This seems old - still pleasant but seriously fading. Probably best to drink these up soon. At the time of writing this review, Cellartracker records 125 bottles still in users' cellars. To the owners of those - this is your wake-up call. Cheers!
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Showing its age now - both in a positive way of refined elegance, and also as a reminder that it might be about to peak with little more to come. Tasted after 3h slow ox over dinner with a slightly acidic Persian herb-dominated lamb and celery stew, for which it was a perfect match. Nice garnet colour with some rusty undertones and fading at the rim. Typical nose of underbrush but not very pronounced. Soft, melted tannins. Others mentioned a Pinot Noir-like experience - I could agree with that but only if one thinks of a relative young PN minus the tannins (if this makes sense) - definitely not a Grand Seigneur style Cotes de Nuits...I don't mean this in any derogative sense...Considering that this is a pure Sangiovese, which always carries its degree of acidity, I would call this a 'lovely' BDM now in the best sense of the word. Highly enjoyable, with enough fruit left and some complexity. As I said earlier, probably at its peak, so I would recommend drinking over the next 2 years. Finally: I'm not sure that this fully justifies the premium price that comes with the Greppone Mazzi name. It's a really nice BDM but by no means outstanding.
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Although a little on the lighter style for a Brunello still a solid wine - plenty of wild berry with cassis and leather, a hint of tobacco. Very nice finish and well balanced.
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Decanted for 3 hours Medium ruby color with somewhat floral nose - cherry. Red cherry, with a hint of vanilla, simple but well balanced wine, with soft tannins and acidity ending with a nice finish. A Pinot Noir like body but very drinkable, went well with Ragu.
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A bit disappointed towards one of the best Brunellos, a bit light colored and both bouquet and taste was a bit flat. Tannins gone though a nice smooth entry.
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The medium ruby color and translucence allude the the refreshing drink-ability of this great example of a mid-priced Brunello. A nose of cherry, strawberry, and hints of forest floor unique in Montalcino releases tart red cherry, strawberry, licorice, and a touch of extracted fruit reminiscent of a well balanced Sonoma Pinot. A nice, but bit simple, structure with fine integrated tannins and acidity leads to a medium finish that is delightfully fresh. A fine take on Grosso Sangiovese with a fair QPR and some longevity left. Drinking well now, as most 08 Brunellos are, expect another 6-7 years out of this vintage. 90-92.
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Middle ruby-red with an amber tinge, medium optical density and very high reflectivity. On the nose, medium to medium plus intensity and medium complexity, with tar-infused cherry and florals over a bed of forest that has decaying deciduous leaves among dusty dark earth. Bright and with refreshing acidity, there is a medium body with a bit of viscosity and medium intensity fine-grained tannins that provide for an elegant texture, with some concentration, that supports a dense core of flavours. Cherry, tar, tobacco, and spices come in on the attack, with excellent depth and persistence at midpalate, with is expressive and builds toward a powerful crescendo. Flavours that add-in include sweet rose, perfumed dirt, mixtures of minerals, aromatic compounds and old leather, with a long finish that settles on smoky and savory herbal and peppercorn-crusted baked meat, with a supportive bed of cherry pit. The heat of red spicy pepper lingers for quite some time, even building on the palate minutes afterward.
This is really nice wine, and in a good drinking window. There is good polish, yet still a rustic quality that provides charm. Easy drinking in a way, but is not a thought-less wine, so this can easily overpower the palate. For that reason, it could go very well with spicy and rich Italian, or simply enjoyed on its own if your palate and brain are up for the onslaught. Really nice complexity, in a style I really like. Good structure, with layered flavours opened upon a balanced field of goodness. Really nice! Could be greatly impacted by mood, so be ready for boldness with this one. Feels like a 93+ tonight (although I am in a great and bold mood!)!
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Drank it with 2010, and I thought this one might have developed a bit but it hasn't, too firm and bold for my taste, drinkable with some decanting but this style is not my cuppa tea.
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Translucid and already showing that brick coloration, bringing strawberries, cherries, oak, black olives and anise, medium bodied, of solid and round structure, a bit sour on mid palate and delivering typical power on the medium lenght salty, parmesan finish. 91
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4/22/2022 - pommieba@cox.net Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still on the lighter side but good balance with Wild Berry, Earth and Tobacco. Med to Long finish with hint of Cassis. Went well with Meat Ragu
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12/25/2019 - scottwbray Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up beautifully after about three hours.
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6/2/2019 - sbern wrote:
This seems old - still pleasant but seriously fading. Probably best to drink these up soon.
At the time of writing this review, Cellartracker records 125 bottles still in users' cellars. To the owners of those - this is your wake-up call. Cheers!
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5/24/2019 - bcnyyan wrote:
CAPE
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1/1/2019 - WineFrogg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing its age now - both in a positive way of refined elegance, and also as a reminder that it might be about to peak with little more to come. Tasted after 3h slow ox over dinner with a slightly acidic Persian herb-dominated lamb and celery stew, for which it was a perfect match. Nice garnet colour with some rusty undertones and fading at the rim. Typical nose of underbrush but not very pronounced. Soft, melted tannins. Others mentioned a Pinot Noir-like experience - I could agree with that but only if one thinks of a relative young PN minus the tannins (if this makes sense) - definitely not a Grand Seigneur style Cotes de Nuits...I don't mean this in any derogative sense...Considering that this is a pure Sangiovese, which always carries its degree of acidity, I would call this a 'lovely' BDM now in the best sense of the word. Highly enjoyable, with enough fruit left and some complexity. As I said earlier, probably at its peak, so I would recommend drinking over the next 2 years. Finally: I'm not sure that this fully justifies the premium price that comes with the Greppone Mazzi name. It's a really nice BDM but by no means outstanding.
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3/22/2018 - pommieba@cox.net Likes this wine: 90 Points
Although a little on the lighter style for a Brunello still a solid wine - plenty of wild berry with cassis and leather, a hint of tobacco. Very nice finish and well balanced.
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10/8/2017 - pommieba@cox.net Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 3 hours Medium ruby color with somewhat floral nose - cherry. Red cherry, with a hint of vanilla, simple but well balanced wine, with soft tannins and acidity ending with a nice finish. A Pinot Noir like body but very drinkable, went well with Ragu.
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9/5/2017 - Eriksen Vejle wrote: 88 Points
A bit disappointed towards one of the best Brunellos, a bit light colored and both bouquet and taste was a bit flat. Tannins gone though a nice smooth entry.
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12/28/2016 - MarkWhite Likes this wine: 91 Points
The medium ruby color and translucence allude the the refreshing drink-ability of this great example of a mid-priced Brunello. A nose of cherry, strawberry, and hints of forest floor unique in Montalcino releases tart red cherry, strawberry, licorice, and a touch of extracted fruit reminiscent of a well balanced Sonoma Pinot. A nice, but bit simple, structure with fine integrated tannins and acidity leads to a medium finish that is delightfully fresh. A fine take on Grosso Sangiovese with a fair QPR and some longevity left. Drinking well now, as most 08 Brunellos are, expect another 6-7 years out of this vintage. 90-92.
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11/18/2016 - ajbergren wrote: 93 Points
Middle ruby-red with an amber tinge, medium optical density and very high reflectivity. On the nose, medium to medium plus intensity and medium complexity, with tar-infused cherry and florals over a bed of forest that has decaying deciduous leaves among dusty dark earth. Bright and with refreshing acidity, there is a medium body with a bit of viscosity and medium intensity fine-grained tannins that provide for an elegant texture, with some concentration, that supports a dense core of flavours. Cherry, tar, tobacco, and spices come in on the attack, with excellent depth and persistence at midpalate, with is expressive and builds toward a powerful crescendo. Flavours that add-in include sweet rose, perfumed dirt, mixtures of minerals, aromatic compounds and old leather, with a long finish that settles on smoky and savory herbal and peppercorn-crusted baked meat, with a supportive bed of cherry pit. The heat of red spicy pepper lingers for quite some time, even building on the palate minutes afterward.
This is really nice wine, and in a good drinking window. There is good polish, yet still a rustic quality that provides charm. Easy drinking in a way, but is not a thought-less wine, so this can easily overpower the palate. For that reason, it could go very well with spicy and rich Italian, or simply enjoyed on its own if your palate and brain are up for the onslaught. Really nice complexity, in a style I really like. Good structure, with layered flavours opened upon a balanced field of goodness. Really nice! Could be greatly impacted by mood, so be ready for boldness with this one. Feels like a 93+ tonight (although I am in a great and bold mood!)!
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4/11/2016 - Lyubomir Lefterov wrote: 90 Points
Drank it with 2010, and I thought this one might have developed a bit but it hasn't, too firm and bold for my taste, drinkable with some decanting but this style is not my cuppa tea.
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2/29/2016 - wblakemonroe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rachelle and I loved this wine. Drank the whole bottle the same night.
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2/23/2016 - camben Likes this wine:
Pretty right out of the bottle. Gorgeous cherry. Soft and expressive. Some may find this light, I found it to be only the in the colour
Very good
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7/21/2015 - Yagil wrote: 87 Points
Ruffino wines tasting (Wine Route, Savion): dark red-brown
weak fruity-cedar aroma
thin bodied, somewhat diluted, lacks structure, less than expected.
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5/14/2015 - kbcadeponei wrote: 91 Points
Translucid and already showing that brick coloration, bringing strawberries, cherries, oak, black olives and anise, medium bodied, of solid and round structure, a bit sour on mid palate and delivering typical power on the medium lenght salty, parmesan finish. 91
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