Should drink now. Unlikely to improve with more storage. Meniscus is amber. Fair bit of sediment in the bottle. Nose is sweet - figs and grapes. Mouth feel is soft but still structured. Overall can taste the age, in a good way. Leather, dried fruit, grapes. Tannins not obvious, but finish remains tight. Drink now.
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nose well developed, palate is still tight and was bouncing between lean and mineral and kind of austere and then to hints of meatiness and savory goodness. unclear if the fruit is dead or if it just needed more air.
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Well I didn't make it another four years, but another 18 months has done wonders. Everything in my May 2020 note, but more - more intensity, more richness, more integration - the leather, truffle, dark fruit combination was just flawless. No heat, no voltality, just velvet perfection with lace-like acid and tannic structure. Gorgeous.
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Aerated 6 hours in wide bottom decanter as it just wouldn't 'wake up'; certainly helped. Still a dark brick red core. The color contrasts the medium-bodied palate with lots of fresh acidity rendering this a little lighter of an impression than the color suggested. Aromas a good, but not as vibrant as they should be at this stage in life. Overall, this is fine for a weeknight wine, better with air, but it's not an exciting wine in any way. I think the small barrels robbed the potential here. Drink now thru 2027. recommended
Long 4 hour decant, showing glossy cherries with some rich prunes, freshly tanned leather, and a bit of truffle lurking around. Stately with big shoulders, but lovely mid-palate texture keeps things fresh. On the edge between youth and maturity, the acid and tannins are certainly holding things together - incredibly mouth-coating tannins which suck everything dry, but put with a rich piece of meat it works wonderfully. Will hold last bottle another 4 years.
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Dark, earthy, mocha and walnut wood infused aromas are covering up the red fruit. Plenty of acidity and length left. Supposedly stopped using bariques in '09; not in time to save this wine.
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Dark garnet color. Warm dark berry aromas. Earthy black and red raspberry with cranberry flavors. Striking acidity on a lengthy finish. Great with full flavored food.
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Developing nicely, great right from opening. Big chalky tannins still a bit distracting, but developing some good meaty character. Try again in 3-5 years.
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Second Christmas dinner. From magnum, this is always a fine wine. La Serena offers good Brunello and now with 10 years of age from Magnum drinking boldly. Clean and long finish. Paired with beef rib-eye!
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from memory - consumed a month ago - Delicious, and a serious value at $36. Bigger boned than many normal Brunello bottlings in the price range, which seems to be the house style. That said...very, very Brunello. I remembered dried, slightly confected sour cherry, blueberry/plum fruit, without being cloying or raisined...More typical brunello baking spice, with less of the herbal/menthol nuances you'll find from cooler vintages from different houses...
I don't recall any notes of advanced aging, and the acidity seemed perfect so I don't think there's any rush to consume....Wait wait another year before my next bottle and check back in...
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Brought to restaurant. Notes from memory. Decanted 1 hr before serving. This way exceeded my expectations based others' notes here. Iron and dark cherry laced nose jumps out of the glass. Full, opulent entry, but stays lighter weight over the mid-palate. Lingering finish with gritty sweet tannin. A lot of good brunello character in a lighter, more accessible frame. Drinks great now with decant. Will hold for 5ish more years, but doesn't have the stuffing for the very long haul. ~94+.
Wednesday Wine Party Free & Easy (Chateau Davyd): Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with slight garnet on the rim. Legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of sweet licorice, milk chocolate, blackberry, black cherries, smoked leather. Developed. On the palatye, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), integrated high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet licorice, milk chocolate, smoky leather, blackberries, black cherries. Some earth with more air. Long finish. Good quality. Lots of oak and effort evidently put into this wine. Very New World-like on the nose! Already quite mature and not for further ageing. Totally agree with Walter Speller on this wine. As he said: "not very Brunello. Very modern and very ripe." I would have marked this down even further if judging it purely as a Brunello.
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Rich and opulent with lots of morello cherry, black plums, nutmeg, dark chocolate and faint floral notes. The mid palate gets more complex with forest floor, iron, some mocha, and a hint of amaretto. Still very tightly knit, but beautiful structure of fruit, acidity, and tannins. The tannins are resinous and unforgiving, but with the right protein, are working well now. This has tremendous potential. I feel as though I commited infanticide opening this so young, but a very enjoyable experience it was. Needs 5-6 hours decanting right now.
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Spicy, perfumed nose suggesting violets and underbrush. Juicy and rich at first with flavors of vanilla and red currant. Develops astringent tannins in the mid palate before returning with smooth vanilla crème brûlée on the finish.
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Great Wines of Italy Tasting (Brunelli) (NYC): Really liked this wine. Unlike most other '08s' strawberry flavored wines, this wine has a dark fruit profile. The fruit is ripe, tannic, with a very unusual but appealing hints of nuts and clove in the finish. Tangy and extracted -- this was a very pleasant surprise for me.
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2/12/2024 - aultrawines Likes this wine: 93 Points
AW93. La Serena represents truly excellent QPR, this is a beautiful brunello that is right in its drinking window
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1/20/2024 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decant for 60-90. Ready to go.
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8/12/2023 - birdiefour Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little bit of funk and age on the nose and palate. I would drink now if I had any.
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1/23/2023 - Deadsetmonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Should drink now. Unlikely to improve with more storage. Meniscus is amber. Fair bit of sediment in the bottle. Nose is sweet - figs and grapes.
Mouth feel is soft but still structured. Overall can taste the age, in a good way. Leather, dried fruit, grapes. Tannins not obvious, but finish remains tight. Drink now.
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5/8/2022 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 92 Points
nose well developed, palate is still tight and was bouncing between lean and mineral and kind of austere and then to hints of meatiness and savory goodness. unclear if the fruit is dead or if it just needed more air.
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5/6/2022 - Blickthorn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tastes like a man room. Mahogany, cigar, leather. Fruit is there at the beginning but fades quickly. Delicious with a bolognese.
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1/4/2022 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well I didn't make it another four years, but another 18 months has done wonders. Everything in my May 2020 note, but more - more intensity, more richness, more integration - the leather, truffle, dark fruit combination was just flawless. No heat, no voltality, just velvet perfection with lace-like acid and tannic structure. Gorgeous.
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2/2/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really enjoyed the flavors of this Brunello. I have been constantly positively surprised by how much I have enjoyed the 2008 vintage of brunello.
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9/12/2020 - Francophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
An exceptionally nice Brunello
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7/22/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Aerated 6 hours in wide bottom decanter as it just wouldn't 'wake up'; certainly helped. Still a dark brick red core. The color contrasts the medium-bodied palate with lots of fresh acidity rendering this a little lighter of an impression than the color suggested. Aromas a good, but not as vibrant as they should be at this stage in life. Overall, this is fine for a weeknight wine, better with air, but it's not an exciting wine in any way. I think the small barrels robbed the potential here. Drink now thru 2027. recommended
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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5/10/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Long 4 hour decant, showing glossy cherries with some rich prunes, freshly tanned leather, and a bit of truffle lurking around. Stately with big shoulders, but lovely mid-palate texture keeps things fresh. On the edge between youth and maturity, the acid and tannins are certainly holding things together - incredibly mouth-coating tannins which suck everything dry, but put with a rich piece of meat it works wonderfully. Will hold last bottle another 4 years.
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5/9/2020 - swapdoc wrote:
Dark, earthy, mocha and walnut wood infused aromas are covering up the red fruit. Plenty of acidity and length left. Supposedly stopped using bariques in '09; not in time to save this wine.
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2/14/2020 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Dark garnet color. Warm dark berry aromas. Earthy black and red raspberry with cranberry flavors. Striking acidity on a lengthy finish. Great with full flavored food.
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12/15/2019 - Francophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lovely Tuscan wine smooth and well rounded.
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7/28/2019 - Francophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very good Brunello. I thought it was still fresh and has life.
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12/30/2018 - Hypnos1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ready to drink.
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12/27/2018 - mtaczak wrote: 92 Points
Developing nicely, great right from opening. Big chalky tannins still a bit distracting, but developing some good meaty character. Try again in 3-5 years.
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12/26/2018 - dvansteenderen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Second Christmas dinner. From magnum, this is always a fine wine. La Serena offers good Brunello and now with 10 years of age from Magnum drinking boldly. Clean and long finish. Paired with beef rib-eye!
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2/25/2018 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet color. Muted aromas. Earthy red raspberry and cranberry flavors with striking acidity on a lengthy finish. Needs food.
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3/7/2017 - bcc725 wrote:
from memory - consumed a month ago - Delicious, and a serious value at $36. Bigger boned than many normal Brunello bottlings in the price range, which seems to be the house style. That said...very, very Brunello. I remembered dried, slightly confected sour cherry, blueberry/plum fruit, without being cloying or raisined...More typical brunello baking spice, with less of the herbal/menthol nuances you'll find from cooler vintages from different houses...
I don't recall any notes of advanced aging, and the acidity seemed perfect so I don't think there's any rush to consume....Wait wait another year before my next bottle and check back in...
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3/4/2017 - asaweli wrote:
Really tasty. Velvety touch with a lot of fruit and a full bodied finish
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12/21/2016 - edkotch Likes this wine: 91 Points
really really good but a bit less rounded and elegant than the 2011 casa nova di neri we drank it against...
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10/29/2016 - Bob Sacamano Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought to restaurant. Notes from memory. Decanted 1 hr before serving. This way exceeded my expectations based others' notes here. Iron and dark cherry laced nose jumps out of the glass. Full, opulent entry, but stays lighter weight over the mid-palate. Lingering finish with gritty sweet tannin. A lot of good brunello character in a lighter, more accessible frame. Drinks great now with decant. Will hold for 5ish more years, but doesn't have the stuffing for the very long haul. ~94+.
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10/28/2016 - miadelt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dry, rustic brunello, which I like. Medium bodied but full flavored.
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8/31/2016 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 90 Points
Wednesday Wine Party Free & Easy (Chateau Davyd): Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with slight garnet on the rim. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of sweet licorice, milk chocolate, blackberry, black cherries, smoked leather. Developed.
On the palatye, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), integrated high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet licorice, milk chocolate, smoky leather, blackberries, black cherries. Some earth with more air. Long finish.
Good quality. Lots of oak and effort evidently put into this wine. Very New World-like on the nose! Already quite mature and not for further ageing. Totally agree with Walter Speller on this wine. As he said: "not very Brunello. Very modern and very ripe." I would have marked this down even further if judging it purely as a Brunello.
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5/14/2016 - jdrago wrote:
Hold until 2017 (mid)
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12/3/2015 - Timtolan5 wrote:
Error
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10/11/2015 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich and opulent with lots of morello cherry, black plums, nutmeg, dark chocolate and faint floral notes. The mid palate gets more complex with forest floor, iron, some mocha, and a hint of amaretto. Still very tightly knit, but beautiful structure of fruit, acidity, and tannins. The tannins are resinous and unforgiving, but with the right protein, are working well now. This has tremendous potential. I feel as though I commited infanticide opening this so young, but a very enjoyable experience it was. Needs 5-6 hours decanting right now.
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6/24/2014 - vitorwj Likes this wine: 88 Points
Viagem Croácia - jun14
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2/15/2014 - kosinski wrote:
Spicy, perfumed nose suggesting violets and underbrush. Juicy and rich at first with flavors of vanilla and red currant. Develops astringent tannins in the mid palate before returning with smooth vanilla crème brûlée on the finish.
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5/8/2013 - swapdoc Likes this wine:
Great Wines of Italy Tasting (Brunelli) (NYC): Really liked this wine. Unlike most other '08s' strawberry flavored wines, this wine has a dark fruit profile. The fruit is ripe, tannic, with a very unusual but appealing hints of nuts and clove in the finish. Tangy and extracted -- this was a very pleasant surprise for me.
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