JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  1/11/2019 (link)

  (Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino, Red, Italy) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Antonio Galloni
  Looking Back at the 2005 & 2004 Brunellos (Oct 2016), 10/1/2016 (link)

  (Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino) Subscribe to see review text.

The World of Fine Wine

• March 2010, Issue #27 (link)

  (Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Stephen Tanzer
  July/August 2009, IWC Issue #145 (link)

  (Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  2004 Brunello di Montalcino: A Vintage Full of Surprises (Jun 2009) (link)

  (Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  Valdicava: Brunello di Montalcino 1988-2004 (Nov 2008) (link)

  (Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/13/2010 (link)

  (BRUNELLO Valdicava) Weekend Dear Friends, A few notable examples have arrived (or will do so in the next week or so). All of the entrants below merit serious attention and all are at excellent prices for their genre. Have a great weekend - - Jon Rimmerman ************************ 2007 Domaine des 3 Celliers Chateauneuf du Pape "Privilege" VERY RARE - not available in the US This unique wine, built around 10-20% Vaccarese, will be something special in 8-12 years - it is so pent up, the bottled wine is akin to a barrel sample. If you are searching for the rarest examples of 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, here you go: 2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 1.5lt EXTREMELY LIMITED at this price (Last year, magnums of 2004 Valdicava were $250-300 on discount - now they are $165. That about sums up the market for Brunello...compare at current prices of $210-250+) FX Pichler 6-Packs (limit 1/person) Here's an interesting 6 bottle pack of FX Pichler at a great price. It focuses on the new 2008 vintage with a "bonus" bottle of 2005 Gruner Veltliner "M" that is almost free. To get the 2005 "M" I had to purchase these as pre-packed 6-packs - it's a great deal if you are a collector of FX Pichler. In most pre-packs, they leave out the best/most desirable wine but this pack includes the 2008 "M" (a wine that is very difficult to come by in the US with an eye-popping score and review from Peter Moser of Tanzer's IWC). One bottle each of the following 6 wines: 2005 F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Smaragd "M" 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Oberhauser 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Steinertal 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg 2008 F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Urgestein Terrassen 2008 F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Smaragd "M" ...we also have... Blood Orange Oil 16 oz (Please limit requests to 12 bottles/person) Wow - the response to yesterday's Roasted Garlic Oil was shocking even for me - it's right up there as the most requested item of the last several years and Niki isn't even close to sifting through all of the requests. All I can say is...thank you. I was going to wait until March to put this out (the sister oil of the Garlic oil) but the order for the Garlic oil is going to be so large that Tom wants to produce the Blood Orange oil next week to insure we receive both of them for spring shipping. As you may guess, this Blood Orange Oil is produced with the same artisinal care as the Roasted Garlic Oil with the same base blend of natural and anti-oxidant rich grape seed and extra virgin olive oil (don't worry, he produces this in a separate kitchen than the garlic - nothing can live or breath in the garlic kitchen...except the garlic). Tom presses fresh blood oranges (in season right now - no spray/naturally raised) and concentrates the juice in a salad spinner of sorts with a blend of proprietary spices. The mixture is combined with the two oils (grape seed/olive) and the result is a gorgeous and citric explosion that can be used as a salad dressing base (like the Garlic Oil), dipping oil (with sea salt and pepper), marinade for roast pork or on steamed/grilled vegetables. Try brushing this oil on your favorite barbeque items while they grill...you will thank Tom. This oil can also be used in baking instead of sunflower or canola oil when an aromatic hit of fruit is desired. Warning - this item is addictive once you try it a few times. If you are a fan of Meyer lemon oil, this is the next progression and it's a lot more concentrated in flavor... Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Rhone8292 Italy6534 Austr7220 FD8490

RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  6/13/2009 (link) 92 points

  (Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino) Very dark cherry red color; baked berry, plum, lavender, clove and sage nose; very tight, tart berry, black raspberry, bramble, clove and anise palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (needs 5-7 years)

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  1/30/2009 (link)

  (VALDICAVA Brunello) 2004 Valdicava Brunello Dear Friends, First of all, I appreciate the (unexpected) interest in my commentary on 2004 Brunello - many of you seem as intrigued by this vintage as you were with en-premier 2005 Bordeaux (something I did not expect). While not every wine is a rousing success, there are some that have magical potential and this is one of them - think 2005 Leoville Barton made from Sangiovese Grosso, with even more breed and deft elegance. It's a wine that should repay those with a deep cellar and the patience to wait at least a decade to uncork its virtues. Modern? Yes, but it's done in such a lovely way that this can almost be a new category of wine referred to as a "Modern Classic": An unfortunate aspect of success can be subsequent backhanded business tactics and (in the wine trade) that also means counterfeit. After the incredibly high ratings for the 2001 (98pts and 100pts from the WS), Valdicava's 2001 Brunello and Riserva were subject to counterfeit and loads of grey market trading into the US and beyond - there were more grey market bottles in the US than through the actual importer - that will not be the case with the 2004. The winery has gone to numbered bottles that can be traced back to the source (a lesson learned from the First Growths that has been quite successful stomping out counterfeit) and they are only shipping the 2004 Brunello this winter/spring to their US importer - none will be shipped to European/UK accounts or to Asia to aid them in eliminating the grey market on their wines. A tough approach but they must be going to such extremes to protect their identity and the wine they've worked so hard to produce. Caveat emptor if you see listed US prices below $55.99/375ml and $118.99/750ml... ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly from the source (this is not via the grey market and is a guaranteed parcel from the winery with properly etched/numbered bottles): 2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino (375ml) 2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino (750ml) It will ship during the first available shipping window this spring. Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy6530 Italy6540