Benvenuto Brunello - Walk Around Tasting

I only had time and energy to taste approx 1/3 of the wine.

• 2011 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Red cherry with some berry. Mostly lean, but hints of ripeness. Ok energy, moderate depth, this is another 2011 Brunello for medium-term enjoyment.

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• 2010 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Nicely spiced start with red berry and cherry with good concentration. Seems ripe with moderate structure to start, but firmness and energy sneak in at the finish. Another with very good potential, perhaps more accessible earlier than the average 2010 Riserva.

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• 2014 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Forward and simple red cherry. Good for near-term, moderate depth.

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• 2011 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Once again all red fruit with moderate depth. Leaner and classically styled with good length and balance today vs many others in this vintage.

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• 2010 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Another great contrast with the leaner 2011 just tasted. Ripe and concentration with red and black cherry, floral hints and background spice and leather. Density and lots of substance here, all again in a classic package that should age nicely. Very good potential.

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• 2011 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Open and accessible, less structure than most of the other 2011s tasted today. Moderate length. Good.

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• 2010 Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Cerbaia

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Large scaled with very dense, almost meaty fruit. Structure and reserve sneak into the finish, which starts hinting at some of the finesse to expect in the future. Very good potential, certainly cellarworthy.

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• 2011 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Red cherry, lighter style with more elegance than concentration. Very consistent with many of the good 2011s tasted today.

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• 2008 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Lots of red and black cherry comes across as backward with a firm finish. Some rough edges for right now, but very impressive concentration. Needs 5-10+ more years in cellar if this bottle is representative, but very good potential from there.

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• 2008 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Tasted just after the 2008 "regular" Brunello, this has similar density and concentration but much better harmony with excellent balance already today. 93-95 point potential with a little more cellar time.

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• 2011 Tenuta di Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. One of the tougher wines to assess today, this showed very good fruit but a slightly funky, almost dirty note I found surprising at this age. This would be an interesting wine to decant and see how it unfolds over several hours, even now when young.

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• 2010 La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Very large and fruit driven start, then very textured and elegant finish, all with excellent concentration. A personal favorite today.

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• 2007 La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Ripe red fruit with some licorice and milk chocolate. Big fruit with good density, but not quite the same quality level as the same wine from 2010 just tasted.

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• 2009 Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Seemingly forward and ripe aromas, more backward and firm overall on palate. Same big fruit on both. Good potential here, especially for the 2009 vintage.

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• 2011 Villa Al Cortile Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Dried cherry and some roasted game. Slightly coarse finish. Moderate depth.

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• 2010 Villa Al Cortile Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Very powerful and ripe with bright red and black cherry and plenty of fresh herbs. Nicely balanced and very tasty already. Told this is approx $65 retail, this is a very good value wine with lots of medium-term cellaring potential.

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• 2011 Tassi Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Much younger vines on average than Franci. Lighter character, overall pleasant red cherry with spice hints, and well suited for near-term enjoyment.

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• 2011 Tassi Brunello di Montalcino Franci

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Older vines vs Tassi, great concentration and density, but also better balance from that density of fruit and flavor. Definitely good for the vintage.

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• 2010 Tassi Brunello di Montalcino Selezione Franci Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Another very successful 2010 Riserva tasted today. Starts with rich fruit, but a minerality and subtlety comes through very quickly that provides a real reserve. Complex finish of spice, fruit and structure that I'd really like to revisit in a decade+. Very good potential.

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• 2008 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Seemed very similar to the 2011 tasted earlier in the day. Lean and elegant with overall good balance and good potential.

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• 2011 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Also leaner styled with red cherry and emerging earth notes. Another good 2011 for the near or medium term.

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• 2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. Forward and very enjoyable today. Ripe fruit with enough structure to maintain good balance. Easy to like a lot right now.

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• 2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tasting, brief note. For me, a big step up vs the Ugolaia just tasted. Big, denser with more nuance and texture, even if less fun and pleasurable today. Give 5+ years in the cellar for medium-term enjoyment.

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