M&PD Tasting: Italy (Seattle, WA, USA): Ugly cork with seepage on top. Wine seemed fine, no oxidation. That said, Mark said it best with "big red wine." There was no tipicity, nothing that spoke of Sangiovese or Brunello. This could have come from anywhere and was largely klunky.
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I closely concur with Vinnut’s assessment. Minor sediment on decanting. Opened showing dankness on both nose and palate, which breathed off over 15 minutes or so. Over 90 minutes, it was like watching and smelling a flower open and then begin to fade. I had just the one bottle, for which I am grateful. A beautiful aged Brunello. It’s why we age wine. Went beautifully with pasta dish of Barilla bow tie pasta with kabana, cherry tomato and other wonderful ingredients of my wife’s creation. Drink up if you still have it. May you enjoy it as much as I did this bottle.
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Subsequent notes on this wine from about 9 years ago. Dark ruby/garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, mulberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes of violets, spices, cocoa, anise, espresso, minerals, tar, leather & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & cranberries with spices, herbs, dark chocolate, minerals, coffee & a hint of oak. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but at 22 years of age, it is close to or at its peak of development. Although it may hold here for several more years, I doubt any further development will occur from additional aging. Ullage was in lower neck; cork was stained 1/3 up but intact.
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Acquired new. The beauty of Italian wines is that they surprise you when you think they are past their prime. This is just so lovely and perfect. I guess you should drink it now as it will not continue to be this lovely beyond a few years.
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I didn't get a note on this, but I liked it. Supple with some good structure left, this showed dark fruits w some red and a nice charcoal or campfire note with some tar, licorice and coffee. Probably a 16/20.
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Light strawberry and menthol on the nose. On the palate, dried cherry, plum, and notes of leather, rose petal, and earth on the medium to long finish, with light tannins and good acidity. This seemed a little past its peak, but it may not be a representative bottle as it was stored at room temperature for a few years. It was a good value at about $50.
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Wow, this is drinking great right now - fully mature, although this is probably capable of another 10 years at this level (although none of mine will last that long).
I just had a glass of the 2001 Le Chiuse - that was very good, this might even be a bit better. Really spreads out and coats the palate with Sangiovese goodness.
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On the one hand, I kind of wish I'd waited to read AG's updated review (who knew?) of this wine; OTH, it was February in the Pandemic, a Sangiovese was in order with supper, and this was, I feared, nearing the end of it's plateau. So not. Maturing but really in a lovely spot. I am sorry not to have shared it with others, but will carry a fond memory of this twenty-year-old Brunello.
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I was really looking for a Brunello experience with red cherry notes, and nearly pulled a Poggio di Sotto. did not realize I had tasted this wine a year ago and reacted favorably then. The cork on this bottle was great. I decanted through cheesecloth and there was no sentiment. My initial impression was that this was a hot, woody mess. Some of the alcohol on the nose dissipated while in the decanter, but the wine remained plump, low in acid, and finished with dry oak notes. Given how recent my last bottle was, I can't attribute this to a change in palate, although reading my prior note critically I did note the lack of acid and structure. Clearly a wine that has peaked or the bottle last year was an aberration on the positive side.
I decided not to drink the bottle, and opened a 2010 Monte Bernardi Chianti Classico Riserva which had exactly the acid and the cherry and cigar box notes I was looking for. Oh for the days when Poggio di Sotto changed importers and you could find closeouts of brunellos for markedly less than what their rosso trades at today!!! I'll stick with Chianti Classico and their non-consorzio cousins!
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Auction purchase, and that's not the first time for this bottle. Winebid AND prior Acker Marral lstickers applied. PNP was a mistake and I know better. Give this at least an hour of air. Solid cork with 50% bleed. Leather, tree bark. There's a core of dark cherry that has to be teased out. Good length. I like this producer for its longevity. This bottle had been passed around like a beer pitcher at a frat party, so it may not be the best exemplar. 89-90.
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93-94: a touch reserved, but lovely nose of earth, flowers, and red fruit. Palate was long and intense, still fairly primary flavors of red fruit, with some leather and tobacco notes along the edges. Finish lingers. Still some tannins and acid, but everything is wonderfully balanced. This wine is beautiful. Cellar-kept since purchase.
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Drank over two nights. First night, lovely bouquet of dark fruits and dried flowers. Bricking around edges. Medium weight, huge plum and berry flavors, spices and herb, and some smokey flavors. Lots of layers and still very fresh tasting, medium finish and very little sweetness at the end. Excellent. 93 points. Second night, still lovely but flavors, while still present, have receded and are not as pronounced. 90 points tonight. Drink over next 12-24 months.
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Very good showing. Fully mature. Round and full. No evidence of any new oak. Very tasty and enjoyable for what it is, but also reminds me why I often prefer to drink sangiovese from Chianti Classico district vs. lower acid sangiovese grosso clone from Montalcino... but an observation, not a criticism, because the wine showed up and performed extremely well
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Pop and pour. This is in a beautiful place. Nice nose with wild strawberry, and blood orange, dark chocolate, garrigue, leather, and hints of cedar. On the palate, beautiful acidity, and silky mouthfeel, with loads of mouthfilling blackberry, black cherry, baking spice and a hint of leather. This closes with tannin that just caresses your palate and just lingers. Just starting to unfurl imo, and maybe the oak influence is perceptible, but this is a pleasure to drink.
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Seamless on the palate, with almost a black cherry fruit note - sweet/ripe fruit, this has a little more "in your face" appeal than the Pertimali, but might also have a little less acidity as well. Drinking well, and tough to pick a favorite.
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Similar in color to the '99. The nose here is reticent, although a menthol note is starting to manifest itself.
This is only so-so right now (both wines were popped and poured). Seems a little muddled on the palate. I'll walk this back down to the cellar to see if anything kicks in on day 2 or 3.
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Similar in color to the Pertimali; more pronounced menthol on the nose here, with cooler red fruits. Same two elements on the nose as the Pertimali, but in opposite "weights".
Drinking younger than the first wine - this still has a slight astringency on the finish from unresolved tannin. Comes across more coiled and energetic. I think the Pertimali is more pleasurable tonight. Ordinarily, I would say this wine has more upside, but I do have concerns about the wine's balance as it continues to evolve.
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Loads of methol, eucalyptus, hint of nail paint at opening dissapeared after 3 hours aeration... Ripe tannins, red cherries, showing hint of alcohol at opening but is the wine that improved the most after 3 hours opening!!
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A darker translucent ruby in the glass; red & black fruits, with a vague undertone of roasted meat.
Sweet/ripe black & red fruits on the palate - wow, everything resolved here and in harmony. Very good right now, and off this bottle, no reason why this shouldn't be drinkable for the next decade.
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This was the wine of the summer for me, and I've had some nice wine this summer. Just a stunning example of a powerful but refined Brunello. Amazing pairing with a flavorful heritage pork. I agree with other reviews that this is not an overly fruity wine, but it also does not lack for fruit. Lots of aromas and character.
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Wine of the night. Still very alive, lovely floral nose, youthful berries, spice and tobacco....and it has begun developing secondary characteristics. Great body and balance, tannins integrated...just elegant. I see no rush on consuming these, other than they are fantastic right now.
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I would say that this wine is past its prime. Drank out of magnum - decanted for few hours. A lot of the charm the wine used to have is gone - cherry fruit much more muted, tannins have died down, etc. Some mature notes as well. I liked it much better when young..
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Elegant and complex. I would say this is at or slightly past it's peak with fruit starting to fade. More traditional less extracted brunello which is clearly the result of fine wine making.
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Very nice nose of leather, cèpes de Bordeaux, super elegant, red berries, bacon fat... delicious, super silky tannins, ripe red fruit, bacon fat finish... great Brunello at peak!
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Medium ruby color. Quite reticent in the glass, but what shows is interesting. Nose of sweet herbs, pencil lead, black cherry skins. Medium bodied on the palate, elegant and understated.
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Lovely and open Brunello still with plenty of sweet dark cherry fruit. The palate is fresh and inviting with good complexity and room to grow. Lovely acidity and overall a wine that is a pleasure to drink right now.
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Popped & poured. Dark translucent ruby in the glass, with a lovely/complex nose with macerated black cherry, fig, leather and menthol - a lot going on here.
Seamless on the palate, nice length on the finish, really seems to spread out on the palate. Red & black fruits - this is ready to go right now.
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Helles rubinrot mit 2 mm Wasserrand; an der Nase subtile, aber betörende Aromen von Waldfrucht, Leder, Erde, Sattelöl; am Gaumen ausgewogener und eleganter Brunello mit feinem, bereits etwas abgeschmolzenen Tannin, immer noch kräftiger Säure und erdigen/mineralischen Aromen, langer Abgang. Schön entwickelt!
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Blind. Similar profile to the Lisini alongside, just a bit fuller and riper and with a touch more oak — immediately obvious on the nose with the vanilla, and then on the palate with a bit more structure. Very good but not quite as elegant as the Lisini. ****
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Toller Brunello! Das war meine letzte Flasche. Die letzten beiden waren schon weiter. Noch viel Gerbstoff, Säure aber auch Frucht. Alles schön in Balance! Hat in dieser Verfassung noch mindestens 5 Jahre+ Entwicklung vor sich! Schade! Da hätte ich gerne noch mehr!!!
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Deep garnet and much more backward than I would have thought. Opened 3+ hours before dinner and with air it smoothed out and showed black cherry and tobacco and forest floor with a good acidic balance and a long finish. Showed very well in a Brunello/Tuscan dining evening.
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Blind tasting, red wine flight 1 wine #2. Dark ruby with vivid hues. Darker colour than the wine #1. Lifted nose of dried fruits, leather, dried plum, dried cherry, smoke, herbs and hints of sweet fruits. Palate displaying more dried fruits profile, dried cherry, sour cherry, plum, leather and earth. It has fresh acidity backbone, end with long spicy finish and firm grip.
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Impression only, and for the record, this bottle may have been a little off as there had been some seepage. No cork taint though. Needs air, still tight for the first hour after popping. Nose had spice and leather but wasn't overly exuberant. On the palate, had great weight and mouthfeel. Wish I'd decanted or slow-ox'd to bring out more but that's my bad.
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Popped and poured. Very tight. Took some time to open up but did indeed improve. Drank over 26 hours. Nice complexity but still a little lean; I think this one needs more time.
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Muted nose of earthy red fruits, leather and truffles. Velvety round texture with no rough edges; all the components are in harmony and balance giving the same aromatic elements on the palate. Finishes with long earthy leather and chocolate with currants.
A+
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Tuscany tasting: See-through red with brownish meniscus. Much fresher and fruity than both '85. Noticeable tannins, rather high alcohol, some sweetness, flowery. Milder on the palate than both '85, lovely and approachable.
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Deep, dark, inky garnet in color; no signs of aging. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of still developing & youthful yet complex, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, strawberries & plums with floral notes of violets, spices, cocoa, anise, espresso, minerals, earthy, dusty, tar, leather and a hint of cedar wood in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & silky smooth textured, youthful & still evolving, complex, rich, ripe fruit flavors of sweet dark cherries, cranberries & blackberries with spices, herbs, dark chocolate, earthy, tar, minerals, coffee & a hint of toasty oak. Long lingering elegant finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but has the structure, fruit & depth to further develop with additional aging. A wonderful example of Brunello!
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This wine is in a fine drinking place now, bright red cherry fruit, a bit enhanced by a hint of nearly resolved new oak, rich, round, full, spicy, tobaccoey, just one rocking brunello.
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This was a great brunello. More fruity than most but the Sangiovese typicity was clear. Drinking beautifully, with much time left. Lot of plum and heather. Medium finish.
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Not as enjoyable as I'd remembered or maybe just didn't pair well with cheese. There was an earthy tone that seemed cloying and made the wine difficult to drink. Either an off bottle or my palate wasn't up for this.
Lovely, elegant wine with loads of sweet cherry fruit, baking spice, violets and cedar. Still plenty of tannin, this should continue to age well and likely won't hit peak maturity for another 8-10 years.
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Lovely bouquet followed by a perfect balance of acid, fruit and tannins. Complex with red cherry and baking spice notes. Long finish. Most of the sediment remained in the bottle. Drank over 3 nights. No loss on third night. Bought on release and stored at 54 degrees. And, yes, cork was fine but nearly impossible to extract.
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decanted one hour. garnet red to deeper ruby center, some paling at rim; somewhat reticent red fruits, sandlewood, brown spices, anise, potpourri; med/+on palate feel; dried cranberry & sour cherry, baking spice, dusty lingering tannins w/substantial grip & assertive acidity on finish. second of six, this is still showing quite young; aeration over the following 1.5 hours brought more complex aromatics to the fore, but still showed solid structure.
(note: tightest & most difficult cork to extract in memory, in perfect shape, soaked one third way, just solidly in neck.)
homemade fettucine w/rapini, Italian sausage, pecorino & wild-foraged lion's mane mushroom (an impeccable specimen!)
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This is more advanced than I anticipated - the rim is starting to pale though the development is right where I was hoping for. Clearly on the more traditional, earthy side of the brunello spectrum, the primary tones are dark red fruit and resolved tannin. My vote is to drink this up, as I don't see if improving more.
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Clear, garnet, medium plus to deep, with some brick on the rim. The nose is clean, medium plus in intensity and developed, with aromas of red cherries, sweet spice, dried roses, cigar box. The nose is complex and fine. The palate is dry, with medium + acidity. The alcohol is medium +. The tannins are medium +. The mouthfeel is smooth and the minerality is sapid. The palate is consistent with the nose, with mature red fruit and a nice dusty minerality on the finish. The palate is full-bodied, balanced, intense, persistent and fine overall. This wine is ready + to mature. It is probably drinking at its peak but is likely to last at a high level of quality for several more years. This wine is very harmonious and balanced and is very food friendly at this stage in its development.
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Very nice Brunello and has held up beautifully. Color is dark garnet with a bit of bricking at the rim. Nose shows cherries, tobacco, and smoke. On the palate, the cherries re-assert themselves, framed by dusty tannins and well-balanced acidity. Very nice and has some time to go.
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Mature color, bricking, even a touch brown. Nose fresh with cherries and tobacco, but also some heat. Palate picks up weight with air, initially dark fruit but that gives way to secondary tobacco, clove, leather, and more heat. Quite a bit of acidity to the point of being astringent. Finish is hot with largely resolved drying tannin. Fell apart after a few hours - I think this bottle was out of whack due to the etoh. 14.5%
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Starts rather simply with dusty, fairly primary blackberry fruit, but settles into a nice groove with some air, showing more typical blood, iron and sour cherry notes. Quite a bit more rustic than my last experience with this wine, lacking the sophistication and herbal complexity I've previously found here, with chunkier tannins that still clench a bit. Drank from rocks glasses (alas all the resto had on offer) certainly didn't help, but this was really a big step down from my previous bottle. I'll hold off from opening my last bottle for a few more years.
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A wine of the night candidate. Hitting its stride rught now. Powerful and richly flavored, moder in style and showing excellent balance. A nice bottle from a great vintage.
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This wine showed very well and it was a favorite of the group. Aromas were somewhat muted but the delivery on the palate made up for it in a big way. the deep, earthiness contributed to a long finish that had everyone taking small sips. the wine is nicely balanced now and the age is starting to show in the color. Its peak is still a few years off yet and i wish i had more.....the pairing tonight was with grilled leg of lamb, a perfect combination.
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Funky, sweaty socks, yet floral, and violets on the nose. Cherries and strawberries and blueberries infused with some bitterness, coffee beans, and vanilla on the end.
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Brian's Housewarming (Moonbeam View): I had clean forgotten having had this a year and a half back. What a difference the time has made! While that was big, ripe and a bit in your face, this was really very nice indeed. Still young of course, but it was showing lots of quality this time round. Nice, rather more classic Brunello nose here, with notes of smoke and tar, a light dusting of rose petals, a dose of dried earth, some beef blood and rather subtle dark fruited nuances, all a bit tight still, but very nice. The palate came across as very fresh and lively. A bit tight initially as well, it only slowly filling out with a mouthful of pure dark cherries after some time, and then earth notes, some mineral and hints of meat - all very nicely balanced and integrated, with a refined finish showing bits of smoke and just a dusting of herbs wafting around a layer of fine but firm tannins. There was lots of depth and a lovely breadth of expression here, but the rich, dark fruit-forwardness of a year back has been replaced with a sense of elegant finesse - this was a wine of great character and charm. As always, the last few sips were the best. Still primary at the moment and obviously needing plenty of time, but this has great potential that should really start revealing itself in 7-8 years' time. Excellent.
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Nice middle of the road bottle. Well balanced. Not great depth but well layered. Bright cherry nose and flavors, undertones of spices. Integrated, light tannins. An elegant wine. (Doris enjoyed). Excellent with steak. #2 to the 2002 Dominus.
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This seems to be getting better, though I don't think it will make old bones. So what, it is drinking great already. Nice, bright cherries on the nose and palate. Fresh, bracing acidity. Not particularly complex and not an especially long finish, but smooth and highly enjoyable.
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Celebrating a new name for Chain Bridge Cellars! (Chain Bridge Cellars, McLean, VA): beautiful & floral on the nose in a way that I did not expect from a Brunello, but to fine effect. The palate was more traditional to the style, featuring wood and leather notes. This was perhaps a touch sharp on my palate, but this was Mrs. Grayfont's WOTN against a very impressive lineup.
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5 Brunelli and a 61 Climens: This was the Brunello of the night. Still young. Plenty of cherries and a bit of sour cherries, also leather and spice on the nose. Full bodied. On the palate, this is full with a great texture, silky. Complex but lots of room to unwind. Great balance. Long finish.
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2001 Tuscans @ Asher's (Westport, CT): I've had a number of Ciacci Piccolominis before, and while they seem more ripe and new world in inclination, this was ridiculous. This had to be a flawed bottle? Prunes raisins, cough syryp, nail polish remover... need I say more? Not getting much love here. Not rated.
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2001 Brunello and Other Tuscans in Westport: A favorite producer of mine (sue me), but not a good showing. Raisins and prunes. Some remained on the second night, and it was soft, unstructured, with murky brown sugar notes.
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This bottle was totally closed except for the wood and the 14.5% alcohol which sticks out like a sore thumb. In a really bad place now and not sure it will get better with more bottle age either. Real pity since I had an excellent 1990 a few months ago. 14.5% for a Brunello?
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Fantastic but closed, alas. Great nose of ripe red fruits, leather, earth. So supple and integral on the nose. A touch ripe but still very fresh. Tannins are very present but really rounded and well done. The palate never quite unwinds though. Give this 5-10 years and it should be spectacular. As it is now, not a waste, but clearly only a glimpse of what is to come.
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Opened and allowed to sit for an hour, consistent notes of leather and earth on the nose, this bottle came across much younger than the previous bottles with the tannins more prominent, good balance with good acidity and great with some NY strip steaks, continues to be a go to Brunello
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This wine is off the charts. Has explosive fruit and complexity while remaining totally elegant. Lovely tar notes on the finish. Will continue to evolve and improve for years. Love Ciacci wines.
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Splash decanted. Very youthful. Bright red fruits and wet stone on the nose. Pure fruit on the palate, very fresh, with wild cherry flavors, a little cranberry, with fine plush tannins in the background. Length finish, with fresh red berries holding on. Vibrant, youthful and fruity, with superb balance and acidity. Enjoyable now, but need considerable time to peak.
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Opened and allowed to air in the bottle for a couple of hours after pouring out a small amount to taste. Dark reddish - purple in the glass with a pretty nose, it was open upon pouring. An elegant, refined and balanced brunello with very smooth tannins. Well liked by all and drinking very well right now.
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Opened and recorked about 3 hours before drinking. Had with a fatty beef short rib. Alcohol and astringent tannins were the main impressions. Harsh iron flavor when paired with the beef. Nothing I liked about this. Others at the table liked it better.
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A gorgeous bottle. Ripe, layered fruit with some tobacco, herbal goodness. Pure silk in the mouth, just a beautiful texture. Style is a little more slick than I usually prefer, but this retains Brunello typicity. Needed about 90 minutes in the glass to open up.
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Loren Sonkin captures this wine very well in the note below. I decided to check in, since I have plenty of this, and it is already drinking well. Although I'm sure it has years ahead of it, I might move up my drink by date a bit.
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Mostly Italians (Pranzos): I meant to grab the 97, but I grabbed the wrong bottle. No matter, after a quick splash decant and twenty minutes this opened up and was drinking very well. Ruby/purple in color. Lots of sour cherries and leather with some tea leaves on the nose. Still primary with good fruit, there are layers of forest floor starting to assert themselves. Mild tannins. A nice backbone of acidity. This drank much more ready than I would have expected and has lots of gusto.
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Decanted for 90 minutes, would have benefited from more decanting time. Began to open after about two hours. Balanced and pure on the palate with a bit of pepper. More modern in style than Soldera or Poggio di Soto, but drinks very nicely.
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Decanted one hour. Nose was tight. Soft flavors of ripe plum and cassis. Not a forward and big wine as reported by others, and not a balanced wine. Tannins are winning over the fruit. A thin wine, this bottle had an almost diluted taste. Smooth, short and light finish.
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Daniel's Birthday (Osvaldops): Inkish ripe blueberries. Smells like an opulent premium ripe styled pomerol. Pepper notes . Very modern big ripe style with lilacs, sweet strawberry notes, sweet leather . An international effort.
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2001 Italians for Daniel's Birthday (Osvaldo Ristorante Italiano, Maxwell Chambers): A pretty good, rather modernly styled Brunello. But this was lost amongst much more illustrious company. Nose was tightish, but clearly big, with lots of ripe prunes, plums and cassis and a little earthy note, all doused with a healthy dose of glycerol and a little high-toned mix of flowers and crayon notes. Very rich, even on the nose. The palate was very much as one would expect - choked full of sweet, rich, big fruit - dark cherries, bluberries, purnes, ripe strawberries. Again, some glycerol here. This was BIG, quite a monster actually. I would have said that the wine was nevertheless well-balanced, and there was certainly good, elegant freshness, if not for the fact that the alcohol threw it a little off. Still though, the quality of the fruit was evident all the way into the finish, which showed great length in its darkly fruited prunes, spicey pepper and teeth-staining tannins. I would lay this aside for a long time yet, but it should improve year on year.
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half bottle open for business. opened without decant and left for one hour. nice rusty light brick rim. very aromatic with textbook leather, earth, stewed plum and sour cherry. nice complexity/balance. long finish. yum.
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Decanted 30 min. Nice spicy red fruit, with tobacco leaf and some pretty decent acidity. Firm tannins still present on the finish. I think this will continue to evolve over the next 5 years. It is drinking beautifully right now, and quite enjoyable with a vegetarian pizza.
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Gentle elegance and balance with vibrant beam revealing--in the long finish--that it had supported the silky cherry, dried flowers, and crystalized espresso throughout.
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Maybe I am being a bit generous with the score here because of how high my expectations were. Good, but not great. Cherry and wood. This wine got better with some decanting but never achieved the status that has been reported by others. I am drinking better 04/05 Rosso right now....
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The 2001 is showing some elegance with beautiful spice, floral, tobacco, cedar wrapped in ripe berries that follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a gorgeous long lasting finish. JD93
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Drinking a few more Tuscan wines now in anticipation of spending next week in Tuscany. The color was brick. Expressive nose of smoke, strawberry, and dried flowers. Fruit-forward palate of strawberry and black cherry. Bracing, food-friendly acidity, viscous mouthfeel, and lingering finish. Minimal tannins. It is time to drink this wine!
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Squirrel Jam graciously opened this bottle last weekend in South Haven, Michigan. He and his family were in town on vacation and my wife and I made plans to hook up for some wine. We debated whether this would be ready before we opened it and decided to try it no matter what. Young, young, young. But lots of potential. Rather tight knit and not showing nearly as much fruit as I would expect. Better than the 1999 but not quite the wine that the 1997 is. Notes of cherry, tar and dark fruit. Firm tannins. Give this time. Based on potential I would rate this a 93+.
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Impression only as I'm doing this a couple weeks after drinking it. My scribbled notes from vacation say "surprisingly nice and open, rich, very round in the mouth, aromatic nose." We had this with Vino Me, and I perceived it as more open than he did, though there is no question this will continue to improve. I was pretty surprised at how well it drank. This was my first 01 BdM since they arrived, and definitely whets the palate for more to come.
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2-hr decant. Despite the browning color, the bouquet on this 2001 is direct and fun with innocent, fresh dark fruits and some dried roses crumbled in cupping feminine hands. The silky cherry, tobacco, and espresso--with surprising black licorice hints--are joyful, not heavy, and are riding on enough graceful tannin to ensure the long tail paired beautifully with charred porterhouse.
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Too acidic in the front, musty in the middle, and with a slight ozone-y, metallic finish at the end. Perhaps it was because we had a half bottle and they're not as consistently great as the full bottle?
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WOW! This IS the best brunello I've had. Flawless balance and texture, like drinking liquid velevet with no decanting. This wine could be an all time great in 10+ years.
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This is a beauty. Color is dark garnet to the rim. Nose shows cherry, leather, and spice, with a hint of dry flower. On the palate, chewy cherry, leather, and mulled spices mingle for quite a mouthful. Tannins are present, as is acidity, but they simply add structure to this already beautiful wine.
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Vibrant red cherries, cranberries, lots of leather and earth. Fantastic balance. Some lifted floral aromatics after enough time in the glass. Medium bodied, sappy red fruit, great concentration. Not a lot of oak and not at all heavy it remains light yet rich coupled with impressive concentration that isn't the result of huge extraction. Some iodine and iron lend complexity to an otherwise still primary, sappy fruited wine. Very long finish. Really impressive, lifted by laser like acidity. A great life ahead, give it 5+ years. Awesome. I wish I had more.
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Lovely wine. Graceful and balanced. For a young Brunello, this wine was drinking quite well, showing a soft structure and a feminine palate of soft cherry fruit, chestnuts and a hint of cocoa. Smooth, direct and precise. One of the better 2001 Brunelli I've tasted.
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Decanted for two hours, and though I had this without food or a good wine glass, it didn't fail to impress. Somewhat muted nose. Unctuous and dark on appearance. Flavors of tar, espresso, chocolate on the mid-palate, great complexity and depth, long finish with velvety tannins. Look forward to having this again.
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dark blood red color, slightly muted nose but showing lots of tar, leather, cherry. In the mouth, the balance and texture is flawless, dark berry, and chocolate dominates,the tannins are so sweet and well integrtaed, this is the real deal
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Decanted for 1.5 hours. Outstanding in every respect - dark in color, nose was a bit restrained but incredible in the mouth with a long and satisfying finish. Taste of dark fruit, leather, tar, chocolate and coffee. Finish was almost 45 seconds long. Really blown away by this one considering how reasonable the price is for this level of quality. I can't imagine how good this wine will be with a few years of bottle aging.
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Deep ruby color. Full tones of blackberry and cherry. Full bodied on the palate with jucy fruit and refined tanines. Long finish. Very approachable now. Not as oppulent and complex as the '97 of the same house.
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Wow! An excellent wine. This wine is one of the few wines that showed a near identical nose and palate. Color shows age…and nice red with hints of garnet and rust. Nice balance of age, fruit, oak, and chocolate. The finish lingers for just the right amount of time. Will definitely buy again and try next to another ’01 Brunello.
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Wow. This is one of the nicest Brunello di Montalcino's I've tasted in some time. Our table of three talked about it nearly every ten minutes for something over an hour. I decanted it simply for aeration--no solids left in the bottle--and it was a lovely ruby color, bright, no sign of amber hues yet. Nose very nice, but not at all the "wow"--that was from the complexity for a Sangoivese. Seemed more a Pauillac--not a note of coarseness here. Elegant. Medium bodied with no heavy or discernable tannins, but no sign that it's even leaning toward maturity yet. Curious that. Somehow we all knew this would be fine in another five years and probably much longer, but only a hint of the tannins that would carry it the distance. The finish went on and on, like retreating octaves and overtones. Cherries and a touch of one of the aromatic spices--maybe faint allspice berries?
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Italian Night at Wally's (Barrington, IL): Bright amber red with a huge focused nose of sweet red fruit, floral, chocolate, fig and spice aromas. Vibrant and expressive fruit. Acid provides lift and a high toned profile. Fine, dusty tannins on the finish. Excellent in its youth, but needs time to develop depth and complexity. (4+13+17+8=92)
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(at Vin – Baltimore) - Lovely deep ruby color. Super nose of cherry/strawberry fruit mixed with licorice, minerals and a hint of orange peel. Amazingly complex for such a young wine. This wine delivers on the palate, as well. There is an intensity that belies the medium body and a finish that goes on and on. This is one of the best Italian wines I can remember having – just super. Should be even better in 7 years. (19)
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1/16/2024 - Eric wrote:
M&PD Tasting: Italy (Seattle, WA, USA): Ugly cork with seepage on top. Wine seemed fine, no oxidation. That said, Mark said it best with "big red wine." There was no tipicity, nothing that spoke of Sangiovese or Brunello. This could have come from anywhere and was largely klunky.
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1/16/2024 - Brolawa wrote:
O2. MPD dinner at Nell’s. Simple Brunello - no surprises. Big and jammy.
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9/19/2023 - richard.presser Likes this wine: 93 Points
I closely concur with Vinnut’s assessment.
Minor sediment on decanting.
Opened showing dankness on both nose and palate, which breathed off over 15 minutes or so. Over 90 minutes, it was like watching and smelling a flower open and then begin to fade. I had just the one bottle, for which I am grateful. A beautiful aged Brunello. It’s why we age wine. Went beautifully with pasta dish of Barilla bow tie pasta with kabana, cherry tomato and other wonderful ingredients of my wife’s creation. Drink up if you still have it. May you enjoy it as much as I did this bottle.
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5/5/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Subsequent notes on this wine from about 9 years ago. Dark ruby/garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, mulberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes of violets, spices, cocoa, anise, espresso, minerals, tar, leather & a hint of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & cranberries with spices, herbs, dark chocolate, minerals, coffee & a hint of oak. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but at 22 years of age, it is close to or at its peak of development. Although it may hold here for several more years, I doubt any further development will occur from additional aging. Ullage was in lower neck; cork was stained 1/3 up but intact.
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9/9/2022 - viking92067 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Acquired new. The beauty of Italian wines is that they surprise you when you think they are past their prime. This is just so lovely and perfect. I guess you should drink it now as it will not continue to be this lovely beyond a few years.
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6/8/2022 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine:
I didn't get a note on this, but I liked it. Supple with some good structure left, this showed dark fruits w some red and a nice charcoal or campfire note with some tar, licorice and coffee. Probably a 16/20.
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1/7/2022 - sbfoote wrote: 91 Points
Excellent as usual. Consistent with previous note.
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12/27/2021 - RichardP wrote: 91 Points
Light strawberry and menthol on the nose. On the palate, dried cherry, plum, and notes of leather, rose petal, and earth on the medium to long finish, with light tannins and good acidity. This seemed a little past its peak, but it may not be a representative bottle as it was stored at room temperature for a few years. It was a good value at about $50.
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12/9/2021 - Bob H wrote:
Wow, this is drinking great right now - fully mature, although this is probably capable of another 10 years at this level (although none of mine will last that long).
I just had a glass of the 2001 Le Chiuse - that was very good, this might even be a bit better. Really spreads out and coats the palate with Sangiovese goodness.
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6/21/2021 - prism wrote: 93 Points
On the one hand, I kind of wish I'd waited to read AG's updated review (who knew?) of this wine; OTH, it was February in the Pandemic, a Sangiovese was in order with supper, and this was, I feared, nearing the end of it's plateau.
So not. Maturing but really in a lovely spot. I am sorry not to have shared it with others, but will carry a fond memory of this twenty-year-old Brunello.
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4/2/2021 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similar to last one, slightly fading but still delicious. Our last one, a great ride.
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2/19/2021 - baroloboy55-2.0 Does not like this wine: 82 Points
I was really looking for a Brunello experience with red cherry notes, and nearly pulled a Poggio di Sotto. did not realize I had tasted this wine a year ago and reacted favorably then. The cork on this bottle was great. I decanted through cheesecloth and there was no sentiment. My initial impression was that this was a hot, woody mess. Some of the alcohol on the nose dissipated while in the decanter, but the wine remained plump, low in acid, and finished with dry oak notes. Given how recent my last bottle was, I can't attribute this to a change in palate, although reading my prior note critically I did note the lack of acid and structure. Clearly a wine that has peaked or the bottle last year was an aberration on the positive side.
I decided not to drink the bottle, and opened a 2010 Monte Bernardi Chianti Classico Riserva which had exactly the acid and the cherry and cigar box notes I was looking for. Oh for the days when Poggio di Sotto changed importers and you could find closeouts of brunellos for markedly less than what their rosso trades at today!!! I'll stick with Chianti Classico and their non-consorzio cousins!
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1/16/2021 - BrunelloBob wrote: 90 Points
Auction purchase, and that's not the first time for this bottle. Winebid AND prior Acker Marral lstickers applied.
PNP was a mistake and I know better. Give this at least an hour of air. Solid cork with 50% bleed. Leather, tree bark. There's a core of dark cherry that has to be teased out. Good length. I like this producer for its longevity. This bottle had been passed around like a beer pitcher at a frat party, so it may not be the best exemplar. 89-90.
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6/12/2020 - BBinSC wrote: 93 Points
93-94: a touch reserved, but lovely nose of earth, flowers, and red fruit. Palate was long and intense, still fairly primary flavors of red fruit, with some leather and tobacco notes along the edges. Finish lingers. Still some tannins and acid, but everything is wonderfully balanced. This wine is beautiful. Cellar-kept since purchase.
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3/17/2020 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank over two nights. First night, lovely bouquet of dark fruits and dried flowers. Bricking around edges. Medium weight, huge plum and berry flavors, spices and herb, and some smokey flavors. Lots of layers and still very fresh tasting, medium finish and very little sweetness at the end. Excellent. 93 points. Second night, still lovely but flavors, while still present, have receded and are not as pronounced. 90 points tonight. Drink over next 12-24 months.
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2/10/2020 - baroloboy55-2.0 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good showing. Fully mature. Round and full. No evidence of any new oak. Very tasty and enjoyable for what it is, but also reminds me why I often prefer to drink sangiovese from Chianti Classico district vs. lower acid sangiovese grosso clone from Montalcino... but an observation, not a criticism, because the wine showed up and performed extremely well
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11/8/2019 - GSW wrote: 92 Points
Still lovely after all these years>
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1/4/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour. This is in a beautiful place. Nice nose with wild strawberry, and blood orange, dark chocolate, garrigue, leather, and hints of cedar. On the palate, beautiful acidity, and silky mouthfeel, with loads of mouthfilling blackberry, black cherry, baking spice and a hint of leather. This closes with tannin that just caresses your palate and just lingers. Just starting to unfurl imo, and maybe the oak influence is perceptible, but this is a pleasure to drink.
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12/29/2018 - Jacek P wrote: 92 Points
Great, ready to drink
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12/24/2018 - Bob H wrote:
Seamless on the palate, with almost a black cherry fruit note - sweet/ripe fruit, this has a little more "in your face" appeal than the Pertimali, but might also have a little less acidity as well. Drinking well, and tough to pick a favorite.
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10/23/2018 - Bob H wrote:
Similar in color to the '99. The nose here is reticent, although a menthol note is starting to manifest itself.
This is only so-so right now (both wines were popped and poured). Seems a little muddled on the palate. I'll walk this back down to the cellar to see if anything kicks in on day 2 or 3.
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8/17/2018 - JOsgood wrote:
Unfortunately this wine is well over the hill now. The fruit is faded and the wine is harsh.
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7/19/2018 - Bob H wrote:
Similar in color to the Pertimali; more pronounced menthol on the nose here, with cooler red fruits. Same two elements on the nose as the Pertimali, but in opposite "weights".
Drinking younger than the first wine - this still has a slight astringency on the finish from unresolved tannin. Comes across more coiled and energetic. I think the Pertimali is more pleasurable tonight. Ordinarily, I would say this wine has more upside, but I do have concerns about the wine's balance as it continues to evolve.
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6/5/2018 - Philippe_C wrote: 92 Points
Loads of methol, eucalyptus, hint of nail paint at opening dissapeared after 3 hours aeration... Ripe tannins, red cherries, showing hint of alcohol at opening but is the wine that improved the most after 3 hours opening!!
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12/30/2017 - SonnyChiba wrote:
No detailed notes but remember liking this a lot. Good drinking window.
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12/18/2017 - sbfoote wrote: 91 Points
Cherry and leather, good power, moderately long on the finish.
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10/28/2017 - Bob H Likes this wine:
A darker translucent ruby in the glass; red & black fruits, with a vague undertone of roasted meat.
Sweet/ripe black & red fruits on the palate - wow, everything resolved here and in harmony. Very good right now, and off this bottle, no reason why this shouldn't be drinkable for the next decade.
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8/26/2017 - jchrisharris Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was the wine of the summer for me, and I've had some nice wine this summer. Just a stunning example of a powerful but refined Brunello. Amazing pairing with a flavorful heritage pork. I agree with other reviews that this is not an overly fruity wine, but it also does not lack for fruit. Lots of aromas and character.
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5/5/2017 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine of the night. Still very alive, lovely floral nose, youthful berries, spice and tobacco....and it has begun developing secondary characteristics. Great body and balance, tannins integrated...just elegant. I see no rush on consuming these, other than they are fantastic right now.
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4/17/2017 - drfloyd Does not like this wine:
I would say that this wine is past its prime. Drank out of magnum - decanted for few hours. A lot of the charm the wine used to have is gone - cherry fruit much more muted, tannins have died down, etc. Some mature notes as well. I liked it much better when young..
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4/9/2017 - MattJ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant and complex. I would say this is at or slightly past it's peak with fruit starting to fade. More traditional less extracted brunello which is clearly the result of fine wine making.
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3/15/2017 - Philippe_C wrote: 93 Points
Very nice nose of leather, cèpes de Bordeaux, super elegant, red berries, bacon fat... delicious, super silky tannins, ripe red fruit, bacon fat finish... great Brunello at peak!
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2/26/2017 - JOsgood wrote:
The fruit is starting to fade and it has become much less interesting. Much better young.
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12/18/2016 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium ruby color. Quite reticent in the glass, but what shows is interesting. Nose of sweet herbs, pencil lead, black cherry skins. Medium bodied on the palate, elegant and understated.
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10/10/2016 - canan wrote: 93 Points
Lovely and open Brunello still with plenty of sweet dark cherry fruit.
The palate is fresh and inviting with good complexity and room to grow. Lovely acidity and overall a wine that is a pleasure to drink right now.
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7/5/2016 - Bob H Likes this wine:
Popped & poured. Dark translucent ruby in the glass, with a lovely/complex nose with macerated black cherry, fig, leather and menthol - a lot going on here.
Seamless on the palate, nice length on the finish, really seems to spread out on the palate. Red & black fruits - this is ready to go right now.
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3/6/2016 - guido23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted and consumed over five hours. Started off slow but really improved over time. Lighter bodied with lots of rose. Really nice finish.
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2/5/2016 - wurzel68 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Helles rubinrot mit 2 mm Wasserrand; an der Nase subtile, aber betörende Aromen von Waldfrucht, Leder, Erde, Sattelöl; am Gaumen ausgewogener und eleganter Brunello mit feinem, bereits etwas abgeschmolzenen Tannin, immer noch kräftiger Säure und erdigen/mineralischen Aromen, langer Abgang. Schön entwickelt!
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1/30/2016 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Blind. Similar profile to the Lisini alongside, just a bit fuller and riper and with a touch more oak — immediately obvious on the nose with the vanilla, and then on the palate with a bit more structure. Very good but not quite as elegant as the Lisini. ****
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12/15/2015 - champussi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Toller Brunello! Das war meine letzte Flasche. Die letzten beiden waren schon weiter. Noch viel Gerbstoff, Säure aber auch Frucht. Alles schön in Balance! Hat in dieser Verfassung noch mindestens 5 Jahre+ Entwicklung vor sich! Schade! Da hätte ich gerne noch mehr!!!
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9/5/2015 - portman63 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep garnet and much more backward than I would have thought. Opened 3+ hours before dinner and with air it smoothed out and showed black cherry and tobacco and forest floor with a good acidic balance and a long finish. Showed very well in a Brunello/Tuscan dining evening.
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4/1/2015 - hkm520240 wrote: 91 Points
Blind tasting, red wine flight 1 wine #2.
Dark ruby with vivid hues. Darker colour than the wine #1.
Lifted nose of dried fruits, leather, dried plum, dried cherry, smoke, herbs and hints of sweet fruits.
Palate displaying more dried fruits profile, dried cherry, sour cherry, plum, leather and earth. It has fresh acidity backbone, end with long spicy finish and firm grip.
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2/19/2015 - Squirreljam wrote:
Impression only, and for the record, this bottle may have been a little off as there had been some seepage. No cork taint though. Needs air, still tight for the first hour after popping. Nose had spice and leather but wasn't overly exuberant. On the palate, had great weight and mouthfeel. Wish I'd decanted or slow-ox'd to bring out more but that's my bad.
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1/25/2015 - guido23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Very tight. Took some time to open up but did indeed improve. Drank over 26 hours. Nice complexity but still a little lean; I think this one needs more time.
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11/11/2014 - Rojo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Muted nose of earthy red fruits, leather and truffles. Velvety round texture with no rough edges; all the components are in harmony and balance giving the same aromatic elements on the palate. Finishes with long earthy leather and chocolate with currants.
A+
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11/8/2014 - AV2012 wrote: 91 Points
Tuscany tasting: See-through red with brownish meniscus. Much fresher and fruity than both '85. Noticeable tannins, rather high alcohol, some sweetness, flowery. Milder on the palate than both '85, lovely and approachable.
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11/6/2014 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, dark, inky garnet in color; no signs of aging. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of still developing & youthful yet complex, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, strawberries & plums with floral notes of violets, spices, cocoa, anise, espresso, minerals, earthy, dusty, tar, leather and a hint of cedar wood in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & silky smooth textured, youthful & still evolving, complex, rich, ripe fruit flavors of sweet dark cherries, cranberries & blackberries with spices, herbs, dark chocolate, earthy, tar, minerals, coffee & a hint of toasty oak. Long lingering elegant finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but has the structure, fruit & depth to further develop with additional aging. A wonderful example of Brunello!
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9/23/2014 - baroloboy55 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is in a fine drinking place now, bright red cherry fruit, a bit enhanced by a hint of nearly resolved new oak, rich, round, full, spicy, tobaccoey, just one rocking brunello.
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6/8/2014 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a great brunello. More fruity than most but the Sangiovese typicity was clear. Drinking beautifully, with much time left. Lot of plum and heather. Medium finish.
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5/18/2014 - FLI Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark and intense. Tannins well softened. Felt a bit hot, though.
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1/9/2014 - MattJ wrote: 90 Points
Not as enjoyable as I'd remembered or maybe just didn't pair well with cheese. There was an earthy tone that seemed cloying and made the wine difficult to drink. Either an off bottle or my palate wasn't up for this.
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12/11/2013 - Employee500 wrote: 93 Points
Lovely, elegant wine with loads of sweet cherry fruit, baking spice, violets and cedar. Still plenty of tannin, this should continue to age well and likely won't hit peak maturity for another 8-10 years.
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11/9/2013 - ruffsurf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely bouquet followed by a perfect balance of acid, fruit and tannins. Complex with red cherry and baking spice notes. Long finish. Most of the sediment remained in the bottle. Drank over 3 nights. No loss on third night. Bought on release and stored at 54 degrees. And, yes, cork was fine but nearly impossible to extract.
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11/7/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Farewell to a Friend...With Some Wines He Would Have Enjoyed (A Tavola - Chicago IL): Alluring aromas showcase floral and spice elements with red fruit. Elegant red cherry flavors with very fine tannins and lots of energy support . Very refined.
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10/17/2013 - pigdaddy wrote: 92 Points
decanted one hour. garnet red to deeper ruby center, some paling at rim; somewhat reticent red fruits, sandlewood, brown spices, anise, potpourri; med/+on palate feel; dried cranberry & sour cherry, baking spice, dusty lingering tannins w/substantial grip & assertive acidity on finish. second of six, this is still showing quite young; aeration over the following 1.5 hours brought more complex aromatics to the fore, but still showed solid structure.
(note: tightest & most difficult cork to extract in memory, in perfect shape, soaked one third way, just solidly in neck.)
homemade fettucine w/rapini, Italian sausage, pecorino & wild-foraged lion's mane mushroom (an impeccable specimen!)
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8/31/2013 - gven wrote:
Popped and poured. Very dark color, lots of fruit, thick and full bodied, suave, spices in the finish.
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7/20/2013 - AzWineFan Likes this wine: 91 Points
No signs of slowing down but really good right now. Maybe not true classic Brunello with a bit of round fruitiness but a real crowd pleaser.
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6/8/2013 - zazoo Likes this wine: 96 Points
I was really impressed by the wine. It was drinking beautifully . Only have 1 bottle left.
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3/31/2013 - jrkennedy37 wrote: 93 Points
This is more advanced than I anticipated - the rim is starting to pale though the development is right where I was hoping for. Clearly on the more traditional, earthy side of the brunello spectrum, the primary tones are dark red fruit and resolved tannin. My vote is to drink this up, as I don't see if improving more.
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3/2/2013 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 96 Points
Clear, garnet, medium plus to deep, with some brick on the rim. The nose is clean, medium plus in intensity and developed, with aromas of red cherries, sweet spice, dried roses, cigar box. The nose is complex and fine. The palate is dry, with medium + acidity. The alcohol is medium +. The tannins are medium +. The mouthfeel is smooth and the minerality is sapid. The palate is consistent with the nose, with mature red fruit and a nice dusty minerality on the finish. The palate is full-bodied, balanced, intense, persistent and fine overall. This wine is ready + to mature. It is probably drinking at its peak but is likely to last at a high level of quality for several more years. This wine is very harmonious and balanced and is very food friendly at this stage in its development.
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1/26/2013 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Delicious Brunello, with red cherry, tobacco and earth flavors. Elegant and nicely balanced. Mature, but still lots of time left.
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11/4/2012 - Thilo wrote: 93 Points
Very nice Brunello and has held up beautifully. Color is dark garnet with a bit of bricking at the rim. Nose shows cherries, tobacco, and smoke. On the palate, the cherries re-assert themselves, framed by dusty tannins and well-balanced acidity. Very nice and has some time to go.
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7/22/2012 - the godfather wrote:
absolutely briliiant, as good as brunello gets
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4/30/2012 - GBK wrote: 97 Points
A beautiful wine in its prime.
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2/12/2012 - Bandonista wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful wine right now. Smooth tannins with tons of balanced fruit.
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2/8/2012 - alr6767 wrote: 87 Points
Mature color, bricking, even a touch brown. Nose fresh with cherries and tobacco, but also some heat. Palate picks up weight with air, initially dark fruit but that gives way to secondary tobacco, clove, leather, and more heat. Quite a bit of acidity to the point of being astringent. Finish is hot with largely resolved drying tannin. Fell apart after a few hours - I think this bottle was out of whack due to the etoh. 14.5%
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1/7/2012 - 5laton wrote:
Starts rather simply with dusty, fairly primary blackberry fruit, but settles into a nice groove with some air, showing more typical blood, iron and sour cherry notes. Quite a bit more rustic than my last experience with this wine, lacking the sophistication and herbal complexity I've previously found here, with chunkier tannins that still clench a bit. Drank from rocks glasses (alas all the resto had on offer) certainly didn't help, but this was really a big step down from my previous bottle. I'll hold off from opening my last bottle for a few more years.
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12/24/2011 - BigTarheel wrote: 92 Points
A wine of the night candidate. Hitting its stride rught now. Powerful and richly flavored, moder in style and showing excellent balance. A nice bottle from a great vintage.
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12/15/2011 - mchanin4 wrote: 95 Points
Big fruity wine with a long finish. Excellent.
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9/9/2011 - agnorger wrote: 93 Points
This wine showed very well and it was a favorite of the group. Aromas were somewhat muted but the delivery on the palate made up for it in a big way. the deep, earthiness contributed to a long finish that had everyone taking small sips. the wine is nicely balanced now and the age is starting to show in the color. Its peak is still a few years off yet and i wish i had more.....the pairing tonight was with grilled leg of lamb, a perfect combination.
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7/30/2011 - Mingmong wrote: 91 Points
Funky, sweaty socks, yet floral, and violets on the nose. Cherries and strawberries and blueberries infused with some bitterness, coffee beans, and vanilla on the end.
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7/30/2011 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Brian's Housewarming (Moonbeam View): I had clean forgotten having had this a year and a half back. What a difference the time has made! While that was big, ripe and a bit in your face, this was really very nice indeed. Still young of course, but it was showing lots of quality this time round. Nice, rather more classic Brunello nose here, with notes of smoke and tar, a light dusting of rose petals, a dose of dried earth, some beef blood and rather subtle dark fruited nuances, all a bit tight still, but very nice. The palate came across as very fresh and lively. A bit tight initially as well, it only slowly filling out with a mouthful of pure dark cherries after some time, and then earth notes, some mineral and hints of meat - all very nicely balanced and integrated, with a refined finish showing bits of smoke and just a dusting of herbs wafting around a layer of fine but firm tannins. There was lots of depth and a lovely breadth of expression here, but the rich, dark fruit-forwardness of a year back has been replaced with a sense of elegant finesse - this was a wine of great character and charm. As always, the last few sips were the best. Still primary at the moment and obviously needing plenty of time, but this has great potential that should really start revealing itself in 7-8 years' time. Excellent.
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6/7/2011 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
Nice middle of the road bottle. Well balanced. Not great depth but well layered. Bright cherry nose and flavors, undertones of spices. Integrated, light tannins. An elegant wine. (Doris enjoyed). Excellent with steak. #2 to the 2002 Dominus.
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6/3/2011 - Ibetian wrote: 92 Points
This seems to be getting better, though I don't think it will make old bones. So what, it is drinking great already. Nice, bright cherries on the nose and palate. Fresh, bracing acidity. Not particularly complex and not an especially long finish, but smooth and highly enjoyable.
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5/15/2011 - grayfont wrote: 92 Points
Celebrating a new name for Chain Bridge Cellars! (Chain Bridge Cellars, McLean, VA): beautiful & floral on the nose in a way that I did not expect from a Brunello, but to fine effect. The palate was more traditional to the style, featuring wood and leather notes. This was perhaps a touch sharp on my palate, but this was Mrs. Grayfont's WOTN against a very impressive lineup.
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4/20/2011 - bajayngo wrote: 97 Points
absolutely beautiful btl of wine in the perfect place. Beautiful anise, cherries, licorice, tobacco, spice, just on an on perfectly balanced. 97-98
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3/19/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
5 Brunelli and a 61 Climens: This was the Brunello of the night. Still young. Plenty of cherries and a bit of sour cherries, also leather and spice on the nose. Full bodied. On the palate, this is full with a great texture, silky. Complex but lots of room to unwind. Great balance. Long finish.
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2/19/2011 - pwarms wrote: 92 Points
Loved!!! Great fruit, open, just a home run!
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1/22/2011 - mdefreitas wrote: flawed
2001 Tuscans @ Asher's (Westport, CT): I've had a number of Ciacci Piccolominis before, and while they seem more ripe and new world in inclination, this was ridiculous. This had to be a flawed bottle? Prunes raisins, cough syryp, nail polish remover... need I say more? Not getting much love here. Not rated.
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1/22/2011 - Pknut wrote:
2001 Brunello and Other Tuscans in Westport: A favorite producer of mine (sue me), but not a good showing. Raisins and prunes. Some remained on the second night, and it was soft, unstructured, with murky brown sugar notes.
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1/22/2011 - cortoncharlie wrote: 85 Points
This bottle was totally closed except for the wood and the 14.5% alcohol which sticks out like a sore thumb. In a really bad place now and not sure it will get better with more bottle age either. Real pity since I had an excellent 1990 a few months ago. 14.5% for a Brunello?
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1/8/2011 - pbjosh wrote:
Fantastic but closed, alas. Great nose of ripe red fruits, leather, earth. So supple and integral on the nose. A touch ripe but still very fresh. Tannins are very present but really rounded and well done. The palate never quite unwinds though. Give this 5-10 years and it should be spectacular. As it is now, not a waste, but clearly only a glimpse of what is to come.
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12/31/2010 - Federsin wrote:
Opened and allowed to sit for an hour, consistent notes of leather and earth on the nose, this bottle came across much younger than the previous bottles with the tannins more prominent, good balance with good acidity and great with some NY strip steaks, continues to be a go to Brunello
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12/24/2010 - the godfather wrote:
consistent with prior notes, amazing texture and balance with tannins settling. Brunello doesn't get any better
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12/23/2010 - JOsgood wrote: 95 Points
This wine is off the charts. Has explosive fruit and complexity while remaining totally elegant. Lovely tar notes on the finish. Will continue to evolve and improve for years. Love Ciacci wines.
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11/28/2010 - Federsin wrote:
Consistently very good
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10/30/2010 - Federsin wrote:
Consistent with previous bottle . . .
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10/24/2010 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
Splash decanted. Very youthful. Bright red fruits and wet stone on the nose. Pure fruit on the palate, very fresh, with wild cherry flavors, a little cranberry, with fine plush tannins in the background. Length finish, with fresh red berries holding on. Vibrant, youthful and fruity, with superb balance and acidity. Enjoyable now, but need considerable time to peak.
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10/24/2010 - Federsin wrote:
Opened and allowed to air in the bottle for a couple of hours after pouring out a small amount to taste. Dark reddish - purple in the glass with a pretty nose, it was open upon pouring. An elegant, refined and balanced brunello with very smooth tannins. Well liked by all and drinking very well right now.
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10/15/2010 - JamesSanders wrote: 78 Points
Opened and recorked about 3 hours before drinking. Had with a fatty beef short rib. Alcohol and astringent tannins were the main impressions. Harsh iron flavor when paired with the beef. Nothing I liked about this. Others at the table liked it better.
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10/3/2010 - the godfather wrote:
unfortunately difficult to assess . too many wines before this
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9/19/2010 - 5laton wrote:
A gorgeous bottle. Ripe, layered fruit with some tobacco, herbal goodness. Pure silk in the mouth, just a beautiful texture. Style is a little more slick than I usually prefer, but this retains Brunello typicity. Needed about 90 minutes in the glass to open up.
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9/13/2010 - Ibetian wrote: 91 Points
Loren Sonkin captures this wine very well in the note below. I decided to check in, since I have plenty of this, and it is already drinking well. Although I'm sure it has years ahead of it, I might move up my drink by date a bit.
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9/12/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Mostly Italians (Pranzos): I meant to grab the 97, but I grabbed the wrong bottle. No matter, after a quick splash decant and twenty minutes this opened up and was drinking very well. Ruby/purple in color. Lots of sour cherries and leather with some tea leaves on the nose. Still primary with good fruit, there are layers of forest floor starting to assert themselves. Mild tannins. A nice backbone of acidity. This drank much more ready than I would have expected and has lots of gusto.
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7/9/2010 - cardsandwine wrote:
Decanted for 90 minutes, would have benefited from more decanting time. Began to open after about two hours. Balanced and pure on the palate with a bit of pepper. More modern in style than Soldera or Poggio di Soto, but drinks very nicely.
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5/15/2010 - cliffkol wrote: 90 Points
Decanted one hour. Nose was tight. Soft flavors of ripe plum and cassis. Not a forward and big wine as reported by others, and not a balanced wine. Tannins are winning over the fruit. A thin wine, this bottle had an almost diluted taste. Smooth, short and light finish.
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3/18/2010 - Alex H wrote: 85 Points
Daniel's Birthday (Osvaldops): Inkish ripe blueberries. Smells like an opulent premium ripe styled pomerol. Pepper notes . Very modern big ripe style with lilacs, sweet strawberry notes, sweet leather . An international effort.
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3/15/2010 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
2001 Italians for Daniel's Birthday (Osvaldo Ristorante Italiano, Maxwell Chambers): A pretty good, rather modernly styled Brunello. But this was lost amongst much more illustrious company. Nose was tightish, but clearly big, with lots of ripe prunes, plums and cassis and a little earthy note, all doused with a healthy dose of glycerol and a little high-toned mix of flowers and crayon notes. Very rich, even on the nose. The palate was very much as one would expect - choked full of sweet, rich, big fruit - dark cherries, bluberries, purnes, ripe strawberries. Again, some glycerol here. This was BIG, quite a monster actually. I would have said that the wine was nevertheless well-balanced, and there was certainly good, elegant freshness, if not for the fact that the alcohol threw it a little off. Still though, the quality of the fruit was evident all the way into the finish, which showed great length in its darkly fruited prunes, spicey pepper and teeth-staining tannins. I would lay this aside for a long time yet, but it should improve year on year.
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3/14/2010 - rherman wrote: 92 Points
half bottle open for business. opened without decant and left for one hour. nice rusty light brick rim. very aromatic with textbook leather, earth, stewed plum and sour cherry. nice complexity/balance. long finish. yum.
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3/7/2010 - WDK wrote: 92 Points
Evolved color showing light bricking. Medium body with good acidic spine and soft tannins. Flavors of raspberry and red cherry. Long, tasty finish.
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11/29/2009 - RPerro wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 30 min. Nice spicy red fruit, with tobacco leaf and some pretty decent acidity. Firm tannins still present on the finish. I think this will continue to evolve over the next 5 years. It is drinking beautifully right now, and quite enjoyable with a vegetarian pizza.
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11/9/2009 - MattJ wrote: 93 Points
Very smooth and complex. A beautiful Brunello. Drinking well now but I believe this will evolve well for several more years.
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9/23/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Gentle elegance and balance with vibrant beam revealing--in the long finish--that it had supported the silky cherry, dried flowers, and crystalized espresso throughout.
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9/20/2009 - Rollerball wrote: flawed
Corked.
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9/12/2009 - pikemasterflash wrote: 89 Points
Maybe I am being a bit generous with the score here because of how high my expectations were. Good, but not great. Cherry and wood. This wine got better with some decanting but never achieved the status that has been reported by others. I am drinking better 04/05 Rosso right now....
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9/4/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
The 2001 is showing some elegance with beautiful spice, floral, tobacco, cedar wrapped in ripe berries that follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a gorgeous long lasting finish. JD93
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8/22/2009 - deanda wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well right now - decanted for 30 mins; light tannins and very clear fruit; not moth coaating, but very powerful
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8/16/2009 - Wink wrote: 90 Points
Drinking a few more Tuscan wines now in anticipation of spending next week in Tuscany. The color was brick. Expressive nose of smoke, strawberry, and dried flowers. Fruit-forward palate of strawberry and black cherry. Bracing, food-friendly acidity, viscous mouthfeel, and lingering finish. Minimal tannins. It is time to drink this wine!
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8/10/2009 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Squirrel Jam graciously opened this bottle last weekend in South Haven, Michigan. He and his family were in town on vacation and my wife and I made plans to hook up for some wine. We debated whether this would be ready before we opened it and decided to try it no matter what. Young, young, young. But lots of potential. Rather tight knit and not showing nearly as much fruit as I would expect. Better than the 1999 but not quite the wine that the 1997 is. Notes of cherry, tar and dark fruit. Firm tannins. Give this time. Based on potential I would rate this a 93+.
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8/8/2009 - Squirreljam wrote:
Impression only as I'm doing this a couple weeks after drinking it. My scribbled notes from vacation say "surprisingly nice and open, rich, very round in the mouth, aromatic nose." We had this with Vino Me, and I perceived it as more open than he did, though there is no question this will continue to improve. I was pretty surprised at how well it drank. This was my first 01 BdM since they arrived, and definitely whets the palate for more to come.
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7/25/2009 - KSWinegeek wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding Brunello! Balanced, but still some tannins. Drank out of plastic cup with Dad at Keuka
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3/14/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
2-hr decant. Despite the browning color, the bouquet on this 2001 is direct and fun with innocent, fresh dark fruits and some dried roses crumbled in cupping feminine hands. The silky cherry, tobacco, and espresso--with surprising black licorice hints--are joyful, not heavy, and are riding on enough graceful tannin to ensure the long tail paired beautifully with charred porterhouse.
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3/1/2009 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
A classic Brunello. Bold, beautiful, lots of Tannins and lovely.
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1/3/2009 - torcams wrote: 94 Points
Wine was concentrated and rich, still very young, but with nice complexity. Wish I had more...
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11/5/2008 - The-Evangelist wrote:
Too acidic in the front, musty in the middle, and with a slight ozone-y, metallic finish at the end. Perhaps it was because we had a half bottle and they're not as consistently great as the full bottle?
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8/30/2008 - the godfather wrote: 97 Points
WOW! This IS the best brunello I've had. Flawless balance and texture, like drinking liquid velevet with no decanting. This wine could be an all time great in 10+ years.
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8/9/2008 - LPskeleton wrote:
sublime...had at the french laundry from a 375.
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2/2/2008 - gr8nrg wrote: 92 Points
The purity and integrity is really awesome. Nothing edgy here, powerful but pure silk on the nose. Hour decant, still young with lots of life.
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11/30/2007 - Thilo wrote: 95 Points
This is a beauty. Color is dark garnet to the rim. Nose shows cherry, leather, and spice, with a hint of dry flower. On the palate, chewy cherry, leather, and mulled spices mingle for quite a mouthful. Tannins are present, as is acidity, but they simply add structure to this already beautiful wine.
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11/9/2007 - pbjosh wrote: 94 Points
Vibrant red cherries, cranberries, lots of leather and earth. Fantastic balance. Some lifted floral aromatics after enough time in the glass. Medium bodied, sappy red fruit, great concentration. Not a lot of oak and not at all heavy it remains light yet rich coupled with impressive concentration that isn't the result of huge extraction. Some iodine and iron lend complexity to an otherwise still primary, sappy fruited wine. Very long finish. Really impressive, lifted by laser like acidity. A great life ahead, give it 5+ years. Awesome. I wish I had more.
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10/21/2007 - Serge Birbrair wrote: 92 Points
If this was a stock, I'd say :
Buy for a long haul and worry nothing about.
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9/29/2007 - Pknut wrote:
Lovely wine. Graceful and balanced. For a young Brunello, this wine was drinking quite well, showing a soft structure and a feminine palate of soft cherry fruit, chestnuts and a hint of cocoa. Smooth, direct and precise. One of the better 2001 Brunelli I've tasted.
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8/30/2007 - Serge Birbrair wrote: 93 Points
Lovely wine. Well crafted, presize and good expression of terroir
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7/7/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours, and though I had this without food or a good wine glass, it didn't fail to impress. Somewhat muted nose. Unctuous and dark on appearance. Flavors of tar, espresso, chocolate on the mid-palate, great complexity and depth, long finish with velvety tannins. Look forward to having this again.
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7/5/2007 - the godfather wrote: 95 Points
dark blood red color, slightly muted nose but showing lots of tar, leather, cherry. In the mouth, the balance and texture is flawless, dark berry, and chocolate dominates,the tannins are so sweet and well integrtaed, this is the real deal
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7/5/2007 - JOsgood wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours. Outstanding in every respect - dark in color, nose was a bit restrained but incredible in the mouth with a long and satisfying finish. Taste of dark fruit, leather, tar, chocolate and coffee. Finish was almost 45 seconds long. Really blown away by this one considering how reasonable the price is for this level of quality. I can't imagine how good this wine will be with a few years of bottle aging.
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6/24/2007 - PapaBoomBoom wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Has a deep cherry note with overtones of a delicious port. Nice fruit and wonderful structure right out of the bottle. Yummy
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5/4/2007 - Jochems wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby color. Full tones of blackberry and cherry. Full bodied on the palate with jucy fruit and refined tanines. Long finish. Very approachable now. Not as oppulent and complex as the '97 of the same house.
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4/7/2007 - BSteffes wrote: 93 Points
Wow! An excellent wine. This wine is one of the few wines that showed a near identical nose and palate. Color shows age…and nice red with hints of garnet and rust. Nice balance of age, fruit, oak, and chocolate. The finish lingers for just the right amount of time. Will definitely buy again and try next to another ’01 Brunello.
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3/16/2007 - SantaFeTopher wrote: 94 Points
Wow. This is one of the nicest Brunello di Montalcino's I've tasted in some time. Our table of three talked about it nearly every ten minutes for something over an hour. I decanted it simply for aeration--no solids left in the bottle--and it was a lovely ruby color, bright, no sign of amber hues yet. Nose very nice, but not at all the "wow"--that was from the complexity for a Sangoivese. Seemed more a Pauillac--not a note of coarseness here. Elegant. Medium bodied with no heavy or discernable tannins, but no sign that it's even leaning toward maturity yet. Curious that. Somehow we all knew this would be fine in another five years and probably much longer, but only a hint of the tannins that would carry it the distance. The finish went on and on, like retreating octaves and overtones. Cherries and a touch of one of the aromatic spices--maybe faint allspice berries?
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2/15/2007 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Italian Night at Wally's (Barrington, IL): Bright amber red with a huge focused nose of sweet red fruit, floral, chocolate, fig and spice aromas. Vibrant and expressive fruit. Acid provides lift and a high toned profile. Fine, dusty tannins on the finish. Excellent in its youth, but needs time to develop depth and complexity. (4+13+17+8=92)
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6/16/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
(at Vin – Baltimore) - Lovely deep ruby color. Super nose of cherry/strawberry fruit mixed with licorice, minerals and a hint of orange peel. Amazingly complex for such a young wine. This wine delivers on the palate, as well. There is an intensity that belies the medium body and a finish that goes on and on. This is one of the best Italian wines I can remember having – just super. Should be even better in 7 years. (19)
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