4/22/2024 - VINNICK wrote:

This is becoming one of my favorite producers and this vintage maybe my favorite wine. Opened Friday evening and slow oxed for 24 hours, had half the bottle on Saturday and the second half Sunday. Kept at 55 the entire time but better to drink at 60. The wine is flawless, perfect balance, elegance, and harmony. Everything you expect from a great Bordeaux.

12/31/2023 - SkeBum wrote:

This is the last of 6 bottles that I owned. Only posted notes on 5 of them I believe. Anyway, opened 3 hours before drinking. Poured a little into a glass. Cork was perfect even after all this time, a lesson that American wine makers could learn.

Nice garnet color in glass, very little bricking. Nose is pencil shaving and some raspberries. Drank over an hour with dinner. This wine seems to be fading from the glory that I once drank. The main issue is the fruit on the finish. The tannins and acid is all great, with pencil shavings nose this wine is known for. The magic of this wine in my opinion, was it finished with a light touch of fruit, that made you believe there is a God. However, that fruit is fading has been over the last 4-5 yrs. Now this wine is top notch still and 94 is a good score in my book, it just isn’t a 99 point wine anymore. Wish I had 34 more years left so I could buy some more and age it all over again, for another run. Super fun.

9/1/2021 - ShangGuy Likes this wine:

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

8/20/2023 - djhammond Likes this wine:

This has finally arrived, and it is truly magnificent, and it is finally living up to the hype on release. This is the best pre millennial vintage from the estate, and it outclasses the 1982 by a long stretch. The last 6 months and 5 hours in the decanter has totally transformed the wine. The nose is deeply aromatic with red cherry, blackcurrant and cedar with wafts of violet and more recent subtle hints of orange. The palate is mature with secondary notes, and the tannin is now resolved and sweet. The depth is excellent and multi-layered. The finish has finally punched through the tannic wall and is lengthy, well balanced, and silky smooth.

8/26/2023 - VINNICK Likes this wine:

A stunning brunello. Power balance spice and perfect with past pizza etc. Drank this over three days and I was surprised to see only after a full 72 hours was it starting break down. Perfect wine with a nice decant. Top 5 pct of brunellos I’ve had.

6/11/2023 - VINNICK Likes this wine:

Drinking great right out of the bottle. Had it on a Friday and we loved it. Pulled out the second half of the bottle on Saturday and it was equally as good. Second tasters also loved it.

7/4/2021 - VINNICK Likes this wine:

Phenomenal wine. Deeply concentrated with a beautiful nose, body, and lovely long finish. Everything one can ask for in good bordeaux. This is humming and was terrific straight out of the glass. Firing on all cylinders! This baby is ready for prime time. Enjoy!

11/26/2020 - Geaux Tigers wrote:

Summary: this bottle sucked.

Based on prior notes I decided 3.5 hr decant would do the trick. Early nose had rhubarb, soy, musty earth, mushrooms faint red fruit. I was optimistic.

First sips at 3 hrs. Wet cardboard and mold. WTF? Maybe needs more air. Optimism still there.

4 hrs. Poured wine and had a Bloody Mary come out, complete with alcohol, tomato juice and the veggies. Now I’m just pissed. We’ll see if Benchmark honors its guaranteeds. Thankfully there’s a 2012 Pott Incubo to keep me company.

Will try again later and report back if a miracle occurs. I expect not to

At 5.5 hrs, no miracle. Poured it down the drain, the drain choked!

75 or flawed, you pick!

5/29/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine:

Solid wine in the modern style. I coravined half the bottle and left it four days...bad move as the wine completely turned. Ended up throwing 1/4 away. That said, the first night it was a very nice Brunello with medium body and power and nice elegance. 91-92.

5/22/2020 - Ltim BE Likes this wine:

H2H blind tasting with the 2013 Soldera. The Soldera at this stage overclassed the Monfortino and was more sexy and open and approachable. The nose and the extreme sexy taste of the Soldera blew our guests away. The Monfortino being more robust and earthy opened up more and more after 4/5 hours but the Soldera stood stronger.

4/9/2020 - Rallerboy888 Likes this wine:

I rarely drink wines from this part of Italy, but tonight I made an exception.

Very delicate on the nose, with notes of prunes, stewed plums, leather, and a bit of fresh red currant. The palate is elegant, balanced, and full of flavour. It's not heavy at all, like you may have expected from a wine like this, but almost like a mature Bordeaux. The ripe fruit carries over to the palate, but it seems rather primary, actually. The fruit is very smooth, and the tannin is bordering on silky. Finishes with a bit of tannin grip, a touch of acidity, and a fresh red fruit.

This was very nice to try! It's a completely different type of Valpolicella wine than what is usually served here in Denmark, and I have to say that I like it. I wouldn't worry a second about saving this for another 5-10 years, but I think I prefer the primary fruit.

2/23/2019 - VINNICK wrote:

First bottle of a case. Second bottle consumed. Outstanding wine. Opened up nicely after 20 minutes. Had a 2010 Dal Forno last night and there is no comparison. This wine is elegant ready to drink and will drink well for years to come. Dal Forno felt like a bronco in comparison. Strong but years away from being anything worthwhile.

2/23/2020 - ieatprawnsss Likes this wine:

As others have noted - these are absolutely singing. One of the best bottles of Brunello I've had. Dried red fruits, tobacco, earthy forest notes. Darker in colour than one would expect given its age. Absolutely blockbuster palate - fully integrated but still so muscular and lively. Plenty of fruit and acidity. Great depth and complexity, finish was good but could have been even better.

Nevertheless - one of those wines that have come out of its 30 year slumber as a winner on all fronts. Great.

I had purchased this from a tasting last year, where it showed favourably against a flight of Italian greats (and even more so if you consider value). I'm going to go ahead and hunt down more of these, if at all possible.

1/1/2020 - Rickets Likes this wine:

My first auction purchase so a bit nervous. Cork was in good shape, as was the wine. 6 hour aeration in the bottle as recommended by the producer and then paired with home made Italian lasagna (made by my mother-in-law) at Christmas Dinner. This wine was in fine form. All the typical elements are a brunello - and all in the right place. Rose petal, anise, and red liquorice on the nose, palate of dark cherry and other stewed red fruits. Tannins and structure very present, but not overbearing. Medium-Long finish. Years left in the tank. I must admit, I don't feel this kind of brunello will appeal to everybody, but it is very well made and is one of my all time favourite producers.

2/14/2019 - npettit wrote:

Did not open up at all.

9/9/2019 - VINNICK Likes this wine:

Wow! Big upside surprise on my 40th birthday. Wasn’t expecting a great showing but this was wonderful. 40 years and drinking great! Tannins and structure fully integrated but the wine still had a beautiful freshness and youth. Classic Bordeaux and drinking beautifully! No decant was needed. WOTN!