SangioFest, Volume III "It's my favourite spot" (Chicago, IL): Still chasing that high from the 2019 bottle at Bebu. This was an excellent bottle, but still not at the level of that legendary bottle. The people at that dinner still talk about it to this day. It's a very typical Cerbaiona with a dark, rustic profile and just the right amount of volatility to accent a fairly ripe and intense wine. Great acidity to balance the very generous fruit here, with again that dusty quality that defines Molinari-era Cerbaiona.
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Same bottle as Melvin. His note captures this wine very well. For added context on the bottle, as it was mine. Opened at 6 pm and left in the fridge standing till 10 pm (first pour), decanted, and finished the bottle at 12:30am (last glass). This needs a good 2 hours in the decanter to show well at the current stage—long, long life ahead, aging more like a 1st growth Bordeaux than other Brunellos.
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Initially thought Nebbiolo from mid-2000s because of the grippy tannins and in spite of its youthful structure. Didn’t rule out Sangiovese since I always confuse the two varietals, but when given a clue that I had the wine before, but not with the person who brought it, I got the wine at first guess which I was quite proud of haha.
Similar impressions to before - incredibly brooding and tannic at first, needed time to coax the perfumed, deep, dark-fruited nose and elegance out. Not as much VA or as pretty as other vintages, but one that is built to last. To me, an absolute masterpiece of a wine that needs more time. Not surprisingly, the last glass was the best (but I left earlier unfortunately).
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Perhaps the slightest, ephemeral pruny note on the palate - but I mention it only for completeness, not because the wine was meaningfully less enjoyable than it ever is. Consistent with previous tasting notes, and still lovely.
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Very crunchy and youthful but with time in the glass revealed gorgeous dark cherry fruit with notes of charred wood and dark spices. Quite structured still and should benefit from further aging. The finish is intense and complex with notes of crunchy minerals and more wood-spice. Very impressive Brunello. 94+
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4/27/2024 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
SangioFest, Volume III "It's my favourite spot" (Chicago, IL): Still chasing that high from the 2019 bottle at Bebu. This was an excellent bottle, but still not at the level of that legendary bottle. The people at that dinner still talk about it to this day. It's a very typical Cerbaiona with a dark, rustic profile and just the right amount of volatility to accent a fairly ripe and intense wine. Great acidity to balance the very generous fruit here, with again that dusty quality that defines Molinari-era Cerbaiona.
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2/18/2024 - Dibbs Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same bottle as Melvin. His note captures this wine very well. For added context on the bottle, as it was mine. Opened at 6 pm and left in the fridge standing till 10 pm (first pour), decanted, and finished the bottle at 12:30am (last glass). This needs a good 2 hours in the decanter to show well at the current stage—long, long life ahead, aging more like a 1st growth Bordeaux than other Brunellos.
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2/17/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote: 95 Points
Initially thought Nebbiolo from mid-2000s because of the grippy tannins and in spite of its youthful structure. Didn’t rule out Sangiovese since I always confuse the two varietals, but when given a clue that I had the wine before, but not with the person who brought it, I got the wine at first guess which I was quite proud of haha.
Similar impressions to before - incredibly brooding and tannic at first, needed time to coax the perfumed, deep, dark-fruited nose and elegance out. Not as much VA or as pretty as other vintages, but one that is built to last. To me, an absolute masterpiece of a wine that needs more time. Not surprisingly, the last glass was the best (but I left earlier unfortunately).
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1/8/2024 - jshufelt wrote: 94 Points
Perhaps the slightest, ephemeral pruny note on the palate - but I mention it only for completeness, not because the wine was meaningfully less enjoyable than it ever is. Consistent with previous tasting notes, and still lovely.
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9/24/2023 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very crunchy and youthful but with time in the glass revealed gorgeous dark cherry fruit with notes of charred wood and dark spices. Quite structured still and should benefit from further aging. The finish is intense and complex with notes of crunchy minerals and more wood-spice. Very impressive Brunello. 94+
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