I purchased a couple of these in 2012 and stored properly since. This really needs a couple hours in the decanter at least. I brought this to a restaurant and decanted it there and it was somewhat muted for most of the meal. This has dark fruits up front and it has that massive inky grip you find in Napa. However, this had much more balance and was far more polished and civilized along the way. For me, this isn’t remotely close to being in its prime. This should easily drink well for another decade plus. This paired well with a bone in filet mignon. Revisit 2030+
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A highlight by Casanova di Neri, an explosive BdM erupting with profound aromas, powerfully built body and concentrated muscular structure. Aged in oak 29 months, in bottle 30. Deep garnet, ruby hue. Perfumed rich aroma of cherries, prunes, cold cuts, sweet tobacco, chocolate, liquorice, earth. Full body, extraordinary complexity, power, concentration and most importantly - balance. Dense structure, multilayered lush and seductive flavours, high ripe and grippy tannins, deep and prolonged persistent finish.
Dark ruby garnet color with finely grained particles fading toward the orange rust rim with a reflective edge. The nose gives off smoky aromas of red berries and violets spiced up by toasted oak. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a silky texture that gives a clean, polished mouthfeel with flavors of black berries and dark cherry braced with acidity that balances power and intensity with elegance. Due to its age, there are secondary flavors of leather, cola, tobacco and pencil shavings from the oak aging with tertiary flavors of pine nuts in the long, transcendent finish. Drink now with a 20-minute decant until 2033.
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I’ve only had a few of these but every one has been excellent, this one no exception. Beautiful, complex aroma and flavor with rich dark cherry fruit balanced with herbal and forest floor flavors. Large aroma and flavor but not overwhelmingly so
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04 Brunellos at home. Tasted blind. Drank in Conterno Sensory. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak, black plums, black licorice, tarry earth, violets. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), structured high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of vanilla oak, sweet spices, black licorice, sweet dark tar, earth, black plums, black cherries, blackberries, underlying sour red cherry. Long finish. Very very good quality. Serious big wine made in a polished modern style. Lots of ambitious oak and deep fruit concentration to support. Actually improved with more air, with the vanilla oak integrating in nicely and developed smoky incense notes. Will last long time, hopefully oak not outlasting the fruit.
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Brunello 2004 Horisontal (My House): Funky nose with some cabbage that went away with some air. There is a good depth of flavor with dark plums but also some prunes. There is some lovely intensity and acidity but next to the clean fruit from the Salvioni, it didn't stand a chance. It seems to be in a weird and unstructured phase that I hope it will get out of. It was a bit murky in its flavors and has not aged as well as older vintages of this wine that I have tried.
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This is past its prime and I missed the window. Dark, brick read. Somewhat thin, high heat and almost a grittiness to it. Not fruity and viscous like I was expecting.
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Superb. Tested blind, WOTD. Slow ox for 9 hours and was firing on all cylinders. Typical nose of Tuscan dust, tannins still present and can easily go another 10+ years. I’m a great spot with some air but no rush whatsoever.
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BYO - Erik: Very disappointing performance and the wine just seemed off. There was some good flavor but in general it seemed a bit cooked, showing cabbage and "brown" notes. There was however still some sweet cherry fruit and a good structure but the overall impression was not good. A bit strange with a defective bottle like this as I have had it since release. It could also be that it was in some kind of weird phase which I sometimes find with Brunellos.
Big wine with youthful tannic structure, fruit is concentrated but not flashy. Drinking well, but I preferred the 06' I had recently. I think this wine needs a few more years to show its best.
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A fabulous Brunello — hints of blackberry interspersed with leather, tobacco and a wonderful earthiness, all complimented with superb balance and structure. Drinking beautifully right now — can’t wait to revisit in 5-10 years.
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Very intriguing nose, I thought of a left bank Bordeaux, but profiling the owner I said 2004-2005 Spottswoods... LOL. The wine is definitely a classic Brunello Di Montalcino, bolder than most, closer to a Cabernet than any other, but dryer, very astringent, and persistent finish.
Thanks to our friend Joel for bringing this beauty to our last edition of the CWG-D (blind).
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Opened briefly the night before, then double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby with a touch of brick, balsamic cherries with hints of leather & tobacco similar to a Bordeaux, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding & prob. the best Brunello I have ever had, at peak, drink or hold (unfortunately, my last)
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It was good last time and even better now - its a lot of cherries - it is so well balanced tannins and acidity are medium and so well integrated - beautiful long aftertaste happy to go to very solid 95 - I still think this wine has potential to improve - even though it is very good already
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Bottle was slow-oxen for 4 hours. Dark ruby with very slight hints of browning and dead slow glycerol, “legs.” On the nose balsa wood, strong coffee, earthy dusky overtones, aromatic bitters. On the palate, vanilla, Turkish coffee, tobacco notes, all folded into a tigh cherry frame. The finish was pretty voluptuous and racy and smoothed out after a couple of hours with nice blackberries, black cherries with a touch of balsamic.
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Really elegant wine. Bouquet was initially floral that transformed with time into an earthy aroma. The finish was especially pleasant with a wonderful coating of the tongue with dark cherry.
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Drinking nice now but still very closed off and needing more time and/or air. I've had Cerretaltos at 30 years of age and this one will need it to show it's stuff.
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opened 8hrs before. Nose: mint, vanilla, dark cherry , very closed even after pouring into glass for the 1st hr Palate: high acidity , plummy , dark fruit, good layered, tannic / mint / dark chocolate finish , quite alcoholic in this stage, noticably young , need long time to age!
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Kreuzritter - Vol. 3: Tasted blind. I loved the complexity and minerality of this wine. Despite a long decant it improved markedly with a lot of swirling, so I guess it needs some more years to fully smooth out. I don't drink Sangiovese that often (I guessed Barolo due to the intense minerality) but I find it refreshing to have something so distinctively different in the glass from time to time although it is a more austere type of wine.
TN: The first nose is full of wet stone, cool, fresh minerality. Very intense and with a lot of tension. Interesting but not too hedonistically appealing. But with time more and more aromas pop up with tomato leafs, other herbs, grass, dark cherries, mint. It became more round and harmonious but tannins are still a bit grippy.
Decanting: Decanted for 4+ hours. Worked well but could even need a longer decant.
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Excellent. Double decant 6 hours before dinner. More open than the 2006. Upon opening, menthol and stewed plum, tight tannic finish. After opening, nose and palate opened and finish smoothed. Will easily last another 10 years.
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Superbe Brunello, encore mieux que le Tenuta Nuova. Bu en même temps que le Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2004...lui aussi époustouflant! Un nez charmeur et intense, de la réglisse, des roses, des fruits rouge et des épices. En bouche, suave, complexe et bien équilibré. Des saveurs de cerises doirs, d`anis, de poivre, de canelle et un boisé bien dosé, rien n`accroche. Il y a une belles acidité et les tannins charnus sont bien enrobés. Long et satiné et finale. Vraiment extra ce 2004 présentement, une belle bouteille!
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Ink and blueberry were the first impressions. Very velvet .. But this wine continued to grow and unfold further. It was not easy to find something. Pomerol? Let us give this wine the time and attention it deserves. The wine has been tasted again after a while.
WAW.
Coffee, leather and chalk are now added, pencil cutting in the distance. This wine is substantiated and every layer is exciting and fascinating. Finesse, super elegant! Smoke at the end but then an end that took a long time. Which means that I mean that this wine has an aftertaste to contradict you. Exquisite bottle very sure ... But this is one that was catchy! 96
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Complex, concentration, black fruit 1st sip but changed to red later, coffee, dusty tannins, initially still a bit hard, but 10 minutes later this is gone completely, wood, incredible finesse and length, freshness.
Contrary to their basic brunello, this can be considered as somewhat "traditional" brunello.
WAW. Great wine.
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in the nose : subtile, well integrated and delicate impressions of smoke, black fruits, wood, mocha, coffee and leather in the mouth : at first pepper, some bitter touches, rubber and some drying, but after some air in the glass it opens beautifully with hints of licorice, red fruit and mint. It possesses extreme fine acids. It's a very elegant wine with a perfect balance and an enormous lenght, great wine and now in a perfect drinking spot.
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A top wine - impressive balance - tannins and acidity - both medium - are so well integrated. The fruit is of course cherries. You really get the complexity of this wine - such a long aftertaste also. We really liked drinking this wine. It is drinking well - but no hurry still many good years to come.
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I nearly forgot to decant wine for our anniversary dinner (The Crossing, where else?) so this only received 3-1/2 hours of air. Almost four years since last try, yet this beauty still looks newly-bottled. Inky-dark with no evidence of bricking here at the 13-year mark; decant offered a rather closed nose with just a faint bouquet of earth and berries. Not much real sediment per se, but I held the last half-ounce in the shoulder of the bottle and it was thickened with powder-fine residue. Rebottled for transit, noting a faint rose petal sweetness on the nose. Second decant at table showed tart red fruit, cherry-centric, that predominated the palate throughout our enjoyment of this rather modern-style BdM. There is a rather strong, yet inoffensive tannic backbone to this wine. It will certainly be there for you for almost as long as you want to wait.
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Honestly couldn't really judge this wine on this evening. This is another instance where the bad stemware at the restaurant really impeded the pleasure of the wine.
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Drank @ Proof in Des Moines with wife for our anniversary. She loves Sangiovese but I may have enjoyed this more. Bottle seemed to be in great condition. Decanted for 45 minutes. Everything in its place. Opened up over the next hour of consumption. I would say this has several years of development ahead.
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Amazing bottle! Still lots of time left. No bricking - even could wait for a number of years. Deep, earthy, with fruits still on top. Very smooth, but powerful tannins. Fantastic modern Brunello
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Outstanding showing! Decanted 4 hours and probably could have used more time. No bricking whatsoever. So smooth! Wonderful fruit. A very modern Brunello. Certainly typical Sangiovese characteristics, but also some mocha and other flavors. Enormous backbone. This wine can only improve.
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decanted overnight nose - chocolate, stout, blackberry, marmite mouth - monstrous, full bodied, tar, i'm frankly shocked this wine comes from the sangiovese grape. superbly tannic but good acidity. pruney and raisny to my palate. if one word were to have to sume it up: surmaturite
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Double decanted for a couple of hrs, dark garnet, beautiful dark cherry with a touch of mint, mod. tannins, long finish. Delicious but will be even better with more air/time, drink or hold
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Totally outstanding! Seems to be in a great place now. Great, full nose. Dark fruits layered with traditional Sangiovese earthy flavors. VERY smooth but slightly mouth-puckering tannis - just wonderful. Give it a good two hours in the glass - we couldn't stop drinking it and regrettably (as always) our last sip was soooo amazing we knew we had "blown it" by not exhibiting a bit more patience. The good news, I have 9 more bottles! Enjoy this one now or in 5 years - it is a pleasure to drink.
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Still too young. Drinkable after hours of air. Better wait another 5 to ten years. Very good but expensive. For today's price you can buy 2 bottles of some other nice Brunello.
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Great single vineyard Brunello. Depth, length. Typical Sangiovese notes of cherries, tomato leaf, but with the dark brooding tones of a great Brunello.
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This is really interesting - what a development since my last bottle - tannins and acidity are now longer dominating - and the integration is very good can still improve - a powerful and very complex wine - with still lots of potential
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Decanted for 2 1/2 hours and it was just beginning to tease with what it has to offer. Give it 5 or 6 hours if you can. Tannic to start but largely resolved by hour 3. A wine that will not require explanation for the non-winos who are lucky enough to share it with you (frequently a consideration for me). They'll love it, they just won't deconstruct it to tell you why.
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Blind tasted. Shows dates, figs, stewed qualities, molasses, dried roses, and more. Lots to talk about, full black fruit. I went Amarone but that was just the huge flavor throwing us off. Great wine.
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Decanted 9 hours....glad I did. The tannins softened allowing us to enjoy lovely red fruit, tobacco and earth on the nose and palate. Lingering finish of red fruit that still gripped a little. This wine has years of holding potential. I opened too soon (I'm notoriously impatient).
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This is a wine with big potential - it is already very good - however to young to drink. The wine is very powerful the tannins - acidity is still very dominating - but you already feel the balance and the integration I wonder how it will be in 5-7 years
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cherry and tobacco. It tastes like prune, mineral, meaty and tobacco. The body is medium. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity.
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Five hour Vinturi decant; rebottle for transit to restaurant. Lush nose of dark fruit and distant campfire. Big and beautiful on the palate with black cherry and cassis in the forefront, dark chocolate on the complex finish. This is admittedly young, but showing its promise for the future, for sure. Almost three years since opening last bottle, but I still say try to be patient to see where this goes...
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nose; toasted oak, campfire smoke, and spices. palate; dark chocolate, black cherries, and cassis. full bodied. high tannins. 45 plus second finish. still quite young, wait another 7 or 8 years to open. very impressive the quality of brunello from Casanova Di Neri over the last 15 years.
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Deep ruby with a focused nose of black fruit, leather and oak. Explosive and massive on palate with thick earthy tannins, bright acidity and great intensity. Endless finish. Very young but its all there. Amazing Brunello
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I was blown away by this wine. It is young.....especially for a riserva...but the power and flavor it packs now....combined with the potential it teases you with me.....combine to make this wine is something special. The nose after two hours is familiar at first....then just keeps adding layers of dark chocolate, dark fruit, and just enough oak. You think you have smelled this wine...but then it keeps adding nuances. This same theme continues on the palate. Huge...but not new world huge. It does not shout at your palate because it doesn't have to. Opened 1st of 2 that I own.....the next one I am going to wait st least five years. 97 now. Could be 99-100 in five years.
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It's official, Brunello di Montalcino is my favorite wine. Opened and decanted for 6+ hours....I tasted little sips as it developed. It's amazing how the wine changes and softens. Beautiful nose of red fruit, flowers and earth. We noticed fennel, sweet herbs and rich dark fruits on the palate. Lingering finish. Loved it. I will hold my other bottle for at least 2 more years.
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Dusty, potent red cherry fruits. Dense wine, and very ripe, but the vintage and structure do show through with a firm acidic backbone that begs time. Nice - I like this more than other vintages.
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Holiday Wines at Knightsbridge (Northbrook, IL): Slightly floral, with lots of ripe red cherry aromas with plenty of anise and tarragon elements. Highly structured palate that I found too dominated by the wine's acidity. Hard to me to tell where this will evolve, but others found it to be more interesting today that I did.
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Incroyable finesse pour ce Brunello étonnamment accessible en jeunesse. Nez très typique de tabac, de cuir avec une touche d'encre. Le vin caresse le palais, sans aucune lourdeur, tout en fraîcheur et en finesse. Vraiment excellent, mais vendu trop cher malheureusement.
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Brunello 2004 Tasting (HSH): WOW... I was completely blown away by its amazing nose. Deep but still quite elegant dark cherry fruit. Huge complexity with pretty notes of camphor and a whole field of flowers. Even though the nose was compact it was still very elegant and inspiring. On the palate it is hugely intense with a concentrated flavour of dark cherries with a little bit of dark chocolate on the midt-palate. A perfect balance between a very powerful acidity and a massive wall of tannins. Simply a WILD wine but still very balanced that presents itselft with a perfect structure. To me, this was simply the WOTN and to me it completely "destroyed" the Salvioni that was in the glass next to it. Potentially the wine of the Vintage and will last for a VERY long time.
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Shows beautiful aromas of crushed raspberry, dark cherry, rose petals, vanilla and exotic spices. Full-bodied, with ultra-silky tannins and a long, long finish. Elegant and powerful. Fantastic! Extremely youthful at this stage, this is a wine that needs to be put to sleep at least for 10 years. Tasted at vineyard in Montalcino. (Best from 2015-2030) - JD98
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Cerretalto Vertical Tasting (Restaurant 1.TH (CPH)): Had really anticipated tasting this vintage of Cerretalto as I have been amazed by the quality of the other Brunellos from Casanova di Neri in this vintage. The nose is very intense and fresh with an almost cool touch to the fruit. Also has a little coffee, sewer and wet hay. Abundant fruit fills the palate but still with a fressness to it. An amazing dark cherry fruit with an almost amazing structure. The tannins are harsh but still somewhat delicate which gives the wine a smoothness to it. The vibrant and refreshing acidity collects everything nicely into a beautiful and awesome wine. Very close to being better than the 90 on the night and the pleasure of this was almost as gratifying. Could potentially be the best wine from the producer but only time will tell :-) This is to me, clearly on of the best wines of the 2004 vintage. The quality of this wine simply cant be disregarded.
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The Cerretalto, as usual, is epic. This is a wine that will last for 30+ years. You may drink it now if you aerate it for ever, but it is really for 2015 and onwards. This is one of the best Brunello bottlings altogether. The aromatics and the structure are out of this planet. Different from the last "super-vintage" (2001) in that it has deeper fruit but drier tannins. This is a wine to be cellared. It will certainly reward the money and the patience manyfold.
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4/25/2024 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
I purchased a couple of these in 2012 and stored properly since. This really needs a couple hours in the decanter at least. I brought this to a restaurant and decanted it there and it was somewhat muted for most of the meal. This has dark fruits up front and it has that massive inky grip you find in Napa. However, this had much more balance and was far more polished and civilized along the way. For me, this isn’t remotely close to being in its prime. This should easily drink well for another decade plus. This paired well with a bone in filet mignon. Revisit 2030+
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1/20/2024 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 98 Points
A highlight by Casanova di Neri, an explosive BdM erupting with profound aromas, powerfully built body and concentrated muscular structure. Aged in oak 29 months, in bottle 30. Deep garnet, ruby hue. Perfumed rich aroma of cherries, prunes, cold cuts, sweet tobacco, chocolate, liquorice, earth. Full body, extraordinary complexity, power, concentration and most importantly - balance. Dense structure, multilayered lush and seductive flavours, high ripe and grippy tannins, deep and prolonged persistent finish.
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11/22/2023 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 98 Points
Dark ruby garnet color with finely grained particles fading toward the orange rust rim with a reflective edge. The nose gives off smoky aromas of red berries and violets spiced up by toasted oak. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a silky texture that gives a clean, polished mouthfeel with flavors of black berries and dark cherry braced with acidity that balances power and intensity with elegance. Due to its age, there are secondary flavors of leather, cola, tobacco and pencil shavings from the oak aging with tertiary flavors of pine nuts in the long, transcendent finish. Drink now with a 20-minute decant until 2033.
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10/16/2023 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 95 Points
I’ve only had a few of these but every one has been excellent, this one no exception. Beautiful, complex aroma and flavor with rich dark cherry fruit balanced with herbal and forest floor flavors. Large aroma and flavor but not overwhelmingly so
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9/10/2023 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 95 Points
04 Brunellos at home. Tasted blind. Drank in Conterno Sensory.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak, black plums, black licorice, tarry earth, violets. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), structured high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of vanilla oak, sweet spices, black licorice, sweet dark tar, earth, black plums, black cherries, blackberries, underlying sour red cherry. Long finish.
Very very good quality. Serious big wine made in a polished modern style. Lots of ambitious oak and deep fruit concentration to support. Actually improved with more air, with the vanilla oak integrating in nicely and developed smoky incense notes. Will last long time, hopefully oak not outlasting the fruit.
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7/1/2023 - chetlee wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely steller Brunello. Leather, tobacco, still good fruit and well integrated.
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6/16/2023 - canan wrote: 96 Points
Brunello 2004 Horisontal (My House): Funky nose with some cabbage that went away with some air. There is a good depth of flavor with dark plums but also some prunes.
There is some lovely intensity and acidity but next to the clean fruit from the Salvioni, it didn't stand a chance.
It seems to be in a weird and unstructured phase that I hope it will get out of. It was a bit murky in its flavors and has not aged as well as older vintages of this wine that I have tried.
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1/7/2023 - pikemasterflash wrote: 90 Points
This is past its prime and I missed the window. Dark, brick read. Somewhat thin, high heat and almost a grittiness to it. Not fruity and viscous like I was expecting.
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12/18/2022 - MrPaul86 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very very interesting brunello.
Not perfectly balanced but the taste last a long.
It was perfect with roe deer
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8/28/2021 - Javachip wrote: 96 Points
San Diego Superspeader 2021 (Solare Restaurant, Liberty Station, Point Loma, San Diego CA): Decanted. Clear deep dark garnet-blood red color. Glorious fresh vibrant notes of sour cherries, boysenberries, baking spices, leather, stony soil. Mouthwatering, pleasant acidity and polished grippy tannins, seamless, balanced. My #3.
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7/8/2021 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 97 Points
Superb. Tested blind, WOTD. Slow ox for 9 hours and was firing on all cylinders. Typical nose of Tuscan dust, tannins still present and can easily go another 10+ years. I’m a great spot with some air but no rush whatsoever.
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5/7/2021 - canan wrote: 92 Points
BYO - Erik: Very disappointing performance and the wine just seemed off. There was some good flavor but in general it seemed a bit cooked, showing cabbage and "brown" notes. There was however still some sweet cherry fruit and a good structure but the overall impression was not good.
A bit strange with a defective bottle like this as I have had it since release.
It could also be that it was in some kind of weird phase which I sometimes find with Brunellos.
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1/25/2021 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big wine with youthful tannic structure, fruit is concentrated but not flashy. Drinking well, but I preferred the 06' I had recently. I think this wine needs a few more years to show its best.
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8/22/2020 - jbs712 wrote: 98 Points
A fabulous Brunello — hints of blackberry interspersed with leather, tobacco and a wonderful earthiness, all complimented with superb balance and structure. Drinking beautifully right now — can’t wait to revisit in 5-10 years.
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6/5/2020 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very intriguing nose, I thought of a left bank Bordeaux, but profiling the owner I said 2004-2005 Spottswoods... LOL. The wine is definitely a classic Brunello Di Montalcino, bolder than most, closer to a Cabernet than any other, but dryer, very astringent, and persistent finish.
Thanks to our friend Joel for bringing this beauty to our last edition of the CWG-D (blind).
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6/5/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened briefly the night before, then double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby with a touch of brick, balsamic cherries with hints of leather & tobacco similar to a Bordeaux, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding & prob. the best Brunello I have ever had, at peak, drink or hold (unfortunately, my last)
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5/2/2020 - ILarsen wrote: 95 Points
It was good last time and even better now - its a lot of cherries - it is so well balanced tannins and acidity are medium and so well integrated - beautiful long aftertaste happy to go to very solid 95 - I still think this wine has potential to improve - even though it is very good already
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4/18/2020 - redhead6971 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bottle was slow-oxen for 4 hours. Dark ruby with very slight hints of browning and dead slow glycerol, “legs.” On the nose balsa wood, strong coffee, earthy dusky overtones, aromatic bitters. On the palate, vanilla, Turkish coffee, tobacco notes, all folded into a tigh cherry frame. The finish was pretty voluptuous and racy and smoothed out after a couple of hours with nice blackberries, black cherries with a touch of balsamic.
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4/2/2020 - shebbar Likes this wine: 97 Points
Really elegant wine. Bouquet was initially floral that transformed with time into an earthy aroma. The finish was especially pleasant with a wonderful coating of the tongue with dark cherry.
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1/23/2020 - jrkennedy37 wrote:
Drinking nice now but still very closed off and needing more time and/or air. I've had Cerretaltos at 30 years of age and this one will need it to show it's stuff.
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2/1/2019 - KCC320 wrote: 92 Points
opened 8hrs before.
Nose: mint, vanilla, dark cherry , very closed even after pouring into glass for the 1st hr
Palate: high acidity , plummy , dark fruit, good layered, tannic / mint / dark chocolate finish , quite alcoholic in this stage, noticably young , need long time to age!
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1/13/2019 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Complex, balanced, smooth. Excellent nose, long finish, not more than 94 on the palate.
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12/31/2018 - thomasvha wrote: 96 Points
Decant for 3 hours, should been six. Fantastic wine, dark berry, vanilla, coffee, etc. Drank to deer.
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12/1/2018 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Kreuzritter - Vol. 3: Tasted blind. I loved the complexity and minerality of this wine. Despite a long decant it improved markedly with a lot of swirling, so I guess it needs some more years to fully smooth out. I don't drink Sangiovese that often (I guessed Barolo due to the intense minerality) but I find it refreshing to have something so distinctively different in the glass from time to time although it is a more austere type of wine.
TN: The first nose is full of wet stone, cool, fresh minerality. Very intense and with a lot of tension. Interesting but not too hedonistically appealing. But with time more and more aromas pop up with tomato leafs, other herbs, grass, dark cherries, mint. It became more round and harmonious but tannins are still a bit grippy.
Decanting: Decanted for 4+ hours. Worked well but could even need a longer decant.
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10/13/2018 - hebill Likes this wine:
Excellent. Double decant 6 hours before dinner. More open than the 2006. Upon opening, menthol and stewed plum, tight tannic finish. After opening, nose and palate opened and finish smoothed. Will easily last another 10 years.
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9/21/2018 - maxima wrote: 94 Points
Superbe Brunello, encore mieux que le Tenuta Nuova.
Bu en même temps que le Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2004...lui aussi époustouflant!
Un nez charmeur et intense, de la réglisse, des roses, des fruits rouge et des épices.
En bouche, suave, complexe et bien équilibré.
Des saveurs de cerises doirs, d`anis, de poivre, de canelle et
un boisé bien dosé, rien n`accroche.
Il y a une belles acidité et les tannins charnus sont bien enrobés.
Long et satiné et finale.
Vraiment extra ce 2004 présentement, une belle bouteille!
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9/1/2018 - Aleks Che wrote: 94 Points
CHE94+
Powerful bold fat, for inky lovers. Very good , but not my style
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8/31/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior notes (guess I didn't wait very long....); delicious Brunello, entering its prime drinking window
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8/24/2018 - spendergast Likes this wine: 97 Points
A wonderful wine with dense, concentrated fruit with well integrated tannins. CdN rarely disappoints!
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5/5/2018 - GreekWineCollector wrote: 95 Points
22 Jun 2011 Montalcino Castle Enoteca: Excellent wine but Slightly Beaten by Stella di Campalto Brunello 2006.
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1/25/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior notes; delicious, drink or preferably hold for another year
Opened up over dinner, but still needs time
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1/4/2018 - The taste athlete wrote: 96 Points
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto Brunello 2004
100% Sangiovese
No decant
Ink and blueberry were the first impressions.
Very velvet ..
But this wine continued to grow and unfold further.
It was not easy to find something.
Pomerol?
Let us give this wine the time and attention it deserves.
The wine has been tasted again after a while.
WAW.
Coffee, leather and chalk are now added, pencil cutting in the distance.
This wine is substantiated and every layer is exciting and fascinating.
Finesse, super elegant!
Smoke at the end but then an end that took a long time.
Which means that I mean that this wine has an aftertaste to contradict you.
Exquisite bottle very sure ...
But this is one that was catchy! 96
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1/2/2018 - Vinogan(s) wrote: 96 Points
Not decanted.
Complex, concentration, black fruit 1st sip but changed to red later, coffee, dusty tannins, initially still a bit hard, but 10 minutes later this is gone completely, wood, incredible finesse and length, freshness.
Contrary to their basic brunello, this can be considered as somewhat "traditional" brunello.
WAW. Great wine.
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12/29/2017 - Kris G Likes this wine: 95 Points
in the nose : subtile, well integrated and delicate impressions of smoke, black fruits, wood, mocha, coffee and leather
in the mouth : at first pepper, some bitter touches, rubber and some drying, but after some air in the glass it opens beautifully with hints of licorice, red fruit and mint. It possesses extreme fine acids. It's a very elegant wine with a perfect balance and an enormous lenght, great wine and now in a perfect drinking spot.
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10/7/2017 - ILarsen wrote: 94 Points
A top wine - impressive balance - tannins and acidity - both medium - are so well integrated. The fruit is of course cherries. You really get the complexity of this wine - such a long aftertaste also. We really liked drinking this wine. It is drinking well - but no hurry still many good years to come.
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9/22/2017 - zackmayo Likes this wine: 96 Points
Elegant after two hours
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6/27/2017 - iredell Likes this wine: 98 Points
Beautiful wine
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6/2/2017 - robertdtwo Likes this wine: 94 Points
I nearly forgot to decant wine for our anniversary dinner (The Crossing, where else?) so this only received 3-1/2 hours of air. Almost four years since last try, yet this beauty still looks newly-bottled. Inky-dark with no evidence of bricking here at the 13-year mark; decant offered a rather closed nose with just a faint bouquet of earth and berries. Not much real sediment per se, but I held the last half-ounce in the shoulder of the bottle and it was thickened with powder-fine residue.
Rebottled for transit, noting a faint rose petal sweetness on the nose. Second decant at table showed tart red fruit, cherry-centric, that predominated the palate throughout our enjoyment of this rather modern-style BdM.
There is a rather strong, yet inoffensive tannic backbone to this wine. It will certainly be there for you for almost as long as you want to wait.
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12/20/2016 - Zunga wrote:
Honestly couldn't really judge this wine on this evening. This is another instance where the bad stemware at the restaurant really impeded the pleasure of the wine.
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11/13/2016 - hawkeye54 wrote: 95 Points
Drank @ Proof in Des Moines with wife for our anniversary. She loves Sangiovese but I may have enjoyed this more. Bottle seemed to be in great condition. Decanted for 45 minutes. Everything in its place. Opened up over the next hour of consumption. I would say this has several years of development ahead.
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10/28/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior note
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10/10/2016 - King JR wrote: 95 Points
Amazing bottle! Still lots of time left. No bricking - even could wait for a number of years. Deep, earthy, with fruits still on top. Very smooth, but powerful tannins. Fantastic modern Brunello
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8/1/2016 - King JR wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding showing! Decanted 4 hours and probably could have used more time. No bricking whatsoever. So smooth! Wonderful fruit. A very modern Brunello. Certainly typical Sangiovese characteristics, but also some mocha and other flavors. Enormous backbone. This wine can only improve.
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5/15/2016 - soyhead wrote:
decanted overnight
nose - chocolate, stout, blackberry, marmite
mouth - monstrous, full bodied, tar, i'm frankly shocked this wine comes from the sangiovese grape. superbly tannic but good acidity. pruney and raisny to my palate. if one word were to have to sume it up: surmaturite
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5/13/2016 - derek@bomelle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Simply amazing. Powerful smell of plums and spices. Silky and long lingering elegant finish which last for 45"+
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3/26/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted for a couple of hrs, dark garnet, beautiful dark cherry with a touch of mint, mod. tannins, long finish. Delicious but will be even better with more air/time, drink or hold
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2/15/2016 - King JR wrote: 97 Points
Totally outstanding! Seems to be in a great place now. Great, full nose. Dark fruits layered with traditional Sangiovese earthy flavors. VERY smooth but slightly mouth-puckering tannis - just wonderful. Give it a good two hours in the glass - we couldn't stop drinking it and regrettably (as always) our last sip was soooo amazing we knew we had "blown it" by not exhibiting a bit more patience. The good news, I have 9 more bottles! Enjoy this one now or in 5 years - it is a pleasure to drink.
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2/14/2016 - Montecalvo Likes this wine: 94 Points
young, fruit driven with lots of new oak. fruit profile consistent with Sangiovese.
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10/2/2015 - MarcelloW wrote: 94 Points
Still too young. Drinkable after hours of air. Better wait another 5 to ten years. Very good but expensive. For today's price you can buy 2 bottles of some other nice Brunello.
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9/12/2015 - darren81 wrote:
8/10 - It was nice, yes. Hits all the right Brunello notes. Would I pay this much for the wine? Probably not.
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7/27/2015 - KenPlace wrote: 94 Points
Great single vineyard Brunello. Depth, length. Typical Sangiovese notes of cherries, tomato leaf, but with the dark brooding tones of a great Brunello.
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5/30/2015 - ILarsen wrote: 94 Points
This is really interesting - what a development since my last bottle - tannins and acidity are now longer dominating - and the integration is very good can still improve - a powerful and very complex wine - with still lots of potential
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5/2/2015 - Emperor wrote: 97 Points
Decanted for 2 1/2 hours and it was just beginning to tease with what it has to offer. Give it 5 or 6 hours if you can. Tannic to start but largely resolved by hour 3. A wine that will not require explanation for the non-winos who are lucky enough to share it with you (frequently a consideration for me). They'll love it, they just won't deconstruct it to tell you why.
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4/6/2015 - GTFreek wrote:
Blind tasted. Shows dates, figs, stewed qualities, molasses, dried roses, and more. Lots to talk about, full black fruit. I went Amarone but that was just the huge flavor throwing us off. Great wine.
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4/6/2015 - KenPlace wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. Smooth, integrated tannins. Sanguine, dried herbs, developed, dessecated florality. Very complex and long. Entering its drinking window.
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4/4/2015 - redknife Likes this wine: 94 Points
Took to Vialetto. Young with soft tannins but enjoyable. This will get better with time; will revisit in 3-5 years
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7/27/2014 - Dickdoc49 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Yum!! Full report when I get to a computer
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6/11/2014 - Mel-o-Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 9 hours....glad I did. The tannins softened allowing us to enjoy lovely red fruit, tobacco and earth on the nose and palate. Lingering finish of red fruit that still gripped a little. This wine has years of holding potential. I opened too soon (I'm notoriously impatient).
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4/12/2014 - ILarsen wrote: 93 Points
This is a wine with big potential - it is already very good - however to young to drink. The wine is very powerful the tannins - acidity is still very dominating - but you already feel the balance and the integration I wonder how it will be in 5-7 years
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3/23/2014 - Þórr Þunraz Likes this wine: 94 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cherry and tobacco. It tastes like prune, mineral, meaty and tobacco. The body is medium. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has high acidity.
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3/8/2014 - phil the agony wrote: 92 Points
Vraiment un grand vin mais à boîre dans 10 ans ...pas avant !!
Prune confite.
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9/21/2013 - robertdtwo wrote: 94 Points
Five hour Vinturi decant; rebottle for transit to restaurant. Lush nose of dark fruit and distant campfire. Big and beautiful on the palate with black cherry and cassis in the forefront, dark chocolate on the complex finish. This is admittedly young, but showing its promise for the future, for sure. Almost three years since opening last bottle, but I still say try to be patient to see where this goes...
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8/8/2013 - JJB007 Likes this wine: 97 Points
a truly great wine right now
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5/19/2013 - TOTOM wrote: 94 Points
12sec. finish
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12/9/2012 - botrytisvirtuoso1819 wrote: 96 Points
nose; toasted oak, campfire smoke, and spices.
palate; dark chocolate, black cherries, and cassis.
full bodied.
high tannins.
45 plus second finish.
still quite young, wait another 7 or 8 years to open.
very impressive the quality of brunello from Casanova Di Neri over the last 15 years.
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10/7/2012 - Dokken wrote: 96 Points
Deep ruby with a focused nose of black fruit, leather and oak. Explosive and massive on palate with thick earthy tannins, bright acidity and great intensity. Endless finish. Very young but its all there. Amazing Brunello
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10/7/2012 - phattyjrb wrote: 91 Points
Couldn't resist but should have waited
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8/31/2012 - BSteffes wrote: 97 Points
I was blown away by this wine. It is young.....especially for a riserva...but the power and flavor it packs now....combined with the potential it teases you with me.....combine to make this wine is something special. The nose after two hours is familiar at first....then just keeps adding layers of dark chocolate, dark fruit, and just enough oak. You think you have smelled this wine...but then it keeps adding nuances. This same theme continues on the palate. Huge...but not new world huge. It does not shout at your palate because it doesn't have to. Opened 1st of 2 that I own.....the next one I am going to wait st least five years. 97 now. Could be 99-100 in five years.
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7/3/2012 - JJB007 wrote: 96 Points
a great italian
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6/13/2012 - redknife wrote: 92 Points
Very youngl but enjoyable. Decanted for 1 hr no formal notes.lots of Red fruits both in the nose a nd palate; Will probably try again in 3-5 years
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2/19/2012 - Mel-o-Vino wrote: 94 Points
It's official, Brunello di Montalcino is my favorite wine. Opened and decanted for 6+ hours....I tasted little sips as it developed. It's amazing how the wine changes and softens. Beautiful nose of red fruit, flowers and earth. We noticed fennel, sweet herbs and rich dark fruits on the palate. Lingering finish. Loved it. I will hold my other bottle for at least 2 more years.
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12/23/2011 - psmith wrote: 91 Points
Dusty, potent red cherry fruits. Dense wine, and very ripe, but the vintage and structure do show through with a firm acidic backbone that begs time. Nice - I like this more than other vintages.
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12/23/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Holiday Wines at Knightsbridge (Northbrook, IL): Slightly floral, with lots of ripe red cherry aromas with plenty of anise and tarragon elements. Highly structured palate that I found too dominated by the wine's acidity. Hard to me to tell where this will evolve, but others found it to be more interesting today that I did.
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11/16/2011 - Yagil wrote: 95 Points
dark red-black color, rich savory aroma, full body, round tannins, silky, well balanced, long ending. Fine wine.
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1/7/2011 - tkim42 wrote: 95 Points
Strong, sweet nose with an exceptionally smooth taste for a Brunello. One of my favorites. Ready to drink now.
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12/29/2010 - robertdtwo wrote: 93 Points
Infanticide...my bad! Beautiful, but still austere. WAIT!
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12/4/2010 - monkeylug wrote: 96 Points
Decanted three hours and tasted over that time before pouring. Great potential, but young. Needs time to develop further complexity.
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11/24/2010 - jarjarbinx99 wrote: 94 Points
NAPA. Très beau maintenant. Peak à prévoir dans 2-3 ans encore.
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4/30/2010 - ews3 wrote: 95 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour 2010 (Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Washington DC): really nice. drying tannins. blueberry, sage. long finish.
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4/11/2010 - ludwigbpm wrote: 95 Points
Incroyable finesse pour ce Brunello étonnamment accessible en jeunesse. Nez très typique de tabac, de cuir avec une touche d'encre. Le vin caresse le palais, sans aucune lourdeur, tout en fraîcheur et en finesse. Vraiment excellent, mais vendu trop cher malheureusement.
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11/14/2009 - canan wrote:
Brunello 2004 Tasting (HSH): WOW... I was completely blown away by its amazing nose. Deep but still quite elegant dark cherry fruit. Huge complexity with pretty notes of camphor and a whole field of flowers. Even though the nose was compact it was still very elegant and inspiring.
On the palate it is hugely intense with a concentrated flavour of dark cherries with a little bit of dark chocolate on the midt-palate.
A perfect balance between a very powerful acidity and a massive wall of tannins.
Simply a WILD wine but still very balanced that presents itselft with a perfect structure.
To me, this was simply the WOTN and to me it completely "destroyed" the Salvioni that was in the glass next to it.
Potentially the wine of the Vintage and will last for a VERY long time.
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10/3/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 98 Points
Shows beautiful aromas of crushed raspberry, dark cherry, rose petals, vanilla and exotic spices. Full-bodied, with ultra-silky tannins and a long, long finish. Elegant and powerful. Fantastic! Extremely youthful at this stage, this is a wine that needs to be put to sleep at least for 10 years. Tasted at vineyard in Montalcino. (Best from 2015-2030) - JD98
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9/3/2009 - canan wrote:
Cerretalto Vertical Tasting (Restaurant 1.TH (CPH)): Had really anticipated tasting this vintage of Cerretalto as I have been amazed by the quality of the other Brunellos from Casanova di Neri in this vintage.
The nose is very intense and fresh with an almost cool touch to the fruit. Also has a little coffee, sewer and wet hay.
Abundant fruit fills the palate but still with a fressness to it. An amazing dark cherry fruit with an almost amazing structure. The tannins are harsh but still somewhat delicate which gives the wine a smoothness to it. The vibrant and refreshing acidity collects everything nicely into a beautiful and awesome wine.
Very close to being better than the 90 on the night and the pleasure of this was almost as gratifying.
Could potentially be the best wine from the producer but only time will tell :-)
This is to me, clearly on of the best wines of the 2004 vintage. The quality of this wine simply cant be disregarded.
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3/25/2009 - Maestro wrote: 95 Points
The Cerretalto, as usual, is epic. This is a wine that will last for 30+ years. You may drink it now if you aerate it for ever, but it is really for 2015 and onwards. This is one of the best Brunello bottlings altogether. The aromatics and the structure are out of this planet. Different from the last "super-vintage" (2001) in that it has deeper fruit but drier tannins. This is a wine to be cellared. It will certainly reward the money and the patience manyfold.
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