November 30, 2014 - No fruit on nose. Smokey meat and leather. Well balanced with a nice finish that echoes the nose in flavor although with additional hints of dark fruits and plums.
October 19, 2013 - Drinking up some of the older Brunello's. This one is still solid with great balance.
July 22, 2013 - This one was another surprise. Drank great. Solid fruit and tannins.
November 21, 2008 - Popped and poured at a byob restaurant. Great nose of cherry, leather, tobacco and spice. Flavors similar to the nose, but the finish is rather short and disappointing, really just disappears. Midpalate was a bit thin as well. Not sure if this needed more time to open up, but overall diasappointed for the price.
March 16, 2008 - Bummer....I held this waiting to share with friends who gave the bottle to us for our anniversary three years ago. Popped to decant three hours before they arrived and that unmistakable smell arose from the decanter as I poured. Corked. Tough to take after holding for a special night.
August 10, 2007 - Dark ruby colour with black tinges. Aromas of coffee, black plums, blackberry, aniseed/fennel, and vanilla/toast. Full-bodied, with notes of black plums, black cherry, vanilla, blackcurrant, and coffee notes on the palate. Missing a little something on the palate in comparison to the 1998 Brunello normale that was poured beside the Altero. Plenty of grip - tannins are still quite firm. Moderate finish, ~30-35s, with black plums and herbs.
April 13, 2004 - Restaurant Bricco in West Hartford: $85 off list. Dark garnet color. Complex, enticing nose with bright red fruit, strawberry licorice, menthol. High acid and lively on the palate. Long finish, but just a bit hollow on the midpalate. Sarah hated everything about this wine, and since she's far more sensitive to TCA than I, I tried to find any hint of it, but couldn't. This wine was fine, and she either doesn't like Brunello, or it's a pregnancy thing. Overall, a nce wine, but I wouldn't spend $85 for it again.