A traditionally made brunello aged in large Slovenian oak barrels. Not decanted. Moderate tannins with notes of dark red fruit, cherries and a medium oakiness. 92 points.
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decanted 2 hrs and was still tight but drank well enough. after 24 hrs there was very little left but acidity. Mediocre wine in mediocre year, drink up.
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My first bottle since December, 2012. Consistent with my prior notes. It is absolutely crucial to give this at least an hour of air time. Until then it is very closed and unyielding. Once it has finally opened up, this is medium-to-full-bodied and very silky in texture, showing good depth to its delicious, tangy cherry and plum fruit. Nicely balanced, with a moderate acidity. Finishes with fine length and velvety tannins that are fully integrated. Drinks extremely well for a sub-$25 Brunello. 50+5+12+16+7=90
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The best thing about this wine is its floral bouquet -- it is subtle but solid, with aromas of red fruit slightly touched by oak. On the palate this wine is very evolved -- just a trace of tannins and a hint of acidity keep it from becoming flabby. Nicely smooth and understated, the only thing that prevents me from from rating it higher is a slightly acrid finish, which luckily doesn't last long. Drink up.
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much improved in the past 3 years since last bottle was consumed. decanted for an hour, nice fruits, balanced & long finish. very enjoyable for an inexpensive brunello.
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90-91. My last bottle. The 3-4 I've had over the past 4-5 years got better each time. Not sure if it was more my tastes changing or the bottle. This is probably near its peak now
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PnD let air for 2hrs. Dark dense crimson with garnet rim. Dusty cherries fried cherries sage blood and tobacco on the nose. Medium(-) with perfectly brewed black tea tannins. A riot of cherry (dried, sour, Bing) on the palate with porcini and herbs. Lingering herbal cherry cough drop finish. Wow this is holding up really well. Will save last bottle for another year or two.
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Though most of the fruit here has faded, 20 minutes of air really brings this back to life with a soft, mature complexity and plenty of vivacity considering how gentle this is. Drink now.
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After about a half hour in the class opened up into a beautiful wine; classic Brunello flavors slightly on the lighter side; a winner, and drinking beautifully right now.
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Tight for first 30 minutes, then hold on to your seat! Herbs, earth and a sweet creamy nose. Beautiful balance of red fruit, earth, mineral and spice. This wine has aged so well and is a rockstar in my book. On the lighter side for Brunello but so full of flavor and character. All of this for <$20 = apr winner. Paired exceptionally well with my first Flannery steak.
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continues to improve with some time in the bottle. A bit more depth and complexity, but still on the lighter sinde of the spectrum. My last bottle though.
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A nice brunello, but nothing spectacular. On the second night, it was no longer any good, which is unusual for a brunello in my experience. Perhaps its past its peak.
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For $20 quite simply a bargain. I don't think I've had a wine with such impressive depth and fruit for the price. Drank very well, smooth and strong with a reasonably long finish.
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Great wine. Popped the cork about 3-4 hrs before consuming. Paired with Osso Buco, creamy polenta, butter nut squash, and roasted parsnips. Surprisingly, this wine went best with the parsnips, however, it went well with everything we had. Earthy with mushrooms on the nose that transformed into fruit and spice. Very juicy. The palate was the same as the nose, in that it transformed into a somewhat fruit forward wine after it opened up. Very enjoyable wine and even more so because of the QPR. Cannot wait to enjoy the other bottles of this that I have.
This seemed notably oakier than the last bottle we had, and there were some unpleasant "green" elements to the oak that we found rather off-putting. We opened it and had a glass before we sat down to dinner; it definitely better paired with food than by itself. Disappointing compared to the previous bottle.
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Really enjoyed this even though it is a bit oakier than we normally prefer. Good fruit and very pleasant mouthfeel. The oak, although definitely present, was subdued and not overwhelming. Quite impressed, especially at the price.
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Drinking well right now. This is my fourth bottle over past year. Nice Brunello and unbelievable QPR at $20/bottle from Wine Library. Typical old style Brunello. Cherry and some vanilla on the nose, nice mouth feel, sweet and tart at the same time, very nice. Wonderful with spaghetti with Italian sweet sausage. The 2005 is hard to find so look for the 2006, which is rated 93 by WS, excellent Brunello at the right price.
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Acidity level seems a bit too high, making it taste a bit like vinegar, but there are some dusty and floral aromas that are appealing. Score based on $20.
Second day was better.
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Great right out of bottle. Nicely balanced fruit, earth and tannins and paired perfectly with pasta/tomato sauce and a vinaigrette. Italian wines are made to enjoy with food!
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See previous notes. This was the best of the three bottles I've had and I'd say to drink up. More of a rustic style with sour red fruit, earth, and light floral notes. Tannins and acid are in balance. Went great with baked rigatoni with red sauce.
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Really nice old style Brunello. Decanted for 3 hours and opened up nicely. Violet and a little bit of Tuscan dirt on the nose. On the palate, sour cherry and nice rounded tannins. Great QPR.
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Consistent with my previous note from February, but just a bit better this time. Definitely needs a two hour decanting before it opens up. A very fragrant, floral nose which also shows plenty of Sangio funk. Medium-to-full-bodied and just loaded with Sangiovese character. The palate has tremendous depth, with lots of sour cherry and plum fruit along with a vibrant acidity. Not particularly complex - but long, delicious and satisfying. A very nice Brunello and a terrific bargain at less than $25. 50+5+12+15+8=90
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Uninspiring, but that's what i paid for. Never quite opened up, despite having popped cork nearly 3 hours beforehand. The remaining several bottles won't be considered for another couple years, at which time I'm hopeful that it will be much improved. Still in all, fruit was decent despite some astringency.
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The nose shows smoky dark fruits, leather, cigar box/tobacco and slightly earthy notes. The palate is medium + bodied and shows more red fruits than the nose, partly due to the firm acidity that comes through on the finish. There are also some slightly chalky tannins, which add structure but are well balanced by the acidity. The nose is very appealing, and although on the palate it is well balanced, it needs just a little more time (1-2 years) to soften and develop a little bit more complexity on the palate. If drinking now, give it some air and some food....pasta bolognese would be a good pick.
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4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Rich & Dana's): Deep crimson core, turning much lighter toward the meniscus. Lovely bouquet featuring black fruit, lavender, rose petals, tobacco and red currant. Medium-bodied, with a nice mix of red and black fruit on the palate, as well as flavors of herbs and white pepper. Lengthy finish. Quite a bit of acid too- needs food- guessed Sangiovese.
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Had this for the first time about a year ago. Was not a huge fan, probably would have gone with an 86. I feel that this has made significant improvement over the last year. It's opened up a bit. I see this getting better for the next year or so. 88+
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This is the second night in a row that I am opening a "bargain basement" Brunello. Last night it was the 2006 Tenuta di Sesta which drank extremely well for a young, under $30 Brunello. Let's see how the $20 Vitanza 2005 Tradizione does. Please be sure to give this wine at least a 2 hour decanting or you will likely be disappointed. Shows a nice dark crimson color in the glass, and once it opens up, a really powerful nose of fruit, spice and leather. Not a blockbuster Brunello, this is medium-to-full-bodied, but for a 2005 it's well balanced and surprisingly delicate and refined. The fruit, acidity and subtle tannins on the pleasantly long finish combine to make this quite appealing. The 2006 Tenuta di Sesta is a slightly better wine from a better vintage, but this is no slouch. The bottom line is that this is a very good Brunello for the price of a Rosso di Montalcino. How can you beat that? 50+5+12+14+8=89
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slightly better than my last bottle, but took some time to open up.. again starty out pretty thin and austere, opened up a little with time, but still not quite what I expect from a BdM. While young, I also don't see it achieving anything special with another 5 years or anything.. but also hard to complain since its still drinks well for the price point.
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A cheap, probably overcropped, young vine Brunello, entitled to the appellation but little more. Simple, rustic, drinkable and may hold for a couple of years. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
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Promising nose of red fruit and tobacco. Super tight on the palate with not much flavor to speak of….just tannin and very high acid. Did not live up to the nose. I’m hoping this is shut down and I won’t touch my last bottle for at least 4-5 years. Disappointing.
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This may be an unfair rating as my cork was stained to the end, but this wine was thin and very uninteresting. I would not buy again at any price. It tasted like a thin, cheap Chianti.
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Splash decanted and drank within a half hour. A bit of air helps, but I'm not seeing much further development over the next two hours. A fair amount of non-specific red fruit balanced with the right amount of tannin. A bit light bodied. Nice wine, but not great brunello. Something is missing that I can't quite put my finger on. 89 points scored on it's own, not against a brunello "standard".
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I will echo Kahuna's comments on this wine.. nose was actually pretty good, but the palate never lived up to it, being thinner and lighter than I would expect froma BdM. Not a bad wine, considering price paid, but also doesn't seem like a Brunello... it did improve some, having saved half overnight, but it wasn't a huge improvement.
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Consistent with my last bottle. Again, got better and fleshed out a bit as the bottle was open. Would recommend a nice decant... Simple but pretty tasty. Mrs. Coupe thought it was very good.
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This particular Brunello is more about restraint and elegance than it is about massive fruit and body, but it's a very nicely balanced wine with a nice mix of fruit, floral and earth tones to it. Wonderful with a slow-cooked brisket. 90.
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Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, leather and spice. Medium-bodied fruit in the mouth with very good structure and depth. The wine is still a bit young with not fully integrated tannins and a little tight on the finish. Try again in 2-3 years.
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light bodied and seems older than a 2005- nice cherry and floral nose and the body carried through with some muted cherry and was a bit thin and added some leather and moderate acidity along the way - On the initial glass I thought this was not even worth the $19 buy in- it fleshed out some more but still felt it was simple- I like the reserved style but did feel it lacked the secondary flavors though I did start to get some earthy mushroom coming out on the last half glass-
Next bottle will get a good decant
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So beautiful... especially at the price of $20 that I paid.. It has this wonderful dried flowers, plum and cherries on the nose. A bit of bitter tannins on the palate (I admit this wine is better on the nose than palate) 14% alcohol is really well integrated. I'm extremely sensitive to alcohol, but I don't feel the heat here. (I consider 14% to be high) I wouldn't recommend this to new-world-fruit-bomb-heads. Quite dry.
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PnP, and had with Pasta dinner. Drank over next 90 minutes. Little funk on the nose, that blew off after a while. Light bodied especially upon opening, with tart cherry and some leather. Good acidity. Much better in the last glass, as the wine really fleshed out a bit more and had a better more fuller mouthfeeel. Pretty enjoyable wine at a good price. I liked it. Could actually add a point or even two with a couple of hour decant, or more time sideways.
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I generally have a rule that I don't touch BDM until it's 10 years past it's vintage date....that is a good rule! at least in this case. Well made wine that I drank too young. Decanted for 3 hours. Nose of acetone, dried cherry. changing cherry cool aid, currant, tin acids, hard tannins...really needs a lot of time to mellow and integrate. score is a future speculative score and not how it's drinking now. Don't touch til 2015.
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PnVnD let air for 5hrs. Purple crimson not saturated with a crimson rim. Huge nose of dried cherries and cranberries with earth and leather. Medium(-) weight with spicy cranberry mid-palate. Fresh black cherry, raspberry and cranberry with a touch of porcini and espresso. Nice grippy fruit skin and espresso finish. Vibrant and balanced. Drinks well now with air and still has lots of life ahead. Should have bought more.
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Didn't take specific notes on this bottle, but we loved it. Paired wonderful with our Italian meal and opened up with air. Looking forward to the next two bottles we have left. Aloha!
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I do like this style with more of a dried flower and red fruit profile. The acid is a little too prominent and with a meal is the way to go at this point in time. I'm thinking a couple of years on its side should do this wonders and I'll look back with satisfaction at my $20 Brunelllo.
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More of a Traditional style, I guess thats why they called it "Tradizione". Ripe cherry, floral, tobacco and some licorice round out this Brunello. This is somewhat tannic so if you are opening this soon decant it. Otherwise give it 3-5 years.
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Popped and poured. Initial nose had a stink. Thanksfully, I opened this in the comforts of my house so I let it breathe in glass. The wine had a nice transformation from smelly to nice cherry and strawberry. Ripe Red fruit on the palate with strawberries dominating. Some nice oak on the finish that wasn't overwhelming and good amounts of acidity. Needs time to fill out. If my impressions were only from the first 10 minutes, this wine would've been a pretty bad wine. Instead, it opened up and was very nice. B+ for now with possibility of getting better in the future. Bargain at $19 from Wine Ex.
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Definitely not a pop n pour wine. Quite lean and acidic, but ok with the right food. Filled out a little by day 2, but didn't have much volume, complexity, or length. I'll let my other ones sit for a while.
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Aromas of baked cherry, strawberry, anise and vanilla. Lively acid with ripe tannins, this wine is clearly still young. There is a sense of dryness on the finish, so it makes me wonder if it will really stand the test of time.
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Bought on the basis of the runaway hit that was the 04 Brunello. Tradizione is a new designation this year - dont know if this is the lesser or better of the 2 but its worthy of a good QPR. Dont pop n pour - did that last night and thought I'd made a mistake. Left it in the glass for around 90 minutes and it was transformed. Definitely Brunello - its taste profile is a little sharper than the 04s, but then this is the first 05 I have had. Is it old world? Is it Tradizione? I dont know yet - but the purchase (based on this initial impression) wasnt a mistake - phew! Vitanza does it again.
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P & P'ed first night and was a mistake. Rough around edges and a little bitter. Recorked and next night much better, all rough egdes gone and no bitterness. Enjoyed immensely and a bargain at less than $20.
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Quite a lovely wine. Decanted an hour. Still very young, but shows amazingly well with lots of balanced fruit and acidity leading to a long finish. Will develop complexity over time, but for the price, this drinks very well right now.
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Tested from a preservation machine. Clean well-balanced spicy cool mix of red fruit. Plummy smoky leathery nose. In the mouth ripe neither sweet nor sour fruit (plum, berry, cherry) balanced against acid, mineral, a touch of smoke, hints of nuts. Finishes in balance. Dry. Body medium, acid medium, tannin medium or lower. Great QPR and a winner for upscale dining.
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4/9/2020 - JRagsdale Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious. Still has plenty of time left. 36 months in 30% French and 70% Slovenian barrels. additional 6 months in bottle
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3/6/2019 - Pipcelot wrote: 89 Points
Good structure, little fruit. Nothing memorable.
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1/3/2018 - df1962 wrote: 86 Points
PnD. Earthy dried cherry on the nose. Dried cherry. Thin finish. Dried out and a bit past it but still has some present and remembered charm.
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1/21/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
A traditionally made brunello aged in large Slovenian oak barrels. Not decanted. Moderate tannins with notes of dark red fruit, cherries and a medium oakiness. 92 points.
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12/24/2016 - hermann wrote: flawed
corked - down the drain!
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10/19/2016 - floating_cellar wrote: 88 Points
decanted 2 hrs and was still tight but drank well enough. after 24 hrs there was very little left but acidity. Mediocre wine in mediocre year, drink up.
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1/27/2016 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 90 Points
My first bottle since December, 2012. Consistent with my prior notes. It is absolutely crucial to give this at least an hour of air time. Until then it is very closed and unyielding. Once it has finally opened up, this is medium-to-full-bodied and very silky in texture, showing good depth to its delicious, tangy cherry and plum fruit. Nicely balanced, with a moderate acidity. Finishes with fine length and velvety tannins that are fully integrated. Drinks extremely well for a sub-$25 Brunello.
50+5+12+16+7=90
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1/8/2016 - floating_cellar wrote: 89 Points
Subtle but solid.. Says it all.
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11/1/2015 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 88 Points
The best thing about this wine is its floral bouquet -- it is subtle but solid, with aromas of red fruit slightly touched by oak. On the palate this wine is very evolved -- just a trace of tannins and a hint of acidity keep it from becoming flabby. Nicely smooth and understated, the only thing that prevents me from from rating it higher is a slightly acrid finish, which luckily doesn't last long. Drink up.
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10/5/2015 - hermann Likes this wine: 89 Points
much improved in the past 3 years since last bottle was consumed. decanted for an hour, nice fruits, balanced & long finish. very enjoyable for an inexpensive brunello.
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5/17/2015 - Dar3 wrote: 90 Points
90-91. My last bottle. The 3-4 I've had over the past 4-5 years got better each time. Not sure if it was more my tastes changing or the bottle. This is probably near its peak now
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2/15/2015 - df1962 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnD let air for 2hrs. Dark dense crimson with garnet rim. Dusty cherries fried cherries sage blood and tobacco on the nose. Medium(-) with perfectly brewed black tea tannins. A riot of cherry (dried, sour, Bing) on the palate with porcini and herbs. Lingering herbal cherry cough drop finish. Wow this is holding up really well. Will save last bottle for another year or two.
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2/11/2015 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Though most of the fruit here has faded, 20 minutes of air really brings this back to life with a soft, mature complexity and plenty of vivacity considering how gentle this is. Drink now.
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1/2/2015 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light wine, but with medium finish, sour cherry, earthy Sangiovese nose, good for the price.
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4/27/2014 - ctbob Likes this wine:
After about a half hour in the class opened up into a beautiful wine; classic Brunello flavors slightly on the lighter side; a winner, and drinking beautifully right now.
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3/22/2014 - SoCal wrote:
Perfectly serviceable and enjoyable for the price but far from excellent for me.
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3/16/2014 - tbone wrote:
Tight for first 30 minutes, then hold on to your seat! Herbs, earth and a sweet creamy nose. Beautiful balance of red fruit, earth, mineral and spice. This wine has aged so well and is a rockstar in my book. On the lighter side for Brunello but so full of flavor and character. All of this for <$20 = apr winner. Paired exceptionally well with my first Flannery steak.
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2/24/2014 - Grape_ape Likes this wine: 89 Points
continues to improve with some time in the bottle. A bit more depth and complexity, but still on the lighter sinde of the spectrum. My last bottle though.
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2/16/2014 - Quarked wrote: 88 Points
A nice brunello, but nothing spectacular. On the second night, it was no longer any good, which is unusual for a brunello in my experience. Perhaps its past its peak.
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11/24/2013 - slippytoad Likes this wine: 91 Points
For $20 quite simply a bargain. I don't think I've had a wine with such impressive depth and fruit for the price. Drank very well, smooth and strong with a reasonably long finish.
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10/4/2013 - j.squared Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine. Popped the cork about 3-4 hrs before consuming. Paired with Osso Buco, creamy polenta, butter nut squash, and roasted parsnips. Surprisingly, this wine went best with the parsnips, however, it went well with everything we had. Earthy with mushrooms on the nose that transformed into fruit and spice. Very juicy. The palate was the same as the nose, in that it transformed into a somewhat fruit forward wine after it opened up. Very enjoyable wine and even more so because of the QPR. Cannot wait to enjoy the other bottles of this that I have.
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9/10/2013 - Sijan wrote: 87 Points
This seemed notably oakier than the last bottle we had, and there were some unpleasant "green" elements to the oak that we found rather off-putting. We opened it and had a glass before we sat down to dinner; it definitely better paired with food than by itself. Disappointing compared to the previous bottle.
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5/3/2013 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 91 Points
This opened up nicely during the course of the meal. I agree with Garyhohio that this is an impressive QPR.
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5/1/2013 - Sijan wrote: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this even though it is a bit oakier than we normally prefer. Good fruit and very pleasant mouthfeel. The oak, although definitely present, was subdued and not overwhelming. Quite impressed, especially at the price.
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4/29/2013 - GaryHOhio wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well right now. This is my fourth bottle over past year. Nice Brunello and unbelievable QPR at $20/bottle from Wine Library.
Typical old style Brunello. Cherry and some vanilla on the nose, nice mouth feel, sweet and tart at the same time, very nice. Wonderful with spaghetti with Italian sweet sausage.
The 2005 is hard to find so look for the 2006, which is rated 93 by WS, excellent Brunello at the right price.
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4/27/2013 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Consistent with previous notes. Holding up well.
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3/17/2013 - Number51 wrote: 88 Points
Acidity level seems a bit too high, making it taste a bit like vinegar, but there are some dusty and floral aromas that are appealing. Score based on $20.
Second day was better.
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2/8/2013 - tbone wrote:
Great right out of bottle. Nicely balanced fruit, earth and tannins and paired perfectly with pasta/tomato sauce and a vinaigrette. Italian wines are made to enjoy with food!
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1/28/2013 - Bricks wrote: 89 Points
drinking well now. medium bodied with a nice feel. didn't blow me away, but i enjoyed
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1/8/2013 - pete s. wrote: 88 Points
See previous notes. This was the best of the three bottles I've had and I'd say to drink up. More of a rustic style with sour red fruit, earth, and light floral notes. Tannins and acid are in balance. Went great with baked rigatoni with red sauce.
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12/25/2012 - bikechef wrote: 89 Points
Really nice old style Brunello. Decanted for 3 hours and opened up nicely. Violet and a little bit of Tuscan dirt on the nose. On the palate, sour cherry and nice rounded tannins. Great QPR.
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12/14/2012 - Bam_Man wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with my previous note from February, but just a bit better this time. Definitely needs a two hour decanting before it opens up. A very fragrant, floral nose which also shows plenty of Sangio funk. Medium-to-full-bodied and just loaded with Sangiovese character. The palate has tremendous depth, with lots of sour cherry and plum fruit along with a vibrant acidity. Not particularly complex - but long, delicious and satisfying. A very nice Brunello and a terrific bargain at less than $25.
50+5+12+15+8=90
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12/9/2012 - RobRhone wrote: 86 Points
Nice food complement. Not much fruit, more leather
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12/3/2012 - SMZ wrote: 90 Points
Much better a year later than the last bottle; but still lacking some flavor
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10/27/2012 - hermann wrote: 86 Points
Uninspiring, but that's what i paid for. Never quite opened up, despite having popped cork nearly 3 hours beforehand. The remaining several bottles won't be considered for another couple years, at which time I'm hopeful that it will be much improved. Still in all, fruit was decent despite some astringency.
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8/18/2012 - davidga75 wrote:
The nose shows smoky dark fruits, leather, cigar box/tobacco and slightly earthy notes. The palate is medium + bodied and shows more red fruits than the nose, partly due to the firm acidity that comes through on the finish. There are also some slightly chalky tannins, which add structure but are well balanced by the acidity. The nose is very appealing, and although on the palate it is well balanced, it needs just a little more time (1-2 years) to soften and develop a little bit more complexity on the palate. If drinking now, give it some air and some food....pasta bolognese would be a good pick.
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7/28/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Rich & Dana's): Deep crimson core, turning much lighter toward the meniscus. Lovely bouquet featuring black fruit, lavender, rose petals, tobacco and red currant. Medium-bodied, with a nice mix of red and black fruit on the palate, as well as flavors of herbs and white pepper. Lengthy finish. Quite a bit of acid too- needs food- guessed Sangiovese.
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6/21/2012 - andtheodor wrote: 86 Points
Brunello: Vanilla, cherry, cream soda, wood, christmas spice. Modern and not particularly interesting.
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5/20/2012 - gailq wrote:
Delicous
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3/10/2012 - ctbob wrote:
Still young and tightly wound, but opened over time time opened up into a v, v nice wine; should last for awhile
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2/15/2012 - Dar3 wrote: 88 Points
Had this for the first time about a year ago. Was not a huge fan, probably would have gone with an 86. I feel that this has made significant improvement over the last year. It's opened up a bit. I see this getting better for the next year or so. 88+
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2/14/2012 - jdoakpark wrote: 87 Points
Tight and not very approachable.....took time to open up and did not show well.
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2/10/2012 - Bam_Man wrote: 89 Points
This is the second night in a row that I am opening a "bargain basement" Brunello. Last night it was the 2006 Tenuta di Sesta which drank extremely well for a young, under $30 Brunello. Let's see how the $20 Vitanza 2005 Tradizione does. Please be sure to give this wine at least a 2 hour decanting or you will likely be disappointed. Shows a nice dark crimson color in the glass, and once it opens up, a really powerful nose of fruit, spice and leather. Not a blockbuster Brunello, this is medium-to-full-bodied, but for a 2005 it's well balanced and surprisingly delicate and refined. The fruit, acidity and subtle tannins on the pleasantly long finish combine to make this quite appealing. The 2006 Tenuta di Sesta is a slightly better wine from a better vintage, but this is no slouch. The bottom line is that this is a very good Brunello for the price of a Rosso di Montalcino. How can you beat that?
50+5+12+14+8=89
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2/9/2012 - Grape_ape wrote: 88 Points
slightly better than my last bottle, but took some time to open up.. again starty out pretty thin and austere, opened up a little with time, but still not quite what I expect from a BdM. While young, I also don't see it achieving anything special with another 5 years or anything.. but also hard to complain since its still drinks well for the price point.
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11/22/2011 - Vinomane wrote: 84 Points
A cheap, probably overcropped, young vine Brunello, entitled to the appellation but little more. Simple, rustic, drinkable and may hold for a couple of years. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
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11/20/2011 - pete s. wrote: 86 Points
Promising nose of red fruit and tobacco. Super tight on the palate with not much flavor to speak of….just tannin and very high acid. Did not live up to the nose. I’m hoping this is shut down and I won’t touch my last bottle for at least 4-5 years. Disappointing.
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11/18/2011 - RDHudak wrote: 84 Points
This may be an unfair rating as my cork was stained to the end, but this wine was thin and very uninteresting. I would not buy again at any price. It tasted like a thin, cheap Chianti.
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11/5/2011 - BrunelloBob wrote: 89 Points
Splash decanted and drank within a half hour. A bit of air helps, but I'm not seeing much further development over the next two hours.
A fair amount of non-specific red fruit balanced with the right amount of tannin. A bit light bodied. Nice wine, but not great brunello. Something is missing that I can't quite put my finger on. 89 points scored on it's own, not against a brunello "standard".
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10/28/2011 - Grape_ape wrote: 87 Points
I will echo Kahuna's comments on this wine.. nose was actually pretty good, but the palate never lived up to it, being thinner and lighter than I would expect froma BdM. Not a bad wine, considering price paid, but also doesn't seem like a Brunello... it did improve some, having saved half overnight, but it wasn't a huge improvement.
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10/14/2011 - SMZ wrote: 89 Points
Not much better than the last bottle; missing that kick that would propel this wine into the 90 point range
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10/8/2011 - Coupe 60 wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with my last bottle. Again, got better and fleshed out a bit as the bottle was open. Would recommend a nice decant... Simple but pretty tasty. Mrs. Coupe thought it was very good.
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9/29/2011 - jmull wrote: 90 Points
This particular Brunello is more about restraint and elegance than it is about massive fruit and body, but it's a very nicely balanced wine with a nice mix of fruit, floral and earth tones to it. Wonderful with a slow-cooked brisket. 90.
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9/24/2011 - ctbob wrote:
This bottle was in a v.v. nice spot... not a dark and brooding Brunello; classy and well-structured
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8/26/2011 - hsacks wrote: 90 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of black cherries, leather and spice. Medium-bodied fruit in the mouth with very good structure and depth. The wine is still a bit young with not fully integrated tannins and a little tight on the finish. Try again in 2-3 years.
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8/20/2011 - kahuna75 wrote: 87 Points
light bodied and seems older than a 2005- nice cherry and floral nose and the body carried through with some muted cherry and was a bit thin and added some leather and moderate acidity along the way - On the initial glass I thought this was not even worth the $19 buy in- it fleshed out some more but still felt it was simple- I like the reserved style but did feel it lacked the secondary flavors though I did start to get some earthy mushroom coming out on the last half glass-
Next bottle will get a good decant
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8/6/2011 - ctbob wrote:
In a good spot, but still developing, I'd say
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8/5/2011 - Number51 wrote: 92 Points
So beautiful... especially at the price of $20 that I paid..
It has this wonderful dried flowers, plum and cherries on the nose.
A bit of bitter tannins on the palate (I admit this wine is better on the nose than palate)
14% alcohol is really well integrated. I'm extremely sensitive to alcohol, but I don't feel the heat here. (I consider 14% to be high)
I wouldn't recommend this to new-world-fruit-bomb-heads.
Quite dry.
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7/12/2011 - jimitt01 wrote: 89 Points
Needs air for now, let it sit for a couple more years and I think it will pay off.
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7/4/2011 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
good...had with NY steak....
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6/26/2011 - Wamrod wrote: 90 Points
Drank very nicely, tho still young. Will be even better in a couple of years.
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6/10/2011 - Coupe 60 wrote: 88 Points
PnP, and had with Pasta dinner. Drank over next 90 minutes. Little funk on the nose, that blew off after a while. Light bodied especially upon opening, with tart cherry and some leather. Good acidity. Much better in the last glass, as the wine really fleshed out a bit more and had a better more fuller mouthfeeel. Pretty enjoyable wine at a good price. I liked it. Could actually add a point or even two with a couple of hour decant, or more time sideways.
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5/15/2011 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
I generally have a rule that I don't touch BDM until it's 10 years past it's vintage date....that is a good rule! at least in this case. Well made wine that I drank too young. Decanted for 3 hours. Nose of acetone, dried cherry. changing cherry cool aid, currant, tin acids, hard tannins...really needs a lot of time to mellow and integrate. score is a future speculative score and not how it's drinking now. Don't touch til 2015.
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5/15/2011 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnVnD let air for 5hrs. Purple crimson not saturated with a crimson rim. Huge nose of dried cherries and cranberries with earth and leather. Medium(-) weight with spicy cranberry mid-palate. Fresh black cherry, raspberry and cranberry with a touch of porcini and espresso. Nice grippy fruit skin and espresso finish. Vibrant and balanced. Drinks well now with air and still has lots of life ahead. Should have bought more.
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5/15/2011 - bg3034 wrote:
Didn't take specific notes on this bottle, but we loved it. Paired wonderful with our Italian meal and opened up with air. Looking forward to the next two bottles we have left. Aloha!
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5/1/2011 - cabdrinker wrote:
Paired perfectly with the news of Osama being killed!
100 pts.
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4/30/2011 - pete s. wrote: 88 Points
I do like this style with more of a dried flower and red fruit profile. The acid is a little too prominent and with a meal is the way to go at this point in time. I'm thinking a couple of years on its side should do this wonders and I'll look back with satisfaction at my $20 Brunelllo.
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4/22/2011 - jdoakpark wrote: 90 Points
ripe dark cherry and leather tobacco. lighter bodied brunello....nice
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4/13/2011 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 88 Points
More of a Traditional style, I guess thats why they called it "Tradizione". Ripe cherry, floral, tobacco and some licorice round out this Brunello. This is somewhat tannic so if you are opening this soon decant it. Otherwise give it 3-5 years.
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4/12/2011 - jimitt01 wrote: 88 Points
OK wine, a little lite bodied from any Brunello's that I have had. Good with food, not sure on it's own.
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4/4/2011 - Bricks wrote: 87 Points
Enjoyed it however was expecting more depth. Will wait to try another bottle and see if it will open up a bit with time.
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3/26/2011 - monkeylug wrote: 92 Points
Lovely Brunello, with strawberry, cherry, leather and meat. Incredible value.
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2/13/2011 - hudamang wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Initial nose had a stink. Thanksfully, I opened this in the comforts of my house so I let it breathe in glass. The wine had a nice transformation from smelly to nice cherry and strawberry. Ripe Red fruit on the palate with strawberries dominating. Some nice oak on the finish that wasn't overwhelming and good amounts of acidity. Needs time to fill out. If my impressions were only from the first 10 minutes, this wine would've been a pretty bad wine. Instead, it opened up and was very nice. B+ for now with possibility of getting better in the future. Bargain at $19 from Wine Ex.
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2/12/2011 - wp888 wrote: 86 Points
Definitely not a pop n pour wine. Quite lean and acidic, but ok with the right food. Filled out a little by day 2, but didn't have much volume, complexity, or length. I'll let my other ones sit for a while.
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2/2/2011 - wickedwax wrote:
Aromas of baked cherry, strawberry, anise and vanilla. Lively acid with ripe tannins, this wine is clearly still young. There is a sense of dryness on the finish, so it makes me wonder if it will really stand the test of time.
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12/15/2010 - sswine wrote: 90 Points
Bought on the basis of the runaway hit that was the 04 Brunello. Tradizione is a new designation this year - dont know if this is the lesser or better of the 2 but its worthy of a good QPR.
Dont pop n pour - did that last night and thought I'd made a mistake. Left it in the glass for around 90 minutes and it was transformed. Definitely Brunello - its taste profile is a little sharper than the 04s, but then this is the first 05 I have had. Is it old world? Is it Tradizione? I dont know yet - but the purchase (based on this initial impression) wasnt a mistake - phew! Vitanza does it again.
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12/14/2010 - travelculture wrote: 75 Points
This much-hyped wine was sour and only borderline drinkable upon opening. Improved modestly with air. Tasted more than one bottle. Not recommended.
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11/19/2010 - tbone wrote:
P & P'ed first night and was a mistake. Rough around edges and a little bitter. Recorked and next night much better, all rough egdes gone and no bitterness. Enjoyed immensely and a bargain at less than $20.
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11/19/2010 - toddb wrote: 90 Points
Still young for a 2005. Decant about an hour before serving.
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11/15/2010 - monkeylug wrote: 93 Points
Quite a lovely wine. Decanted an hour. Still very young, but shows amazingly well with lots of balanced fruit and acidity leading to a long finish. Will develop complexity over time, but for the price, this drinks very well right now.
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11/7/2010 - ctbob wrote:
Still young.
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10/18/2010 - vanpe003 wrote:
No detailed notes, but drinking very well on Day 3, maybe even better than when originally opened. Nice pairing with stromboli.
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10/16/2010 - dynowine wrote: 90 Points
Tested from a preservation machine. Clean well-balanced spicy cool mix of red fruit. Plummy smoky leathery nose. In the mouth ripe neither sweet nor sour fruit (plum, berry, cherry) balanced against acid, mineral, a touch of smoke, hints of nuts. Finishes in balance. Dry. Body medium, acid medium, tannin medium or lower. Great QPR and a winner for upscale dining.
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