Brunello di Montalcino

Always a pleasure to try a mature Brunello.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has a bit of a stink to it but I enjoyed it.  Dust, barnyard, dried cherries, cherries and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is about at peak.  Layers of cherries, tea leaves, and spice.  Good finish.  This is lovely and contemplative on its own but probably better with food.  It would work well with Pasta with sundried tomatoes in an aglio e olio sauce.  

A beautiful wine.  Deep garnet in color with purple hues, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, black cherries, sandalwood, tea leaves and cedar.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young-ish with good fruit and acidity.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, with some earthiness/forest floor notes.  Complex and deep.  It opens nicely in the glass.  Long finish.  If drinking soon, gives this a quick decant.  This is nice on its own but better with food.   Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

Made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes in Tuscany.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sandalwood, slight black cherries, spice and roasted herbs.  Clean.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Some depth and complexity.  Flavors of cherries, slight black cherries with underlying forest floor notes.  Long finish.  This begs for food and would be great with your favorite pasta.  Drink over the next eight to fifteen years.  

Ruby in color with some browning, mostly clear and bright.  Great nose with cherries, sandalwood, and tea leaves.  Medium to full bodied.  Great balance and acidity.  Nice "slick" texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries with an interesting cola note and some earthiness.  Long finish.  This needs another five years in a good cellar to really take that next step, but patience will be rewarded.  The score should jump one to three points.  Great on its own but better with food.  Osso Bucco would be a great food pairing.  

This bottle had been purchased at the winery.  Deep ruby  in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, sandalwood, tea leaves and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this seems at peak.  Complex and delicious.  Flavors of cherries, some black cherries, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but much better with food. Perfect with a plate of pasta.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

This is drinking well now at about at peak.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight root beer, spice and forest floor.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Flavors of cherries, slight dried cherries and some earthy notes.  Good finish.  This needs food to come together.  A nice plate of your  favorite pasta would be perfect.  Drink over the next few years.

This is a traditionally styled BdM.  Wonderful vintage.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves, sandalwood, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Excellent acidity.  On the palate, this is  lively.  Flavors of cherries, spice, forest floor and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but really needs food to shine.  A plate of your favorite pasta would be great.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.