Brunello tasting at Hubermont

This tasting was set up during a leadership training program near La Roche-en-Ardennes/Belgium. 13 people attended the dinner. The aim was to learn more about the character of aged wine in general and Brunelli in particular. No leadership programme can do without :-)

The wines where selected on the simple fact they where available.... Only the '02 Sesta di Sopra was thrown in by me to see how it could stand up to the older (and greater!) vintages. The '93 and '97 bottles share the same (impeccable) provenance. They are sourced at Dielen in Roermond/The Netherlands. All bottles where opened 6 hours before dinner.
Wines where tasted before dinner and revisited during the main course (stew of wild boar).

• 1993 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Light ruby colour, some amber at the rim. Initially some 'rubber tire' smell. After this blew off, ripe blackberry, barnyard and leather aromas. Medium bodied and smooth with resolved tannins, a bit one-dimensional. Long finish.
  Past Peak.

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• 1993 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Ruby colour, no sign of ambering. Aromas evolving in the glass around a core of ripe black fruit and some berries, with hints of leather and truffle and some barnyard. Following trough medium bodied with very smooth tannins and a perfect acidity balance. Long finish.
  A classic Brunello that has aged gracefully but still has lots of life left! Drink now - 2013.

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• 1997 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 95 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Ruby colour, no sign of ambering. Full tones of black fruit and cherry, with clear hints of leather and again some hazelnut (exactly as I remembered it!). Following trough full bodied with lots of fruit, silky smooth tannins and fresh acidity. Beautiful texture! A long and lingering finish.
  This wine kept on evolving in the glass. Its vibrant and complex, lots of life!
  Drink now - 2017.
  
  This was after the wine spend 4 hours in an opened bottle, poured down to the shoulder.

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• 2002 Sesta di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Ruby colour, light hints of amber at the rim. Full aromas currant and cherry with hints of leather. Full bodied with balanced acidity and smooth tannins. Long finish.
  Drink now - 2010.

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The Casanova di Neri '93 was clearly past its peak. But still enjoyable.
The Lisini '93 was a beautifully aged wine, I assume at/near its peak. A nice example of how a Brunello can develop.
The Fuligni '97 was the clear WOTN. It was still showing lots of ripe fruit. And the aromas evolved complex and delicately in the glas as a great Brunello should do. A truly great wine.
The Sesta di Sopra '02 was a nice contrast. It could hold quite well against the Lisini and Fuligni. But it clearly lacked the complexity and body of those wines. The CdN seemed a bit pale compared to the other three.

A great experience, shared with some great people. Nothing else to wish for.....