Drinking beautifully now, not likely to improve further. Very fragrant, notes of earth, forest floor & dark fruit. Tannins totally mellowed, with very engaging lift. A lovely wine, enjoyed with Bucatini All’Amatriciana. 94+
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It is really really good now. I don't understand the understated window drinking periods. This wine just needs time and it all balances out. Tobacco undertones and a good length.
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Light colour but powerful wine. Flavours of burnt cherry, tar, menthol and bitter black coffee. Savoury rather than sweet. Reasonably high in alcohol but a balanced wine that is smooth throughout and with string tannins on the finish.
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Very impressed - a powerful but all so fresh nose - lots of mature fruit some raisins - a very nice balance - tannins and acidity very well integrated with the still powerful fruit - for me it is either 91-92 - give 91 but was close to 92 really a good bootle - sorry I only had this one
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Not as good as a year ago; like in a TN below, this wine peaked after a couple of hours. Begins well enough, with dark strawberry, raspberry and Deb cites violets. The palate is soft and harmonious, the tannins submerged and sweet. But after an hour or two, the fruit seems to taper and dry out, to the point that it even seems that a bit of alcohol peeks out from behind the receding fruit. At nine years, perhaps this is heading over the hill. Drink now to short term. Pizza night with Deb; the last bottle, a year ago during our NYE pizza crawl, showed better richness and was more alive.
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The ’95 was so good on NYE that we decided to compare this one. I was expecting a soft, forward wine, given the average vintage and some time in bottle already - Wrong. While somewhat plumper than the ’95 and quite accessible today, this wine still has plenty of underlying stuffing, acidity and tannin to go long. Terrific red and black fruits wrapped in complexities of tobacco, earth and spice. Far too easy to drink today. 92 points
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When I think of this wine, I think big, robust and dominating (think '99 and '01). But this 2000 was quite elegant and soft. It began tight but after an hour in the decanter really revealed fresh cherry, wet spruce notes, hints of tobacco and medium yet soft tannins. Straightforward but quite enjoyable now...may peak in a year or two. foodandwineblog.com
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Nice cherry, coffee and oak on the palate, with an unmistakeable sangiovese acidic finish. Very smooth, noticeable tannins. The fruit disappeard on the second day, leaving only oak and tannin. Nice bottle, but not a great value.
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Completely, totally, and without doubt shut down. Huge fruit lurking within a lush, brooding, texture, but only brief glimpses emerging over 5 hours. Hold for 3 years and try again.
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Something of a disappointment. Rather than the tea, rose petals, and carmel I experienced in Montalcino, this wine was more like a mid-quality Super Tuscan. If I'm going to pay the premium for the Grosso grape, they better put plenty in the bottle.
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Brunello Wine Dinner (The Samsons): Almost non-existent nose. Purple fruit flavors with a medium-long finish. Tannis are still grippy, but not unpleasant. Overall impression of youth. #4 WOTN.
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A bit young, but opened up over the course of dinner. Enjoyable from the get go but the true character didn't start emerging for a while. Overall a nice choice for dinner at the restaurant.
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Winery Visit and Tasting - Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona (Tuscany, Italy): Tasted at the winery; Medium clear ruby in color with spicy nutmeg on the nose. A bit of tobacco on the finish. Nice structure with soft tannins. Not a bruiser Brunello, perhaps ready sooner than some vintages. 31.50 Euro.
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9/12/2021 - Genius Light Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking beautifully now, not likely to improve further. Very fragrant, notes of earth, forest floor & dark fruit. Tannins totally mellowed, with very engaging lift. A lovely wine, enjoyed with Bucatini All’Amatriciana. 94+
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5/2/2021 - colin107 Likes this wine: 95 Points
It is really really good now. I don't understand the understated window drinking periods. This wine just needs time and it all balances out. Tobacco undertones and a good length.
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12/26/2015 - phynes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light colour but powerful wine. Flavours of burnt cherry, tar, menthol and bitter black coffee. Savoury rather than sweet. Reasonably high in alcohol but a balanced wine that is smooth throughout and with string tannins on the finish.
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11/17/2015 - ILarsen wrote: 91 Points
Very impressed - a powerful but all so fresh nose - lots of mature fruit some raisins - a very nice balance - tannins and acidity very well integrated with the still powerful fruit - for me it is either 91-92 - give 91 but was close to 92 really a good bootle - sorry I only had this one
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9/15/2015 - alba_br wrote: 89 Points
Excelente. Equilibrado e elegante.
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3/20/2015 - alba_br wrote: 92 Points
Excelente maravilhoso
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2/22/2013 - OakvilleGrade Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still tasting relatively young at 13 years old. Fruity with some secondary flavors developing. Acidity was surprisingly low.
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12/8/2009 - Pknut wrote:
Not as good as a year ago; like in a TN below, this wine peaked after a couple of hours. Begins well enough, with dark strawberry, raspberry and Deb cites violets. The palate is soft and harmonious, the tannins submerged and sweet. But after an hour or two, the fruit seems to taper and dry out, to the point that it even seems that a bit of alcohol peeks out from behind the receding fruit. At nine years, perhaps this is heading over the hill. Drink now to short term. Pizza night with Deb; the last bottle, a year ago during our NYE pizza crawl, showed better richness and was more alive.
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1/1/2009 - Pknut wrote: 92 Points
The ’95 was so good on NYE that we decided to compare this one. I was expecting a soft, forward wine, given the average vintage and some time in bottle already - Wrong. While somewhat plumper than the ’95 and quite accessible today, this wine still has plenty of underlying stuffing, acidity and tannin to go long. Terrific red and black fruits wrapped in complexities of tobacco, earth and spice. Far too easy to drink today. 92 points
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9/23/2008 - foodandwineblog wrote: 90 Points
When I think of this wine, I think big, robust and dominating (think '99 and '01). But this 2000 was quite elegant and soft. It began tight but after an hour in the decanter really revealed fresh cherry, wet spruce notes, hints of tobacco and medium yet soft tannins. Straightforward but quite enjoyable now...may peak in a year or two. foodandwineblog.com
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8/31/2007 - pvd420 wrote: 90 Points
soft and generous, not explosive but an elegant brunello in its own right
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3/11/2007 - SuitePhoto wrote: 89 Points
Nice cherry, coffee and oak on the palate, with an unmistakeable sangiovese acidic finish. Very smooth, noticeable tannins. The fruit disappeard on the second day, leaving only oak and tannin. Nice bottle, but not a great value.
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11/5/2006 - Doug House wrote:
Completely, totally, and without doubt shut down. Huge fruit lurking within a lush, brooding, texture, but only brief glimpses emerging over 5 hours. Hold for 3 years and try again.
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6/6/2006 - pvd420 wrote: 90 Points
delicate and elegant, but still with that big grosso mouthfeel. nice
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5/1/2006 - drcbarroso wrote:
Brought to Idiots Club 4/30/06.
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4/23/2006 - DanSm wrote: 85 Points
Something of a disappointment. Rather than the tea, rose petals, and carmel I experienced in Montalcino, this wine was more like a mid-quality Super Tuscan. If I'm going to pay the premium for the Grosso grape, they better put plenty in the bottle.
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3/4/2006 - ruddy wrote: 90 Points
Brunello Wine Dinner (The Samsons): Almost non-existent nose. Purple fruit flavors with a medium-long finish. Tannis are still grippy, but not unpleasant. Overall impression of youth. #4 WOTN.
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1/17/2006 - MTC wrote: 87 Points
Excellent value. Perhaps need aging or aeration. Very fruity, big nose.
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11/5/2005 - Michael wrote: 89 Points
A bit young, but opened up over the course of dinner. Enjoyable from the get go but the true character didn't start emerging for a while. Overall a nice choice for dinner at the restaurant.
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9/20/2005 - Winetex wrote: 90 Points
Winery Visit and Tasting - Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona (Tuscany, Italy): Tasted at the winery; Medium clear ruby in color with spicy nutmeg on the nose. A bit of tobacco on the finish. Nice structure with soft tannins. Not a bruiser Brunello, perhaps ready sooner than some vintages. 31.50 Euro.
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