June 16, 2023 - Brunello 2004 Horisontal (My House): Cooked fruit flavors but not in a defective way. There is also a bit of manure and the tannins are slightly rough.
The wine seems flabby, old and unstructured. In general, it is just boring and uninteresting.
December 31, 2022 - Maturing but still fresh with classic Sangiovese notes.
November 3, 2021 - 9/12, excellent cork. Decanted 1/2 hour.
Deep garnet/mahogany core, pale mahogany rim. Quite aged appearance and a developed if quite complex nose too with smoky, grilled meat, liquorice, balsamic notes, spice. The full-bodied palate does show a touch more, bright red cherry fruit, along with the smoke, meat and liquorice notes, the tannins are now quite soft and the vibrant acidity carries a good length spicy finish. Certainly mature but still hanging in there.
October 27, 2021 - Mature and quickly declining. Has some fruit and aged flavors but overall, it is underwhelming.
August 28, 2021 - Delicious. Much better than the last bottle. 2 hour decant at cellar temp. Drinking now but I will try to hold the last 6 for another 5-10 years.
April 15, 2021 - Aged and with some cherry fruit left. Definitely showing wet dirt and mushroom and a medium density. A decent wine that still has a good acidity.
I had feared that this bottle was dead but it certainly did show some interesting notes. Has perhaps passed its peak but will keep for at least 2-4 years.
April 6, 2021 - Medium body and a jewel like ruby colour. Right in the zone now, earthy truffle notes mixed with the fresh red berry fruits, clean and fresh acidity, really delicious and will undoubtedly keep longer
March 31, 2021 - Drinking now, but I’m not going to rush opening the balance of the case (c6 btls left) perhaps less to do with maturity and more to do with how I’m just not that excited to drink it. 2 hours in decanter. Rustic and red fruit. Quite plush. Nice and decent and I enjoyed it but this btl was nothing special. The last glass c7 hours after opening was the best so next btl should get more air.
October 22, 2020 - Like the 2006, Costanti Brunello, this seemed a little past its prime. Compared to the Constanti, this has a sweeter profile (lots of Maduro tobacco, but also sweet cherries—almost medicinal—licorice, and sweet vanilla), more grilled herbs, and lots of baking spice on the finish. I also get dried fruits: tart dried cherries, prunes, figs, and raisins. Also, quite floral with lots of violets (especially on the nose with lots of short fast sniffs). I also get face cream; i.e. think a camphor scented face cream. Tannins, like the Costanti, have fully integrated and create a nice silky texture. I think I liked the Costanti better, but it’s not a fair competition, as this one showed its age even more than the Costanti (which is big a shame since I’ve cellared this bottle for 9 years). This one has more complexity, but the flavors are muted and somewhat overpowered by a distinct over-aged sort of taste.
October 17, 2020 - Saturday late night wine swap session. My bottle. Aired in bottle for about 1.5 hours. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose dirty, medium+ intensity, with aromas of brett funk, soy sauce, dark red cherries, raisinated plum. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), reoslved high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of dark red cherries, savoury earth, soy sauce, raisinated plum, black tea leaves. Long finish. At times a little soupy though.
Very mature. Older than expected for 2004. Clearly time to drink up.