February 18, 2024 - Same bottle as Melvin. His note captures this wine very well. For added context on the bottle, as it was mine. Opened at 6 pm and left in the fridge standing till 10 pm (first pour), decanted, and finished the bottle at 12:30am (last glass). This needs a good 2 hours in the decanter to show well at the current stage—long, long life ahead, aging more like a 1st growth Bordeaux than other Brunellos.
February 17, 2024 - Initially thought Nebbiolo from mid-2000s because of the grippy tannins and in spite of its youthful structure. Didn’t rule out Sangiovese since I always confuse the two varietals, but when given a clue that I had the wine before, but not with the person who brought it, I got the wine at first guess which I was quite proud of haha.
Similar impressions to before - incredibly brooding and tannic at first, needed time to coax the perfumed, deep, dark-fruited nose and elegance out. Not as much VA or as pretty as other vintages, but one that is built to last. To me, an absolute masterpiece of a wine that needs more time. Not surprisingly, the last glass was the best (but I left earlier unfortunately).
January 8, 2024 - Perhaps the slightest, ephemeral pruny note on the palate - but I mention it only for completeness, not because the wine was meaningfully less enjoyable than it ever is. Consistent with previous tasting notes, and still lovely.
September 24, 2023 - Very crunchy and youthful but with time in the glass revealed gorgeous dark cherry fruit with notes of charred wood and dark spices. Quite structured still and should benefit from further aging. The finish is intense and complex with notes of crunchy minerals and more wood-spice. Very impressive Brunello. 94+
August 26, 2023 - A stunning brunello. Power balance spice and perfect with past pizza etc. Drank this over three days and I was surprised to see only after a full 72 hours was it starting break down. Perfect wine with a nice decant. Top 5 pct of brunellos I’ve had.
May 20, 2023 - Sangiovese study, Volume II (Chicago, IL): Not quite as impressive as the bottle I had back in 2019 at Bebu (RIP), but still a fantastic bottle of Cerbaiona (the table was evenly split between preferring the 2004 and 2006 -- I preferred the older wine). This has a very dark complexion, with intense black fruit and a classic touch of Cerbaiona volatility. Rustic, backwards tannins with some serious weight on the palate.
March 28, 2023 - Consistent with previous tasting notes.
February 20, 2023 - Oxidized :(
February 18, 2023 - Showing so much evolution that it was undrinkable.
December 23, 2022 - Lunch at Batard: This vintage is so hard to find that I couldn't pass this up when I saw it at a relatively decent price. Was very tight at first so I asked to decant it, and it needed all that time as unfortunately the last glass was the best. Deep, dark-fruited nose that was so perfumed and floral, but not as much VA as the 2008 I had previously. On the palate it had a firm tannic grip but the glorious elegance of Cerbaiona. Quite a picture-perfect wine for me, this definitely can go on for longer than the '08.