An epic dinner of classic wines: This pours medium garnet with moderate bricking and a gorgeous orange rim. The nose is lovely, complex and elegant. Aromas are of rose petals, orange peel, dried cherries, a whisp of balsamic, orange pekoe tea, brown sugar, tar, and shoe polish. The palate shows typical Italian structure with medium plus tannin and medium plus acid, yet there is textural elegance and refinement, it does the style well with no harsh edges. The finish is lovely with cherry, black tea and touches of dried orange peel fanning out nicely. In some ways this is a Nebbiolo lovers Brunello. While a great bottle and an enjoyable experience to try the greatest producer of Sangiovese in the world, I can’t exactly call this a great value at $695 CAD.
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KYD BYO (Koan): Very classic and light fruit but with a huge intensity. Elegant cherries and a touch of smoke and just a hint of leather. The wine still feels young but is starting to yield a hint of age. But it is in a very good spot at the moment. All about elegance and intensity. Absolutely amazing and ethereal nose which almost makes it difficult to drink :-) There is Brunello and then there is Soldera. This bottle is another example of how great the old Soldera Riserva wines are and how great they can become with age. An absolutely stunning performance.
Soldera night 1998 tawny aged wine with a lovely bees wax nose and some licorice. Just perfectly resolved tannins and more classic a wine than complex. Shorter on the palate as the night wore on (93 points)
2003 more subtle nose a little sois bois, great structure and lots of fruit my favorite wine between the 98 and the 04 (94 points)
2004 quite closed on both nose and palate, probably may be in a slight shut down phase, good structure. My least favorite wine of the night (92 points)
2007 decanted, amazing rose from the beginning. Very approachable with roses that evolved into pineapples later on into the evening. Just so crazy concentrated fruit and intense flavors that went on and on. My WOTN (95 points)
2009 decanted, a floral sensual nose! Just so beautiful and approachable. Perhaps even more structure than the 07 but not quite as ready. Just so much potential but likely could do with more cellar time. Try in 3-5 years (94+ points)
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9 hours in the decanter before pouring a glass. The wine is ethereal, in texture, refreshing acidity frames red, strawberry fruit. cola, saddlewood, rose petals, violets, fruit cake round put the nose. Long finish. A beautiful wine.
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On the nose, very expressive with lots of red fruits, a hint of smoke, rose patel, quite floral, on palate, darker fruits were shown with a bit more tannin than other vintages, various spices, dark cherry and mature plum, showed great structure. The finish was very long. It was powerful yet elegant. I think it can be enjoyed for at least another 10 years.
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Dark red fruit, tobacco, cedarwood and herbs on the nose. Palate was still a bit tight but it had so much underlying power. The fruit was still a bit restrained because of its youth but the structure and frame are bigger than the 96 on the side. Great potential.
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Big nose that jumps out of the bottle. Prunes, raisins, bark and dark fruit in general. Decanted. Over time the wine mellows a bit and becomes a bit more complex.
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HK Wine Society Tasting & Dinner: Mature Brunello, 1975-1998 (Langham Palace Hotel, Mongkok, Hong Kong): Tasted blind in a line-up of 12. Transparent, brightly-jewelled ruby colour. Nose is closed but with nail varnish and strawberry fruits, lots of oak, hints of a big Burgundy. Palate is sharp acidic attack, light and definitely young but with a puzzling and alluring lightness and power. I really liked this but thought it was perhaps a Burgundy 'ringer'. Would love to re-visit. My #4, Group's #4.
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Simply gorgeous bottle of wine. The wine has taken on extraordinary depth since the last bottle, and on this day clearly outdistanced the ‘98 normale, which was no slacker. From the terroir filled bouquet through the balanced and focused palate every sip was filled with soul. The wine finished with uncommon length and elegance. Drank alongside the ‘98 Riserva. In a turn around from the last bottle, it did not outpace the riserva, which has taken on extraordinary depth in the past two years.
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Drank in NY Quite dark colour with a rich powerful nose of dark red fruits. Complex palate with lots of cherries with a medium length. Lovely stuff but I am not sure it is worth the price.
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Drank in florence at villa d'este. Decanted 1hr. Dark red color, big bold cherry nose, fills the nice with smooth deep cherry flavor, not sweet but not sharp. Long. Love these wines
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Great wines for no special reason (Duke's house): I tend to enjoy Brunello but had never had a chance to try a Soldera. Probably the best brunello I have had. Warm, full, lush and complex with qualities of dry cherries, prunes, and a touch of tar. Great wine that fills every nook and cranny of your mouth. I might have preferred this even more in the fall or winter more than on a sultry summer night but it is great wine all the time.
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dark red-brown colour elegant complex fruity, tobacco and secondary aromas balanced acidity, round tannins, structure, ripe fruits, very good harmony, long enduring on the palate, a wine that one can sniff for long minutes.
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Another terrific bottle, but it took a back seat to the Normale of the same vintage which we drank alongside it. This bottle seemed a tad bit tired compared to the vibrancy of the Normale. It still had a terrific balance and pure fruit, but lacked the elegance of the previous bottle or of the Normale.
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Complex, lovely and dynamic. Warm tomato, walnut bread, hay, furry, leather, earth, hanimal. Very soft spoken dusty ethereal quality, feminine and musky floral spice. Bergamot, wet ash, a bit tinny. The entry is silken and soft, before waves of structure sweep in and oh, so slow, slowly subside. Cherry skin, tomato leaf, rosemary wood, saddle leather, walnut skin, iodine and hay. Beautiful.
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Bricking garnet with watery orange rim. Red berries and maraschino cherries on the expressive nose with flowers, peach kernel, funk, glue, mushrooms and some tobacco. Medium bodied and brightly acidic palate with plentiful ripe tannins and beautifully proportioned fruit. Tobacco, slight touch of coffee and a long gravelly finish. A fine balanced Brunello with the pure Sangiovese fruit wonderfully unmasked. Starting to drink perhaps, but I'd hold on to my bottles for some 5-10 years, had I any.
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Terrific bottle of juice. Pure and elegant on the palate. Evolved from chocolate on the nose to cherries. Wine just kept getting better in the glass. Finish was long and magnificent. This wine is still a baby and will improve with more cellar time. Drank along side a 1997 Salvioni. This was more feminine than the Salvioni, alas both were superb, but I do prefer the feminine elegance of Soldera.
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This is a unique wine that has an overall expression that is un-comparable. My favorite example of Sangiovese that defies categorization. If only it wasn't so expensive...
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Mike & Linda Bittel brought it to Michael's Genuine in honor of my 68th Birthday(yesterday). Extraordinarily feminine Brunello, aromatic, light, and compelling.
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11/12/2022 - Wine Canuck wrote: 94 Points
An epic dinner of classic wines: This pours medium garnet with moderate bricking and a gorgeous orange rim. The nose is lovely, complex and elegant. Aromas are of rose petals, orange peel, dried cherries, a whisp of balsamic, orange pekoe tea, brown sugar, tar, and shoe polish. The palate shows typical Italian structure with medium plus tannin and medium plus acid, yet there is textural elegance and refinement, it does the style well with no harsh edges. The finish is lovely with cherry, black tea and touches of dried orange peel fanning out nicely. In some ways this is a Nebbiolo lovers Brunello. While a great bottle and an enjoyable experience to try the greatest producer of Sangiovese in the world, I can’t exactly call this a great value at $695 CAD.
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1/29/2022 - cch1966 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes of red berries, licorice, smoke and leather. Intense and complex wine. Medium body with long silky finish.
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6/11/2021 - canan wrote: 96 Points
KYD BYO (Koan): Very classic and light fruit but with a huge intensity. Elegant cherries and a touch of smoke and just a hint of leather. The wine still feels young but is starting to yield a hint of age. But it is in a very good spot at the moment. All about elegance and intensity. Absolutely amazing and ethereal nose which almost makes it difficult to drink :-)
There is Brunello and then there is Soldera. This bottle is another example of how great the old Soldera Riserva wines are and how great they can become with age. An absolutely stunning performance.
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9/1/2020 - LB88 wrote: 93 Points
Soldera night
1998 tawny aged wine with a lovely bees wax nose and some licorice. Just perfectly resolved tannins and more classic a wine than complex. Shorter on the palate as the night wore on (93 points)
2003 more subtle nose a little sois bois, great structure and lots of fruit my favorite wine between the 98 and the 04 (94 points)
2004 quite closed on both nose and palate, probably may be in a slight shut down phase, good structure. My least favorite wine of the night (92 points)
2007 decanted, amazing rose from the beginning. Very approachable with roses that evolved into pineapples later on into the evening. Just so crazy concentrated fruit and intense flavors that went on and on. My WOTN (95 points)
2009 decanted, a floral sensual nose! Just so beautiful and approachable. Perhaps even more structure than the 07 but not quite as ready. Just so much potential but likely could do with more cellar time. Try in 3-5 years (94+ points)
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11/2/2019 - Wine MOB Likes this wine: 94 Points
9 hours in the decanter before pouring a glass. The wine is ethereal, in texture, refreshing acidity frames red, strawberry fruit. cola, saddlewood, rose petals, violets, fruit cake round put the nose. Long finish. A beautiful wine.
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6/8/2019 - Gian wrote: 94 Points
Red and dark fruits, earth, savory, great refreshing acidity, long finish, more time you keep it in the glass and more delicious becomes
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10/5/2018 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Floral aromas, nice texture.
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8/5/2018 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
On the nose, very expressive with lots of red fruits, a hint of smoke, rose patel, quite floral, on palate, darker fruits were shown with a bit more tannin than other vintages, various spices, dark cherry and mature plum, showed great structure. The finish was very long. It was powerful yet elegant. I think it can be enjoyed for at least another 10 years.
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8/2/2018 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark red fruit, tobacco, cedarwood and herbs on the nose. Palate was still a bit tight but it had so much underlying power. The fruit was still a bit restrained because of its youth but the structure and frame are bigger than the 96 on the side. Great potential.
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7/21/2016 - fatboi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big nose that jumps out of the bottle. Prunes, raisins, bark and dark fruit in general. Decanted. Over time the wine mellows a bit and becomes a bit more complex.
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6/25/2016 - Topper wrote: 98 Points
Fabulous, rich and brooding with dark red fruit and hints of bark and tar. Completely fabulous wine that redefines what can be done with Sangiovese.
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11/21/2015 - fatboi Likes this wine: 95 Points
Would say this wine is at its Apex. Cinnamon, middle eastern spices, and earth. Well integrated and balanced while still having force.
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4/29/2015 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
HK Wine Society Tasting & Dinner: Mature Brunello, 1975-1998 (Langham Palace Hotel, Mongkok, Hong Kong): Tasted blind in a line-up of 12. Transparent, brightly-jewelled ruby colour. Nose is closed but with nail varnish and strawberry fruits, lots of oak, hints of a big Burgundy. Palate is sharp acidic attack, light and definitely young but with a puzzling and alluring lightness and power. I really liked this but thought it was perhaps a Burgundy 'ringer'. Would love to re-visit. My #4, Group's #4.
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4/5/2015 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Simply gorgeous bottle of wine. The wine has taken on extraordinary depth since the last bottle, and on this day clearly outdistanced the ‘98 normale, which was no slacker. From the terroir filled bouquet through the balanced and focused palate every sip was filled with soul. The wine finished with uncommon length and elegance. Drank alongside the ‘98 Riserva. In a turn around from the last bottle, it did not outpace the riserva, which has taken on extraordinary depth in the past two years.
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10/16/2014 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank in NY
Quite dark colour with a rich powerful nose of dark red fruits. Complex palate with lots of cherries with a medium length. Lovely stuff but I am not sure it is worth the price.
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8/3/2014 - reichken wrote: 94 Points
Drank in florence at villa d'este. Decanted 1hr. Dark red color, big bold cherry nose, fills the nice with smooth deep cherry flavor, not sweet but not sharp. Long. Love these wines
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8/17/2013 - Topper wrote: 95 Points
Great wines for no special reason (Duke's house): I tend to enjoy Brunello but had never had a chance to try a Soldera. Probably the best brunello I have had. Warm, full, lush and complex with qualities of dry cherries, prunes, and a touch of tar. Great wine that fills every nook and cranny of your mouth. I might have preferred this even more in the fall or winter more than on a sultry summer night but it is great wine all the time.
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11/29/2012 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
dark red-brown colour
elegant complex fruity, tobacco and secondary aromas
balanced acidity, round tannins, structure, ripe fruits, very good harmony, long enduring on the palate, a wine that one can sniff for long minutes.
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11/26/2012 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Another terrific bottle, but it took a back seat to the Normale of the same vintage which we drank alongside it. This bottle seemed a tad bit tired compared to the vibrancy of the Normale. It still had a terrific balance and pure fruit, but lacked the elegance of the previous bottle or of the Normale.
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5/19/2012 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:
Complex, lovely and dynamic. Warm tomato, walnut bread, hay, furry, leather, earth, hanimal. Very soft spoken dusty ethereal quality, feminine and musky floral spice. Bergamot, wet ash, a bit tinny. The entry is silken and soft, before waves of structure sweep in and oh, so slow, slowly subside. Cherry skin, tomato leaf, rosemary wood, saddle leather, walnut skin, iodine and hay. Beautiful.
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8/12/2011 - avp wrote:
Bricking garnet with watery orange rim.
Red berries and maraschino cherries on the expressive nose with flowers, peach kernel, funk, glue, mushrooms and some tobacco.
Medium bodied and brightly acidic palate with plentiful ripe tannins and beautifully proportioned fruit. Tobacco, slight touch of coffee and a long gravelly finish.
A fine balanced Brunello with the pure Sangiovese fruit wonderfully unmasked. Starting to drink perhaps, but I'd hold on to my bottles for some 5-10 years, had I any.
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5/22/2010 - cardsandwine wrote:
Terrific bottle of juice. Pure and elegant on the palate. Evolved from chocolate on the nose to cherries. Wine just kept getting better in the glass. Finish was long and magnificent. This wine is still a baby and will improve with more cellar time. Drank along side a 1997 Salvioni. This was more feminine than the Salvioni, alas both were superb, but I do prefer the feminine elegance of Soldera.
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1/14/2010 - henrychinaski wrote: 95 Points
This is a unique wine that has an overall expression that is un-comparable. My favorite example of Sangiovese that defies categorization. If only it wasn't so expensive...
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5/27/2009 - Employee500 wrote: 93 Points
Nice, bright cherry fruit, a hint of cloves & cocoa...plenty of sweet tannin, but approachable enough to drink now. Very nice for the vintage.
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10/11/2008 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Mike & Linda Bittel brought it to Michael's Genuine in honor of my 68th Birthday(yesterday). Extraordinarily feminine Brunello, aromatic, light, and compelling.
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12/12/2007 - bin905 wrote: 90 Points
Clay red color. Chocolate and spice aroma. Subtle style, somewhat tart and acidic.
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