October 1, 2023 - Amazing wine after 17 years drinking great!
February 23, 2023 - This was decanted for about 3+ hour before drinking. The nose is savory and dark red fruited with raspberries, sour red cherries, violets, balsamico notes, tobacco, crushed rocks, roasted herbs, and licorice. There is excellent depth and layering right now that works in a beautiful way to draw you in. The Full bodied feel is plush and balanced with a tinge of alcohol as well as medium+ acidity and resolving, medium+ tannins. This is in that zone where I just have to ask myself: is this actually going to get better? And it doesn't feel like that will necessarily happen. That isn't to say that it can't easily age for years to come, it's just that this is really good right now and is well worth drinking.
November 24, 2022 - I slow oxed overnight and took a small pour this am. Wow. It’s extremely dark. The nose is bursting with dark cherries plumbs hot rocks hay strawberry compote and honey. It’s still has a great dose of tannins to balance all the fruit which is right there. Really fun to drink. As it sits in the glass it unfolds and gives you everything you could want in an aged Brunello. So good. This is why we age wines. Has a long life ahead. 93-94.
May 16, 2022 - Opened and drank over 3 hours. In a great spot. Took on weight, great secondary flavors, still quite lively given its age.
May 1, 2022 - Spoiled, but oddly. Tasted like lemon juice, and the nose was oxidative; however, I still smelled some primary and tertiary aromas - like it wasn't spoiled completely. Even odder, I saw the cork was laminated at the ends with a clear film. Never seen that on a cork. Anybody else see this? Bought this at auction and wondering somewhat if this was tampered with.
April 8, 2022 - A very well-rounded brunello with a slight modern edge, drinking at its peak right now.
Opened the wine for dinner (mushroom ragu). Classic garnet color, with no visible signs of aging.
Nose - Superb, intriguing notes of red fruit, berries, hay, damp earth and truffle. Very promising.
Mouth - First sip revealed muted fruit and firm tannins, which led me to decant (1 hour). The wine quickly opened up and displayed a very well balanced, structured body. Mouthfill was round and opulent, tannins had integrated perfectly and the fruit showed evolution and complexity. On the mid palate - red cherries, casis, espresso, black pepper. Finishes well with decent length. Medium bodied.
Overall, a very good all-around effort, enjoyable and elegant, with presence and complexity, but lacking the richness and depth of the true greats of the region. And still, a strong effort.
Definitely in its peak drinking window, so drink now through 2025, but wouldn't wait longer than that. Good stuff - 90 points on the day.
October 9, 2021 - Slow oxed for 7 hrs then into a decanter. An hour on I pour the first small glass. Very dark crimson. Impenetrable. Nose is filled with deep red fruits, graphite, hay and orange rind. It is still very youthful, as if it’s just entering it’s early drinking window. Beautiful balance and a dose of tannin with a nice sweet top note. This should age effortlessly.
August 29, 2021 - 1 hour decant. Medium purple color, violets on the nose. Subdued attack, With black cherry fruit moderating. A rich chewy mouthfeel in the middle palate, with wonderful umami and roasted meat flavors.Nice touch of dry Tuscan dust on the backend. Quite nice. Day one: 93 points
Even better on day two. Dense, integrated and full of black fruit and savory notes. Day two: 95 points
May 12, 2021 - not enjoyable on day one, with muted fruit, too much bitter oak; remarkably better and more typical on day two, possibly due to decanting for fine sediment; more purple sour cherry, rhubarb and good intensity
April 6, 2021 - Delicious Brunello. Good fruit and nice earthy tones