1981 Mastroberardino Taurasi Riserva

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 90 points

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  12/20/2017 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points

  12% alcohol. Tasted blind.
  
  Very dark, almost completely opaque, but also obviously very developed maroon-hued black cherry color. The nose feels very developed, even old, with quite umami-driven, oxidative aromas of raisins, dried dates, some meat stock, a little bit of soy sayce and a hint of wet ashtray. Although quite developed on the palate as well, the wine still doesn't taste as "old" as the nose suggests. The wine feels medium-bodied with developed flavors of beef jerky, sour cherry bitterness, some old cracking leather, a little bit of oxidative raisiny fruit, a hint of gamey blood and a touch of astringent crowberry. Although the fruit is starting to give in, the structure is not; the wine is moderately high in acidity with stilll pretty formidable, grippy tannins. The finish is developed and somewhat raisiny, bloody and matured with flavors of pruney fruits, sour cherry bitterness, some rusted characer, a little bit of crowberry and a hint of iron. The tannins lend a moderately astringent touch to the aftertaste.
  
  A Radici Riserva at the end of its road. Judging by its nose alone, the wine felt very dead and dull, beyond all salvaging. However, on the palate the wine was much more alive and pleasant. Although I must say that there is not much more life to this wine; it is definitely best enjoyed sooner rather than later, as I don't see there any benefit the wine would get from further cellaring. Very nice, but already a little past its peak and starting downhill. A great wine, but will never be as long-lived as the best Mastroberardino's Taurasis from the 1970's.

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  4/13/2014 - winelover1986 Likes this wine:

  Opened 1 hour; served at 60F. Shockingly young tasting, given its age. Sound, medium-bodied, medium-acid wine, with muted tannins and prominent cassis and black raspberry fruit. Disappointing only in that there were limited secondary characteristics (and nothing tertiary) for a wine of this vintage. Would have guessed at a well-made, 10 year old Merlot or Cabernet blend.

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