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Brunello Wine Dinner
The Samsons
Tasted March 4, 2006 by ruddy with 959 views
Introduction
Our little wine group got together for the second time. For this evening, Marc had chosen eight wines from his mother's homeland and paired them with some exceptional food.
Flight 1 (2 notes)
Red
2000 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso
90 points
Almost non-existent nose. Purple fruit flavors with a medium-long finish. Tannis are still grippy, but not unpleasant. Overall impression of youth. #4 WOTN.
Red
1999 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Medium red at the core, clear at the rim. More tannic/very drying compared to the Ciacci. Plum fruit on nose and palate. June picked up on blackberry and hay. #3 for the night.
Flight 2 (2 notes)
Red
1999 Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino
95 points
Garnet to the rim, nice funk on the nose with wafts of freshly turned earth. Very pleasant mineral on the finish. My WOTN.
Red
1997 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso
92 points
Much more going on than with the 2000 Ciacci. A nose like a musty closet sporting a fading violet sachet. Tannins are silky, finish is long and smooth. This was my #3 and June's #2.
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red
1997 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino
93 points
Amazing how much I liked this wine given the pronounced poop and rubber on the nose, but I just couldn't help myself. Tannins were still very much in evidence, but in service of the subtle minerality and anise-like flavor. Not a friendly lap dog of a wine, but a serious experience. My #2 tonight.
Red
1997 Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino
89 points
"Super purple fruit" reads my note, along with references to a cabernet-based New World character. A wine with plenty of stuffing, but not terribly memorable. My #5 WOTN.
Flight 4 (2 notes)
Red
1990 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
87 points
Med. red core to pink on the rim. Musty nose and in the mouth. Still very drying in the mouth, with a lingering aftertaste of earth. My #7 tonight.
Red
1990 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino
85 points
Someone called out "salted plum" as we were smelling this one and it really resonated. June, who liked this wine best tonight, picked up saddle on the nose as well. I found the finish unctuous and drying and rated it my #8 (last). I think my palate may just have been tired. I know I was certainly full of great food and wine by the time we got to this wine. Given its reputation, I would love a rematch.
Closing
A great introduction to Brunello for a bunch of Italian wine neophytes. Marc has promised to shower us with Barolos and Super Tuscans at future gatherings--we can hardly wait.