8 Vintages of Biondi Santi Riserva 1975-2015: Great opportunity to learn about Biondi Santi and taste 8 Riserva vintages with technical director Frederico Radi. I see why people are intrigued by these wines: they are all about finesse and freshness, with high quality tannins (which still require long ageing to fully melt) and a high and but high quality acidity. Puristic but austere. I don‘t think the balance and the complexity are up there with the best fines wines. And I don’t find enough (or much) hedonistic charm in these wines (there is not enough fruit, especially considering that you should to age these wines 30, 40, 50 years). Don‘t get me wrong, these are good wines just not on the level one would expect given the reputation (or market prices).
TN: Slightly old nose with a bit of dried fruit, tobacco, herbs. On the palate this shows a nice freshness and vivacity, a nice creaminess, finally melted tannins (only wine in the series), Fine red berries, minerality, earthy notes, herbs, nice sweetness. But it shows not the most desirable mix of fresh fruit, mineralit/earthy notes and teritary notes, the best mature wines have. It seems that once the tannins finally melt, not enough fruit is still around. Medium+ length and a good balance. 92 pts
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Tasted at the Matter of Taste Zurich Biondi Santi Masterclass (8 of the 41 Riservas ever made). Below-medium intensity, some light red berry fruit still left, but otherwise rusty and iron-like. Also raisiny notes, tobacco, leather, smoke and earth. A deeply aged palate with a bit of texture left, but thinning out leaving a bit too much acidity. To my surprise the finish leaves you with drying, even rough tannin.
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4 pairs of top notch wines; 9/26/2021-9/27/2021 (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted just before dinner. Nose: Bright, lovely freshness, cherries, a slight hint of something in the realm of nail polish or something chemical (but strangely only in a positive way..) Palate: Lovely freshness from the mellowed acidity. This is the reason one should cellar Sangiovese, just perfect balance between mellowed tannins, acidity and a bright, but diffuse fruit profile. Someone around the table picked up chanterelle (which we also had during dinner), and I totally agreed. I have a feeling this could live forever, but either way, perfectly in harmony today.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of anise, black berries and sandalwood. Flavors of black berries, boysenberry and tart cherry. Tangy to tart acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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Madison Offline 2015; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015: Remarkably youthful in the glass, deep cherry color. A bit shy on the nose, but showing mineral, mint and smoky notes. This becomes completely captivating on the palate, perfectly balanced, velvety mouthfeel, very persistent red berries through a long finish. Fine structure, an excellent wine for great food. 12.5% abv
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4/3/2022 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
8 Vintages of Biondi Santi Riserva 1975-2015: Great opportunity to learn about Biondi Santi and taste 8 Riserva vintages with technical director Frederico Radi. I see why people are intrigued by these wines: they are all about finesse and freshness, with high quality tannins (which still require long ageing to fully melt) and a high and but high quality acidity. Puristic but austere. I don‘t think the balance and the complexity are up there with the best fines wines. And I don’t find enough (or much) hedonistic charm in these wines (there is not enough fruit, especially considering that you should to age these wines 30, 40, 50 years). Don‘t get me wrong, these are good wines just not on the level one would expect given the reputation (or market prices).
TN: Slightly old nose with a bit of dried fruit, tobacco, herbs. On the palate this shows a nice freshness and vivacity, a nice creaminess, finally melted tannins (only wine in the series), Fine red berries, minerality, earthy notes, herbs, nice sweetness. But it shows not the most desirable mix of fresh fruit, mineralit/earthy notes and teritary notes, the best mature wines have. It seems that once the tannins finally melt, not enough fruit is still around. Medium+ length and a good balance. 92 pts
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4/2/2022 - sirpat00 wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at the Matter of Taste Zurich Biondi Santi Masterclass (8 of the 41 Riservas ever made). Below-medium intensity, some light red berry fruit still left, but otherwise rusty and iron-like. Also raisiny notes, tobacco, leather, smoke and earth. A deeply aged palate with a bit of texture left, but thinning out leaving a bit too much acidity. To my surprise the finish leaves you with drying, even rough tannin.
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9/26/2021 - Hugo Hilde Likes this wine: 95 Points
4 pairs of top notch wines; 9/26/2021-9/27/2021 (Tøyen, Oslo): Double decanted just before dinner.
Nose: Bright, lovely freshness, cherries, a slight hint of something in the realm of nail polish or something chemical (but strangely only in a positive way..)
Palate: Lovely freshness from the mellowed acidity. This is the reason one should cellar Sangiovese, just perfect balance between mellowed tannins, acidity and a bright, but diffuse fruit profile. Someone around the table picked up chanterelle (which we also had during dinner), and I totally agreed. I have a feeling this could live forever, but either way, perfectly in harmony today.
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9/18/2015 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
WIML94
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of anise, black berries and sandalwood. Flavors of black berries, boysenberry and tart cherry. Tangy to tart acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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8/29/2015 - petitblanc wrote: 94 Points
Madison Offline 2015; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015: Remarkably youthful in the glass, deep cherry color. A bit shy on the nose, but showing mineral, mint and smoky notes. This becomes completely captivating on the palate, perfectly balanced, velvety mouthfeel, very persistent red berries through a long finish. Fine structure, an excellent wine for great food. 12.5% abv
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