Opened after we were let down by by last two Altessino 2012s. Opens a with a bit of funk and settle down nicely. Drank well with typical BDM notes but nothing special - a little disappointed.
2 hour decant. Red fruit and mouth drying tannins. Despite the tannins, this always drinks well young for me. Mature notes of smoke, earth and cigar box coming through on the palate. I would expect this to continue to get better. Looking forward to more bottles but plan to wait a bit.
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Not the greatest Brunello and not great QPR at $39 from Garagiste as a Mystery. Not getting the value from the recent Mysteries. Should probably stick to the Washington Mysteries.
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Deep garnet red color in the glass with legs clearly visible on sides of glass. Aromas of dark chery, leather, camphor, and ripe plums. On the palate, most prominent flavor sensations are dark cherry, raspberries, and cranberries. There is a “coolness” at first taste on the palate that suggests a hint of camphor. Acidity is engaging while tannins are moderate. Slight hints of pepper on the finish. Pleasant Brunello Di Montalcino.
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Strawberry and camphor on the nose. On the palate, Sangiovese cherry with notes of cedar, clove, orange peel, and leather, with light tannins and moderate acidity on the medium to long finish. This is more elegant than powerful, and although it's excellent it doesn't really taste like Brunello. Given the tannins and acidity, the Cellartracker drinking window is probably too long for once, and I am planning to drink mine in the next three to five years. This was an excellent value at about $40.
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I disagree with previous posters saying that this is almost over the hill. On the contrary, it seemed still too young and closed.
I don't think this will ever be a great wine but it might be a fine wine with some more time. An 88 with upside potential. Withholding an actual rating.
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PNP and paired with grilled skirt steak. Was a little surprised at how ready this wine was to drink at ~ 8 years but maybe that is the vintage. Light red color with large change from rim to center. On nose, great sweet/savory mix- sweet cherry, tobacco, sour cherry, cedar, orange rind. Palate was more fruit oriented - fig, sweet cherry and strawberry - with full body, medium+ acidity, medium tannins and very long finish. I loved this and kudos to JJ Buckley for the price on this one.
Agree with prior tasters at peak - can't estimate how long it will hold there. 94+/-
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One of the best from this vintage. It is drinking very well now (reaching its potential). Sedative nose, elegant body, complex, and well balanced, loads of dark fruits, leather, some minerals, a touch of raspberry jam, delicious and lovely acidity to balance its sweetness, clean and precise. it is well priced, bought an additional case from JJB, and very happy with the purchase.
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The cork of this wine was half way up saturated, and although the top of the cork looked to be in good shape, the wine had begun to oxidize I believe. The color was less red and more orange, and although the wine was not completely bad, it certainly had passed its peak. If you have this wine, I would examine it and perhaps go ahead and drink it.
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Black fruit, sweaty saddle leather, chestnut, lightly burnt toast. Surprising body and balance. Despite the black fruit it offers plenty of acidity. It has a lovely creamy mouth feel without glaringly obvious oak. I'm very impressed.
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Cigar, leather and red fruits predominant. Medium acidity, overall well balanced and a medium + finish. Structure is aligned with the 2014 vintage. Happy with this wine.
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Ruby red. Perfumed nose with a touch of loaminess that carries into the palate. Flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and anise. The wine is fairly austere with a pronounced acidity. Not a lot of of fruit, but maybe a few more years will balance things out more.
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Unfortunately this was a pop-n-pour as the bottle I had previously decanted was corked, and as expected it really did not open until about an hour after serving. Once it does, nice notes of cherry and graphite with a leathery finish. Tannins are vermouth-like bitter, with herbal and earthy notes of tree bark and black tea. The acidity is almost non-existent, which fits the vintage but Sangiovese usually has some acidic profile; in this case the acidity never kicks in on the finish even though the tannins I would describe as medium at best. Maybe I should have decanted, but that won't magically add acidity (it is there or it isn't). Perplexing but still enjoyable and I enjoy this producer's subtle, throwback style. $32 JJB value keeps this in the B+ (88) discussion.
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This was approachable from the start but clearly improved over several hours. Full bodied with ripe cherry/strawberry, tobacco, animal, Asian spice, tar, mineral and dusty earth. A great balance between sweet and savory. Actually quite potent with the only signs of the poor vintage showing on the shorter than usual finish. Medium acidity and meditate tannin. My guess is this peaks in 5 years.
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Suckling's Great Wines of Italy (Loews Hotel - Chicago IL): Walk around tasting. Red cherry with spice in an old fashioned, understated style with very good weight. Slightly drying finish for now, but this needs a few years to soften/ harmonize overall. Good+ 90+ point potential.
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Fine Vines Fall 2019 Portfolio Tasting (City Winery - Chicago IL): Walk-around tasting, brief note. Great nose with floral charm. Red cherry and berry with earth, mineral and subtle meaty spice. Long, lean finish that I really like. Classic style. 90+ point potential. Pateince required.
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4/4/2024 - MostlyFrance Likes this wine:
Loved this. Great w cacio e Pepe and roasted chicken.
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3/15/2024 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 90 Points
Took to ribeye dinner. Surprisingly elegant, given the vintage. Reasonably good acidity. Good BdM typicity.
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8/13/2023 - sswine wrote: 90 Points
Opened after we were let down by by last two Altessino 2012s. Opens a with a bit of funk and settle down nicely. Drank well with typical BDM notes but nothing special - a little disappointed.
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4/30/2023 - Jerseyjudge Likes this wine: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Red fruit and mouth drying tannins. Despite the tannins, this always drinks well young for me. Mature notes of smoke, earth and cigar box coming through on the palate. I would expect this to continue to get better. Looking forward to more bottles but plan to wait a bit.
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3/13/2023 - maxmanx wrote:
Not the greatest Brunello and not great QPR at $39 from Garagiste as a Mystery. Not getting the value from the recent Mysteries. Should probably stick to the Washington Mysteries.
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2/19/2023 - EXPLORER 825 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet red color in the glass with legs clearly visible on sides of glass.
Aromas of dark chery, leather, camphor, and ripe plums.
On the palate, most prominent flavor sensations are dark cherry, raspberries, and cranberries. There is a “coolness” at first taste on the palate that suggests a hint of camphor.
Acidity is engaging while tannins are moderate. Slight hints of pepper on the finish.
Pleasant Brunello Di Montalcino.
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10/11/2022 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry and camphor on the nose. On the palate, Sangiovese cherry with notes of cedar, clove, orange peel, and leather, with light tannins and moderate acidity on the medium to long finish. This is more elegant than powerful, and although it's excellent it doesn't really taste like Brunello. Given the tannins and acidity, the Cellartracker drinking window is probably too long for once, and I am planning to drink mine in the next three to five years. This was an excellent value at about $40.
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10/8/2022 - winepog wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well right now. Fine Sangiovese. Starting to age nicely. Cheers.
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8/28/2022 - guillermo- wrote:
I disagree with previous posters saying that this is almost over the hill. On the contrary, it seemed still too young and closed.
I don't think this will ever be a great wine but it might be a fine wine with some more time. An 88 with upside potential. Withholding an actual rating.
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8/4/2022 - williamdavieshp@gmail.com wrote: flawed
Disappointing showed advanced signs of oxidation from the wineaccess Michelin Guide Box subscription. Clearly a compromised cork.
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8/1/2022 - CWilliam wrote: 94 Points
PNP and paired with grilled skirt steak. Was a little surprised at how ready this wine was to drink at ~ 8 years but maybe that is the vintage. Light red color with large change from rim to center. On nose, great sweet/savory mix- sweet cherry, tobacco, sour cherry, cedar, orange rind. Palate was more fruit oriented - fig, sweet cherry and strawberry - with full body, medium+ acidity, medium tannins and very long finish. I loved this and kudos to JJ Buckley for the price on this one.
Agree with prior tasters at peak - can't estimate how long it will hold there. 94+/-
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4/22/2022 - brandonb22 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great BdM given 14’ vintage. Medium nose of cherry and tobacco with cinnamon on the palete. Medium tannins, acidity and body. Long finish.
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3/28/2022 - Hawk94 Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the best from this vintage. It is drinking very well now (reaching its potential). Sedative nose, elegant body, complex, and well balanced, loads of dark fruits, leather, some minerals, a touch of raspberry jam, delicious and lovely acidity to balance its sweetness, clean and precise. it is well priced, bought an additional case from JJB, and very happy with the purchase.
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2/27/2022 - zimmerman80 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
The cork of this wine was half way up saturated, and although the top of the cork looked to be in good shape, the wine had begun to oxidize I believe. The color was less red and more orange, and although the wine was not completely bad, it certainly had passed its peak. If you have this wine, I would examine it and perhaps go ahead and drink it.
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2/10/2022 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black fruit, sweaty saddle leather, chestnut, lightly burnt toast. Surprising body and balance. Despite the black fruit it offers plenty of acidity. It has a lovely creamy mouth feel without glaringly obvious oak. I'm very impressed.
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2/1/2022 - Max S. Likes this wine: 93 Points
Open for 2 hours of slow ox minimum
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1/1/2022 - gl051 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cigar, leather and red fruits predominant. Medium acidity, overall well balanced and a medium + finish. Structure is aligned with the 2014 vintage. Happy with this wine.
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11/26/2021 - djarcara wrote: 88 Points
Ruby red. Perfumed nose with a touch of loaminess that carries into the palate. Flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and anise. The wine is fairly austere with a pronounced acidity. Not a lot of of fruit, but maybe a few more years will balance things out more.
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11/20/2021 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 88 Points
Unfortunately this was a pop-n-pour as the bottle I had previously decanted was corked, and as expected it really did not open until about an hour after serving. Once it does, nice notes of cherry and graphite with a leathery finish. Tannins are vermouth-like bitter, with herbal and earthy notes of tree bark and black tea. The acidity is almost non-existent, which fits the vintage but Sangiovese usually has some acidic profile; in this case the acidity never kicks in on the finish even though the tannins I would describe as medium at best. Maybe I should have decanted, but that won't magically add acidity (it is there or it isn't). Perplexing but still enjoyable and I enjoy this producer's subtle, throwback style. $32 JJB value keeps this in the B+ (88) discussion.
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7/9/2021 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
No formal notes. Beautiful wine with earthiness as well as spices. Good and fresh acidity. Beautiful wine.
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3/8/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
This was approachable from the start but clearly improved over several hours. Full bodied with ripe cherry/strawberry, tobacco, animal, Asian spice, tar, mineral and dusty earth. A great balance between sweet and savory. Actually quite potent with the only signs of the poor vintage showing on the shorter than usual finish. Medium acidity and meditate tannin. My guess is this peaks in 5 years.
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5/26/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Gosh that is smelling great as well. And good tightness and tauntness across the palate.
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4/24/2020 - 2coffins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good for the price point.
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3/2/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Suckling's Great Wines of Italy (Loews Hotel - Chicago IL): Walk around tasting. Red cherry with spice in an old fashioned, understated style with very good weight. Slightly drying finish for now, but this needs a few years to soften/ harmonize overall. Good+ 90+ point potential.
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9/9/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Fine Vines Fall 2019 Portfolio Tasting (City Winery - Chicago IL): Walk-around tasting, brief note. Great nose with floral charm. Red cherry and berry with earth, mineral and subtle meaty spice. Long, lean finish that I really like. Classic style. 90+ point potential. Pateince required.
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