3/26/2021 - Longboarder wrote:

Opened an hour before consuming without a decant. Vibrant ruby color with garnet reflections. Tasted with our wine group with similar notes from all.

WOW!! This is a blockbuster wine. Has everything I’ve come to expect from Querce Bettina in spades. Nose of leather, red cherry and raspberries. A hint of graphite. The wine dances across all areas of your tongue with balanced acidity, fresh fruits and Christmas spices. Velvety tannins that bode well for the age ability of this wine. One of the longest finishes of any BdM that I’ve ever tasted. The group consensus was 98 points.

If you were fortunate to taste the initial vintage of this producer in 2004 this wine will bring back very fond memories.

3/26/2021 - Longboarder Likes this wine:

Opened for 1 hour and slow-O’ed. Beautiful nose of leather, Christmas spice, cherries and raspberries. After tasting the ‘16 RdM I wondered what the ‘16 BdM would taste like. All the flavors that were present in the RdM are even more pronounced in the Brunello. I had tasted this wine from barrel in February 2020. It was wonderful then and has added more weight with time in the bottle. The tannins are silky smooth but present. The red cherries and raspberries carry over on the palate. Lengthy finish of over 60 seconds.

For my taste this young BdM is drinking well at the moment but has the stuffing to age gracefully for another 25 years.

2/22/2019 - Longboarder Likes this wine:

Had stored this in my cellar since release. A truly beautiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. All aspects of this wine were in perfect harmony. Oak and silky tannins fully integrated. Dark fruits on the nose and palate. Long finish. Probably at its peak now but showing no signs of decline.

8/27/2017 - Longboarder Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine stored in my cellar since released. The character of the "windy hill" comes through with a nose of rosemary, red fruits and allspice. Wine is full bodied with a long 90 second finish. Round tannins are still present and the fruit primary. This wine needs a long slow'O to show its true stuff. I would say continue to hold and you will be rewarded. Reminiscent of the '85 at this stage.

8/28/2017 - Longboarder Likes this wine:

In a great place right now and drinking beautifully. Great nose of cassis and kirsch. Only thing keeping my score from being higher is a little more acidity to add freshness. Unctuous wine with a 60 second finish.

8/26/2017 - Longboarder Likes this wine:

Excellent bottle. Bright with balanced acidity and stone fruits. Loved the nose. Lychee and peach. An excellent summertime wine.

8/28/2017 - Longboarder wrote:

Still very young. Nice nose of damp earth, dark fruits and a nutmeg note. Tannins still very prevalent but not harsh. Will wait at least 2 years before opening any additional bottles.

6/21/2016 - Longboarder Likes this wine:

Absolutely gorgeous nose with cigar box and dried roses. Plenty of dark fruit left with a savory mushroom finish.

6/17/2012 - Longboarder wrote:

Not a great Soldera but very pleasant to drink. Color was a little more advanced than I would have expected. This wine had been in my cellar since release. Nice nose of red fruit, spice, and balsamic. Plenty of fruit remained but the acidity was a little out of balance for the fruit. Shorter finish. If you have them drink them.

6/19/2012 - Longboarder wrote:

Shared with Gar and Kevin in Montreal. This wine has been on my bucket list since I began my foray into wine over 25 years ago. This bottle was generously provided by Gar. The bottle was pristine with the fill into the neck. The cork came out in one piece with the aid of an Ah-so and was saturated about 50%. The wine was ruby in color as Sangiovese should be and exhibited just a hint of bricking at the rim of the glass. The bouquet of the wine was intoxicating. One of the most expressive Brunelli that I have smelled. The only BdM that comes close to the smell of this wine is the 1985 Poggio al Vento. The wine was popped on poured after having traveled from LA to Montreal (actually from Germany to LA to Montreal) over the past couple of weeks. The first sips were promising but my first thoughts were the wine was still not at its peak. Wonderful red fruit with balanced acidity danced across your palate. Over the next 3.5 hours the wine continued to evolve and by nights end, the wine was everything that I had hoped it would be. The sweetness and purity of the fruit came to the forefront as only mature Brunello can. Sharing this wine with 2 people that could appreciate it was an experience I will always remember. Stunning was a word that was used to describe this wine and I would have to agree.

6/19/2012 - Longboarder wrote:

Fill was at the base of the neck. Popped and poured. Dark garnet color with only minimal bricking at the rim. Classic St. Estephe nose of cedar, spice, and a hint of tobacco. Very expressive from the get-go. There was plenty of fruit left on the palate with currant predominant. Silky tannins remained to enhance the mouthfeel but oh what a finish. Long and persistant that left a smile on everyone's face. I have tasted the '59, '89. and '90 and this bottle was the best Montrose I have ever tasted. I had another bottle of the '55 approx. 2 years ago. Although that bottle was good, it paled in comparison to this one. One of the best Bdx I have tasted.

12/11/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

Opened at around 2 pm and allowed to slow-O in the bottle for 5 hours. Ruby red in color with no bricking at the rim. My memory of this wine was that it was more deep garnet in color. The past 3 years have really mellowed the wine for the better. Nose of blackberries, vanilla, and allspice. The aromas were consistent from the time the bottle was opened until we poured the first glass. The last time I tasted this wine in 2007 it had been very closed with astrigent tannins. This bottle was much more open, both on the nose and the palate. The tannins were much sweeter and the dark fruit was much more prevelant. Balanced, but not overbearing, acidity help keep the wine lively in the mouth. This is a very modern expression of Brunello and although not the style I find most appealing, this is a well made wine that is drinking well at the moment. You can drink now or hold for at least another 5 years if not more.

2/23/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

Brought to the rabbit dinner at Blackfish-Conshohocken. Nose very minerally showing the reisling. The palate is more sauvignon blanc, with bracing acidity and green apple. Changes dramatically in the glass as it warms and reveals more round fruit and more chalky texture. Very interesting wine.

3/6/2009 - Longboarder wrote:

The cork crumbled when removed. Ruby in color and extremely young looking. Great nose of roses, allspice and red fruits, with some leather. Very fresh on the palate with plenty of fruit remaining and bracing acidity. Wonderful mature brunello sweetness of the fruit. The wine hung in there for over two hours before the fruit faded and the acidity took over. Really nice wine for an off vintage.

2/16/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

Ruby in color with some bricking at the rim of the glass. Tertiary notes of mushrooms, leather and forest floor. Great acidity with plenty of red cherry flavors on the palate. A real treat to drink.

2/15/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

Decanted for approx. 6 hours prior to tasting. The color was very dark, almost black. I had tasted this wine on 2 other occasions (1st at the winery with Giovanni Manetti in May, 2009 and again in NYC in October). Each of the previous tastings were superior to this one. I feel the wine is completely closed down right now. Even with the long exposure to air, the wine was not yielding anything on the nose or the palate. A wall of tannins are all you taste currently. The '01 showed many of the same signs at about the same stage of development. I won't be touching these again for at least 8-10 years.

2/15/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

I slow-O'ed this bottle for approx. 7 hours. Very dark garnet color with no signs of bricking. The nose of this wine exceeded the palate and was very floral, with notes of red fruits. When first sipping, the wine is expressive on the palate. There was a hollowness in the mid palate that detracted from the wine and the finish was very short. I would rate the nose a 94 and the taste around 86. If a 90 is outstanding, I can't in good conscious give this wine a 90, thus the 89 score.

1/10/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

Maybe the best non-Riserva Chianti Classico I have tasted. Drank this over 3 nights. Very tight on night one. This is a very structured wine that needs air to really show its stuff. Night 2 - the wine was open for business with no signs of oxidation. The nose was typical Sangiovese with red fruits and allspice. The acidity and fruit were in balance as well. Night 3 - The nose was even more expressive and the wine was drinking beautifully. A real treat to find a $20 wine of this caliber. Fontodi has hit a home run with the '06.

2/10/2010 - Longboarder wrote:

Very typical CA pinot nose of bright fruit with some mineral notes. A little alcohol heat on the palate detracts from otherwise nice flavors of strawberries and spice.

4/20/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Way too young. The wine was closed and very unapproachable. Really a wasted bottle.

10/14/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Opened for 5 hours prior to drinking without decanting. The wine was garnet in the core with some bricking at the rim. The initial nose was exuberant, with intense aromas of red fruits, grilled meat and leather. As the wine slow-O'ed, the red fruits remained but more spice notes emerged. At the 5 hour mark the palate was vibrant with the fruit and acidity balanced. The finish was a little drying, but persistant. Interestingly, as the night progressed, the wine began to lose some of the fruit and the drying sensation was even more pronounced. I could not tell if the wine was falling apart or was shutting down. A very interesting wine that I would like to try again. Unfortunately, this was my only bottle.

10/20/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

OK, I couldn't wait another 5 years. A good friend is opening an Italian themed wine cafe and retail store. He is a burgundy nut and I wanted him to taste some aged Italian wines so that he can understand more of what he will be selling.

I opened the '79 Villero at 7 am and decanted it for sediment (after standing the bottle up for 3 days prior). The cork was saturated but had not leaked and came out in one piece. The bouquet was intoxicating as I decanted the wine. More floral than the first bottle and absent the tar notes. At 3 pm, I poured the wine back into the rinsed bottle. Again, the aromas filled my cellar. At around 8 pm I poured the first glass. If anything, the aromas of dried roses were even more pronounced, with some white truffles in the background. Even after 13 hours of air, the wine was very youthful on the palate. Sweet fruit, nice acidity and silky tannins were all in perfect balance. Everyone could not believe that the wine was 29 years old. The tasting coninued with other Italian wines (including an '88 Col d'Orcia BdM normale that I contributed as well) for another 2 hours. We then returned to the Giacosa for one last glass. That extra 2 hours were like magic for this wine. The nose had not changed much but the flavors had intensified and the slight grip of the earlier tannins had melded into a seemless, mouth-coating ménage a trios of dried currants, mushrooms and leather. The finish went on for more than a minute. Truly an exceptional wine. 98 points. The extra 2 points were almost exponential versus the 96 I gave this wine in April. I cannot really put into words what the extra air time did for this wine. I am glad I have 2 bottles remaining.

4/26/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Notes are from memory since I did not write anything down. Tasted at the 2008 Italian Off-line in Chicago. Opened approx. 3 hours before the off-line began. Initially, funk on the nose. After approx. 15 minutes in the glass the funk blew off revealing beautiful leather, under brush, blood, iron, stewed fruit, dark fresh fruit, licorice, bay leaf and some allspice notes. The color shows the age: deep dark red in the middle slowly turning into brick orange at the rim. In the mouth you get loads of dark forest fruit (frutti di bosco), berries, chocolate, mediterranian herbs, and very, very soft tannins and a nice acidity in the background. The finish is still refreshing and persist for 50-60 seconds.

Another perfect example of how beautiful Brunello from a top notch vintage and a top notch producer can age. I mentioned earlier that some wines are haunting. For me, this one will haunt me for many more years.

4/26/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Opened at the 2008 Italian Off-line in Chicago and allowed to sit for approx. 1 hour before tasting. Color was ruby red with some amber at the rim. A little cloudy, which could have been from the wine being transported to the off-line. Nose of dried rose potpouri and tar. Some sweet spices were also present. On the palate, the fruit was still prevelant, with secondary flavors of truffles and roasted nuts. The wine appeared and tasted very young as evidenced by the still gripping tannins. The finish was a full 60 seconds. This wine reminded me that older traditional barolo can live for many years, as this wine belied its 29 years. I would not open another bottle for at least 5 more years.

3/24/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Dark garnet in color with no bricking at the rim. The wine was opened (but not decanted) 3 hours prior to pouring. The nose screamed sangiovese grosso and was marked by red fruits, grilled meats, and spices. The palate was full of the same red fruits, balanced tannins and great structure. This received 3 votes for WOTN and was a real pleasure to drink.

3/25/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Miserably corked.

12/15/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Dark garnet in color with no bricking at the rim. Nose of blueberries and spice. On the palate, the wine was lacking a little umph. The nose was very promising but the palate was a little short. More acidity than I expected and the tannins were fully integrated. Good but not great.

1/3/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Corked!!!!

1/1/2008 - Longboarder wrote:

Straw in color. Nose of yeast and butterscotch, with a hint of citrus. Pleasing on the palate with a nice even finish.

11/30/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Very youthful looking. Dark ruby with no signs of bricking. Expressive red/dark fruits and spice jumped from the glass. Rich, slightly mature dark/red fruit (red plums) followed with a touch of leather. The flavors were less effusive than the nose. Nice acidity. Long and lovely. I felt it improved in the glass. Entering its drinking window now but there is still no hurry to drink what you have.

11/19/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

One of the best CA pinots I have tried. Ruby in color. Nose of red cherries, with hints of wet leaves. Vibrant fresh fruit (cherries and strawberries) with balance acidity. Fully integrated tannins. No high alcohol taste or aromas. The most balanced CA pinot I have tasted. Wish I had more. 93 points.

11/19/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Dark, inky purple in color. Nose of sweet spices and licorice. Fresh dark fruits with enough gripping tannins to make the wine interesting. Perfect match with an aged grilled NY strip. Very good wine. 92 points.

11/15/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Ruby in color. Nose of strawberries and baking spices. Nice acidity but the fruit was somewhat muted. Good, but not what I remembered from barrel.

11/11/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Ruby in color with leather and pencil lead on the nose. Everything had integrated with the fruit, acidity and tannins in balance. Very enjoyable.

11/11/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

The wine had completely shut down. The nose was promising but the on the palate the wine was tannic and tight. Not giving much at all. Hold for another 5-7 years.

11/6/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

This bottle was nothing like the bottle drunk at the Philly Brunello OL. Glorious nose of allspice, red cherries and licorice. Actually, the nose was soaring; singing BdM. The wine was dark garnet with no bricking. On the palate the tart cherries shown through and the tannins were fully integrated. The only thing keeping the score at a 92 was the finish was a little "drying". This wine was shared with another Brunellophile and we both were very pleasantly surprised. IMO, this bottle was better than anything tasted in Philly. I guess WIML and Rhone Warrior were right about the Philly bottle being corked.

10/21/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Opened at a tasting at Enoteca Sogno in Richmond, VA. This is the second bottle that I have opened. This bottle had the same nose as the previous one - green pepper and some spice. Thankfully, the wine continued to show the promise on the palate that the nose exhibited. Very balanced, with grilled meat and spice. Everything had become more integrated and the wine held up during the 3 hour tasting. Enjoyed by all.

9/2/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Popped and poured. Nose of grilled meat and leather. Not giving much initially. After 30 minutes the wine opened up and aromas of cassis and dark fruits coming through. After the wine opened up the dark fruit flavors came through and the tannins softened. If you have this wine, I recommend decanting it and you will be rewarded.

7/21/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Purchased from the Chateau in 2003. Stored at 55 degrees since purchase. Opened 3 hours prior to consumption but not decanted. Nose of leather, olives and damp earth. A little funk that blew off in about 30 minutes. Light ruby red with a tint of bricking at the rim. On the palate the olives from the nose were still prevelant with some tart fruit flavors lingering as well. Consumed over a total of 6 hours and the wine reached a plateau and remained there without fading. An enjoyable mature Bordeaux. Not bad for a second wine from a 5th growth. Drink now, its not going to get better but is definitely still alive.

7/20/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Very promising upon opening. The nose was lovely with spices and green pepper. The wine was inky black in the glass. The first sip was a real stunner. I was thinking this may be the best syrah I have tasted. WHAT HAPPENED. The wine began to fade almost immediately. The nose hung in there but the wine just turned flabby and almost weak. I have 2 more. I really don't know what to expect from the other 2.

1/28/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Shared with Gianfranco and the crew in La Clusaz. Cherries and plums on the nose with a hint of leather. Very youthful appearance with no bricking. Integrated tannins and firm acidity balanced well with fruit on the palate. A little short on the finish but an enjoyable bottle of Brunello.

7/20/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Showing its age even though was purchased from the winery.

4/14/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Drank at an off-line. Not decanted but opened for approx. 1 hour. Dark ruby color all the way to the rim. Nose of cherries and some spice, with a hint of strawberry. Crisp acidity on the palate but not that well rounded. The acidity dominated the fruit. Drink now.

4/8/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Served blind. Dark garnet color that showed no signs of its age. Lots of funk on the nose originally. After about 15 minutes the funk blow off and the spice and dark cherry nose really exploded. Tannins were fully integrated. Some at the table thought it was a supertuscan. To me the acidity gave it away and I was able to pick it as a BdM. It appears that there must be some bottle variation with this wine. Today, I would give it 92 points and it was the WOTD.

2/26/2007 - Longboarder wrote:

Popped and poured. The color is much darker than other Ramey Chards. The nose was bright, with figs and peaches predominant. On the palate, the wine is crisp with good acidity. A citrus (lemon zest) note is present. A little over-oaked or the wine would have scored 2-3 points higher. Very enjoyable. My first time with this vineyard.

12/2/2006 - Longboarder wrote:

Nice aromas of blueberry and blackberries, with a hint of chocolate. Everything was in balance until the finish which is light. Nice merlot but not great.

12/20/2006 - Longboarder wrote:

Very different wine for me. Rather harsh on the palate with big tannins. This is a biodynamically farmed wine. Maybe will calm down. Gave one bottle away as a gift.

10/24/2006 - Longboarder wrote:

Neal brought this to the Brunello off-line in Philly. WOTN for most. Typical grosso nose of violets and cherries. Balanced acidity with well integrated tannins. Crisp and clean in the mouth with lingering finish of tart plums. Enjoyed by all.

11/1/2006 - Longboarder wrote:

The nose was of pineapple and citrus. On the palate lemongrass, honey and citrus (with caramel on the finish). Enough acidity and minerality to maintain a crisp mouthfeel (not flabby). A nice CA chardonnay.

10/26/2006 - Longboarder wrote:

Shared with Joel at Allegro in PR. Nice nose of tobacco and currant. Tannins had integrated. Mid palate a little lacking but a strong finish.