Community Tasting Note

forceberry wrote:

Thursday, January 28, 2016 - Rather translucent dark cherry color with some orange bricking towards the almost clear rim. Lovely and attractive nose, with lovely depth and complexity - although the volatile aromas so typical of Musar seem to be more pungent, chemical and glue-like instead of those sweeter, nuanced balsamico notes more typical of the house. Modestly developed aromas of savory dark berries, tart red berries, sunny dark fruit, some dark cherry, a little earthy sous-bois and a hint of dried, dusty leather. In the mouth the wine is a lot sweeter, rich and suave than the nose suggests, with a supple, full body. Ripe, complex and dark-toned flavors of plummy fruit, aromatic spice, some fig, a little cherry, hints of leathery brett and a touch of paint thinner VA - intermingled with juicy, meaty notes. Moderately grippy, firm, dusty tannins. Rich, quite robust and slightly grippy finish with savory flavors of ripe, dark-toned fruit, sour cherry, bitterness, some leather, a little salty acetaldehyde tang and a slightest touch of herbal greenness.

A delightful and surprisingly imposing, even brooding, vintage of Musar with surprisingly powerful structure and lots of depth and complexity but very little of that bretty barnyard funk. Overall the 2001 does not seem as elegant and sophisticated as some vintages (some might consider it a travesty calling a wine as wild and funky as Musar as "sophisticated" or "elegant") with its roughness, occasionally slightly glue-like and more off-putting than attractive VA characteristics and slight greenness, but it still manages to hit many of my sweet spots with its combination of mature nuances and powerful, grippy character. Starting to show some more developed notes, but the structure seems quite unresolved even after 15 years - this is definitely a keeper. Tasty stuff now with right food, but a wine to be aged a lot more if enjoyed on its own. Very recommended.

Post a Comment / View forceberry's profile
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (4,042 views)