Auction purchase. 50% bleed on a long cork. Nicely aged with good balance of tertiary flavors and dark fruit. Coffee, black tea, blackberry. Medium plus length. In a good place and may hold, but I see no upside.
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Purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this deep garnet/amber wine, now 22 years of age, is absolutely delicious. Double-decanted off of its substantial coarse sediment, it was allowed approximately one hour in decanter before funneling back into the cleaned bottle. The wine was then presented in double-blind fashion to our tasting group, with my taste being unblinded. Fully mature yet retaining a core of gorgeous red fruit, it adds complex notes of cinnamon, leather, gingerbread, iron, anise and bramble leaf. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, softly oaked and with melted tannins, it has impressive mid-palate density and finishes very long. This is everything that a mature Brunello should be! Well-cellared bottles will provide pleasure for another four years or more. Drink now-2023.
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This wine is simply stunning especially given how affordable this is. Nose has spice, black fruit, iron, charcoal, tobacco and blood. Palate is very expressive with layers. Its not the most complex wine yet it is so vibrant and interesting throughout the night. Drinking really well now. 92-93
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Brought to dinner along with a 2005 Chimney Rock cab franc. Dinner with friends at a local Italian place. The Spuntali is still in great form; nice notes of cherry; extremely smooth and round- excellent depth and length to the finish- great interplay between the two wines at dinner. Both were excellent with dinner- the Spuntali blended into the dinner flavors; the Chimney Rock stood up in contrast to the tomato sauces in the dinner. The Spuntali seems to still have a few years left.
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The wine has medium acidity. The body is full. The wine finishes long. It tastes like black currant (cassis), tobacco, black pepper, chocolate, violet, red currant and alcohol/hot. The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. The wine has round texture.
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Gorgeous nose. Mushrooms, green beans, some leather, black raspberries. Quite a unique style! Sadly, this was slightly corked... would have probably score 94+ otherwise.
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This is a marvelous bottle of wine and I am so sad that I only have one bottle left! Decanted for 30 minutes before serving. Not dark in color. Nose is complex and very motivating mix of tar, pepper, earth and fig. Palate is dark, slightly sweet, nice plum fruit with beautiful electricity. Slightly short finish but intense and long.
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Tomato-themed Euro Lunch (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Nice ruby red with some brown on the edges. Gorgeous nose that you can enjoy for hours without even touching the wine. Green beans, leather, spices, earthy. Very smooth finish.
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Deep garnet-black, starting to brick at the edges. Nose fully mature. with dried cherries, tobacco, forest undergrowth, smoke -- and a bit of volatile acidity as well. On the palate smooth and balanced, with still enough acidity to go well with food. Long finish, tannins fully integrated. A delicious Brunello from a terrific vintage. Proably won't get much better.
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Italian wine tasting (Watson's, Hong Kong): Lot of sediment in my glass so was a little off-put. Sour cherries, lots of leather, fine tannins. Nice wine but some funky notes. Obviously. I got the dregs of this bottle so may be better if decanted properly.
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First tasted on our Luna di Miele at the enoteca in the fortezza in Montalcino. It retains its broody, mossy core but fine cigar-box aromatics have emerged. Though the tannins have softened somewhat, there's plenty of stuffing for several decades ahead.
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With J and M at Sentosa. Wow, perfect balance and great expression of terroir. Fantastic point in evolution, just perfect to drink now. Sweetish evolved, soft tannins, lovely nose.
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1997 Brunellos (FBM's House): I've never owned a bottle of this, but have had the luxury of sharing in 3 btls, courtesy of FBM. While no detailed notes from a casual evening of tasting/drinking, this for me was among the top '97 brunellos opened.
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Decanted for an hour before serving. Light blood red almost transparent colour. Fantastic complex nose of nail varnish, tar, warm thyme, fresh ground black pepper, brick dry earth and lovely fresh warm figs. Palate is dark, dry brooding tarry plum fruit with gorgonzola cheese, black liquorice and damp brick dust on the back end. Increasingly sweet on the back end after extended hours in the glass. Slightly astringent and short finish but resonates in the head for a very long time. Very good indeed. Wai Yee bought this in Tuscany soon after release and kindly brought it over for dinner at home tonight.
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An incredible array of different scents fill the nose, including violets, roses, tar, cigar spice, sweet brown sugar, earth, mushroom, liquorice, and a touch of mint. Cool on the palate, with strong acids lifting the body into a sense of lightness, followed by a 25 second finish. My only quibble is a slight bitterness and coarseness of tannins on the finish. This wine could go another 5 years easily. Wish I had more.
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New Year's Week 2008/9; 12/28/2008-1/4/2009 (Northwoods): A very well made wine. Strong hints of tar that I didn't pick out the last time I had this a couple of years ago. These diminished after some time open. I would recommend decanting this one for an hour or two prior to serving based on this bottle. A full bodied, masculine style.
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Absolutely fantastic bottle of Brunello! My cellar is heavily weighted with Brunello and I can honestly say this is one of the very best. I wish I had purchased more.
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Decanted one hour and sipped for an hour or so before finishing with tuscan sausages and mash!!Dark ruby. Nose takes time to develop. Eventually shows red cherry with background oak and white pepper. Very intense cherry fruit, medium tannins and high, but balanced, acidity. Lovely wine with creamy texture I adore,and wish I had more .Bought in Florence on recco of wine mechant. 14.5% abv Outstanding.
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This was funny to look at -- it had a slightly brown color, but the nose was a beautiful major chord. In the mouth it had lots of fresh fruit, soft round tannens and enough acid to balance it out. No detectable oak. super long mouth staining finish. Superb with grilled hanger steak. But *pricey*
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This is great wine. Wish I had a 12 pack. The nose is unique..like a fresh vineyard with spice box at the last. .Cherry and bright berry with nice tannins yet and a long finish that lingers with almost sweet spices. It seems perfect right now...may go long but I will never know because I drank the last bottle!
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A fantastic bottle of wine, drinking very well now. Rich and deep nose that foreshadows the palate, which is concentrated fruit within a great structure. Fine tannins that are not at all distracting. A very elegant Brunello. Brought over by FBM.
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Medium ruby color with slight bricking at the edges leads to a nose of cherry and indian spice. The complex body delivers both power and finesse with layers of flavor including cherry, indian spice, blackberry and cedar. The finish lasts nearly a minute. Good Stuff!
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Bright disc with deep (nearly opaque) ruby robe and red rim. Clean nose showing exotic spices, blackberries, mint, cedar and weedy ("brambly") overtone. Full-bodied, with ample but well-integrated tannins. Similar flavors as nose. Good acidity. Long, slightly tannic finish.
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12/14/2021 - SpitzNV Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing after 3 hours. Decant carefully and drink immediately.
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11/5/2021 - gpcoleman Likes this wine: 91 Points
At first sip I thought the wine was too old, almost undrinkable. Over 30-45 minutes it started to lose the "old wine" taste. ended up fabulous.
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8/3/2021 - theharve wrote: flawed
surprising. Hoping for bottle variation, have 3 more. Light orange and oxidized.
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4/16/2021 - BrunelloBob wrote: 91 Points
Auction purchase. 50% bleed on a long cork. Nicely aged with good balance of tertiary flavors and dark fruit. Coffee, black tea, blackberry. Medium plus length. In a good place and may hold, but I see no upside.
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8/23/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 95 Points
Purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this deep garnet/amber wine, now 22 years of age, is absolutely delicious. Double-decanted off of its substantial coarse sediment, it was allowed approximately one hour in decanter before funneling back into the cleaned bottle. The wine was then presented in double-blind fashion to our tasting group, with my taste being unblinded. Fully mature yet retaining a core of gorgeous red fruit, it adds complex notes of cinnamon, leather, gingerbread, iron, anise and bramble leaf. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, softly oaked and with melted tannins, it has impressive mid-palate density and finishes very long. This is everything that a mature Brunello should be! Well-cellared bottles will provide pleasure for another four years or more. Drink now-2023.
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4/19/2019 - Drrobjo wrote:
At its peak and really has depth of Sangiovese flavor with tremendous length. I really like this wine and may drink another bottle tomorrow.
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3/20/2019 - sababa1022 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle. Rich, delicious and mature. So much nicer than previously corked bottle ;).
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8/19/2017 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is simply stunning especially given how affordable this is. Nose has spice, black fruit, iron, charcoal, tobacco and blood. Palate is very expressive with layers. Its not the most complex wine yet it is so vibrant and interesting throughout the night. Drinking really well now. 92-93
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12/22/2016 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought to dinner along with a 2005 Chimney Rock cab franc. Dinner with friends at a local Italian place. The Spuntali is still in great form; nice notes of cherry; extremely smooth and round- excellent depth and length to the finish- great interplay between the two wines at dinner. Both were excellent with dinner- the Spuntali blended into the dinner flavors; the Chimney Rock stood up in contrast to the tomato sauces in the dinner. The Spuntali seems to still have a few years left.
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11/26/2016 - M6asnits wrote: 92 Points
The wine has medium acidity. The body is full. The wine finishes long. It tastes like black currant (cassis), tobacco, black pepper, chocolate, violet, red currant and alcohol/hot. The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. The wine has round texture.
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9/28/2016 - sababa1022 wrote: flawed
Corked
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10/10/2014 - Javachip wrote: 90 Points
San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 10/10/2014 (Solare Restaurant, Liberty Station, Point Loma, San Diego CA): Hazy blood-brick red with coarse sediment. Notes of cherry-rhubarb pie, prunes, leather, figs, caramel. Balanced, seamless, medium-full body.
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9/28/2013 - boxedwine wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of raisin with a medium/full body. Round texture with a long finish.
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1/24/2013 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Gorgeous nose. Mushrooms, green beans, some leather, black raspberries. Quite a unique style!
Sadly, this was slightly corked... would have probably score 94+ otherwise.
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12/23/2012 - 818wines wrote: 92 Points
Brick colored. A bit light around the edge. Sour cherry and savory herbs. Very beautiful Brunello.
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10/23/2012 - lepetitchateau wrote: 94 Points
This is a marvelous bottle of wine and I am so sad that I only have one bottle left! Decanted for 30 minutes before serving. Not dark in color. Nose is complex and very motivating mix of tar, pepper, earth and fig. Palate is dark, slightly sweet, nice plum fruit with beautiful electricity. Slightly short finish but intense and long.
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9/30/2012 - europat55 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tomato-themed Euro Lunch (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Nice ruby red with some brown on the edges. Gorgeous nose that you can enjoy for hours without even touching the wine. Green beans, leather, spices, earthy. Very smooth finish.
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9/3/2012 - jacklinden wrote: 92 Points
Deep garnet-black, starting to brick at the edges. Nose fully mature. with dried cherries, tobacco, forest undergrowth, smoke -- and a bit of volatile acidity as well. On the palate smooth and balanced, with still enough acidity to go well with food. Long finish, tannins fully integrated. A delicious Brunello from a terrific vintage. Proably won't get much better.
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8/26/2012 - DonalOB wrote: 92 Points
Italian wine tasting (Watson's, Hong Kong): Lot of sediment in my glass so was a little off-put. Sour cherries, lots of leather, fine tannins. Nice wine but some funky notes. Obviously. I got the dregs of this bottle so may be better if decanted properly.
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8/25/2012 - chefdilletante wrote:
First tasted on our Luna di Miele at the enoteca in the fortezza in Montalcino. It retains its broody, mossy core but fine cigar-box aromatics have emerged. Though the tannins have softened somewhat, there's plenty of stuffing for several decades ahead.
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3/25/2012 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
With J and M at Sentosa. Wow, perfect balance and great expression of terroir. Fantastic point in evolution, just perfect to drink now. Sweetish evolved, soft tannins, lovely nose.
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1/8/2010 - Fielding wrote: 91 Points
Nice
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12/17/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
1997 Brunellos (FBM's House): I've never owned a bottle of this, but have had the luxury of sharing in 3 btls, courtesy of FBM. While no detailed notes from a casual evening of tasting/drinking, this for me was among the top '97 brunellos opened.
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9/4/2009 - Goldstone wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour before serving. Light blood red almost transparent colour. Fantastic complex nose of nail varnish, tar, warm thyme, fresh ground black pepper, brick dry earth and lovely fresh warm figs. Palate is dark, dry brooding tarry plum fruit with gorgonzola cheese, black liquorice and damp brick dust on the back end. Increasingly sweet on the back end after extended hours in the glass. Slightly astringent and short finish but resonates in the head for a very long time. Very good indeed. Wai Yee bought this in Tuscany soon after release and kindly brought it over for dinner at home tonight.
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6/1/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 92 Points
An incredible array of different scents fill the nose, including violets, roses, tar, cigar spice, sweet brown sugar, earth, mushroom, liquorice, and a touch of mint. Cool on the palate, with strong acids lifting the body into a sense of lightness, followed by a 25 second finish. My only quibble is a slight bitterness and coarseness of tannins on the finish. This wine could go another 5 years easily. Wish I had more.
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12/31/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
New Year's Week 2008/9; 12/28/2008-1/4/2009 (Northwoods): A very well made wine. Strong hints of tar that I didn't pick out the last time I had this a couple of years ago. These diminished after some time open. I would recommend decanting this one for an hour or two prior to serving based on this bottle. A full bodied, masculine style.
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8/22/2008 - sinman wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely fantastic bottle of Brunello! My cellar is heavily weighted with Brunello and I can honestly say this is one of the very best. I wish I had purchased more.
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4/24/2008 - keith prothero wrote: 92 Points
Decanted one hour and sipped for an hour or so before finishing with tuscan sausages and mash!!Dark ruby. Nose takes time to develop. Eventually shows red cherry with background oak and white pepper. Very intense cherry fruit, medium tannins and high, but balanced, acidity. Lovely wine with creamy texture I adore,and wish I had more .Bought in Florence on recco of wine mechant. 14.5% abv Outstanding.
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12/17/2007 - Clemonster wrote: 94 Points
This was funny to look at -- it had a slightly brown color, but the nose was a beautiful major chord. In the mouth it had lots of fresh fruit, soft round tannens and enough acid to balance it out. No detectable oak. super long mouth staining finish. Superb with grilled hanger steak. But *pricey*
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11/2/2007 - benny wrote: 95 Points
This is great wine. Wish I had a 12 pack. The nose is unique..like a fresh vineyard with spice box at the last. .Cherry and bright berry with nice tannins yet and a long finish that lingers with almost sweet spices. It seems perfect right now...may go long but I will never know because I drank the last bottle!
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6/10/2007 - ahgoodman wrote: 95 Points
Phenominal! great nose, beautiful fruit. wish I had 12 more!
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12/30/2006 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
A fantastic bottle of wine, drinking very well now. Rich and deep nose that foreshadows the palate, which is concentrated fruit within a great structure. Fine tannins that are not at all distracting. A very elegant Brunello. Brought over by FBM.
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7/24/2006 - flashvictor wrote: 94 Points
Medium ruby color with slight bricking at the edges leads to a nose of cherry and indian spice. The complex body delivers both power and finesse with layers of flavor including cherry, indian spice, blackberry and cedar. The finish lasts nearly a minute. Good Stuff!
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9/7/2002 - Zellao wrote: 92 Points
Rich nose and mouth. Blackberries and spices. Long finish.
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6/14/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Bright disc with deep (nearly opaque) ruby robe and red rim. Clean nose showing exotic spices, blackberries, mint, cedar and weedy ("brambly") overtone. Full-bodied, with ample but well-integrated tannins. Similar flavors as nose. Good acidity. Long, slightly tannic finish.
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