to 70F, the temp in the dining room. This worked as planned, until it didn't. Then it did again, and so on.
Simply put, if this bottle is representative, the wine is just too young right now. The '99 Poggio was dead-center in its prime drinking window, with all those tertiary notes I live for. The Valdicava on the other hand, is at least 5 years away. I have 3 bottles left from a case picked up on release, and I won't touch any till at least 2018 as I prefer the wines of this region to have more age on them as opposed to less (even if my consumption pattern doesn't bear witness to this in the instant case). 13,5% abv, thru 2023
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/20/2013 - oldwines wrote: 94 Points
I had very high expectations for this wine but was not blown away. Double decanted 4 hours before dinner and tasted every 45 minutes or so along the way. Comments are a composite of the experience. Dark garnet color. Nose initially had strong floral notes especially violets which faded after a few hours. Other aromas included tar, plum blueberry, vanilla and tea. Still moderately tannic, and a bit austere in a good way, but in my opinion, very young tasting. Dark fruit flavors predominate with the dry tannins. Aftertaste is shorter than expected. While certainly an outstanding wine I did not find it extraordinary on this, my first tasting of it. I suspect it will get higher scores from me in the future. I think it needs more time to develop the strong secondary flavors I love.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2013 - vinole wrote: 93 Points
S FL WS Group celebrates JC & FKG's new home (Hollywood, FL): Dark cherry fruit on a medium to full bodied frame with medium acidity. Nicely balanced with tannin and acidity with some tobacco notes on the medium plus length finish. Drank well after a few minutes in the glass following about an hour of slow ox with no decanting. Still young, but has entered its drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2013 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and decanted for an hour. Nicely perfumed on the nose, the highlight of which is a sweet tobacco-like note for me. On the palate, rich fruit but still seems a bit early to me. Or out of balance. One way or the other more acidity than I care for. Perhaps this will give it some further age-worthiness. That said, there's not a lot in the way of tannic backbone on this bottle. Nothing yet in any significant secondary development. I really can't tell where this is going longer term, but not a great QPR the way it's drinking today.
Update: the longer this is open, and the more I evaluate the wine as opposed to the label and the professional reviews....the less I like this. The palate just doesn't stand up to the hype. Very average at this point in its life. 90 points for current consumption, and honestly, that might be on the high side for me
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2013 - wren460 wrote: 95 Points
I am sorry, I know this review wont help a lot to may of you, but I just wanted to say WOOOOW, what a great wine!!!!!! The wine is VERY VERY dry. It has the core of a good quality old world wine...but not THAT old world ! Beautiful nose, smells herbal...some tobaco mixed with wintergreen, menthol, eucaliptus.....kind of weird because the wine has 2 diferent noses, if you smell slow or fast it has very different sensations and subtleness. Short, the wine does NOT disspoint...it is a very very very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2013 - wabi47 wrote: 95 Points
layers of dark berry, plum, clean earth/sous bois, tobacco; powers thru the mid palate and keeps the oak/alcohol in the background; moderate acidity; great length. Still young in some ways; not sure that i would have guessed this was a brunello, but this still outclasses most other brunelli.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2013 - Mretino1 wrote: 99 Points
- Brick color with medium forming legs and aromas of blackberry. It's in total harmony with a medium/full body with a medium finish - Wine Spectator Top 100: 2007; #13
One of the greatest Brunellos I have ever tasted. Tons of crushed berries. Chiseled. Chewy tannins, long fantastic finish!
Release price $175
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/12/2013 - Mretino1 wrote: 100 Points
One of the greatest Brunellos I have ever tasted
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2013 - igaf wrote:
Very dark, almost opaque. Clean, medium intense nose of dark cherries and blueberries, still rather shy. Full body, dark toned, polished, with moderate acidity, dryish fruit, tar, tobacco, herbs. Rather balanced, but with a bit too dark toast. Young, slightly spicy. Some heat in the aftertaste. Very long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 95 Points
This was singing right out of the bottle. Notes of cherry and some licorice. Long finish and dusty tannins. This has come along beautifully in the last five years since my first bottle. No hurry to open my remaining bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2012 - Squirreljam wrote:
Impression only from a few days ago - five years after my last taste of this (dec 07), it's coming along very nicely and is an excellent wine. This one was a little reticent on the nose but the palate was a home run - though it's not very evolved, the edges have eased into smoothness and this will be a stunner in the future. (note - the nose may not have shown well as we grabbed it from the "standing up pile" on the way out the door to my wife's b-day dinner, so no air before drinking - I'd recommend breathing it for a while if you drink one now)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2012 - cliffkol wrote: 95 Points
With Ray and Elena. This is an elegant, sensuous, delicious wine. On the nose, perfumes of dark fruits and terroir. Elegant and silky texture and tannins. Deep, concentrated flavors of dark fruits, spices, earth. Great structure. Long, lingering finish. Sorry this is my last bottle. Just entering its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2012 - dtrall wrote: 98 Points
One of my all-time favorites next to the Madonna '01. Hints of earth and cherry while still having a powerful nose and smooth palate 11 years later. I will find more and buy what I can. Drink now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2012 - Fabiouk wrote: 96 Points
I open the second bottle of this amazing Brunello and decanted for 3 hours more to get to the right temperature than actually breathe. Color leaning towards the dark side of the red Sangiovese spectrum, nose of oak, liquorice and berries, palat: a rich velvety texture with lots of ripe berry, and fresh cherry taste, all supported by the perfect silky tannins for a never ending finish. Drink now but will improve for the next 5 years at least. A deserved 96 for this great winemaker gem...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2012 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
With Jerry and Doris. Decanted 2 hours, probably could use more. Rich wine, well balanced but not as deep as prior bottles. Typical Sangiovese flavors of earth and tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2012 - BobJohnson1 wrote:
Deep dark purple. Waves of fruit on the nose. Oak has integrated. Very vital and strong. Tasty. Hints of tobacco and spice. Good mouthfeel and long finish. Not very traditional, but a nice bottle nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2012 - Pknut wrote:
I last had this wine in March 2008, with Randy on Shelter Island, and he brought another bottle to dinner last night. It's not quite the barrel sample-like wine it was four years ago, although it is still dark (more dark fruit than red Sangio) and deep. Now, the wine is smoother around the sides and the tannin is softer. Still, it's rather primary and undeveloped, even while structurally it's somewhat softer. I get a slight hint of Turkish bazaar spice, but little other complexities. I would give this wine another few years in the cellar, preferably many more years for it to gain in complexity. Frankly, I'm surprised by the high praise and huge scores other CT tasters have given this wine, given its primary state. Good raw materials here, but needs many years. With Randy at Lyon, NYC.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2012 - vanpe003 wrote:
Decanted for an hour. On the nose, reticent initially but with a bit of glass twirling it upgrades to "elegant" with perfumed dark fruit and some secondary character. On the palate, balanced and well behaved, with a noticeable acidity that shows up as "balance/structure" as opposed to distracting. It does give this wine a sense of youth that ends up suggesting "pair this with a meal" rather than "drink this on it's own". With lamb tonight, phenomenal, with the meat cutting through the acidity and adding a sense of depth and richness. On it's own, less exciting. Scoring for tonight.....with a good pairing, 94-95 points. On its own, 90-92 pts. I would hope for further development with another 2-4 years of bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2012 - SoCal wrote:
Just a tremendous bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2012 - jnanz wrote:
Outstanding bottle of wine. Obviously a big, dense wine. Dark cherry, lead and sweet, velvety tannin. Beginning to show secondary flavors but not there yet. I should have stood my bottle longer as the sediment was substantial - and waited 5+ more years to open. Character almost reminded me of a nice St. Julien from a riper vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2012 - carlwhat wrote:
after having numerous brunellos this past week, this wine clearly was the best. very dense and meaty - great aromatics... gave me hope that brunellos can give enjoyment... also made me question whether this wine was 100% sangiovese....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2012 - Invinoverytas wrote: 95 Points
Decanted and consumed over 90 minutes with spaghetti and meatballs in marinara sauce. Dark red fruit, beautiful bouquet and powerful long finish. This one is drinking well now, but it is still progressing. I think it will improve for several more years. Hard to believe where it is after 11 years. I suspect easily 10 more years before it hits the apex.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2012 - Marcyrillo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Confraria - Brunellos (Restaurante Cosi): Típico sangiovese, porém ainda fechado nos aromas. Muito equilibrado, delicioso, "gordo" em camadas de fruta e complexidade. Ainda frutado no retrogosto. Excepcional. Jovem ainda. O melhor da noite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2012 - Dulcimara wrote: 95 Points
Consumed at our Italian Wine Society Dinner last night, a wonderful wine showing great depth and structure, loaded with cherry fruit and long finish. Still has a long way to go. Paired with a 2001 Scavino Barolo Bric a Fiasc. Both rocked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 97 Points
One of the very best Brunellos I've had. Really classy, soft yet strong. Strawberry notes, massive concentration. Amazing nose on this - a real sense of terroir.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2012 - ricknat1 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, young even in half bottle. Decanted
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2012 - guido23 Likes this wine: 94 Points
OMFG, the juiciest, richest #Brunello I've ever tasted. Popped and poured, probably could have benefited from a long decant. Amazing palate but the real story here is the layered finish. This will continue improving for years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2012 - mraabpfg wrote: 97 Points
Awesome. Enjoyed a bottle with blue Cheese crusted porterhouse at Wildfire Bar and Grill simply the best Brunello producer ever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2012 - ahubner wrote: 94 Points
- Brick color with medium forming legs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2012 - Newgramps wrote: 94 Points
2 hr. double decant with another hour in the open bottle. Consumed over one hour. The nose of old world barnyard earthiness just burst out of the glass, with secondary notes of ripe cherries. Interesting taste of dark fruit and leather, with a little drop-off in the middle. The finish just roared back and lingered for 30 sec. Still on the rise, but tannins are well integrated. Drinking window is open for another ten years minimum. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2012 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 94 Points
Did not decant long...through Venturi and then about 20 min. Great nose of wood, blackberries and currant. Explosion of fruit on front and mid palate with one of the longest finishes I've ever had...truly a great wine that has years left in the tank.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2011 - kas wrote: 92 Points
consistent with prior note
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2011 - WDK wrote: 97 Points
Just singing now. Hint of barnyard on the nose, but the palate shows fabulous ripe cherry fruit with terrific length and balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2011 - Employee500 wrote: 94 Points
Great stuff...fantastic nose, terrific fruit (darker and denser than typical Brunello) still quite grippy and tannic...this has a long life ahead, but is delicious. Blackberry, dark cherry, cocoa/mocha, and tar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2011 - pikemasterflash wrote: 88 Points
Motor oil. Thick, viscous, sediment, etc. Not the same wine that I have had in the past.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2011 - King JR wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Nose was incredible! Great Sangiovese character - traditional earthiness, but had a real modern and fresh feel. Deep full bodied wine, still amazingly young. Even a bit sweet in the mouth and very very long finish. This wine still has many years left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2011 - calnative Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially oaky, rich with sweet fruit, it seemed to just gain in complexity with layers of blackberry cassis, earth, flowers with some vanilla oak. Quite smooth, very easy to drink. Modern style but still some of that background Sangiovese structure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2011 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 96 Points
Fantastic first one of my seven bottles...balance, smooth and grew in fruit over the 45 min decant and two hours to drink. Should continue to age well. Looking forward to another in six months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2011 - 2p8h wrote: 94 Points
My penultimate bottle, enjoyed at our favorite Northern Italian style restaurant. Inky dark in the glass. Fresh aromas of dark fruits. Beautifully balanced with soft tannins, suble leather and mocha flavors. A heafty wine that seems more like an Amarone. A most enjoyable wine for those who like powerhouse in a glass, drinking quite well now. Kicking myself for selling off a few bottles a couple of years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2011 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours. Never really opened up until 4 hours. Then, it started to become more fruity and smooth. Still a long ways off. Had to try one, I bought three from Premier Cru from futures for $55. Wait 4 years for the next. Could definetly improve in score. The best top shelf Italian I have drank.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2011 - PSPatrick wrote: 90 Points
The wine was floral on the nose, with ripe fruit, plum, tea, oak and chocolate. On the palate the wine showed cherry, plum, brandy, mild tea and chocolate, with a spicy component and a nice, lingering mocha-note on the long finish. The exceptional finish really lasted for ages. The medium-bodied, inky wine completely coated the tongue. I saved one glass and had it two days later (vacuum-pumped). The flavour profile was basically the same, the wine was less inky and the cherry flavours were more pure, the mocha-finish was as impressive as on the first day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2011 - blockboy wrote: 92 Points
Opened for two hours then decanter and drank over two or three hours. Great nose floral blackberries maybe chocolate. Palate showed firm tannins and good structure. Licorice fruit good finish. Not as good as I was expecting due to tannins, would have benefitted from more time and aeration. Will hold before tying again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2011 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK Pablo's WW at PrVera. Mid tier. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
5 Brunelli and a 61 Climens: Not what I was expecting here. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has some serious brett/barnyard on it. I liked it but my wife found it problematic. Also some sour cherries. On the palate, this has sour cherries and boysenberries. The funk comes thru on the palate, like a wet leather quality. I liked this more than most I think. Be careful with this though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - LChaim wrote: 85 Points
Not impressed. Highly acidic, tight on the nose. Decanted for 2 hours. Mellower the next day but still acidic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - mraabpfg wrote: 97 Points
Love this wine. Only drink it on very special occasions Opened this bottle on our firsy night in our new cabin, As always so much to love about this wine - smooth, soft tannins great fruit mixed evenly with earht and leather to make for a silky finish - whats not to like
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - Jochems wrote: 95 Points
This bottle was opened 9 hours before dinner. 2 hours after opening the bottle I took a glass to check how it was doing. And at that moment it was already very much open for business. These notes where taken 7 hours later:
Deep ruby color, not as dark as I remember it. Not even the slightest hint of ambering yet. Expressive aromas of blackberry, dark cherry leather and licorice with some hints of allspice. Following trough to a full and lush body with lots of dark fruit, silky smooth tannins against a strong backbone of fresh acidity. Rounded of by a very long finish that seems to last for minutes!
I was a bit ambivalent about this wine 3 years ago. With some serious doubts about this being the extraordinary wine that the points (both RP and WS) suggest. But now its really starting to open up and starting to show that typical black fruit+cherry+leather profile that I love so much about Brunello. And considering all the debate about this wine not being a real Brunello, I would say: If it smells like a Brunello and it tastes like a Brunello it IS a Brunello:-)
This is a big Brunello and it is very enjoyable right now, and was a perfect pairing with the Ragù di cinghiale. But I expect that it will continue to improve for some time with even some upward potential. And it surely has a long life ahead. Drink now - 2020 (at least!)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2010 - Charlie Carnes wrote: flawed
What a change from the last time. This wine is spiky and sloppy, a little heat. Then the acid hits the roof. Yuck!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2010 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 95 Points
Still improving and still too young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2010 - Employee500 wrote: 95 Points
Very dark and viscous looking. Outrageously good. Sweet dark cherry fruit, floral, distinctively spicy. Oak is well integrated. Silky ripe tannins. This is a lush, fruit-forward, very atypical Brunello, yet at the same time is clearly Sangiovese (or at least there's nothing else that it tastes MORE like than Sangio) with its signature spicy dark cherry 'n flowers profile. Don't know whether to drink this now and enjoy it as a hedonistic beauty, or to hang on for a LONG time and see if anything delicate and complex emerges....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2010 - kas wrote: 93 Points
young but still soft. not as much fruit as I expected (wanted) but still rich and very enjoyable. tannins present but not overpowering. hoping it will evolve and improve (I have 26 more...) but not confident that it will.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2010 - afu wrote: 97 Points
Let's start with I have never had a Brunello like this. The color, density and concentration are like no other Brunello. Wine is opaque and almost black. After one taste you know it is a Brunello, albeit a unique one. Could almost mistake it for an Amarone. This wine is so amazingly rich with a long long long soft finish, silky smooth tannins are an understatement. Tastes of dark fruit along with licorice and some earthiness and a hint of oak. This wine is ready to drink though decanting or in our case an aeration device made a huge difference. Summary, could easily be the best Brunello I've ever had, certainly the most unique.
90 minutes later this wine continues to explode in a good way. The fruit blossoms, even harder to believe this is a Brunello. This finish remains amazingly soft and amazingly long and so very rich. If you can find, buy it. And decant. We're looking for more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2010 - pikemasterflash wrote:
Great bottle of wine that needed some time to open. Surprisingly very light on the nose but very good overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2010 - spaciello wrote: flawed
Bottle flawed. Baked on delivery from Italy (Editor's note: scored as 87 but changing to flawed)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/12/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 94 Points
Dark dark purple color. Decanted 4 hours and enjoyed with grilled steak. This is a big, rich wine with intense fruit and yet so well balanced. Soft but powerful nose of dark berries and sweet cherries that practically scream out to be tasted. The tannins and acidity were prominent and balanced perfectly with the flavors of blackberries, cherries and earth. The finish had some heat to it, but the flavors lingered forever. This is an amazing wine to be enjoyed for years. (Doris 91) With Steve B. for dinner
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - twelch wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Starting to come around a little bit but still dark dark purple/black in the glass. I have a hard time believing this could really be a Brunello with the darkness of this wine. Some old world funk, leather, buttery oak, cassis, currant on the nose. A little extracted but remarkable light on it's feet for it's dark color. Showing off some blackberry, dark cherry but not jammy. Finish was clamping down a little bit and had a touch of a charred oak finish to it. Overall drinking pretty well, if you have a few I'd give one a shot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - Arcturus wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours before bringing out to dinner. Fragrant, floral nose with earth and blackberry. I was surprised by the vibrancy of the fruit-not over the top but a more modern style brunello. Solid finish-delicious now but should imoprove -...93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - cadamson wrote: 91 Points
Black as night, maybe hints of purple. Brunello? Really? Ok, once you look past that, one cannot argue with the taste. Sure, the nose is a bit tight, dominated by what seems like oak butter, but over time some more classic scents emerge, with some huge dark (but not jammy) fruits. Lots of cherry and sweet tannins on an overly extracted, but amazingly light on its feet palate...opens over time. A contradiction. An 85 or a 95? Strange wine for now, but I liked it. Lots of promise for the future if it can find its traditional base lurking beneath the surface.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2010 - patwjr wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 6 hours, rebottled and then served 6 hours later. Made a difference in softening up the wine. Beautiful, but I'll wait on opening my last bottle. More evolution still to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2010 - wabi47 wrote: 94 Points
nose out of the bottle deep and primary; decanted for one hr; gorgeous vivid cherry, blackberry with bright beautiful tannins and prominent acidity that is kept in check by the fruit; smoother and fuller/sl sappier over 2 hr;i dont even notice the oak; gorgeous balance and structure with great potential but still young and a bit primary at this point; best young brunello that i have tasted this year; hold for another couple of years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2010 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 96 Points
I bought 8 of these when I was in Italy the summer of '07 and had them shipped to my home. I wanted to try one now even thought I don't think it is near peak yet. I was not disappointed. I decanted for 4 hours, and the nose was aromatic, the fruit had begun to emerge, and the brilliant structure of this wine was on full display. I can only imagine how good this will be in the coming years. It makes me very happy I have many normal and reserve bottles of the 01 brunello vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/14/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 97 Points
This does indeed live up to it's reputation. Very big, concentrated but balanced; really serious wine that shows what Brunello is capable of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - Dickdoc49 wrote: 95 Points
great color and concentration. By the second day it had opened up wonderfully leading me to believe it will get better. Good balance and acidity with a long finish. Overall very enjoyable an will get better
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
Lives up to it's reputation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2009 - mraabpfg wrote: 96 Points
Very good soft smooth wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2009 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 95 Points
Italians for the weekend; 10/15/2009-10/17/2009 (Home): Damn this bottle got my attention quickly. I opened the bottle four hours before my Bolognese would be ready. The nose was so nice instantly with aromas of tangy earthy Italian clay, and impressive blue and red fruit, dusty deep rich slate and chalk minerals. The initial taste had gripping bright red and black fruit, and something that just screamed Italy. I put the cork back in and waited four hours.
This wine just would not quit. Over the night the wine came a little more into focus, shed its sappy grip, and became a balanced, large, wonderfully rich and bright, food friendly beauty. I drank nearly the whole bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2009 - Employee500 wrote: flawed
corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2009 - DenisLee wrote:
I decanted this and then let it set for several hours before drinking it. Dinner was held up for hours. I would definitely just pop and pour next time. This was losing it by the time I started drinking it. Good wine though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 95 Points
Showing like the blockbuster it's supposed to be... Bursting with blackberry and earth tones. Exceptional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2009 - Eckie wrote: 98 Points
Holiday in Tuscany, Dinner at Il Giglio in Montalcino. Absolutely fabulous bottle of wine, best Brunello I ever had and possibly best wine ever. I have three bottles of this vintage in my cellar but I still hadn't tasted the wine. Given the holiday and the reasonable price on the wine-list (€ 70 for a 98 WS wine) I decided to try my luck. And I for sure wasn't disappointed! Very dense and concentrated, extemely layered and seductive. Every sip this explosion of sweet ripe red and black fruit on the palate; each time mindblowing. A very long and lingering finish. Together with an excellent Tuscan meal with Bistecca Fiorentina as secundi, it was as religious as a wine-experience can be.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2009 - KWC3141 wrote:
Too too young check back in 3 years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2009 - WRRII wrote: 96 Points
EXCELLENT young, big-boy brunello. Decanted for 2 hours. This wine is still quite young and MASSIVE--tar, berries and cherries--with a nice, long finish. I hope to have some left in 5 years. Fantastic accompaniment to a rich beef wellington.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2009 - Bob Fyke wrote: 94 Points
Valdicava Vertical at Il Corso (Il Corso W. 55th St. NYC): Opened and poured. Deep, dark cherries, forest floor and a subtle note of mint. Fruit is still powerful, offsetting the solid tannins. Cherry skins and dried blackberry. Good acid support. Fine earthy finish with a bit of brown sugar. Satisfying masculine personality.
24hrs later-Continues to display a wonderful masculinity. Black cherry/cherry skins and leather with brambles and spice. Love the solid finish that grips and holds in a pleasing way. Definitely improved and integrated since last night. Elegant and powerful at the same time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Elegant, pure and very approachable at this young age. Opened with a rich nose of rose petal, tar, dark spices, vanilla and bright red berries. Tannins are there, but the integration is superb so they're not in your face. This is my second one in a year and they're aging perfectly. Will try the rest beginning in about 3 or more years. Drink thru 2019+. highly recommended
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 98 Points
Dark colored and super concentrated. Aromas of fresh roses, dark cherries, minerals, spices and touch of oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a very rich, long finish. Slightly better than the 1999. Legendary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2009 - Terryjbg wrote: 97 Points
Delicious...and will be so fo a long time. Wish ther was more in cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 95 Points
Another bottle from Domacins, this one seemingly more evolved. After a 30 minute decant a very forward nose becomes evident. On the palate, still not reconciled but clearly a wine to be reckoned with. A lot of promise for the future, but this bottle was very approachable even now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
No detailed notes, but easily the best bottle of the night at Domacin. Still a few years away from hitting its stride, but not as closed as it was the last outing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2009 - patwjr wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful Brunello, but young - give it more time, it'll be even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2008 - jerhardt wrote: 94 Points
Superb wine. Beautiful dark ruby in color. Big and powerful, but impeccably balanced. No signs of over-extraction or overt modernism. Great to drink today and should age really well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2008 - ebrown35 wrote: 95 Points
Drank from 375ml, dark color to the rim. Nose was initially dominated by vanilla which made me believe some of the notes below that this would be made in the international style, but as it sat in the glass/decanter it really came together to show the Brunello aromas I am used to. I picked up wonderful minerality that I don't find in many red wines that was wonderful. There were still some unresolved tannins, but the finish was superb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2008 - darius wrote:
Thanksgiving
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2008 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
Dark black center with clear ruby rim; Aromas and flavors of blackberry and spice with an anise component. This wine had big tannins to resolve but also acid to balance them out. It was all over the place right out of the bottle and benefited from a 30 minute decant. Right after opening it smelled like Cab, then a grenache Rhone or Spanish wine before finally locking in on more Sangio-like aromas and flavors. It ended up being a good wine that matched well with hearty food. [14% alcohol (probably not!); Could us more time for integration; 2010 for our next bottle]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2008 - MLwine wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous Brunello. Complexity and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2008 - Winetex wrote: flawed
Corked. Purchased from Premier Cru.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2008 - jcgarcia wrote: 89 Points
Drank with spinach and ricotta ravioli in alfredo sauce. Opened about an hour before dinner. Drank a half glass while cooking. Had classic brunello taste. Good acidity. Black fruits. Seemed young. Got better after about 2 hours in the glass. Edges rounded out a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2008 - jaimerae wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Hints of berry and vanilla. Velvety texture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2008 - vanpe003 wrote:
This bottle seemed shut down in comparison to earlier bottles tasted in '07.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2008 - Animus wrote: 98 Points
A truly beautiful wine. Very complex. Had pork tenderloin for dinner with this bottle. Beautiful pariing. Still young, but opened up nicely after decanting. Incredible finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2008 - ncmussell wrote: 92 Points
Had this in between a number of other wines, so didn't take detailed notes. Popped and poured as no time to decant. This is a very dark wine. Right on opening the nose was expressive with dark fruit, earth and showing some oak. This is definitely a big chewy wine that is still showing plenty of tannin. Very modern style Brunello that I enjoyed but dont really think that it is that mind blowing. I generally think that WS's rating was a pretty high for this wine. I saved some for a second night and this still showed pretty good fruit and tannin, still very nice but nothing blowing me away. I still rate it relatively high simply because it is a well made wine but I probably wouldn't buy this for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2008 - Pknut wrote:
At R and L's on Shelter Island. Wow, is this one dark wine, almost black. The nose shows a bit upon opening, then shuts down, but there is a fleeting offer of fruit sweetness, clove and a bit of vanilla bean. On the palate, this shows like a dry port. Very concentrated, but primary, not showing too much detail but definitely showing a lot of concentration and density. At this point, it's not showing much Sangiovese typicity, this could be a barrel sample of a number of infantile red wines. It's not so much that the tannins and acidity are too strong right now; this wine is balanced, yet way too young to really assess for where it is today. Opened much too early. Revisit in 5 years at the earliest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2007 - Squirreljam wrote:
Impressions only plus I was coming down with a cold. Great wine in the making, mine wasn't there yet. Unresolved shoe polish and licorice on the nose, quite tannic on the palate. Tons of fruit both dark and red (smells purple but tastes red, then changes) so there is plenty there. I'm just not going to touch my others for several years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2007 - Animus wrote: 96 Points
Very tight and complex. Still young. Long and shifting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2007 - Mlermontov wrote: 94 Points
Brunello Bash with Carlo (the Manor): call me crazy but i like this.. yes its modern but it has serious winemaking and excellent BRUNELLO qualities. Sour cherry, great acid, good tannins. bit hot on day 1. Day 2 - wow - rich but the rustic side is showing, lots of varietal character on top of the power. an excellent wine that will trully show itself in due time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2007 - Bob Fyke wrote: 92 Points
Brunello evening at The Count's on the occasion of Carlo's visit (Rego Park, Queens, NY): Very dense, almost black color. Nose, much like the color, is ripe black cherry and a hint of Bordeaux band-aid. Palate has lots of roasted black cherries, chocolate. Later developed a nice grilled meat note. Solid finish, with the fruit upstaging the acid, and moderate tannins. Lots of solid components that seem ready to develop into a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2007 - Jochems wrote: 95 Points
I had the oportunity to drink another bottle shortly after my previous note (28/10/07). This time it was much more in line with my previous encounters with this wine:
Deep dark ruby color, almost black at the core. A bit tight on the nose, still after about 1 hour in the glas. Tones of blackberry and blackcurrant with hints of tobacco and violets. Very full bodied on the palate, concentrated and layered. A long, long finish that keeps on lingering. Still seems to be closing down. Don't touch this one for some time! Drink 2012 - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2007 - Jochems wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Full aroma's of black fruit with hints of licorice, a bit less pronounced than the previous bottle.Full bodied on the palate, smooth and silky with layers of refined tanines. A long finish.
Must be entering the sleeper zone right now. I'm glad that I tasted it some time ago. Otherwise I would have had some doubts on this wine. Still plenty of attraction, but not the ultra full body and refinement that I tasted on the previous encounter.
I'll let this one sleep until somebody convinces me that it has come back to life again! I expect that I will have to wait at least 5 years. Drink 2012 - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
French Bakery BYO Brunello Dinner (French Bakery, Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL): Flight 5, #2. My wine. Double decanted in am. I think its going into a dumb stage. I preferred the 01 Terrasole to it. Deirdre however preferred the Valdicava which she believed was perhaps the WOTN. Will patiently wait on my stash.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
Dinner and Wine (Casa Pelz): Opened a few hours prior to consumption. I liked this quite a bit. Although more in the modern camp of Brunello with some pretty big tannins, black fruit, and high glycerin, this still manages to come off as Brunello and with great balance so as to drink great with food. I think this wine has the longest ageing potential of the ones we tasted. Clearly a very good wine with lots of upside. If I were to compare this with Bordeaux, I think this is not unlike Monbousquet (instead of a traditional producer like Magdelaine).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 90 Points
Must have drank this way to early. Seemed very primary and closed dwn. Very smooth and tasty finish but the fruit was hiding. Was hoping for more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
At Quattro, Miami Beach. Used Vinturi aerator before dinner. Not as memorable as at Arnolfo's in May, but still an exceptional wine. Approachable now, but wait a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2007 - plhew wrote: 95 Points
full bodied, great brunello. not overly tannic but should smooth out in time. Very enjoyable now anyway
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
This is a monster wine, not anywhere close to being ready to drink. Beautiful structure that is built for the long haul. Check back in a few years. 93 for now, but has got potential for a much bigger score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 95 Points
Similar notes to prior tasting. Two btls, one from Cesare's, one from home. Nose is considerably more aromatic the second day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 95 Points
Pretty incredible wine that's drinking well now, but seems to show hints of further favorable development. Dark in color, an initially closed nose that opens up with some time in the bottle. The highlight right now is on the palate, this has a great deal of depth, with concentrated fruit and a hint of spice and wood in the background. Very well balanced, with a structure that suggests a long life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 96 Points
At ARNOLFO, Colle Val dElsa, Siena vic, Italy. Extraordinary, drinking spectacularly well at this juncture. Giovanni, Arnolfo's brother popped and poured. Great bouquet fruit, and exceptional finish. The best wine we've had this week in Italy. Bravo, Vicenzo! Accompanied a great lunch at one of Italy's destination restaurants. I'm glad I have 9 more, and 2 magnums of the Pianrooso. For those who have it, you have to try one soon, you'll be replenishing it and adding more fast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2007 - bigdogflow wrote:
Awesome wine! My first Brunello and was blown away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2007 - Jochems wrote: 97 Points
Deep dark ruby color. Full aroma's of (black) berries, currant and salmiak (don't know the english word for this!) with spicey undertones. Following trough full bodied on the palate with great mouthfeel, loads of fruit and smoothness. This is one wine you feel you can almost eat! Refined tannines and great overall structure suggesting a long life ahead. Loooong finish that keeps going. Imminently drinkable right now, can hardly wait to let it evolve more, which it will definetly do over the next 10-20 years.
I'm not so experienced with 95+ pts wines But this is one of the best wines I've ever had. I give it 97pts to leave some headroom for future experiences.
I did not decant this wine. It showed all of the above mentioned glory after no more than 15 minutes in the glass last night. It is still going strong this afternoon, day after. Perhaps with slightly more complexity and refinement.
WOW!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2006 - BABA wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet almost black. Very intense perfumes of ripe black fruits, oak, mineral notes and earth. Dense and ultraconcentrated, this fruit bomb explode on the palate, leaving you completely knock out. Low acidity, fine tannins and a long fruity finish. I don’t know what the evolution will reveal , but now, is truly amazing. Tipical or not, this Brunello is pure sex, right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2006 - themust wrote: 88 Points
For me, this wine was a lot of sizzle and no substance at this time. Still very good, but I definitely had better Brunellos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2006 - Frijole wrote:
dark ink, purple, not much clarity, cloudy
Nose: cloudy, mint, chocolate, expresso, gravel, wet dill
Pal: chocolate, cherry, plum, oaky, touch humid, pepper, spice on back, lavender, touch bitter
Feel: medium
Finish: long
TC9
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2006 - VegasTony wrote:
These notes from a tasting of Brunellos from Valdicava, Friggiali, and Canalicchio, including all vintages from '95-'02, except '97. All bottles were open approximately three hours. Of all the wines, the '01 Valdicava Brunello came out on top. Very big, plenty of fruit. Would love to see this one again in ten years or so.
Of the Valdicava wines, the '02 (a Rosso - no Brunello was made) was just ok. The '99 was good, the '99 Madonna a bit better, but the '98 had some unattractive vegetable elements on the nose & palate, and the '98 Madonna was brett-affected. Of these Valdicavas, the '01 Brunello was the best and the only one I'd like to consider further.
Of the Friggiali wines, the best was the '01. Nice! Of all the '01 Brunellos tasted, this was the best bang for the buck. The '02 Friggiali (again, just a Rosso in that year) was no good, with strong vegetable influences and some volatility. The '01 Donna Olga, though more expensive than the "regular" '01, showed a watery hole in the mid-palate, and a shorter finish. The '99 was ok, but showed some vegetables (tomato, red pepper). The '99 Donna Olga also had some stewy vegetable aromas, and some volatility, but tasted ok. The '96 was browning, on its way out - don't bother.
Of the Canalicchio wines, the '98 Brunello was the best tasted, and was actually the best of all wines tasted if you want to drink a bottle NOW. The '01 "Canalicchio di Sopra" had more fruit than most of the other wines tasted, with some grippy tannins, but just ok on the taste. The '95 was browning, and had a slightly stewed vegetable nose, but actually tasted significantly better than it smelled.
In summary, the best overall was the '01 Valdicava, the best value was the '01 Friggiali, and the best for drinking immediately was the '98 Canalicchio.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment