5 Brunelli and a 61 Climens

Tasted Saturday, March 19, 2011 by Loren Sonkin with 565 views

Introduction

Last night, my wife and I went out with one other couple to celebrate my wife's birthday and the release of our 2009 SonkinCellars Syrah! All of the wiens popped and oured and drunk with our meals over the course of 2.5 hours. It was a great evening but we payed attention to the wines on and off.

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 2002 Azienda Agricola due Portine (Gorelli) Brunello di Montalcino 83 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    This was fine but really had nothing special to offer. A weak vintage for sure, this really was very basic. The nose had some cherries. Decent balance. On the palate, cherries. Simple. Don't see it improving. It was nice enough and worth drinking but not why one opens a Brunello.

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  • 2001 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    This was the Brunello of the night. Still young. Plenty of cherries and a bit of sour cherries, also leather and spice on the nose. Full bodied. On the palate, this is full with a great texture, silky. Complex but lots of room to unwind. Great balance. Long finish.

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  • 1997 Villa Poggio Salvi Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    This was mature and ready to drink. I wouldn't wait any longer. Ruby with a bit of browning. On the nose, this took some time to open and then cherries, dried forest floor, slight funk. On the palate, the fruit is there but more dried fruits and leather with some fresh cherries. It held up fine all night. More introspective at this stage, not necessarily something I felt like dealing with last night. That said, it went very well with the food and was outstanding.

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  • 2001 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    This was all about the oak. Ruby/purple in color. The nose was fresh oak with some charred wood and underneath some cherries. On the palate, this is hot, tasting more from the oak than alcohol. Some cherries but this is not for my tastes. i know other would like this a lot more as there is a lush texture with solid cherry fruit. Not for the oak averse though.

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  • 2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Not what I was expecting here. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has some serious brett/barnyard on it. I liked it but my wife found it problematic. Also some sour cherries. On the palate, this has sour cherries and boysenberries. The funk comes thru on the palate, like a wet leather quality. I liked this more than most I think. Be careful with this though.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 1961 Château Climens 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

    Celebrating my wife's birthday, we opened this for dessert. On popping the cork, it took around 15 minutes to blow off some bottle age. Brown-orange in color. The nose has some nuttiness, but with air that blew mostly off. Burnt pineapple and burnt oranges and some honey on the nose. Viscous. Nice acidity and balance. On the palate, this has some burnt pineapple notes. Very nice and quite fun. Went great with Carrot Cake and OK with Crem Carmel.

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