February 11, 2024 - Slow oxed all day then I poured a small glass. The cork looked brand new only saturated about 1/4”. So dark that you can’t see any sign of age. The nose explodes with notes of cherry, eucalyptus, cardamom, fresh cut flowers and cinnamon. Still has enough tannin to keep this young and lively. Sweet cherry cough syrup, bitter orange and barnyard notes. This is what a great Brunello is all about. In a great spot but probably can age for many more years. Sadly only one more left. Tonight just shining. 94-95. I think I already won the Super Bowl. LOL.
I kept one glass to revisit tonight. The wine has not budged the tannins are a bit smoother maybe enhancing the drinking experience. There are no great wines only great bottles. This was a great bottle. Maybe a point or two higher.
December 10, 2023 - Deep, clean violet, almost no signs of age. Open nose with classic BdM notes of plum, saddle leather, camphor. Bold, masculine palate, still a prevalent amount of black and then red fruit, underpinned by an earthy minerality. Very long finish, with really grippy tannins, as well as a noticeable burn (label says 15% and I could easily believe it's up closer to 15.5%). Built like a true Riserva, this is showing beautifully right now, somewhere towards the start of a long peak window. Surely at least a 25-year wine, and 30 years or more wouldn't surprise me.
March 11, 2022 - This is a gorgeous wine. We served it with Casarecce con Salsiccia and what a beautiful pairing. We tasted the '06 Riserva at Capanna in 2014 alongside multiple vintages of the Normale, including the 2006, and the 2004 Riserva. Riserva wines are only made in excellent vintages and both 2004 and 2006 were excellent vintages in Montalcino. Gorgeous wines, all of them, but I was a little worried the '06 Riserva wine had too much alcohol. Still, because '06 was an excellent vintage, when this showed up at the local retailer a year later I grabbed 6. I took a chance that it would come together with age, and it did exactly that. Normally I would give a wine like this a long slow-ox in the bottle, opening in the AM and letting it breath all day. I forgot! So I decanted it for 4 hours before serving and wow, did it come around. Fermented in steel and aged in botti so any oak influence is subtle. I won't rush on my remaining bottles, but good to know how enjoyable it is now with a good food pairing and a decant.
July 28, 2021 - Not a great showing. Too much alc. Has not aged gracefully.
August 13, 2020 - Still drinking well with nice balance with good balance of acid and residual tannins. Nice evolution of the secondary and tertiary flavors. Great wine
October 3, 2019 - Late night session at Maison Dakota. Poured through Vinturi into decanter. Drank over 3 hours. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, some slight VA that blows off, then aromas of classic red cherries, darker red cherries, toast, sandalwood, mint, earth. Developed.
On the palate, dry, good high acidity, high alcohol (15%), chewy high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of classic pure sour red cherries, red licorice, baking spices, sweet sandalwood, earth, bit of mint. Long finish.
Very good quality. Started off a tad unbalanced, but found its footing in the decanter after an hour plus.
Not sure if it's me, but seems like there is much oak influence here? The toast and sandalwood is definitely there for me. Though apparently this Riserva is aged in Slavonian oak casks of 10 to 25 hl for over 40 months.
Vineyards well located around Montosoli in Montalcino North.
July 20, 2019 - From a magnum. Brick on the rim. Started out a little unbalanced, but eventually mellowed pretty nicely. Definitely an old world Profile. Could be a good steak wine, but also quite pleasant sipping by itself.
June 30, 2019 - First of 2 from an auction lot at about $65@. Hour and half decant preceded by a 1 oz taste upon opening, and the wine is immediately singing. Nose of strawberries, funk and dried spices. Medium to dark with orange notes, medium to full-bodied, thick legs. Taste, however, was dominated by cherry, some funk, the spices and blood orange. After the decant, smoke, cigar box, iron/rust, blood and tar tasting notes came out. Huge but not unpleasant tannins, lightening bolt acidity. Despite the 15% abv, not a hint of heat on the palate. More on the modern side, but not on the far end of the dial. Second night some tomato notes came out with our homemade pizza. Impeccably structured and perfectly balanced. Super savory, makes you wish they'd sell it in snack packs at your local big box retailer. This is early in a great drinking window that should go on for quite a long time. Great wine, great qpr.
My primary wine love has always been Napa cabs, but in the past year or two, I think that Brunellos have overtaken them, despite the so-so scores for many on CT (you have a hard time finding something scored better than 93, whereas myriad Cabs exceed that.). I've had great success at paying $30-50 for good-very good BdMs, and $50-100 for exceptional ones.
February 1, 2019 - Excellent ruby color. Raspberry nose. With hints of leather and red fruit hard candy, floral and spices. High acid and tannic. Decanted ~30 min. Paired with meatballs and Cesar salad.
November 3, 2018 - Clear deep ruby with garnet rim; clean medium nose of cedar, leather, sage and raspberries; pfn with addition of black licorice and cocoa; medium plus body; high tannins; high acidity; medium plus finish; dry; luscious, velvety wine with great intensity and complexity; drinking beautifully right now - wish I’d bought another few bottles