1986 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 92.2 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View forceberry's profile
  • Report Issue

  10/19/2021 - forceberry wrote: 91 Points

  13% alcohol. Tasted in Barbi Brunello 2010-1968 vertical.
  
  Evolved, moderately translucent maple syrup color with a deep reddish core. Fine-tuned and somewhat sweetish nose with aromas of raisins, some dried dates, light smoky notes of tar, a little bit of charred game and slightly animale funk, a hint of wild strawberry and a touch of blood. The wine feels ripe, silky and slightly sweet-toned on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and quite mature flavors of wizened sour cherries and ripe strawberries, some gamey tones, a little bit of raisiny dark fruit, light stony mineral tones, an oxidative hint of beef jerky and a touch of smoke. The overall feel is quite structured, more thanks to the high acidity than to the ample but quite resolved and silky tannins that contribute more to the texture. The finish is savory, somewhat grippy yet not tough or aggressive and quite lengthy with flavors of tart cranberries and sour cherry bitterness, some stony mineral tones, a little bit of old, cracking leather, light smoky notes of tar, a hint of tobacco and a touch of meat consommé.
  
  An evolved, tertiary and nuanced Brunello at its plateau of maturity. The wine feels fully mature, but it also shows quite a bit of depth and substance with still vibrant fruit that has not yet completely faded away. Some people seemed to find the smokier notes a bit disagreeable, but in my books this wine was in a terrific spot right now, showing great sense of balance between its fruit, body and more tertiary flavors. Most likely the wine has been peaking for many years now, probably even for a decade, and it won't stay this good for much longer, but I doubt the wine will fall apart just yet. Drink now or in the near future.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View DGT83's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/14/2018 - DGT83 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Opened two bottles, one had cork taint, the other was great. Commenting on the great one.
  
  Lots of cooked black berries, dried plum, raisins, little leather, little dark chocolate - overall very smooth and very nice to drink. Not sure if it will get any better in a couple of years - I would drink now.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View _water.into.wine_'s profile
  • Report Issue

  4/19/2018 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Still in great shape and with life ahead of it. Was much better chilled than at room temperature. Some very nice strawberries and red fruits remaining.
  
  *Drank with Steve and Megan at Noble Rot in London to celebrate their engagement (M also born in 86)

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View _water.into.wine_'s profile
  • Report Issue

  10/1/2017 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Dark red core with slight bricking starting to appear.
  Surprisingly young with lots of fruit still dominating the flavours. This was a very good wine and clearly lots of life left. It was better with 1 hour in the decanter.
  Drink now to 2022+
  
  Drank with my sister, and bother/sister in law in KL

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.