Bought 4 of these back in 2006 for $19(the days!)...and somehow have 5 TN's logged into CT? All tremendous bottles, especially for the $. Thought this was my last bottle noted here in 2011...but alas...another forgotten bottle in the cellar has shown up! My last note is STILL spot on. The creaminess in this wine is amazing...like a silky aged Bordeaux! Still youthful as ever...everything in total balance with the polished dark berry fruits...wonderful earthy and dried flowers florals...licorice, tobacco and cedar spice...energized with that sour tart orange acidity. Captivating complexities, and harmonious feel. What a wine! Please Wine Fairy...leave me another!
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Decanted for 30 min. Tasted amazing right out of the gate and even better an hour later. Fragrant with beautiful deep cherry notes and herbs. Balanced, light and smooth. I wish I had more bottles.
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Decant fro sediment and served in 20min. A very fine bottle and looking at my notes probably the finest to date. This was definitely built to last and it rewarded the patience with a lovely mix of dried flower scents and light herbs adding to the dark red mature cherry fruit flavors. Smooth fairly lite and elegant, a true pleasure.
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I was worried how this had held up, but it's absolutely delicious! Fantastic nose of pressed flowers/potpourri, leather shop and baked black cherries. Herbal (lavender/thyme?) shadings as well. Full-bodied and dense, this has loads of sweet fruit as well as gravely tannin and acidity. Absolutely fantastic with lamb cassoulet, but has enough fruit and fragrance to drink by itself. Best now, this should last another few years. 92
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Great time to drink! Slight mold blows off after 30 mins of air and in 60 minutes it really comes together....cherry, blueberries, tobacco, slight tar and leather ....amazing .
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Smells mature and fantastic. Grilled meat and herbs, black cherries. Full bodied and still quite dense and tannic. This is certainly fully mature, but tastes as if it has years to go! 92
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Heavier and a bit more modern than I remember from previous bottles. Tannins are a little coarse and it is unclear how they will do over time vs the fruit. Nonetheless, a good wine for the price. Try again in a few years.
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Decanted 1 hour, such a fine wine, I hate to see it go! Last bottle of the case purchased way back when, still plenty of cherry, plum, raspberry, earthy notes, some tar and licorice. Paired with pene pasta, with mushroom, aparagas, roasted peppers and kalamata olives. This is fully integrated and needs to be consumed soon!
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Neapolis: Intense red and black fruits, dried cherry and earth, fine ripe tannins, tangy lifting finish. Excellent and much different style from the brooding savory Canalicchio. Liked the Canalicchio the 1st hour, but then favored the La Gerla after a while.
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This was my second bottle and this one benefited from the additional aging. Well balanced mix of cherry fruit with hints of leather and spice. Very smooth finish.
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This has softned a bit with smoother tannins, but is still a powerhouse of black cherry fruit, tar, minerals, Indian spices and licorice. This seems at early peak, in no danger of fading.
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Served with Fettucine Alfredo and what a fantastic pairing. The wine's fruit, freshness, structure and spice really complemented the Fettucine Alfredo. Lovely wine which shows a significant amount of earth and spice. The fine acidity helps cut through the butter and cream of the noodle dish. With this food pairing, the fruit does not get emphasized as the other parts of the wine, but there's still plenty of lovely fruit in it. Should be able to hold a while longer.
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I just can't get past the nose of this wine. Immediately after pouring, there is primarily an ethyl acetate aroma and a secondarily what I would describe as pencil shavings. With time in the glass, those aromas subside. The palate is plum. Balanced. LIke the finish.
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NEEDED 1 HR AIR, SOME PERFUME ON NOSE. DARK COLOR WITH SOME AGE, SOLID MIDDLE, RIPE, TANNIC, BUT PLENTY OF FRUIT TO BALANCE. OPENED AFTER 1HR AIR. SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECANTED, LONG FINISH VERY NICE. GOOD BUT NOT GREAT WINE.
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Had this over the course of two nights. Started out surprisingly tight, but it unwound quickly. Nice plum and red berry fruit with tobacco, earth, and some dark chocolate. A funky wine in a good way, and a monster QPR. Only downside is that I picked up on a hint of bitterness/astringency. I think the tannins are beginning to outlast the fruit, so I think it's time to drink up with this wine. Certainly no need to drink it immediately, but I still think this needs to be consumed within the next five years.
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Beautiful wine in a great stage of development. Perfect balance of secondary and tertiary aromas. Gamey dark red fruit, a little rose reminiscent of nebbiolo, leather and moist earth. Dense wine with long finish.
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Ok...enough with the Burgundy kick of late......lets crank up some PASTA and drink some BRUNELLO!!! This is my 4th bottle from a sixer I bought from Winex a couple ago for $19. Sick deal....SICK wine! This is the best showing yet. Creamy smooth, dark fresh crushed wild berry fruit that seems even more dense and polished. Absolutely WONDERFUL sweet dusty rose petal, dried florals, candied cherry spices, caramel.....tart orange acidity, anise, smoky tobacco leaves. Just a fantastic Brunello that hits the spot right on! Wish these deals would come around again!!!
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This is definitely a winner. Deep dark berry and plum fruit with some tobacco, earth, and lots of italo-barnyard. Just a classy wine with a velvety and silk texture and a classy finish. If there's a wine that goes great with roast pork, this is it. Food friendly yet nicely ripe and fresh at the same time. Love this stuff. Only word of caution....I had it open for a few days, and after three days, it began tasting a little pruney...tells me that it should be had in the next 5 years or so. YMMV.
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Still big, young, and primary, but evolving nicely nonetheless. Dark fruit, medium-plus bodied and with a moderate amount of tannic grip. Approachable, but still improving. Try again in a year.
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Good, with classic spicy sour cherry flavors, approaching maturity, but it feels a little loose compared to a couple of years ago. Overall I'm finding this style of Brunello less attractive than in the past as it lacks something in finesse. Bought on closeout though, so provenance is always a question mark.
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Took a couple hrs in the decanter to come around, earth, smoke, tar, leather, mushrooms and red fruit were all nicely balanced in this complex, smooth brunello. Plenty of life left.
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Decanted for 2 hours and paired with lamb with rosemary. Drank this along side the Banfi '99 Brunello and the group felt this edged the out the Banfi slightly. It was fuller bodied than the Banfi. Cherry fruit and leather notes in the taste. We balanced and great food wine.
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Drinking well now; this bottle seemed a bit deeper than the last; $20 at Winex (L.A.) a few years ago, and a fine, fine value at that price; v. tasty wine, I'll drink the last bottle sooner rather than later
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opened new year's day at the cabin to have with Rick & dawn. This went into a decanter for a good 7 plus hrs which served it well there was a bit of funky aromas upon opening which disappeared. After 4 hrs it started to open up yet I wondered (and worried) that this may have a hint of TCA . Yet with more time it didn't get worse. The dark fruit developed more sweetness which made the wine more round and quite tasty. there is plenty of extraction here to warrant more aging & I should probably wait a good few years before trying another one
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Delicious wine, although not at the top of its type; a touch thin on opening, but blossomed into a full, rich, well-rounded wine with elegance and class; in the best of all possible worlds this would be the go-to house wine for a mid-weight red
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Pizza Night Chez Pelz: Popped and poured. Great wine right out of the gate. Lovely plum, black cherry, leather, earth, and a touch of gaminess. Has structure to hold for another 5-10 years, but this is so delicious right now. With home-made Pizza, this was a slam dunk.
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EWG Celestino: Some animal char., nuance of red earth, big blk t’s, tons of t’s and a’s, but lacking a bit of character. Very good, silky, brunello. David L
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Herbal, cherry nose; decanted for about 20 minutes some initial metallic taste blew off and it got nicer. Sour black cherry flavors, nice acidity. Lively.
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New Years Eve dinner with crusted leg of lamb. Decanted 2 hrs, beautifull balanced wine with complex flavors of earth, tar, smoke with sweet red fruits and a touch of vanilla with soft tannins. This wine drank well with 2 hours in the decanter, but will improve with short term cellaring. What a way to end the year.
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decanted for 3.5 hrs than back in bottle for 4 hrs. Took to steve a Cathie intense fruit upon opening but disjointed on the flavors. After the decant this mellowed out aromatics of meat and brush added to the dark fruit and some sweeter fruit flavors were added to the mix -this kept improving over diner everything was here this is just starting to develop hints of secondary flavors -no rush should be quite lovely in 3-5 yrs and prob even better in 10.
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Deep colored, muted fruit nose, very full bodied red/black fruit taste with some tannins and a lingering finish. Fabulous with a gnocchi/wild mushroom dish. More concentrated than the CastelGiocondo we drank with it. It will be fun to see this evolve.
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This was decanted for 5 hours and still was very tight, but showed a lot of promise. Densely packed black cherry, mineral, tar, green tea, and firm tannins. Needed food, this is still a baby.
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Not decanted in advance, maybe should have, it got better with air. Rather fruit-driven, somewhat floral nose, big ripe black cherry, some moderate tannins, no obtrusive oak. The flower notes fade and it gets a little leathery with time. Nice with the veal ragu. B+
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Tight and tannic upon opening, this opened up after an hour or so. Definitely one to decant. Dark cherries, plum, leather, and cigar box. Very good now, but time will do it some good.
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Dinner and Wine (Casa Pelz): This, too was opened a few hours in advance and audouzed. Completely ready to drink and no hard edges. Has a great nose and solid palate that screams of plum, black berries, leather, and tobacco. Very velvety texture and great juicy, sappy finish. This is drinking so well now, I am having a hard time thinking this will improve much in the next few years...I'll begin to drink down my small stash over the next 3-5 years.
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This wine definately requires some decanting. After an hour or so in the decanter it really starts to open up. This is the second one I drank. The other bottle I opened at a restaurant without a decant and it never really opened up like at home.
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Dark blackberry color. Sweet and sour black cherry, plum, leather. There's some creamy oak here that still need to integrate, but this is nicely balanced with moderate acidity and surprisingly approachable tannins. It's still fairly primary, however, so i'll probably hold remaining bottles.
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Having another one tonight...beautiful rose, dried cherries, tea leaves. Has a little natural gas funk that blows off....but it's all pretty after that!
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Tasted from a half bottle: The nose seem muted to me with cinnamon and cigars. Herbs and sour cherries on the nose. It could actually stand some more time in the bottle( but im not sure how well wine ages in the 375 ml format) and the tannins are firm and chewey, that being said I expected the finish to be longer.
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Strong nose of black liquorice which conveys to the tongue. Finish lasts for about 6 seconds. After the first glass I paired this with pasta with red shrimp sauce. It was compatable but I would recommend adding a little spice to the sauce. No decanting necessary IMO.
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Dark garnet in color. Big and soft floral nose of rose, cherries, damp earth, cigar box, candied spice. Super nose! Smooth and round in the mouth....bright red berry fruit, tart plum, tobacco, smoked cedar, aged leather. Wonderful dried florals, tart acidity, subtle wood spice. Some sourness on the finish....needs some food. Smooth and well balanced, yet should gain even more.
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Nice ruby red color that is translucent. Slight browning around the edges when first poured. Great nose of cherry, leather, tobacco, and a hint of dried herbs, bordering on garrigue. Explosive on the palate, yet very elegantly styled. Not a fruit bomb, but a more restrained and traditional model of BdM. I love that this doesn't try to be newfangled. Long finish that ends dry, but in a good way. The flavors show very much the same things as the nose does, so no surprises. Everything seems in balance and the acidity is refreshing. I have a feeling that this wine will take a little longer than the average BdM to show its best. I opened this too early, but no regrets...it's a wine that gives lots of pleasure. Went fabulously with a dish of fettucine on a sauce of fresh tomatoes laced with mild salsicce, crispy-fried pancetta, garlic, basil, and mustard greens.
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Dark red/brown color (4/5). MASSIVE Bouquet! Roses, dried apricot, prunes, vanilla, tobacco, dark chocolate, hints of cedar and grass (13/15). Sipped right away. Sweet fullbodied and nuaced with tobacco, chocolate and dried herbs (15/20). It has a tart redcurrant afterpalate that leads in to a 30 second finish. After 2 hours in the decanter the wine opens up with more sweetness and a note of tea becomes prominent (I think a development of the dried herb noted earlier.) Will develop nice and needs the time to grow to reach its potential (8/10)! 90 pts!
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Classically styled, this is not big and lush like Fanti or Siro Pacenti, but very good nonetheless. This is certainly one to give some age, and I expect my score will increase significantly in 5 years. A great deal from KL at $30.
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From magnum. Medium-dark garnet colour. Austere, with wood, cherry, sottobosco, leather, and balsamico notes on the nose. Medium-full bodied, quite tannic, a little puckering, with cherry, plum, and earth. Nice finish, a little tart, but will improve with time.
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From 375, pop & poured two glasses, remainder sat open for a couple of hours before revisiting. Deep garnet color. Notes of tar, smoky meat and blueberries. Well balanced, with loads of dark fruit and tar on the palate. The blueberry notes became more prominent on the last glasses poured, and the palate revealed less of a tannic bite with more dark fruit and tar.
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Tasted at Sam's. It is still very primary but shows lots of potential- intense, rounded, and a little rustic. Would like to give this one 10 years or so.
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The nose shows black fruit, especially blackberry and blueberry, plus notes of menthol. On the palate, the wine has a ripe texture, but is fairly one deminsional with a rather abrupt finish. There are more notes for dark fruit, plus sottobosco, but this wine isn't very dynamic. It tastes more like a top Chianti than a Brunello.
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3/20/2020 - greedy wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding. Great smooth tannins. Long silky finish. Lots of fruit balanced with just right amount of acidity.
Have lots of the 2010 vintage. Will save them now based on how this aged.
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8/30/2019 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought 4 of these back in 2006 for $19(the days!)...and somehow have 5 TN's logged into CT? All tremendous bottles, especially for the $. Thought this was my last bottle noted here in 2011...but alas...another forgotten bottle in the cellar has shown up! My last note is STILL spot on. The creaminess in this wine is amazing...like a silky aged Bordeaux! Still youthful as ever...everything in total balance with the polished dark berry fruits...wonderful earthy and dried flowers florals...licorice, tobacco and cedar spice...energized with that sour tart orange acidity. Captivating complexities, and harmonious feel. What a wine! Please Wine Fairy...leave me another!
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4/26/2019 - Zvillan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 30 min. Tasted amazing right out of the gate and even better an hour later. Fragrant with beautiful deep cherry notes and herbs. Balanced, light and smooth. I wish I had more bottles.
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4/3/2019 - bon vivant wrote: 95 Points
Decant fro sediment and served in 20min. A very fine bottle and looking at my notes probably the finest to date. This was definitely built to last and it rewarded the patience with a lovely mix of dried flower scents and light herbs adding to the dark red mature cherry fruit flavors. Smooth fairly lite and elegant, a true pleasure.
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3/26/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 92 Points
I was worried how this had held up, but it's absolutely delicious! Fantastic nose of pressed flowers/potpourri, leather shop and baked black cherries. Herbal (lavender/thyme?) shadings as well. Full-bodied and dense, this has loads of sweet fruit as well as gravely tannin and acidity. Absolutely fantastic with lamb cassoulet, but has enough fruit and fragrance to drink by itself. Best now, this should last another few years. 92
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2/18/2017 - DesMarteau wrote: 95 Points
Great time to drink! Slight mold blows off after 30 mins of air and in 60 minutes it really comes together....cherry, blueberries, tobacco, slight tar and leather ....amazing .
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12/1/2016 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smells mature and fantastic. Grilled meat and herbs, black cherries. Full bodied and still quite dense and tannic. This is certainly fully mature, but tastes as if it has years to go! 92
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7/10/2016 - jerhardt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Heavier and a bit more modern than I remember from previous bottles. Tannins are a little coarse and it is unclear how they will do over time vs the fruit. Nonetheless, a good wine for the price. Try again in a few years.
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3/21/2015 - wineshaman wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour, such a fine wine, I hate to see it go! Last bottle of the case purchased way back when, still plenty of cherry, plum, raspberry, earthy notes, some tar and licorice. Paired with pene pasta, with mushroom, aparagas, roasted peppers and kalamata olives. This is fully integrated and needs to be consumed soon!
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10/20/2013 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Neapolis: Intense red and black fruits, dried cherry and earth, fine ripe tannins, tangy lifting finish. Excellent and much different style from the brooding savory Canalicchio. Liked the Canalicchio the 1st hour, but then favored the La Gerla after a while.
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6/2/2013 - rfras Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was my second bottle and this one benefited from the additional aging. Well balanced mix of cherry fruit with hints of leather and spice. Very smooth finish.
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3/9/2013 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 92 Points
slight mold nose blows off quickly....tar, faded/integrated fruit, spice...great.
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6/8/2012 - robmatic wrote: 89 Points
Still drinking well and delivering great value.
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6/3/2012 - davorinlempl wrote: 89 Points
Nice ripe Brunello that needs to be drank soon!
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3/8/2012 - robmatic wrote:
Bargain wine still delivering much more than could be expected. Drink over the next couple of years.
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4/14/2011 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
This has softned a bit with smoother tannins, but is still a powerhouse of black cherry fruit, tar, minerals, Indian spices and licorice. This seems at early peak, in no danger of fading.
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1/22/2011 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
Great bottle...like last time, maybe even better.
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1/18/2011 - Venturifan wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle of a case I bought for 20/btl. Very tasty but I paired it with the wrong food. Have it by itself.
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12/25/2010 - ctbob wrote:
Last bottle; better a year ago; fruit is starting to fade: drink up
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3/13/2010 - steffenpelz wrote:
Served with Fettucine Alfredo and what a fantastic pairing. The wine's fruit, freshness, structure and spice really complemented the Fettucine Alfredo. Lovely wine which shows a significant amount of earth and spice. The fine acidity helps cut through the butter and cream of the noodle dish. With this food pairing, the fruit does not get emphasized as the other parts of the wine, but there's still plenty of lovely fruit in it. Should be able to hold a while longer.
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2/8/2010 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
I just can't get past the nose of this wine. Immediately after pouring, there is primarily an ethyl acetate aroma and a secondarily what I would describe as pencil shavings. With time in the glass, those aromas subside. The palate is plum. Balanced. LIke the finish.
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2/8/2010 - STEVEN@WINECELLARCLUB.COM wrote: 91 Points
NEEDED 1 HR AIR, SOME PERFUME ON NOSE. DARK COLOR WITH SOME AGE, SOLID MIDDLE, RIPE, TANNIC, BUT PLENTY OF FRUIT TO BALANCE. OPENED AFTER 1HR AIR. SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECANTED, LONG FINISH VERY NICE. GOOD BUT NOT GREAT WINE.
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1/28/2010 - steffenpelz wrote:
Had this over the course of two nights. Started out surprisingly tight, but it unwound quickly. Nice plum and red berry fruit with tobacco, earth, and some dark chocolate. A funky wine in a good way, and a monster QPR. Only downside is that I picked up on a hint of bitterness/astringency. I think the tannins are beginning to outlast the fruit, so I think it's time to drink up with this wine. Certainly no need to drink it immediately, but I still think this needs to be consumed within the next five years.
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1/10/2010 - smokie wrote: 92 Points
Still needs time but drinking well with a decant. Textbook brunelllo, what a bargain for $20. I will not open another for 5 years.
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12/26/2009 - WST wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful wine in a great stage of development. Perfect balance of secondary and tertiary aromas. Gamey dark red fruit, a little rose reminiscent of nebbiolo, leather and moist earth. Dense wine with long finish.
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9/25/2009 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Dark and full bodied for Brunello. Good, but just lacked the finesse of extraordinary Brunello
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7/10/2009 - Mrbuzz wrote: 95 Points
Ok...enough with the Burgundy kick of late......lets crank up some PASTA and drink some BRUNELLO!!! This is my 4th bottle from a sixer I bought from Winex a couple ago for $19. Sick deal....SICK wine! This is the best showing yet. Creamy smooth, dark fresh crushed wild berry fruit that seems even more dense and polished. Absolutely WONDERFUL sweet dusty rose petal, dried florals, candied cherry spices, caramel.....tart orange acidity, anise, smoky tobacco leaves. Just a fantastic Brunello that hits the spot right on! Wish these deals would come around again!!!
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5/28/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
This is definitely a winner. Deep dark berry and plum fruit with some tobacco, earth, and lots of italo-barnyard. Just a classy wine with a velvety and silk texture and a classy finish. If there's a wine that goes great with roast pork, this is it. Food friendly yet nicely ripe and fresh at the same time. Love this stuff. Only word of caution....I had it open for a few days, and after three days, it began tasting a little pruney...tells me that it should be had in the next 5 years or so. YMMV.
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5/25/2009 - jerhardt wrote: 91 Points
Still big, young, and primary, but evolving nicely nonetheless. Dark fruit, medium-plus bodied and with a moderate amount of tannic grip. Approachable, but still improving. Try again in a year.
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4/11/2009 - Torchill wrote: flawed
suprisingly this bottle was cooked which was unexpected after the other bottles being so good.
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4/1/2009 - 5laton wrote:
Good, with classic spicy sour cherry flavors, approaching maturity, but it feels a little loose compared to a couple of years ago. Overall I'm finding this style of Brunello less attractive than in the past as it lacks something in finesse. Bought on closeout though, so provenance is always a question mark.
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3/29/2009 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
Took a couple hrs in the decanter to come around, earth, smoke, tar, leather, mushrooms and red fruit were all nicely balanced in this complex, smooth brunello. Plenty of life left.
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3/15/2009 - rfras wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and paired with lamb with rosemary. Drank this along side the Banfi '99 Brunello and the group felt this edged the out the Banfi slightly. It was fuller bodied than the Banfi. Cherry fruit and leather notes in the taste. We balanced and great food wine.
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2/15/2009 - ctbob wrote:
Drinking well now; this bottle seemed a bit deeper than the last; $20 at Winex (L.A.) a few years ago, and a fine, fine value at that price; v. tasty wine, I'll drink the last bottle sooner rather than later
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1/1/2009 - bon vivant wrote: 91 Points
opened new year's day at the cabin to have with Rick & dawn. This went into a decanter for a good 7 plus hrs which served it well there was a bit of funky aromas upon opening which disappeared. After 4 hrs it started to open up yet I wondered (and worried) that this may have a hint of TCA . Yet with more time it didn't get worse. The dark fruit developed more sweetness which made the wine more round and quite tasty. there is plenty of extraction here to warrant more aging & I should probably wait a good few years before trying another one
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12/30/2008 - ctbob wrote:
Delicious wine, although not at the top of its type; a touch thin on opening, but blossomed into a full, rich, well-rounded wine with elegance and class; in the best of all possible worlds this would be the go-to house wine for a mid-weight red
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7/27/2008 - steffenpelz wrote:
Pizza Night Chez Pelz: Popped and poured. Great wine right out of the gate. Lovely plum, black cherry, leather, earth, and a touch of gaminess. Has structure to hold for another 5-10 years, but this is so delicious right now. With home-made Pizza, this was a slam dunk.
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7/11/2008 - sehill wrote: flawed
Corked!!!!
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6/25/2008 - Mrbuzz wrote:
Another good bottle!
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5/23/2008 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
EWG Celestino: Some animal char., nuance of red earth, big blk t’s, tons of t’s and a’s, but lacking a bit of character. Very good, silky, brunello. David L
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5/18/2008 - gellie wrote: 93 Points
Great at any price
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4/18/2008 - robmatic wrote: 89 Points
Earthy notes dominate the bouquet; Full and flavorful.
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3/28/2008 - dfeiner wrote: 88 Points
Herbal, cherry nose; decanted for about 20 minutes some initial metallic taste blew off and it got nicer. Sour black cherry flavors, nice acidity. Lively.
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12/31/2007 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
New Years Eve dinner with crusted leg of lamb. Decanted 2 hrs, beautifull balanced wine with complex flavors of earth, tar, smoke with sweet red fruits and a touch of vanilla with soft tannins. This wine drank well with 2 hours in the decanter, but will improve with short term cellaring. What a way to end the year.
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12/30/2007 - bon vivant wrote: 92 Points
decanted for 3.5 hrs than back in bottle for 4 hrs. Took to steve a Cathie intense fruit upon opening but disjointed on the flavors. After the decant this mellowed out aromatics of meat and brush added to the dark fruit and some sweeter fruit flavors were added to the mix -this kept improving over diner everything was here this is just starting to develop hints of secondary flavors -no rush should be quite lovely in 3-5 yrs and prob even better in 10.
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12/25/2007 - gportilla wrote:
Deep colored, muted fruit nose, very full bodied red/black fruit taste with some tannins and a lingering finish. Fabulous with a gnocchi/wild mushroom dish. More concentrated than the CastelGiocondo we drank with it. It will be fun to see this evolve.
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9/2/2007 - rmodak wrote: 91 Points
This was decanted for 5 hours and still was very tight, but showed a lot of promise. Densely packed black cherry, mineral, tar, green tea, and firm tannins. Needed food, this is still a baby.
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8/24/2007 - DaleW wrote:
Not decanted in advance, maybe should have, it got better with air. Rather fruit-driven, somewhat floral nose, big ripe black cherry, some moderate tannins, no obtrusive oak. The flower notes fade and it gets a little leathery with time. Nice with the veal ragu. B+
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8/6/2007 - jerhardt wrote: 90 Points
Tight and tannic upon opening, this opened up after an hour or so. Definitely one to decant. Dark cherries, plum, leather, and cigar box. Very good now, but time will do it some good.
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8/4/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
Dinner and Wine (Casa Pelz): This, too was opened a few hours in advance and audouzed. Completely ready to drink and no hard edges. Has a great nose and solid palate that screams of plum, black berries, leather, and tobacco. Very velvety texture and great juicy, sappy finish. This is drinking so well now, I am having a hard time thinking this will improve much in the next few years...I'll begin to drink down my small stash over the next 3-5 years.
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7/8/2007 - dmatley wrote: 92 Points
This wine definately requires some decanting. After an hour or so in the decanter it really starts to open up. This is the second one I drank. The other bottle I opened at a restaurant without a decant and it never really opened up like at home.
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7/5/2007 - dfeiner wrote:
Not enjoyable.
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3/2/2007 - 5laton wrote: 90 Points
Dark blackberry color. Sweet and sour black cherry, plum, leather. There's some creamy oak here that still need to integrate, but this is nicely balanced with moderate acidity and surprisingly approachable tannins. It's still fairly primary, however, so i'll probably hold remaining bottles.
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2/13/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 94 Points
Having another one tonight...beautiful rose, dried cherries, tea leaves. Has a little natural gas funk that blows off....but it's all pretty after that!
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2/11/2007 - cvvhrn wrote: 85 Points
Tasted from a half bottle: The nose seem muted to me with cinnamon and cigars. Herbs and sour cherries on the nose. It could actually stand some more time in the bottle( but im not sure how well wine ages in the 375 ml format) and the tannins are firm and chewey, that being said I expected the finish to be longer.
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1/16/2007 - mskrueger wrote: flawed
Cork had wine going all the way to the top. Smelled like vinegar and tasted just as bad.
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12/18/2006 - Hollowleg wrote: 88 Points
Strong nose of black liquorice which conveys to the tongue. Finish lasts for about 6 seconds. After the first glass I paired this with pasta with red shrimp sauce. It was compatable but I would recommend adding a little spice to the sauce. No decanting necessary IMO.
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12/13/2006 - Mrbuzz wrote: 94 Points
Dark garnet in color. Big and soft floral nose of rose, cherries, damp earth, cigar box, candied spice. Super nose! Smooth and round in the mouth....bright red berry fruit, tart plum, tobacco, smoked cedar, aged leather. Wonderful dried florals, tart acidity, subtle wood spice. Some sourness on the finish....needs some food. Smooth and well balanced, yet should gain even more.
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8/26/2006 - steffenpelz wrote: 91 Points
Nice ruby red color that is translucent. Slight browning around the edges when first poured. Great nose of cherry, leather, tobacco, and a hint of dried herbs, bordering on garrigue. Explosive on the palate, yet very elegantly styled. Not a fruit bomb, but a more restrained and traditional model of BdM. I love that this doesn't try to be newfangled. Long finish that ends dry, but in a good way. The flavors show very much the same things as the nose does, so no surprises. Everything seems in balance and the acidity is refreshing. I have a feeling that this wine will take a little longer than the average BdM to show its best. I opened this too early, but no regrets...it's a wine that gives lots of pleasure. Went fabulously with a dish of fettucine on a sauce of fresh tomatoes laced with mild salsicce, crispy-fried pancetta, garlic, basil, and mustard greens.
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5/20/2006 - gellie wrote: 90 Points
great now
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3/25/2006 - Sommelier81 wrote: 90 Points
Dark red/brown color (4/5). MASSIVE Bouquet! Roses, dried apricot, prunes, vanilla, tobacco, dark chocolate, hints of cedar and grass (13/15). Sipped right away. Sweet fullbodied and nuaced with tobacco, chocolate and dried herbs (15/20). It has a tart redcurrant afterpalate that leads in to a 30 second finish. After 2 hours in the decanter the wine opens up with more sweetness and a note of tea becomes prominent (I think a development of the dried herb noted earlier.) Will develop nice and needs the time to grow to reach its potential (8/10)! 90 pts!
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2/26/2006 - jerhardt wrote: 91 Points
Classically styled, this is not big and lush like Fanti or Siro Pacenti, but very good nonetheless. This is certainly one to give some age, and I expect my score will increase significantly in 5 years. A great deal from KL at $30.
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1/26/2006 - 97mjr wrote:
The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino Tasting (New York, NY): tight, bitter lots of backbone but difficult to say without 5 more years
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8/26/2005 - futronic wrote: 90 Points
From magnum. Medium-dark garnet colour. Austere, with wood, cherry, sottobosco, leather, and balsamico notes on the nose. Medium-full bodied, quite tannic, a little puckering, with cherry, plum, and earth. Nice finish, a little tart, but will improve with time.
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8/26/2005 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
From mag; Clearly very young and in need of years of aging; Not many notes other than this seemed quite good.
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8/13/2005 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
From 375, pop & poured two glasses, remainder sat open for a couple of hours before revisiting. Deep garnet color. Notes of tar, smoky meat and blueberries. Well balanced, with loads of dark fruit and tar on the palate. The blueberry notes became more prominent on the last glasses poured, and the palate revealed less of a tannic bite with more dark fruit and tar.
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4/24/2005 - grossie wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at Sam's. It is still very primary but shows lots of potential- intense, rounded, and a little rustic. Would like to give this one 10 years or so.
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3/12/2005 - D. Fulton wrote: 89 Points
The nose shows black fruit, especially blackberry and blueberry, plus notes of menthol. On the palate, the wine has a ripe texture, but is fairly one deminsional with a rather abrupt finish. There are more notes for dark fruit, plus sottobosco, but this wine isn't very dynamic. It tastes more like a top Chianti than a Brunello.
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