Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. Rich at first with coffee and tobacco on the nose. Dry black cherries, soft mushroom and leather. Clean, fine tannins and a long finish with a gentle grip. Very good balance. Held up well in the glass over two hours. Elegant and solid. Interesting how the fruit, compared to the younger vintages, has taken a less prominent role at this point.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
From Mag. Opened 24hrs in advance. Plenty of cherry and raspberry. Flowers, lanolin, underbrush and a little black pepper. Well-built stuff. Big acid. Long racy finish. Sourness began to dominate over time in the glass.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. Plenty of pronounced raspberry and dark cherry/cherry pit. Pleasant spice, herbs and coffee. Fine dark fruit is pleasingly full, but not necessarily ripe. This quality of the fruit is the highlight for me here. Good structure. Still young with a long finish. Later showed pretty strawberry notes.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. A bit simpler than the '99 riserva but still excellent. Dark rich fruit, coffee and a floral note. Good balance and a solid, aromatic finish.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Pretty nose. Flowers with richness underneath. Brite cherry fruit. A bit of a void on the mid palate. Lots of sour cherry and acid on the brief finish.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. Deep, dark cherries, forest floor and a subtle note of mint. Fruit is still powerful, offsetting the solid tannins. Cherry skins and dried blackberry. Good acid support. Fine earthy finish with a bit of brown sugar. Satisfying masculine personality.
24hrs later-Continues to display a wonderful masculinity. Black cherry/cherry skins and leather with brambles and spice. Love the solid finish that grips and holds in a pleasing way. Definitely improved and integrated since last night. Elegant and powerful at the same time.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Barnyard and ripe cherry nose. Big primary fruit. Disjointed components. Leather, wood and briars underneath. Tough to put a point value on this one as it seems so young and awkward. As it is now, no more than 88 pts. 24hrs later- Red cherry fruit and acid dominate. Primary, with the exception of nice violets on the nose. Quite awkward.
1995 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. Rich at first with coffee and tobacco on the nose. Dry black cherries, soft mushroom and leather. Clean, fine tannins and a long finish with a gentle grip. Very good balance. Held up well in the glass over two hours. Elegant and solid. Interesting how the fruit, compared to the younger vintages, has taken a less prominent role at this point.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1997 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
From Mag. Opened 24hrs in advance. Plenty of cherry and raspberry. Flowers, lanolin, underbrush and a little black pepper. Well-built stuff. Big acid. Long racy finish. Sourness began to dominate over time in the glass.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1999 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. Plenty of pronounced raspberry and dark cherry/cherry pit. Pleasant spice, herbs and coffee. Fine dark fruit is pleasingly full, but not necessarily ripe. This quality of the fruit is the highlight for me here. Good structure. Still young with a long finish. Later showed pretty strawberry notes.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1999 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. A bit simpler than the '99 riserva but still excellent. Dark rich fruit, coffee and a floral note. Good balance and a solid, aromatic finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2000 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Pretty nose. Flowers with richness underneath. Brite cherry fruit. A bit of a void on the mid palate. Lots of sour cherry and acid on the brief finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 94 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Opened and poured. Deep, dark cherries, forest floor and a subtle note of mint. Fruit is still powerful, offsetting the solid tannins. Cherry skins and dried blackberry. Good acid support. Fine earthy finish with a bit of brown sugar. Satisfying masculine personality.
24hrs later-Continues to display a wonderful masculinity. Black cherry/cherry skins and leather with brambles and spice. Love the solid finish that grips and holds in a pleasing way. Definitely improved and integrated since last night. Elegant and powerful at the same time.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2003 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 88 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Barnyard and ripe cherry nose. Big primary fruit. Disjointed components. Leather, wood and briars underneath. Tough to put a point value on this one as it seems so young and awkward. As it is now, no more than 88 pts.
24hrs later- Red cherry fruit and acid dominate. Primary, with the exception of nice violets on the nose. Quite awkward.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Lots of acid. Great tannins. Earth. Pure, clean cherry and strawberry fruit. Strong components in good balance, no where near integration.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No