Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Reddish brown with a bit of brick at the edge. There was at first an oxidized tinge that blew off after 10 minutes. Then cedar, leather and tobacco. A medium weight, with subtle flavors of brown sugar, shale and asian spice. Rather austere in the fruit dept, subtle brite cherry, but more about the non-fuit components this time out. Big acid bite with soft tannins. Really developed nicely in the glass.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Deep red. Animal and grilled meats on the moderate nose, with leather and a bit of dried flowers. Developed tobacco notes over time. Full dark fruit, fairly dense. Nice aromatic tannins. Comes across as youthful with plenty of stuffing for the future. Not sure if the acid component is sufficient to balance this one out.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This is the third time I've had the '95 in the past yera, and it has given me a better attitude toward Ciacci. I'm still not a fan of the more recent vintages but the '95 is consistently excellent. Out of the chute, the nose was reserved with a little earth, and shale. Opened up nicely to show roasted black cherry skins and leather with nice aromatics. Well balanced and constucted.Tannins are smooth and the finish is long and aromatic . Seems like this should continue to improve for a little while at least.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Pretty, light ruby red with lovely clarity. All characteristics are elegant and subtle. Nose of bright cherry, fine shale and roses and a hint of charcoal grill. On the palette clean medium body with cherry, bramble, leather, anise, carmel and asian spice. Seamless. Great balance of sweet acid, fruit and fine tannins. Incredibly long finish. Once again, a fine Burgundy like Brunello. (428 views
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This is very typical Soldera, kicked up a notch in all departments. Deep ruby. Nose of big mushroom, clean black cherry and gentle asian spice. The nose meets you at the rim, but doesn't push you out. Just right. Solid middle weight palate (at this time) with wonderful components in great balance. I wish I had a case of this to enjoy and observe for the next 30 (+?) years. Stating the obvious I guess.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This wine's nose wacks you over the head. Fruit bomb city. Very dense. Big meaty note. Where's the Sangiovese acid? None here. Strange. Monsterous and not Brunello-like at all, accept maybe for the young, coarse tannic finish. I have a couple of these, and will bury them for at least five years in the hopes that something beautiful will come from this ugly duckling.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Very dense, almost black color. Nose, much like the color, is ripe black cherry and a hint of Bordeaux band-aid. Palate has lots of roasted black cherries, chocolate. Later developed a nice grilled meat note. Solid finish, with the fruit upstaging the acid, and moderate tannins. Lots of solid components that seem ready to develop into a very nice wine.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Barrel sample, from bottle. Very much an individual wine, but hard to pick out just why that is so. Something in the earth aromas seem unique. Not like any others, but very nice sangiovese grosso characteristics. Warm earth, shale, baked cherry and leather. Big tannins. A solid structure.
1995 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Reddish brown with a bit of brick at the edge. There was at first an oxidized tinge that blew off after 10 minutes. Then cedar, leather and tobacco. A medium weight, with subtle flavors of brown sugar, shale and asian spice. Rather austere in the fruit dept, subtle brite cherry, but more about the non-fuit components this time out. Big acid bite with soft tannins. Really developed nicely in the glass.
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1995 La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Deep red. Animal and grilled meats on the moderate nose, with leather and a bit of dried flowers. Developed tobacco notes over time. Full dark fruit, fairly dense. Nice aromatic tannins. Comes across as youthful with plenty of stuffing for the future. Not sure if the acid component is sufficient to balance this one out.
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1995 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This is the third time I've had the '95 in the past yera, and it has given me a better attitude toward Ciacci. I'm still not a fan of the more recent vintages but the '95 is consistently excellent. Out of the chute, the nose was reserved with a little earth, and shale. Opened up nicely to show roasted black cherry skins and leather with nice aromatics. Well balanced and constucted.Tannins are smooth and the finish is long and aromatic . Seems like this should continue to improve for a little while at least.
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1994 Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 97 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Pretty, light ruby red with lovely clarity. All characteristics are elegant and subtle. Nose of bright cherry, fine shale and roses and a hint of charcoal grill. On the palette clean medium body with cherry, bramble, leather, anise, carmel and asian spice. Seamless. Great balance of sweet acid, fruit and fine tannins. Incredibly long finish. Once again, a fine Burgundy like Brunello. (428 views
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1997 Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 98 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This is very typical Soldera, kicked up a notch in all departments. Deep ruby. Nose of big mushroom, clean black cherry and gentle asian spice. The nose meets you at the rim, but doesn't push you out. Just right. Solid middle weight palate (at this time) with wonderful components in great balance. I wish I had a case of this to enjoy and observe for the next 30 (+?) years. Stating the obvious I guess.
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2001 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino 85 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
This wine's nose wacks you over the head. Fruit bomb city. Very dense. Big meaty note. Where's the Sangiovese acid? None here. Strange. Monsterous and not Brunello-like at all, accept maybe for the young, coarse tannic finish. I have a couple of these, and will bury them for at least five years in the hopes that something beautiful will come from this ugly duckling.
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2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Very dense, almost black color. Nose, much like the color, is ripe black cherry and a hint of Bordeaux band-aid. Palate has lots of roasted black cherries, chocolate. Later developed a nice grilled meat note. Solid finish, with the fruit upstaging the acid, and moderate tannins. Lots of solid components that seem ready to develop into a very nice wine.
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2001 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Pretty tight right now. Saddle leather, bramble, black cherry. Not showing a lot. Well balanced. Seems to be built for the long haul.
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2004 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Barrel sample, from bottle. Very much an individual wine, but hard to pick out just why that is so. Something in the earth aromas seem unique. Not like any others, but very nice sangiovese grosso characteristics. Warm earth, shale, baked cherry and leather. Big tannins. A solid structure.
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