North & Central Italy offline (Terra Rossa, London N1): In a v nice place with good balance and seemed very accomplished. Showing slightly tertiary red fruit. Not about to fall off its horse which bodes well for subsequent vintages. Stellar.
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North & Central Italy (Terra Rossa): On the precipice of over-development but there's a core of generous red and dark fruit, concentrated with a pulpiness and lovely sweet raspberry richness. Also some boot polish and rubbery notes which aren't quite so appealing. Enjoyable on the palate: velvety and long with good presence.
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Similar service and note as my note of 12-27-2021. I have drank a lot of Italian wine since then. This really was quite the ticket. Perfectly mature and I did not see any signs of decline whatsoever since late 2021 or July 2022. Wish I had more.
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Subsequent notes on this wine from close to 9 years ago. Dark ruby red in color with some clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of matured ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of floral notes of violets & earthy/dusty notes, cocoa, spices, dried herbs, minerals, leather, cedar & hints of oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, matured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & mulberries with spices, herbs, cocoa, minerals & a hint of oak. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing. At 22 years of age, it is close to or at its peak of development. Although it should hold here for a few more years, any further development from additional aging may be minimal. Fill was at mid-neck; cork was clean & intact. A wonderful example of an aged Brunello.
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Retains it's deep ruby color. There are hints of black fruit on the nose and palate but less than I remember from previous tasting previous bottles years ago. Some vanilla and tobacco remains. Clearly past it's peak but still enjoyable.
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Maintains a deep ruby color in spite of being past it's prime drinking interval. Combination of red and black fruit along with vanilla/oak on the nose and palate.
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One-hour decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Nose of dried cherry potporrri during decant. Very fine sediment in the screen. After resting for an hour, the wine was clear; translucent ruby in the bowl with a pinkish-amber rim and a small clear halo. In the glass: nose of dried cherries and flowers, country herbs, leather and freshly-plowed earth. In the mouth: medium bodied; dried red fruits, herbs, tobacco and some mineral notes. Tannins all resolved; very smooth and a nice long finish with some anise. My dining companions who (like me) are novices when it comes to Italian wines were very smitten with this wine. Glad I have a couple of more bottles.
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-- decanted 45 min. before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 4 hours --
NOSE: aged Nose: a bit muddled/earthy; muddled cherry; somewhat "dirty" at first; hint of mint; cleared-up with air, showing more clearly-delineated aromas.
BODY: blood red color of medium-deep depth with bricking throughout. {forgot to note weight --- by memory, medium to medium-full}
TASTE: tannic; oaky; medium acidity; coffee grounds; leans pretty dark -- Cabernet Sauvignon-esque; it's better with steak; light tar; light spearmint/mineral combo --- similar to Pauillac; best after an hour or two of air; gut impression score: 91. Drink Now and over the near term: I don't see this getting any better, and it's likely on its downslope already.
50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90
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First bottle we opened was corked, but the back up bottle is lovely - Beautiful raspberry, sweet saddle leather, tart black cherry with some dusty earth notes, graphite and wet stone. Silky texture and juicy dark plum grace the palate. Tannins are seamlessly integrated. Slight tinge of amber on the rim. In a gorgeous place and should be drunk. p.s. - having with Caesar salad and cauliflower pizza - great combo!
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Blind Tasting at Jim and Stacia’s (New Jersey, USA): In my cellar since release. Decanted for 2 hours before returning to bottle for trip to a tasting. Served double blind to a group of 8 people. Color is a translucent medium garnet with a brick edge. Nose had earth and dried flowers (roses?) along with burnt orange peel and dried cherries. Palate has medium+ acidity and tannin. Very savory and spicy along with chocolate, tart cherry and a coffee, licorice finish. Needs a lot of air and better with food.
P.s. This was another wine that had fairly divergent opinions. Some loved it, others were not as enthusiastic and one seriously disliked it. For me this was one of the WOTN.
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There seemed to be ample red fruits notes at the initial tasting but over time the fruit flavors were more muted and the finish was less textured. Drink up if holding.
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Really interesting nose of cough drop, dust, anise, and prune. Fell short in the mouth, however. Dusty tart cherries with not much else happening. Wanted to like this more but drank somewhat thin and watery. Still some drying tannins left.
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Argiano 2001 bad cork, but saved the wine. Mid brick amber edges. Earth wood mushrooms leather. Mid body balanced good tannins. Long semi tight finish. A little hot 16.5.
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Private Tasting (Private Location): Red currant, a bit of cinnamon, plum, red meat, spices, smoke and a distinct note of green pepper on the wonderful nose, which turns me to Cab Franc, as this wine was poured double blind. High acidity with very present tannins on the palate. The tannins dried out a bit on the back end. Again a bit of pepper. Missing the tension on the mid palate. Much better on the nose than on the palate. This wine wouldn´t become better after some more cellar time so drink it now.
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Private Tasting (@Private location): Glass: Riedel Vinum Syrah PnP. Clear, deep garnet color with tawny reflexes. Clean, medium+ intense, fully developed and complex nose. Sweet red fruit, some animal notes, oak, raw meat, spices, green pepper. Dry with lots of extract sweetness. High acidity and high, silky tannin that are a bit drying out on the palate. Medium+ alcohol (14% abv) and body. Medium intense aromas of red berries (red currant), green pepper, oak, smoke, spices (cinnamon). Complex, silky/velvet mouthfeel and a medium+ finish. Very nice Brunello on its peak. Will certainly be drinkable for some more years, but I guess the tannin continues to dry out more and more.
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Really delightful! Opened for Thanksgiving, but kept in the fridge for a week. Frankly that was the key to unlock its beauty. Completely robust bold dark cherry with Earthy tones. A perfect well balanced Brunello after a long long decant.
Decanted at 5pm and drunk through 8:30. Medium to dark garnet. bouquet is moderately rounded and spicy with dark cherry fruit and a little chocolate. Chewy and pretty rich on the palate with dark red fruit and good depth of flavor as well as a baking spice and mocha finish. Enjoyed by all with various food at a restaurant, including a pork chop Saltimbocca, veal Milanese and hanger steak.
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Medium to dark garnet. Nice earthy floral nose with some plum and licorice. Rich and chewy on the palate, some burnt, tannin on the front, then red fruit, cherry, plum, lavender, licorice and cedar. Almost cab-like in weight and texture and depth of flavor. Excellent.
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Very youthful looking. Translucent medium garnet. Nose has vanilla, charcoal, boysenberry and ripe black plum. Rich yet lively on the tongue. Palate matches the nose. Finish has a nice leathery chocolate finish. Very enjoyable. Lean with a nice amount of nice secondary depth.
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Hard to add much to my '12 note. A fully evolved, ripe brunello, with wonderful tertiary layers of aromatics of lavender, cocoa, earth. The wines tasted from '13-'15 consistently came off as more monolithic and less evolved. Hopefully, this latest bottle is more representative of the current state of this wine's development -- as superb brunello in the prime drinking window.
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Fantastic! Has improved. Old world, barnyard with dark cherry and unsweetened cola on nose; smooth silky mouth feel, complex with a 15 + second finish - too bad I'm out. Solid 94.
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Classic brunello little brown on the edge, perfect harmony of tannins and fruit, in its drink window with 5 or so left. More profound and fruitilicious out of the bottle than with 24 hours of airing.
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Last of a half case that I bought on a great PC pre-arrival deal. Still very young and I wouldn't doubt there is something else in it syrah/cab/merlot… A nice wine, but not sure I could peg it as Brunello blind.
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Deep red brick color indicative of its young age. After decanting for 1+ hour the wine showed complex bouquet of Tuscan herbs, dark flowers and berries all combined in good harmony. On the palate full body with firm grip on the tannins, expected for a medium age brunello, notes of herbs and berries with a long finish, typical of Brunello. Drinking well now, but plenty of time to cellar. This delivered on the critics view of the 2001 vintage.
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Deep, dark garnet in color. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of still developing yet complex, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & dark plums with cedar overtones, floral notes of violets, smoky, dusty, earthy notes, cocoa, spices, dried herbs, minerals and toasty oak in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced, smooth textured, still evolving, complex, ripe fruit flavors of dark sweet cherries, blackberries and plummy with spices, herbs, cocoa, earthy, minerals & toasty oak. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but has the structure & fruit to develop further with additional aging.
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Dekanteret ½ time. Meget sky i starten. Åbnede sig laanngsomt mere op. Elegant på alle måder. Kræver koncentration. Tanninerne blev mere tydelige efter 1½ time. Masser af rygrad som indikerer et langt liv foran sig. Men samtidig ikke meget frugt, så mon ikke den bare skal drikkes nu? Desværre en af de vine som giver mig hovedpine, men i dette tilfælde må man bare accepterer at intet kommer gratis...
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Opened with muted aromas of spice and wood. Tastes were of light fruit and spice. A good wine but not not memorable. Drank over 2.5 hours and not a lot of change in flavors. Not a lot of depth.
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A somewhat different bottle from several earlier ones. More closed and monolithic, reminiscent of an aged Bordeaux -- integrated fruit frames the wine but does not entice of its own. Tastes of a strawberry compote, though still slightly viscous and tannic overall. Reminded me of '01 Altesino in overall profile with some woody tones -- the texture hints of a bit more oak than in an only botti aged wine. Taste hints of a Southern exposure fruit -- at times drinks as a maturing, monolithic nebbiolo in texture. Probably will wait another year or so to retaste.
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Very fine. Fruity, but nicely structured. Sweet raspberries and tobacco. Minimal tertiary development. Stood up well to the old Barolo that preceded it.
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Opened at Otis' CDP. My favorite Brunello of the 3 I tried. Firm tannins. Filled with black fruit and tobacco. Felt younger than some of the other BdM despite being 3-6 years older. 92 points.
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Decanted and poured, this wine begins reserved and stern. Airing softens the wine giving it balance and accessibility. This bottle shows a combination of youthful and maturing notes on the bouquet and palate. Based on this showing the wine should have been decanted a couple hours ahead of time. This is probably at or around its peak; however, additional bottle age should soften some of the initial sternness.
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Glorious example of my favourite wine, Brunello. Opened and poured 1 hour prior to drinking, it has an alluring bouquet which grew in intensity during the evening. Wonderful kirsch flavours supported by silky smooth tannins (which are such a hallmark of this variety) and enough acidity to ensure considerable longevity. Tingling on the front of the tongue, plenty of mid-palate complexity, and a flavour that lingers forever. All elements in perfect balance.
No rush at all to drink this, but still plenty to enjoy if you want to investigate it now. 2001 is a very well regarded vintage, but still underestimated in my opinion.
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last had this wine 2 years ago and it has continued to improve. Fine grain tannins, lovely nose, silky balanced fruit. Drinking at its peak. An excellent brunello from a quality vintage.
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Drinking so well now. A seamless wine, showing finesse, complexity and a wonderful length and balance -- a hallmark of '01 Tuscans. An intriguing nose of blueberries, jammy blackberries and flowery violets -- it alone is worth the price of admission. Not an overly extracted wine, but a wine of sophistication and an impeccable balance. A treat now and should continue to improve.
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This wine/bottle had a powerful burnt wood scent that seemed to mask a layer of spicy sweetness. Color is dark ruby and the wine clearly has lots of life left and probably still needs more time to come around. The flavor reminds me of sandalwood and chocolate and under-ripe plum and cherry. I like it but don't love it... at least at this point in its evolution.
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Big and burly, but not unapproachable now for those that don't mind an oversized wine. Will undoubtedly improve and can be held another 5-10 years without fear.
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Pre-CNY Lunch at Brian's (Moonbeam View): Very consistent notes with the previous time round - this was an impressive young BdM that still needs quite a bit of time. The nose was a bit on the sweeter side, with ripe dark cherrise surrounded by a halo of dusty earth and sundried herb aromas along with little woody undertones. Not completely together there - it gave the sense that the wine needed some time of knitting into a whole. Much the same on the palate. More slightly woody tones framed a midpalate with plenty of ripe cherries and some plummy notes. There was a nice sense of quality on that fruit, and it was balanced out with a lot of fresh acidity. It was on the finish where the youth of the wine stood out most - this was still coated by a layer of fine tannins as if drifted awat in whiffs of wood smoke and spice. Lots of quality here and it is far from unapporachable, but even then, it was clearly still a baby. I would give it ten years at least, by which time it should be very nice indeed.
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Very intense and open nose. Mid-palate quite empty and then offers cherries. Taste is raw and I would call it archaic. End is pleasant with softened tannins but still the taste is same cherries with no more substance to offer. Wine was opened and poured in the morning, so it was well decanted. I prefer Rosso di Montalcino over Brunello with this showing...
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Decanted and poured, this wine drank well from the beginning and gave a more approachable showing than a bottle tasted earlier this year. This wine seems to finally give a more accessible display without periods of unyielding sternness. Since release this wine has at times shown promise and at others a closed, difficult personality. This is at or around its peak.
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Decanted one hour. Last bottle of this vintage. Wine has definitely improved over the last couple of years. Still needs a minimum of two hours to really open and smooth out, but it is a really good bottle of wine.
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Reserved nose with black cherries, moccha and licorice. Juicy, fresh and sweet but everything in a tight package. Medium finish with bitter cherries. Maybe not with the elegance you expect from brunello but wait.
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Dinner at the Wild Poet's (HM's place): This was surprisingly drinkable for such a young Brunello. Still though, it was good, very correct, without being quite exciting. I would really leave these aside for sometime to develop a bit more complexity. It had a nice, if rather reserved the nose, with a nice dose of stone ane metal mineral scents, aromas of sweet dark cherries, some dried earth, a bit of rust. Tight at first, but it was opening up all the time. The palate had a rich juiciness to it that made me think modern BdM almost from the get go, with sweet, ripe but really fresh and bright, almost crystallined flavours of black cherries and berries. This had a nice ring of clarity to it. The finish was quite decent too, with some earthy notes drifting into the distance. Still primary I thought, but very open, very giving for such a young wine. Another decade and this should be very interesting indeed.
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I think could use more time, not less. Also, did not get to decant properly, so I think this rating may have ended up better. A bit musty on the nose but I'm sure it would have blown off with decanting...solid but not spectacular effort for the vintage.
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Decanted 30 minutes. Definitely different than the last bottle in January. More brick red in color. Much smoother - tannins not any where as heavy as before. May just be bottle variation. still likenthe wine, but I will open another in a couple of weeks to see if it is more like this bottle or the last one.
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Pleasant wine. Not as much power as I remember from a few years back. Def showing some age. Still, a nice nose - maple, leather and spice. After an hour decant showing a smooth character. Clean finish. Overall not bad but a little weaker than previous tastings.
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decanted and poured, this wine required about 45 minutes of airing to show its best. The aromatics begin tense and restrained. Airing brings out a detailed blend of black cherry, tar, leather, cigar ash and earth notes. The color is a tarnished medium ruby that is correct for the wine age. The medium bodied palate starts restrained and lacking finesse. Over the course of consumption, the wine becomes more forthcoming and detailed revealing a rich core of fruit that combined mature and youthful notes. The wine finishes with acidity and tannins making an appearance. This drinks well now if decanted and given some time in the decanter.
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Opened, decanted, and poured. Closed upon opening, but much better a couple of hours later. Smells and tastes of cranberries and cherries. Still tannic - could use another year or two.
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Way past its prime. Drink as soon as you can. This wine is losing fruit as it ages. It also developed a bit of a medicinal note. The menthol and leather that been there is waning.
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We loved this a few years ago. It has lost most of it's bright fruit flavors and changed into a very soft, leather and dried cherry taste. Enjoyable but not what it had been.
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This was in great shape! Needed a few minutes to open up, but eventually gave way to a very expressive nose of dried red fruits complicated by eucalyptus, cinnamon, and spice cake. Very smooth, thick, and full-bodied in the mouth, featuring flavors of licorice, cranberry, and dried cherries that lead to a long suave finish. I'd say this is hitting its stride, but has the structure and acidity to last another 3-5 years. Very impressive, tasty, and mouth watery!
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I liked this bottle more than the first some 19 months ago. Nose of wet forest, pine trees. A bit more earthiness on the palate with hints of truffle, leather and spice. Fruit still very vibrant that flows all the way through the finish. Great texture and a real easy wine to drink with a meatball sub.
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What a pleasant surprise sitting in the corner of my cellar. Cellar tracker helped me find it! Nose very, very nice. Mild tobacco sweetness reminiscent of my Durham, NC days in the early mornings. Hint of scorched earth but unlike a Graves nose. Balanced tannins that will probably integrate further over the next few years (but not decade). More black then red fruit and a decent, not spectacular finish. WIll open my next one in 2 - 3 years.
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Light to mediium bodied. Sweet tobacco, earth, leather, and mild funk on nose (slight brett). Coffee and dried cherries with slight mocha on mid-palate. Tannins are well integrated but persistant suggesting further longevity. Pleasing moderatle long finish. Very nice Brunello entering drinking prime.
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Opened and let sit in the bottle for about 90 minutes. Then drank with Fettuccine Alfredo and chicken (not a perfect match, but the food and wine were both really good). This wine was amazingly approachable and drinking really well right now. Dark cherries, great mouthfeel, hint of maple syrup. Very smooth easy drinking wine for a BdM...
A winner for sure
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Soft and refined. Velvety blueberry and warm maple with a hint of smoke. Contrary to the other posters, I wouldn't hesitate to let this sit for another year or two.
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Pretty good wine but not too exciting. Cherry and funk on the nose. More cherry, spices and red fruit on the palate. Medium bodied with a slightly hollow midpalate. This is drinking pretty well so I'll probably go through my remaining btls in the next 2 years.
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Anonymous red wine. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts there is Syrah in this and not just a little. Could even be Cab as well. A whiff of brett. It would be a blind guess to peg this as Brunello or even sangiovese. Knowing what it is you can find hints of sweet red fruit, leather and herbs but you really have to be stretching to look for them. Little character and totally internationalized this could be from anywhere. That said it is a fully drinkable wine - just boring. I guess it's now my 2nd worst 01 Brunello after Castelgiocondo.
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Pulled cork 6 hours in advance. Solid cherry, and leather with pleasant herbs. Somewhat forward and ripe, but not what I'd call new world. Needs time to integrate the solid components of fruit, tannin and acid. Not outstanding, but quite respectable.
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Decanted for 60 minutes and drank over the next 90 minutes or so without any food. Nose had a bit of a funk to it, which mostly blew off as the night went on. This was a soft wine that got even softer and rounder as the night went on. Started off and I got some cured meat. As time went on, flavor profile added some cherry fruit, with a hint of chocolate just before the finish. Also got a hint of tobacco. Medium + acidity, I might even go medium ++. Velvety mouthfeel. The wine had soft tannins, and was very approachable now. I really liked it, but it didn't have that extra ooomph to make it really outstanding. I would give this an 89+ to 90 rating, and call it a 90...
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This wine initally had some heat on the nose, although it may have been the "bloody iron" smell that joe g says is common. some nice fresh cherry as well. As I've been drinkin this it has become even more silky and rounded, as joe pointed out, the tannins are very soft for a '01 BdM and, hence, very approacable and drinkable right now. Very nice sour black cherry on the palate, w/ a chocolate/mocha flavor on the finsh....also a little charcoa and a hint of black olive on the finish. Medium mouthfeel w/ quite a bit of acidity. I don't love big, bitter tannins, so this is nice for me....asolid 90 points.
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Nice color, loads of sediment in the decanter. Nose of tobacco, burst of cherries, alcohol on the nose seems higher than label indicates. Bright acidity, dark cherry and tartness on the palate. Dusty tannins at the beginning, but mellowed out a little after an hour when the savory chocolate notes appear. Nice finish and as the tasting group discussed, wine leaves you salivating for a period of time.
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Denver does Sangio. There is a lot of funky aromatics on this particular bottle could be Bret but I am not 100% certain. this is more than just normal bottle funk as with time rather than clearing it gets more pronounced and takes over the entire aromatic spectrum. There is solid extraction and a good core of black fruit and the finish is also pleasant but I believe this to be contaminated NR
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Tasted blind and no one at the table even got the country right. My guess was Aussie, others at the table thought right back Bordeaux or Spain. Big and sweet on the nose, almost tastes like American oak, but pretty oaky. Lots going on in the nose. Very lifted with lots of floral aromas like violets and lavender. Some cassis and black berry notes as well as graphite.
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**** I found this wine completely pleasing. This bottle purchased in Tuscany on release and stored in my cellar since. Medium-full body, deep color, with tar and dried fruit scents; punchy acidity and a tart finish. It toned down after being open a couple hours.
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Opened and not decanted. Drank rather well poured straight from the bottle. Black cherry, cedar, cigar with hints of tar followed by moderate tannins. Ageing gracefully and will so for many year.
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This came across as farily classic with moderate air. Everything is in balance and the fruit is pure, medium-weight and tasty. Good finish and enough structure to age gracefully.
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Popped and aired for about an 1hr in the bottle. The nose was cedar and cigar box, very similar to a SLWC Fay Cab. The palate was red and black fruit, not as intense as the cab previously mentioned and not the normal high acidity of many Italians.
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Great bottle with food. Medium tannins, nice body. Opened nicely after decanted for an hour. Last glass was excellent. Would open 1 -2 hours before drinking next time.
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Dark clear ruby in color; A touch of menthol, dark fruit and very slight horsey brett on the nose; Flavors included black cherry fruit with olive on the exit. Smoke and a bit of vanilla oak on the finish. Balanced with decent structure but needs more time. [Decently priced at ~$30 on release; Decanted 30 minutes and opened up with time; quite a bit of sediment]
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Poured at a tasting at The Wine Club SF: touches of burnt cork(?) on the nose; somewhat watery on the palate with notes of charcoal, raisins and dried flowers. Seems slightly closed down. At this point Fair to Good.
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Dinner and Wine (Casa Pelz): Popped and poured. Nose was barely perceptible and it showed similarly closed on the palate. Fruit seemed light-weight, and oak was sticking through just a bit. Very enjoyable wine, but I'm not sure if this is in an awkward phase or if it is just short of very good. To be re-tasted at some point.
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Nice bottle needs more time,but very ballanced unsurprising wine, medium to full bodied, It will go softer and the terroir will get more dominant, but withhthe already soft tannins, it will not gáin a lot morewith time. I thought that itis slightly less that the 97 and ofcourse much better than than the 98, but disapointing for 01 , clearly this is the winerys mainstream wine now, which willl not offend anyone. PQR is still good.
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Medium deep garnet with a brick hue, beautifully shiny. Pleasingly fragrant with red berries, undergrowth, fine breadcrust and just a bit smoky. Medium bodied and very well balanced. Lovely!
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Just beginning to come out of its shell. Great, cool fruit with red berries. Oak is a bit too dominating at this stage. Wait a couple of years with the next one 89+
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Ruby color with nice slightly brownish edge. Not a big nose. Spicy with some fruit. High acidity with medium tannins. Lean, almost bony. Some bitterness in after-taste. Probably need half a dozen years. UPDATE: Opened up more the evening after. Still high in acids and somewhat bitter but a lot more drinkable. Needs some years.
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12/19/2023 - pmik Likes this wine: 92 Points
92+ Vinnørd Storchsvej. Absolutely vibrant and not past peak.
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12/18/2023 - Radders12345 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Plummy nose with a little coffee, terracotta.
In a nice spot in the palate - evolved fruit but good structure and acidity. Solid wine
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12/18/2023 - fussyeater Likes this wine:
North & Central Italy offline (Terra Rossa, London N1): In a v nice place with good balance and seemed very accomplished. Showing slightly tertiary red fruit. Not about to fall off its horse which bodes well for subsequent vintages. Stellar.
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12/18/2023 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 91 Points
North & Central Italy (Terra Rossa): On the precipice of over-development but there's a core of generous red and dark fruit, concentrated with a pulpiness and lovely sweet raspberry richness. Also some boot polish and rubbery notes which aren't quite so appealing. Enjoyable on the palate: velvety and long with good presence.
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11/15/2023 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar service and note as my note of 12-27-2021. I have drank a lot of Italian wine since then. This really was quite the ticket. Perfectly mature and I did not see any signs of decline whatsoever since late 2021 or July 2022. Wish I had more.
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4/18/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Subsequent notes on this wine from close to 9 years ago. Dark ruby red in color with some clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of matured ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of floral notes of violets & earthy/dusty notes, cocoa, spices, dried herbs, minerals, leather, cedar & hints of oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, matured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & mulberries with spices, herbs, cocoa, minerals & a hint of oak. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing. At 22 years of age, it is close to or at its peak of development. Although it should hold here for a few more years, any further development from additional aging may be minimal. Fill was at mid-neck; cork was clean & intact. A wonderful example of an aged Brunello.
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2/20/2023 - Vascular46 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Retains it's deep ruby color. There are hints of black fruit on the nose and palate but less than I remember from previous tasting previous bottles years ago. Some vanilla and tobacco remains. Clearly past it's peak but still enjoyable.
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1/3/2023 - Vascular46 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Maintains a deep ruby color in spite of being past it's prime drinking interval. Combination of red and black fruit along with vanilla/oak on the nose and palate.
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7/21/2022 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same as my prior note of 12/27/2021. Quite delicious!
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12/27/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 92 Points
One-hour decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Nose of dried cherry potporrri during decant. Very fine sediment in the screen. After resting for an hour, the wine was clear; translucent ruby in the bowl with a pinkish-amber rim and a small clear halo. In the glass: nose of dried cherries and flowers, country herbs, leather and freshly-plowed earth. In the mouth: medium bodied; dried red fruits, herbs, tobacco and some mineral notes. Tannins all resolved; very smooth and a nice long finish with some anise. My dining companions who (like me) are novices when it comes to Italian wines were very smitten with this wine. Glad I have a couple of more bottles.
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4/3/2021 - grafstrb wrote: 90 Points
-- decanted 45 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 4 hours --
NOSE: aged Nose: a bit muddled/earthy; muddled cherry; somewhat "dirty" at first; hint of mint; cleared-up with air, showing more clearly-delineated aromas.
BODY: blood red color of medium-deep depth with bricking throughout. {forgot to note weight --- by memory, medium to medium-full}
TASTE: tannic; oaky; medium acidity; coffee grounds; leans pretty dark -- Cabernet Sauvignon-esque; it's better with steak; light tar; light spearmint/mineral combo --- similar to Pauillac; best after an hour or two of air; gut impression score: 91. Drink Now and over the near term: I don't see this getting any better, and it's likely on its downslope already.
50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90
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11/13/2020 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottle we opened was corked, but the back up bottle is lovely - Beautiful raspberry, sweet saddle leather, tart black cherry with some dusty earth notes, graphite and wet stone. Silky texture and juicy dark plum grace the palate. Tannins are seamlessly integrated. Slight tinge of amber on the rim. In a gorgeous place and should be drunk.
p.s. - having with Caesar salad and cauliflower pizza - great combo!
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4/27/2020 - PeterMole wrote:
Love it. Earthy, not much fruit, very complex, every sip different.
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9/6/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blind Tasting at Jim and Stacia’s (New Jersey, USA): In my cellar since release. Decanted for 2 hours before returning to bottle for trip to a tasting. Served double blind to a group of 8 people. Color is a translucent medium garnet with a brick edge. Nose had earth and dried flowers (roses?) along with burnt orange peel and dried cherries. Palate has medium+ acidity and tannin. Very savory and spicy along with chocolate, tart cherry and a coffee, licorice finish. Needs a lot of air and better with food.
P.s. This was another wine that had fairly divergent opinions. Some loved it, others were not as enthusiastic and one seriously disliked it. For me this was one of the WOTN.
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11/25/2018 - rfras Likes this wine: 89 Points
There seemed to be ample red fruits notes at the initial tasting but over time the fruit flavors were more muted and the finish was less textured. Drink up if holding.
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10/25/2018 - drmarclevine wrote: 88 Points
Really interesting nose of cough drop, dust, anise, and prune. Fell short in the mouth, however. Dusty tart cherries with not much else happening. Wanted to like this more but drank somewhat thin and watery. Still some drying tannins left.
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3/4/2018 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic wine!!! Drink over next few years. I am not sure it could get much better.
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3/1/2018 - Neurowine1 wrote: flawed
Corked
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2/10/2018 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely stunning; may be at its peak right now.
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12/19/2017 - Mlermontov wrote: 93 Points
Ripe blackberries, tobacco, cherry, mid is sour cherry, dusty, grippy tannins, showing young, serious mid. Excellent .
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12/2/2017 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Argiano 2001 bad cork, but saved the wine. Mid brick amber edges. Earth wood mushrooms leather. Mid body balanced good tannins. Long semi tight finish. A little hot 16.5.
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4/28/2017 - m_arcon wrote: 92 Points
Private Tasting (Private Location): Red currant, a bit of cinnamon, plum, red meat, spices, smoke and a distinct note of green pepper on the wonderful nose, which turns me to Cab Franc, as this wine was poured double blind. High acidity with very present tannins on the palate. The tannins dried out a bit on the back end. Again a bit of pepper. Missing the tension on the mid palate. Much better on the nose than on the palate. This wine wouldn´t become better after some more cellar time so drink it now.
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4/28/2017 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 92 Points
Private Tasting (@Private location): Glass: Riedel Vinum Syrah
PnP. Clear, deep garnet color with tawny reflexes. Clean, medium+ intense, fully developed and complex nose. Sweet red fruit, some animal notes, oak, raw meat, spices, green pepper.
Dry with lots of extract sweetness. High acidity and high, silky tannin that are a bit drying out on the palate. Medium+ alcohol (14% abv) and body. Medium intense aromas of red berries (red currant), green pepper, oak, smoke, spices (cinnamon). Complex, silky/velvet mouthfeel and a medium+ finish. Very nice Brunello on its peak. Will certainly be drinkable for some more years, but I guess the tannin continues to dry out more and more.
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12/1/2016 - Nerdy Earth Boy Likes this wine:
Really delightful! Opened for Thanksgiving, but kept in the fridge for a week. Frankly that was the key to unlock its beauty. Completely robust bold dark cherry with Earthy tones. A perfect well balanced Brunello after a long long decant.
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11/6/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted at 5pm and drunk through 8:30. Medium to dark garnet. bouquet is moderately rounded and spicy with dark cherry fruit and a little chocolate. Chewy and pretty rich on the palate with dark red fruit and good depth of flavor as well as a baking spice and mocha finish. Enjoyed by all with various food at a restaurant, including a pork chop Saltimbocca, veal Milanese and hanger steak.
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7/18/2016 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
1 hour decant.
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6/20/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium to dark garnet. Nice earthy floral nose with some plum and licorice. Rich and chewy on the palate, some burnt, tannin on the front, then red fruit, cherry, plum, lavender, licorice and cedar. Almost cab-like in weight and texture and depth of flavor. Excellent.
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11/29/2015 - Baylorwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
No notes taken, but remember it being amazing. Wished I had opened earlier in the day though.
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10/3/2015 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very youthful looking. Translucent medium garnet. Nose has vanilla, charcoal, boysenberry and ripe black plum. Rich yet lively on the tongue. Palate matches the nose. Finish has a nice leathery chocolate finish. Very enjoyable. Lean with a nice amount of nice secondary depth.
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9/13/2015 - J_R wrote: 94 Points
Drinking wonderfully right now
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8/15/2015 - swapdoc Likes this wine:
Hard to add much to my '12 note. A fully evolved, ripe brunello, with wonderful tertiary layers of aromatics of lavender, cocoa, earth. The wines tasted from '13-'15 consistently came off as more monolithic and less evolved. Hopefully, this latest bottle is more representative of the current state of this wine's development -- as superb brunello in the prime drinking window.
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8/4/2015 - BobbyG83 wrote: 90 Points
Still holding, but showing signs that it might be a bit past its prime.
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1/18/2015 - royalscam Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic! Has improved. Old world, barnyard with dark cherry and unsweetened cola on nose; smooth silky mouth feel, complex with a 15 + second finish - too bad I'm out. Solid 94.
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1/5/2015 - finovino3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic brunello little brown on the edge, perfect harmony of tannins and fruit, in its drink window with 5 or so left. More profound and fruitilicious out of the bottle than with 24 hours of airing.
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1/1/2015 - AdamGoldston Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and still needed more time. Great New Years Eve wine.
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12/31/2014 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
Last of a half case that I bought on a great PC pre-arrival deal. Still very young and I wouldn't doubt there is something else in it syrah/cab/merlot… A nice wine, but not sure I could peg it as Brunello blind.
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12/31/2014 - Mads Eriksen wrote: 92 Points
Perfekt kondition. Og denne gav ikke hovedpine.
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12/4/2014 - Rer wrote: 93 Points
Needed lots of air even after 12 hr slow ox and double decant....as usual, the last glass was best
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11/1/2014 - Oldworlddrinker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red brick color indicative of its young age. After decanting for 1+ hour the wine showed complex bouquet of Tuscan herbs, dark flowers and berries all combined in good harmony. On the palate full body with firm grip on the tannins, expected for a medium age brunello, notes of herbs and berries with a long finish, typical of Brunello. Drinking well now, but plenty of time to cellar. This delivered on the critics view of the 2001 vintage.
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10/24/2014 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep, dark garnet in color. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of still developing yet complex, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & dark plums with cedar overtones, floral notes of violets, smoky, dusty, earthy notes, cocoa, spices, dried herbs, minerals and toasty oak in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced, smooth textured, still evolving, complex, ripe fruit flavors of dark sweet cherries, blackberries and plummy with spices, herbs, cocoa, earthy, minerals & toasty oak. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but has the structure & fruit to develop further with additional aging.
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10/15/2014 - Mads Eriksen wrote: 92 Points
Dekanteret ½ time. Meget sky i starten. Åbnede sig laanngsomt mere op. Elegant på alle måder. Kræver koncentration.
Tanninerne blev mere tydelige efter 1½ time. Masser af rygrad som indikerer et langt liv foran sig. Men samtidig ikke meget frugt, så mon ikke den bare skal drikkes nu?
Desværre en af de vine som giver mig hovedpine, men i dette tilfælde må man bare accepterer at intet kommer gratis...
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3/24/2014 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
No decant. Opened up in glass after about 30 minutes.
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2/8/2014 - jdrago wrote: 88 Points
Opened with muted aromas of spice and wood. Tastes were of light fruit and spice. A good wine but not not memorable. Drank over 2.5 hours and not a lot of change in flavors. Not a lot of depth.
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1/10/2014 - swapdoc wrote:
A somewhat different bottle from several earlier ones. More closed and monolithic, reminiscent of an aged Bordeaux -- integrated fruit frames the wine but does not entice of its own. Tastes of a strawberry compote, though still slightly viscous and tannic overall. Reminded me of '01 Altesino in overall profile with some woody tones -- the texture hints of a bit more oak than in an only botti aged wine. Taste hints of a Southern exposure fruit -- at times drinks as a maturing, monolithic nebbiolo in texture. Probably will wait another year or so to retaste.
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12/16/2013 - WST wrote: 91 Points
Very fine. Fruity, but nicely structured. Sweet raspberries and tobacco. Minimal tertiary development. Stood up well to the old Barolo that preceded it.
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9/6/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Opened at Otis' CDP. My favorite Brunello of the 3 I tried. Firm tannins. Filled with black fruit and tobacco. Felt younger than some of the other BdM despite being 3-6 years older. 92 points.
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9/5/2013 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured, this wine begins reserved and stern. Airing softens the wine giving it balance and accessibility. This bottle shows a combination of youthful and maturing notes on the bouquet and palate. Based on this showing the wine should have been decanted a couple hours ahead of time. This is probably at or around its peak; however, additional bottle age should soften some of the initial sternness.
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6/16/2013 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour. In a good spot. Very nice juice.
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5/18/2013 - JeandeTroyes wrote: 94 Points
Glorious example of my favourite wine, Brunello. Opened and poured 1 hour prior to drinking, it has an alluring bouquet which grew in intensity during the evening. Wonderful kirsch flavours supported by silky smooth tannins (which are such a hallmark of this variety) and enough acidity to ensure considerable longevity. Tingling on the front of the tongue, plenty of mid-palate complexity, and a flavour that lingers forever. All elements in perfect balance.
No rush at all to drink this, but still plenty to enjoy if you want to investigate it now. 2001 is a very well regarded vintage, but still underestimated in my opinion.
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3/10/2013 - salua wrote: 93 Points
last had this wine 2 years ago and it has continued to improve. Fine grain tannins, lovely nose, silky balanced fruit. Drinking at its peak. An excellent brunello from a quality vintage.
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3/7/2013 - brooklynJ&O wrote: 93 Points
I am stingy with my ratings but this was awfully good. light in feel but fruit still there. great with and without food.
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1/12/2013 - ChrAgner wrote: 92 Points
Sooo Brunello . Smooth, but powerful.mready to drink
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12/10/2012 - Hschmitz wrote: 92 Points
perfekt nu. Flot moden.
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11/18/2012 - royalscam wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully; mellow; incredible nose and well balanced in the palate
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10/1/2012 - swapdoc wrote:
Drinking so well now. A seamless wine, showing finesse, complexity and a wonderful length and balance -- a hallmark of '01 Tuscans. An intriguing nose of blueberries, jammy blackberries and flowery violets -- it alone is worth the price of admission. Not an overly extracted wine, but a wine of sophistication and an impeccable balance. A treat now and should continue to improve.
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7/18/2012 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours. Drinking well.
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6/25/2012 - Hschmitz wrote: 91 Points
Perfekt nu
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4/28/2012 - oldwines wrote: 88 Points
This wine/bottle had a powerful burnt wood scent that seemed to mask a layer of spicy sweetness. Color is dark ruby and the wine clearly has lots of life left and probably still needs more time to come around. The flavor reminds me of sandalwood and chocolate and under-ripe plum and cherry. I like it but don't love it... at least at this point in its evolution.
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2/25/2012 - wm3395 wrote: 92 Points
A great wine. Very well balanced.
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2/11/2012 - mraabpfg wrote: 96 Points
Fantastic bottle of Brunello really outshine a 2005 Pine Ridge we had same night
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1/26/2012 - Topper wrote: 91 Points
Big and burly, but not unapproachable now for those that don't mind an oversized wine. Will undoubtedly improve and can be held another 5-10 years without fear.
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1/21/2012 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Pre-CNY Lunch at Brian's (Moonbeam View): Very consistent notes with the previous time round - this was an impressive young BdM that still needs quite a bit of time. The nose was a bit on the sweeter side, with ripe dark cherrise surrounded by a halo of dusty earth and sundried herb aromas along with little woody undertones. Not completely together there - it gave the sense that the wine needed some time of knitting into a whole. Much the same on the palate. More slightly woody tones framed a midpalate with plenty of ripe cherries and some plummy notes. There was a nice sense of quality on that fruit, and it was balanced out with a lot of fresh acidity. It was on the finish where the youth of the wine stood out most - this was still coated by a layer of fine tannins as if drifted awat in whiffs of wood smoke and spice. Lots of quality here and it is far from unapporachable, but even then, it was clearly still a baby. I would give it ten years at least, by which time it should be very nice indeed.
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12/7/2011 - jannevaro wrote: 89 Points
Very intense and open nose. Mid-palate quite empty and then offers cherries. Taste is raw and I would call it archaic. End is pleasant with softened tannins but still the taste is same cherries with no more substance to offer. Wine was opened and poured in the morning, so it was well decanted. I prefer Rosso di Montalcino over Brunello with this showing...
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11/18/2011 - sehill wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and poured, this wine drank well from the beginning and gave a more approachable showing than a bottle tasted earlier this year. This wine seems to finally give a more accessible display without periods of unyielding sternness. Since release this wine has at times shown promise and at others a closed, difficult personality. This is at or around its peak.
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10/31/2011 - joefel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted one hour. Last bottle of this vintage. Wine has definitely improved over the last couple of years. Still needs a minimum of two hours to really open and smooth out, but it is a really good bottle of wine.
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10/19/2011 - Whitman wrote: 91 Points
Reserved nose with black cherries, moccha and licorice. Juicy, fresh and sweet but everything in a tight package. Medium finish with bitter cherries. Maybe not with the elegance you expect from brunello but wait.
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9/9/2011 - PeterMole wrote: 79 Points
Decanted. Closed, nothing in there at the moment. The next day, after > 24 hours it is starting to show some aroma's. So leave it now for 5 years.
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8/6/2011 - PeterMole wrote: flawed
corked
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7/2/2011 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at the Wild Poet's (HM's place): This was surprisingly drinkable for such a young Brunello. Still though, it was good, very correct, without being quite exciting. I would really leave these aside for sometime to develop a bit more complexity. It had a nice, if rather reserved the nose, with a nice dose of stone ane metal mineral scents, aromas of sweet dark cherries, some dried earth, a bit of rust. Tight at first, but it was opening up all the time. The palate had a rich juiciness to it that made me think modern BdM almost from the get go, with sweet, ripe but really fresh and bright, almost crystallined flavours of black cherries and berries. This had a nice ring of clarity to it. The finish was quite decent too, with some earthy notes drifting into the distance. Still primary I thought, but very open, very giving for such a young wine. Another decade and this should be very interesting indeed.
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6/10/2011 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 92 Points
I think could use more time, not less. Also, did not get to decant properly, so I think this rating may have ended up better. A bit musty on the nose but I'm sure it would have blown off with decanting...solid but not spectacular effort for the vintage.
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6/2/2011 - joefel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. Definitely different than the last bottle in January. More brick red in color. Much smoother - tannins not any where as heavy as before. May just be bottle variation. still likenthe wine, but I will open another in a couple of weeks to see if it is more like this bottle or the last one.
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5/15/2011 - Kemo Sabe wrote: 90 Points
Pleasant wine. Not as much power as I remember from a few years back. Def showing some age. Still, a nice nose - maple, leather and spice. After an hour decant showing a smooth character. Clean finish. Overall not bad but a little weaker than previous tastings.
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5/14/2011 - bwillia wrote: 90 Points
A little old world funk to start opening to dried cherry, leather and earth. Elegant classic Brunello.
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4/16/2011 - Cortona5 wrote: flawed
Corked
Hope my other bottles are ok
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3/28/2011 - littletimmy wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1/2 hour. Earthy with dried cherry blue berry. Drinking very nicely now but may not improve much more.
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1/12/2011 - sehill wrote: 91 Points
decanted and poured, this wine required about 45 minutes of airing to show its best. The aromatics begin tense and restrained. Airing brings out a detailed blend of black cherry, tar, leather, cigar ash and earth notes. The color is a tarnished medium ruby that is correct for the wine age. The medium bodied palate starts restrained and lacking finesse. Over the course of consumption, the wine becomes more forthcoming and detailed revealing a rich core of fruit that combined mature and youthful notes. The wine finishes with acidity and tannins making an appearance. This drinks well now if decanted and given some time in the decanter.
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1/10/2011 - joefel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened, decanted, and poured. Closed upon opening, but much better a couple of hours later. Smells and tastes of cranberries and cherries. Still tannic - could use another year or two.
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12/19/2010 - jmoskow wrote: 87 Points
Way past its prime. Drink as soon as you can. This wine is losing fruit as it ages. It also developed a bit of a medicinal note. The menthol and leather that been there is waning.
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12/5/2010 - Sahra444 wrote: 88 Points
skuffende (disappointing)
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11/12/2010 - jmoskow wrote: 89 Points
We loved this a few years ago. It has lost most of it's bright fruit flavors and changed into a very soft, leather and dried cherry taste. Enjoyable but not what it had been.
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10/10/2010 - Apollo5710 wrote: 94 Points
This was in great shape! Needed a few minutes to open up, but eventually gave way to a very expressive nose of dried red fruits complicated by eucalyptus, cinnamon, and spice cake. Very smooth, thick, and full-bodied in the mouth, featuring flavors of licorice, cranberry, and dried cherries that lead to a long suave finish. I'd say this is hitting its stride, but has the structure and acidity to last another 3-5 years. Very impressive, tasty, and mouth watery!
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8/2/2010 - PFra wrote: 88 Points
Fairly robust fruit but lacking complexity, decent but not very interesting.
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6/3/2010 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
very limited notes but nice and well balanced. Tea. Still tannic
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5/12/2010 - The Wine Bum wrote:
Thoroughly uninspiring and pedestrian compared to other 01 Brunello I've tried.
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5/6/2010 - tonyelkin wrote:
With Tran from Florida. Not decanted and fine. Very good.
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4/23/2010 - cabdrinker wrote: 92 Points
I liked this bottle more than the first some 19 months ago. Nose of wet forest, pine trees. A bit more earthiness on the palate with hints of truffle, leather and spice. Fruit still very vibrant that flows all the way through the finish. Great texture and a real easy wine to drink with a meatball sub.
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4/8/2010 - sskwon1 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 45 mins prior to consuming. Excellent body and flavor. Lived up to its reputation.
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1/31/2010 - spineguy wrote: 93 Points
What a pleasant surprise sitting in the corner of my cellar. Cellar tracker helped me find it! Nose very, very nice. Mild tobacco sweetness reminiscent of my Durham, NC days in the early mornings. Hint of scorched earth but unlike a Graves nose. Balanced tannins that will probably integrate further over the next few years (but not decade). More black then red fruit and a decent, not spectacular finish. WIll open my next one in 2 - 3 years.
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1/31/2010 - spineguy wrote: 93 Points
Light to mediium bodied. Sweet tobacco, earth, leather, and mild funk on nose (slight brett). Coffee and dried cherries with slight mocha on mid-palate. Tannins are well integrated but persistant suggesting further longevity. Pleasing moderatle long finish. Very nice Brunello entering drinking prime.
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1/18/2010 - Coupe 60 wrote: 90 Points
Opened and let sit in the bottle for about 90 minutes. Then drank with Fettuccine Alfredo and chicken (not a perfect match, but the food and wine were both really good). This wine was amazingly approachable and drinking really well right now. Dark cherries, great mouthfeel, hint of maple syrup. Very smooth easy drinking wine for a BdM...
A winner for sure
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12/6/2009 - eeeeeradicator wrote: 92 Points
Soft and refined. Velvety blueberry and warm maple with a hint of smoke. Contrary to the other posters, I wouldn't hesitate to let this sit for another year or two.
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11/8/2009 - NavyGrog wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful bouquet. A little light for a Brunello. Decanted for 3 hours.
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8/1/2009 - Barbalax wrote: 90 Points
Very balanced and pretty wine - in a perfect spot right now. Tasted with Castelgiocondo 2001 - this was better at this point.
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7/26/2009 - Lou Ferreira wrote: 89 Points
Pretty good wine but not too exciting. Cherry and funk on the nose. More cherry, spices and red fruit on the palate. Medium bodied with a slightly hollow midpalate. This is drinking pretty well so I'll probably go through my remaining btls in the next 2 years.
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6/7/2009 - tonyelkin wrote: flawed
Corked? Forest floor, mossy
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3/26/2009 - Maverick wrote: 88 Points
pretty good. decanted for 30min and drank over 2hrs. nothing crazy but definitely some italian elegance.
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3/17/2009 - Stingo wrote: 91 Points
Started out very tight, but opened up after an 1hr decant. Nice wine, but I agree that this wine was not typical Brunello.
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10/18/2008 - pbjosh wrote:
Anonymous red wine. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts there is Syrah in this and not just a little. Could even be Cab as well. A whiff of brett. It would be a blind guess to peg this as Brunello or even sangiovese. Knowing what it is you can find hints of sweet red fruit, leather and herbs but you really have to be stretching to look for them. Little character and totally internationalized this could be from anywhere. That said it is a fully drinkable wine - just boring. I guess it's now my 2nd worst 01 Brunello after Castelgiocondo.
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10/8/2008 - Bob Fyke wrote: 90 Points
Pulled cork 6 hours in advance. Solid cherry, and leather with pleasant herbs. Somewhat forward and ripe, but not what I'd call new world. Needs time to integrate the solid components of fruit, tannin and acid. Not outstanding, but quite respectable.
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9/23/2008 - Coupe 60 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 60 minutes and drank over the next 90 minutes or so without any food. Nose had a bit of a funk to it, which mostly blew off as the night went on. This was a soft wine that got even softer and rounder as the night went on. Started off and I got some cured meat. As time went on, flavor profile added some cherry fruit, with a hint of chocolate just before the finish. Also got a hint of tobacco. Medium + acidity, I might even go medium ++. Velvety mouthfeel. The wine had soft tannins, and was very approachable now. I really liked it, but it didn't have that extra ooomph to make it really outstanding. I would give this an 89+ to 90 rating, and call it a 90...
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9/22/2008 - SS Chris wrote: 90 Points
This wine initally had some heat on the nose, although it may have been the "bloody iron" smell that joe g says is common. some nice fresh cherry as well. As I've been drinkin this it has become even more silky and rounded, as joe pointed out, the tannins are very soft for a '01 BdM and, hence, very approacable and drinkable right now. Very nice sour black cherry on the palate, w/ a chocolate/mocha flavor on the finsh....also a little charcoa and a hint of black olive on the finish. Medium mouthfeel w/ quite a bit of acidity. I don't love big, bitter tannins, so this is nice for me....asolid 90 points.
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9/22/2008 - cabdrinker wrote: 90 Points
Nice color, loads of sediment in the decanter. Nose of tobacco, burst of cherries, alcohol on the nose seems higher than label indicates. Bright acidity, dark cherry and tartness on the palate. Dusty tannins at the beginning, but mellowed out a little after an hour when the savory chocolate notes appear. Nice finish and as the tasting group discussed, wine leaves you salivating for a period of time.
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9/1/2008 - bon vivant wrote:
Denver does Sangio. There is a lot of funky aromatics on this particular bottle could be Bret but I am not 100% certain. this is more than just normal bottle funk as with time rather than clearing it gets more pronounced and takes over the entire aromatic spectrum. There is solid extraction and a good core of black fruit and the finish is also pleasant but I believe this to be contaminated NR
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7/24/2008 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 91 Points
Tasted blind and no one at the table even got the country right. My guess was Aussie, others at the table thought right back Bordeaux or Spain. Big and sweet on the nose, almost tastes like American oak, but pretty oaky. Lots going on in the nose. Very lifted with lots of floral aromas like violets and lavender. Some cassis and black berry notes as well as graphite.
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7/13/2008 - slaked wrote:
**** I found this wine completely pleasing. This bottle purchased in Tuscany on release and stored in my cellar since. Medium-full body, deep color, with tar and dried fruit scents; punchy acidity and a tart finish. It toned down after being open a couple hours.
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4/27/2008 - dmnq wrote: 89 Points
excellent mainstream brunello, no need to cellar this much longer : already very pleasing right now
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2/17/2008 - cseanb1 wrote: 90 Points
Opened and not decanted. Drank rather well poured straight from the bottle. Black cherry, cedar, cigar with hints of tar followed by moderate tannins. Ageing gracefully and will so for many year.
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2/3/2008 - djb wrote: 90 Points
This came across as farily classic with moderate air. Everything is in balance and the fruit is pure, medium-weight and tasty. Good finish and enough structure to age gracefully.
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1/20/2008 - purcellj wrote: 91 Points
Popped and aired for about an 1hr in the bottle. The nose was cedar and cigar box, very similar to a SLWC Fay Cab. The palate was red and black fruit, not as intense as the cab previously mentioned and not the normal high acidity of many Italians.
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1/15/2008 - Afa wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful wine which was simply excellent with reindeer.
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10/28/2007 - joefel wrote: 91 Points
Great bottle with food. Medium tannins, nice body. Opened nicely after decanted for an hour. Last glass was excellent. Would open 1 -2 hours before drinking next time.
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9/30/2007 - AZ Cat wrote:
Very good but needs more age. Fruitier than the 2001 Banfi.
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9/10/2007 - Winetex wrote: 89 Points
Dark clear ruby in color; A touch of menthol, dark fruit and very slight horsey brett on the nose; Flavors included black cherry fruit with olive on the exit. Smoke and a bit of vanilla oak on the finish. Balanced with decent structure but needs more time. [Decently priced at ~$30 on release; Decanted 30 minutes and opened up with time; quite a bit of sediment]
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9/8/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
Poured at a tasting at The Wine Club SF: touches of burnt cork(?) on the nose; somewhat watery on the palate with notes of charcoal, raisins and dried flowers. Seems slightly closed down. At this point Fair to Good.
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8/4/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
Dinner and Wine (Casa Pelz): Popped and poured. Nose was barely perceptible and it showed similarly closed on the palate. Fruit seemed light-weight, and oak was sticking through just a bit. Very enjoyable wine, but I'm not sure if this is in an awkward phase or if it is just short of very good. To be re-tasted at some point.
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7/27/2007 - Petersan wrote:
Light and tannic at first , but opened up after an hour into a smooth, velvety wine
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5/31/2007 - Danishwine wrote: 91 Points
Nice bottle needs more time,but very ballanced unsurprising wine, medium to full bodied, It will go softer and the terroir will get more dominant, but withhthe already soft tannins, it will not gáin a lot morewith time. I thought that itis slightly less that the 97 and ofcourse much better than than the 98, but disapointing for 01 , clearly this is the winerys mainstream wine now, which willl not offend anyone. PQR is still good.
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3/15/2007 - igaf wrote:
Medium deep garnet with a brick hue, beautifully shiny. Pleasingly fragrant with red berries, undergrowth, fine breadcrust and just a bit smoky. Medium bodied and very well balanced. Lovely!
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2/25/2007 - Brnshj22 wrote: 89 Points
Just beginning to come out of its shell. Great, cool fruit with red berries. Oak is a bit too dominating at this stage. Wait a couple of years with the next one 89+
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11/24/2006 - Bob Fyke wrote: 89 Points
Big,solid, too young. Fruit is dark and subdue. Nice acidity. Big backbone. Needs time.
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3/2/2006 - pmik wrote:
Ruby color with nice slightly brownish edge. Not a big nose. Spicy with some fruit. High acidity with medium tannins. Lean, almost bony. Some bitterness in after-taste. Probably need half a dozen years. UPDATE: Opened up more the evening after. Still high in acids and somewhat bitter but a lot more drinkable. Needs some years.
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1/26/2006 - 97mjr wrote:
The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino Tasting (New York, NY): modern style; moderate to full body. Nice fruit. Balanced. ***/4
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