July 4, 2023 - When poured the color is very indicative of a well aged wine exhibiting tawny, brownish notes within the rouge. Aromas concur with notes of wet earth, aged cigar tobacco, worn shoe leather, cured meats and tart red berries bringing up the rear. A big rich style with abundant, velvety tannins, polished acid, striking racy red berry tartness mingling with graphite earth tones and a long finish. She's got years to go before she gives up her secrets. A special treat indeed. Popped and poured.
September 24, 2022 - Decanted longer than last time before tasting, 4 hours vs 2; as a result the wine started better and evolved a little less over the evening. Clean garnet. Some reduction on the nose, but plenty of textbook typicity: saddle leather, black plum, camphor. Palate of raw ripe plum, tart cherry, cacao nibs, baking spice. Medium finish, tannins perfectly in balance. Maybe a little light on personality, but a professionally crafted, traditional, mature Brunello.
June 7, 2022 - Decanted 2.5 hours. Clean garnet. Nose is really staid, just a bit of earthy plum and maybe a little strawberry. Midweight, black-leaning palate is austere as well, similar profile to the nose, very dry and rather bitter. Finish is long and on the hot side, tannins are nicely resolved. Reminds me a bit of a riserva in being particularly tightly wound and buttoned up. At least at this stage, this wine is hardly going out of its way to make you fall in love with it, but it's well put together, and although I personally prefer a bit more of a forthcoming style of BdM, there's an elegant structure here that will have plenty of fans. Drink or hold, seems well into peak but far from decline.
EDIT: opened up after the 4-hr mark, with some dark sweetness emerging. Also better with food, really nice with a simple pasta of garlic and oil.
May 24, 2021 - needs to breathe for at least 2-3 hours before drinking. Then it is wonderful
June 26, 2020 - Tastes this in their tasting room in 2018. Really was impressed then. Just open it now and it was nice. Not amazing, but pretty good. Light and smooth.
September 7, 2016 - Tasted at the winery, in a flight of '07, '08, and '09. Expressive fruit and woodsy nose, as well on the palate. On the palate, strong red fruit, balanced with acid and tannins. My favorite of this flight because of its strength and harmony. I picked up a few bottles to hide in my cellar for at least 2+ years before trying again.
January 19, 2016 - A short decant, which it needs as it opened as consumed.
Crimson red in the glass, no signs of age,
Ragged earth, with tar and berry scents.
Med + bodied, with a med finish.
March 20, 2015 - Slightly bricking dark red violet color; redolent, dried berry, sweet coffee, charcoal, tar nose; tasty, rich, almost syrupy texture, dried berry, berry liqueur, tar, licorice palate with near medium acidity; needs 5 years; medium-plus finish (14.5% alcohol)
July 29, 2014 - strong. cherry, tannins, vanilla
September 8, 2013 - Much better than the normale. A very dark fruited profile for a brunello. loads of aromatics of black cherry, spices, cassis, prunes, and plenty of oak flavors and toasty notes. palate is full, rich and round, with black fruit and tobacco. Very primary, needs time to develop complexities. medium finish with sweet tannins