April 27, 2024 - SangioFest, Volume III "It's my favourite spot" (Chicago, IL): Another fantastic bottle of Cerbaiona tonight -- they're all very similar with that rusticity and dusty, brick oven quality. Darker fruit, but with an ethereal quality that gives this plenty of lift. A bit of a sappy quality to the fruit here, but never overbearing or heavy, even for a moment. A stark contrast to the clumsy Casanova di Neri alongside.
November 17, 2023 - good, not great. I felt like the fruit was gone and the alcohol was dominant. EG said it would return to balance in another 5 years but i wasnt so sure
September 30, 2023 - A very impresoce wine - such a long aftertaste - where you layers on layers - the fruitcis sout cherries, cranberries , plums and blackberries. We also get tobaccco and leather - medium tannins and acidity - the Wine is indeed Great and this time we Will increase pur rating to 97 - one of the best Cerbaiona I have had.
August 11, 2023 - Incredible, boastful nose of macerated cherries, toasted spice and herbs, dried florals, and a bit of balsamico. Lots of youthful power and structure though it’s all so integrated and harmonious with an ethereal appeal. Blockbuster Brunello.
April 14, 2023 - Bisato with friends: Oh wow, like a warm summer breeze through a Tuscan pine forest, pine resin giving way to mint. Much more powerful and structured than the 1999, still early and on the upswing. I like this brawnier face of Brunello.
February 1, 2023 - Tasted alongside four other Brunellos from the vintage, including Salvioni's neighboring plot. Decanted 45 minutes. Really dark and densely packed with flavor, showing relatively little development. Beautiful restrained sweetness. But we were left wondering where all this color came from. The vines were young at the time. Though Salvioni's wine shared similar characteristics, though not to quite the same degree. Never having had it before, this wine puzzled our little tasting group. It is really impressive by almost every measure by which one might judge quality in a wine - truly - and drinking extraordinarily young. But does it really reflect what one expects from Brunello made in a traditional style and aged in big botti ? Unquestionably wonderful. But is it Brunello ? It will keep for another 20 years. Bought on release and unmoved in the cellar for 17 years.
September 10, 2022 - Decanted and drunk over several hours.
A bit grumpy upon opening. An hour in the decanter did wonders. A fantastic nose: profound, dark strawberry and cherry fruit, violets, black licorice, and medicinal herbs. Multifaceted on the palate. It's deep, rich, and expansive while maintaining impeccable balance. Terrific inner mouth perfume. It's regal, powerful, poised and elegant. And dare I say youthfully beautiful. Implausably long on the back end. Fantastic. 97
August 5, 2022 - Still a great wine - and once again the balance is impressive - you also get a very long and nice aftertaste. We had the wine together with 2005 both wines are great - but this is the clear winner. We are still getting sour cherries and cranberries - we are also getting a clear dusted earthiness - also tobacco, menthol and leather- we are once again discussing a higher note but still ending on solid 96. THe wine is probably close to peak - but no hurry in drinking - the wine will be good in three years also we believe.
May 17, 2022 - Wonderful blend of ripe juice, bright red fruit, earthy Sangiovese and moderately coarse tannins, the Cerbaiona was my Wine of the Night among many others including ‘95 Costello de Ama, ‘01 Madonna and ‘01 and ‘06 Salviona although the votes were scattered. It’s right in the zone now but no signs of fatigue.
November 13, 2021 - By far the most concentrated Brunello tonight and fortunately the tannins which at first seemed much too coarse settled down. Not modern but not so old fashioned it was hard to understand. Just slightly bitter but not overly tart as some Brunello can be. Good with bold Italian cuisine.