Beautiful and mature bouquet tonight. Ripe red cherry, lingon berry, iodine, limestone, autumn leaves and wet soil. Lingering tannins, good grip and well balanced. Sadly my last bottle of this vintage
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Mature, sappy nose of roasted shiitake, truffle, star anise, black cherry, blackberry, fresh fig. The fruit is sweet and lush, tannins are firm but tender. Very long finish, a bit of reduction and tar.
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Deep dark reddish-purple in color with minor clearing at the edges. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & some floral notes, herbs, minerals, leather, olive notes, anise & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, mature, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & plums with spices, minerals, iron, cocoa & a hint of cedar. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well with decanting & airing but at 26 years of age it is close to or at its peak of development although it may hold here for a few more years. Fill was mid-neck; cork stained only on bottom & intact.
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Recent purchase of a few 95s and 97s out of curiosity and without much expectations. The Sangiovese we drink is almost exclusively Brunello, and with very, very few exceptions at the top end it’s a wine I like to drink within 15 years even for the best vintages since the 90s as it picks up oxidative notes beyond that.I was always assuming that it must also have to do with very ripe fruit and too oxidative wine making approach in Montalcino in recent times as I have had quite a few BdMs from the 70s and they show no such issues even at age 50. While the 97 Fontalloro is considerably richer than the lean 95, and upon opening presents a slightly oxidative whiff on the nose, this blows away with some air and you get a nicely balanced medium bodied Sangiovese, again with well judged and integrated acidity and freshness. While it’s clearly riper than the 95 it’s nowhere near the ripeness of some of the big and warm (Brunello) vintages of the last 20 years. Still will drink my other bottles rather sooner than later as this at or slightly past peak and can only go down from here in my eyes.
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Color was dark Ruby with the slightest hint of bricking. Initially not much on the nose, but after an hour and some swirling in the glass, Lots of dark cherries burst from the glass. Entry was lush, with more cherries, well-balanced acid, and some tannins on the back end. Fully mature and in a good place, might resolve a bit further but wouldn’t risk waiting too long.
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Vinetasters: 1997 Super Tuscans (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Somewhat muted nose that is fairly hard to pick anything out of. There’s a bit of woodiness on the nose here. The palate is a bit devoid of fruit; just tannins and acidity at this point. The fruit is browned and tired here, and some bitterness on the finish doesn’t help. My 9th, group's 5th.
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Fully mature and at or slightly past peak. Slight improvement with 30 minutes of air but strangely became muted as it warmed up. Secondary and tertiary aromas and flavors of wild game, dark fruits and some spices. From memory from last evening.
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Well this suggests that the last bottle was an off one. This one was delicious. Still showing some strong structure and, if stored properly, good for many more years.
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While ‘97 is (to me) an overrated vintage in Tuscany, there are still some good/great wines. Beautiful mature Sangiovese, black cherry and dried cherry, a little saddle leather and dried flowers, resolved tannins, good acid, good finish. I’d drink up soon, but quite enjoyable. B+/A-
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Part of the 1997 Tuscan tasting. Double decanted 2-3 hours before. This was disappointing. There was heavy influence of oak. It tasted like an attempt to make a more new world style of wine. Perhaps it showed even more poorly when next to other more classic Brunellos. I don't know if this will develop and soften more.
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Fairly mature colour at the edges, still quite deep red in the heart of the glass. Quite a bit of sediment, so decanted. On opening, both bottles were noticeably acidic on the nose and especially on the palate. However, after a couple hours' breathing, and accompanying roast Orkney lamb, they were soft and deep and full of complex flavours. Still with the tang of true Chianti, though. Pretty dry as you'd expect, with the fruit having faded pretty thoroughly; would it have been even better five or so years ago when the plush fruit of its youth was still present, though evolving? Yes! Still, great to try this excellent old Chianti in good condition. The two bottles were more or less identical, with one slightly more acidic than the other. Cork, 13.5%.
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This was riper tasting than my memory and notes of the excellent '95. Good deep colour with little bricking. Well developed and complex nose with still some primary fruit, mainly cherry. Medium/full bodied palate with sweeter fruit than in most Tuscan vintages, good depth, leather, tar and earth hints, good balancing acidity but with less than usual Tuscan tang and ripe tannins making a well covered backbone. I caught occasional undesirable cabbage like background aromas which may indicate an imminent slide towards break-up but they were mostly submerged by the attractive features and at present contributed to complexity. Very good.
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My last bottle. Deep ruby color with age-appropriate bricking; nose has smoky red cherry, slight minerality, good moderate complexity; palate is medium bodied, still good red cherry fruit, well balanced with good acidity, tannins fully integrated and just slightly drying in the midpalate (but smooth); finish is medium length. This is an excellent Italian red to go with food, and it seems to be showing at peak maturity. Not overly complex, just solid and well made. Drink now, these will not get better. 90-91.
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A lovely nose of cherry, wet earth, green herbs, and iodine. On the palate there is nice, not overly candied, cherry, leather, some of that rustic barnyard funk I associate with Italian wines, with some nice acidity and teeth-smacking tannins. This is much better than I had anticipated based upon some recent tasting notes. With time in the glass it continues to taste wonderful – a bit more austere – the acids and tannins quite solidly ensconsed, creating a dry rustic finish. The cherries give way to some nice dried roses. This almost tastes like a medium aged Barolo. This was bought close to release at a retail store, and has been kept in cellar conditions since then, which may explain its relative youthfulness compared to what others have said. There is no question that this will last at least for 3-5 years (though I do tend to like my wines more aged than others). By then the tannins should have softened more, and the acidity will I hope be better integrated into the fruit and other flavors.
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Mild bricking but generally deep garnet/ruby. Nose and palate is fig and deep stewed fruit. Tannins are limited and not much acidity. I enjoy the flavour but it makes me wonder whether it's past due. Enjoyable as I'm learning the age-ability of Sangio and this feels like the limit to me. Love Felsina though, this I bet would have been better a couple years ago. Only bottle so I'll search for other younger vintages to check them out.
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Quite a deep ruby color with age appropriate bricking; nose has intensity with red cherry, smoky spices, some swirling uncovers some moderate brett that adds complexity; palate has still some structure, tannins are a tad rough, only the slightest hint of drying, nice red cherry complexity throughout, great acidity throughout; finish is medium length, very slightly drying. A lovely classic Tuscan sangiovese with great complexity and at full maturity. Will drink my last bottle within the next year or two. 91-92
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First bottle since Christmas 2012 and my last one. Every bit as good as last time. A beautiful bright, semi-opaque magenta in color. A gorgeous Tuscan nose of berries, spice, earth and flowers. Not even a hint of Sangiovese "funk". Medium-to-full bodied and bursting with ripe, delicious cherry, strawberry and cranberry fruit character. Not a big wine by any means, but still shows amazing depth and concentration. The finish is loaded with ripe fruit and hints of spice and mineral. It just goes on and on. So elegant and beautifully balanced. A magnificent expression of Sangiovese. 50+5+13+17+9=94
This is an interesting wine. All the experience is mid-palate. Not much nose and a short finish. To add to it, the wine is delicate and nuanced. It's hard to describe. Earth, chocolate, leather and a little mint all packaged into a short poem.
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Ruby red in color. Almost translucent. 13.5% ABV. Shoe leather, roses, violets, earth and eucalyptus on the nose. Great acidity. The palate shows cranberry, dried cherries, pomegranate, tar, spice and flowers. The finish is long and exquisite. Paired perfectly with homemade pizza topped with a spicy turkey sausage. This wine is gorgeous right now. Well cellared bottles will continue to drink well for several more years.
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„One Wine - Three Vintages“-Blind Tasting. Flight 4: Sangiovese. We tasted Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1997, Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro 1997 and Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro 2007. This flight was a bit difficult to figure out blind and led to some discussion at first as the second wine of the flight, the 2007 Fontalloro, offered a dominating eucalyptus note on the nose. The tell-tale tea, tobacco and red fruit notes paired with the tannin/acidity-structure of wines one and three paved the way for solving the mystery.
Next to the eucalyptus-dominated nose, the 2007 Fontalloro showed red fruit, vanilla and roasted notes on the palate, paired with medium-plus tannin and acidity. It seemed a little closed and I would hence allow it a year or two in the cellar. The 1997 Fontalloro, which threw a lot of sediment, seemed a hair green on the nose. It offered red fruit, tea, tobacco and a hint of chocolate on the palate.
The Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1997 was the most interesting and clearly my favourite wine of the flight. As for its nose, the tasters either loved it or hated it, no grey area, as it was jammy and, in particular, a little oxidized, the result of aging in large oak casks for almost five years. One might argue about the nose, granted, but on the palate the wine was absolutely lovely, dry, with blood orange, cherry, tea and tobacco, high ripe tannin, medium-plus acidity and tremendous balance. Old school. A great wine. I would buy a case if I could find one.
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Not as good as the last bottle. I feel like this is starting a downhill slide, it's got too much of a cranberry profile for my tastes while the tannin is a bit burning. Very drinkable, but not the joy like my last bottle a few years ago. If I had more it would be time to drink up now.
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Wow! I expected this to be outstanding, and it delivered the goods. Shows a very earthy Tuscan nose of ripe fruit, leather and spice. Not even a hint of funk. Medium-to-full-bodied and absolutely bursting with semi-sweet cherry and pomegranate flavor. There's excellent depth and intensity to the mid-palate. The long, mineral-tinged finish is drenched with ripe, sweet fruit. Not a big wine, but lots going on here with incredible balance and finesse. So polished and beautiful. A magnificent '97 Sangiovese. 50+5+12+17+9=93
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Kind of earthy. Drank over a 2 hour period and each pour was different as the wine opened and expressed itself. Quite complex flavors with leather, smoke, mushroom and earthy flavors. Went nicely with Italian sausage pasta and grilled asparagus.
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The nose showed undergrowth, old library book, animal musk and berry tartlet. On the palate it was lively with balanced acidity showing dark red fruits, licorice and spices. The finish was long and staying with hints of structure. It was highly enjoyable and somehow warmer and furrier than the ‘99.
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Dark garnet. Nose of cherry pits, smoke, forest floor, meadow florals, leather. Smoothly-textured palate with dried cherries, spicy tomatoes, mocha, and fennel in evidence. Acidity refreshing, tannins filed off. Long, whispery finish of leather and red fruits. Nicely done.
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What a different wine this is from the last bottle. It shows class and elegance from it's aging but it has great vitality and youth. A great time to have opened this.
Sweet foresty bouquet, dark red concentrates fruit, perfect amount of sweetness mixed with creamy oak, earth. Long finish with good acidity, with a little tannic bite still.
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Nice ruby color , opened without decanting , at the beginning coffee , red fruit and cherries than more dark fruit .On the palate soft entrance very smooth tannins a quite long finish.
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Pop and poured, and the cork was as pristine as a newly released wine. On first open there was a nice nose mellow fruit, savory meat, smoke and barnyard. I was however disappointed by the palette. There was some rustic smooth red fruit like a nice Italian wine, but finish was a little coarse with slightly sharp acidity. Overall quite nice at first, but with air the acidity became more pronounced instead of mellowing out and after two hours of air it became undrinkably tart. I was looking forward to this bottle since I really enjoyed the 04.
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Some barnyard, not too much. A faint whiff of some remaining red fruit. With some air, some spiciness shows up. Palate is still high acidity, moderate integrated tannins, bit of a short-moderate finish. Wine is quite full bodied, very dense in texture though not in flavor. Should improve with food and a bit of air. Drinkable now but will probably wait 1 yr for the next bottle to see if it opens up more.
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A little mute nose with tobacco and mocca. First loads of cherries, rich and long with good structure. After a while the wine closed down and wasn't worth drinking. The day after it was still firm and tannic, but also with sweet wonderfull fruit. I think this 13 year old wine needs a couple of years in the cellar ! 92 ++
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Delicious black raspberry/black cherry fruit with slightly sweet, tobacco, and earth flavors, well integrated, ample tannins and excellent structure, wine was a little tight and need time to open and soften
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Popped and poured. A bit rough at the beginning but smoothed out quickly and was really good after about an hour. Definitely would benefit from decanting. Dark crimson color. Earthy berry and tobacco flavors, fine tannins and good length on the finish. It followed a '99 Cos Estournel and I like this better. Just at the beginning of its drinking window and should continue to improve.
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This was a gorgeous bottle of wine. Round, lush, beautifully mature. Such rich fruit showing chocolate and dark earthy characteristics with a minty overtone. The tannins were still present, but certainly not out of balance. I wish I had more of this.
Seepage...yet absolutley magnificent bottle. LIke the Rancia Ris consumed the same evening in terms of the typical Italian underbrush, but softer acidity, rounder mouthfeel...just as food friendly.
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Dark crimson. Nose of smoky red cherries, some leather, some earth. Palate took 2 hours to open up, expressing extracted sour cherry, moca, grip, and moderate acidity. Nice long finish. Quality wine, still young.
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Warm red, viscous, mature looks. Lots of iron on the nose , minerals, horse stable, old sour cherries, plums. Overtones of herbs, roses and violets. Complexity of game meat, nutmeg, figs and burnt sugar. On the palate we get a lovely minerality, some really harmonious acids and almost completely softened tannins. The mouthfeel is equally viscous and refreshing. The fruit which initially was so dark now stands out for its shiny red nuances (raspberries, cherries) The overall impression is bordeaux-like, soft and noble, still with its tuscan personality intact. This once so tough wine is now a wonder of harmony. It has reached a plateau of maturity and promises to keep well for several years. One of the years best experiences - this is the definition of why you lay bottles down.
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1997 Tuscans with a pair of interlopers (NYC): This opens immediately with a very fine nose, complex and balanced with a bit of wood but integrated with lots of liquory fruit, smokey and a touch gamey, excellent aromatics. In the mouth this is round and lush with good acid and very fine tannic structure, a classic medium weight mouthfeel, like a kite in the mouth with tannin and acid spars supporting a billowing. airy fruit. Dark berry notes dominate the midpalate but there are interesting forest floor and porcini notes that add interest and a bit of toasted hazelnut on the backend which is joined by bright bitter cherry fruit and a touch of espresso foam. Finish is elegant and layered with solid length to the wild berry fruit notes. With dinner the nose turns earthier with dark spicy fruit and gentle spice notes, the acid becomes a touch more prominent giving the wine a juicy feel with a candied apple fruitiness, touch of green apple in fact and a lovely insinuation of dried funghi leads to the long, slightly grippy finish. A very complete wine that is still youthful but show excellent concentraton without being clumsy, very fine equilibrium bodes well for further positive development, compelling and engaging. 2008-2018
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Opened and not decanted. Given the tannin and acids were out of balance for the fruit, I though perhaps I should have decanted. Fortunately I did not, as there bottle opened, there was only a 1 glass window where the wine was nice before it faded. Even the 1 glass where the wine found itself was underwhelming.
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Popped, decanted, and poured to complement the cheese course for our dinner party, following the 01 Janasse Chaupin, and Mas Doix Old Vines. James Suckling recent blind reappraisal of 97 Tuscan is correct in its high praise and evolution. This wine is still very tannic with mineral licorice notes that should evolve beautifully from here. Will hold my last 2 until 2010+. Drank beautifully w Truffled Italian Cheese w Tartufo Honey(almost as Mike Bittel would say a Religioous Experience..
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Deep ruby color. Rich mulberry and black cherry nose, powerful and nostril-filling. Spicy and elegant on the palate, with coffee and sour cherry elements. Very aristocratic and structured despite all the fruit. Long finish. Definitely improving with age, and still on the upward trajectory.
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A good bottle this time. Vibrant fruit, leather and still noticeable oak maybe just a tad too much of it. Probably at peak now, but will hold a few more years.
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Had this alongside the 1997 Felsana CCR Rancia aloing with a few other Tuscans. No real notes were taken. Medium-bodied with relatively bright berries, leather, and cherries. This wine was enjoyable but kind of got lost in the shuffle. Note that it did not seem to show much decline when tried on the second night; especially compared to the 1997 Felsina CCR Rancia.
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Tried aerated and unaerated. Wine is mature now, no need for air. Not as memorable as last year, and seems unlikely to improve. Mild wet earth Sangiovese finish. Expected more.
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Darker garnet color. Nose was absolutely nonexistent upon opening and remained that way for a good 90 minutes. Scents of pine forest, balsamic, and mulling spices eventually came forth and sustained nicely. The palate started out with refreshing acidiity and took on notes of saddle leather, cherries, and plum. Lots of layers and added complexity developed over time. Satisfying grip at the end. It's definitely young at this stage of the game, but the quality is all there. Will check again in a year or two.
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Really awfully oaky and the oak seemed to become more overbearing with time. Fruit starting to fade and taking on that almondy thing that aged Sagiovese gets.... Not good.
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Italians @ Cheryl's: Lovely nose that jumps right out of the bottle. Lots of dried cherries, herbs, leather and freshly cracked pepper. Firm acids and a stunning length. Gorgeous with food. I'm really sad this is my last bottle.
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Mmm, lovely wine. Lots of balsa and leather on the nose. A firm, dry palate with cherry and tea leaf. Gorgeous Sangiovese. Sweet, powerful, but not extracted or overly done in any way. Just a pure, clean expression of Sangiovese.
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Beautiful dried cherries and herbs. Nicely aged Sangiovese with very nice grip for a 1997. Fine grained texture in the mouth with a medium length finish. Not over-done in the least and very food-friendly.
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At Quattro, Miami Beach W Joanne Goodstein and Miguel(Argentinian, originally from Messina.)Double decanted in am. Delicious, like last month. Seemed a liuttle fuller, while at or near peak, still has life left in it. Excellent. Was eclipsed however by the extraordinary 97 Salvoni Cerbiola.
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At Casa d'Angelo w Gayle & Howard Britt. Last had 2-1/2 yrs ago(@Timo celebrate Paul Rogoff's B'day). The wine has developed perfectly since then, and seems to me to be at an optimum point right now. We all savored every last drop, as we were travelling and only shared 1 bottle. The bouquet was perfect sangiovese w sour cherry bouquet and flavor, excellent aftertaste with lingering anise notes. Will be consuming my remaining 5 bottles regularly over the next few years.
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Ahh, what a joy to taste such lovely Sangiovese! Lots of saddle leather on the nose. The palate has that wonderful sour cherry and bitter chocolate that I associate with the varietal. Suave and dark, this is a polished, clean and pure. No brett to be found, just dark, brooding and surprisingly tannic Sangiovese. With a fennel rubbed and grilled whole chicken, this was nearly perfect match, with light licorice notes in the wine picking up on the food pairing. Yum!
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First sniff made me smile... real wine! This is aging quite well. Starting to show secondary flavors of leather, rose petals, earth and minerals. Solid core of fruit, yet not overdone in the least. I would not have guessed this to be from the ripe 1997 vintage. Still has structure, but it is quite silky in texture. Kept getting better with air.
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Exteded family dinner of Artuso's ravioli from Arthur Avenue, Bronx, NY. Dark chocolate/mocha on the nose. Notes of leather, rose petal, dried cherries, and tobacco. Medium body; nice mineral characteristics emerge with some air. Put on weight in the glass. Not as tannic or acidic as the other tasting notes suggest. This really grew on me with each sip.
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The first word that comes to mind is "intense". Intense nose of leather, espresso and cherry, in the typical Felsina style. In the mouth the wine is intensely tannic showing lovely fruit and again coffee and leather. An outstanding wine, slowly nearing it 's peak. Modern winemaking but no spoofulation.
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Last bottle of the 97. Purple-ruby in the glass. Understated nose that reveals a classic Sangoivese profile with some swirling -- black berry fruit, clove, olive wood smoke, wet leaves, and sous bois expressing the wine's evident transition from primary to secondary and tertiary attributes. Soft tanins, fierce acidic backbone. On Cellartracker, the drinking window for this wine carries through to 2016. I doubt it. My own impression, fwiw, is of a struggle between fruit and acid, with some uncertainty as to which will win out. I can easily see that the fruit will fade, while the acid elements will remain and become more dominant. We'll see. I haven't sensed this in the 88, 95, or 99, so I wonder if it's vintage specific.
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Seattle Tasting Group does Tuscan reds (Seattle, WA, USA): This one had nice notes of cherry with lots of oak on the nose. Very sweet entry, searing tannin, settling down with time in the glass. The finish had somewhat drying tannins at first, but with time in the glass this opened up and gained length. Not a great showing for this big name.
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Medium red color. Very nice aromas of cherries and loam. A bit sulphuric right now, but this will obviously dissipate. Wonderful texture. Velvety and silky, with wonderful flavors. Will be stunning.
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2/17/2024 - cvst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful and mature bouquet tonight. Ripe red cherry, lingon berry, iodine, limestone, autumn leaves and wet soil. Lingering tannins, good grip and well balanced. Sadly my last bottle of this vintage
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2/2/2024 - Evanbdavis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mature, sappy nose of roasted shiitake, truffle, star anise, black cherry, blackberry, fresh fig. The fruit is sweet and lush, tannins are firm but tender. Very long finish, a bit of reduction and tar.
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1/1/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep dark reddish-purple in color with minor clearing at the edges. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & some floral notes, herbs, minerals, leather, olive notes, anise & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, mature, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & plums with spices, minerals, iron, cocoa & a hint of cedar. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well with decanting & airing but at 26 years of age it is close to or at its peak of development although it may hold here for a few more years. Fill was mid-neck; cork stained only on bottom & intact.
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12/21/2022 - canan wrote: 93 Points
Excellent and mature but still with a touch of fruit left. Good definition of age with mushrooms and forest floor / wet leaves.
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8/23/2022 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Recent purchase of a few 95s and 97s out of curiosity and without much expectations. The Sangiovese we drink is almost exclusively Brunello, and with very, very few exceptions at the top end it’s a wine I like to drink within 15 years even for the best vintages since the 90s as it picks up oxidative notes beyond that.I was always assuming that it must also have to do with very ripe fruit and too oxidative wine making approach in Montalcino in recent times as I have had quite a few BdMs from the 70s and they show no such issues even at age 50.
While the 97 Fontalloro is considerably richer than the lean 95, and upon opening presents a slightly oxidative whiff on the nose, this blows away with some air and you get a nicely balanced medium bodied Sangiovese, again with well judged and integrated acidity and freshness. While it’s clearly riper than the 95 it’s nowhere near the ripeness of some of the big and warm (Brunello) vintages of the last 20 years. Still will drink my other bottles rather sooner than later as this at or slightly past peak and can only go down from here in my eyes.
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6/22/2022 - DaleW wrote:
Dried cherry, black cherry, cigarbox, violets. Tannins resolved, acid integrated, fully mature but not tired. A-/B+
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10/16/2021 - Hosenfeld wrote: 94 Points
Color was dark Ruby with the slightest hint of bricking. Initially not much on the nose, but after an hour and some swirling in the glass, Lots of dark cherries burst from the glass. Entry was lush, with more cherries, well-balanced acid, and some tannins on the back end. Fully mature and in a good place, might resolve a bit further but wouldn’t risk waiting too long.
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9/11/2019 - Good Monkey Likes this wine: 96 Points
Much better than the commonly accepted rating for the 1997 vintage.
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9/8/2019 - acyso wrote: 83 Points
Vinetasters: 1997 Super Tuscans (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Somewhat muted nose that is fairly hard to pick anything out of. There’s a bit of woodiness on the nose here. The palate is a bit devoid of fruit; just tannins and acidity at this point. The fruit is browned and tired here, and some bitterness on the finish doesn’t help. My 9th, group's 5th.
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3/2/2019 - Dalex Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fully mature and at or slightly past peak. Slight improvement with 30 minutes of air but strangely became muted as it warmed up. Secondary and tertiary aromas and flavors of wild game, dark fruits and some spices. From memory from last evening.
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1/28/2019 - Philippe_C wrote: 94 Points
light and evolved nose of black fruit and licorice... wow super delicious sappy black and red cherries, absolutely delicious and still young taste
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10/27/2018 - Ron Slye wrote: 92 Points
Well this suggests that the last bottle was an off one. This one was delicious. Still showing some strong structure and, if stored properly, good for many more years.
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1/21/2018 - DaleW wrote:
While ‘97 is (to me) an overrated vintage in Tuscany, there are still some good/great wines. Beautiful mature Sangiovese, black cherry and dried cherry, a little saddle leather and dried flowers, resolved tannins, good acid, good finish. I’d drink up soon, but quite enjoyable. B+/A-
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1/14/2018 - The compass wine Likes this wine:
Still flavorful
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11/11/2017 - vicewine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Showing it's age, red ruby bronze colour, earthy notes on the nose, smooth balanced and vegetal. But still backbone and vibrancy.
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10/24/2017 - mattiasjansson wrote: 90 Points
Italian Wines in Boston: Dark red. Chewy tannins. Presents way younger than its actual age.
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3/11/2016 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Lots of sediment and bricking as others have noted. Wine is slightly past its peak, but still showing reasonably well.
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2/5/2016 - Ron Slye wrote: 88 Points
Part of the 1997 Tuscan tasting. Double decanted 2-3 hours before. This was disappointing. There was heavy influence of oak. It tasted like an attempt to make a more new world style of wine. Perhaps it showed even more poorly when next to other more classic Brunellos. I don't know if this will develop and soften more.
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11/22/2015 - Duncan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fairly mature colour at the edges, still quite deep red in the heart of the glass. Quite a bit of sediment, so decanted. On opening, both bottles were noticeably acidic on the nose and especially on the palate. However, after a couple hours' breathing, and accompanying roast Orkney lamb, they were soft and deep and full of complex flavours. Still with the tang of true Chianti, though. Pretty dry as you'd expect, with the fruit having faded pretty thoroughly; would it have been even better five or so years ago when the plush fruit of its youth was still present, though evolving? Yes! Still, great to try this excellent old Chianti in good condition. The two bottles were more or less identical, with one slightly more acidic than the other. Cork, 13.5%.
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11/15/2015 - eboracum Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was riper tasting than my memory and notes of the excellent '95. Good deep colour with little bricking. Well developed and complex nose with still some primary fruit, mainly cherry. Medium/full bodied palate with sweeter fruit than in most Tuscan vintages, good depth, leather, tar and earth hints, good balancing acidity but with less than usual Tuscan tang and ripe tannins making a well covered backbone. I caught occasional undesirable cabbage like background aromas which may indicate an imminent slide towards break-up but they were mostly submerged by the attractive features and at present contributed to complexity. Very good.
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10/18/2015 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
This bottle had fuller body. Kicked off a fair amount of sediment.
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10/10/2015 - Ron Slye wrote: 93 Points
Like my previous note. This has nice acidity, and lovely fruit and other complex flavors. Next time I need to decant this or wait a few years.
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3/14/2015 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
My last bottle. Deep ruby color with age-appropriate bricking; nose has smoky red cherry, slight minerality, good moderate complexity; palate is medium bodied, still good red cherry fruit, well balanced with good acidity, tannins fully integrated and just slightly drying in the midpalate (but smooth); finish is medium length. This is an excellent Italian red to go with food, and it seems to be showing at peak maturity. Not overly complex, just solid and well made. Drink now, these will not get better. 90-91.
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1/5/2015 - Ron Slye wrote: 93 Points
A lovely nose of cherry, wet earth, green herbs, and iodine. On the palate there is nice, not overly candied, cherry, leather, some of that rustic barnyard funk I associate with Italian wines, with some nice acidity and teeth-smacking tannins. This is much better than I had anticipated based upon some recent tasting notes. With time in the glass it continues to taste wonderful – a bit more austere – the acids and tannins quite solidly ensconsed, creating a dry rustic finish. The cherries give way to some nice dried roses. This almost tastes like a medium aged Barolo. This was bought close to release at a retail store, and has been kept in cellar conditions since then, which may explain its relative youthfulness compared to what others have said. There is no question that this will last at least for 3-5 years (though I do tend to like my wines more aged than others). By then the tannins should have softened more, and the acidity will I hope be better integrated into the fruit and other flavors.
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1/1/2015 - wineduggery Does not like this wine: 87 Points
On life support, but there's still good acidity here. Pruney.
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10/28/2014 - ArtF Likes this wine: 95 Points
My second fav at Zachy's 70th anniversary tasting blast. Probably because it was so like the '92 d'Angerville Volnay Ducs, my first place pick.
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7/19/2014 - umazz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Past its prime. No tannin. Some raisin. Wonderful cherry.
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5/23/2014 - Wfjohn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mild bricking but generally deep garnet/ruby. Nose and palate is fig and deep stewed fruit. Tannins are limited and not much acidity. I enjoy the flavour but it makes me wonder whether it's past due. Enjoyable as I'm learning the age-ability of Sangio and this feels like the limit to me. Love Felsina though, this I bet would have been better a couple years ago. Only bottle so I'll search for other younger vintages to check them out.
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4/6/2014 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Quite a deep ruby color with age appropriate bricking; nose has intensity with red cherry, smoky spices, some swirling uncovers some moderate brett that adds complexity; palate has still some structure, tannins are a tad rough, only the slightest hint of drying, nice red cherry complexity throughout, great acidity throughout; finish is medium length, very slightly drying. A lovely classic Tuscan sangiovese with great complexity and at full maturity. Will drink my last bottle within the next year or two. 91-92
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4/4/2014 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 94 Points
First bottle since Christmas 2012 and my last one. Every bit as good as last time. A beautiful bright, semi-opaque magenta in color. A gorgeous Tuscan nose of berries, spice, earth and flowers. Not even a hint of Sangiovese "funk". Medium-to-full bodied and bursting with ripe, delicious cherry, strawberry and cranberry fruit character. Not a big wine by any means, but still shows amazing depth and concentration. The finish is loaded with ripe fruit and hints of spice and mineral. It just goes on and on. So elegant and beautifully balanced. A magnificent expression of Sangiovese.
50+5+13+17+9=94
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12/25/2013 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
This is an interesting wine. All the experience is mid-palate. Not much nose and a short finish. To add to it, the wine is delicate and nuanced. It's hard to describe. Earth, chocolate, leather and a little mint all packaged into a short poem.
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10/20/2013 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red in color. Almost translucent. 13.5% ABV. Shoe leather, roses, violets, earth and eucalyptus on the nose. Great acidity. The palate shows cranberry, dried cherries, pomegranate, tar, spice and flowers. The finish is long and exquisite. Paired perfectly with homemade pizza topped with a spicy turkey sausage. This wine is gorgeous right now. Well cellared bottles will continue to drink well for several more years.
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7/2/2013 - Philippe_C wrote: 91 Points
Nose of brown sugar, sandalwood, leather... tertiary fruit, leather, average lenght but still nice mature wine!!
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6/15/2013 - JDRFoster wrote: 90 Points
Solid aged Tuscan red, secondary flavors predominant, with nice balance. Best day 1 and 2, faded day 3. Time to drink up.
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6/2/2013 - lesz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking great
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5/6/2013 - PSPatrick wrote:
„One Wine - Three Vintages“-Blind Tasting. Flight 4: Sangiovese. We tasted Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1997, Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro 1997 and Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro 2007. This flight was a bit difficult to figure out blind and led to some discussion at first as the second wine of the flight, the 2007 Fontalloro, offered a dominating eucalyptus note on the nose. The tell-tale tea, tobacco and red fruit notes paired with the tannin/acidity-structure of wines one and three paved the way for solving the mystery.
Next to the eucalyptus-dominated nose, the 2007 Fontalloro showed red fruit, vanilla and roasted notes on the palate, paired with medium-plus tannin and acidity. It seemed a little closed and I would hence allow it a year or two in the cellar. The 1997 Fontalloro, which threw a lot of sediment, seemed a hair green on the nose. It offered red fruit, tea, tobacco and a hint of chocolate on the palate.
The Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1997 was the most interesting and clearly my favourite wine of the flight. As for its nose, the tasters either loved it or hated it, no grey area, as it was jammy and, in particular, a little oxidized, the result of aging in large oak casks for almost five years. One might argue about the nose, granted, but on the palate the wine was absolutely lovely, dry, with blood orange, cherry, tea and tobacco, high ripe tannin, medium-plus acidity and tremendous balance. Old school. A great wine. I would buy a case if I could find one.
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4/14/2013 - grossie wrote: 88 Points
Not as good as the last bottle. I feel like this is starting a downhill slide, it's got too much of a cranberry profile for my tastes while the tannin is a bit burning. Very drinkable, but not the joy like my last bottle a few years ago. If I had more it would be time to drink up now.
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3/30/2013 - PUR wrote:
Still too young, will leave for a few more years and try again.
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12/28/2012 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow! I expected this to be outstanding, and it delivered the goods. Shows a very earthy Tuscan nose of ripe fruit, leather and spice. Not even a hint of funk. Medium-to-full-bodied and absolutely bursting with semi-sweet cherry and pomegranate flavor. There's excellent depth and intensity to the mid-palate. The long, mineral-tinged finish is drenched with ripe, sweet fruit. Not a big wine, but lots going on here with incredible balance and finesse. So polished and beautiful. A magnificent '97 Sangiovese.
50+5+12+17+9=93
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12/25/2012 - Zitan wrote: 89 Points
Still alive and still good but dusty and maybe a bit past the top. Drink up.
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11/23/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Complex nose of red fruits, dusty, earthy. Balanced, nice, complex. Ready.
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11/3/2012 - lesz wrote: 90 Points
still very youthful. My wine friend Dr Bob thinks I should wait a couple of more years to open my next bottle. Still very good.
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5/26/2012 - mellison wrote: 92 Points
Kind of earthy. Drank over a 2 hour period and each pour was different as the wine opened and expressed itself. Quite complex flavors with leather, smoke, mushroom and earthy flavors. Went nicely with Italian sausage pasta and grilled asparagus.
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5/21/2012 - Bellissimo wrote:
Brought to an off-line. Didn't take detailed notes. Old world forest floor, dark, smoky cherry, leather and a bit of truffle. Classic Sangiovese.
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2/1/2012 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 90 Points
The nose showed undergrowth, old library book, animal musk and berry tartlet. On the palate it was lively with balanced acidity showing dark red fruits, licorice and spices. The finish was long and staying with hints of structure. It was highly enjoyable and somehow warmer and furrier than the ‘99.
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11/20/2011 - vicewine wrote: 92 Points
great bottle. smoky, dark red fruits, strong backbone, long finish. well integrated with a lot of life left in it...
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8/13/2011 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet. Nose of cherry pits, smoke, forest floor, meadow florals, leather. Smoothly-textured palate with dried cherries, spicy tomatoes, mocha, and fennel in evidence. Acidity refreshing, tannins filed off. Long, whispery finish of leather and red fruits. Nicely done.
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3/4/2011 - Hazeo wrote: 94 Points
What a different wine this is from the last bottle. It shows class and elegance from it's aging but it has great vitality and youth. A great time to have opened this.
Sweet foresty bouquet, dark red concentrates fruit, perfect amount of sweetness mixed with creamy oak, earth. Long finish with good acidity, with a little tannic bite still.
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1/21/2011 - Gian wrote: 89 Points
Nice ruby color , opened without decanting , at the beginning coffee , red fruit and cherries than more dark fruit .On the palate soft entrance very smooth tannins a quite long finish.
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12/30/2010 - Hazeo wrote: 88 Points
Pop and poured, and the cork was as pristine as a newly released wine. On first open there was a nice nose mellow fruit, savory meat, smoke and barnyard. I was however disappointed by the palette. There was some rustic smooth red fruit like a nice Italian wine, but finish was a little coarse with slightly sharp acidity. Overall quite nice at first, but with air the acidity became more pronounced instead of mellowing out and after two hours of air it became undrinkably tart. I was looking forward to this bottle since I really enjoyed the 04.
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12/30/2010 - aagrawal wrote: 89 Points
Some barnyard, not too much. A faint whiff of some remaining red fruit. With some air, some spiciness shows up. Palate is still high acidity, moderate integrated tannins, bit of a short-moderate finish. Wine is quite full bodied, very dense in texture though not in flavor. Should improve with food and a bit of air. Drinkable now but will probably wait 1 yr for the next bottle to see if it opens up more.
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6/4/2010 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Really good show right out of the bottle with no decant. After half an hour it's on its way downhill. Time to drink up, be carefull with aeration.
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5/8/2010 - Whitman wrote: 92 Points
A little mute nose with tobacco and mocca. First loads of cherries, rich and long with good structure. After a while the wine closed down and wasn't worth drinking. The day after it was still firm and tannic, but also with sweet wonderfull fruit. I think this 13 year old wine needs a couple of years in the cellar ! 92 ++
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2/8/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote:
FRENCH BAKERY 1997 NAPA vs TUSCANY BYO Dinner; 2/8/2010-2/9/2010 (The French Bakery, 1023 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida): Richard's wine
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8/23/2009 - Wien wrote: 95 Points
Still very young. Opening up after a few hours, but will benefit from 2-3 more years of cellaring.
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8/8/2009 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Delicious black raspberry/black cherry fruit with slightly sweet, tobacco, and earth flavors, well integrated, ample tannins and excellent structure, wine was a little tight and need time to open and soften
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8/6/2009 - SteelerFan wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. A bit rough at the beginning but smoothed out quickly and was really good after about an hour. Definitely would benefit from decanting. Dark crimson color. Earthy berry and tobacco flavors, fine tannins and good length on the finish. It followed a '99 Cos Estournel and I like this better. Just at the beginning of its drinking window and should continue to improve.
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5/3/2009 - grossie wrote: 93 Points
This was a gorgeous bottle of wine. Round, lush, beautifully mature. Such rich fruit showing chocolate and dark earthy characteristics with a minty overtone. The tannins were still present, but certainly not out of balance. I wish I had more of this.
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4/18/2009 - Rani wrote: 87 Points
A disappointing bottle, slightly over the hill or perhaps heat-damaged. Sweet core of fruit and fine tannins but a bit tired and lacking verve.
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2/28/2009 - italophile18 wrote:
Seepage...yet absolutley magnificent bottle. LIke the Rancia Ris consumed the same evening in terms of the typical Italian underbrush, but softer acidity, rounder mouthfeel...just as food friendly.
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2/15/2009 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Dark crimson. Nose of smoky red cherries, some leather, some earth. Palate took 2 hours to open up, expressing extracted sour cherry, moca, grip, and moderate acidity. Nice long finish. Quality wine, still young.
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10/26/2008 - kenthargis wrote: 91 Points
We enjoyed this quite a bit. Took a little bit of time to open, but once it did, was very rich. Nice long finish. Would certainly get this again.
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10/15/2008 - ricknat1 wrote: 91 Points
Rich dark fruit nose with a well balanced flavor that is both fruit forward and smoky with a long finish
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8/9/2008 - Finare Vinare wrote: 95 Points
Warm red, viscous, mature looks. Lots of iron on the nose , minerals, horse stable, old sour cherries, plums. Overtones of herbs, roses and violets. Complexity of game meat, nutmeg, figs and burnt sugar. On the palate we get a lovely minerality, some really harmonious acids and almost completely softened tannins. The mouthfeel is equally viscous and refreshing. The fruit which initially was so dark now stands out for its shiny red nuances (raspberries, cherries) The overall impression is bordeaux-like, soft and noble, still with its tuscan personality intact. This once so tough wine is now a wonder of harmony. It has reached a plateau of maturity and promises to keep well for several years. One of the years best experiences - this is the definition of why you lay bottles down.
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7/22/2008 - Dejzan wrote:
Not quite ready yet, for now i prefer the 97 Rancia
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7/14/2008 - Gregory Dal Piaz wrote: 94 Points
1997 Tuscans with a pair of interlopers (NYC): This opens immediately with a very fine nose, complex and balanced with a bit of wood but integrated with lots of liquory fruit, smokey and a touch gamey, excellent aromatics. In the mouth this is round and lush with good acid and very fine tannic structure, a classic medium weight mouthfeel, like a kite in the mouth with tannin and acid spars supporting a billowing. airy fruit. Dark berry notes dominate the midpalate but there are interesting forest floor and porcini notes that add interest and a bit of toasted hazelnut on the backend which is joined by bright bitter cherry fruit and a touch of espresso foam. Finish is elegant and layered with solid length to the wild berry fruit notes. With dinner the nose turns earthier with dark spicy fruit and gentle spice notes, the acid becomes a touch more prominent giving the wine a juicy feel with a candied apple fruitiness, touch of green apple in fact and a lovely insinuation of dried funghi leads to the long, slightly grippy finish. A very complete wine that is still youthful but show excellent concentraton without being clumsy, very fine equilibrium bodes well for further positive development, compelling and engaging. 2008-2018
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5/17/2008 - Happybob wrote: 92 Points
took 1hr to open.
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4/12/2008 - cseanb1 wrote: 86 Points
Opened and not decanted. Given the tannin and acids were out of balance for the fruit, I though perhaps I should have decanted. Fortunately I did not, as there bottle opened, there was only a 1 glass window where the wine was nice before it faded. Even the 1 glass where the wine found itself was underwhelming.
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3/1/2008 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Popped, decanted, and poured to complement the cheese course for our dinner party, following the 01 Janasse Chaupin, and Mas Doix Old Vines.
James Suckling recent blind reappraisal of 97 Tuscan is correct in its high praise and evolution. This wine is still very tannic with mineral licorice notes that should evolve beautifully from here. Will hold my last 2 until 2010+. Drank beautifully w Truffled Italian Cheese w Tartufo Honey(almost as Mike Bittel would say a Religioous Experience..
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1/19/2008 - DougLee wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Rich mulberry and black cherry nose, powerful and nostril-filling. Spicy and elegant on the palate, with coffee and sour cherry elements. Very aristocratic and structured despite all the fruit. Long finish. Definitely improving with age, and still on the upward trajectory.
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12/18/2007 - JBVino wrote:
disappointing...maybe expectations were to high...a tad thin...probably on the downside of peak...overall uninteresting.
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8/16/2007 - jdengis wrote: 90 Points
A good bottle this time. Vibrant fruit, leather and still noticeable oak maybe just a tad too much of it. Probably at peak now, but will hold a few more years.
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7/14/2007 - raadams wrote: 89 Points
Had this alongside the 1997 Felsana CCR Rancia aloing with a few other Tuscans. No real notes were taken. Medium-bodied with relatively bright berries, leather, and cherries. This wine was enjoyable but kind of got lost in the shuffle. Note that it did not seem to show much decline when tried on the second night; especially compared to the 1997 Felsina CCR Rancia.
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5/6/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted.
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4/25/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Tried aerated and unaerated. Wine is mature now, no need for air. Not as memorable as last year, and seems unlikely to improve. Mild wet earth Sangiovese finish. Expected more.
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4/1/2007 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Darker garnet color. Nose was absolutely nonexistent upon opening and remained that way for a good 90 minutes. Scents of pine forest, balsamic, and mulling spices eventually came forth and sustained nicely. The palate started out with refreshing acidiity and took on notes of saddle leather, cherries, and plum. Lots of layers and added complexity developed over time. Satisfying grip at the end. It's definitely young at this stage of the game, but the quality is all there. Will check again in a year or two.
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3/31/2007 - jdengis wrote: 80 Points
Really awfully oaky and the oak seemed to become more overbearing with time. Fruit starting to fade and taking on that almondy thing that aged Sagiovese gets.... Not good.
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2/17/2007 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
Italians @ Cheryl's: Lovely nose that jumps right out of the bottle. Lots of dried cherries, herbs, leather and freshly cracked pepper. Firm acids and a stunning length. Gorgeous with food. I'm really sad this is my last bottle.
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2/5/2007 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Mmm, lovely wine. Lots of balsa and leather on the nose. A firm, dry palate with cherry and tea leaf. Gorgeous Sangiovese. Sweet, powerful, but not extracted or overly done in any way. Just a pure, clean expression of Sangiovese.
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1/21/2007 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful dried cherries and herbs. Nicely aged Sangiovese with very nice grip for a 1997. Fine grained texture in the mouth with a medium length finish. Not over-done in the least and very food-friendly.
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12/2/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
At Quattro, Miami Beach W Joanne Goodstein and Miguel(Argentinian, originally from Messina.)Double decanted in am. Delicious, like last month. Seemed a liuttle fuller, while at or near peak, still has life left in it. Excellent.
Was eclipsed however by the extraordinary 97 Salvoni Cerbiola.
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11/26/2006 - teton taster wrote: 90 Points
a little bit more fruity than I had imagined but very smooth
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11/3/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
At Casa d'Angelo w Gayle & Howard Britt. Last had 2-1/2 yrs ago(@Timo celebrate Paul Rogoff's B'day). The wine has developed perfectly since then, and seems to me to be at an optimum point right now. We all savored every last drop, as we were travelling and only shared 1 bottle. The bouquet was perfect sangiovese w sour cherry bouquet and flavor, excellent aftertaste with lingering anise notes. Will be consuming my remaining 5 bottles regularly over the next few years.
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8/12/2006 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Ahh, what a joy to taste such lovely Sangiovese! Lots of saddle leather on the nose. The palate has that wonderful sour cherry and bitter chocolate that I associate with the varietal. Suave and dark, this is a polished, clean and pure. No brett to be found, just dark, brooding and surprisingly tannic Sangiovese. With a fennel rubbed and grilled whole chicken, this was nearly perfect match, with light licorice notes in the wine picking up on the food pairing. Yum!
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7/14/2006 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
First sniff made me smile... real wine! This is aging quite well. Starting to show secondary flavors of leather, rose petals, earth and minerals. Solid core of fruit, yet not overdone in the least. I would not have guessed this to be from the ripe 1997 vintage. Still has structure, but it is quite silky in texture. Kept getting better with air.
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4/22/2006 - Siggy wrote: 91 Points
Exteded family dinner of Artuso's ravioli from Arthur Avenue, Bronx, NY. Dark chocolate/mocha on the nose. Notes of leather, rose petal, dried cherries, and tobacco. Medium body; nice mineral characteristics emerge with some air. Put on weight in the glass. Not as tannic or acidic as the other tasting notes suggest. This really grew on me with each sip.
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4/9/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Slightly better than it was last year.
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8/16/2005 - jdengis wrote: 94 Points
The first word that comes to mind is "intense". Intense nose of leather, espresso and cherry, in the typical Felsina style. In the mouth the wine is intensely tannic showing lovely fruit and again coffee and leather. An outstanding wine, slowly nearing it 's peak. Modern winemaking but no spoofulation.
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7/10/2005 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours.
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5/12/2005 - Eric wrote:
Big, black, boot leather, espresso, bitter chocolate, forbidding, needs time!
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1/23/2005 - SteveHyde wrote:
Last bottle of the 97. Purple-ruby in the glass. Understated nose that reveals a classic Sangoivese profile with some swirling -- black berry fruit, clove, olive wood smoke, wet leaves, and sous bois expressing the wine's evident transition from primary to secondary and tertiary attributes. Soft tanins, fierce acidic backbone. On Cellartracker, the drinking window for this wine carries through to 2016. I doubt it. My own impression, fwiw, is of a struggle between fruit and acid, with some uncertainty as to which will win out. I can easily see that the fruit will fade, while the acid elements will remain and become more dominant. We'll see. I haven't sensed this in the 88, 95, or 99, so I wonder if it's vintage specific.
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3/30/2003 - Eric wrote: 89 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does Tuscan reds (Seattle, WA, USA): This one had nice notes of cherry with lots of oak on the nose. Very sweet entry, searing tannin, settling down with time in the glass. The finish had somewhat drying tannins at first, but with time in the glass this opened up and gained length. Not a great showing for this big name.
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4/17/2001 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
Medium red color. Very nice aromas of cherries and loam. A bit sulphuric right now, but this will obviously dissipate. Wonderful texture. Velvety and silky, with wonderful flavors. Will be stunning.
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