As good as the Casanova di Neri 2010, drank two days ago, but in a very different style. This one is more supple and delicate with a lot of fruits without the woody tannins of the Casanova. It is still a concentrated wine, don’t get me wrong, but with more finesse than power.
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Orange/red color. On nose, iodine, savory tobacco, sweet/sour cherry and tomato paste. On palate, medium+ body, medium+ acidity, medium tannins and very long (mouth watering) finish. While tomato paste nosted on nose, no fruit oxidation on palate. Do think it's at peak. 94+/-
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Fine, textbook Brunello - approaching peak. Showed well at PnP. Moderate acidity which helped to deal with the Christmas turkey, leaving a clean, fresh aftertaste. Very enjoyable and excellent value for money. Drink from now to 2028.
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I get it now. There is a wall of ultra fine tannins that is deceptive in its subtlety and allows just a peak of what is underneath. Try again in a couple of years.
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I think this wine is a tribute to the splendidly named Chemical Brothers and their song 'Alive, Alone'; it provokes both melancholy and a sense of deep 'Nyaw!', the spirit that is irresistible.
Another wine that really wants plenty of time open - decant and give at least 6 hours but if you can, drink it at least 24 hours after decanting. I actually found this at its finest on the third day open.
On day 1 this is ok, but dominated by baked fruit, strawberry that has been left to wither a little on the berry with slug trails over it. There is also irritating chocolate and mocca (presumably a combination of very ripe fruit and oak) and some attractive dried herb and graphite and dust. Length, intensity and that quality known as 'Grrrrpthnnnt' are undeniable.
The colour of this is still unadulterated youth - purples and reds. Almost glans like.
On day 3 we finally get integration and real development of fruit. I am getting plum and some delicious mulberry - there is that sour kick right at the end after you have collapsed shivering from the synapse devouring dark fruit. None of that was apparent to me on day 1.
Tannins are the usual Italianate flood in full spate, but they are fine and, cad that I am, I love them; 'feed me fire, for I will grow'.
If I scored this on day 1 it would struggle to the high 80's or 90 at best. On day3 it is the equivalent of the wash of keyboard textures that make 'Alive, Alone' - and I never wanted to be either of those.
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Gorgeous very right ruby color. Heated strawberries on the nose with noticeable alcohol. Tons of sweet wild red berries on the nose with a faint hint of orange in the finish. Delicious.
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One of two bottles of BdM consumed with a roast from 5Mary's, grilled potatoes, grilled okra (yes, everything done over charcoal). Both bottles were a bit modern (read: ripe, plush, a little oaky) for my Brunello dollar, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed them (and an introductory rose of Lagrein). This is also a riper vintage, so that contributes. Very interesting that my impression really differed from the last bottle.
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9.2.23 - Decanted about an hour. Smooth, well balanced, blackberry, baking spices, pipe tobacco. Great with tomahawk steaks. Drinking perfectly right now!
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We made shish kebabs on the grill with 5Marys' beef and lots of veg, and it just felt like a good time to open one of these. I'm treating the 2012s as earlier drinkers, not necessarily long haul wines. That said, this was textbook BdM, and better than past Argianos (and my first from this vintage). Haven't always loved their house style, but I should have gone much deeper on this vintage. Already getting lighter and a little bricking at the rim. Aromas of violets, dust, leather, dried cherries, brown leaves. On the palate, taut acid, sour cherry, very dry and a bit austere in a good, old school way. I don't know about a 30 year wine, but it has plenty still going for it and could go another ten, pretty easy. Best of the 2012 vintage so far, I think.
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Not as great as I had thought. Decanted almost two hours and had very limited development over an hour or so. Maybe needs four hours or in a dull phase? Not as complex or anywhere near as great as 2010, quite a bit of sediment. Good acidity, a touch too alcoholic on the nose at some point. Much less cherry and florals. A minor pitch of oak, and still quite a bit of astringency in the mid palate to finish. More astringency and sourness an hour and a half into the meal after leaving some in the glass. You have to be very specific with food pairings here.
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Quite solid, balanced, showing well now. This held up very well on day #2 and really warrants a score increase to 94 points. This is just so expressive, balanced and lively. The acidity is there, but just to the right degree, and the sense of terroir is excellent. Worth seeking out.
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Fascinating. It all about earth. Flowery nose to start. Mushrooms, forest, leather and just a whiff of black fruit, perhaps plum on the palate. Not sure what kind of evolution has in it so need to be careful.
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Black cherry, blackberry, garrigue, leather over well balanced acidity and fine, integrated tannins. This after 1-hour decant. The earthy notes are almost too prominent. Nonetheless, this is a very enjoyable wine.
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PNP over 4 hours This wine is drinking great. Happily surprised. Wonderful mushroom and damp forest floor. Even get a nice damp tree and moss notes on the nose. Beautiful earthy components. Underripe cherry. High alcohol, but not noticed until the backend and maybe a bit anesthetizes on the palette. Musk, fig, black cherry. Beautiful example of an earthy delicious food wine. Big thumbs up. Gaminess. slight hint of parmesan cheese coming out on the nose. This could be my go to wine with Italian food. Pairs amazingly.
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It’s difficult to stay critical and objective about a good bottle of Brunello, and this is a great hot-vintage example that’s accessible and well-resolved nine years on. It’s not serious, meditative and built to last: but it’s a real pleasure right now and it’s definitely a special wine with a sense of place.
On the nose, you get confit red cherry and raspberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, dry forest floor and a hint of leather. The palate is intense with black cherry and caramel, with a long finish.
A perfect match for a deep and savoury Tuscan ragu, perfumed with juniper and bay.
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Nice wine, classic Brunello. I thought this was drinking very well right now, exceeded my expectations a bit. Paired well with ribeye and also held up well on its own without food.
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Opened at 5 pm Juicy, cherry and tobacco. A bit tight. Sat in bottle for 30min than into a small decanter, Drank over dinner, left 1/3 for later 9pm - really aromatic, some chocolate 11pm same, really nice. Needs time to open, plenty of time left to hold this.
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PNP. Didn't note color. Great nose - savory elements with sweet tobacco, sour cherry, red currants, licorice and sweet cherry. Medium+ body, medium acidity/tannins and very long finish. 94+/-
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We really enjoyed this! The nose immediately jumped from the glass to reveal pronounced notes of leather and blackberry. With time, orange, tobacco, almond, chocolate, spice, and additional red fruits flavors. Big and lush in the mouth at first, before settling down to reveal a super suave and silky textured medium- to full-bodied package of black and red fruit flavors (i.e., blackberry, strawberry, and cherry) complicated by chocolate and spice. The texture of the mouthfeel is perhaps what impressed us the most. Like other tasters we noted the quite a bit of sediment as well.
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Threw much more sediment than I expected. Day one quite restrained with a bitter after taste. Day two opened out with liquorice and toffee notes and a mellow finish. I think this will keep for another 5 or more years. I still have a few and will keep a couple for tge long term to see how it develops
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Perfectly balanced wine. Medium bodied. Red cherry and raspberry flavors with great acidity on the finish. Drink now. I would not keep this wine more than a few years.
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Started off with a somewhat bitter after taste but with lots of air it slowly became better. I probably should have decanted this bottle or opened it hours before I wanted to drink it.
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Notes on PNP. Medium red color with a slight meniscus. Savory, sweet tobacco, mushrooms, sour cherry, sweet cherry and strawberry. Palate flavor profile consistent with nose. Full body, medium acidity/tannins and long finish. Excellent. 93+
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Untamed dark fruits and black licorice right after opening. Decanted for 2 hours and the real beauty of this wine came forward. Red cherry. Smoked cranberry. Fresh mildly tart strawberry. Integrated tannins. Paired nicely with smoked salmon. Plenty of time and will improve. Enjoy.
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This has certainly changed in a year and is drinking very well. A nice quality, mature BdM which should continue to deliver pleasure for several years. Dark cherry, raspberry, leather, spice and minerality.
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Dark garnet color turning tawny crimson rust at the rim with a transparent edge. The color indicates some age and readiness for drinking. The nose gives off smoky notes of red berries with hints of scorched earth. The palate is medium bodied with bright acidity that leans on the savory side against the red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry fruit. There are secondary flavors of leather, terracotta pots and rusted pipes on the long, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now until 2037.
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drinking really well. not convinced this has the stuffing for the long haul compared to 2010, but approachable now and over the next 5-10 years i would imagine.
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A very approachable and enjoyable Brunello - my first from this producer. Earthiness and some tobacco and licorice notes complimenting cherries and some darker fruit. I’m finding this wine to be much more interesting and expressive on night two, and I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of this case. It could probably lay down comfortably for another number of years, but it’s drinking well now so I don’t think I’ll wait too long.
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A very approachable Brunello, especially given the vintage. Softer, lighter in color, more floral, and with a perfect amount of acid. If tasted blind, would have guessed 2013. Definitely not a bruiser and will pair better with a wider variety of foods. I actually had this with a pasta carbonara (that had a lot of mushrooms). Worked well, and the acidic lift was nice to cut through the carbonara richness - yum.
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Excellent Brunello at such a young age. Medium bodied, red cherry, balanced acidity, moderate tannins. Not the greatest vintage, but that means a good value and ability to drink now - 2027.
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Prime drinking time. Earthy on the nose. Velvet on the palate. Medium fruit on the mid-palate.Slight Tannin on the finish. A great wine with our filet. Fruit and structure. probably a terrific wine for the next 5-7 years. A great value for the money. A Brunello at less than $50!
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Hitting its drinking window - black fruit, tobacco, forest floor/moist earth and herb notes. Nice acidic lift on finish, on an otherwise ripe wine. Long finish.
Food friendly but also fun to drink on its own.
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First taste is of raspberries. Do get some earthiness. Food friendly. Great with the tomato Posole stew I made. A bit of peppery spiciness. Plums. Fresh fruits countering the old world characteristics. Been opened for 3 hours and doing great.
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Carbonara night. Elegant medium dark garnet with no bricking. Deeply intriguing nose of earth , mushroom and forest floor with a hint of Bret. In the mouth dark fruit with layers of spice and nuanced flavors. Good acid on finish and pairs beautifully with our pasta dish. Glad I have more as I expect this to age nicely.
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This wine was already exhibiting an older garnet hue with tones of orange and brown. At first, there was mushroom on the nose that was joined by violets, red cherry and mineral notes. On the palate, there was nice acidity, bitterness and licorice. The 14.5% alcohol content gives this wine some heat. The light body and the tannins reminded me of an alpine barolo, maybe from Valtellina... Even at its young age, this brunello was a delightful companion for my Costa alla Pizzaiola (Sauteed steak with red sauce).
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unitial flavors of soft vanilla, followed by black fruits, black licorice, earth and tobacco. Plenty of tannins and well balanced structure. Tried this young and look forward to more in the cellar.
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I’m going to hold the rest of mine for a few years. Opened it up to breath for a couple hours. Still tight but Good structure. Was more open a last year when I first tasted. Will be having with a steak in another hour!
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Let it breathe for 2 hours and drank over the next 2. The bottle had a lot of sediment. Complex flavors of cherries, plums, tobacco and grilled meat. Don't be fooled by the medium body because it was a wonderfully long finish. Drinking well now but it most certainly will get better with age.
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I love this wine. 93-94 this evening and I may buy some more. I was expected a more modern style but I loved the old school nature of this wine.
Consistent with my note from January 2018 except the wine didn't throw much sediment and it was very savory in style. I loved it but my wife and in-laws, lovers of new world wines, did not enjoy as much as I did "Dark red color and throwing a fair amount of sediment. Menthol, savory notes (leather/ earth), sour cherry and cherry on the nose. Palate was less savory with great fruit - sour cherry / cherry - medium+ acidity, high tannins and very long finish."
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May gain weight with age, certainly required time to open, but at present a relatively lighter style with dried tart cherries and pepper spice. Slow to show, ending with a medicinal cedar note.
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Well after Bondi Santi that smells and feels like new french oak. It's got the tannin structure of new oak. And is rather stern (but in a different mouth feel) than Bondi Santi. We shall see how it goes. Modern would be my very first thought.
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Tasted it because the 2013 are now available and I was not sure if Argiano would be to my taste after reading the reviews (many 89-90 ratings) I tought it would be too young but what a pleasure it was to drink tonight. Typical cherry and plum brunello flavors. A mix of old style and modern brunello. What I liked the most about this wine was the great balance between fruits, tannins and acidity. A wine to be drunk « on the fruit », I will drink the other bottles I have in the next 4-5 years and I will buy the 2013 for sure !
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Here it is 96 from Suckling. A goodly amount of wood on the nose, but still with a solid fruit core and good earthy length on it.
A Brazilian Billonaire owns them now so he is doing massive reinvestment in order to up the quality.
2018 will be a move away from stainless steel shifting to concrete. And there is allot more complexity going on with it than that. He's most excited about not having the electrical impulses going through the stainless steel.
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Ripe and pleasing with soft mouthfeel. Drinking well now, but should hold up for medium term. Went well with chicken ravioli sun-dried tomato pesto sauce.
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Delicate aromas of plum and cherry. This wine is complex without being overpowering. There is an old world character to it with earth, oak and spice. The tannins are smooth and well balanced with the acidity. Drinking well now but I'm sure will be better with age.
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WS Grand Tour in NYC (Marriott Marquis): I still seem to struggle with the Argiano wines that aren’t the Suolo. This just didn’t stand up to the competition around it (Casanova di Neri or Valdicava). Quick sip. I think perhaps lacking in some of the depth of flavor.
Decanted for three hours and drank over the next two hours. Took a little while to open up in the glass. Red cherry fruit with some astringent tannin. We'll wait a few years to open the next.
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Wanted to see why Brunellos seem to be so sought after. Worth the 'price of admission'. Wonderful wine experience, but definitely European, not American. If this is not 'the best' in a Brunello experience, I can only guess at what that might be. This seemed quite good. Will have to seek out others.
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Decanted at restaurant and drank over 1.5 hours. Initial leafy nose quickly changed to a floral perfume with some air and this medium body wine was bright and lively with red fruits dominant. Good tannin and a lengthy finish. Normally like a heftier body style to brunellos myself but remember 89 is very good...right?
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Well. Argiano seems a hype since quite some time. This 2012 is a decent brunello, but just not more. Compared to the marvels its neighbors produced in 2012, it is more unidimensional, with drying tannins, although charming in the nose. Some nice tobacco notes, but not outgoing on fruit or other secondary notes. Quite a way below the best.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours and paired with grilled NY Strips.
Dark red color and throwing a fair amount of sediment. Menthol, savory notes (leather/ earth), sour cherry and cherry on the nose. Palate was less savory with great fruit - sour cherry / cherry - medium+ acidity, high tannins and very long finish. Very enjoyable now with a decant. 93+
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Way too young to drink now. After 3 hours of airing, the tobacco leaves and spices starts to come out of the wet forest floor, with ripe cherry note dominating throughout. The color suggests good extraction from the hot 2012 Tuscan summer, but it remains fresh in the mouth. complex flavor spectrum with polished tannin, this wine shows great potential in the years to come. Long and lingering finish substantiates this conviction. I really like it, but do I have the time and space to wait that long? 91+
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So savory and spicy on the nose with pepper, sage, leather on top of juicy red and black currants. Serious grip on the palate with medium+ acidity, this is a dense and young wine, but it’s gorgeous. Packed with tart red cherry, plum, black currant) and laced with eucalyptus, sage, dusty earth, chewing tobacco. So much time to unwind.
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Bright red in color at the center of the bowl with a fade to copper. Fabulous nose with crushed cherries, a light strawberry undertone, cocoa, toasted nuts and black tea. Bright, balanced acidity and rounded tannins. This is so enjoyable to drink!
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2012 Brunellos (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typical aging: "The 1st year is spent in FR oak barriques & tonneaux with different capacities, to strengthen the innate structure of the wine, while the 2nd is spent in larger Slavonian oak barrels which allow the wine to achieve balance. After completing the maturing process in wood, the wine is transferred into concrete tanks."
N: Ripe, smoky, toasty, with berries strongly underneath
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it slowly transitions into quite a LONG, very, VERY finely tannic finish with notes of impending swtness. NICE potential, but NEEDS into '21, I'm guessing. 96 pts Suckling, 95 WS, 94 WA, 92 WE @ $68, 91 winealign.com, 89 ea Vinous (D'Agata) & Luca Gardini, 85 Decanter World Wine Awards, & 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Speller). [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $44 & $59.50].
Note: 1st tasted on 7/8/17
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Favorite of lower tier 2012 Brunello's tried at Vintage Wines Saturday tasting ($30-$55). From memory this had crisper cherry flavors and no off notes on the finish. 91+
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I honestly don't know if this bottle is corked - it had that slightly stale paper mulch smell when opened but opened up after about an hour of decanting. Raspberries cherries and something else I can't put my finger on - I hear others saying earth but to me it feels like maybe I got a bad bottle...enjoyed none the less but would not risk it again w this producer
Cherries. Pleasant depth, even more cherries, but there is a touch too much alcohol. Tannins are pleasant, not drying, but a little weak. The fruit is a little tart. Perhaps this can develop further in the bottle? A typical Brunello with focus on power rather than finesse.
Red cherries with some compote with good acidity and light to medium flesh. Some tart goes into the light to medium finish. Nice with food, not so much pedigree
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Brunello di Montalcino Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typical aging: "The 1st year is spent in FR oak barriques & tonneaux with different capacities, to strengthen the innate structure of the wine, while the 2nd is spent in larger Slavonian oak barrels which allow the wine to achieve balance. After completing the maturing process in wood, the wine is transferred into concrete tanks."
N: Smoke, toast, earth clearly atop berries
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt quickly met by puckerish astringency that slowly, fairly seamlessly somewhat resolves by the LONG, dusty, yet almost swtish, finish. NEEDS 2 yrs min, I'd guess, but everything SEEMS there! 96 pts Suckling, 95 WS, 94 WA, 92 WE @ $68, 89 ea Vinous & Luca Gardini, 85 Decanter World Wine Awards, & 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [Tasted @ $37.95, late Oct. '18's wine-searcher still shows NUMEROUS U.S. sources from $44-$65.]
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Very enjoyable right now despite the chewy tannins. Very pormosing wine with real nice cherry fruit, good tannins that require some time in bottel and a firm but allouring body. Good price for the high price region Montalcino is. Hard to resist buying some mor...
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Absolutely delicious. This wine was ready to go with about an hour's worth of decanting. Lovely nose of raspberry, cherries and plum. Medium to full-bodied and extremely balanced on the palate, with dry tannins still lively on the long finish. Red fruit dominated in the first 2 hours before some earthier notes of tobacco and a hint of licorice emerged. Enjoyable now, but potentially a 92+ with another 3-5 years of aging.
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Deep, dark garnet in color. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of cedar & dusty/earthy, some floral notes of violets, smoky, spices, herbs, minerals, anise & a hint of oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and plums with spices, herbs, earthy, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but has the structure & fruit to develop further with additional aging. Be patient, it needs time. A wonderful Brunello & perhaps reflective of the 2012 vintage.
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N: Slightly closed; Minerals & poss spice atop cherries with smoke coming forward with addt'l air/swirling
P: Med, *poss* MF body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, tangy, very slightly spicy finish. While SEEMING approachable now, & already showing an elegance (I suspect the frt is masking underlying structure), best to put this down for at least a couple of yrs, then enjoy for many following. 96 pts Suckling, 95 WS, 94 WA, 92 WE @ $68, 91 winealign.com, 89 ea Vinous (D'Agata) & Luca Gardini, 85 Decanter World Wine Awards, & 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Speller). [As of early Apr '20, wine-searcher still shows 3 sources @ $44 & $59.50].
Addendum: Also tasted on 7/8 & 9/3017.
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Really enjoyed this! Red fruits cherry strawberry some dusty cellar floor peaking in through the fruit. Still very young with nice grip and acidity. Give it a few years to relax.
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First wine in my 2017 Montalcino trip and one if my historic favourites. Medium dark color and very light nose. Subtle first taste, dry red cherries, peppery, very dry and balanced. Long lingering finish with earth and oak subtly there, but not yet. Good wine but less impressed vs the outstanding 2010 and 11.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $60+ (Alpharetta, GA): Dark ruby with lighter crimson rim; some reduction on the nose, cedar, slight vegetal note, hard red fruit, lots of intense cherry; good tannic grip but more accessible than the '10, not as much oak either; very good.
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Juicy and approachable, with good lift, freshness and balance. Will benefit from additional cellar rest, but if you are willing to trade potential, future complexity for immediate enjoyment, have at it, but I recommend 4 hours of time in decanter, or better, double decant the day before. A good success for Argiano; some citrus and fresh red floral helped to bring a cheery character. recommended
Dyb rød. Meget frugtig i næsen, fortsat noget tillukket både i duften og i munden. Noter af lakrids, Lette behagelige tanninner i afslutningen der er medium lang med en smule bitterhed i enden. Flot potentiale.
Deep red color. Quite fruity in the nose, still somewhat closed in both the nose and the mouth. Notes of licorice, Light pleasant tannins in the end which is medium long with a hint of bitterness at the end. Great potential.
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5/5/2024 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 93 Points
As good as the Casanova di Neri 2010, drank two days ago, but in a very different style. This one is more supple and delicate with a lot of fruits without the woody tannins of the Casanova. It is still a concentrated wine, don’t get me wrong, but with more finesse than power.
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4/6/2024 - CWilliam wrote: 94 Points
Orange/red color. On nose, iodine, savory tobacco, sweet/sour cherry and tomato paste. On palate, medium+ body, medium+ acidity, medium tannins and very long (mouth watering) finish. While tomato paste nosted on nose, no fruit oxidation on palate. Do think it's at peak. 94+/-
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2/2/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable. Good balance of red fruit, spices, leather. Minimal funkiness. Seems to be in its drinking window.
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12/26/2023 - WineFrogg wrote: 92 Points
Fine, textbook Brunello - approaching peak. Showed well at PnP. Moderate acidity which helped to deal with the Christmas turkey, leaving a clean, fresh aftertaste. Very enjoyable and excellent value for money. Drink from now to 2028.
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11/14/2023 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I get it now. There is a wall of ultra fine tannins that is deceptive in its subtlety and allows just a peak of what is underneath. Try again in a couple of years.
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10/21/2023 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think this wine is a tribute to the splendidly named Chemical Brothers and their song 'Alive, Alone'; it provokes both melancholy and a sense of deep 'Nyaw!', the spirit that is irresistible.
Another wine that really wants plenty of time open - decant and give at least 6 hours but if you can, drink it at least 24 hours after decanting. I actually found this at its finest on the third day open.
On day 1 this is ok, but dominated by baked fruit, strawberry that has been left to wither a little on the berry with slug trails over it. There is also irritating chocolate and mocca (presumably a combination of very ripe fruit and oak) and some attractive dried herb and graphite and dust. Length, intensity and that quality known as 'Grrrrpthnnnt' are undeniable.
The colour of this is still unadulterated youth - purples and reds. Almost glans like.
On day 3 we finally get integration and real development of fruit. I am getting plum and some delicious mulberry - there is that sour kick right at the end after you have collapsed shivering from the synapse devouring dark fruit. None of that was apparent to me on day 1.
Tannins are the usual Italianate flood in full spate, but they are fine and, cad that I am, I love them; 'feed me fire, for I will grow'.
If I scored this on day 1 it would struggle to the high 80's or 90 at best. On day3 it is the equivalent of the wash of keyboard textures that make 'Alive, Alone' - and I never wanted to be either of those.
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9/24/2023 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gorgeous very right ruby color. Heated strawberries on the nose with noticeable alcohol. Tons of sweet wild red berries on the nose with a faint hint of orange in the finish. Delicious.
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9/3/2023 - Not647f wrote:
One of two bottles of BdM consumed with a roast from 5Mary's, grilled potatoes, grilled okra (yes, everything done over charcoal). Both bottles were a bit modern (read: ripe, plush, a little oaky) for my Brunello dollar, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed them (and an introductory rose of Lagrein). This is also a riper vintage, so that contributes. Very interesting that my impression really differed from the last bottle.
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9/2/2023 - SF Angela wrote: 92 Points
9.2.23 - Decanted about an hour. Smooth, well balanced, blackberry, baking spices, pipe tobacco. Great with tomahawk steaks. Drinking perfectly right now!
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8/12/2023 - Not647f wrote:
We made shish kebabs on the grill with 5Marys' beef and lots of veg, and it just felt like a good time to open one of these. I'm treating the 2012s as earlier drinkers, not necessarily long haul wines. That said, this was textbook BdM, and better than past Argianos (and my first from this vintage). Haven't always loved their house style, but I should have gone much deeper on this vintage. Already getting lighter and a little bricking at the rim. Aromas of violets, dust, leather, dried cherries, brown leaves. On the palate, taut acid, sour cherry, very dry and a bit austere in a good, old school way. I don't know about a 30 year wine, but it has plenty still going for it and could go another ten, pretty easy. Best of the 2012 vintage so far, I think.
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8/3/2023 - Napacablover Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent!
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7/21/2023 - VincentMorey wrote:
Not as great as I had thought. Decanted almost two hours and had very limited development over an hour or so. Maybe needs four hours or in a dull phase? Not as complex or anywhere near as great as 2010, quite a bit of sediment. Good acidity, a touch too alcoholic on the nose at some point. Much less cherry and florals. A minor pitch of oak, and still quite a bit of astringency in the mid palate to finish. More astringency and sourness an hour and a half into the meal after leaving some in the glass. You have to be very specific with food pairings here.
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6/23/2023 - EdwardsCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Outstanding. decanted for 2 hours. plum. dates. black fruits. wrapped in subtle acidity. paired nicely with pasta in red sauce with meatballs.
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5/6/2023 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Quite solid, balanced, showing well now. This held up very well on day #2 and really warrants a score increase to 94 points. This is just so expressive, balanced and lively. The acidity is there, but just to the right degree, and the sense of terroir is excellent. Worth seeking out.
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4/11/2023 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great nose, silky tannins with a dry finish, sweet cherries, good acid
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1/14/2023 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really excellent. Nice balance between fruits, tannins and acidity. Perfect now. Much better than Castelgiocondo 2012 tasted the evening before (90).
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1/4/2023 - Zed57 wrote: 91 Points
Fascinating. It all about earth. Flowery nose to start. Mushrooms, forest, leather and just a whiff of black fruit, perhaps plum on the palate. Not sure what kind of evolution has in it so need to be careful.
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12/25/2022 - JNebs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Black cherry, blackberry, garrigue, leather over well balanced acidity and fine, integrated tannins. This after 1-hour decant. The earthy notes are almost too prominent. Nonetheless, this is a very enjoyable wine.
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11/20/2022 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PNP over 4 hours
This wine is drinking great. Happily surprised. Wonderful mushroom and damp forest floor. Even get a nice damp tree and moss notes on the nose. Beautiful earthy components. Underripe cherry. High alcohol, but not noticed until the backend and maybe a bit anesthetizes on the palette. Musk, fig, black cherry. Beautiful example of an earthy delicious food wine. Big thumbs up. Gaminess. slight hint of parmesan cheese coming out on the nose. This could be my go to wine with Italian food. Pairs amazingly.
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11/15/2022 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 91 Points
It’s difficult to stay critical and objective about a good bottle of Brunello, and this is a great hot-vintage example that’s accessible and well-resolved nine years on. It’s not serious, meditative and built to last: but it’s a real pleasure right now and it’s definitely a special wine with a sense of place.
On the nose, you get confit red cherry and raspberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, dry forest floor and a hint of leather. The palate is intense with black cherry and caramel, with a long finish.
A perfect match for a deep and savoury Tuscan ragu, perfumed with juniper and bay.
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10/1/2022 - Ydaucourt wrote: 91 Points
Attendre. Bel avenir, mais ne pas toucher avant 2024/2025
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6/27/2022 - moega Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice wine, classic Brunello. I thought this was drinking very well right now, exceeded my expectations a bit. Paired well with ribeye and also held up well on its own without food.
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4/17/2022 - Ruubious wrote:
Opened at 5 pm Juicy, cherry and tobacco. A bit tight.
Sat in bottle for 30min than into a small decanter, Drank over dinner, left 1/3 for later
9pm - really aromatic, some chocolate
11pm same, really nice. Needs time to open, plenty of time left to hold this.
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4/13/2022 - CWilliam wrote:
PNP. Didn't note color. Great nose - savory elements with sweet tobacco, sour cherry, red currants, licorice and sweet cherry. Medium+ body, medium acidity/tannins and very long finish. 94+/-
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2/2/2022 - winepog wrote: 91 Points
drinking well
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1/28/2022 - vancouvermatt wrote: 94 Points
Needs an hour to open up and then WOW
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1/16/2022 - Apollo5710 wrote: 94 Points
We really enjoyed this! The nose immediately jumped from the glass to reveal pronounced notes of leather and blackberry. With time, orange, tobacco, almond, chocolate, spice, and additional red fruits flavors. Big and lush in the mouth at first, before settling down to reveal a super suave and silky textured medium- to full-bodied package of black and red fruit flavors (i.e., blackberry, strawberry, and cherry) complicated by chocolate and spice. The texture of the mouthfeel is perhaps what impressed us the most. Like other tasters we noted the quite a bit of sediment as well.
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1/16/2022 - Jon Gash Likes this wine: 91 Points
Threw much more sediment than I expected.
Day one quite restrained with a bitter after taste.
Day two opened out with liquorice and toffee notes and a mellow finish. I think this will keep for another 5 or more years. I still have a few and will keep a couple for tge long term to see how it develops
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12/27/2021 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfectly balanced wine. Medium bodied. Red cherry and raspberry flavors with great acidity on the finish. Drink now. I would not keep this wine more than a few years.
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12/23/2021 - Montana Likes this wine: 91 Points
Started off with a somewhat bitter after taste but with lots of air it slowly became better. I probably should have decanted this bottle or opened it hours before I wanted to drink it.
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12/21/2021 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Notes on PNP. Medium red color with a slight meniscus. Savory, sweet tobacco, mushrooms, sour cherry, sweet cherry and strawberry. Palate flavor profile consistent with nose. Full body, medium acidity/tannins and long finish. Excellent. 93+
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12/5/2021 - EdwardsCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Untamed dark fruits and black licorice right after opening. Decanted for 2 hours and the real beauty of this wine came forward. Red cherry. Smoked cranberry. Fresh mildly tart strawberry. Integrated tannins. Paired nicely with smoked salmon. Plenty of time and will improve. Enjoy.
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9/30/2021 - jyensan Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has certainly changed in a year and is drinking very well. A nice quality, mature BdM which should continue to deliver pleasure for several years. Dark cherry, raspberry, leather, spice and minerality.
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9/20/2021 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet color turning tawny crimson rust at the rim with a transparent edge. The color indicates some age and readiness for drinking. The nose gives off smoky notes of red berries with hints of scorched earth. The palate is medium bodied with bright acidity that leans on the savory side against the red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry fruit. There are secondary flavors of leather, terracotta pots and rusted pipes on the long, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now until 2037.
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9/12/2021 - Iam Redwood wrote: 95 Points
A beautiful brunello. In a fabulous spot now. Served with osso buco and risotto milanese. Classic deserves a classic.
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9/10/2021 - ghanbai Likes this wine: 95 Points
At its peak? This is the best bottle so far
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5/8/2021 - guitarkim Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hrs
Fruity with nice concentration. Lively acidity and round tannins. Good length.
Far from open and available. Decant for several hrs, or let it sleep for some years.
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5/1/2021 - YingerW wrote:
Had this on a Friday night.. struggle to open. Worried it was still too young. But we deserve a decent bottle, even if for no reason.
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3/7/2021 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Better the second day -
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1/30/2021 - Gian wrote: 89 Points
A nice Brunello but nothing to get mad. Well done but in a standard way. Maybe with some years will get better
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1/23/2021 - Rickets Likes this wine: 93 Points
drinking really well. not convinced this has the stuffing for the long haul compared to 2010, but approachable now and over the next 5-10 years i would imagine.
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1/16/2021 - RSMVA11 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very approachable and enjoyable Brunello - my first from this producer. Earthiness and some tobacco and licorice notes complimenting cherries and some darker fruit. I’m finding this wine to be much more interesting and expressive on night two, and I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of this case. It could probably lay down comfortably for another number of years, but it’s drinking well now so I don’t think I’ll wait too long.
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12/14/2020 - PLiu Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very approachable Brunello, especially given the vintage. Softer, lighter in color, more floral, and with a perfect amount of acid. If tasted blind, would have guessed 2013. Definitely not a bruiser and will pair better with a wider variety of foods. I actually had this with a pasta carbonara (that had a lot of mushrooms). Worked well, and the acidic lift was nice to cut through the carbonara richness - yum.
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9/7/2020 - Steven G Likes this wine: 90 Points
Super wine, full bodied but with soft tannins, cherry taste and hints of tobacco and chocolate
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8/19/2020 - strijbosmh wrote:
Gift to Olivier Lins
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8/15/2020 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent Brunello at such a young age. Medium bodied, red cherry, balanced acidity, moderate tannins. Not the greatest vintage, but that means a good value and ability to drink now - 2027.
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7/12/2020 - fcs@macsimsllc.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Prime drinking time. Earthy on the nose. Velvet on the palate. Medium fruit on the mid-palate.Slight Tannin on the finish. A great wine with our filet. Fruit and structure. probably a terrific wine for the next 5-7 years. A great value for the money. A Brunello at less than $50!
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7/10/2020 - gtkunstman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Raspberry notes, light acidity, very little tannin. Earthy notes on the back end, and a smooth finish. It’s a very nice wine.
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5/12/2020 - vancouvermatt wrote: 93 Points
First of three.
Hitting its drinking window - black fruit, tobacco, forest floor/moist earth and herb notes. Nice acidic lift on finish, on an otherwise ripe wine. Long finish.
Food friendly but also fun to drink on its own.
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4/25/2020 - happytom Likes this wine: 90 Points
First taste is of raspberries. Do get some earthiness. Food friendly. Great with the tomato Posole stew I made. A bit of peppery spiciness. Plums. Fresh fruits countering the old world characteristics. Been opened for 3 hours and doing great.
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4/11/2020 - AB16 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent notes with March 2020 tasting
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4/10/2020 - Pluecht Likes this wine:
Needs some time in the bottle. Age.
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3/17/2020 - Nmerc2 wrote:
Good
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3/14/2020 - AB16 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Carbonara night. Elegant medium dark garnet with no bricking. Deeply intriguing nose of earth , mushroom and forest floor with a hint of Bret. In the mouth dark fruit with layers of spice and nuanced flavors. Good acid on finish and pairs beautifully with our pasta dish. Glad I have more as I expect this to age nicely.
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2/29/2020 - EdwardsCellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cassis. blueberry notes. still plenty of time left in this bottle.
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12/30/2019 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking nicely
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7/25/2019 - Verna L. Poole Likes this wine:
This wine was already exhibiting an older garnet hue with tones of orange and brown. At first, there was mushroom on the nose that was joined by violets, red cherry and mineral notes. On the palate, there was nice acidity, bitterness and licorice. The 14.5% alcohol content gives this wine some heat. The light body and the tannins reminded me of an alpine barolo, maybe from Valtellina... Even at its young age, this brunello was a delightful companion for my Costa alla Pizzaiola (Sauteed steak with red sauce).
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6/30/2019 - EdwardsCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
unitial flavors of soft vanilla, followed by black fruits, black licorice, earth and tobacco. Plenty of tannins and well balanced structure. Tried this young and look forward to more in the cellar.
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5/22/2019 - recarv wrote: 90 Points
Tried first of 4 to see how it’s evolving- too young. Got better after 4hrs, but this has promise to deliver in the future, that is all.
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5/8/2019 - mdp01 wrote: 91 Points
I’m going to hold the rest of mine for a few years. Opened it up to breath for a couple hours. Still tight but Good structure. Was more open a last year when I first tasted. Will be having with a steak in another hour!
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4/3/2019 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Let it breathe for 2 hours and drank over the next 2. The bottle had a lot of sediment. Complex flavors of cherries, plums, tobacco and grilled meat. Don't be fooled by the medium body because it was a wonderfully long finish. Drinking well now but it most certainly will get better with age.
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2/28/2019 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
Approaching maturity here; herbs galore, chocolate, fine balance. Very open, very nice.
#Kanalen
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2/24/2019 - CWilliam wrote:
I love this wine. 93-94 this evening and I may buy some more. I was expected a more modern style but I loved the old school nature of this wine.
Consistent with my note from January 2018 except the wine didn't throw much sediment and it was very savory in style. I loved it but my wife and in-laws, lovers of new world wines, did not enjoy as much as I did "Dark red color and throwing a fair amount of sediment. Menthol, savory notes (leather/ earth), sour cherry and cherry on the nose. Palate was less savory with great fruit - sour cherry / cherry - medium+ acidity, high tannins and very long finish."
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2/22/2019 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant wine with dark cherry and plum notes, hints of violet, smoke and grilled notes ending with silky tannins. A beauty.
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1/10/2019 - smphelps wrote: 89 Points
May gain weight with age, certainly required time to open, but at present a relatively lighter style with dried tart cherries and pepper spice. Slow to show, ending with a medicinal cedar note.
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12/31/2018 - laralh wrote: 90 Points
Kirsebær, lær, moreller, pepper. Lang, fyldig, intens.
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12/8/2018 - laralh wrote: 88 Points
Moreller, kirsebær, lakris, lær, litt salvie. Fast, lang og balansert.
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12/8/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Well after Bondi Santi that smells and feels like new french oak. It's got the tannin structure of new oak. And is rather stern (but in a different mouth feel) than Bondi Santi. We shall see how it goes. Modern would be my very first thought.
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11/20/2018 - Pluecht Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delightful nose old world composure. Hold
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11/13/2018 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted it because the 2013 are now available and I was not sure if Argiano would be to my taste after reading the reviews (many 89-90 ratings)
I tought it would be too young but what a pleasure it was to drink tonight. Typical cherry and plum brunello flavors. A mix of old style and modern brunello. What I liked the most about this wine was the great balance between fruits, tannins and acidity. A wine to be drunk « on the fruit », I will drink the other bottles I have in the next 4-5 years and I will buy the 2013 for sure !
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10/23/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Here it is 96 from Suckling. A goodly amount of wood on the nose, but still with a solid fruit core and good earthy length on it.
A Brazilian Billonaire owns them now so he is doing massive reinvestment in order to up the quality.
2018 will be a move away from stainless steel shifting to concrete. And there is allot more complexity going on with it than that. He's most excited about not having the electrical impulses going through the stainless steel.
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9/21/2018 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Ripe and pleasing with soft mouthfeel. Drinking well now, but should hold up for medium term. Went well with chicken ravioli sun-dried tomato pesto sauce.
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8/19/2018 - ksteiner Does not like this wine: 90 Points
A little early in the drinking window but after allowing it to open up for about a half hour in the bottle it was really smooth and wonderful.
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7/31/2018 - Rezy13 wrote:
Super reduced, oaky, sour red and dark fruit; hold.
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7/21/2018 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicate aromas of plum and cherry. This wine is complex without being overpowering. There is an old world character to it with earth, oak and spice. The tannins are smooth and well balanced with the acidity. Drinking well now but I'm sure will be better with age.
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5/26/2018 - ShangGuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
One year later is drinking very well. Have it now. I would say my 2017 rating was low so am upping it.
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5/13/2018 - franinnyc Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice. Dried cherries. Went down easy with a pizza.
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4/24/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
WS Grand Tour in NYC (Marriott Marquis): I still seem to struggle with the Argiano wines that aren’t the Suolo. This just didn’t stand up to the competition around it (Casanova di Neri or Valdicava). Quick sip. I think perhaps lacking in some of the depth of flavor.
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4/1/2018 - JoeD83 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for three hours and drank over the next two hours. Took a little while to open up in the glass. Red cherry fruit with some astringent tannin. We'll wait a few years to open the next.
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3/31/2018 - madvitale Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wanted to see why Brunellos seem to be so sought after. Worth the 'price of admission'. Wonderful wine experience, but definitely European, not American. If this is not 'the best' in a Brunello experience, I can only guess at what that might be. This seemed quite good. Will have to seek out others.
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3/30/2018 - BordeauxBoy wrote: 89 Points
Decanted at restaurant and drank over 1.5 hours. Initial leafy nose quickly changed to a floral perfume with some air and this medium body wine was bright and lively with red fruits dominant. Good tannin and a lengthy finish. Normally like a heftier body style to brunellos myself but remember 89 is very good...right?
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3/14/2018 - Willi Vinotti wrote: 85 Points
Well. Argiano seems a hype since quite some time. This 2012 is a decent brunello, but just not more. Compared to the marvels its neighbors produced in 2012, it is more unidimensional, with drying tannins, although charming in the nose. Some nice tobacco notes, but not outgoing on fruit or other secondary notes. Quite a way below the best.
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2/18/2018 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good.
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1/24/2018 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote: 90 Points
excellent, but a bit too young. Will rebuy.
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1/21/2018 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours and paired with grilled NY Strips.
Dark red color and throwing a fair amount of sediment. Menthol, savory notes (leather/ earth), sour cherry and cherry on the nose. Palate was less savory with great fruit - sour cherry / cherry - medium+ acidity, high tannins and very long finish. Very enjoyable now with a decant. 93+
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11/16/2017 - mpsocal wrote: flawed
Slightly corked
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11/8/2017 - ChinaWineDude Likes this wine: 91 Points
Way too young to drink now. After 3 hours of airing, the tobacco leaves and spices starts to come out of the wet forest floor, with ripe cherry note dominating throughout. The color suggests good extraction from the hot 2012 Tuscan summer, but it remains fresh in the mouth. complex flavor spectrum with polished tannin, this wine shows great potential in the years to come. Long and lingering finish substantiates this conviction. I really like it, but do I have the time and space to wait that long? 91+
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10/24/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
So savory and spicy on the nose with pepper, sage, leather on top of juicy red and black currants. Serious grip on the palate with medium+ acidity, this is a dense and young wine, but it’s gorgeous. Packed with tart red cherry, plum, black currant) and laced with eucalyptus, sage, dusty earth, chewing tobacco. So much time to unwind.
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10/10/2017 - KRKacs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright red in color at the center of the bowl with a fade to copper. Fabulous nose with crushed cherries, a light strawberry undertone, cocoa, toasted nuts and black tea. Bright, balanced acidity and rounded tannins. This is so enjoyable to drink!
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9/30/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
2012 Brunellos (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typical aging: "The 1st year is spent in FR oak barriques & tonneaux with different capacities, to strengthen the innate structure of the wine, while the 2nd is spent in larger Slavonian oak barrels which allow the wine to achieve balance. After completing the maturing process in wood, the wine is transferred into concrete tanks."
N: Ripe, smoky, toasty, with berries strongly underneath
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it slowly transitions into quite a LONG, very, VERY finely tannic finish with notes of impending swtness. NICE potential, but NEEDS into '21, I'm guessing. 96 pts Suckling, 95 WS, 94 WA, 92 WE @ $68, 91 winealign.com, 89 ea Vinous (D'Agata) & Luca Gardini, 85 Decanter World Wine Awards, & 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Speller). [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $44 & $59.50].
Note: 1st tasted on 7/8/17
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9/30/2017 - yeti575rider wrote: 91 Points
Favorite of lower tier 2012 Brunello's tried at Vintage Wines Saturday tasting ($30-$55). From memory this had crisper cherry flavors and no off notes on the finish. 91+
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9/17/2017 - Breaktheory Likes this wine: 80 Points
I honestly don't know if this bottle is corked - it had that slightly stale paper mulch smell when opened but opened up after about an hour of decanting. Raspberries cherries and something else I can't put my finger on - I hear others saying earth but to me it feels like maybe I got a bad bottle...enjoyed none the less but would not risk it again w this producer
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8/4/2017 - Eriklainen wrote: 83 Points
Cherries. Pleasant depth, even more cherries, but there is a touch too much alcohol. Tannins are pleasant, not drying, but a little weak. The fruit is a little tart. Perhaps this can develop further in the bottle? A typical Brunello with focus on power rather than finesse.
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7/22/2017 - farinas wrote: 91 Points
Red cherries with some compote with good acidity and light to medium flesh. Some tart goes into the light to medium finish. Nice with food, not so much pedigree
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7/8/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Brunello di Montalcino Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typical aging: "The 1st year is spent in FR oak barriques & tonneaux with different capacities, to strengthen the innate structure of the wine, while the 2nd is spent in larger Slavonian oak barrels which allow the wine to achieve balance. After completing the maturing process in wood, the wine is transferred into concrete tanks."
N: Smoke, toast, earth clearly atop berries
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt quickly met by puckerish astringency that slowly, fairly seamlessly somewhat resolves by the LONG, dusty, yet almost swtish, finish. NEEDS 2 yrs min, I'd guess, but everything SEEMS there! 96 pts Suckling, 95 WS, 94 WA, 92 WE @ $68, 89 ea Vinous & Luca Gardini, 85 Decanter World Wine Awards, & 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [Tasted @ $37.95, late Oct. '18's wine-searcher still shows NUMEROUS U.S. sources from $44-$65.]
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7/4/2017 - Christian von Dresky Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very enjoyable right now despite the chewy tannins. Very pormosing wine with real nice cherry fruit, good tannins that require some time in bottel and a firm but allouring body. Good price for the high price region Montalcino is. Hard to resist buying some mor...
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6/17/2017 - Isaac L Likes this wine: 91 Points
Absolutely delicious. This wine was ready to go with about an hour's worth of decanting. Lovely nose of raspberry, cherries and plum. Medium to full-bodied and extremely balanced on the palate, with dry tannins still lively on the long finish. Red fruit dominated in the first 2 hours before some earthier notes of tobacco and a hint of licorice emerged. Enjoyable now, but potentially a 92+ with another 3-5 years of aging.
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6/11/2017 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep, dark garnet in color. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of cedar & dusty/earthy, some floral notes of violets, smoky, spices, herbs, minerals, anise & a hint of oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and plums with spices, herbs, earthy, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but has the structure & fruit to develop further with additional aging. Be patient, it needs time. A wonderful Brunello & perhaps reflective of the 2012 vintage.
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6/10/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [3 Whites & 6 Reds] from 06/09/17 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this bottling.
N: Slightly closed; Minerals & poss spice atop cherries with smoke coming forward with addt'l air/swirling
P: Med, *poss* MF body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, tangy, very slightly spicy finish. While SEEMING approachable now, & already showing an elegance (I suspect the frt is masking underlying structure), best to put this down for at least a couple of yrs, then enjoy for many following. 96 pts Suckling, 95 WS, 94 WA, 92 WE @ $68, 91 winealign.com, 89 ea Vinous (D'Agata) & Luca Gardini, 85 Decanter World Wine Awards, & 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Speller). [As of early Apr '20, wine-searcher still shows 3 sources @ $44 & $59.50].
Addendum: Also tasted on 7/8 & 9/3017.
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6/6/2017 - scott w Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this! Red fruits cherry strawberry some dusty cellar floor peaking in through the fruit. Still very young with nice grip and acidity. Give it a few years to relax.
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5/27/2017 - ShangGuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
First wine in my 2017 Montalcino trip and one if my historic favourites. Medium dark color and very light nose. Subtle first taste, dry red cherries, peppery, very dry and balanced. Long lingering finish with earth and oak subtly there, but not yet. Good wine but less impressed vs the outstanding 2010 and 11.
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5/16/2017 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $60+ (Alpharetta, GA): Dark ruby with lighter crimson rim; some reduction on the nose, cedar, slight vegetal note, hard red fruit, lots of intense cherry; good tannic grip but more accessible than the '10, not as much oak either; very good.
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4/11/2017 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Juicy and approachable, with good lift, freshness and balance. Will benefit from additional cellar rest, but if you are willing to trade potential, future complexity for immediate enjoyment, have at it, but I recommend 4 hours of time in decanter, or better, double decant the day before. A good success for Argiano; some citrus and fresh red floral helped to bring a cheery character. recommended
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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3/6/2017 - farinas wrote: 92 Points
Great Wines of Italy with James Suckling (Moore Building, Miami, FL): One my wife's favorite, this Brunello offers a more modern rich style with loads of red berries and fresh herbs.
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3/6/2017 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. Suckling great wines of Italy tasting at the Moore building. I realized today that I do like this producer. 91+ points.
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2/15/2017 - Bernsdorf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dyb rød. Meget frugtig i næsen, fortsat noget tillukket både i duften og i munden. Noter af lakrids, Lette behagelige tanninner i afslutningen der er medium lang med en smule bitterhed i enden. Flot potentiale.
Deep red color. Quite fruity in the nose, still somewhat closed in both the nose and the mouth. Notes of licorice, Light pleasant tannins in the end which is medium long with a hint of bitterness at the end. Great potential.
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