Deep garnet colour, quite opaque. Forward nose of ripe red fruit, floral and forest floor notes Leather notes in the background. The leather note completely cleaned up over about an hour. The palate showed some tannins and structure a that smoothed out over about an hour as the wine put on weight. Beautiful clean dark red fruit, minerals on the palate leading to an intense long finish. So enjoyable now and I do not think it is getting any better.
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Dark reddish garnet in color with some clearing at the edges. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, spices, tobacco, leather, minerals, herbs a hint of cedar. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, cranberries & plums with spices, dried herbs, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well with decanting & airing. At 25 years of age, it is at its peak & I doubt any further development would occur from additional aging. Cork was clean & intact; file was at lower neck. A beautiful, aged Brunello!
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The rating reflects what we most likely missed. There were still hints of dark berries, some leather and some black pepper on the end. Color was still there. Very little dreg, surprisingly.
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On the gentle downslope. On the nose it was tertiary, showing damp forest floor. Aged Brunello notes of tobacco and tea leaves, and the fruit was a little too dried and stewed for my liking.
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1 hour in the glass- wow- quintessential aged Brunello- everything you’d expect- perfect balance and a nice finish- certainly in its prime and should hold here for another 3-5 years. No sense in waiting on these. In a great spot now.
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This bottle was better than the one I had in February. It was softer and fresher and had better balance. Plenty of ripe red and dark fruits that was not overwhelmed by acidity. Very nice.
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Plummy and ripe. Very, very meaty. Almost bloody. There is a really clear, really attractive savory note to this one. The palate is dark and full. Teriyaki beef. Acid is still powerful for the richness on the palate. Really tasty.
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Dark red color and a bit cloudy. Nice aromas of forest floor. On the palate, ripe dark fruits, a little tired, with plenty of acidity, but the finish was a bit harsh. This bottle seemed a bit out of balance and past its prime.
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2 hour decant. Red cherry, plums, mushroom, some forest floor and fully integrated tannins. In a real nice place now and very elegant. Light and subtle, but long, beautiful finish.
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A dead bottle. Bretty nose - lots of barnyard and tired, somewhat maderized fruit. Hoped it would fade, but it hung around all night. Palate was also tired and a little thin. I suppose it was drinkable if you're a masochist.
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Very good, similar to the last bottle: Medium ruby red. Plum, tobacco, black olive, loam. Medium weight. Velvet tannins. Everything is harmonious and balanced.
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Decanted for about an hour. Deep red colour. Very complex nose, more Bordeaux like than Brunello, with dark red fruit and damp wood. Palate is rich, the acidity lower than typical, soft tannins but still very structured; long finish. The surprise came about an hour and half later; an explosion of perfume of dark red fruit, blackberry, forest floor and violets with full silky silky palate and seamless long finish.
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Had this wine for dinner and bought a substitute in case this one past its prime. No need for the substitute as this was one of the best wines I have ever indulged in. Pine and olive scents jumped out of the glass. Integration was perfect and coated the tongue like velvet. Aftertaste was fairly lengthy. I'm guessing still has a few years left but absolutely perfect right now!
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Italy 2012 - Lake Como; 7/6/2012-7/7/2012 (Bellagio): Drank at Trattoria San Giacomo in Lake Como. Medium red with some bricking at the rim. Mature and slightly modern nose with notes of vanillin oak, warm red fruits, mushrooms and tobacco. More red fruits and tobacco on the palate with powdery tannins, medium acidity and a clean and pure finish. This is drinking perfectly now as it’s resolved on the palate with maturing fruit and softened structure. Excellent.
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Mid red colour. Very classic Brunello; dry red cherries, mushroom, violets, forest floor. Tannins surprisingly resolved, great mid -palate and decent finish. In its prime.
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Magnifique ! Un des meilleurs Brunello bu depuis 5 ans, pour moi. Équilibre parfait entre acidité. tannins bien fondue et fruit un peu confituré en bouche. Peut encore tenir 2-3 ans, mais à point maintenant.
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13.5% alcohol. Gorgeous wine and still with plenty of life ahead of it. Medium red color with the faintest hints of bricking at the rim of the glass. Aromatic nose of cherry fruit, dark earth, minerals, and distinctive leathery notes. In the mouth, impeccable balance and exquisite texture. The fruit is pronounced and focused, and it leads to layers of complex earth, leather, and dried herb notes. Strong acidity and a fine-knit texture on the long finish. Aging beautifully. A
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I think the 97 Burnello's are passing their peak. The fruit was still there, but clearly not what you would expect in a good burnello. I think these need to be drunk now.
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Very funky on upon first opening. Took at least 1 hour for funk to be replaced by sweet dark cherry fruit, with subtle floral aspects. A lovely bottle of wine. Probably could use at least 3 more years in the cellar before peaking as it continued to get better and better in the glass over several hours.
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Very good nose with earth, moccha and mint. Quite warm like i remember it on the square i Montalcino in 2002. To my taste the palate is much more youthfull, with cherries. It is fresh, clean and quite long, but still with plenty of tannins. I could nose this all night, but i still think it will improve.
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You know ........ this is what drinking wine is all about. Just a good bottle on the deck at sunset ..... dusty sunset. A little bit of cheese, a few pieces of baguette, and a nicely aged Bruno. Colour : dusty dulling garnet. Exactly what one would expect with an older wine. Aroma ...... wow, very expressive. Dark , earthy, wet rich loamy forest floor, baking spices, blackcherry, vanilla. I actually enjoyed the aroma more then the flavour. I could smell this all evening. Flavour ..... mmmmmmmmmmm ............mmmmmmmmmmm .............. mmmmmmmmmmm ......nice subtle fruit notes to start (red fruit jams .... but not jammy), vanilla and licorice, gentle dusty tannins. Acidity is in decline. Tannins are still drying. Medium body. Decent length of finish. Medium tannins. Time to drink up. Well worth the wait.
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Purchased on a trip to Siena in 2002. Probably best decanted. Upon opening was tight with an intense floral, espresso and black cherry fruit nose. This wine shows no sign of peaking yet. The long finish emphasized intense fruit and dried anise and mint.
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THis is ready to go. Frangrant nose of flowers, turning to rose petals with some time, and red cherries with hints of oak and vanilla. Well integrated on the palate, not showing many signs of bricking on the rim but lovely sour cherry and wood notes. After 3 hours in the glass, had some mint/menthol notes that appeared. This has elegance and finesse and while not a WOW wine, was at its best showing. One of the better 1997s I've had, given my humble opinion that 1997s might be slightly overrated. Long 20-30s finish.
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Ahhhh.....brought back this bottle from our trip to Italy in 2000. Celebrating our 18th anniversary with osso buco and mushroom risotto. Fantastic. I've just gotten where I love the dark cherry, mineral, dried fruit, herbiness, and coffee notes of these wines. Medium-full bodied. Long finish. Great food wines. Barely showing age, cork in perfect condition, lovely floral nose. Every moment enjoyable. Drink or hold.
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Drinking perfectly right now. Nose of dried cherries, mint, orange rind. Palate of dried fruit and leather with an integrated tanniic backbone. The last of my 6 bottles.
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Dégustation à l'aveugle. Vraiment très beau et à point. Plusieurs l'ont trouvé atypique pour un Brunello. Certains croyaient boire de la Grenache! Très belle bouteille.
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For a 12 year old bottle, this wine didn't shwo the flavor profile I was expecting. Flavors were subdued, fruit up front quickly disappeared which I expected but the leathery, dried fruit never developed. The finish was short. It was still a very pleasant wine.
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Decanted and then drank over the course of four hours. Restrained nose of cherries, plums, violets and nutmeg. Cherries and licorice on the palate, with notes of anise and cranberry. Balanced and integrated.
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Great Brunello! Forward nose of violets and cherry fruit, a hint of tea. Very balanced on the palate, light but persistent. Long finish. The wine is in its prime. Drink over the next two years.
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Medium ruby red. Very handsome nose with cherry, plum, chocolate, and a little spice. The palate is a little on the light side. Nice balance and character, but not really impressing right now.
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Tasting note from memory. I thought this bottle showed a bit lighter and softer than expected. While good, this was not one of the most memorable examples of a 97 Brunello.
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Fabulous Brunello - it was the hit of Italian night. Mature Brunello at it's peak. Lots of plum and cherry flavors. The wine shows lots of complexity the flavors are layered and keeps on coming. Well integrated tannins and a nice smooth finish. Recommend decanting for at least an hour.
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Stood up for a week prior to drinking. Popped and sat open for a couple hours before trying. Beautiful dark color with little bricking. Nice, deep nose of cassis, leather, and chocolate. Palate confirmed the nose. Nice, long finish. Very nice wine drinking quite well right now. May be at its peak.
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Deep purple on pouring, some brick red with time. Dark fruit on nose with wood, anise, tobacco, leather, chocolate. Tight for first hour even after 3 hour decant, then settled. Went very nicely with gorgonzola crostini and pasta with mushroom sauce. Also very nice with filet mignon with dijon herb sauce. Had alongside a 1997 Banfi Brunello which was a little better and more complex.
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Dinner with the Barb and Gary planning that trip to Tuscany! Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Cannellini Beans, Sauteed Spinach Grilled Pears with Raspberry-Grand Marnier Sauce and Nillcres Orchard Pear Wine
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Tuscan Sangiovese (San Francisco): Smells like crushed tart-n-tiny candies. On the palate, pleasantly tart with sour cherry, leather, some unresolved tannin. Ripe, but very nice. All this acid kind of wants a steak or something...
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Montreal Offline: Tuscany (Restaurant Bleu Raisin): Ruby red with a very slight bricking on the edge. Nice nose of red fruits. Very nice palate of fruits. With integrated tannins and acidity on a short to medium finish. I had this as an older brunello, but I thought it was older than 97.
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Had a a vertical wine tasting of San Felice wines. Served with rib-eye. Deep purple on pouring, lightened a bit with time. Beautiful ripe black plums, blackberries on nose with fragrant wood, herb, anise, tobacco, vintage leather, chocolate notes and then some - this wine just had layers of flavor and aroma and was hands down the best of the night. I will decant my bottle for a few hours, but I won't open it for a few more years. Luckily, I saved a little for the chocolate tort with ginger sauce - unbelievable combination! If you can find it - get some.
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Decanted 6 hours. Had this with herb roasted rack of lamb. Nice fruity nose, medium color and weight. Good crisp acidity with flavors of dark dried cherries, medium finish, delicious!
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Not decanted. Beautiful nose of bright fruit, medium garnet color, clean ripe cherry fruit on palate with good acid to balance, smooth tannins, medium finish. Very enjoyable with cheese platter.
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Second time I've had this wine and i really enjoyed it. It took quite awhile to open up. Next time I would decant it. It is not a sipping wine; rather it is a wine to enjoy with big food.
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Big Brunello tasting night. Grilled Tuscan lamb chops for dinner with some friends. What else would you drink? The line up was all 1997 vintage (not Reservas) and comprised Argiano, Tenuta Friggiali, Campogiovanni and Altesino Vendemmia. Each wine was good and and there was no consensus on a "best wine". The Argiano had it's supporters but I again found it a bit austere. I thought the Campogiovanni was the best; deep and full of fruit and tannins. I also preferred the Tenuta Friggiali over the Argiano. The Altesino was good but my least favorite as it seemed a bit bitter (but as it was the fourth bottle opened it probably was at a disadvantage). All in all these wines were great. I continue to wonder though when is the optimum time to drink this vintage. The more I taste it, the more I think these may not have a long cellar life and they are very good right now.
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Shared btl over meal of grilled rack of lamb ... absolutely stunning ... perfectly integrated tannins ... solid base of fruit ... good acidity and a long finish for a Brunello ... drink now thru 2008
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10/29/2022 - Milos Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet colour, quite opaque. Forward nose of ripe red fruit, floral and forest floor notes Leather notes in the background. The leather note completely cleaned up over about an hour. The palate showed some tannins and structure a that smoothed out over about an hour as the wine put on weight. Beautiful clean dark red fruit, minerals on the palate leading to an intense long finish. So enjoyable now and I do not think it is getting any better.
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8/27/2022 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark reddish garnet in color with some clearing at the edges. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes, spices, tobacco, leather, minerals, herbs a hint of cedar. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, cranberries & plums with spices, dried herbs, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well with decanting & airing. At 25 years of age, it is at its peak & I doubt any further development would occur from additional aging. Cork was clean & intact; file was at lower neck. A beautiful, aged Brunello!
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12/24/2021 - viking92067 Does not like this wine:
over the hill
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4/8/2021 - TheIrishSimpleton Likes this wine: 89 Points
The rating reflects what we most likely missed. There were still hints of dark berries, some leather and some black pepper on the end. Color was still there. Very little dreg, surprisingly.
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12/17/2020 - melvinyeowq wrote:
On the gentle downslope. On the nose it was tertiary, showing damp forest floor. Aged Brunello notes of tobacco and tea leaves, and the fruit was a little too dried and stewed for my liking.
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1/31/2020 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
1 hour in the glass- wow- quintessential aged Brunello- everything you’d expect- perfect balance and a nice finish- certainly in its prime and should hold here for another 3-5 years. No sense in waiting on these. In a great spot now.
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11/2/2017 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing. Every ‘97 Brunello I open, I question whether it has held up. Superb balance. No signs of rolling over. Ample fruit, light tannins.
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10/21/2017 - CHINACAT wrote: 91 Points
This bottle was better than the one I had in February. It was softer and fresher and had better balance. Plenty of ripe red and dark fruits that was not overwhelmed by acidity. Very nice.
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8/11/2017 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Was worried about the age, but corked popped, great nose, full body, some fruit and mellow tannins. A pleasant surprise!
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3/15/2017 - IPSE Likes this wine:
Plummy and ripe. Very, very meaty. Almost bloody. There is a really clear, really attractive savory note to this one. The palate is dark and full. Teriyaki beef. Acid is still powerful for the richness on the palate. Really tasty.
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2/18/2017 - CHINACAT wrote: 89 Points
Dark red color and a bit cloudy. Nice aromas of forest floor. On the palate, ripe dark fruits, a little tired, with plenty of acidity, but the finish was a bit harsh. This bottle seemed a bit out of balance and past its prime.
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2/27/2016 - awineo wrote: 87 Points
This one was done..... Fruit was gone. Nothing left. Not spoiled just gone.
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1/19/2016 - Dvogt wrote: 94 Points
2 hour decant. Red cherry, plums, mushroom, some forest floor and fully integrated tannins. In a real nice place now and very elegant. Light and subtle, but long, beautiful finish.
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1/15/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still lively and delicious with somewhat more mature fruit and incredibly silky tannins.
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7/30/2014 - sunnylea57 wrote: flawed
A dead bottle. Bretty nose - lots of barnyard and tired, somewhat maderized fruit. Hoped it would fade, but it hung around all night. Palate was also tired and a little thin. I suppose it was drinkable if you're a masochist.
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1/23/2014 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good, similar to the last bottle: Medium ruby red. Plum, tobacco, black olive, loam. Medium weight. Velvet tannins. Everything is harmonious and balanced.
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8/17/2013 - Milos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Deep red colour. Very complex nose, more Bordeaux like than Brunello, with dark red fruit and damp wood. Palate is rich, the acidity lower than typical, soft tannins but still very structured; long finish. The surprise came about an hour and half later; an explosion of perfume of dark red fruit, blackberry, forest floor and violets with full silky silky palate and seamless long finish.
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4/28/2013 - La Peste Likes this wine: 89 Points
Should have decanted for a few hours before dinner. Was a bit tight, but opened up with time.
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4/1/2013 - Agauthie Likes this wine:
Did not decant. Was definitely ready to drink, pleasantly well balanced, lingering taste.
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2/22/2013 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really excellent now. Medium ruby red. Plum, tobacco, black olive, loam. Medium weight. Velvet tannins. Everything is harmonious and balanced.
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12/31/2012 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful bottle of Brunello
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12/9/2012 - grapecaesarsghost Likes this wine: 98 Points
Had this wine for dinner and bought a substitute in case this one past its prime. No need for the substitute as this was one of the best wines I have ever indulged in. Pine and olive scents jumped out of the glass. Integration was perfect and coated the tongue like velvet. Aftertaste was fairly lengthy. I'm guessing still has a few years left but absolutely perfect right now!
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7/7/2012 - godx wrote: 91 Points
Italy 2012 - Lake Como; 7/6/2012-7/7/2012 (Bellagio): Drank at Trattoria San Giacomo in Lake Como. Medium red with some bricking at the rim. Mature and slightly modern nose with notes of vanillin oak, warm red fruits, mushrooms and tobacco. More red fruits and tobacco on the palate with powdery tannins, medium acidity and a clean and pure finish. This is drinking perfectly now as it’s resolved on the palate with maturing fruit and softened structure. Excellent.
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3/30/2012 - rfras wrote: flawed
What a disappointment the wine was corked. I had babied this wine at 55 degrees in the wine cooler since I brought it from K&L in 2002.
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3/29/2012 - Milos wrote: 92 Points
Mid red colour. Very classic Brunello; dry red cherries, mushroom, violets, forest floor. Tannins surprisingly resolved, great mid -palate and decent finish. In its prime.
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2/4/2012 - millesime66 wrote: 94 Points
Magnifique ! Un des meilleurs Brunello bu depuis 5 ans, pour moi. Équilibre parfait entre acidité. tannins bien fondue et fruit un peu confituré en bouche. Peut encore tenir 2-3 ans, mais à point maintenant.
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12/17/2011 - Vin Rouge wrote: 96 Points
Fantastic nose, nice balance of flavor and memorable finish. Simply fantastic. Very drinkable now and one of 2011's best for us.
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11/27/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
13.5% alcohol. Gorgeous wine and still with plenty of life ahead of it. Medium red color with the faintest hints of bricking at the rim of the glass. Aromatic nose of cherry fruit, dark earth, minerals, and distinctive leathery notes. In the mouth, impeccable balance and exquisite texture. The fruit is pronounced and focused, and it leads to layers of complex earth, leather, and dried herb notes. Strong acidity and a fine-knit texture on the long finish. Aging beautifully. A
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7/13/2011 - awineo Likes this wine: 90 Points
I think the 97 Burnello's are passing their peak. The fruit was still there, but clearly not what you would expect in a good burnello. I think these need to be drunk now.
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3/7/2011 - KingSlacker999 wrote: 93 Points
Very funky on upon first opening. Took at least 1 hour for funk to be replaced by sweet dark cherry fruit, with subtle floral aspects. A lovely bottle of wine. Probably could use at least 3 more years in the cellar before peaking as it continued to get better and better in the glass over several hours.
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2/26/2011 - Whitman wrote: 93 Points
Very good nose with earth, moccha and mint. Quite warm like i remember it on the square i Montalcino in 2002. To my taste the palate is much more youthfull, with cherries. It is fresh, clean and quite long, but still with plenty of tannins. I could nose this all night, but i still think it will improve.
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12/28/2010 - OttawaB wrote: 91 Points
You know ........ this is what drinking wine is all about. Just a good bottle on the deck at sunset ..... dusty sunset. A little bit of cheese, a few pieces of baguette, and a nicely aged Bruno.
Colour : dusty dulling garnet. Exactly what one would expect with an older wine.
Aroma ...... wow, very expressive. Dark , earthy, wet rich loamy forest floor, baking spices, blackcherry, vanilla. I actually enjoyed the aroma more then the flavour. I could smell this all evening.
Flavour ..... mmmmmmmmmmm ............mmmmmmmmmmm .............. mmmmmmmmmmm ......nice subtle fruit notes to start (red fruit jams .... but not jammy), vanilla and licorice, gentle dusty tannins. Acidity is in decline. Tannins are still drying. Medium body. Decent length of finish. Medium tannins. Time to drink up.
Well worth the wait.
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12/18/2010 - nfafoglia wrote: 94 Points
Purchased on a trip to Siena in 2002. Probably best decanted. Upon opening was tight with an intense floral, espresso and black cherry fruit nose. This wine shows no sign of peaking yet. The long finish emphasized intense fruit and dried anise and mint.
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10/20/2010 - ToddR911 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well right now. Cherries on the nose. Supple taste that is well balanced. Great wine. Went very well with our hearty dish of lasagna.
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9/4/2010 - kgh wrote: 93 Points
Dark and rich, with layers of spice and fruit. Very mature tasting, with some earthy notes. Drinking very well at this point.
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8/20/2010 - mimik wrote: 93 Points
THis is ready to go. Frangrant nose of flowers, turning to rose petals with some time, and red cherries with hints of oak and vanilla. Well integrated on the palate, not showing many signs of bricking on the rim but lovely sour cherry and wood notes. After 3 hours in the glass, had some mint/menthol notes that appeared. This has elegance and finesse and while not a WOW wine, was at its best showing. One of the better 1997s I've had, given my humble opinion that 1997s might be slightly overrated. Long 20-30s finish.
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8/1/2010 - wine4ever wrote: 94 Points
Ahhhh.....brought back this bottle from our trip to Italy in 2000. Celebrating our 18th anniversary with osso buco and mushroom risotto. Fantastic. I've just gotten where I love the dark cherry, mineral, dried fruit, herbiness, and coffee notes of these wines. Medium-full bodied. Long finish. Great food wines. Barely showing age, cork in perfect condition, lovely floral nose. Every moment enjoyable. Drink or hold.
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5/16/2010 - winemo wrote: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly right now. Nose of dried cherries, mint, orange rind. Palate of dried fruit and leather with an integrated tanniic backbone. The last of my 6 bottles.
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4/12/2010 - poste244 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dégustation à l'aveugle. Vraiment très beau et à point. Plusieurs l'ont trouvé atypique pour un Brunello. Certains croyaient boire de la Grenache! Très belle bouteille.
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12/1/2009 - winemo wrote: 89 Points
For a 12 year old bottle, this wine didn't shwo the flavor profile I was expecting. Flavors were subdued, fruit up front quickly disappeared which I expected but the leathery, dried fruit never developed. The finish was short. It was still a very pleasant wine.
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7/11/2009 - Fielding wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and then drank over the course of four hours. Restrained nose of cherries, plums, violets and nutmeg. Cherries and licorice on the palate, with notes of anise and cranberry. Balanced and integrated.
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5/22/2009 - Milos wrote: 92 Points
Great Brunello! Forward nose of violets and cherry fruit, a hint of tea. Very balanced on the palate, light but persistent. Long finish. The wine is in its prime. Drink over the next two years.
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3/15/2009 - JavaMonkey wrote: 89 Points
Medium ruby red. Very handsome nose with cherry, plum, chocolate, and a little spice. The palate is a little on the light side. Nice balance and character, but not really impressing right now.
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3/14/2009 - Mark wrote: 88 Points
Tasting note from memory. I thought this bottle showed a bit lighter and softer than expected. While good, this was not one of the most memorable examples of a 97 Brunello.
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11/7/2008 - archambault wrote: 89 Points
a atteint son apogée. aurait mérité d,être bu avant
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5/3/2008 - Dr_Bob wrote: 93 Points
drinking very nicely
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3/2/2008 - rfras wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous Brunello - it was the hit of Italian night. Mature Brunello at it's peak. Lots of plum and cherry flavors. The wine shows lots of complexity the flavors are layered and keeps on coming. Well integrated tannins and a nice smooth finish. Recommend decanting for at least an hour.
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1/21/2008 - voldar wrote: 95 Points
fantastic brunello, probably at its peak, need to drink the rest over the the next year or two
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8/28/2007 - drcbarroso wrote:
Stood up for a week prior to drinking. Popped and sat open for a couple hours before trying. Beautiful dark color with little bricking. Nice, deep nose of cassis, leather, and chocolate. Palate confirmed the nose. Nice, long finish. Very nice wine drinking quite well right now. May be at its peak.
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6/9/2007 - NeuroWine wrote: 95 Points
Deep purple on pouring, some brick red with time. Dark fruit on nose with wood, anise, tobacco, leather, chocolate. Tight for first hour even after 3 hour decant, then settled. Went very nicely with gorgonzola crostini and pasta with mushroom sauce. Also very nice with filet mignon with dijon herb sauce. Had alongside a 1997 Banfi Brunello which was a little better and more complex.
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5/18/2007 - SPierson wrote: 91 Points
Not as far along as other '97s...has at least a few more years left. Terrific w/ a rack of lamb.
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4/21/2007 - Mosel wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with the Barb and Gary
planning that trip to Tuscany!
Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Cannellini Beans, Sauteed Spinach
Grilled Pears with Raspberry-Grand Marnier Sauce and Nillcres Orchard Pear Wine
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3/7/2007 - 5laton wrote:
Tuscan Sangiovese (San Francisco): Smells like crushed tart-n-tiny candies. On the palate, pleasantly tart with sour cherry, leather, some unresolved tannin. Ripe, but very nice. All this acid kind of wants a steak or something...
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1/27/2007 - vinaigre wrote: 89 Points
Montreal Offline: Tuscany (Restaurant Bleu Raisin): Ruby red with a very slight bricking on the edge. Nice nose of red fruits. Very nice palate of fruits. With integrated tannins and acidity on a short to medium finish. I had this as an older brunello, but I thought it was older than 97.
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8/14/2006 - NeuroWine wrote: 95 Points
Had a a vertical wine tasting of San Felice wines. Served with rib-eye. Deep purple on pouring, lightened a bit with time. Beautiful ripe black plums, blackberries on nose with fragrant wood, herb, anise, tobacco, vintage leather, chocolate notes and then some - this wine just had layers of flavor and aroma and was hands down the best of the night. I will decant my bottle for a few hours, but I won't open it for a few more years. Luckily, I saved a little for the chocolate tort with ginger sauce - unbelievable combination! If you can find it - get some.
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4/19/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 6 hours. Had this with herb roasted rack of lamb. Nice fruity nose, medium color and weight. Good crisp acidity with flavors of dark dried cherries, medium finish, delicious!
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3/28/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted. Beautiful nose of bright fruit, medium garnet color, clean ripe cherry fruit on palate with good acid to balance, smooth tannins, medium finish. Very enjoyable with cheese platter.
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11/12/2005 - Redteeth wrote:
Second time I've had this wine and i really enjoyed it. It took quite awhile to open up. Next time I would decant it. It is not a sipping wine; rather it is a wine to enjoy with big food.
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4/15/2005 - Redteeth wrote:
Big Brunello tasting night. Grilled Tuscan lamb chops for dinner with some friends. What else would you drink? The line up was all 1997 vintage (not Reservas) and comprised Argiano, Tenuta Friggiali, Campogiovanni and Altesino Vendemmia. Each wine was good and and there was no consensus on a "best wine". The Argiano had it's supporters but I again found it a bit austere. I thought the Campogiovanni was the best; deep and full of fruit and tannins. I also preferred the Tenuta Friggiali over the Argiano. The Altesino was good but my least favorite as it seemed a bit bitter (but as it was the fourth bottle opened it probably was at a disadvantage). All in all these wines were great. I continue to wonder though when is the optimum time to drink this vintage. The more I taste it, the more I think these may not have a long cellar life and they are very good right now.
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3/25/2005 - tdoggy1 wrote: 94 Points
Shared btl over meal of grilled rack of lamb ... absolutely stunning ... perfectly integrated tannins ... solid base of fruit ... good acidity and a long finish for a Brunello ... drink now thru 2008
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