- Beautiful nose, dark fruits, berries, plums and quite a lot of wood and tertiary flavours of leather, balsamic notes and spices. - The palate lacks some acidity and the wood flavours take over, also still high tannins. Almost too much body and somehow not quite in balance. Should probably be drunk sooner. Rather harsh to drink compared to 2 years ago. - 91-92 points
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decanted for less than a hour. drunk with Lt and JH. beautiful garnet colour and already some tawny touch. great and intense nose of ripe fruits (especially dark fruits). palate not that fresh. still strong tannins (too much for me). acidity still present but could be fresher. too much wood flavour for my taste. full body and long finsih. overall good wine but too p/p not balanced for me
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2 years since my last bottle and I’ve been following this since 2012. This still requires a 3 hour decant at the very minimum. Full bodied with some fruit up front and nice balance. This is in a dumb phase right now because it’s quite monolithic. This has the structure to go another ten years easy.
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bouquet with darkish berry fruit, compot, sous-bois, tobacco, some flesh and barnyard
on the palate very fresh and structured, very dark fruited, rather high extracation and wood, which we find a bit disturbing, high acidity, tannins also high, long finish, much power, full body, almost too much…
no decant nessecary
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Our New Year's Day dinner red with our homemade pasta and meatballs. Allowed 10 minutes to open in the glass. This bottle is still showing quite well, even on the second day. We have a couple more bottles yet in stock. Concur with the community end-date average of 2025.
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No notes taken. As I hardly had any Sangiovese with some age to date, I found this wine quite spectacular. It is such a beautiful expression of the warm Tuscan climate with this raw, deep hot and bone-dry earthy notes combined with some quite particular fresh herbal/green notes (tomato leafs they say…). Nothing shiny, polished or fancy, the wine really tells the story of an old farmer, working with his bare hands under the scorching sun. This wine is well made with a well-rounded structural frame, a good freshness, a very good aromatic intensity, a good but not super-high complexity as well as with a good length. Just a touch of precision and probably a bit a lighter feel missing for a higher score. Easily 94 points in my book and a reminder that I should drink more Sangiovese.
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Nose: intense, dark fruit of blackberries, dark plums, lots of earth and vanilla and slightly too much cedar wood. Also a little fresh reminiscent through eucalyptus, which becomes more prominent with time.
Palate: high acidity, ripe medium tannins. Medium bodied and now a bit more ripe fruit and more cedar in there.Great length and everything you would expect from a great Brunello, although a little more freshness and less barrique in the mouth would probably maximise the experience. Still complex and lovely to drink.
94-95 points
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This needs a 4 hour decant. This has come a long way since my last bottle in 2012. Full bodied- great fruit and balance with a nice finish. A lot of spice throughout. Still hasn’t reached its prime. Should reach prime in another 2-4 years and hold for more than a decade. Revisit 2024
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Popped, decanted, and consumed over six hours. Understated Brunello profile that came into its own a bit after two hours and faded a bit after four hours.
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Extraordinary wine, one of the bottles we brought back from Banfi a couple years ago. Definitely need to decant - if in the glass upon opening, better to let sit for at least 20 minutes.
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Popped, decanted, and poured. Consumed over five hours. Very balanced Brunello but also very mild. Lots of secondary notes like tar on the palette. Medium finish. Not a blockbuster but very pleasant.
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Dark and powerfull modern style brunello. Aromas start with dense cherry, continue with earthy and leathery notes and wooden cigar box (not tobacco but the box). Medium to full body. Medium finish. Tanins are not silky yet, but this could be drunk now already.
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Great wine that is in its prime. Lovely bouquet, like inhaling the aromas of a bowl of sour cherries. The fruit carries over into a nice round, balanced mix that is held together by firm tannins. Decanted for two hours and then drank head to head versus the the 1995 vintage (which I'd say is in decline). Fantastic wine, great example of high end brunello, definitely ready for prime time.
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Found 50% off and a rare treat to drink a high end wine of this caliber. Decanted for 45 minutes prior to drinking. Well balanced with a long rich slightly oaky finish. Also surprised how powerful this was with 100% Sangiovese.
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Had after an '06 Pine Ridge Cab and this outshined the Cab. Not too familiar with Italian ines, but this is what I think of when I hear about "old world" wines. Thanks for bringing over mmoss. Very generous.
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2004 Brunello di Montalcino (Scopri): Served double blind. Bit of a polarizing wine this. Opened with a slight metallic streak which continued on the palate. Generally well balanced and elegant wine, but didn’t standout. Some handled the Brett better than others.
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Decanted for one hour. Tasted from the beginning. Very good but got better over an hour's time. All around balanced and moderately complex. Excellent...
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This wine is dark, rich, and incredibly deep on the nose. Dominated by complex earth tones, leather, and cellar aromas, it’s fascinating and inviting. A spin in the glass opens up notes of cigar box, reduced poached plums, and an intriguing blend of rustic earth tones and hearty kitchen spices.
Just as rich, dark, and complex as the nose leads one to expect, the palate is plush and silky with a pleasant spiciness. Dusty, firmly gripping tannins supported by notes of bitter chocolate, cigar box, and rustic vineyard dust frame lush notes of dried and ripe red and black fruits. Truly delicious and gorgeously integrated, this wine is fabulous now, but will evolve with cellaring for many years to come.
App: Deep dark red Aroma: Violets, raspberries Full-bodied and pretty tannic. Dark berries, spices, licourice and loads of chocolate on the palate Very good length w/ a touch of raisins
Heavy, american style Brunello
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The All'Oro is a riserva produced only in special vintages. Nice, rich, has a coffee overtone to it with round red fruits. Very tasty, tannic, good fruit. 93-94, quite nice.
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8/19/2023 - J_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
- Beautiful nose, dark fruits, berries, plums and quite a lot of wood and tertiary flavours of leather, balsamic notes and spices.
- The palate lacks some acidity and the wood flavours take over, also still high tannins. Almost too much body and somehow not quite in balance. Should probably be drunk sooner. Rather harsh to drink compared to 2 years ago.
- 91-92 points
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8/19/2023 - Tschudix wrote: 91 Points
decanted for less than a hour. drunk with Lt and JH. beautiful garnet colour and already some tawny touch. great and intense nose of ripe fruits (especially dark fruits). palate not that fresh. still strong tannins (too much for me). acidity still present but could be fresher. too much wood flavour for my taste. full body and long finsih. overall good wine but too p/p not balanced for me
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1/2/2023 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
2 years since my last bottle and I’ve been following this since 2012. This still requires a 3 hour decant at the very minimum. Full bodied with some fruit up front and nice balance. This is in a dumb phase right now because it’s quite monolithic. This has the structure to go another ten years easy.
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11/20/2022 - La Sprezzatura wrote: 93 Points
bouquet with darkish berry fruit, compot, sous-bois, tobacco, some flesh and barnyard
on the palate very fresh and structured, very dark fruited, rather high extracation and wood, which we find a bit disturbing, high acidity, tannins also high, long finish,
much power, full body, almost too much…
no decant nessecary
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1/1/2022 - Terramare Likes this wine: 91 Points
Our New Year's Day dinner red with our homemade pasta and meatballs. Allowed 10 minutes to open in the glass. This bottle is still showing quite well, even on the second day. We have a couple more bottles yet in stock. Concur with the community end-date average of 2025.
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8/24/2021 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
No notes taken. As I hardly had any Sangiovese with some age to date, I found this wine quite spectacular. It is such a beautiful expression of the warm Tuscan climate with this raw, deep hot and bone-dry earthy notes combined with some quite particular fresh herbal/green notes (tomato leafs they say…). Nothing shiny, polished or fancy, the wine really tells the story of an old farmer, working with his bare hands under the scorching sun. This wine is well made with a well-rounded structural frame, a good freshness, a very good aromatic intensity, a good but not super-high complexity as well as with a good length. Just a touch of precision and probably a bit a lighter feel missing for a higher score. Easily 94 points in my book and a reminder that I should drink more Sangiovese.
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7/26/2021 - J_H Likes this wine: 94 Points
no decanting
Nose: intense, dark fruit of blackberries, dark plums, lots of earth and vanilla and slightly too much cedar wood. Also a little fresh reminiscent through eucalyptus, which becomes more prominent with time.
Palate: high acidity, ripe medium tannins. Medium bodied and now a bit more ripe fruit and more cedar in there.Great length and everything you would expect from a great Brunello, although a little more freshness and less barrique in the mouth would probably maximise the experience. Still complex and lovely to drink.
94-95 points
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10/31/2020 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
This needs a 4 hour decant. This has come a long way since my last bottle in 2012. Full bodied- great fruit and balance with a nice finish. A lot of spice throughout. Still hasn’t reached its prime. Should reach prime in another 2-4 years and hold for more than a decade. Revisit 2024
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5/29/2019 - Slaz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted over 3+ hours of decanting at Disney’s Remy. Darker style brunello that was full of life, energy, and delightful fruit.
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10/15/2018 - onboisduvin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Too early. The aroma and taste were primary. Did not feel the potential of vintage 1999. Next bottle after 5 years at least.
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5/7/2018 - guido23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped, decanted, and consumed over six hours. Understated Brunello profile that came into its own a bit after two hours and faded a bit after four hours.
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2/18/2018 - Terramare Likes this wine: 95 Points
Extraordinary wine, one of the bottles we brought back from Banfi a couple years ago. Definitely need to decant - if in the glass upon opening, better to let sit for at least 20 minutes.
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2/7/2018 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 89 Points
Funky nose, very new world nose, Aussie like, much better in the mouth, mellow, fully mature
89
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5/7/2016 - guido23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped, decanted, and poured. Consumed over five hours. Very balanced Brunello but also very mild. Lots of secondary notes like tar on the palette. Medium finish. Not a blockbuster but very pleasant.
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4/23/2016 - MEP2 wrote:
Se me cayo y rompió la botella antes de destaparla!
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4/5/2015 - dron_ap wrote: 92 Points
Dark and powerfull modern style brunello. Aromas start with dense cherry, continue with earthy and leathery notes and wooden cigar box (not tobacco but the box). Medium to full body. Medium finish. Tanins are not silky yet, but this could be drunk now already.
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11/14/2014 - Mnawacki Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine that is in its prime. Lovely bouquet, like inhaling the aromas of a bowl of sour cherries. The fruit carries over into a nice round, balanced mix that is held together by firm tannins. Decanted for two hours and then drank head to head versus the the 1995 vintage (which I'd say is in decline). Fantastic wine, great example of high end brunello, definitely ready for prime time.
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6/11/2014 - Agreenblatt wrote: 92 Points
Drank at the vineyard and again later in Italy. Great representation of this vineyards best.
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1/28/2013 - mmoss wrote: 93 Points
Found 50% off and a rare treat to drink a high end wine of this caliber. Decanted for 45 minutes prior to drinking. Well balanced with a long rich slightly oaky finish. Also surprised how powerful this was with 100% Sangiovese.
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1/27/2013 - Jmanz2000 wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful brunello. Open and let sit for 30 minutes. Drank beautifully over two days. Not as good as the '06 but still a wonderful wine.
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1/26/2013 - bzukaitis wrote: 92 Points
Had after an '06 Pine Ridge Cab and this outshined the Cab. Not too familiar with Italian ines, but this is what I think of when I hear about "old world" wines. Thanks for bringing over mmoss. Very generous.
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11/22/2012 - bendid wrote: 90 Points
2004 Brunello di Montalcino (Scopri): Served double blind. Bit of a polarizing wine this. Opened with a slight metallic streak which continued on the palate. Generally well balanced and elegant wine, but didn’t standout. Some handled the Brett better than others.
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7/28/2012 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for one hour. Tasted from the beginning. Very good but got better over an hour's time. All around balanced and moderately complex. Excellent...
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7/20/2011 - Tyler_at_WWD Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is dark, rich, and incredibly deep on the nose. Dominated by complex earth tones, leather, and cellar aromas, it’s fascinating and inviting. A spin in the glass opens up notes of cigar box, reduced poached plums, and an intriguing blend of rustic earth tones and hearty kitchen spices.
Just as rich, dark, and complex as the nose leads one to expect, the palate is plush and silky with a pleasant spiciness. Dusty, firmly gripping tannins supported by notes of bitter chocolate, cigar box, and rustic vineyard dust frame lush notes of dried and ripe red and black fruits. Truly delicious and gorgeously integrated, this wine is fabulous now, but will evolve with cellaring for many years to come.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2011/07/20/post-162-tour-of-italy-pt-9-castello-banfis-best-of-brunello/
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4/28/2011 - harish wrote: 90 Points
90 it is good but not great
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3/28/2011 - admid wrote: 88 Points
App: Deep dark red
Aroma: Violets, raspberries
Full-bodied and pretty tannic. Dark berries, spices, licourice and loads of chocolate on the palate
Very good length w/ a touch of raisins
Heavy, american style Brunello
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2/18/2011 - njgolfer wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at the "Tre Bicchieri" Gambero Rosso 2011 tasting in NYC.
Nose: dirty and cherry
Palate: quite structured with stronger tannins
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2/4/2010 - amateurwino wrote:
The All'Oro is a riserva produced only in special vintages. Nice, rich, has a coffee overtone to it with round red fruits. Very tasty, tannic, good fruit. 93-94, quite nice.
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