January 16, 2023 - Popped and poured last night, it was beautiful. Prob worth opening sooner rather than later, but didn't seem overly faded. Went beautifully with home-made bolognese sauce.
July 27, 2022 - Left this in the cellar a bit too long. Faded within 90 minutes of opening.
October 9, 2021 - Held too long
September 15, 2021 - Degraded Brunello. Excellent.
May 5, 2021 - This was really singing last night. I hate to become one of those people who drinks wine as a sidekick to some fancy food, but Italian wines are just built for Italian fare. Especially Chianti and Rosso. The whifs of barnyard in the 2011 have that signature Valdicava vibe and the light garnet appearance is an exciting hint at what is coming next. Fully mature, dry, earthy, fruity, and very light footed and long. This is what I look for in any aged wine. At peak! DRINK
* Legal Notice: For the purpose of full disclosure, this wine was enjoyed with a rich Chicken Cacciatore over brown rice! Enjoy
April 23, 2020 - Enjoyable, full bodied, took quite a while to open up, even after decanting for 2 hours.
October 11, 2019 - This gets 91 or 92 every time, but it needs about an hour or more of air. Does not fall apart over 4 hours...At full maturity with some secondary development singing as accompaniment! Drink
* Dont skip decanting, it needs time to fall into balance...
January 15, 2019 - On the nose, sweet purple flowers, ripe red fruit, and dry heath. On the palate, a sweet spread of fruit layered on firm tannins and prickling acid, with an aromatic back note. A lovely integrated wine. Perfect with chicken cacciatore. 50 + 16 + 16 + 9 = 91.
December 11, 2018 - settling down nicely
fair qpr but clearly a good decision to not declare brunello this year
December 10, 2018 - Excellent bottle. Opened and tasted 7/12. Quite powerfull and inviting nose, complex, leather, tobacco, red berries. Soft tannins, good acidity and balance. Persistet notes in 8/12 and 10/12 protected by a blend of argon and nitrogen gas.