1997 Montevertine Il Sodaccio

Community Tasting Notes (20) Avg Score: 90.8 points

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  10/30/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 92 Points

  This used to be Montevertine’s “second” wine (after Pergole Torte, obviously) but the vineyard was torn out and replanted in 1998. After that, their eponymous bottling was elevated to take its place while “Pian del Ciampolo” eventually became the “third” wine. Truthfully, they are all three different expressions of Radda so don't take my numerical rankings as a hierarchy of quality (though one could certainly make arguments in terms of importance). I digress, “Il Sadaccio” is producing fruit once again however, the singular expression is now history. This bottle represents “Il Sodaccio’s” swan song.
  
  From magnum. Opened about four hours prior to service. The 1997 “Il Sadaccio” pours a garnet color moving to a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous but surprisingly spry given it’s a quarter century old. The fruit is more or less a mix of ripe and dried cherries, red plums, curaçao, cacao, porcini, dusty earth and some warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins that have well integrated but still there. Acid is medium as well. Confirming the notes from the nose. The fruit is round while the finish is long and a touch savory. A lovely expression of Montevertine that extolls the virtues of the 1997 vintage with its abundant fruit and soft, friendly character. I mentioned to our guests that this bottle gave me the feeling of a warm hug from an old friend. Drinking well now and while I don’t expect further positive development, this magnum certainly has the legs for another 10 years.

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  7/12/2023 - jsmadsen wrote: 92 Points

  Second of five, from auction at Sotheby’s. First bottle was hot and tired but this was fresh, great out the gate and gained texture and mid palate over an hour. Did not decant and would not decant but got better and better in the glass and seems to have what it takes to drink well for 5-10 years—plenty of fruit on this one, classically styled, great nose, long finish

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  4/23/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 91 Points

  Great find in the cellar, bottle was a gift from a friend several years ago. Had with casual Italian. Splash decanted, drank over 90 minutes.
  
  Medium garnet color, mild bricking. Nose muted at first, opened up to old red fruits, earth and mushroom. Palate of dusted red cherry, plum, baking spice/cinnamon. Medium weight, medium/long finish.
  
  Probably a few years past peak, but drinking well. Nicely aged, fruits are settled, still some acidity, tannins resolved. Would drink up.

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  10/26/2019 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points

  Red fruit (cherry), tobacco, leather, nice spice, good acidity. Lingering finish. Really enjoyable.

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  4/28/2016 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points

  Red fruit (cherry), tobacco, leather, good spice, good acidity. Lingering finish. Really enjoyable.

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