Did not take detailed notes, but found it still drinking very well. Silky dans la bouche, predominantly cherry fruit with black tea and tobacco. Very long finish, great balance, super enjoyable. I think this amazing 2010 vintage is still good for several more years across the board. Don't hold off drinking these, but no reason on the other hand to panic about their best before date.
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Belle robe translucide légèrement brunâtre; Le bouquet est splendide, harmonieux, élégant, sur des notes de cerise à l'eau de vie qui semble bien macérées. Il y a ensuite un beau mélange de notes terreuses, florales, anisées & d'épices vertes qui apportent une belle profondeur à un bouquet mature & complexe. La bouche est sur les cerises noires & lespruneaux, qui semble s'être bien "détendu". L'attaque est bien large au départ & l'ensemble se rasserre en milieu de bouche. L'acidité supporté bien l'aspect plus "compoté" de l'attaque. Il y a cette belle amertume en fin de bouche qui apparaît souvent dans les Sangiovese que j'apprécie beaucoup. La finale est une per rude & sèche, sur les épices... Aurait été encore meilleur si la finale avec été un peu plus douce. Somme toute excellent.
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Macerated cherry nose with a lovely earthiness. A bit of black tea and also a slight bit alcoholic. In the mouth, this wine is quite lovely. Smooth mouth feel, burst of acidity carrying cherry, pie cherry, leather and earth. Long finish. Starts out round in the mouth, then quickly turns angular - I love the late acidity which gives way to burgeoning tannins and a tapering of flavor leading back to the macerated cherry found on the nose. I’ve had varying luck with this wine and I’ve found it quite variable. But this bottle is just superb. On night two, the wine was even better - ethereally smooth and with engaging depth and perfectly balanced.
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Corked a week ago, excellent tonight. See below if (*) interested in the details. Pure, just ripe cherry, some dusty earth and a pinch of wild herbs. Perhaps just a bit muted in the middle (likely from the mild cork taint). '92'
15% abv. I would not have guess that high.
* If interested in the "de-corking" exercise: At first disappointing and then a nice surprise. Opened about a week ago with company, the cork smelled just a bit off, a few ounces were poured, and it was mildly but definitely corked. Sad, I put the cork back on the top of the bottle and put it upright in a wine fridge. This morning I decided to pour it all into a gallon ziplock, removing all of the air and placing on a plate in the wine fridge away from light. I did give it some squishes at one point. When I opened the bag there was no cork or other off odor - none at all, it smelled beautiful. With air in the bag, I aerated it by sloshing around in the bag for a few minutes, poured back into the rinsed bottle, and served. The plastic wrap / ziplock trick does not always work, but I have had success with milder cork taint issues. This was a clear winner!
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Very good fully-resolved Brunello. Really aromatic nose of dried herbs, dry broken stones, dry earth, some cherries, leather — it’s integrated nicely. The palate has medium acid, medium+ tannins with lots of dark cherries — with a very subtle touch of cherry preserves, dried thyme, singed green onions, rosemary. It’s full bodied with a finish that has length in its fruit. This is very good — it was brighter at first and the herbs and darker elements came through as it opened up. A wine with a really nice sense of evolution.
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Took to a new local Italian Restaurant. PnP. Good earth and fruit on this bottle. Balance with medium length and solid structure to make this a great bottle tonight. In a good place. Paired well with the cuisine. Glad I have another.
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Excellent now: very pure fruits, very balanced wine. A little better than most 2010 regular brunello. Now, I think it’s a little better than Casanova di Neri 2010 (not tasted side by side)
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Medium garnet color with extensive bricking Medium aromas of red/ blue fruit with dried roses and purple flowers with slight tar element Full palate of rich red fruit and dried florals - impressive High tannins and medium plus acidity and medium plus alcohol Nice long length Dried glass aromas of dried fruit/ tobacco and tomato leaf Plenty of fruit left on the palate - drink now or hold
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Single blind tasting Garnet with bricking Aromatics medium +. Tomato leaf and old cherry Palate medium +. Acid medium +. Tannins medium + to high, sandy on the teeth and gums. Alcohol medium +. Cherry and moss Finish has medium length. Balance towards the tannins Dry glass notes of tobacco resin and tomato leaf Ready to drink now, but still has potential to age if desired. Nice Brunello with enough fruit and secondary/tertiary notes
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Decanted for 1.5 hours and then consumed over an hour with friends. Dark fruited and structured. Excellent match with pasta Bolognese. Drinking well but many years of life ahead.
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This is not ready to drink yet. Still closed and young with little brown around edged. Nice Brunello nose but muted. I will try again in another 12-18 months
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Oeil rubis dense & orangé sur le disque; Nez expressif avec une bonne ampleur, sur les petits fruits rouges foncés (cerise) sauvages, petit qqchose de sous-bois, aspect florale bien développé. Les épices & la poussière de roche complètent le bouquet. Bouche tout aussi expressive que le nez, sur un fruité sombre & des notes de sous-bois. Bonne densité & acidité. Finale longue, persistante sur une impression minérale. Superbe!
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Excellent brunello. Not the most complex but the combination of red fruits, blackberry and a touch of oak with nice acidity on the finish makes it a very nice food wine. I will drink it sooner than later.
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Oh que c'est bon! L'âge va si bien aux vins italiens. Ce succulent nectar de la Toscane sera vous ravir par sa fraîcheur, sa puissance, sa longueur et sa complexité. Un vin équilibré qui remettra en question les lois fondamentales de la logique humaine. Malheureusement, son prix pourra certainement en faire fuir plus d'un. Pour une occasion spéciale ou simplement parce que vous le méritez bien!
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Sourced from the Ceppo Nero, Pino and Quadrucci vineyards. Average age of the vines is 15 years. Slightly less than 2170 cases produced. Popped and poured. Solid purple color. Notes of dried cherries, wet earth and ripe blackberries. Full bodied. Firm tannins. 92-93 points.
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Having had this 6 months ago and now today - two different wines. The first one was ready to go and this was super-young. Astringent cherry. I liked the acidity level and the tannins softened as the wine was open a bit longer. Not sure now how long to wait - I'll try again this fall.
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Oeil rubis dense & translucide; Nez principalement sur les fruits foncés sauvages avec un petit qqchose de rustique. Aspect floral présent, boisé très léger & bien intégré. Qques notes d'anis, légèrement épicée (épices verts comme le thym & romarin) & notes empyreumatique. La bouche est bien franche, le fruité est vif & légèrement fumée. Petit aspect sauvage agréable (en ligne avec le nez). Tannis fins & poudreux. Bonne structure & très bonne longeur. Somme toute simple mais très agréable. Belle équilibre.
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This is a particularly lovely young Brunello, quite graceful and subtle but with outstanding complexity and length given its age. The first thing on the nose is soft mint with some cherry liqueur and that sangiovese black tea smell though that is muted. It is a gorgeous wine already showing some bricking but at its core it is brilliant red with just some orange depth. Judging on appearance alone, one would think it is at least ten years old, probably 15. But in the mouth the wine is young and promising.
Flavor profile is unmistakably sangiovese - bright cherry, tobacco, that bit of mint from the nose still there. No cherry liqueur though - just all vibrant flavor and acidity. Fine-grained tannins appear on the finish and carry an engaging spiciness 45 seconds or so to a lingering kiss goodbye. This wine is easy to love.
Second day is even better - acidity a bit softer, flavors more integrated and the tannins softer but longer.
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Young, yes. Delicious, hell yeah! Warm and intense aromas; ripe cherries, liquorice, Christmas spices, smoke. Intense first attack with a good weight and delicious ripe dark fruit. Becomes more and more broad and explosive towards the finish, and goes a bit over the top, with waves of tannins dominating. Nevertheless shows a wonderfully delicate, smoky and spicy aftertaste. Impressive how well the 15,5% Alc. is hidden. Such a restless and nervous wine, yet fascinating, and highly delicious. Nice potential, no doubt.
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Style plus riche et plus chaud. Fruits compotés, Tannins assez fermes. Chaleur et amertume prononcée en finale. Trop sudiste comme style (15% d'alcool). 88-89
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On commence sérieusement avec ce Brunello qui est un peu trop alcooleux à ma petite bouche. Une bonne touche d'acidité et austère.Compote chaude mais sec ! Complexe mais moins prêt à boire ! Un nez tout sucré et une bouche de fruits noirs.Beau mais à revoir dans 7-10 ans ! 16.5/20 +?
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A classical sangiovese nose - red and black cherries, sagebrush, tobacco - which is promising but surprisingly subdued at the moment, probably because of highish sulphur (sneeze!). The structure is built more around acidity and viscosity (high alcohol/glycerol) than tannin structure, which is plush and ripe, more soft than firm. Not the least oaky, anyway. The 15,5% abv might be a problem, we'll see about that. Needs 3-5 years to come around.
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Light red turning orange/bricky color with very light rim. Nose of black and red berries with lots of spices,tasty palate with high acidity, strong but tasty tannin and medium finish. Liked this one, as many others from this great Montalcino year.
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Tuscan Wines Featuring Querceto di Castellina (SF Wine Trading Company): Medium ruby core with fading. Laid back nose with a whiff of balsamic vinegar. After the last 2 Querceto di Castellina wines, a major respite in terms of wood treatment (i.e., very little) and much lighter, more natural weight for a Sangiovese. Good complexity already, not fruit driven, nice balance and minerality. Excellent Brunello from this terrific year.
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Dark and slightly translucent cherry red color with a moderately maroon hue. Quite powerful and expressive nose with aromas of robust smoky character, ripe black cherries, some roasted meat, a little bit of wild funky character, a hint of savory wood spice and a touch of bretty Band-Aid character. The wine is full-bodied, ripe and pretty voluminous on the palate, yet still it doesn't come across as too extracted or overdone. There are dark-toned flavors of juicy dark cherries, sour cherry bitterness, espresso, some bittersweet dark chocolate, a little bit of ripe cranberries and a hint of earthy phenolic spice. Overall the wine is pretty structured with its moderately high acidity and firm and ample but not too aggressive tannins. The finish is long, dry and quite bitter with moderate tannic grip and savory flavors of earthy spice, rich black cherries, some wild and slightly funky notes of leather and barnyard, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness and a hint of fresh dark fruits. The alcohol stays wonderfully well-hidden throughout, lending only very little warmth to the aftertaste.
A good and reliable Brunello that offers exactly what one would expect from the style: concentrated and quite dark-toned Sangiovese tones, good structure, noticeable but not overdone ripeness and a rustic hint of funky character. There is some oak character, but definitely not too much in relation to the bold fruit department. Overall this is pretty good, but perhaps nothing too distinctive - at least at this point. Perhaps in time the wine will develop some additional complexity and become more interesting: at least the wine feels like it could take on some cellaring. Wait until its 10th to 12th birthday.
Medium-deep reddish-purple in color. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of still youthful, ripe dark fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with earthy, dusty & lovely floral overtones, some cedar, dried herbs, spices, licorice, coffee grounds and minerals. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, youthful & dense, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & mulberries with earthy, spices, dried herbs, dark cocoa, espresso & minerals. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and extended airing but still needs additional aging to develop to its full potential.
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This is a very well-made, pleasant Brunello from a good vintage. However, at this point it is still totally closed. The wine needs years of cellaring. I will try again in 2-3 years.
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Nice to have visited Caprili in Montalcino only a few weeks ago and to be able to try this wine soon after in Chicago, but wow, this needs years. This is tightly wound and is almost like drinking a barrel sample, except whereas barrel samples show primary, young, grapey fruit, fruit is hardly on display here; instead, this is showing fierce, enamel-stripping tannins and acidity, a very dry mouthfeel, and a tightly wound palate that suggests layers of flavors all compacted together and in need of years to unwind. There are notes of sweet tobacco and the tannin itself is sweet. This needs 5+ years in the cellar, at the very least. Thompson Hotel, Chicago, after the July 4th Grateful Dead "Fare thee Well" show.
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Had on four evenings over about a week (capping the bottle and putting back in the cellar each time). The first couple of nights it was showing higher toned fruit in the nose with a somewhat closed body. The third time was night of the living tannins with a tight body and puckering finish. The following (4th) night it seemed to settle in pretty nicely. It may be approachable now, but I've got to figure at least a few years before this comes together.
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Decanted for 2h. A lovely beast of a Brunello. Lots of red fruit, earthy tobacco, oaky notes on the nose. On the palate a massive front of cherry, sandalwood, and as yet untamed tannins, leading to a very pleasant acid finish. Great integration, heft. A heavy complex, big wine, not for the light hearted. This is too young, but I love it. Of course this will mellow with age, perhaps in 3-5 more years.
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2/3/2024 - Mnawacki Likes this wine: 92 Points
Did not take detailed notes, but found it still drinking very well. Silky dans la bouche, predominantly cherry fruit with black tea and tobacco. Very long finish, great balance, super enjoyable. I think this amazing 2010 vintage is still good for several more years across the board. Don't hold off drinking these, but no reason on the other hand to panic about their best before date.
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1/28/2024 - sidaga Likes this wine: 92 Points
Belle robe translucide légèrement brunâtre;
Le bouquet est splendide, harmonieux, élégant, sur des notes de cerise à l'eau de vie qui semble bien macérées. Il y a ensuite un beau mélange de notes terreuses, florales, anisées & d'épices vertes qui apportent une belle profondeur à un bouquet mature & complexe.
La bouche est sur les cerises noires & lespruneaux, qui semble s'être bien "détendu". L'attaque est bien large au départ & l'ensemble se rasserre en milieu de bouche. L'acidité supporté bien l'aspect plus "compoté" de l'attaque. Il y a cette belle amertume en fin de bouche qui apparaît souvent dans les Sangiovese que j'apprécie beaucoup. La finale est une per rude & sèche, sur les épices... Aurait été encore meilleur si la finale avec été un peu plus douce. Somme toute excellent.
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2/20/2023 - randyjc wrote: 94 Points
Macerated cherry nose with a lovely earthiness. A bit of black tea and also a slight bit alcoholic.
In the mouth, this wine is quite lovely. Smooth mouth feel, burst of acidity carrying cherry, pie cherry, leather and earth. Long finish. Starts out round in the mouth, then quickly turns angular - I love the late acidity which gives way to burgeoning tannins and a tapering of flavor leading back to the macerated cherry found on the nose.
I’ve had varying luck with this wine and I’ve found it quite variable. But this bottle is just superb.
On night two, the wine was even better - ethereally smooth and with engaging depth and perfectly balanced.
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12/5/2022 - nymetz wrote: 93 Points
Excellent balance of fruit and body. Can still go for a few more years
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12/30/2021 - tward Likes this wine:
Corked a week ago, excellent tonight. See below if (*) interested in the details. Pure, just ripe cherry, some dusty earth and a pinch of wild herbs. Perhaps just a bit muted in the middle (likely from the mild cork taint). '92'
15% abv. I would not have guess that high.
* If interested in the "de-corking" exercise: At first disappointing and then a nice surprise. Opened about a week ago with company, the cork smelled just a bit off, a few ounces were poured, and it was mildly but definitely corked. Sad, I put the cork back on the top of the bottle and put it upright in a wine fridge. This morning I decided to pour it all into a gallon ziplock, removing all of the air and placing on a plate in the wine fridge away from light. I did give it some squishes at one point. When I opened the bag there was no cork or other off odor - none at all, it smelled beautiful. With air in the bag, I aerated it by sloshing around in the bag for a few minutes, poured back into the rinsed bottle, and served. The plastic wrap / ziplock trick does not always work, but I have had success with milder cork taint issues. This was a clear winner!
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11/14/2021 - OaktownRush Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good fully-resolved Brunello. Really aromatic nose of dried herbs, dry broken stones, dry earth, some cherries, leather — it’s integrated nicely. The palate has medium acid, medium+ tannins with lots of dark cherries — with a very subtle touch of cherry preserves, dried thyme, singed green onions, rosemary. It’s full bodied with a finish that has length in its fruit. This is very good — it was brighter at first and the herbs and darker elements came through as it opened up. A wine with a really nice sense of evolution.
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11/6/2021 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 94 Points
Took to a new local Italian Restaurant. PnP. Good earth and fruit on this bottle. Balance with medium length and solid structure to make this a great bottle tonight. In a good place. Paired well with the cuisine. Glad I have another.
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5/30/2021 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent now: very pure fruits, very balanced wine. A little better than most 2010 regular brunello. Now, I think it’s a little better than Casanova di Neri 2010 (not tasted side by side)
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5/10/2021 - vancouvermatt wrote: 94 Points
Drinking fab. Right now wish I had more
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5/7/2021 - Tony T Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is quite impressive and rich wine. Should be combined with red meat. Our chicken dish was a bit overpowered by the wine.
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2/19/2021 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium garnet color with extensive bricking
Medium aromas of red/ blue fruit with dried roses and purple flowers with slight tar element
Full palate of rich red fruit and dried florals - impressive
High tannins and medium plus acidity and medium plus alcohol
Nice long length
Dried glass aromas of dried fruit/ tobacco and tomato leaf
Plenty of fruit left on the palate - drink now or hold
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2/16/2021 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 90 Points
Single blind tasting
Garnet with bricking
Aromatics medium +. Tomato leaf and old cherry
Palate medium +. Acid medium +. Tannins medium + to high, sandy on the teeth and gums. Alcohol medium +. Cherry and moss
Finish has medium length. Balance towards the tannins
Dry glass notes of tobacco resin and tomato leaf
Ready to drink now, but still has potential to age if desired. Nice Brunello with enough fruit and secondary/tertiary notes
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1/3/2021 - Innertällmo Bryggeri wrote: 92 Points
Coffee, chocolate, leather, dense fruit and well developed tannins. Drinks perfectly right now.
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11/28/2020 - Wiltse wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours and then consumed over an hour with friends. Dark fruited and structured. Excellent match with pasta Bolognese. Drinking well but many years of life ahead.
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10/20/2018 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is not ready to drink yet. Still closed and young with little brown around edged. Nice Brunello nose but muted. I will try again in another 12-18 months
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10/2/2018 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very similar to the 2008 but with more « sweetness ».
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7/17/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
High acidity, even for 2010, has a dark, perfumed profile. Nice enough, though nothing too special.
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3/25/2018 - sidaga Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oeil rubis dense & orangé sur le disque;
Nez expressif avec une bonne ampleur, sur les petits fruits rouges foncés (cerise) sauvages, petit qqchose de sous-bois, aspect florale bien développé. Les épices & la poussière de roche complètent le bouquet.
Bouche tout aussi expressive que le nez, sur un fruité sombre & des notes de sous-bois. Bonne densité & acidité. Finale longue, persistante sur une impression minérale. Superbe!
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3/15/2018 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 92 Points
92-93 wine. Excellent now. Will be good for many more years. Same comments as last time. ( rated the same without remembering last time)
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11/23/2017 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent brunello. Not the most complex but the combination of red fruits, blackberry and a touch of oak with nice acidity on the finish makes it a very nice food wine. I will drink it sooner than later.
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11/3/2017 - Drinker Diary Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oh que c'est bon! L'âge va si bien aux vins italiens. Ce succulent nectar de la Toscane sera vous ravir par sa fraîcheur, sa puissance, sa longueur et sa complexité. Un vin équilibré qui remettra en question les lois fondamentales de la logique humaine. Malheureusement, son prix pourra certainement en faire fuir plus d'un. Pour une occasion spéciale ou simplement parce que vous le méritez bien!
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5/7/2017 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
Rich crimson maroon. Black cherry, tobacco, black tea scents. Plenty of structure for the long haul, but frankly quite good at present. Long.
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4/22/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Sourced from the Ceppo Nero, Pino and Quadrucci vineyards. Average age of the vines is 15 years. Slightly less than 2170 cases produced. Popped and poured. Solid purple color. Notes of dried cherries, wet earth and ripe blackberries. Full bodied. Firm tannins. 92-93 points.
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4/6/2017 - randyjc wrote: 89 Points
Having had this 6 months ago and now today - two different wines. The first one was ready to go and this was super-young. Astringent cherry. I liked the acidity level and the tannins softened as the wine was open a bit longer. Not sure now how long to wait - I'll try again this fall.
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11/26/2016 - sidaga Likes this wine: 90 Points
Oeil rubis dense & translucide;
Nez principalement sur les fruits foncés sauvages avec un petit qqchose de rustique. Aspect floral présent, boisé très léger & bien intégré. Qques notes d'anis, légèrement épicée (épices verts comme le thym & romarin) & notes empyreumatique.
La bouche est bien franche, le fruité est vif & légèrement fumée. Petit aspect sauvage agréable (en ligne avec le nez). Tannis fins & poudreux. Bonne structure & très bonne longeur. Somme toute simple mais très agréable. Belle équilibre.
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3/19/2016 - Tony T Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still too young. Will improve. Should be cellared for another 2-3 years.
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2/28/2016 - randyjc wrote: 93 Points
This is a particularly lovely young Brunello, quite graceful and subtle but with outstanding complexity and length given its age. The first thing on the nose is soft mint with some cherry liqueur and that sangiovese black tea smell though that is muted. It is a gorgeous wine already showing some bricking but at its core it is brilliant red with just some orange depth. Judging on appearance alone, one would think it is at least ten years old, probably 15. But in the mouth the wine is young and promising.
Flavor profile is unmistakably sangiovese - bright cherry, tobacco, that bit of mint from the nose still there. No cherry liqueur though - just all vibrant flavor and acidity. Fine-grained tannins appear on the finish and carry an engaging spiciness 45 seconds or so to a lingering kiss goodbye. This wine is easy to love.
Second day is even better - acidity a bit softer, flavors more integrated and the tannins softer but longer.
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2/18/2016 - Barolo Drunkard Likes this wine: 91 Points
Young, yes. Delicious, hell yeah!
Warm and intense aromas; ripe cherries, liquorice, Christmas spices, smoke.
Intense first attack with a good weight and delicious ripe dark fruit. Becomes more and more broad and explosive towards the finish, and goes a bit over the top, with waves of tannins dominating. Nevertheless shows a wonderfully delicate, smoky and spicy aftertaste. Impressive how well the 15,5% Alc. is hidden.
Such a restless and nervous wine, yet fascinating, and highly delicious. Nice potential, no doubt.
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1/22/2016 - Villon wrote: 89 Points
Style plus riche et plus chaud. Fruits compotés, Tannins assez fermes. Chaleur et amertume prononcée en finale. Trop sudiste comme style (15% d'alcool). 88-89
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1/16/2016 - phil the agony wrote: 90 Points
On commence sérieusement avec ce Brunello qui est un peu trop alcooleux à ma petite bouche.
Une bonne touche d'acidité et austère.Compote chaude mais sec ! Complexe mais moins prêt à boire ! Un nez tout sucré et une bouche de fruits noirs.Beau mais à revoir dans 7-10 ans !
16.5/20 +?
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1/15/2016 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
A classical sangiovese nose - red and black cherries, sagebrush, tobacco - which is promising but surprisingly subdued at the moment, probably because of highish sulphur (sneeze!). The structure is built more around acidity and viscosity (high alcohol/glycerol) than tannin structure, which is plush and ripe, more soft than firm. Not the least oaky, anyway. The 15,5% abv might be a problem, we'll see about that. Needs 3-5 years to come around.
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1/9/2016 - greidy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light red turning orange/bricky color with very light rim. Nose of black and red berries with lots of spices,tasty palate with high acidity, strong but tasty tannin and medium finish. Liked this one, as many others from this great Montalcino year.
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1/9/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Tuscan Wines Featuring Querceto di Castellina (SF Wine Trading Company): Medium ruby core with fading. Laid back nose with a whiff of balsamic vinegar. After the last 2 Querceto di Castellina wines, a major respite in terms of wood treatment (i.e., very little) and much lighter, more natural weight for a Sangiovese. Good complexity already, not fruit driven, nice balance and minerality. Excellent Brunello from this terrific year.
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11/10/2015 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points
Whopping 15,5% alcohol.
Dark and slightly translucent cherry red color with a moderately maroon hue. Quite powerful and expressive nose with aromas of robust smoky character, ripe black cherries, some roasted meat, a little bit of wild funky character, a hint of savory wood spice and a touch of bretty Band-Aid character. The wine is full-bodied, ripe and pretty voluminous on the palate, yet still it doesn't come across as too extracted or overdone. There are dark-toned flavors of juicy dark cherries, sour cherry bitterness, espresso, some bittersweet dark chocolate, a little bit of ripe cranberries and a hint of earthy phenolic spice. Overall the wine is pretty structured with its moderately high acidity and firm and ample but not too aggressive tannins. The finish is long, dry and quite bitter with moderate tannic grip and savory flavors of earthy spice, rich black cherries, some wild and slightly funky notes of leather and barnyard, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness and a hint of fresh dark fruits. The alcohol stays wonderfully well-hidden throughout, lending only very little warmth to the aftertaste.
A good and reliable Brunello that offers exactly what one would expect from the style: concentrated and quite dark-toned Sangiovese tones, good structure, noticeable but not overdone ripeness and a rustic hint of funky character. There is some oak character, but definitely not too much in relation to the bold fruit department. Overall this is pretty good, but perhaps nothing too distinctive - at least at this point. Perhaps in time the wine will develop some additional complexity and become more interesting: at least the wine feels like it could take on some cellaring. Wait until its 10th to 12th birthday.
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10/16/2015 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium-deep reddish-purple in color. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of still youthful, ripe dark fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with earthy, dusty & lovely floral overtones, some cedar, dried herbs, spices, licorice, coffee grounds and minerals. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, youthful & dense, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & mulberries with earthy, spices, dried herbs, dark cocoa, espresso & minerals. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and extended airing but still needs additional aging to develop to its full potential.
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8/1/2015 - Tony T Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a very well-made, pleasant Brunello from a good vintage. However, at this point it is still totally closed. The wine needs years of cellaring. I will try again in 2-3 years.
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7/4/2015 - Pknut wrote:
Nice to have visited Caprili in Montalcino only a few weeks ago and to be able to try this wine soon after in Chicago, but wow, this needs years. This is tightly wound and is almost like drinking a barrel sample, except whereas barrel samples show primary, young, grapey fruit, fruit is hardly on display here; instead, this is showing fierce, enamel-stripping tannins and acidity, a very dry mouthfeel, and a tightly wound palate that suggests layers of flavors all compacted together and in need of years to unwind. There are notes of sweet tobacco and the tannin itself is sweet. This needs 5+ years in the cellar, at the very least. Thompson Hotel, Chicago, after the July 4th Grateful Dead "Fare thee Well" show.
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5/22/2015 - tward wrote:
Had on four evenings over about a week (capping the bottle and putting back in the cellar each time). The first couple of nights it was showing higher toned fruit in the nose with a somewhat closed body. The third time was night of the living tannins with a tight body and puckering finish. The following (4th) night it seemed to settle in pretty nicely. It may be approachable now, but I've got to figure at least a few years before this comes together.
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5/20/2015 - mpastoret wrote: 89 Points
Excellent wine. Enjoyed very much. Earthy, nice finish. Looking forward to the second bottle.
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5/15/2015 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2h. A lovely beast of a Brunello. Lots of red fruit, earthy tobacco, oaky notes on the nose. On the palate a massive front of cherry, sandalwood, and as yet untamed tannins, leading to a very pleasant acid finish. Great integration, heft. A heavy complex, big wine, not for the light hearted. This is too young, but I love it. Of course this will mellow with age, perhaps in 3-5 more years.
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