We were highly distressed when we saw this beauty should have been drunk by 2013. We have taken care of it, and it was a pleasure to drink. A very, very slight hint of age, but overall a wonderful wine.
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The wine was definitely past its peak. It was all stewed fruit and flabby. It was probably many years past its peak. Decanted after several hours which didn’t help. Had this and the Poggio Alle Mura from the same vintage. Same issue.
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My last bottle of this vintage and what a pleasant surprise. After a disappointing prior bottle a couple of years ago and some initial funk and strong tannins, it’s settled down after a couple hours, the dried red cherry fruit emerged . Medium dark ruby color. Chambord, dusty tannins, tobacco leaf. Drink now but the right bottle correctly stored could continue to impress
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Decanted 1 hr.. This wine continues to drink well and notes are similar to last bottle consumed in 2019. Dark garnet, full bodied with notes of candied cherries, cassis, game with well integrated tannins. Long satisfying finish. This is my last bottle but I suspect it will continue to drink well for all least a few more years.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of molasses, black pepper and black berries. Flavors of black berries, currants and black cherries. Tart acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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Alas this latest bottle was devoid of fruit and seemed like all tannins. It was open only 90 minutes but I am not sure the tannins would have dissipated or the fruit emerged with more time. Other bottles I've had from this vintage were better. Drink now.
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Decanted for 2.5 hours and evolved slowly during the evening. Medium dark garnet. Rich black and blue fruits, dried red cherry fruit, tobacco, tea leaf. Drink now.
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Wine was decanted for several hours for a blind tasting, but was still extremely closed, almost to the point of being bad. Then sampled over several days, and it finally began to open a bit, but never to the point of being great.
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This bottle was extraordinary. Decanted for 2 hours—but tasted it throughout—but this transformed into perhaps the best Brunello I have had. Easily trumped the 2004 Valdicava —which was beautiful but had not harmonized to the same level. I have not had great luck with older wines—15 years is typically my stopping point, but everyone told me Banfi Brunellos in particular age very well. I’ve not really enjoyed any of them as much as the 2010 until now. And now I believe the advice.
So I have the 2001, 04-06–07-08-09-10-11-12-13 and am going to age them all 15-20 years and hope I’m still around to drink them. Because if they can come together like this ‘97 I’m gonna be very very happy.
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Decanted 2hrs.. This wine continues to drink well although probably fully matured now. Dark garnet, full bodied with notes of candied cherries, cassis, game with well integrated tannins. Long satisfying finish.
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With lasagna from Pizza of Venice Altadena Ca. Took an hour to start to mellow and then became really nice & smooth. Still young if you wait- first taste after opening was tainted but that blew off after an hour.
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Red fruits, leather, earthiness, mineral and intriguing notes of roasted herbs (or Chinese herbal tea), muted oak/vanilla. Very high quality acidity keeps the balance of flavours in check. Nice to drink now.
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This Brunello is in a great place. Medium ruby color. Subdued tannins, dusty, dried red cherry fruit, Chambord, tobacco leaf. Still vervacious and structured. Drink now.
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More tobacco and less black fruit, more complexity and less richness than the 2/5/10 bottle. Still very fresh at 20 years of age. Terrific acidity and verve suggests this wine has at least another 10 years of life ahead of it.
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Bmediun garnet with ruby. Black fruits, forest floor, black currant, black cherry. Juicy still by subtly so, spices - cloves, dried leaves, very slight cinnamon and meatiness. Very fine tannins now. Medium finish of black fruits and tobacco.
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One of my old bottles that perhaps did not have the best cellar conditions many years ago. Still excellent and alive for a 20 years Brunello. I gave it 89, my wife 92...
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First taste 15 minutes after opening was flat and unimpressive. We looked at each other waiting for someone to call spoiled (certainly possible for a 20 year old Brunello.). After another half hour it began to blossom. After an hour it was ethereal. Red and dark fruits, mineral and roasted herbs. Possibly the best brunello I've tasted. Glad we waited this long. Wish I had more.
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Drinking very well now. Based on the tannins that are still predominant I would say this wine has at least 4-5 more years. Nice taste of red berries, cherry and caramel but not sweet. Very nice wine.
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Enjoyable Brunello, lacking a bit in typicity. Soft, clear crushed red berry fruit, echoed on the nose. A bit flabby, without the structure or depth to make the wine interesting. Will not improve much from here. Drink up.
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Didn't decant - but proper wine glasses and a little time in them before drinking made for a huge difference from my previous bottle. This was one of the best bottles of wine I can remember and brought back memories of the 1990 Banfi. Beautiful balanced nose with lots going on, New it was going to be great without tasting it. Harmonious, silky tannins, nicely oaked and lovely balanced dry dark fruit. My last bottle, its not going to get much better than this, but no hurry if you have some left.
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First night, was shut down with animale overpowering the gestures of fruit. Second night was superb. Leather, cherry, fresh plum, spice and earth. Lesson learned- allow some more decanting time.
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Part of 1997 Tuscan tasting. Double decanted 2-3 hours before tasting. Still drinking beautifully. Better than the previous bottle I had -- perhaps because I double decanted? This is by no means over the hill.
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Solid wine. Nice bright fruit, with a bit of rusticity. Some nice acid lifts the finish. Not as complex as I would like, but by no means over the hill.
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cork was nearly wet to the top, and in comparison to the other 97 brunello we opened this was pretty flat and dead, and no amount of air could revive it. may just be a bad cork or poor storage; seems like it could have been a contender! it could have been somebody!
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Usually I find Banfi to be a little "fruity", but this 1997 at 18 years has come together. Solid aged fruit and supple tannins. Overall the best Banfi yet.
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Much more youthful than the previous bottle. Still retained cherry/purple hue without significant bricking. Much less sediment and more fruit/less hints of port. Overall pleasant. A little rustic and thin but pleasing overall. The gallo of brunello for me, mass produced/american commercial venture/ownership, much better brunellos out there for less $.
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Very pleasant Brunello. Tannins were soft, fruit was still very plentiful and had lingering finish. Was concerned that this bottle may have been past it's prime but was definitely not the case. Great bottle of wine, enjoy now.
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Medium red color, some bricking. Muted nose of earth and leather. Still decent fruit level-black cherries-as well as acidity. Tannins mostly resolved. Some leather, some earth, some fruit. Nice, mature brunello, if nothing particularly earth-shattering.
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Need to decant. Showing signs of advanced aging with fruit fading and tart tones. Got better with time in the glass with some complexity revealed but if you have these I recommend drinking very soon.
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Jbvino and Dsimmons got it on the nose. Glad I have this app as again I've just had the first bottle from my case and waited past its prime a bit. Deffinately have this with food. The tannins and fruit are thin for what I was expecting. Still very drinkable. Cork was a little suspect. Hoping next to be better.
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really identical notes from the bottle consumed 3-4 years ago. this bottle still maintained lots of life and given suspect view of 97 (especially ability to age) pleasantly surprised. as noted in prior tasting this wine had solid acidity, good length and texture but neg would be a more simple flavor profile. nonetheless provided enjoyment.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass. Clear looking throughout. Nose of barnyard, berries and cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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I agree with the other recent reviews. Purple in color. No longer fruit forward, it has a bouquet with mineral elements, wide, light vanilla. Taste is full, soft and smooth with sensations of liquorice, spices and leather. My plan is to drink this one up as I don't anticipate further improvement.
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Double Blind Wine Dinner @ Le Provençal (Le Provencal, Miracle Mile, Coral Gables,FL): The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. It smells like blackberry, mineral and violet. It tastes like black olive. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. Alvaro's Red. Slightly less intense than the 97 Uccelliera.
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Bottle 2/2 for an Italian wine tasting. This showed better than bottle #1. Very nice dark berry notes on the nose and palate. Medium finish with a velvety mouthfeel. Very nice bottle.
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Bottle 1/2 for an Italian wine tasting. Funky on the nose at first, with the cork slipping out a bit before breaking a crumbling. After a few minutes to settle down it showed fairly well. It had lost some of the primary fruit flavors, but was a nice velvety wine with some leathery notes.
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Lunch with Robin & Friends: Mid+ to deep garnet with the mahogany rim. Clear tar, liquorice and red cherries alongside some tertiary notes of iron fillings. A crisp acidity, powdery texture, quite linear in a structure, lovely frame with some complexity in the mid-palate, long in the mouth and finishes with fine-grained tannin. Very savoury in fruit with hints of yeast extract (marmite over Bovril), chilled red fruits. Pretty good.
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Medium red with shades of amber. Classical sangiovese nose of earthy red fruit, leather, and tea. Good life in this bottle, decent fruit, good acidity, softening tannins.
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Opened the bottle 30 minutes before pouring but did not decant. Delightfully complex and fruit driven nose. Medium bodied. Flavors were pretty mellow with some fruit but not a lot going on. Seems ready to drink up. This was my one and only so nothing to compare it with.
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Deep color, no real bricking around rims yet, however, the wine seemed a bit tired. Perhaps a bit past its prime. A good sangiovese but missing the wow factor.
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A fabulous showing tonight! Pop n' pour was good but it really hit its fortissimo with about 2 hours of air. The nose was really young with fresh berry and cherry. There was also a subtle hint of oaky vanilla. Body was medium and lively with prominent fleshy cherry, cinnamon/spices, and seasoned leather. It was quite robust with food and paired well with fresh berries, the last crop of cherry tomatoes, and wasn't wrecked by asparagus! If all Wednesday nights could be like this......
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Still showing a much youthful colour than its real age, dark garnet with crimson hue, although start to lose its vibrancy. Still recalled it took some times to open up when I first tasted it 2 years back but I still choose not to decant at the restaurant. Pop and pour and it doesn't need long to show a lovely nose of sour cherry, truffle and hints of leather and earth. While I still nose some alcohol from other wines served during dinner, this has mellow down and showing beautifully. The palate is soft and elegant, exhibits red fruits, dark cherry and spice along with subtle secondary notes. The taninns is soft and fine with nice long aftertaste. Once again this Brunello has impressed me, although this time it has mellow down a bit. An impressive efforts from Banfi judging that this is the basic and mass produce (600,000 to 700,00 botttles) BdM.
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I found this a little watery and bland upon opening but after 3 hours opened up to a rich and full fruit experience. Will drink second half of bottle tomorrow, see how it evolves.
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Tasted blind in a mixed flight of Tuscans, not decanted. Bright ruby, not much bricking. Being wine #6 of 8, this was the first with a noticeable "funk" or meatiness on the nose. Juicy, sappy red fruit (pie cherry, raspberry). Well-integrated but still present tannins, but lacks expansion or real depth on the palate. Uninteresting and little more than a good, rustic red. Disappointing. This was actually a little better on day 2, with the cork simply reinserted part way.
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Seattle Wine Group - May 2013 Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Tuscany (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Deep, dark color depth, purple and clear. Low to moderate aroma intensity, seemed to have some age. Picked up scents of swisher sweet cigars and a bit of funk. The sweet cigar smell almost made me think it was a bit cooked, but I think it was how the wine was made as the palate matched the nose. Medium body, acids were fresh. Tannins were on the low-medium side and very soft. Balance was nice. Medium to long finish. Nothing remarkable about the wine, but nothing really wrong with it either. 1sth place finish for me. Total of 23 points - 2nd place finish for the group.
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With dinner at a BYOB Italian restaurant. Took a bit to open up, but when it did, it showed brilliance. Soft red fruits, an elegant bit of remaining tannins. Overall still drinking very well.
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Drak red color. Aromas of earthy black cherries, smoky tobacco, herbs, leather, tomato paste make up a complex nose. A medium bodied palate shows a good balance of acidity, sweet-tart reddish black fruits, smoke, old leather and no evidence of tannins.
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Last bottle from the case. Deep red color. Enticing nose of blackberries, licorice and leather. Somewhat reserved on the palate - black fruit with fairly prominent tannins. A very good bottle of Brunello, but I think this wine suffers from poor expectations management. Steve Tanzer set the bar way too high with a score of 97 (this bottle certainly did not come close to a 97 and I'm not sure it ever would have merited such a score over its 16 years of life). This wine is not getting any better so drink up any remaining bottles sooner rather than later.
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This was good, not great, but definitely not flat or totally faded as some have suggested. Lots of sour red cherry, maybe a bit of leather (but very little), and oak. Largely, it just didn't feel very well integrated and I didn't get a sense that more time would help. This is a highly acidic and tannic wine, which is fine, but there wasn't enough other stuff going on to make this that enjoyable. Glad I didn't buy this, but I enjoyed it for what it was.
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Nice but you can tell this is on the downward slope of it's evolution. Browning at the edges and the fruit fading a little. Still nicely balanced and enjoyable.
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Alvin's Lunch - March 2013 (Le Gavroche): Tasted blind – A younger and modernish wine with some poopy notes on the nose along with riper dark fruits. Once the poopy note blew off there was a hint of oak that began to come through. Soft and silky mouthfeel but the finish is lively with the energetic acidity. Fine tannins add a bit of edge to the otherwise smooth palate and there’s a hint of oak that comes through on the finish. This is just entering its drinking window. Very good. 88+
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IWC Steve Tanzer's writer Edward Baltrami wrote possibly the most astoundingly wrong assessment of a wine in modern history! Giving this nasty, short and oaky wine a 97 point rating is absurd.
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The development of this brunello has been unusual. At about 5 years it was a fruit bomb... almost like grape juice... didn't like it much. Now after 15 years it is to opposite. Fruit is still solid but the tannins in this bottle would "roll up your gums". I like tannin, but..... Not sure how there is such a change...
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Clear reddish- garnet Licorice ,oak, sweet dark fruit nose Palate: tannins are very strong, dark cooked fruits, licorice good acidity Balanced very closed
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slight glycerin on the nose. A combination of citrus, spicy and floral taste on palate. Brick color. This wine has many more years left. Quite enjoyable and good value Brunello.
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A Couple of Birthdays for the Ladies (Il Mercato, Hallandale, FL): Comes across as a more traditional style, with some earthiness and lean cherry fruit and high acidity. Similar impression as last time that this wine may be on the downside of its drinking curve.
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Still seems rather closed and primary after fifteen year in the bottle. Dark crimson in the glass. Very slightly balsamic nose of stewed red plums. In the mouth firm and tannic with good acidity and somewhat clipped finish. I like it but no idea where this bottle would go with more age on it.
Now a day later after storing half the bottle stoppered with cork. Still no development on the nose but this dense wine has become more drying. Ashy overtones in the mouth. Reminds me a bit of a stern Sagrantino di Montefalco now. Clearly a well made wine but really expected more.
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Another simple bottle, seems bottle variation (one case is good, the other has little finish). Partially redeemed by recommended approach to venturi and 90 min decant before cooling down before serving
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My experience is similar ro Julian Skeels black cherry some dark fruit on opening, medium body but without depth; after more air tannins completely gone but so too has the finish.
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Cork was soaked 3/4 through. Nose is moderately intense, red spicy fruits; palate is medium bodied, good acidity, integrated tannins, red fruits; finish is a little bitter, red fruits. This one isn't flawed but overall this is disappointing given the reputation of the producer and the price. I'm not convinced that I was rewarded for aging this, and it doesn't show anything unique and pales in comparison to much lower priced wines from the region. 86
Update: 2 hrs air- nose has filled out with more body, darker fruits, more spicy complexity; palate is a bit heavier, better darker fruits; still a tad bitter finish. Better, but still not as good as I was hoping. 87-88
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Served with dinner for my wife's birthday. Hectic day of prepping food, so did not open in advance and decant. Still holding up well, and could have used a two hour decant prior to serving.
Warm nose of stewed cherries and autumn leaves. Notes of sour cherries, pencil lead, earth, and a hint of chocolate on the palate. Smooth tannins. Day 2, the tannins smoothed out and integrated even more; even more pleasant than on day 1.
At its peak, but should hold together nicely for another 4 - 6 years.
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Consistent notes. Venturi and 60-90min double decant and cool-down works well - wine can then hold for 2 days (repacked). Corkscrews in the case are good too!
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No idea where improvement came from, same case! Venturi, then double decanted with 90 mins in bottle. Cooled down and served 6 hours later (BBQ leftover) in burgundy glasses. Has bredth and length! 20 sec aftertaste of cloves that somehow reminds me of mid-90s La Chapelle. Very nice, will have to stop giving bottles of this away now...
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NY/NJ Offline at Tribeca Grill (Tribeca Grill NYC): Medium dark ruby in the glass. Funky savory nose mixed with sour cherry. Similar on the palate but still quite lively for its age with medium high to high tannin and acid. Drinking well right now.
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Still have very different impression to other CT users for this wine... sour black cherry on opening, medium body but without depth; after more air tannins completely gone but so too has the finish. Drink up.
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Pretty straight forward modern Brunello: spicy cherries, gentle tannins, and pleasant heat on the finish. Was hoping for a little more out of this blockbuster year, but this definitely a very nice wine. Drinking well now with plenty of life left.
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This brunello was a beyond its peak. The bouquet was a little raisiny and missed freshness. It still had structure and tannins left, but I had more impressive (less modern) 97 Brunellos before. Drink up!
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Opened by Mark. 3rd time I have had this. Drank alongside the 1994 and 1997 Pogoa alle Mura. Darker color than the 1994. Some violets on the nose. Supple tannins. Notes of plum, cedar and raw meat. Smooth finish. 93 points.
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Tasted non-blind at a wine dinner. Tasted at the very end of the dinner from a bottle that had been open for 2-3 hours. Didn't take detailed notes but did note that the nose had a chemical profile. Wished I had had more time to figure this one out. No rating.
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A little earthiness on the nose when first opened, but that blew off quickly.Give it some open time and certainly ready to drink at this stage. This has come together and seems a good balance of red fruit, leather, a hint of expresso. Nice acid and soft tannins and a good compliment to dinner.
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Cork was soaked through, despite perfect storage since release. Nose has interesting red fruit, cedar, but lacks characteristic spiciness of sangiovese; palate shows some oxidation. This is flawed, unfortunately, and cannot be assessed. I have one bottle left to try in the next year. This is frustrating because it isn't totally oxidized. It's just oxidized enough that it is flawed, but I can still smell the complexity in this wine.
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decanted and drank over a 4 hr period. The wine has a ruby/purple color and upon first sniff it had a ton of funk. We couldn't drink it for the first 45 minutes. After about an hour it started to open up, show some decent fruit along with leather. As more time passed, the tannins smoothed out and it became much more enjoyable. This wine is ready to drink...don't think it gets much better...but needs to be decanted for 2 hrs before drinking.
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Nice wine but I was expecting more. Was a guest at a dinner party without proper wine glasses (served in small crystal "wine" glasses) not sure if that made a huge difference. To me tasted a bit old which is inconsistent with the other reviews and with my experience with 1990 (one of my favorite wines ever). Will let breath and serve in good glasses next time (2 bottles left).
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A bunch of Brunellos: Sill not fully mature. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is very nice with cherries, saddle leather and some tarragon. On the palate, this is soft and while the tannins have mostly resolved (not completely), there is plenty of fruit left. Complex. Easy to drink. It was nice to drink this after the flight of 06's. I wish I had not drunken most of mine when they were too young. I had my doubts if they would last, but, at least based on this bottle, they clearly have.
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Mid-dark garnet, brick/amber edges; ripe grape nose, Sangiovese sharpness, earthiness; mid-body, good tannins, some life left; balanced finish. w/saltimbocca. Tasted with Frescobaldi 97 Brunello. The Banfi edged it out.
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Similar to earlier notes. Enjoyable Brunello. It does need some open time, but not hours. A little more red fruit than the last time I tasted, but still leather and tobacco.
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Wow --this lady was something else! She's dark berry red with an earthy nose. Then oh so elegant in flavor. Rich berry fruit, tobacco, leather, spice and much more-- all layered and balanced beautifully. Mysterious and Grand! Had this with braised lamb shank-- fantastic. She really came together after about 3 hours of decant. Give her the time, she will reward!
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Halloween at the U Club (University Club, San Diego): Clear dark blood-garnet hue. Typical profile of cherries and leather, with evolved notes of beef blood and tobacco. Medium body, medium finish. Very nice.
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Imagine spilling a bowl of gourmet dried berries and cherries on your fine 15 year old italian sofa and then saying what the hell, and then licking it all up. Ok, maybe this isn't quite like that but the aged berry/cherry and leather profile is absolutely wonderful. If I could only afford to drink this everyday........ Ron, thanks for sharing.
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I have not had a bottle of this one in about 5 years. The last time I drank it I did not like it... it was a mess of sweet fruits with no tannic balance... Well this time it the fruit has softened and the tannins are present. I think it is time to drink the rest of them.
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There is something about aged Brunello that puts a smile on my face. It feels like the mess has been stripped away to reveal that patch of earth from whence it came. Wonderful balance to this wine. Not much on the nose, but great in the mouth with an earthy, mushroom that takes it's sweet time as it wonders around your head. A great wine to finish off a great Birthday and well worth the wait.
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At 13 years of age it still showing dark and vibrant red. Expressive nose of leather, cherry and earth. Mellow and lingering palate, still has good life ahead. Chewy tannins and long finish.
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Tasted non blind at a restaurant. Opened and served immediately.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of black berries and black cherries that carry straight through to the palate. A bit of wet stones on the nose and minerals on the palate. Medium acidity, integrated tannins, medium body. Drink now.
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This has transformed over the years from a tight tannic Brunello into a delightful wine. Still closed until an hour or so of open time. Soft dark fruit, but great complexity of tobacco, leather, and creosote bush. Smooth tannins with a medium long finish. Elegant. Great with grilled steaks.
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Brunello 1997 - An Horizontal Tasting (Moshav Burgata): Purple and light brown color. Excellent nose – fruits combined with leather and smoke. Comparing with the nose, in the palate it was a little disappointing, with too predominant acidity. Still an excellent wine
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Decanted about 1 hour. Good balance , long finish, typical Sangiovese. Nose was very faint as this bottle is nearing the end of it's life. Not bad though. If you have one dink it now.
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Drank w/o decanting with Italian food. Nice color typical dark fruit Sangiovese. This particular bottle was already declining. Not over the hill but approaching it. Not a lot of fruit but still nicely balanced and went well with the meal though the tastes were muted and more subtle then the other bottles of this I have consumed. Would have been washed out with robust food.
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Wow, this wine has come around...very nice, full and mature but by no means old, tired or declining....really a pleasant drink...cherry notes, red and black fruit but light on its feet...wish I had more after all these years of cellaring.....clearly demonstrates the need for patience with these wines
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At home on Saturday with Hiroko on the day she was going to move out. Very dark ruby. With time, nose opened to reveal nice pretty saddle leather notes and some red fruit aromas. Ripe and plump on the palate, really very gentle and evolved yet somehow still quite powerful at the same time. Lengthy finish. Excellent. 5-12-16-8: 91/100.
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Vinci Dinner (10/28/10) (Chicago, IL.): Last time I had this was in 2002. Took this to dinner with JCubed, Otis, Berno and JBurman. Blackish red color. Not decanted. A full bodied wine which showed no signs of being from an early drinking vintage as some experts guessed. Deep structure. Ripe red and black fruit. 94 points.
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Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - November 2010 (Suze, Dallas, Texas): Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of berries, plums, perfume and wet stones. Flavors of berries, black cherries and boysenberries. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. 90+/-?
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Coffee and tobacco nose, colors dark cherry with some bricking along the margins. Flavors could be a bit more full, not a bad wine but I think a bit better during my last bottle. Lean smoke, tobacco and cherry flavors with more tannin than I expected after 13 years. Those tannins really dried the finish, which was short and just a tad sour. Good, not great and time to drink, drink, drink.
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With the benefit of scaled-down expectations from having seen the tasting notes on this wine the last few years, and from the one previous bottle I opened maybe 5 years ago which was overrun by wood and tannin, we were very pleasantly surprised by this bottle. The wood, while still noticeable, is nicely integrated, the profile of the wine has lightened, and there is now a nice balance of cedar, herb, dark fruits, spice and acids.
I think this is now into a good place for the next couple of years.
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Drank best after a couple of hours. A very nice Brunello. Certainly drinking well now. Felt like it had a good couple of years left in it. Nice balance and length. Great deep colour, appealling nose, good tanins that need to open up before drinking. all around very pleasing - worth the wait. less fruits and more minerals, tobacco, leather - needs food with it. I would say.
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A wonderful brunello. Deep color with slight brick tone. Muted nose. Classic brunello tang of souring fruit. Long, long decay. Bought at the vineyard shortly after release.
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needs 20 mins at least....a bit of bricking, nice weight and transparency for a brunello. A bit acidity battery acid tang that blows off in that 20 min window. once it settles down...great cedar, mint, hidden raisins. Mint really moves throughout the palate and has amazing range. Nice integration as each stage flows into each other. Paired really well with Chicken Marsala. Fruit is really not present, so I'd say this is ready to drink...I'll drink my other one soon.
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I too have waited a very long time to open this bottle since I have had it laid down since its release. Actually I drank it about a week ago but it wasn't particularly memorable and I'd give it just 88 points.
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I've waited a long time to open this bottle. I sought out this wine back in the day when I really followed the Spectator top 100. It was my one and only bottle of the #3 wine. So, was it worth it?
I have to say that I was impressed with the youthfulness of this wine. The color was a dark and dull brickish red similar to other Brunellos. The nose was extremely expressive showing leather, floral, anise and dried plummy fruit notes. Still, it was fresh. After an hour decant, the palate did not disappoint with more dried fruits and a touch of freshly sawn wood. It showed a medium body with still gripping tannins indicating that more time in bottle could be beneficial. The finish seemed delicate but long. It was worth it and I wish I had more.
50+4+13+18+8
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Taste: Black berries, blueberries, black cherries, and hints of cedar.
Overall: With a nose I could smell for hours...and incredible tannic grip after 13 years in the bottle I think it's safe to say that this wine still has quite a bit of time ahead of itself.
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one of the most dramatic open vs not open changes I've seen in a long time. Upon opening the wine was shut down, harsh, bitter and I almost thought it a bad bottle. After 1.5 hrs open, the fruit, complexity and structure came up to be a wonderful medium aged Brunello
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Brunello and Barolo: A Tale of Two Cities (Off the Vine Wine Storage Facility, Laguna Hills, CA): Decanted for 2 hours prior to tasting. Seems to be a more modern style than the last wine (Altesino BdM Montosoli '90). Much less browning color, but more brilliant. On the nose there is some chalkiness, with oak, mushroom, cedar, and dark berries. More fruit forward, but fairly thin on the mid-palate. Decent length though--quite persistent. Interesting nose, but less so on the palate. Well balanced acidity and still fairly astringent. (American owned winery.)
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Color of the wine does NOT look like a 13 year old Brunello. Bouquet has a bit of funk initially and over three hours opened up to include cherries, licorice and very subtle tobacco. Firm tannins for its age - drink until 2013.
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last bottle and just as well as it seems to be reaching the end of it's peak; this one appears to have faired slightly better than the last bottle we drank; nice ruby color with slight burnish rust hue at the rim; leather, earth and tobacco aromas and flavors; had with lasagna
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Less life in it than I would like, but still a fine wine. Tannins abound - if there's a complaint it has to do with the fruits in it seem a little off. Based on previous bottles it is past its peak, but still a fine drinking wine.
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Deep red, almost purple color. Looks like a wine 10 years younger. Aromas of black cherry and blueberry, pansies (my wife) and a touch of tobacco. Ripe fruit in the mouth with good structure and depth and very soft, well-integrated tannins. Surprisingly "New World" and "international" in style. Not terribly complex but very delicious to drink at this time.
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Nicely evolved, garnet/dusty purple coloring. Still a bit of grip, but fruit flavors are nicely integrated with earth and softer spices. Couldn't really hang with the red sauce main dish, but drank well on its own. I'd say drink now, not sure there's much more to be gained from further aging.
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Bottle was fading quicker than I thought it would. Decanted an hour before dinner, but in hindsight I wish I hadn't. Still had some nice nuances you'd expect from an older BdM, but I really wish I had opened this 2-3 years ago.
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Wonderfully mature Brunello. Soft on the edges and a bit firm in the middle. This should continue to age nicely for through 2015. I agree that an hour + decanted is ideal.
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I agree with Jakearoe's comments. This wine was tight when opened with little nose. I did not have the opportunity to decant. However, this ultimately opened up into a very nice wine. I don't see a lot of benefit to holding bottles any longer and laoaow time for it to open.
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Definitely ready. Great fruit up front. Soft palate and awesome nose. Still had back bone too. Needed 2 hours to open up. Drank with a 98 Donjon and 99 Solengo. Held its own.
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A very good brunello, bordering on great, but short in two areas. First, the nose is simply not there, very muted. Second, the finish, which is just a bit short. The generous, interesting palate however is where this wine is at. Lovely cherry, black cherry, balanced with a bit of sweet oak. Very good, but imo the lack of a nose really hurts it.
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Showed even better than the one I had last weekend. Forward nose of bright red cherry, violets and light wood. Delicate and balanced palate. Good finish.
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Decent Brunello ready to drink. Mostly in the fruit stage now, violets and red fruit on the nose. Leather notes appeared as it breathed. Tannins are soft and well integrated. Moderately long finsh. Great food wine. It would be interesting to watch this wine evolve; I am not sure this will get much better.
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Holy Cow!!My wife is not a huge wine drinker but this one hit the spot. A Dark rudy color with berry &dak cherrytones followed by some earthy tones. VERY smooth, Great finish. Medium to full body wine. We decanted for 1 1/2 hours before taking to our favorite BYO. Just an outstanding wine
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Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Really odd nose of burnt rubber dominated with some added notes of briar patch and berries. Simple berries on the palate with a touch of anise on a clipped finish. Tart acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Something was off with this bottle so no rating.
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Had with the 1999 Banfi Brunello and two other 1997s. Seemed the oldest of the wines. Milder. Less fruity. Did not get a long finish. I think it should be consumed now
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Dark, deep red, a little age on the nose but quickly followed by stewed black cherry, black tea, toffee, cedar and wet earth, big attack but beautifully balanced even subtle with mint, cocoa, berry, earth, tar and seaweed, long and super complex finish
Note: For the most part I have agreed with Parker on 97 Brunellos but this one lives up to the hype
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Decanted for 1hr, fresh turned earth, tar and burnt wood in the nose, earthy flavors on the palate, old world for sure, no noticeable changes in flavors in the 5 hrs it took us to consume.
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We had this wine with Veal Marsala and thought that was a fantastic pairing (made with Dry Marsala). The wine had lots of fruit. It was however thin. But the flavors were great.
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At Gabbiano, David Ehrenreich's wine. Daid decanted for 1-1/2 hours before dinner.Drank very well last night. Much more forward and accessible than the Al Oro we had 2 weeks ago. An excellent BdM from a great vintage.Characteristic wet earth typicity.
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Good solid brunello, with all usual sangiovese woody notes, medium to full bodied and some complexity. Overall nothing special but pleasing. I was surprised at how young this showed given others comments and would say there's at least a few more years left in this. Regarding the very high score from Tanzer (IWC), the reviewer at the time was a guy called Beltrami and he overscored many other italian wines (family connections?!), in anycase he didn't last long. Tanzer is one of my favorite reviewers as he tends to be more consistent and measured versus James Suckling/Parker, getting it right IMO more often than the others. However you often have to look at who's doing the reviewing for each publication, for example Josh Raynolds, also for IWC, is less consistent versus Tanzer. OK enough soapbox time!
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Very pleasant bottle. Decanted for about an hour and drank beautifully but got better with time. Smooth and balanced with a taste of blueberries and ja pleasant finish.
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Some bricking, earth, cherry, nuts, hint of brett, funk, leather, hint of wood, tart & taut on palate w/firm acidity, good enough fruit to support, tasty
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Cherry, cedar, earth on a light bodied cherry finish. Surprising amount of acidity left with the dried fruit components. Originally scored the wine 88 but surprisingly opened up in about an 1 hour, not sure if sangiovesse gets much better for me.
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4BOW: Italian Wines (Backstreet Wine Salon): Sweet blueberries on the nose. Tastes of blackberry, earth and leather with nice freshness and acidity. Soft, earthy finish. I'm left scratching my head wondering what Tanzer saw in this wine to rate it in the high 90s. Hopefully this wine is just shut down or possibly off. 13% alcohol.
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Quite surprisingly this was excellent, better to underpromise and overdeliver i guess. Dark and ripe with lots of blackcherry and plum fruit. Notes of tar and smoke along with the fruit, this was complex and pretty interesting. Persistent on the nose and with a nice length of flavour on the palate. I enjoyed this.
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Sour cherry and a little cigar box in the nose. Nice tart acidity, some red fruit and spice in the mouth, just a touch drying in the finish. Very enjoyable with grilled steaks and sauteed mushrooms. This is in a good drinking spot right now.
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Some might say that I tend to be a dick when I rate wines on this site as I tend to be pretty critical, especially where Brett is concerned. But I am really quite pleased with this bottle at this point in its evolution. The nose is rose petals and dried cherries. Entry starts with some chocolate cream See's Candy. Behind that is cigar box, some sour cherry and just a bit of tannin. Still quite high in acidity, it is an excellent food wine. Consumed with homemade ragu over tagliatelle with an insalata caprese. One of the most pleasant cellar surprises I have had in the last six months. I think this is in probably its best drinking window and I would try working off remaining bottles in the next 60-90 days.
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I had been saving this bottle for years for a special occasion. Well - that occasion came - and I was highly disappointed. The wine was fine, but it did not live up to the WS reviews I called from a few yars back.
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Drank at the Italian offline. This was a very nice brunello with balance. Slightly smokey but pretty nose, medium bodied, moderately complex. Overall a good wine, not a truly great one. Perhaps it would show more in a few more years.
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SWILL Tasting - February 2008 (Wines of Tuscany): WIML91. Tasted February 29., 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of cocoa, coffee, spice and dark fruits. Flavors of rich berries and cherries, just a hint of jaminess with some bitters and a touch of metal on the finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold.
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Popped and poured, stored in 60-degree cellar since release. Still a dark ruby color with minimal lightening at the rim. Muted nose never really opened up. Bright and vibrant, plenty of cherry and cola notes with a smoky overtone. Light to medium bodied, concentration was good without heaviness. Opened up during the first half hour in the glass, getting rounder and more open, then shut down and gripped the tongue. A nice wine with a good future, I would think, but the lack of aroma precludes an outstanding rating. Try again in a few years.
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Decanted one hour. Nose shows cherry and alcohol (more than 13% on the label). Palate is better, mocha, cherry, chocolate covers my tongue, long, balanced finish mostly cherry and acidity. Good extraction. I think it will improve with 3-5 years.
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Served with Ziti with tomatoes, Capocollo, and diced Mozzarella. Well, the third time must be the charm, as this was by far the best of three experiences I’ve had with this wine. Is it worth $70? Heck no, its still hideously overpriced, but for the first time I really found myself enjoying the wine for what is was, versus how this purchase effected my Visa statement. I really think the Ziti pairing really was the catalyst, as I tasted some real Sangio character of dried cherries, cured tobacco, leather and good acidity. Yet, this is still very much a wine of modern character, with plenty of toasty oak and chocolate at its core. But again, the food really seemed to bridge these two sides into a compelling experience that caught me completely by surprise.
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nicely balanced, not as big as i recall from a couple of years ago, but had a nice staying power on the palate; a good mix of black raspberry, some rhubarb, and earth, a hint of barnyard that blew off quickly; i really like brunellos, and this went great with a pork chop with a reduction sauce, and with a filet mignon; a great food wine, but i agree that it is now more like a chianti riserva, and not earthy or complex enough for the price point and time held;
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Like others, I was not overly impressed. When first opened it was herbal and thin tasting, with very little nose. It opened up somewhat over time, becoming enjoyable, but retained a somewhat grassy taste without great body. It could be closed down and improve over time, but I am afraid it won't.
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Medium dark plus with some development. Some body, quite Sangiovese-typical fruit with cherries. Medium lenght, medium tannins, some structure. However, overall not very charming or complex, and rather dissapointing. I do not see much pontential here.
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slightly corked. Tigress said if it was a $12 bottle we'd say it was rustic, at $40 we say corked. Not completely ruined therefore, and we drank it. Score it about 84
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Pine cleaner. Lots of acidity. A pretty tough drink for the first few hours, but after about 4 hours this did start to relent and open up a bit. Let it sleep I guess. Not a ton of immediate pleasure right now.
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A wonderful example of a Brunello. The wine still has a dense and dark ruby red color to it, with lots of sediment. Aromas of dense blackberry and hints of licorice and spice, but it is definitely a joy to the nose. Lots of acidity still exists in this medium bodied wine as the fruit is more prominent than the tannins. A medium finish that is lingering with the acidity.
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Close to a 92; It had a slightly horsey and red fruit initial aromas along with some secondary plum and espresso flavors. The wine was well-balanced and ready to drink. I was surprised that this bottle was any good at all as the cork showed signs of leakage. Given the controversy surrounding this wine it was a pleasant surprise as previous tastings were not anything close to this bottle. There is probably some pretty large bottle variation with this wine given its large production. Good wine. [Decanted 15 minutes and continued to improve after opening; ~$45 on release]
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Uncorked for OTBN. Didn’t decant as the initial glass didn’t taste like it had the appropriate stuffing, I was wrong. A preliminary dusty nose of tobacco, cigar box and some plums evolved for the next 2+ hours, showing some really great complexity and additional notes of barnyard, espresso and bitter chocolate. Well balanced with nice food-friendly acidity, red fruits (currants, plums) just a hint of sweetness and a very long, soft, still-tannic finish. We really enjoyed this wine.
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I hadn't tried in quite a while so had last night with chicken marsala. Upon opening it was rather muted except for a nose of spice box which followed through to the palate. Aftera couple of hours it was still rather one dimentional but also giving subtle oak and cigar notes and a little sour cherry. I was underwhelmed by this and happy I only have one left.
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drank at home with steak and chip dinner with the kids youthful purple color dark fruit , grapey nose with a little toasty oak background i think medium dry and tanins well integrated on the mouth it was like sour chrry fruit and a little lean was an ok brunello but not great
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I didn't hate this as some others did. While I think it is fully mature, I would not say it is over the hill. Nose is of molasses, cloves and cigar box. Moderate tannins and acidity with cherries and faux sweetness. It probably has 2 years or so of life before the decline starts. A little pricey at $50 and I guess I still have not completely figured out the allure of sangiovese. No matter how much I pay for it, it seems a tad sour and thin, although overall, this wine is pretty good fo sangio in my experience. Clearly overrated by WS and Tanzer.
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It is always so disappointing to pay a fairly high price for a well reviewed wine, wait a few years to consume it, then find that, while it has bones, overall it is just a decent wine.
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I enjoyed this much more than the previous bottle. It still lacks the complexity of a great Brunello, but is drinking very well right now, with a silky smootheness that gives pleasure. Nice fruit, a bit new world style.
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As fine a wine as I own. The smooth, silky, tanniny blend was perfect. I am so ready to open another bottle. This is in perfect drinking condition at this point.
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Started out ok but faded over time and became unpleasant. This is my 3rd bottle of the 97, one each year over the last 3 years. To me it still ranks equivalent to a mediocre Chianti. I was hoping that time would help integrate this wine better. It was actually a little smoother than I remembered but at $50, it is not a wine I will buy again. Also, based on EWS' recent testing of 90 Brunellos (overall disappointing) I am not going to hold out hope that it will improve from here. 88
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An enjoyable wine, but by no means a superstar.Seems more like a good Chianti Classico than a Brunello, just didn't offer the depth of flavor or complexity you'd expect from a Brunello.
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This just didn't have it - seemed hugely overrated. Talking to people who tried it young, it seems to have lost a lot of its early appeal. Tanzer 97??? I can see why Parker is not a big fan, his review is spot on.
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Drinking nicely. Still a bit primary, but drinking very well. Plummy cherry fruit and a nice silky texture. Medium bodied, not very complex, and a simple, clipped finish. Nice, but nothing special.
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60 minutes after decanting it was at its peak. 30 minutes after opeing the color was light plum, nose had oak and on the palate it was closed with some fruit. After 60 minutes it was mellow, smooth and good.
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My last bottle - again, not impressed by this. Very little acid, very little anything. I've had a couple other '97 BdMs this year and haven't been impressed by those, either.
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Deep ruby with no bricking. A slight hint of VA on the initial nose. Lots of rose petal and dried cherry fruit, framed by lots of acid and dusty tannins. Smoky and leathery on the midpalate. The acid grew more pronounced after 30 minutes of air. Is this in an awkward phase (it tasted more shut down than the bottle I opened a year and a half ago), or is the high acid a sign of trouble?
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Another big Brunello night. We had Lamb shanks with Tuscan beans accompanied by three 1997 Brunellos and a 1997 Felsina Chianti Classico for a bit of comparison. The Brunellos were Altesino Vendemmia, Castello Banfi and Camigliano. The Altesino was the unanimous consensus as the best. The Camigliano and Banfi each had their supporters and there was no clear preference between them although the wines were clearly different. All three Brunellos were decanted and poured back into their bottles just before serving. The Felsina Chianti was open later and not decanted.
The Altesino was rich and smooth with almost a hint of sweetness. It had a lush dried cherry flavor backed by a hint of leather. There was a good balance of tannins and fruit and the wine showed the benefits of a few years in the bottle. It had just a bit of bricking when poured. It appeared to have life left but it is drinking very well right now.
The Banfi was almost as rich and full as the Altesino but did not have the lush mouth feel. It also had the dried cherry and leather flavors but was was a bit more tart. It had less bricking when poured than the Altesino. It also appeared to have life left.
The Camiglinao was the lightest of the three Brunellos in appearance and taste. It also had a cherry flavor but was lighter and a bit sweeter. It was a nice wine and had its supporters, particularly as it opened up in the glass. I am not sure if this one will last as long as the other two.
By comparison, the Felsina Chianti was an excellent Chianti but it did not have the depth of the Brunellos. It had a nice full color and showed a bit of bricking. It had typical Chianti flavors of dried cherry, leather and earth. It was in good shape and appears to have reasonable remaining bottle life. (1 view)
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This was a gift and I didn't know the previous storage conditions so decided to pop it. No worries. Nose of tobacco, leather, and dark cherries underneath. Firm mouthfeel with plenty of well balanced acid and tannin remaining. Respectable but not very lengthy finish. Still a fews years from peak, but enjoyable drinking if you like 'em young.
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I haven't had this wine since it was released 2-3 years ago. Since then, it's become rather restrained and it's acidic qualities are very overwhelming. There's good structure to the acidity so no worries. Lots of violet, blackberry, leathery aromas followed by nice black fruits and vanilla on the palate. While never as impressed as others with this wine, I think it's probably going to fall in the 90-92 range when mature. Wait until 2010 to open again.
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Tokyo Tasting Group Round #2 -- 90/97 Sangiovese, plus Champagne and Dessert (Cuisine 219 Tokyo): Nose initially shows as almost entirely oak. Only after twenty or more minutes does the oak really recede to reveal a little leather, a little earth, and some deep sour cherry fruit. On the palate, the wood also takes the lead, but there is bright acid and fruit underneath. Contrary to other notes I’ve seen on this wine, the strength of fruit really shows in the mid-palate, leaving me to think that when the oak further integrates, this will still have a lot of stuffing left. The fruit and some tobacco come out again on the finish. A little hard to evaluate tonight and a little too oaky for my taste for current drinking, but I think this is at an awkward stage right now and that there is a lot more to come. I voted for wine of the flight based on potential, but could easily be wrong.
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If stale cigar is what Brunello is all about then it's just not for me. One dimensional with little else to offer. No numerical rating since I know little experience with brunello but have little motivation to learn more after this.
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with DC Cru at Dino (my wine) this was tight when it was opened. didn't get much nose at all. it sat for 30 minutes as we started with a couple bottles of Champagne. was tight on the palate too and i was a little bummed... got a little smoke and some fruit, but not much. the barbarescos and barolos at the table (and the 97 tig) understandably got a lot more attention.
an hour later there was still some more so i poured a refill. Now it was bursting with floral notes and ripe fruit. i had to pass it around to make sure i wasn't hallucinating... much more open and tasty. too bad we only had a few decanters, it would have benefited greatly. best performance i have had from the bottles i have...
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Still fairly young in color and showing good depth of color, this wine features a fairly complex , though shy at first, nose nose of spices, red fruit and nutmeg with a hint of leather/animal nuances. In the mouth it has a refined attack, a thinnish mid palate, good acidity and a finish on the spice notes. After 2 hours it opens up showing more complexity and balance with aromas edging more on the balsamic side.
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Decanted 45 minutes. Faint nose of cherry and vanilla, a touch of leather (although I couldn’t detect any barnyard aromas as cited by others). Mid palate was a big problem with the acidity completely over shadowing what little fruit my pour tongue could detect, leading to a very thin taste experience. All the more disappointing considering the $59.99 sticker tag on the bottle. i would have enjoyed this alot more or $10, as a QPR, but not at this price. Maybe an off bottle?
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Color is garnet with lightening at the rim. On the nose, spicecake, cherry, tobacco, and leather. The palate shows spicy red fruit, leather, smoke, and a hint of licorice. Tannins are present, but are reasonably well-integrated. Very enjoyable, and it continued to improve over 2 hours.
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Had this last night at Postino in Lafayette with K,D & M. Perhaps it should have been decanted, but I thought that this was OK but not great. Good nose with bright fruit taste and dry finish. Well integrated. But not worth the $46 I paid.
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Random reds - La Jota, Turley, Noon, Banfi, Marquis Phillips, Boisrenard: Brownish red in color. Big, beautiful nose of leathery fruit, with a hint of rubber. On the palate, tons of fruit. A mix of red and black fruits, leather, spice - deep and dark flavors. Long finish, nice fruit/acidity balance, drinking really well now, but seems like it has lots of life left too.
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This is a very good glass of wine. But I dont see 94 WS points.
Colour is still deep - it has a lovely warm garnet brick red rim. Ripe and rounded nose, with lots of deep dark fruit with a strong Italian smell. On the palate it is still fresh with lots of plum and sour cherry fruit - very mellow soft tannins but still a nice bite of cherry acidity. The finish was very nice - long with that italian plum cherry taste lingering for a long time, with some tobacco notes thrown in for good measure. Delicous - I like the acidiity.
This has less than optimal storage (passive cellar) - but was certainly very drinkable and I would think near peak. Probably will have no trouble keeping for another 2-4 years, but those without perfect storage may want to visit this soon...
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Still very dark and concentrated, some nice spice and cedar notes on the nose with a very thick mouthfeel. I am getting much more optimistic (cautiously) on the '97 Brunello vintage. This is another indication of a very long lived wine, years before it will move into it's maturity window. I think the '97's are going to evolve nicely and absolutely no rush to drink 'em young.
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Had this wine with Spagetti. I am not a real Sanviovise drinker but I expected more from this wine. Seemed a bit acidic and with the flavors not particularly well integrated.
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Not decanted. Tightly wound, with reticent fruit at first, but opened up beautifully in the glass. Well structured, with a backbone of tobacco, smoke, and leather. Medium to full bodied. The tannins and oak are well integrated. My instincts suggest waiting a few more years on this one.
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Ruby red with slight fading around the rim. Pleasant aromas of sweet wild fruits, some spices and a little leather. Full body with nice concentration. Flavors of wild fruits, a little pepper and chocolate. Nice balance with the right level of acidity, integrated tannins and noticeable though tasty oak in the background. Good finish with an average aftertaste. Overall kind of disappointing, as it lacks any personality and uniqueness, but pretty tasty overall. Not sure if this one will improve, but it will probably cellar nicely for a few more years.
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I was looking forward to opening one of my bottles of this because of the huge Parker/Tanzer (Beltrami) discrepancies in rating. I don't mean to take the easy way out, but I think this wine falls somewhere in between. It's definitely not a 97 pointer, but it's just as definitely worth more than 86. I liked it. Dark garnet color. Beautiful, complex nose full of cherry, licorice, mushroom/earth and a little bit of barnyard. Not quite as complex on the palate, but well structured and balanced. Nice finish. This lacks the extra complexity needed for a higher score, but I think it's an excellent Brunello that should drink well for another 5 to 10 years.
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Tasted at an off-line featuring Wine Spec's top ten wines of 2002. A little horsey on the nose, but it blew off after awhile. This was the “biggest” wine of the Brunelli. Good intensity, sturdy acidity, and a long finish. Meaty and substantial, with a nice muzzle blast of fruit in the middle. Lacking the complexity of the other two Brunelli, but the one I’d pick to accompany Steak Florentine.
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This had a dark brooding appearance. Rich and very deep with many layers. It was very integrated for such a young Brunello. Notes included leather, cassis and smokey oak. Full bodied. Long finish. Score 93-94. Wait 10+ years to drink. WS's #3 wine of 2002. 2nd tasting in June 2003. Needs time. This full bodied wine was rich and seductive. Nutty flavors with black cherry notes. 93 points.
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strange nose hinting toward corked, would have liked to retry to make sure but didn't have that opportunity. Very lush berries with a moderate finish. This really opened up with some time in the glass, but still rather young and tight.
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2/4/2024 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
We were highly distressed when we saw this beauty should have been drunk by 2013. We have taken care of it, and it was a pleasure to drink. A very, very slight hint of age, but overall a wonderful wine.
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12/25/2023 - J.SUTTON wrote: 85 Points
The wine was definitely past its peak. It was all stewed fruit and flabby. It was probably many years past its peak. Decanted after several hours which didn’t help. Had this and the Poggio Alle Mura from the same vintage. Same issue.
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10/11/2023 - HalaniMD wrote: 89 Points
Fine, little past it’s prime. Wouldn’t repurchase.
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6/30/2023 - StainedGlass wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle of this vintage and what a pleasant surprise. After a disappointing prior bottle a couple of years ago and some initial funk and strong tannins, it’s settled down after a couple hours, the dried red cherry fruit emerged . Medium dark ruby color. Chambord, dusty tannins, tobacco leaf. Drink now but the right bottle correctly stored could continue to impress
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6/3/2023 - kfk wrote: 93 Points
everything in balance, mature, in a great spot still has life in it
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6/21/2022 - AAtsumi-WINE Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gorgeous. Seriously - end date of 2013? So long on the taste buds, integrated tannins, full fruit. Wish I had another bottle.
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11/19/2021 - spendergast Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 1 hr.. This wine continues to drink well and notes are similar to last bottle consumed in 2019. Dark garnet, full bodied with notes of candied cherries, cassis, game with well integrated tannins. Long satisfying finish. This is my last bottle but I suspect it will continue to drink well for all least a few more years.
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8/26/2021 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of molasses, black pepper and black berries. Flavors of black berries, currants and black cherries. Tart acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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7/31/2021 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 91 Points
consistent with notes of 4/9/2021
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5/7/2021 - StainedGlass wrote:
Alas this latest bottle was devoid of fruit and seemed like all tannins. It was open only 90 minutes but I am not sure the tannins would have dissipated or the fruit emerged with more time. Other bottles I've had from this vintage were better. Drink now.
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4/9/2021 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 91 Points
seems to have faded a bit from the last notes of 2/12/2015...still excellent but a bit muted - drink now of course.
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2/13/2021 - martin_e Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still drinks fine - not a superstar, but classic aged Brunello
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10/9/2020 - zackmayo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still excellent. Drink now.
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8/1/2020 - hsacks Likes this wine: 90 Points
Less fresh than the 9/2/17 bottle but still a delicious wine with pasta bolognese.
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6/6/2020 - SadEdjo Likes this wine: 90 Points
dark garnet; some bricking; dark sour cherry, cedar, burnt chocolate, significant tannins (still!). Definitely on the downward slope.
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5/24/2020 - StainedGlass wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2.5 hours and evolved slowly during the evening. Medium dark garnet. Rich black and blue fruits, dried red cherry fruit, tobacco, tea leaf. Drink now.
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1/22/2020 - callmeacab22 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wine was decanted for several hours for a blind tasting, but was still extremely closed, almost to the point of being bad. Then sampled over several days, and it finally began to open a bit, but never to the point of being great.
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10/5/2019 - BigGDaddy Likes this wine: 98 Points
This bottle was extraordinary. Decanted for 2 hours—but tasted it throughout—but this transformed into perhaps the best Brunello I have had. Easily trumped the 2004 Valdicava —which was beautiful but had not harmonized to the same level. I have not had great luck with older wines—15 years is typically my stopping point, but everyone told me Banfi Brunellos in particular age very well. I’ve not really enjoyed any of them as much as the 2010 until now. And now I believe the advice.
So I have the 2001, 04-06–07-08-09-10-11-12-13 and am going to age them all 15-20 years and hope I’m still around to drink them. Because if they can come together like this ‘97 I’m gonna be very very happy.
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8/13/2019 - spendergast Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2hrs.. This wine continues to drink well although probably fully matured now. Dark garnet, full bodied with notes of candied cherries, cassis, game with well integrated tannins. Long satisfying finish.
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6/8/2019 - firstgrowth Likes this wine: 92 Points
With lasagna from Pizza of Venice Altadena Ca. Took an hour to start to mellow and then became really nice & smooth. Still young if you wait- first taste after opening was tainted but that blew off after an hour.
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10/27/2018 - Ron Slye wrote: 91 Points
Still drinking beautifully. A bit less than the Fontallaro, but still lovely.
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8/27/2018 - Dvogt wrote: 96 Points
In a great place. Incredible life left in this.
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6/24/2018 - vinhslee wrote: 92 Points
Red fruits, leather, earthiness, mineral and intriguing notes of roasted herbs (or Chinese herbal tea), muted oak/vanilla. Very high quality acidity keeps the balance of flavours in check. Nice to drink now.
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5/31/2018 - StainedGlass wrote: 92 Points
This Brunello is in a great place. Medium ruby color. Subdued tannins, dusty, dried red cherry fruit, Chambord, tobacco leaf. Still vervacious and structured. Drink now.
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12/17/2017 - rmehra wrote: 90 Points
Lacking depth and complexity. Would never guess this is a 20 year old wine
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10/14/2017 - libero wrote: 89 Points
Lots of sediments, not decanted or filtered, disturbed the real taste of this wine at a celebration.
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10/6/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 87 Points
Reserved and austere; some cherry.
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9/2/2017 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
More tobacco and less black fruit, more complexity and less richness than the 2/5/10 bottle. Still very fresh at 20 years of age. Terrific acidity and verve suggests this wine has at least another 10 years of life ahead of it.
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8/30/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Earthy with raisen and licorice; herbaceous; balanced finish.
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8/4/2017 - sc03852 wrote:
Bmediun garnet with ruby. Black fruits, forest floor, black currant, black cherry. Juicy still by subtly so, spices - cloves, dried leaves, very slight cinnamon and meatiness. Very fine tannins now. Medium finish of black fruits and tobacco.
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7/11/2017 - jocelyng wrote: 90 Points
One of my old bottles that perhaps did not have the best cellar conditions many years ago. Still excellent and alive for a 20 years Brunello.
I gave it 89, my wife 92...
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2/18/2017 - MrWineQ Likes this wine: 97 Points
First taste 15 minutes after opening was flat and unimpressive. We looked at each other waiting for someone to call spoiled (certainly possible for a 20 year old Brunello.). After another half hour it began to blossom. After an hour it was ethereal.
Red and dark fruits, mineral and roasted herbs.
Possibly the best brunello I've tasted. Glad we waited this long. Wish I had more.
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2/11/2017 - mike410 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well now. Based on the tannins that are still predominant I would say this wine has at least 4-5 more years. Nice taste of red berries, cherry and caramel but not sweet. Very nice wine.
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12/14/2016 - SteveHyde Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyable Brunello, lacking a bit in typicity. Soft, clear crushed red berry fruit, echoed on the nose. A bit flabby, without the structure or depth to make the wine interesting. Will not improve much from here. Drink up.
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12/1/2016 - kenv Likes this wine: 91 Points
WCC Pre-2000 Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti (Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY): Still a bit young. Oak is showing. Coffee and cherry vanilla.
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8/31/2016 - Vandiner Likes this wine: 95 Points
Didn't decant - but proper wine glasses and a little time in them before drinking made for a huge difference from my previous bottle. This was one of the best bottles of wine I can remember and brought back memories of the 1990 Banfi. Beautiful balanced nose with lots going on, New it was going to be great without tasting it. Harmonious, silky tannins, nicely oaked and lovely balanced dry dark fruit. My last bottle, its not going to get much better than this, but no hurry if you have some left.
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8/13/2016 - adamcellar wrote: 92 Points
- Ruby color - Brought to Reinmanns. Very good. Best after a couple of hours.
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4/15/2016 - asteff Likes this wine: 92 Points
First night, was shut down with animale overpowering the gestures of fruit. Second night was superb. Leather, cherry, fresh plum, spice and earth. Lesson learned- allow some more decanting time.
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3/26/2016 - brh_wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine drank well with lasagna and lamb. A bit light on fruit and more alcohol and acid. Ready to drink up.
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2/5/2016 - Ron Slye wrote: 92 Points
Part of 1997 Tuscan tasting. Double decanted 2-3 hours before tasting. Still drinking beautifully. Better than the previous bottle I had -- perhaps because I double decanted? This is by no means over the hill.
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12/26/2015 - Vinecon Likes this wine: 90 Points
still lovely, but a fading beauty. Drink it soon.
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11/13/2015 - Ron Slye wrote: 89 Points
Solid wine. Nice bright fruit, with a bit of rusticity. Some nice acid lifts the finish. Not as complex as I would like, but by no means over the hill.
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8/29/2015 - daveyleis1 wrote: flawed
Last 2 bottles corked. 9 to go and so sad I waited to long.
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6/19/2015 - HarrryR65 wrote: 75 Points
For sure this one was over the hill.
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6/9/2015 - mtaczak wrote: flawed
cork was nearly wet to the top, and in comparison to the other 97 brunello we opened this was pretty flat and dead, and no amount of air could revive it. may just be a bad cork or poor storage; seems like it could have been a contender! it could have been somebody!
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5/1/2015 - Chip & Susanne Likes this wine: 88 Points
Unfortunately, feels over the hill...
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4/28/2015 - awineo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Usually I find Banfi to be a little "fruity", but this 1997 at 18 years has come together. Solid aged fruit and supple tannins. Overall the best Banfi yet.
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2/22/2015 - MattJ wrote: 89 Points
Much more youthful than the previous bottle. Still retained cherry/purple hue without significant bricking. Much less sediment and more fruit/less hints of port. Overall pleasant. A little rustic and thin but pleasing overall. The gallo of brunello for me, mass produced/american commercial venture/ownership, much better brunellos out there for less $.
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2/13/2015 - ctjared Likes this wine:
drinking extremely well. Classic brunello
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2/12/2015 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
smooth and completely integrated - plum, black cherry, leather and earth. Grilled herb on the finish. Lovely
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1/9/2015 - rdswain Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pleasant Brunello. Tannins were soft, fruit was still very plentiful and had lingering finish. Was concerned that this bottle may have been past it's prime but was definitely not the case. Great bottle of wine, enjoy now.
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12/25/2014 - cephomer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium red color, some bricking. Muted nose of earth and leather. Still decent fruit level-black cherries-as well as acidity. Tannins mostly resolved. Some leather, some earth, some fruit. Nice, mature brunello, if nothing particularly earth-shattering.
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12/20/2014 - MattJ wrote: 89 Points
Need to decant. Showing signs of advanced aging with fruit fading and tart tones. Got better with time in the glass with some complexity revealed but if you have these I recommend drinking very soon.
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11/9/2014 - jdesimone4 wrote: 85 Points
Not much left in the tank here. Smooth but uninspiring.
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10/19/2014 - daveyleis1 wrote: 88 Points
Jbvino and Dsimmons got it on the nose. Glad I have this app as again I've just had the first bottle from my case and waited past its prime a bit. Deffinately have this with food. The tannins and fruit are thin for what I was expecting. Still very drinkable. Cork was a little suspect. Hoping next to be better.
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9/22/2014 - JBVino wrote:
really identical notes from the bottle consumed 3-4 years ago. this bottle still maintained lots of life and given suspect view of 97 (especially ability to age) pleasantly surprised. as noted in prior tasting this wine had solid acidity, good length and texture but neg would be a more simple flavor profile. nonetheless provided enjoyment.
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8/20/2014 - dsimmons wrote: 87 Points
After 17 years still a tannic beast. Don't know it the fruit will ever be able to catch up to the tannin. Definitely drink this with food.
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6/9/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
WIML89
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass. Clear looking throughout. Nose of barnyard, berries and cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink over the short term.
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6/7/2014 - Scruff wrote: flawed
Corked. Shame as it was our last bottle.
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5/5/2014 - Wfjohn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not a lot on the nose. Palate of figs and some smokiness. Reasonable tannins and good balance. Didn't blow my mind but enjoyable.
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5/2/2014 - CDStrombom Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consumed during dinner with my in-laws. No detailed notes taken. Still holding together well. Smooth, with fie tannins. Very enjoyable.
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4/8/2014 - Vinyljunkee Likes this wine: 89 Points
I agree with the other recent reviews. Purple in color. No longer fruit forward, it has a bouquet with mineral elements, wide, light vanilla. Taste is full, soft and smooth with sensations of liquorice, spices and leather. My plan is to drink this one up as I don't anticipate further improvement.
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3/25/2014 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double Blind Wine Dinner @ Le Provençal (Le Provencal, Miracle Mile, Coral Gables,FL): The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. It smells like blackberry, mineral and violet. It tastes like black olive. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. Alvaro's Red. Slightly less intense than the 97 Uccelliera.
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3/10/2014 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bottle 2/2 for an Italian wine tasting. This showed better than bottle #1. Very nice dark berry notes on the nose and palate. Medium finish with a velvety mouthfeel. Very nice bottle.
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3/9/2014 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 88 Points
Bottle 1/2 for an Italian wine tasting. Funky on the nose at first, with the cork slipping out a bit before breaking a crumbling. After a few minutes to settle down it showed fairly well. It had lost some of the primary fruit flavors, but was a nice velvety wine with some leathery notes.
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2/9/2014 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lunch with Robin & Friends: Mid+ to deep garnet with the mahogany rim. Clear tar, liquorice and red cherries alongside some tertiary notes of iron fillings. A crisp acidity, powdery texture, quite linear in a structure, lovely frame with some complexity in the mid-palate, long in the mouth and finishes with fine-grained tannin. Very savoury in fruit with hints of yeast extract (marmite over Bovril), chilled red fruits. Pretty good.
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1/15/2014 - RR47 wrote: 89 Points
Medium red with shades of amber. Classical sangiovese nose of earthy red fruit, leather, and tea. Good life in this bottle, decent fruit, good acidity, softening tannins.
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1/4/2014 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Opened the bottle 30 minutes before pouring but did not decant. Delightfully complex and fruit driven nose. Medium bodied. Flavors were pretty mellow with some fruit but not a lot going on. Seems ready to drink up. This was my one and only so nothing to compare it with.
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11/26/2013 - thwacker Likes this wine:
Deep color, no real bricking around rims yet, however, the wine seemed a bit tired. Perhaps a bit past its prime. A good sangiovese but missing the wow factor.
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11/20/2013 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A fabulous showing tonight! Pop n' pour was good but it really hit its fortissimo with about 2 hours of air. The nose was really young with fresh berry and cherry. There was also a subtle hint of oaky vanilla. Body was medium and lively with prominent fleshy cherry, cinnamon/spices, and seasoned leather. It was quite robust with food and paired well with fresh berries, the last crop of cherry tomatoes, and wasn't wrecked by asparagus! If all Wednesday nights could be like this......
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10/12/2013 - jcubed Likes this wine:
Still seems a bit young. Full-bodied modern style. Will last a few years yet.
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9/19/2013 - Filippo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium body, elegant atyle, probably mellowed by aging but showing no sign of fading. Very enjoyable after short decanting.
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9/11/2013 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
Still showing a much youthful colour than its real age, dark garnet with crimson hue, although start to lose its vibrancy.
Still recalled it took some times to open up when I first tasted it 2 years back but I still choose not to decant at the restaurant. Pop and pour and it doesn't need long to show a lovely nose of sour cherry, truffle and hints of leather and earth. While I still nose some alcohol from other wines served during dinner, this has mellow down and showing beautifully.
The palate is soft and elegant, exhibits red fruits, dark cherry and spice along with subtle secondary notes. The taninns is soft and fine with nice long aftertaste.
Once again this Brunello has impressed me, although this time it has mellow down a bit. An impressive efforts from Banfi judging that this is the basic and mass produce (600,000 to 700,00 botttles) BdM.
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8/12/2013 - firstgrowth wrote: 94 Points
I found this a little watery and bland upon opening but after 3 hours opened up to a rich and full fruit experience. Will drink second half of bottle tomorrow, see how it evolves.
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7/31/2013 - bobvictor wrote: 93 Points
- It's balanced with a medium body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish.
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5/22/2013 - BRR wrote: 86 Points
Tasted blind in a mixed flight of Tuscans, not decanted. Bright ruby, not much bricking. Being wine #6 of 8, this was the first with a noticeable "funk" or meatiness on the nose. Juicy, sappy red fruit (pie cherry, raspberry). Well-integrated but still present tannins, but lacks expansion or real depth on the palate. Uninteresting and little more than a good, rustic red. Disappointing. This was actually a little better on day 2, with the cork simply reinserted part way.
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5/20/2013 - f22nickell wrote: 88 Points
Seattle Wine Group - May 2013 Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Tuscany (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Deep, dark color depth, purple and clear. Low to moderate aroma intensity, seemed to have some age. Picked up scents of swisher sweet cigars and a bit of funk. The sweet cigar smell almost made me think it was a bit cooked, but I think it was how the wine was made as the palate matched the nose. Medium body, acids were fresh. Tannins were on the low-medium side and very soft. Balance was nice. Medium to long finish. Nothing remarkable about the wine, but nothing really wrong with it either. 1sth place finish for me. Total of 23 points - 2nd place finish for the group.
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4/24/2013 - Mallards wrote: 94 Points
With dinner at a BYOB Italian restaurant. Took a bit to open up, but when it did, it showed brilliance. Soft red fruits, an elegant bit of remaining tannins. Overall still drinking very well.
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4/16/2013 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drak red color. Aromas of earthy black cherries, smoky tobacco, herbs, leather, tomato paste make up a complex nose. A medium bodied palate shows a good balance of acidity, sweet-tart reddish black fruits, smoke, old leather and no evidence of tannins.
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4/12/2013 - FreddieMoose wrote: 88 Points
Last bottle from the case. Deep red color. Enticing nose of blackberries, licorice and leather. Somewhat reserved on the palate - black fruit with fairly prominent tannins. A very good bottle of Brunello, but I think this wine suffers from poor expectations management. Steve Tanzer set the bar way too high with a score of 97 (this bottle certainly did not come close to a 97 and I'm not sure it ever would have merited such a score over its 16 years of life). This wine is not getting any better so drink up any remaining bottles sooner rather than later.
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4/8/2013 - Enfant sauvage wrote:
This was good, not great, but definitely not flat or totally faded as some have suggested. Lots of sour red cherry, maybe a bit of leather (but very little), and oak. Largely, it just didn't feel very well integrated and I didn't get a sense that more time would help. This is a highly acidic and tannic wine, which is fine, but there wasn't enough other stuff going on to make this that enjoyable. Glad I didn't buy this, but I enjoyed it for what it was.
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4/6/2013 - texas993 wrote: 83 Points
Nothing spectacular. Flat
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4/1/2013 - MattJ wrote: 89 Points
Nice but you can tell this is on the downward slope of it's evolution. Browning at the edges and the fruit fading a little. Still nicely balanced and enjoyable.
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3/15/2013 - godx wrote: 88 Points
Alvin's Lunch - March 2013 (Le Gavroche): Tasted blind – A younger and modernish wine with some poopy notes on the nose along with riper dark fruits. Once the poopy note blew off there was a hint of oak that began to come through. Soft and silky mouthfeel but the finish is lively with the energetic acidity. Fine tannins add a bit of edge to the otherwise smooth palate and there’s a hint of oak that comes through on the finish. This is just entering its drinking window. Very good. 88+
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3/15/2013 - plitton Likes this wine: 90 Points
About an hour decant and it needed it. This bottle was much dryer than the previous two. Still enjoyable but short of expectations.
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1/26/2013 - patwjr wrote: 92 Points
Soft fruit, red licorice in the nose, some fruit but tannins are a little drying on the tongue. Drink now, not sure this has many years left.
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1/20/2013 - lepetitchateau wrote: 79 Points
IWC Steve Tanzer's writer Edward Baltrami wrote possibly the most astoundingly wrong assessment of a wine in modern history! Giving this nasty, short and oaky wine a 97 point rating is absurd.
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12/27/2012 - awineo Likes this wine: 88 Points
The development of this brunello has been unusual.
At about 5 years it was a fruit bomb... almost like grape juice... didn't like it much. Now after 15 years it is to opposite. Fruit is still solid but the tannins in this bottle would "roll up your gums". I like tannin, but.....
Not sure how there is such a change...
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12/12/2012 - Veritas 53 wrote: 94 Points
Clear reddish- garnet
Licorice ,oak, sweet dark fruit nose
Palate: tannins are very strong, dark cooked fruits, licorice good acidity
Balanced very closed
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12/9/2012 - WDSteers wrote: 94 Points
deep garnet color, tar , licorice and tobacco with plum and cherry fruit and clean finish . Paired well with Osso Buco and risotto Milanese
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12/8/2012 - 52winelover wrote: 93 Points
Great wine for a great dinner
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12/8/2012 - 52winelover wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding, great Brunello.
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12/3/2012 - norodin Likes this wine: 90 Points
slight glycerin on the nose. A combination of citrus, spicy and floral taste on palate. Brick color. This wine has many more years left. Quite enjoyable and good value Brunello.
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12/1/2012 - vinole wrote: 89 Points
A Couple of Birthdays for the Ladies (Il Mercato, Hallandale, FL): Comes across as a more traditional style, with some earthiness and lean cherry fruit and high acidity. Similar impression as last time that this wine may be on the downside of its drinking curve.
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11/30/2012 - locovino wrote: 88 Points
Still seems rather closed and primary after fifteen year in the bottle. Dark crimson in the glass. Very slightly balsamic nose of stewed red plums. In the mouth firm and tannic with good acidity and somewhat clipped finish. I like it but no idea where this bottle would go with more age on it.
Now a day later after storing half the bottle stoppered with cork. Still no development on the nose but this dense wine has become more drying. Ashy overtones in the mouth. Reminds me a bit of a stern Sagrantino di Montefalco now. Clearly a well made wine but really expected more.
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11/8/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 88 Points
Another simple bottle, seems bottle variation (one case is good, the other has little finish). Partially redeemed by recommended approach to venturi and 90 min decant before cooling down before serving
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10/24/2012 - Ken63 wrote: 86 Points
My experience is similar ro Julian Skeels black cherry some dark fruit on opening, medium body but without depth; after more air tannins completely gone but so too has the finish.
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9/29/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 87 Points
Cork was soaked 3/4 through. Nose is moderately intense, red spicy fruits; palate is medium bodied, good acidity, integrated tannins, red fruits; finish is a little bitter, red fruits. This one isn't flawed but overall this is disappointing given the reputation of the producer and the price. I'm not convinced that I was rewarded for aging this, and it doesn't show anything unique and pales in comparison to much lower priced wines from the region. 86
Update: 2 hrs air- nose has filled out with more body, darker fruits, more spicy complexity; palate is a bit heavier, better darker fruits; still a tad bitter finish. Better, but still not as good as I was hoping. 87-88
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9/23/2012 - CDStrombom Likes this wine: 92 Points
Served with dinner for my wife's birthday. Hectic day of prepping food, so did not open in advance and decant. Still holding up well, and could have used a two hour decant prior to serving.
Warm nose of stewed cherries and autumn leaves. Notes of sour cherries, pencil lead, earth, and a hint of chocolate on the palate. Smooth tannins. Day 2, the tannins smoothed out and integrated even more; even more pleasant than on day 1.
At its peak, but should hold together nicely for another 4 - 6 years.
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8/11/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 93 Points
Consistent notes. Venturi and 60-90min double decant and cool-down works well - wine can then hold for 2 days (repacked). Corkscrews in the case are good too!
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5/26/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 93 Points
No idea where improvement came from, same case! Venturi, then double decanted with 90 mins in bottle. Cooled down and served 6 hours later (BBQ leftover) in burgundy glasses. Has bredth and length! 20 sec aftertaste of cloves that somehow reminds me of mid-90s La Chapelle. Very nice, will have to stop giving bottles of this away now...
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5/19/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 90 Points
This bottle had a nose, taste (sour cherry) and finish. Quite an improvement from last case. Fades quickly, decant for 1 hour, drink now.
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5/14/2012 - amgryger wrote:
NY/NJ Offline at Tribeca Grill (Tribeca Grill NYC): Medium dark ruby in the glass. Funky savory nose mixed with sour cherry. Similar on the palate but still quite lively for its age with medium high to high tannin and acid. Drinking well right now.
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5/8/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 84 Points
Still have very different impression to other CT users for this wine... sour black cherry on opening, medium body but without depth; after more air tannins completely gone but so too has the finish. Drink up.
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4/28/2012 - guido23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty straight forward modern Brunello: spicy cherries, gentle tannins, and pleasant heat on the finish. Was hoping for a little more out of this blockbuster year, but this definitely a very nice wine. Drinking well now with plenty of life left.
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4/6/2012 - Klugi Wine wrote: 88 Points
This brunello was a beyond its peak. The bouquet was a little raisiny and missed freshness. It still had structure and tannins left, but I had more impressive (less modern) 97 Brunellos before. Drink up!
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3/17/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Opened by Mark. 3rd time I have had this. Drank alongside the 1994 and 1997 Pogoa alle Mura. Darker color than the 1994. Some violets on the nose. Supple tannins. Notes of plum, cedar and raw meat. Smooth finish. 93 points.
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3/1/2012 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 86 Points
Bit gone, ripe but fading, out of b alance, passable, candied flavors
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2/22/2012 - Thobman wrote: flawed
Disgusting. Over the hill and/or corked (Editor's note: scored as 60 but changing to flawed)
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2/15/2012 - floydtp wrote:
Tasted non-blind at a wine dinner. Tasted at the very end of the dinner from a bottle that had been open for 2-3 hours. Didn't take detailed notes but did note that the nose had a chemical profile. Wished I had had more time to figure this one out. No rating.
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2/6/2012 - RR47 wrote: 91 Points
A little earthiness on the nose when first opened, but that blew off quickly.Give it some open time and certainly ready to drink at this stage. This has come together and seems a good balance of red fruit, leather, a hint of expresso. Nice acid and soft tannins and a good compliment to dinner.
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2/5/2012 - JulianSkeels wrote: 84 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Very simple, smooth and with little complexity or finish. Wife described it well - sour cherry with aftertaste of water.
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2/1/2012 - aagrawal wrote: flawed
Cork was soaked through, despite perfect storage since release. Nose has interesting red fruit, cedar, but lacks characteristic spiciness of sangiovese; palate shows some oxidation. This is flawed, unfortunately, and cannot be assessed. I have one bottle left to try in the next year. This is frustrating because it isn't totally oxidized. It's just oxidized enough that it is flawed, but I can still smell the complexity in this wine.
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1/12/2012 - NY Wino wrote: 90 Points
decanted and drank over a 4 hr period. The wine has a ruby/purple color and upon first sniff it had a ton of funk. We couldn't drink it for the first 45 minutes. After about an hour it started to open up, show some decent fruit along with leather. As more time passed, the tannins smoothed out and it became much more enjoyable. This wine is ready to drink...don't think it gets much better...but needs to be decanted for 2 hrs before drinking.
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12/29/2011 - Vandiner wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine but I was expecting more. Was a guest at a dinner party without proper wine glasses (served in small crystal "wine" glasses) not sure if that made a huge difference. To me tasted a bit old which is inconsistent with the other reviews and with my experience with 1990 (one of my favorite wines ever). Will let breath and serve in good glasses next time (2 bottles left).
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12/28/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
A bunch of Brunellos: Sill not fully mature. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is very nice with cherries, saddle leather and some tarragon. On the palate, this is soft and while the tannins have mostly resolved (not completely), there is plenty of fruit left. Complex. Easy to drink. It was nice to drink this after the flight of 06's. I wish I had not drunken most of mine when they were too young. I had my doubts if they would last, but, at least based on this bottle, they clearly have.
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12/25/2011 - sdwineguru wrote: 92 Points
Mid-dark garnet, brick/amber edges; ripe grape nose, Sangiovese sharpness, earthiness; mid-body, good tannins, some life left; balanced finish. w/saltimbocca. Tasted with Frescobaldi 97 Brunello. The Banfi edged it out.
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12/20/2011 - RR47 wrote: 91 Points
Similar to earlier notes. Enjoyable Brunello. It does need some open time, but not hours. A little more red fruit than the last time I tasted, but still leather and tobacco.
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12/12/2011 - SalCal Likes this wine:
Still aging well
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11/26/2011 - NeuroDoc wrote: 88 Points
a decent wine, but not complex at all. dark and bright fruits. nice mouthfeel, went well with pasta
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11/22/2011 - brubron wrote:
Wow --this lady was something else! She's dark berry red with an earthy nose. Then oh so elegant in flavor. Rich berry fruit, tobacco, leather, spice and much more-- all layered and balanced beautifully. Mysterious and Grand! Had this with braised lamb shank-- fantastic. She really came together after about 3 hours of decant. Give her the time, she will reward!
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10/31/2011 - Javachip wrote: 90 Points
Halloween at the U Club (University Club, San Diego): Clear dark blood-garnet hue. Typical profile of cherries and leather, with evolved notes of beef blood and tobacco. Medium body, medium finish. Very nice.
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10/31/2011 - Racer117 wrote: 91 Points
Imagine spilling a bowl of gourmet dried berries and cherries on your fine 15 year old italian sofa and then saying what the hell, and then licking it all up. Ok, maybe this isn't quite like that but the aged berry/cherry and leather profile is absolutely wonderful. If I could only afford to drink this everyday........ Ron, thanks for sharing.
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10/13/2011 - awineo Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have not had a bottle of this one in about 5 years. The last time I drank it I did not like it... it was a mess of sweet fruits with no tannic balance... Well this time it the fruit has softened and the tannins are present. I think it is time to drink the rest of them.
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8/21/2011 - pot20 wrote: 89 Points
Juste a point. Fruits noirs, prune et tabac.Tanins biens coulant. N'a cessé de s'ouvrir tout au long du repas. Longeur respectable.
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7/18/2011 - plitton wrote: 94 Points
Earthy, musky, delicious! Just a short decant.
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6/25/2011 - Dr_Bob wrote: 92 Points
drinking superbly!
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5/30/2011 - phantphant wrote: 88 Points
Great nose....but taste wasn't as deep and impressive. Some charcoal on the midpalate, but the intensity of the sangiovese didn't shine through.
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5/22/2011 - welchcellars wrote: 93 Points
There is something about aged Brunello that puts a smile on my face. It feels like the mess has been stripped away to reveal that patch of earth from whence it came. Wonderful balance to this wine. Not much on the nose, but great in the mouth with an earthy, mushroom that takes it's sweet time as it wonders around your head. A great wine to finish off a great Birthday and well worth the wait.
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5/8/2011 - hkm520240 wrote: 92 Points
At 13 years of age it still showing dark and vibrant red. Expressive nose of leather, cherry and earth. Mellow and lingering palate, still has good life ahead. Chewy tannins and long finish.
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4/28/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90-91
Tasted non blind at a restaurant. Opened and served immediately.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of black berries and black cherries that carry straight through to the palate. A bit of wet stones on the nose and minerals on the palate. Medium acidity, integrated tannins, medium body. Drink now.
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4/3/2011 - RR47 wrote: 92 Points
This has transformed over the years from a tight tannic Brunello into a delightful wine. Still closed until an hour or so of open time. Soft dark fruit, but great complexity of tobacco, leather, and creosote bush. Smooth tannins with a medium long finish. Elegant. Great with grilled steaks.
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3/11/2011 - ricknat1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful right now, rich, typical of 97 brunello
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2/10/2011 - vinole wrote: 90 Points
S FL Welcomes Stefania's Paul & Stef (& MiamiAtty Gets Hitched!) (JC & FKG's - Hollywood, FL): Dark cherry fruit, lower acidity and tannins than most Brunello. Good, but perhaps has entered the downside phase of its aging curve.
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2/1/2011 - JBVino wrote:
No notes taken but this wine exceeded expectations. Solid fruit with depth of additional flavor profiles...maybe a hair simple but quite enjoyable.
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1/13/2011 - madia wrote: 91 Points
Brunello 1997 - An Horizontal Tasting (Moshav Burgata): Purple and light brown color. Excellent nose – fruits combined with leather and smoke. Comparing with the nose, in the palate it was a little disappointing, with too predominant acidity. Still an excellent wine
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12/27/2010 - tucsonwino wrote: 90 Points
Decanted about 1 hour. Good balance , long finish, typical Sangiovese. Nose was very faint as this bottle is nearing the end of it's life. Not bad though. If you have one dink it now.
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12/21/2010 - mellison wrote: 90 Points
Drank w/o decanting with Italian food. Nice color typical dark fruit Sangiovese. This particular bottle was already declining. Not over the hill but approaching it. Not a lot of fruit but still nicely balanced and went well with the meal though the tastes were muted and more subtle then the other bottles of this I have consumed. Would have been washed out with robust food.
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12/18/2010 - palainalopaka wrote:
Drinking beautifully with aromas of game and coffee. Smooth and meaty long finish with hints of licorice
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12/8/2010 - Mr T wrote:
Wow, this wine has come around...very nice, full and mature but by no means old, tired or declining....really a pleasant drink...cherry notes, red and black fruit but light on its feet...wish I had more after all these years of cellaring.....clearly demonstrates the need for patience with these wines
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11/13/2010 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
At home on Saturday with Hiroko on the day she was going to move out. Very dark ruby. With time, nose opened to reveal nice pretty saddle leather notes and some red fruit aromas. Ripe and plump on the palate, really very gentle and evolved yet somehow still quite powerful at the same time. Lengthy finish. Excellent. 5-12-16-8: 91/100.
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11/11/2010 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
Vinci Dinner (10/28/10) (Chicago, IL.): Last time I had this was in 2002. Took this to dinner with JCubed, Otis, Berno and JBurman. Blackish red color. Not decanted. A full bodied wine which showed no signs of being from an early drinking vintage as some experts guessed. Deep structure. Ripe red and black fruit. 94 points.
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11/10/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - November 2010 (Suze, Dallas, Texas): Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of berries, plums, perfume and wet stones. Flavors of berries, black cherries and boysenberries. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. 90+/-?
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10/24/2010 - markcvino wrote: 95 Points
Earth tones developing in an inviting acidity, hints of chocolate; well balance tannins, would expect this jewel to have an easy 10 years left
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10/23/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
Still quite young. integrated tar, cassis, leather. great.
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9/23/2010 - meinweinkeller wrote: 89 Points
Black fruits, milk, acidiity and tanins, modern touch, black chocolate, blood, long
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9/10/2010 - guitarguy wrote: 88 Points
Coffee and tobacco nose, colors dark cherry with some bricking along the margins. Flavors could be a bit more full, not a bad wine but I think a bit better during my last bottle. Lean smoke, tobacco and cherry flavors with more tannin than I expected after 13 years. Those tannins really dried the finish, which was short and just a tad sour. Good, not great and time to drink, drink, drink.
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7/21/2010 - Counselor Chris wrote: 92 Points
With the benefit of scaled-down expectations from having seen the tasting notes on this wine the last few years, and from the one previous bottle I opened maybe 5 years ago which was overrun by wood and tannin, we were very pleasantly surprised by this bottle. The wood, while still noticeable, is nicely integrated, the profile of the wine has lightened, and there is now a nice balance of cedar, herb, dark fruits, spice and acids.
I think this is now into a good place for the next couple of years.
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7/3/2010 - peacky wrote: 89 Points
Drank best after a couple of hours. A very nice Brunello. Certainly drinking well now. Felt like it had a good couple of years left in it. Nice balance and length. Great deep colour, appealling nose, good tanins that need to open up before drinking. all around very pleasing - worth the wait. less fruits and more minerals, tobacco, leather - needs food with it. I would say.
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7/2/2010 - imcarthur Likes this wine: 91 Points
A wonderful brunello. Deep color with slight brick tone. Muted nose. Classic brunello tang of souring fruit. Long, long decay. Bought at the vineyard shortly after release.
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6/21/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
needs 20 mins at least....a bit of bricking, nice weight and transparency for a brunello. A bit acidity battery acid tang that blows off in that 20 min window. once it settles down...great cedar, mint, hidden raisins. Mint really moves throughout the palate and has amazing range. Nice integration as each stage flows into each other. Paired really well with Chicken Marsala. Fruit is really not present, so I'd say this is ready to drink...I'll drink my other one soon.
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6/14/2010 - ToddR911 wrote: 88 Points
I too have waited a very long time to open this bottle since I have had it laid down since its release. Actually I drank it about a week ago but it wasn't particularly memorable and I'd give it just 88 points.
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6/5/2010 - jim_crane Likes this wine: 93 Points
I've waited a long time to open this bottle. I sought out this wine back in the day when I really followed the Spectator top 100. It was my one and only bottle of the #3 wine. So, was it worth it?
I have to say that I was impressed with the youthfulness of this wine. The color was a dark and dull brickish red similar to other Brunellos. The nose was extremely expressive showing leather, floral, anise and dried plummy fruit notes. Still, it was fresh. After an hour decant, the palate did not disappoint with more dried fruits and a touch of freshly sawn wood. It showed a medium body with still gripping tannins indicating that more time in bottle could be beneficial. The finish seemed delicate but long. It was worth it and I wish I had more.
50+4+13+18+8
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5/2/2010 - Kirk Grant wrote: 92 Points
Is Kirk leaving? (With Photos) (Sips Restaurant in Southwest Harbor, ME): Color: Garnet at the core with a ruby rim
Smell: Earth, manure, smoke, leather, olive, cigar box, faint hints of bloody meat.
Taste: Black berries, blueberries, black cherries, and hints of cedar.
Overall: With a nose I could smell for hours...and incredible tannic grip after 13 years in the bottle I think it's safe to say that this wine still has quite a bit of time ahead of itself.
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4/18/2010 - Happybob wrote: 91 Points
one of the most dramatic open vs not open changes I've seen in a long time. Upon opening the wine was shut down, harsh, bitter and I almost thought it a bad bottle. After 1.5 hrs open, the fruit, complexity and structure came up to be a wonderful medium aged Brunello
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4/17/2010 - djdaqm Likes this wine: 90 Points
Brunello and Barolo: A Tale of Two Cities (Off the Vine Wine Storage Facility, Laguna Hills, CA): Decanted for 2 hours prior to tasting. Seems to be a more modern style than the last wine (Altesino BdM Montosoli '90). Much less browning color, but more brilliant. On the nose there is some chalkiness, with oak, mushroom, cedar, and dark berries. More fruit forward, but fairly thin on the mid-palate. Decent length though--quite persistent. Interesting nose, but less so on the palate. Well balanced acidity and still fairly astringent. (American owned winery.)
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3/19/2010 - bwaverley wrote: 91 Points
Color of the wine does NOT look like a 13 year old Brunello. Bouquet has a bit of funk initially and over three hours opened up to include cherries, licorice and very subtle tobacco. Firm tannins for its age - drink until 2013.
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2/28/2010 - jwolf99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
last bottle and just as well as it seems to be reaching the end of it's peak; this one appears to have faired slightly better than the last bottle we drank; nice ruby color with slight burnish rust hue at the rim; leather, earth and tobacco aromas and flavors; had with lasagna
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2/12/2010 - Mallards wrote: 88 Points
Less life in it than I would like, but still a fine wine. Tannins abound - if there's a complaint it has to do with the fruits in it seem a little off. Based on previous bottles it is past its peak, but still a fine drinking wine.
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2/5/2010 - hsacks wrote: 92 Points
Deep red, almost purple color. Looks like a wine 10 years younger. Aromas of black cherry and blueberry, pansies (my wife) and a touch of tobacco. Ripe fruit in the mouth with good structure and depth and very soft, well-integrated tannins. Surprisingly "New World" and "international" in style. Not terribly complex but very delicious to drink at this time.
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2/1/2010 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Nicely evolved, garnet/dusty purple coloring. Still a bit of grip, but fruit flavors are nicely integrated with earth and softer spices. Couldn't really hang with the red sauce main dish, but drank well on its own. I'd say drink now, not sure there's much more to be gained from further aging.
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1/30/2010 - RR47 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured with grilled steaks at dinner party. Mature, still nice dark fruit in mouth and slightly earthy finish. Muted nose however.
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1/3/2010 - Idrink,therefore,Iam wrote: 88 Points
Bottle was fading quicker than I thought it would. Decanted an hour before dinner, but in hindsight I wish I hadn't. Still had some nice nuances you'd expect from an older BdM, but I really wish I had opened this 2-3 years ago.
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12/26/2009 - plitton wrote: 94 Points
Wonderfully mature Brunello. Soft on the edges and a bit firm in the middle. This should continue to age nicely for through 2015. I agree that an hour + decanted is ideal.
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11/28/2009 - Arcturus wrote: 92 Points
Evolved floral nose of dried flowers, tobacco and dried cherries. Dark fruit and sour cherry palate with a smooth but dry finish. 92
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11/20/2009 - jimf23 wrote: 90 Points
Agree with many prior comments. Decanted for 2 hours and opened up nicely, but did lack nose.
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9/16/2009 - Redteeth wrote:
I agree with Jakearoe's comments. This wine was tight when opened with little nose. I did not have the opportunity to decant. However, this ultimately opened up into a very nice wine. I don't see a lot of benefit to holding bottles any longer and laoaow time for it to open.
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9/15/2009 - castlebaker wrote: 92 Points
Definitely ready. Great fruit up front. Soft palate and awesome nose. Still had back bone too. Needed 2 hours to open up. Drank with a 98 Donjon and 99 Solengo. Held its own.
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9/13/2009 - jakearoe wrote: 91 Points
A very good brunello, bordering on great, but short in two areas. First, the nose is simply not there, very muted. Second, the finish, which is just a bit short. The generous, interesting palate however is where this wine is at. Lovely cherry, black cherry, balanced with a bit of sweet oak. Very good, but imo the lack of a nose really hurts it.
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8/27/2009 - norsktorsk wrote: 88 Points
Disappointing.
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7/12/2009 - Eros Coniglio wrote: 82 Points
Flat...think I waited too long to drink.
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6/7/2009 - Mallards wrote: 89 Points
Appears to be showing its age a little. Not as rich and tanniny as previous bottle.
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5/29/2009 - Milos wrote: 92 Points
Delicate wild cherry and violets; balanced palate with ripe tannins and moderate acidity. Great wine. Drinking well now but don’t have to rush.
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3/22/2009 - Milos wrote: 92 Points
Showed even better than the one I had last weekend. Forward nose of bright red cherry, violets and light wood. Delicate and balanced palate. Good finish.
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3/14/2009 - Milos wrote: 91 Points
Decent Brunello ready to drink. Mostly in the fruit stage now, violets and red fruit on the nose. Leather notes appeared as it breathed. Tannins are soft and well integrated. Moderately long finsh. Great food wine. It would be interesting to watch this wine evolve; I am not sure this will get much better.
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3/9/2009 - GWE wrote: 98 Points
Holy Cow!!My wife is not a huge wine drinker but this one hit the spot. A Dark rudy color with berry &dak cherrytones followed by some earthy tones. VERY smooth, Great finish. Medium to full body wine. We decanted for 1 1/2 hours before taking to our favorite BYO. Just an outstanding wine
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2/18/2009 - wineismylife wrote:
Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - February 2009 (Mi Piaci's in Addison, TX): WIMLNR
Tasted February 18, 2009 at an offline.
Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Really odd nose of burnt rubber dominated with some added notes of briar patch and berries. Simple berries on the palate with a touch of anise on a clipped finish. Tart acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Something was off with this bottle so no rating.
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2/13/2009 - Zinlady wrote: 90 Points
Had with the 1999 Banfi Brunello and two other 1997s. Seemed the oldest of the wines. Milder. Less fruity. Did not get a long finish. I think it should be consumed now
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1/18/2009 - duchamp wrote: 93 Points
Dark, deep red, a little age on the nose but quickly followed by stewed black cherry, black tea, toffee, cedar and wet earth, big attack but beautifully balanced even subtle with mint, cocoa, berry, earth, tar and seaweed, long and super complex finish
Note: For the most part I have agreed with Parker on 97 Brunellos but this one lives up to the hype
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1/18/2009 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 1hr, fresh turned earth, tar and burnt wood in the nose, earthy flavors on the palate, old world for sure, no noticeable changes in flavors in the 5 hrs it took us to consume.
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1/15/2009 - winomoo wrote: 90 Points
our last of 6--still drinking very nicely on opening, but by the end of the bottle, was unremarkable! At its best 90
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1/11/2009 - Zinlady wrote: 90 Points
We had this wine with Veal Marsala and thought that was a fantastic pairing (made with Dry Marsala). The wine had lots of fruit. It was however thin. But the flavors were great.
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12/31/2008 - PVJC wrote:
Nice pleasant Brunello but not great, expected it to still be solidly in its drinking window but had the impression we were a couple years too late
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10/8/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 89 Points
Just good.
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10/4/2008 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
At Gabbiano, David Ehrenreich's wine. Daid decanted for 1-1/2 hours before dinner.Drank very well last night. Much more forward and accessible than the Al Oro we had 2 weeks ago. An excellent BdM from a great vintage.Characteristic wet earth typicity.
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9/10/2008 - zblang wrote: 90 Points
Slightly muted. had one a few yrs back and enjoyed it more. Improved with an hour in the decanter. I'm no expert, but I'd say time to drink
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9/8/2008 - NavyGrog wrote:
Wonderful bouquet and very full figured, yet smooth. Quite wonderful after about an hour of decanting.
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9/4/2008 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
at Arnoldo's brunello evening
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8/17/2008 - MattJ wrote: 90 Points
Good solid brunello, with all usual sangiovese woody notes, medium to full bodied and some complexity. Overall nothing special but pleasing. I was surprised at how young this showed given others comments and would say there's at least a few more years left in this. Regarding the very high score from Tanzer (IWC), the reviewer at the time was a guy called Beltrami and he overscored many other italian wines (family connections?!), in anycase he didn't last long. Tanzer is one of my favorite reviewers as he tends to be more consistent and measured versus James Suckling/Parker, getting it right IMO more often than the others. However you often have to look at who's doing the reviewing for each publication, for example Josh Raynolds, also for IWC, is less consistent versus Tanzer. OK enough soapbox time!
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8/17/2008 - mellison wrote: 94 Points
Very pleasant bottle. Decanted for about an hour and drank beautifully but got better with time. Smooth and balanced with a taste of blueberries and ja pleasant finish.
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8/1/2008 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 87 Points
Some bricking, earth, cherry, nuts, hint of brett, funk, leather, hint of wood, tart & taut on palate w/firm acidity, good enough fruit to support, tasty
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7/30/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 89 Points
forest floor, vanilla, tabbaco. nice spice deep mouth. nice wine but nothing special
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7/30/2008 - jivey wrote: 91 Points
Cherry, cedar, earth on a light bodied cherry finish. Surprising amount of acidity left with the dried fruit components. Originally scored the wine 88 but surprisingly opened up in about an 1 hour, not sure if sangiovesse gets much better for me.
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7/30/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 88 Points
big rep, big yawn for me.
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7/30/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 88 Points
4BOW: Italian Wines (Backstreet Wine Salon): Sweet blueberries on the nose. Tastes of blackberry, earth and leather with nice freshness and acidity. Soft, earthy finish. I'm left scratching my head wondering what Tanzer saw in this wine to rate it in the high 90s. Hopefully this wine is just shut down or possibly off. 13% alcohol.
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6/27/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Quite surprisingly this was excellent, better to underpromise and overdeliver i guess. Dark and ripe with lots of blackcherry and plum fruit. Notes of tar and smoke along with the fruit, this was complex and pretty interesting. Persistent on the nose and with a nice length of flavour on the palate. I enjoyed this.
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6/9/2008 - marc d wrote:
Sour cherry and a little cigar box in the nose. Nice tart acidity, some red fruit and spice in the mouth, just a touch drying in the finish. Very enjoyable with grilled steaks and sauteed mushrooms. This is in a good drinking spot right now.
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5/22/2008 - guitarguy wrote: 92 Points
Some might say that I tend to be a dick when I rate wines on this site as I tend to be pretty critical, especially where Brett is concerned. But I am really quite pleased with this bottle at this point in its evolution. The nose is rose petals and dried cherries. Entry starts with some chocolate cream See's Candy. Behind that is cigar box, some sour cherry and just a bit of tannin. Still quite high in acidity, it is an excellent food wine. Consumed with homemade ragu over tagliatelle with an insalata caprese. One of the most pleasant cellar surprises I have had in the last six months. I think this is in probably its best drinking window and I would try working off remaining bottles in the next 60-90 days.
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4/30/2008 - moudy wrote: 89 Points
I had been saving this bottle for years for a special occasion. Well - that occasion came - and I was highly disappointed. The wine was fine, but it did not live up to the WS reviews I called from a few yars back.
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4/26/2008 - grossie wrote: 91 Points
Drank at the Italian offline. This was a very nice brunello with balance. Slightly smokey but pretty nose, medium bodied, moderately complex. Overall a good wine, not a truly great one. Perhaps it would show more in a few more years.
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4/26/2008 - jayw wrote: 91 Points
Plum & cherry nose, sweet blackberry and licorice-tar flavor; medium body, brightly acidic, moderate finish.
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3/23/2008 - mouton45 wrote: 88 Points
Disappointing. After reading some of the other tasting notes in CT, I wonder if there's bottle variation?
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2/29/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
SWILL Tasting - February 2008 (Wines of Tuscany): WIML91. Tasted February 29., 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of cocoa, coffee, spice and dark fruits. Flavors of rich berries and cherries, just a hint of jaminess with some bitters and a touch of metal on the finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold.
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2/29/2008 - win wrote: 90 Points
SWILL tasting Tuscany (Southlake, Texas): Still very tannic -- good backbone of the components that should allow this wine to improve dramatically with age.
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2/10/2008 - jetfan wrote: 88 Points
A disappointing wine on the whole
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2/4/2008 - aerlith wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured, stored in 60-degree cellar since release. Still a dark ruby color with minimal lightening at the rim. Muted nose never really opened up. Bright and vibrant, plenty of cherry and cola notes with a smoky overtone. Light to medium bodied, concentration was good without heaviness. Opened up during the first half hour in the glass, getting rounder and more open, then shut down and gripped the tongue. A nice wine with a good future, I would think, but the lack of aroma precludes an outstanding rating. Try again in a few years.
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1/29/2008 - jmht wrote: 89 Points
Decanted one hour. Nose shows cherry and alcohol (more than 13% on the label). Palate is better, mocha, cherry, chocolate covers my tongue, long, balanced finish mostly cherry and acidity. Good extraction. I think it will improve with 3-5 years.
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12/18/2007 - LoireFan wrote: 94 Points
Wow, this bottle so rocked. Just so balanced and fully expressive. If all bottles of this wine were like it, it would be a legend.
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12/9/2007 - mellison wrote: 92 Points
Little tight at first but softened as evening progressed.
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11/4/2007 - Dale M wrote: 90 Points
Served with Ziti with tomatoes, Capocollo, and diced Mozzarella. Well, the third time must be the charm, as this was by far the best of three experiences I’ve had with this wine. Is it worth $70? Heck no, its still hideously overpriced, but for the first time I really found myself enjoying the wine for what is was, versus how this purchase effected my Visa statement. I really think the Ziti pairing really was the catalyst, as I tasted some real Sangio character of dried cherries, cured tobacco, leather and good acidity. Yet, this is still very much a wine of modern character, with plenty of toasty oak and chocolate at its core. But again, the food really seemed to bridge these two sides into a compelling experience that caught me completely by surprise.
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10/14/2007 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
nicely balanced, not as big as i recall from a couple of years ago, but had a nice staying power on the palate; a good mix of black raspberry, some rhubarb, and earth, a hint of barnyard that blew off quickly; i really like brunellos, and this went great with a pork chop with a reduction sauce, and with a filet mignon; a great food wine, but i agree that it is now more like a chianti riserva, and not earthy or complex enough for the price point and time held;
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10/12/2007 - Barbara B wrote: 88 Points
Blind tasting and dinner at Enoteca La Vecchia Bottega del Vino (Enoteca La Vecchia Bottega del Vino, Via S. Maria del Pianto 9a/11/12, Rome, in the Jewish Ghetto): Mature ruby colour. Roasted nuts, cola (kola), wood and a little fruit on the palate. Medium level of slightly rough tannins; much higher acidity than the others, but that very pleasant kind of acidity. Easy to pick this as a Sangiovese, but not so easy to narrow down appellation and year. Perfectly sound Brunello, but not exceptional in spite of its vintage.
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10/12/2007 - SteelerFan wrote: 84 Points
Like others, I was not overly impressed. When first opened it was herbal and thin tasting, with very little nose. It opened up somewhat over time, becoming enjoyable, but retained a somewhat grassy taste without great body. It could be closed down and improve over time, but I am afraid it won't.
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10/10/2007 - LWI wrote: 83 Points
Medium dark plus with some development. Some body, quite Sangiovese-typical fruit with cherries. Medium lenght, medium tannins, some structure. However, overall not very charming or complex, and rather dissapointing. I do not see much pontential here.
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9/5/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
French Bakery BYO Brunello Dinner (French Bakery, Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL): Flight 1, #1. David's wine. Least complex wine in flight. With slight aeration it paired well with food, but lacked the complexity of the Fattoi or the Scopetani.
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6/13/2007 - nytiger wrote: flawed
slightly corked. Tigress said if it was a $12 bottle we'd say it was rustic, at $40 we say corked. Not completely ruined therefore, and we drank it. Score it about 84
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6/3/2007 - Eric wrote:
Pine cleaner. Lots of acidity. A pretty tough drink for the first few hours, but after about 4 hours this did start to relent and open up a bit. Let it sleep I guess. Not a ton of immediate pleasure right now.
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5/1/2007 - Tom_B wrote: 94 Points
A wonderful example of a Brunello. The wine still has a dense and dark ruby red color to it, with lots of sediment. Aromas of dense blackberry and hints of licorice and spice, but it is definitely a joy to the nose. Lots of acidity still exists in this medium bodied wine as the fruit is more prominent than the tannins. A medium finish that is lingering with the acidity.
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4/18/2007 - jmh st louis wrote: 93 Points
well balanced, smooth, built intensity. Looking forward to more
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3/17/2007 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
Close to a 92; It had a slightly horsey and red fruit initial aromas along with some secondary plum and espresso flavors. The wine was well-balanced and ready to drink. I was surprised that this bottle was any good at all as the cork showed signs of leakage. Given the controversy surrounding this wine it was a pleasant surprise as previous tastings were not anything close to this bottle. There is probably some pretty large bottle variation with this wine given its large production. Good wine. [Decanted 15 minutes and continued to improve after opening; ~$45 on release]
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3/17/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 3 hours.
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2/24/2007 - MF wrote:
Uncorked for OTBN. Didn’t decant as the initial glass didn’t taste like it had the appropriate stuffing, I was wrong.
A preliminary dusty nose of tobacco, cigar box and some plums evolved for the next 2+ hours, showing some really great complexity and additional notes of barnyard, espresso and bitter chocolate.
Well balanced with nice food-friendly acidity, red fruits (currants, plums) just a hint of sweetness and a very long, soft, still-tannic finish.
We really enjoyed this wine.
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2/19/2007 - dwbumsted wrote: 93 Points
Had on my birthday with Heather. Wonderful balanced wine - that got better and better. Needed tie to open up.
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2/11/2007 - paulg936 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Pared beautifully with Osso Buca. '97 was a great year for Tuscany and Brunello.
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2/3/2007 - g-man wrote: 87 Points
I hadn't tried in quite a while so had last night with chicken marsala. Upon opening it was rather muted except for a nose of spice box which followed through to the palate. Aftera couple of hours it was still rather one dimentional but also giving subtle oak and cigar notes and a little sour cherry. I was underwhelmed by this and happy I only have one left.
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1/28/2007 - reichken wrote: 88 Points
drank at home with steak and chip dinner with the kids
youthful purple color
dark fruit , grapey nose with a little toasty oak background i think
medium dry and tanins well integrated
on the mouth it was like sour chrry fruit and a little lean
was an ok brunello but not great
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1/18/2007 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
I didn't hate this as some others did. While I think it is fully mature, I would not say it is over the hill. Nose is of molasses, cloves and cigar box. Moderate tannins and acidity with cherries and faux sweetness. It probably has 2 years or so of life before the decline starts. A little pricey at $50 and I guess I still have not completely figured out the allure of sangiovese. No matter how much I pay for it, it seems a tad sour and thin, although overall, this wine is pretty good fo sangio in my experience. Clearly overrated by WS and Tanzer.
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11/17/2006 - MTC wrote: 92 Points
I was not as disappointed as many others.
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10/29/2006 - ebrumby wrote: 89 Points
It is always so disappointing to pay a fairly high price for a well reviewed wine, wait a few years to consume it, then find that, while it has bones, overall it is just a decent wine.
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10/20/2006 - ajr wrote: 86 Points
decent. but not a big boy brunello. most of the previous notes other than the one rating it a 98 are pretty on point. ok but nothing to rave about.
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10/8/2006 - jwolf99 wrote:
leather, tobacco, licorice, tar; full-body, chunky, long-long finish
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10/1/2006 - Ibetian wrote: 90 Points
I enjoyed this much more than the previous bottle. It still lacks the complexity of a great Brunello, but is drinking very well right now, with a silky smootheness that gives pleasure. Nice fruit, a bit new world style.
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9/25/2006 - Mallards wrote: 98 Points
As fine a wine as I own. The smooth, silky, tanniny blend was perfect. I am so ready to open another bottle. This is in perfect drinking condition at this point.
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9/14/2006 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
BIG DEEP FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR WITH A BIT OF EARTHINESS. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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8/11/2006 - Arcturus wrote: 88 Points
Started out ok but faded over time and became unpleasant. This is my 3rd bottle of the 97, one each year over the last 3 years. To me it still ranks equivalent to a mediocre Chianti. I was hoping that time would help integrate this wine better. It was actually a little smoother than I remembered but at $50, it is not a wine I will buy again. Also, based on EWS' recent testing of 90 Brunellos (overall disappointing) I am not going to hold out hope that it will improve from here. 88
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8/4/2006 - Ibetian wrote: 89 Points
An enjoyable wine, but by no means a superstar.Seems more like a good Chianti Classico than a Brunello, just didn't offer the depth of flavor or complexity you'd expect from a Brunello.
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7/9/2006 - gellie wrote: 90 Points
very nice...needs more time
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6/28/2006 - Wop wrote: 88 Points
This just didn't have it - seemed hugely overrated. Talking to people who tried it young, it seems to have lost a lot of its early appeal. Tanzer 97??? I can see why Parker is not a big fan, his review is spot on.
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6/4/2006 - mdefreitas wrote: 88 Points
Drinking nicely. Still a bit primary, but drinking very well. Plummy cherry fruit and a nice silky texture. Medium bodied, not very complex, and a simple, clipped finish. Nice, but nothing special.
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6/4/2006 - Mr T wrote: 88 Points
blah nothing happening for me
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4/15/2006 - marka wrote: 90 Points
60 minutes after decanting it was at its peak. 30 minutes after opeing the color was light plum, nose had oak and on the palate it was closed with some fruit. After 60 minutes it was mellow, smooth and good.
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3/20/2006 - PinoyNoir wrote:
Did not like, no finish
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3/15/2006 - ml wrote:
My last bottle - again, not impressed by this. Very little acid, very little anything. I've had a couple other '97 BdMs this year and haven't been impressed by those, either.
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2/5/2006 - Siggy wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby with no bricking. A slight hint of VA on the initial nose. Lots of rose petal and dried cherry fruit, framed by lots of acid and dusty tannins. Smoky and leathery on the midpalate. The acid grew more pronounced after 30 minutes of air. Is this in an awkward phase (it tasted more shut down than the bottle I opened a year and a half ago), or is the high acid a sign of trouble?
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1/1/2006 - Redteeth wrote: 90 Points
Another big Brunello night. We had Lamb shanks with Tuscan beans accompanied by three 1997 Brunellos and a 1997 Felsina Chianti Classico for a bit of comparison. The Brunellos were Altesino Vendemmia, Castello Banfi and Camigliano. The Altesino was the unanimous consensus as the best. The Camigliano and Banfi each had their supporters and there was no clear preference between them although the wines were clearly different. All three Brunellos were decanted and poured back into their bottles just before serving. The Felsina Chianti was open later and not decanted.
The Altesino was rich and smooth with almost a hint of sweetness. It had a lush dried cherry flavor backed by a hint of leather. There was a good balance of tannins and fruit and the wine showed the benefits of a few years in the bottle. It had just a bit of bricking when poured. It appeared to have life left but it is drinking very well right now.
The Banfi was almost as rich and full as the Altesino but did not have the lush mouth feel. It also had the dried cherry and leather flavors but was was a bit more tart. It had less bricking when poured than the Altesino. It also appeared to have life left.
The Camiglinao was the lightest of the three Brunellos in appearance and taste. It also had a cherry flavor but was lighter and a bit sweeter. It was a nice wine and had its supporters, particularly as it opened up in the glass. I am not sure if this one will last as long as the other two.
By comparison, the Felsina Chianti was an excellent Chianti but it did not have the depth of the Brunellos. It had a nice full color and showed a bit of bricking. It had typical Chianti flavors of dried cherry, leather and earth. It was in good shape and appears to have reasonable remaining bottle life. (1 view)
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11/5/2005 - jlm wrote:
This was a gift and I didn't know the previous storage conditions so decided to pop it. No worries. Nose of tobacco, leather, and dark cherries underneath. Firm mouthfeel with plenty of well balanced acid and tannin remaining. Respectable but not very lengthy finish. Still a fews years from peak, but enjoyable drinking if you like 'em young.
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10/30/2005 - R2-D2 wrote: 90 Points
I haven't had this wine since it was released 2-3 years ago. Since then, it's become rather restrained and it's acidic qualities are very overwhelming. There's good structure to the acidity so no worries. Lots of violet, blackberry, leathery aromas followed by nice black fruits and vanilla on the palate. While never as impressed as others with this wine, I think it's probably going to fall in the 90-92 range when mature. Wait until 2010 to open again.
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10/28/2005 - jrufusj wrote:
Tokyo Tasting Group Round #2 -- 90/97 Sangiovese, plus Champagne and Dessert (Cuisine 219 Tokyo): Nose initially shows as almost entirely oak. Only after twenty or more minutes does the oak really recede to reveal a little leather, a little earth, and some deep sour cherry fruit. On the palate, the wood also takes the lead, but there is bright acid and fruit underneath. Contrary to other notes I’ve seen on this wine, the strength of fruit really shows in the mid-palate, leaving me to think that when the oak further integrates, this will still have a lot of stuffing left. The fruit and some tobacco come out again on the finish. A little hard to evaluate tonight and a little too oaky for my taste for current drinking, but I think this is at an awkward stage right now and that there is a lot more to come. I voted for wine of the flight based on potential, but could easily be wrong.
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10/25/2005 - g-man wrote:
If stale cigar is what Brunello is all about then it's just not for me. One dimensional with little else to offer. No numerical rating since I know little experience with brunello but have little motivation to learn more after this.
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10/19/2005 - AlexRed wrote: 90 Points
with DC Cru at Dino (my wine)
this was tight when it was opened. didn't get much nose at all. it sat for 30 minutes as we started with a couple bottles of Champagne.
was tight on the palate too and i was a little bummed... got a little smoke and some fruit, but not much. the barbarescos and barolos at the table (and the 97 tig) understandably got a lot more attention.
an hour later there was still some more so i poured a refill. Now it was bursting with floral notes and ripe fruit. i had to pass it around to make sure i wasn't hallucinating... much more open and tasty. too bad we only had a few decanters, it would have benefited greatly. best performance i have had from the bottles i have...
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10/8/2005 - claudio_bxl wrote:
Still fairly young in color and showing good depth of color, this wine features a fairly complex , though shy at first, nose nose of spices, red fruit and nutmeg with a hint of leather/animal nuances. In the mouth it has a refined attack, a thinnish mid palate, good acidity and a finish on the spice notes. After 2 hours it opens up showing more complexity and balance with aromas edging more on the balsamic side.
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10/8/2005 - Dale M wrote: 86 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. Faint nose of cherry and vanilla, a touch of leather (although I couldn’t detect any barnyard aromas as cited by others). Mid palate was a big problem with the acidity completely over shadowing what little fruit my pour tongue could detect, leading to a very thin taste experience. All the more disappointing considering the $59.99 sticker tag on the bottle. i would have enjoyed this alot more or $10, as a QPR, but not at this price. Maybe an off bottle?
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9/27/2005 - scooterams wrote: 85 Points
The 1996 was better.
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8/29/2005 - TomTom wrote: 90 Points
Still primary with very nice fruit, but not enough secondary characteristics. Hoping that this was just drunk too young to get more of those flavors.
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8/7/2005 - Thilo wrote: 93 Points
Color is garnet with lightening at the rim. On the nose, spicecake, cherry, tobacco, and leather. The palate shows spicy red fruit, leather, smoke, and a hint of licorice. Tannins are present, but are reasonably well-integrated. Very enjoyable, and it continued to improve over 2 hours.
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7/31/2005 - tanglenet wrote:
Had this last night at Postino in Lafayette with K,D & M. Perhaps it should have been decanted, but I thought that this was OK but not great. Good nose with bright fruit taste and dry finish. Well integrated. But not worth the $46 I paid.
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5/14/2005 - Greg W wrote: 94 Points
Random reds - La Jota, Turley, Noon, Banfi, Marquis Phillips, Boisrenard: Brownish red in color. Big, beautiful nose of leathery fruit, with a hint of rubber. On the palate, tons of fruit. A mix of red and black fruits, leather, spice - deep and dark flavors. Long finish, nice fruit/acidity balance, drinking really well now, but seems like it has lots of life left too.
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5/1/2005 - thebonnydooner wrote: 90 Points
This is a very good glass of wine. But I dont see 94 WS points.
Colour is still deep - it has a lovely warm garnet brick red rim. Ripe and rounded nose, with lots of deep dark fruit with a strong Italian smell. On the palate it is still fresh with lots of plum and sour cherry fruit - very mellow soft tannins but still a nice bite of cherry acidity. The finish was very nice - long with that italian plum cherry taste lingering for a long time, with some tobacco notes thrown in for good measure. Delicous - I like the acidiity.
This has less than optimal storage (passive cellar) - but was certainly very drinkable and I would think near peak. Probably will have no trouble keeping for another 2-4 years, but those without perfect storage may want to visit this soon...
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3/19/2005 - MikeZ wrote:
Still very dark and concentrated, some nice spice and cedar notes on the nose with a very thick mouthfeel. I am getting much more optimistic (cautiously) on the '97 Brunello vintage. This is another indication of a very long lived wine, years before it will move into it's maturity window. I think the '97's are going to evolve nicely and absolutely no rush to drink 'em young.
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9/23/2004 - dsimmons wrote: 89 Points
Had this wine with Spagetti. I am not a real Sanviovise drinker but I expected more from this wine. Seemed a bit acidic and with the flavors not particularly well integrated.
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6/23/2004 - Siggy wrote: 93 Points
Not decanted. Tightly wound, with reticent fruit at first, but opened up beautifully in the glass. Well structured, with a backbone of tobacco, smoke, and leather. Medium to full bodied. The tannins and oak are well integrated. My instincts suggest waiting a few more years on this one.
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6/3/2004 - grossie wrote: 91 Points
I gave it 91 at the top-10 shoot out.
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4/4/2004 - Lorien wrote: 85 Points
Ruby red with slight fading around the rim. Pleasant aromas of sweet wild fruits, some spices and a little leather. Full body with nice concentration. Flavors of wild fruits, a little pepper and chocolate. Nice balance with the right level of acidity, integrated tannins and noticeable though tasty oak in the background. Good finish with an average aftertaste. Overall kind of disappointing, as it lacks any personality and uniqueness, but pretty tasty overall. Not sure if this one will improve, but it will probably cellar nicely for a few more years.
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4/2/2004 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
I was looking forward to opening one of my bottles of this because of the huge Parker/Tanzer (Beltrami) discrepancies in rating. I don't mean to take the easy way out, but I think this wine falls somewhere in between. It's definitely not a 97 pointer, but it's just as definitely worth more than 86. I liked it. Dark garnet color. Beautiful, complex nose full of cherry, licorice, mushroom/earth and a little bit of barnyard. Not quite as complex on the palate, but well structured and balanced. Nice finish. This lacks the extra complexity needed for a higher score, but I think it's an excellent Brunello that should drink well for another 5 to 10 years.
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6/14/2003 - otisabdul wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at an off-line featuring Wine Spec's top ten wines of 2002. A little horsey on the nose, but it blew off after awhile. This was the “biggest” wine of the Brunelli. Good intensity, sturdy acidity, and a long finish. Meaty and substantial, with a nice muzzle blast of fruit in the middle. Lacking the complexity of the other two Brunelli, but the one I’d pick to accompany Steak Florentine.
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11/15/2002 - peternelson wrote: 94 Points
Red Carpet: Minty, licorice, good bitter choc.; woody, barky; med. to big t’s.
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10/8/2002 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
This had a dark brooding appearance. Rich and very deep with many layers. It was very integrated for such a young Brunello. Notes included leather, cassis and smokey oak. Full bodied. Long finish. Score 93-94. Wait 10+ years to drink. WS's #3 wine of 2002. 2nd tasting in June 2003. Needs time. This full bodied wine was rich and seductive. Nutty flavors with black cherry notes. 93 points.
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9/13/2002 - R2-D2 wrote: 91 Points
strange nose hinting toward corked, would have liked to retry to make sure but didn't have that opportunity. Very lush berries with a moderate finish. This really opened up with some time in the glass, but still rather young and tight.
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8/15/2002 - twoamps wrote: 88 Points
good full flavor but not “chunky” as described below. Worth another bottle or two...but alas was all gone...
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