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Comments on my notes

(17 comments on 17 notes)

1 - 17 of 17 Sort order
Red
2016 Cerbaiola (Salvioni) Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
9/1/2021 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
98 points
Montalcino 2021 Brunello Trip; 8/26/2021-9/1/2021 (Montalcino, Sienna Province, Italy): Eighth and final vineyard on our Brunello 2021 tour in Montalcino and it is a huge one - Salvioni, with their cellars right in town and limited production of 4 hectares and 15,000 bottles. This is premium wine and hats off the the family for not only allowing us to tour, but taste some of the recent harvests out of the Barrel! (See my Tasting Story for more). The 2016 Brunello is a show stopper. Brown/burgundy color, intense fruity aroma. First taste is a burst of dark fruits, creamy cherries, black-berries, currants. Dry medium and balance finish and endless linger - earthy, leathery very smooth. Superb wine from a superb producer

  • ShangGuy commented:

    1/27/24, 1:28 PM - I actually walked up to their location in Montacino where they store/age their wine, rang the doorbell and scheduled an appointment. Pretty old school

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Red
2018 MastroJanni Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
5/22/2023 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
95 points
2023 Montalcino trip, second vineyard visited. Dark purple/brown, strong aroma of ripe fruits. Modest first Brunello taste of red fruits, but more developed- cherries, currants, and into a medium dry and earthy finish hints of pepper, spice. Long linger. Nicely developed rhythms for a young Brunello from a great producer.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    11/18/23, 4:06 AM - Tried again, November 18, 2023. Still great, holding rating

Comment
Red
2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
5/24/2023 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
93 points
Montalcino trip, seventh vineyard visited. Dark brown color, strong fruit nose already sense deeper complexity. First Brunello taste dry dark fruits - cherries, currants, strawberries and into a long earthy finish herbs, and peppers, licorice long linger. Much better than my January tasting, maybe because I am in Montalcino 😀

  • ShangGuy commented:

    9/5/23, 7:37 PM - https://www.cellartracker.com/user.asp?iUserOverride=866362. Thank you for your comment. Montalcino is a wonderful place to visit and I have been doing it regularly for years. There are over 200 producers of Brunello, but in order, here is my suggestion:
    1. Casa Nova di Neri: one of the best producers, and wonderful reception and wine tasting area
    2. Ciacci Piccolomini: Always a consistently great producer, with friendly staff and good olive oil
    3. Cannolicchio di Sopra: Easy to arrange a tour and tasting and top wine
    4. MastroJanni: Great lunch place, tour and another top producer
    5. Argiano: One of the best tours in Montalcino, they have a cellar that just amazing and collection. And it is one of the best value Brunellos
    6. Le Potazzine. Near the city and smaller producer with good wines and tasting set-up
    7. Azienda Agricola La Ragnaie - A small resort, restaurant, and excellent wine. Need to call the resort "La Ragnaie" to reserve

    Fattoria dei Barbi also has an excellent restaurant - the Beef Florentine is amazing. Worth the visit for lunch, wine is good but not in my top Brunellos

    Have a look at my Wine Story in 2021 for a good overview as well

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Red
2012 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso Sangiovese
2/20/2022 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
97 points
Drank as it approached its 10th year. Deeper brown colours, modest aroma. Subtler first brunello burst and definitely a richer earthier finish - barnyard, spice, longer finish and long linger. Drinking very well.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    3/1/22, 12:23 AM - Always amongst the best producers in Montalcino and this was a particularly great wine

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Red
2016 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso Sangiovese
5/22/2021 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
97 points
Beautiful purble/brown color, strong fruity aroma. First Brunello burst is surprisingly smooth, rich like its aged already. Usual dark cherries and currants finishing into earthy, slightly spicy smack of the lips. Medium linger. Wonderful for a younger Brunello in what is a superb wine.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    5/22/21, 6:29 PM - Thanks - Brunello only in Tuscany - thats my true love

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Red
2010 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
2/28/2020 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
90 points
Good, but a bit disappointing for a 2010. Soft aroma, dark purple hue. Rich, sweet, fruit first taste. A bit too sweet of a finish, but a nice long linger.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    2/29/20, 8:15 PM - Good suggestion- these wines are always better the older they get. I just can’t wait!

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Red
2004 Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
1/18/2020 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
92 points
Soft but rich aroma, dark purple color. Bottom of cork was almost black. Simple fruity first taste then developing into a typically complex medley of rose, mint, leather, and then earthy, barnyard finish, but light. Medium linger

  • ShangGuy commented:

    1/19/20, 10:10 PM - I did decant, but only 10-15min as I was in a restaurant. Did improve over the evening so would say 30m-1 hr decant is needed

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Red
2012 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Santa Caterina D'Oro Vigna di Pianrosso Sangiovese
10/6/2018 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
97 points
Had the first bottle on my birthday. Outstanding. Inky purple/brown color, modest nose. First taste is a soft burst of red fruits - strawberries, cherries flowing into a dry middle and soft smooth finish with a long tanic and slightly acidic linger. Beautiful from beginning to end. A refined version of their great 2012 vintage

  • ShangGuy commented:

    5/4/19, 1:56 AM - Had second bottle at a Tuscan restaurant along with Florentine beef. Amazing! Stand by my high score for this wine

Comment
Red
2014 Duo de Conseillante Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend
6/10/2017 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
88 points
Third chateau from my Bordeaux trip moving to the right bank. Ruby red color and light fragrant floral notes. Soft subtle first taste widening more fully with dark fruits and silky texture. Soft finish, low tannins and medium linger.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    8/7/18, 11:52 PM - A colleague of mine is a wine critic and he was able to get access. You can try calling them - that has worked for some vineyards in the past

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Red
2016 Château La Conseillante Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend
6/10/2017 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
96 points
Third chateau from my Bordeaux trip moving to the right bank and this was an out of the barrel 2016 so some foresight is needed. Superb wine. Inky purple color and strong floral notes as seems to be signature of wine. Soft first tasted widening quickly to a full body, silky texture, good structure. Very long linger for a new wine with emerging flavors that some good aging will develop. Will be great.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    2/3/18, 3:16 AM - ...And it has gotten better. Drank it in Feb 2018 and has improved. Richer nose, more complex, the oranges have become more dark fruits, though still that explosive brunello first taste. And the finish is drier with hints of oaks. Would up this a point or 2

Comment
Red
2012 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
4/14/2017 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
95 points
Hosted a 6 Brunello 2012 blind tasting and this ended up a close 3rd. Dark purple color soft fruity aroma. Modest first brunello taste - dark cherries, currants followed by smooth earthy finish - Licorice and a bit of tobacco. Moderate linger on finish.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    5/31/17, 11:55 AM - Retasted when I visited the vineyard during my 2017 Montalcino trip. Confirm 95 rating. Deep floral scents, Ruby red/brown color. Subtle burst of fresh red fruits and long linger with dry oak, barnyard. Excellent wine

Comment
Red
2012 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
4/14/2017 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
91 points
Hosted a 6 Brunello 2012 blind tasting and, sadly, this was second from bottom. Dark purple color, soft almost closed aroma. Modest first brunello taste overly sweet with hints of oranges, cherries but not much complexity. No lingering finish. A bit disappointing given 2010 and 2011 were great vintages.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    4/23/17, 12:44 AM - The Ciacci Piccolomini Pianrosa. You can see my note on this

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Red
2010 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova Sangiovese
1/14/2017 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
98 points
Dark inky color mild aroma. Soft but strong first brunello taste - tangy, raspberries, smoky linger with a dry smooth finish. This is a brunello that balances the first taste and the dry finish. Amazing to sip over and over again.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    2/18/17, 3:27 AM - Given its only 6 years, it should still be held. But my view it is such an excellent tasting wine now, it will only ne marginally better. So unless you only have 1 bottle - find a good occasion and drink a great wine

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Red
2009 Opus One Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
8/8/2016 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
95 points
Dark inky color as you would expect from Opus One. Deep aroma, can smell the full body and earthy finish. First taste are black currants, full bodied as the smell hints, rich. Finish with hint of chocolate and barnyard earthy lingering taste.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    8/9/16, 12:52 PM - Its very drinkable. Tried it last year, so it has progressed and of course will be better in a few years.

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Red
2011 Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino Vallocchio Sangiovese
5/24/2016 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
93 points
Second vineyard - Fanti on my Montelcino trip. Soft aroma but inky dark color. Very tangy Brunello burst with dark fruits and a slight sweetness vs classic 2010 that adds a unique flavor. Barnyard and earthy finish, but could do with 2-3 years aging.

  • ShangGuy commented:

    6/4/16, 6:37 AM - Tried again a week later. Still a strong first Brunello burst after a deep fruity aroma. Finish has hints of chocolates and raisins. Nice

Comment
Red
2010 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
2/13/2016 - ShangGuy wrote:
93 points
I love the 2010s. Even the base wine of Ciacci Piccolomini impresses with a the typical strong flavour burst of fruits and sweetness but an earthy second palette and smoothe finish. Yes in a few years, this will be even greater

  • ShangGuy commented:

    5/25/16, 8:05 AM - Tasted this again directly at the vineyard during my Montalcino tour. Overall, still drinking well. Noticed some spicy pepper-like flavors on the first taste. Will calibrate rating down slightly based on subsequent 2010s I have tasted

Comment
Red
2010 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
3/11/2016 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:
98 points
Amazing. Tasted the first one in early 2015. A year later still amazing. The strongest most fragrant aroma of any 2010 Brunello. First taste is big, fruity - oranges, red fruit - very intense. The finish is incredibly smooth with a hint of smoke and earth than leaves a very subtle but faintly noticable after taste. One of the best Brunellos in my view

  • ShangGuy commented:

    4/23/16, 4:38 AM - Tasted another 4 bottles at a function I organised. They drank very well and continue to confirm my rating. An excellent brunello!

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