December 22, 2023 - Drank in Cafe Carducci Verona for EUR 49! Last bottle remaining. Manager was impressed I found it on their thick wine menu, and our lovely waitress/somm took a picture for her Instagram before opening.
Fill level, color = perfect. Cork = perfect condition. Was stored perfectly over the years.
Short note to inform others that despite being ~25 yrs of age, the bottle was still in great condition. Started out a bit restrained with classical old Sangio notes - dried and very evolved violets, cherry petals like poutpourri, mushroomy notes. Still good, but thought it was at the end of its life. But boy was I wrong. Grew over the hour - so still somehow alive? Pretty bouquet of very evolved violets, dried cherry petals, dried mushrooms; hint of beautiful sweetness of anise/cedar/sandalwood at the end. Great bottle, great price, great find!
September 11, 2021 - From magnum. Fully soaked cork that broke on extraction and then proceeded to crumble to pieces once out of the bottle. Full, deep garnet in colour fading to a orange pekoe tea rim. Long and slow legs coat the inside of the glass. Compelling and complex nose of dried red berries, sour cherry, rosehip, aniseed, sandlewood and tar. Not at all earthy or funky as would be expected of such an old CCR. So smooth and full of sweet, dried red fruits on the palate. Medium full bodied, lots of fruit extract and glycerine, high but dissolved tannin and overall lovely balance from front to back of the palate. The flavours are suitable rich and complex as intimated by the nose. Lots of red cherry, red fruit leather, black tea, sandlewood, blonde stone dust and dried fennel. Very dry finish and it is long and lingering with just the right amount of astringent tannins and a finishing little bitter nip on the tip of the tongue as a reminder that this wine is in control. Stunning!
December 31, 2020 - Très plaisant à boire avec une fondue d'orignal, au fond des bois le 31 décembre 2020!
Toujours un bel équilibre mais, une fois ouverte, le charme s'étire sur une quarantaine de minutes.
July 13, 2020 - Side by side testing the 97 and 99...the 97 was much better with still a good tannic backbone and length. Both however were still very much alive.
December 13, 2019 - After the 05 and the 97 we open an 99 tonight. By far the better of the 3. Very nice acidity and still a bright fruit on cherries with still tannins to keep things interesting. Old chiantis are good and don't cost allot still
November 17, 2019 - Still with nice fruit; very enjoyable!
June 5, 2015 - lost some power over the years but still complex and enticing. Garnet red at the eye, oaky scents at first with typical hints of sangiovese with round tannins and smoothed acidity. Drink up
October 4, 2013 - Bety dark, bricky rim. Strong cherry nose+dried fruits. Intense, peppery and long after taste. Excellent. On top now.
December 25, 2012 - the large format bottle sure made a difference, the wine had perfectly developped and was still fresh and full in taste
April 14, 2012 - classic. style bourbogne