November 5, 2023 - ***
June 26, 2021 - Last bottle of this, in my cellar for some time (10+ years...) Brought to Gennaro's for dinner with Valerie and Charlotte. PnP, drank over 2.5 hours
This was meaningfully different an hour+ in. First impressions indicated wine was gone, stringent and faded. Gradually opened up...notes reflect once opened up. Medium garnet/tawny color. Nose showing red fruit, cherry, leather. Palate of dusted dark cherry, plum, currant, some sweetness through the mid palate. Medium weight and finish.
Glad I took some time with it...being at the restaurant kept me from dumping it...:) Certainly past its peak (depending on one's definition) but once it opened its enjoyable and classic Brunello. Be patient, not bad!
September 24, 2019 - Decanted for an hour. Nice level of tannins are still present, cherries and some old world funk on the palate. Nice level of acidity.
June 15, 2019 - Not dead with my care! Nice tannins and the classic Brunello tastes.
May 9, 2019 - Way past it’s prime
March 18, 2018 - Drinkable, but barely. Resembled cough syrup more than any Brunello with character. At this point, my remaining 5 bottles are relegated for a late night added bottle when all that is expected is more alcohol.
July 17, 2017 - A bit strange, as if the parts weren't all put together correctly. We thought after all these years in the cellar it would have rounded out, but it still had an in-your-face attack. Then came a rather limp middle, followed by a burst of spice, then a long but wan finish.
June 20, 2017 - Drinking quite well.
May 27, 2017 - Decanted (no sedemint) and tasted, I have tast many vintages of Brunellos from Banfi and am rarely disappointed as the bottle seemed void of the nuances that make Brunellos so attractive, dry and nearly no earthy notes, not undrinkable just boring and innocuous. N/R
December 25, 2016 - Drank w Mike and Tiffany over xmas