Saturated, dark garnet. Still lovely nose of baked black cherries and light shadings of herbs. Medium-fill bodied and supple. Black cherry pie and mint on the palate. Absolutely delicious, this has aged beautifully and is fantastic right now! 91
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Took this bottle to a restaurant. It was decanted and consumed slowly over an evening. I was pleasantly surprised. The cork was sound. The wine showed bricking but had a pretty good nose upon pulling the cork. The wine was very mature and showed slight signs of oxidation. Nonetheless, it had fruit left and opened up nicely over the meal. It definitely an Oldie but still a Goodie. If you still own any, this is the time to drink and handle with care.
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Interesting nose, quite mature. Slightly oxidized, but still drinking. Roasted black cherries, leather and spice. Medium-full bodied with more cooked/stewed cherries, leather and spice. Definitely a bit over the hill, but still good. Spicy, complex and meaty. 88
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What a killer, classic, aged sangiovese nose of cheese, leather, and soil. There's even a touch of fruit left to this 18 year old beauty. The palate is tart and mouthwatering with smooth, minty tannins. My only gripe here is the Gerla is just a bit short on the finish and a little light in body, but that really is nitpicking. Swirling the wine in the glass I don't see much oxidation. Super minty nose and palate reminding me of Heitz Martha's. The '97 Gerla is still going strong and I think just a touch more oxidation would add a little something here. Drink by 2020.
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From half bottle and just outstanding right now -- bold aromatics of chocolate and cherries. Palate weight was softer, with the tannins being smoothed out though still present. If I had more halfs I would drink them up!
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I have to say, right off the cork pull extrodinary. Drunk from half bottle and my last half bottle at that.
Apperence: pale dull ruby in color, showing a touch of age. Some bricking on the rim but not to a vast degree. Pronouced nose that I would say is still developing. Notes of dried cherries, cranberries, violets or roses along with coco. And pronouced! Palate: medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. In other words, right in harmony with all the parts together and creating a vibrant singularity. Finish is very long with flavors holding true to the nose. Towards the back of the palate it feels like the tannins or acid may be creeping beyond the fruit but then they fade leaving only a lasting fruit sensation. Conclusions: superbly ready to drink and on point. I don't remember what I paid but I would be willing to pay a preimum ($35+ in half) for it again.
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what a difference 3 years make. i did not detect any of the high acids other tasters found in this wine. i found an earthy wine, with notes of cherry and strawberry with fine tannins and easily a 30 second finish (actually timed it). was not expecting much based on a previous bottle, but this wine delivered. easily another 5 years of life ahead of it. thoroughly enjoyable.
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Dinner w/ friends of homemade pizza. A bit better than the previous bottle. Showing mature, earthy/dusty red fruit, tobacco, and fairly high acid. Soft in the mouth, with resolved tannins. Drink up.
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Soft, somewhat muddled, plummy dark fruit. Nice earthiness on the midpalate and finish. Not much structure, concentration, or length. Good, but undistinguished.
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Boy, this is really a nice wine! Great cherry and plum. Tons of earthy nuance. A very complex bouquet that is powerfully strong. As soon as I pulled the cork, I was smelling it big time in the kitchen. Drying tannins, but now overpowering. Great acid. Just wonderful structure IMO. Beautiful dark color. In the mouth, nice tart cherry with a medium to longish finish. This was a steal for me at $35 in 2005. I will be picking up more. Drink now and enjoy or hold.
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It has been more than a year since I have checked in on a 1997 Brunello from my cellar, so I figured it was time to give one a shot. I would like to say that I put a ton of thought into which one to pick (I had 21 to choose from), but this is simply the first one I grabbed...
Wow, this is a really nice Brunello. I don't really understand what the Wine Spectator tasted with an 81 point rating, but it was not this wine. I started around 88 and moved up. The nose is one of those you can smell more than a foot from the glass, not kidding. Pine needle and a hint of vanilla increasingly moves to balsa and lots of saddle leather. The palate is gorgeously balanced, pure and deep, quite vibrant with delicate sweetness and a hint of black cherry, tangy and bittersweet, yet with that austerity and firmness that you want in a nice Brunello. Despite a little sweetness, this is no gobby 1997 though, as the acidity and structure are top notch. While I normally find Brunello very drying on the finish, this wine is a little more giving and balanced than most. Don't get me wrong, while sipped on its own this is crying out for some sort of roast beast to complement it, but it is still awfully nice, well done!
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12/9/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 91 Points
Saturated, dark garnet. Still lovely nose of baked black cherries and light shadings of herbs. Medium-fill bodied and supple. Black cherry pie and mint on the palate. Absolutely delicious, this has aged beautifully and is fantastic right now! 91
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4/20/2017 - Redteeth wrote:
Took this bottle to a restaurant. It was decanted and consumed slowly over an evening. I was pleasantly surprised. The cork was sound. The wine showed bricking but had a pretty good nose upon pulling the cork. The wine was very mature and showed slight signs of oxidation. Nonetheless, it had fruit left and opened up nicely over the meal. It definitely an Oldie but still a Goodie. If you still own any, this is the time to drink and handle with care.
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8/26/2016 - WineGuyX wrote: 88 Points
Interesting nose, quite mature. Slightly oxidized, but still drinking. Roasted black cherries, leather and spice. Medium-full bodied with more cooked/stewed cherries, leather and spice. Definitely a bit over the hill, but still good. Spicy, complex and meaty. 88
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5/6/2015 - kanjimoti wrote: 92 Points
What a killer, classic, aged sangiovese nose of cheese, leather, and soil. There's even a touch of fruit left to this 18 year old beauty. The palate is tart and mouthwatering with smooth, minty tannins. My only gripe here is the Gerla is just a bit short on the finish and a little light in body, but that really is nitpicking. Swirling the wine in the glass I don't see much oxidation. Super minty nose and palate reminding me of Heitz Martha's. The '97 Gerla is still going strong and I think just a touch more oxidation would add a little something here. Drink by 2020.
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4/20/2013 - finovino3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfect condition and at peak of drink window, savory and full, spice and multivariate fruit with long out. Most satisfying with a nice ribeye.
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11/27/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From half bottle and just outstanding right now -- bold aromatics of chocolate and cherries. Palate weight was softer, with the tannins being smoothed out though still present. If I had more halfs I would drink them up!
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12/27/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
I have to say, right off the cork pull extrodinary. Drunk from half bottle and my last half bottle at that.
Apperence: pale dull ruby in color, showing a touch of age. Some bricking on the rim but not to a vast degree. Pronouced nose that I would say is still developing. Notes of dried cherries, cranberries, violets or roses along with coco. And pronouced! Palate: medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. In other words, right in harmony with all the parts together and creating a vibrant singularity. Finish is very long with flavors holding true to the nose. Towards the back of the palate it feels like the tannins or acid may be creeping beyond the fruit but then they fade leaving only a lasting fruit sensation. Conclusions: superbly ready to drink and on point. I don't remember what I paid but I would be willing to pay a preimum ($35+ in half) for it again.
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9/22/2009 - carlwhat wrote: 91 Points
what a difference 3 years make. i did not detect any of the high acids other tasters found in this wine. i found an earthy wine, with notes of cherry and strawberry with fine tannins and easily a 30 second finish (actually timed it). was not expecting much based on a previous bottle, but this wine delivered. easily another 5 years of life ahead of it. thoroughly enjoyable.
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5/24/2008 - Siggy wrote: 86 Points
Dinner w/ friends of homemade pizza. A bit better than the previous bottle. Showing mature, earthy/dusty red fruit, tobacco, and fairly high acid. Soft in the mouth, with resolved tannins. Drink up.
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4/1/2008 - Siggy wrote: 82 Points
Soft, somewhat muddled, plummy dark fruit. Nice earthiness on the midpalate and finish. Not much structure, concentration, or length. Good, but undistinguished.
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9/28/2005 - RJD wrote: 92 Points
Boy, this is really a nice wine! Great cherry and plum. Tons of earthy nuance. A very complex bouquet that is powerfully strong. As soon as I pulled the cork, I was smelling it big time in the kitchen. Drying tannins, but now overpowering. Great acid. Just wonderful structure IMO. Beautiful dark color. In the mouth, nice tart cherry with a medium to longish finish. This was a steal for me at $35 in 2005. I will be picking up more. Drink now and enjoy or hold.
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12/9/2004 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
It has been more than a year since I have checked in on a 1997 Brunello from my cellar, so I figured it was time to give one a shot. I would like to say that I put a ton of thought into which one to pick (I had 21 to choose from), but this is simply the first one I grabbed...
Wow, this is a really nice Brunello. I don't really understand what the Wine Spectator tasted with an 81 point rating, but it was not this wine. I started around 88 and moved up. The nose is one of those you can smell more than a foot from the glass, not kidding. Pine needle and a hint of vanilla increasingly moves to balsa and lots of saddle leather. The palate is gorgeously balanced, pure and deep, quite vibrant with delicate sweetness and a hint of black cherry, tangy and bittersweet, yet with that austerity and firmness that you want in a nice Brunello. Despite a little sweetness, this is no gobby 1997 though, as the acidity and structure are top notch. While I normally find Brunello very drying on the finish, this wine is a little more giving and balanced than most. Don't get me wrong, while sipped on its own this is crying out for some sort of roast beast to complement it, but it is still awfully nice, well done!
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