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Italy 2012
Tasted October 6, 2012 - October 23, 2012 by BrunelloBob with 928 views
Introduction
10th wedding anniversary trip with Beautiful Wife. She got her Tuscan Villa, I got to pick the wine...
Flight 1 - The Odds and Ends (12 notes)
Purchased various times, various places. Mostly on the front end of the trip, before Montalcino.
Red
2007 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino
85 points
Purchased at grocery store in Montepulciano, bought on price (12 euro?). Producer seems to be Everywhere in Italy.
Lacks significant fruit, complexity, or anything positive to talk about. How do you do that in a vintage like 2007?
I'm routinely disappointed in Banfi, at least at the rosso and basic BdM levels
Sell the estate back to the Italians.
Lacks significant fruit, complexity, or anything positive to talk about. How do you do that in a vintage like 2007?
I'm routinely disappointed in Banfi, at least at the rosso and basic BdM levels
Sell the estate back to the Italians.
Red
2004 Tenuta La Fuga Brunello di Montalcino
92 points
60 Euro at La Groto Rest. in Montepulciano. Decanted by server, without prompting.
Great red cherry nose and palate. Great mouth feel, good length. Medium + body. Well structured and balanced. Classiest BdM on the trip to this point.
Will hold, may improve a point.
Great red cherry nose and palate. Great mouth feel, good length. Medium + body. Well structured and balanced. Classiest BdM on the trip to this point.
Will hold, may improve a point.
Red
2009 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
84 points
Another grocery store purchase.
All mineral, not enough fruit. No improvement over 2 nights.
Stick to Brunello
All mineral, not enough fruit. No improvement over 2 nights.
Stick to Brunello
Red
2004 Tenuta Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa
91 points
Cork soaked 66%
Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, olive?. (I Love strawberry in BdM). Maybe lacking a bit of acidity. Ready to drink now.
I'm not a fan of Caparzo's normale Bdm, and La Casa does not rise to the the level of other producers' elite bottles, but this is a solid BdM.
Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, olive?. (I Love strawberry in BdM). Maybe lacking a bit of acidity. Ready to drink now.
I'm not a fan of Caparzo's normale Bdm, and La Casa does not rise to the the level of other producers' elite bottles, but this is a solid BdM.
Red
2004 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino
92 points
By the glass at wine bar in Tremezzo. Big fruit, Big tannin. Hold 5 years
Red
2007 Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino
90 points
By the bottle in wine bar in Tremezzo.
Ready to drink. Nice RdM fruit. Bit of funk on the nose doesn't come through to the palate.
Ready to drink. Nice RdM fruit. Bit of funk on the nose doesn't come through to the palate.
Red
2006 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Tasted and bought in Bellagio for 30Euros. Nice deal.
Big, a bit young, but honest Brunello.
Watch the schmutz
Big, a bit young, but honest Brunello.
Watch the schmutz
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Red
2009 Antinori Tignanello
90 points
With dinner at Hotel Excelsior in Rapallo
Too much green and black olive for me. Black, and some red, cherry.
Smooth and elegant, but I don't think it was worth the money.
Drinks well young, not sure I see much upside with age.
Too much green and black olive for me. Black, and some red, cherry.
Smooth and elegant, but I don't think it was worth the money.
Drinks well young, not sure I see much upside with age.
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Red
2006 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino
91 points
PnP
40 Euro +/- wine store in Rapallo
Neither one of us is crazy about the nose at first, but it improves with air.
Brunello "light". Long red fruit, inoffensive green herb, a little oak. Strawberry, celery. Had me thinking southern Rhone or baby Soldera.
Nice, Best RdM ever? . Bet the BdM Rocks.
40 Euro +/- wine store in Rapallo
Neither one of us is crazy about the nose at first, but it improves with air.
Brunello "light". Long red fruit, inoffensive green herb, a little oak. Strawberry, celery. Had me thinking southern Rhone or baby Soldera.
Nice, Best RdM ever? . Bet the BdM Rocks.
Red
2010 Le Casalte Rosso di Montepulciano
87 points
10-11 Euro at corner chacuterie shop.
With cheese/bread/sausage the first night in Montepulciano.
Simple fruit, mineral. Drink now.
With cheese/bread/sausage the first night in Montepulciano.
Simple fruit, mineral. Drink now.
Red
2006 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino
89 points
From corner store where supplies bought first night in Montepulciano. 28 Euro
May have drank too cold (55 degrees, outside) but sense is you can do better this vintage
May have drank too cold (55 degrees, outside) but sense is you can do better this vintage
Red
2007 MastroJanni Brunello di Montalcino
91 points
Bought at wine shop after tasting in Montepulciano. Nice fruit, drinkable now. Lost my notes on this one, so details lacking, but we both liked it.
Flight 2 - The Fort, Montalcino (7 notes)
Tasting at The Brunello Consorzio in Montalcino. These guys weren't doing anyone any favors on pricing, and I wonder about their agenda as to what was available to taste. Shared tasting with Beautiful Wife as I had to drive the world-class piece of crap Fiat DoBlo (real name) back to the villa. Notes/scores are lacking based on small/shared sample, and I missed a few wines.
Red
2004 Terre Nere Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
91 points
Tasted and bought at the fort in Montalcino. 1 of 2 picked out of a lineup of 10+ tasted
(the bottle I used to restore core body temperature after the "swim" :) at the villa)
Takes some air to bring out a classical BdM nose
Some nice, fresh black fruit--black cherry & plum. Starting to develop some secondary flavors. Olive.
Plenty of tannin and acidity to carry on, but drinkable now
(the bottle I used to restore core body temperature after the "swim" :) at the villa)
Takes some air to bring out a classical BdM nose
Some nice, fresh black fruit--black cherry & plum. Starting to develop some secondary flavors. Olive.
Plenty of tannin and acidity to carry on, but drinkable now
Red
2006 La Serena Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gemini
93 points
One of two purchased after tasting 10+ at the fort in Montalcino. This tasted best at the fort and after 8 hours of air (in open bottle and decanter) at the villa.
Slight orange rim. Big, Beautiful,Complex, atypical Brunello with a serious future ahead of it. Needs time (5+ years) to reach full potential.
Peach, coconut on the nose. Beautiful Wife says "tropical fruit", sunscreen. Wintergreen, eucalyptus, black tea. 93+
Slight orange rim. Big, Beautiful,Complex, atypical Brunello with a serious future ahead of it. Needs time (5+ years) to reach full potential.
Peach, coconut on the nose. Beautiful Wife says "tropical fruit", sunscreen. Wintergreen, eucalyptus, black tea. 93+
Red
2007 Tassi Brunello di Montalcino
Tasted at fort in Montalcino.
Cranberry nose, Big fruit.
Beautiful wife likes more than I
Cranberry nose, Big fruit.
Beautiful wife likes more than I
Red
2004 Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino
90 points
Tasted at fort in Montalcino
Floral nose. Some secondary development balanced with fruit
Beautiful wife likes
Floral nose. Some secondary development balanced with fruit
Beautiful wife likes
Red
2006 Cerbaiona (Molinari) Brunello di Montalcino
90 points
Tasted at fort in Montalcino
Not a lot of nose. Some fruit, too much tannin.
Beautiful Wife likes
I put 90 points on it, but I'm not sure where that came from after reading my note...
Not a lot of nose. Some fruit, too much tannin.
Beautiful Wife likes
I put 90 points on it, but I'm not sure where that came from after reading my note...
Red
2006 Tassi Brunello di Montalcino Selezione Franci Riserva
Tasted at fort in Montalcino
Big nose, big fruit. A bit of acetone on the nose
I'd call this very modern. The pourer was calling it traditional
Big nose, big fruit. A bit of acetone on the nose
I'd call this very modern. The pourer was calling it traditional
Red
2006 Sassodisole Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
88 points
Tasted at fort in Montalcino
Great nose, but tastes sweet. I wouldn't call this a proper Brunello
Great nose, but tastes sweet. I wouldn't call this a proper Brunello
Flight 3 - Barbi (2 notes)
2 glasses, shared, at lunch at Taverna di Barbi. Great meal, good wine. Recommended.
Red
2005 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
91 points
Black
Glass with lunch at the winery. Unknown when the bottle was opened
Beautiful wife gets artichokes--I don't follow. I love the nose--red flowers/ roses?
Fresh fruit, loads of tannin. This will keep, but is very nice now. 91-92
Glass with lunch at the winery. Unknown when the bottle was opened
Beautiful wife gets artichokes--I don't follow. I love the nose--red flowers/ roses?
Fresh fruit, loads of tannin. This will keep, but is very nice now. 91-92
Red
2004 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Fiore
90 points
Glass with lunch at the winery. Bottle opened for us.
Brown, even for Brunello. Lighter than the 05 Riserva. Not as much fruit. Bit of mineral?
Bean soup, flowers. Good acidity and tannin. Will this get better? 90+?
Brown, even for Brunello. Lighter than the 05 Riserva. Not as much fruit. Bit of mineral?
Bean soup, flowers. Good acidity and tannin. Will this get better? 90+?
Flight 4 - Biondi Santi (3 notes)
50 Euro each tour and sit down tasting. Worth it to get a sniff of the 1997 Riserva. Franco Biondi- Santi popped in on the way to and from his first tasting of the 2012 juice--which he was clearly excited about. 5 people at the tasting, all recognized him. 90 year old man carries himself like a Rock Star, with reason. Awesome.
Red
2008 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Rosso di Montalcino
90 points
Tasted at winery
Very light, almost pink color
Plumb, cherry. Tannic for Rdm.
Winery claims 15-20 yrs ageability
2008 continues to disappoint, I'd expect better from Biondi
Very light, almost pink color
Plumb, cherry. Tannic for Rdm.
Winery claims 15-20 yrs ageability
2008 continues to disappoint, I'd expect better from Biondi
Red
2006 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino
93 points
Tasted at winery, described as a "classical vintage"
Darker than the rosso. SUPER smooth.
Strawberry, cherry. Definately red, not black, fruit. Fruit followed by tannin. Excellent length
Darker than the rosso. SUPER smooth.
Strawberry, cherry. Definately red, not black, fruit. Fruit followed by tannin. Excellent length
Red
1997 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
97 points
Tasted at winery, immediately after meeting Franco Biondi- Santi at sit down tasting. They're calling this a "100 year wine". --Maybe.
Medium dark color, orange rim. Outstanding nose. Cherry, strawberry. So long, so complex, it will make you cry. I wanted to drag the tasting out for an hour.
By far, the best red wine I've ever had. 97 points: I'd go higher but I wonder if meeting Franco is clouding my judgement.
Winery getting 500 Euro/bottle
Medium dark color, orange rim. Outstanding nose. Cherry, strawberry. So long, so complex, it will make you cry. I wanted to drag the tasting out for an hour.
By far, the best red wine I've ever had. 97 points: I'd go higher but I wonder if meeting Franco is clouding my judgement.
Winery getting 500 Euro/bottle
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Closing
Had some decent whites along the way as well, especially in Rome where it was pushing 80, but no notes. Missed notes on a few reds as well, but got most of the important ones.
Also developed a habit of Prosecco with breakfast...WTH, it was vacation...