December 1, 2023 - Not rated due to mild corking. Hope to try this one again soon!
October 15, 2023 - At peak. Significant concentration of red cherry with loads of herb and spice. Good complexity and nuance. Long, flavorful finish.
October 15, 2023 - corked
May 13, 2020 - This was a terrific looking bottle, cellared since release, with a base neck fill, good cork, and color that is still deep and bright. Tight nose, hints of nutty oak layered over creaminess, soil, fresh medicinal herbs, a touch of iron, so soil driven and dusty, with some dried spice, sun burnt cherry, and flinty blackberry fruit.
So austere, so regal, with just incredible cut and definition in the mouth. There's an important tannic imprint here, but the tannins are so fine grained; it’s elegant yet strict, A german could have made this wine. Gaining some weight on the backend before yielding to the dusty soil driven, cherry skin toned finish. Just a suggestion of bitterness adding amplitude to the bitter black cherry skin flavors of the finish. Just terrific, so complete, nervous with defining tension in the mouth and a persistence to the fruit that is not based on sweetness or weight, but leaves an impression of fruit skin extract on the palate. Absolutely at peak and one of the finest example of Sangiovese I’ve had in a long time. Should drink well for another decade at least, and I wouldn't be surprised if its fine for another decade after that.
Just a regal wine, distinctive, unique, of its place and time.
Originally published with video at: https://www.simplybetterwines.com/gdpandthepig/1999-castellare-di-castellina-i-sodi-di-san-niccolo
April 24, 2020 - Like my friend Greg dal Piaz says. A stunning, breathtaking bottle of sangiovese in a superb place. One of the best bottles I've had recently and one of the best sangio's I've had in a very long time. There is a dark, brooding quality to this wine that has perhaps an an affinity to Montalcino initialy, but the spine and structure of this are all Chianti Classico. I envy that Greg has a few more bottles!
September 17, 2019 - still has life in it but likely passed its prime. Blind tasted and guessed BDX, missed the key signs but picked up on common traits. drank with 2000 petit cheval which I liked much better. Still a good super tuscan but prefer it to have more bite.
April 29, 2018 - Tired.
February 21, 2016 - I was expecting a little more from this bottle , probably I have opened the bottle too late , just 1 hour before consumption. Sure a really good wine but was too static till the end of the bottle
February 1, 2012 - On the classically-styled nose, I found tart red fruits, floral notes, barnyard and herbs. On the palate, it was velvety and balanced with fresh focused red fruits, cedar and soft herbal notes, yet it remained fresh and pulsing throughout. The finish showed pure spicy red fruits.
November 17, 2011 - Past it's best. Still smooth, but very little fruit left.