Vintage Brunello di Montalcino tasting at Wine Watch

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Vintage Brunello di Montalcino tasting at Wine Watch

The wines that I like to drink seem to all start with a "B", Barolo, Barbaresco, Burgundy, Bordeaux and of course Brunello.

Brunello is the wine with top billing in Tuscany is for the last half of century, a DOCG from a fortress town south of Siena with reds of legendary power and longevity that have commanded lofty prices.  The wines of this world-renowned region of Tuscany were conceived by the Biondi Santi family a century ago, today Brunello di Montalcino is produced under scores of labels, representing small farms, established estates and even international corporations.  By the turn of the 21st century, there are over 200 producers of Brunello di Montalcino, mostly small farmers and family estates, producing nearly 330,000 cases a year.

Brunello is Montalcino is one of the hottest topics in the world of Italian wine today.  With wine magazines like: The Wine Spectator, James Suckling, The Wine Advocate and International Wine Cellar calling the 2010 vintage from Montalcino " One of The Greatest Vintage Ever", many collectors and wine enthusiasts will be scrambling to pick up the best wines from this stellar year so I have included on this e-mail the remainder of 2010 vintage wines that we have in stock from this epic vintage from Montalcino.

The paradox here is that these wines are years away from showing their grandeur, when a customer wants a recommendation for a wine to take home tonight and drink, young Brunello is rarely comes to mind.  However if you would like a taste of the wines of this elite red wine producing region, Brunello’s baby brother Rossi Di Montalcino has been one of the hottest wines in its price category in the store this year.  In 1984 the Junior DOC of Rosso Di Montalcino was established.  This younger brother of Brunello was brought about because in lower than average quality years they could bottle the wine with less time in oak therefore allowing the wine to have a more international style and more mass appeal, while still maintaining its distinctive Brunello character.  Young and fresh, this wine unlike its older sibling in that it is ready to drink upon release. 

This is our pre-event for the new release tasting that features the newest releases from Montalcino which will be 2012 this year.  All of the wines at this tasting will be 10+ years old and even though Brunello is held back for 5 years by law the greatest vintages need another 10+ years in the cellar to reach their peak years of drinkability.

Wine Watch Catering’s Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.  This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and there are only 14 seats available, the fee is $145+ tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Vintage Brunello di Montalcino Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, April 14, 2017
7:30 PM

1995 Canalicchio Di Sopra Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $134.50    Your Price: $118.36

A classic example of Brunello with soft smooth tannins, this wine is now fully evolved with the classic black tar and truffle aromas along with a host of dried herbs, sage and rosemary.  The wine opened up nicely and revealed some pretty dried cherry fruit along with some meaty notes and dried flowers, everything in perfect balance today.  The wine finishes fresh and lively and with the right food this wine will really came alive, the fruit being on the undercard with the wine now at 19 years old.  You want to decanter this wine for 30 minutes and serve it with dinner or some reggiano parmesan cheese.  A classic vintage for Montacino and although it is fully mature, it has the balance to last another decade or more in your cellar.  Finish 45+  Most Excellent +

1996 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $129.00    Sale $113.52

(89 points) Canalicchio di Sopra's plum/ruby-colored 1996 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits some of the vintage's austerity along with a nicely layered mid-palate as well as aromas and flavors of coffee, soy, Asian spices, and roasted herbs and meats. Spicy, medium-bodied, angular, complex as well as cerebral, it will drink well for 12-15 years.   Wine Advocate #137 Oct 2001

1997 Banfi Excelsus Sant Antimo
Price: $82.50       Sale $72.60

1998 Antinori Pian Delle Vigne Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $95.00       Sale $83.60

(92 points) "Extremely well-crafted, as usual. Fabulous aromas of strawberries and cream that soon turn to minerals and spices. Full-bodied, with very silky tannins and a long, long finish. This has plenty in reserve and needs time to develop. Best after 20014." Wine Spectator

1999 Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino Madonna
Price: $355.00    Sale $312.40

(96 Points) Fantastic aromas of ripe fruit and coffee, with hints of plum and cedar. Full-bodied, with lovely, velvety tannins and a long, juicy finish. Big and glorious. The greatest wine ever from here. Best after 2006. 1,500 cases made. (JS) Wine Spectator Buying Guide 5/15/05

2001 Fanti Tenuta San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $85.00       Sale $74.80

(90 Points) Blackberry, spice and meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of raisin, berry and earth character. Long and luscious.  Almost decadent. Best after 2006. 2,400 cases made.“JS Issue: Jul 31, 2006

2003 Canailicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino (375ml)
Price: $36.75       Sale $32.34

An amazing array of roasted meat, fresh plowed earth coco and spice, black cherry and porchini mushroom. A good amount of ripe black cherry fruit on the tongue very balanced and fresh with an array of fresh earth minerality and dark coco to the finish. Finish 40+
EXCELLENT +

2003 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $113.25    Your Price: $99.66
Quantity in Stock: 8

Thick black cherry wild strawberry fruit very ripe and seductive aromas flowers and porcini and fresh earth. Very fresh and bright red berry fruit on the tongue with layers of spice minerals and coco spice. Very forward and drinkable but also has the stuffing to be cellared for a decade. Finish 45 Most Excellent

2004 Uccelliera Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $118.00    Sale $103.84

(97 Points) Complex aromas of rose, blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with wonderfully velvety tannins and focused, juicy, rich fruit. Long and intense. The finish shows berry, tobacco, toasty oak, berry and chocolate. Goes on and on. One of the wines of the vintage. Best after 2011.  1,890 cases made. -JS Issue: Apr 30, 2009

2005 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $120.00    Sale $105.60

Fine herbs and exotic dried floral notes to the nose red berry fruit cherry and old leather notes. Smooth and round tannins on the tongue with a nice amount of earth and good freshness with dried floral and lunch meat notes on the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent

2005 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino
List Price: $78.00              Sale $68.64

A nice amount of earth on the nose here porcini mushroom light red berry fruit sour cherry and wild strawberry. Big and chewy but still rounded at the edges bright acidity a very well balanced and elegant wine with the nuance in the nose echoing through the finish, notes of dried herbs. Finish 45 Excellent

2005 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
List Price: $169.00      Your Price: $135.20
Lunch meat and old leather notes with a good amount of fresh plowed earth minerality and wild strawberry red cherry fruit, porcini. Excellent concentration and depth of flavors here with fine tannins and excellent freshness still a baby a bit dry on the finish, this wine needs some time but has all the right stuff. Finish 50 Most Excellent

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  Beemster Gouda, Parmesan Reggiano

Wild Mushroom Carpaccio with Harpke Farms Micro Greens and Parmesan toast points

Smoked Duck and Mozzarella Raviolis with sundried tomato brown butter sauce

This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and there are only 14 seats available, the fee is $145+ tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

2010 Brunello still available at Wine Watch:

2010 L'Aietta Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $75.00    Your Price: $66.00
Quantity in Stock: 10

Only one hectare is used for the production of this Brunello and is located on a steep hillside barely walkable, let alone acce...

2010 Capanne Ricci Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $65.00    Sale Price: $50.00
Quantity in Stock: 12

2010 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello Di Montalcino (375ml)
Price: $28.00    Your Price: $24.64
Quantity in Stock: 1

(94+ Points) The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino represents a return to the traditional values of Montalcino. The bouquet is buoyan...

2010 Ciacci Piccolomini Pianrosso Riserva Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $175.00    Your Price: $154.00
Quantity in Stock: 5

(98 points) Aromas of lilac, dark berry and sandalwood follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense and savo...

2010 Ciacci Piccolomini Pianrosso Riserva Santa Canterina D'Oro Brunello di Montalcino (Magnum)
Price: $410.00    Your Price: $360.80
Quantity in Stock: 1

(98 points) Aromas of lilac, dark berr...

2010 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3 Liter)
Price: $675.00    Your Price: $594.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

95+ The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as magnificent as it was last year. Since then, the 2010 has acquired an ex...

2010 Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $67.50    Your Price: $59.40
Quantity in Stock: 3

This is an incredible vintage in montalcino with a solid core of black cherry berry fruit, light smokky notes, licorice spice a...

2010 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $90.00    Your Price: $79.20
Quantity in Stock: 2

(97 Points) "Costanti's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is stunning. Dark, powerful and mysterious in the glass, the 2010 captivate...

2010 CASANOVA NERI BRUNELLO CERRETALTO
Price: $395.00    Your Price: $347.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

(100 Points) .loads of currants, spices and hints of wood. So much stone and mineral character to this. Violets, too. Full-bodi...

2010 Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $70.00    Your Price: $61.60
Quantity in Stock: 9

(94 points)   Donatella Cinelli Colombini's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino makes a big and pleasurable impact on all the senses. F...

2010 Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne
Price: $90.00    Your Price: $79.20
Quantity in Stock: 19

(93 points)  Representing a special selection of fruit, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne is a dark and well-extracte...

2010 Il Palazzone Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $65.00    Your Price: $57.20
Quantity in Stock: 17

Richard Parsons is the owner and he is currently the president of the LA Clippers, was the CEO of Citigroup and Time Warner.  T...

2010 Le Potazzine Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $67.50    Your Price: $59.40
Quantity in Stock: 6

(94 points) Savory and seductively spicy, the 2010 Brunello d...

2010 Poggio Antico Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG
Price: $95.00    Your Price: $83.60
Quantity in Stock: 13

(97 Points) "A beautifully balanced, subtle Brunello with plum, berry, spice and fresh-mahogany character. Full to medium body,...

2010 Poggio Antico Altero Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG
Price: $82.00    Your Price: $72.16
Quantity in Stock: 1

(97 points) A beautifully balanced and subtle Brunello with plum, berry, spice and fresh mahogany character. Full to medium bod...

2010 Piccini Brunello di Montalcino Villa Al Cortile
Price: $45.00    Your Price: $39.60
Quantity in Stock: 2

This is the fifth largest producer in Tuscany and this 2010 vintage is outstanding in Montalcino, fifth Generation family owned...

2010 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $85.00    Your Price: $74.80
Quantity in Stock: 1

They are near Castellnove d'abbate, in the SE section of Montalcino, close to Ciacci Piccolomini, Talenti, this vineyard was pl...

2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $150.00    Your Price: $132.00
Quantity in Stock: 8

(99 points)  Absolutely stunning aromas of nectarine, orange peel, sweet black cherry, plums and flowers. Licorice and mushroom...

2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Del Piano Riserva
Price: $312.50    Your Price: $275.00
Quantity in Stock: 12

100 points James Suckling A wine with superb finesse...

2010 Villa Le Prata Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $60.75    Your Price: $53.46
Quantity in Stock: 8

94 points James Suckling Incredible aromatics here w...

What I drank Yesterday:  Josep Phelps Insignia Vertical Tasting Review

What I Drank Yesterday  Insignia Vertical

This was another effort to keep up with one of Napa Valley’s elite wines, Joseph Phelps Insignia is the first Bordeaux inspired blend the first vintage was 1974 which we showed at an event a year ago and it was still drinking beautifully!  The old dog was a crowd favorite with three votes for first place but the winner was the blockbuster 2002 vintage which is one of the 100 Point Insignia.  With the new Parker scores the price of these older vintage Insignia’s have gone up

2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

Lots of luschious black currant and cassis berry fruit on the nose, dark chocolate, sweet tobacco spice and more, this wine is still a youngster.  A big and chew wine with lots of everything and in proportion, a bit tannic still but has lovely balance and a long-layered finish, give this one another 10 years in the cellar.  finish 50+            Most Excellent                 

2005 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

Wow a blockbuster here just oozing with dark currant and cherry liqueur like fruit, dark chocolate, very well endowed, notes of pencil lead, graphite and more as this wine open, even better on the second day.  Thick and juicy on the tongue with a liqueur like texture on the tongue, a host of the dark spices and earthy notes coming through on the finish, this wine still a baby needs time but is deliciously balanced and just oozing with fruit if you like your wines on the young side this wine is peaking right now.   Finish 50+    Most Excellent +             

               
2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

Mocha with lots of dark plum and cherry fruit, this is the most evolved of the wines with notes of coffee and earth coming out as the wine opens.                  Excellent +         

               
2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia      
Price: $360.00    Sale Price: $300.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

This wine was served out of 375ml bottles and both bottles were practically identical just bursting with dark cherry liqueur fruit, cigar box, dark coco and fresh earth, very complex bouquet with an abundance of fruit still here.  Sweet and silky on the tongue with the tannins perfectly ripe, making this wine impossible to resist.  The wine of the night with six votes for first place and one vote for second.  Finish 50+  Killer     

               
2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia      
List Price: $320.00             Sale Price: $260.00
Quantity in Stock: 9

Sweet cassis and currant berry fruit with hints of smoky tobacco mint chocolate chip and loamy earth.  Lots of sweet dark cherry fruit on the tongue, this wine is drinking beautifully right now with lots of liqueur like fruit, this wine could go another decade.  finish 50+         Most Excellent +             

               
2000 Joseph Phelps Insignia      
Price: $156.00    Your Price: $137.28
Quantity in Stock: 2

Showing a eucalptus, herbal, tobacco lots of earth and still a bit of currant berry fruit showing through.  This wine is smooth as silk on the tongue right now with lots of soft tannins, that minty character and fine herbs showing along with dark coco and a nice freshness through the finish, this wine is drinking at its peak and recieved two votes for second place.  Finish 45+                Excellent +

                               
1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

Bitter coco, dark earth, dried meat and dark spice, old leather dark cassis berry fruit coming out as this wine opens the most backward of the 1990's vintage wines on the table.  Still very structured but has a good amount of fruit this wine still needs time but is starting to show nicely.  Finish 50+     Most Excellent                 

1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

A very pretty wine on the nose with lots of ripe berry fruit, dark spices, cigar box, mocha and cedar, the most complex bouquet of the night.  This wine is just singing right now and is drinking at its peak at the ripe old age of 20!  This was the second favorite wine this evening with nine overall votes four for first and five for second place.  Finish 50+        Killer

                               
1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

Mint chocolate chip cookie, fresh shaved pencil lead, red currant and cherry fruit.  Smooth and ripe tannins on the tongue, drinking at or near its peak right now, lots of earth and spice on the finish that chocolate, graphite and more, hard to resist keeping this one any longer.  A crowd favorite with three votes for first place and one for second.  Finish 50+     Most Excellent +

                               
1986 Joseph Phelps Insignia      

A bit of a band aid medicinal note, Brett but not off putting, eucalyptus, dried tobacco spice and still has a bit of red currant berry fruit.  Smooth and silky on the tongue with a good amount of zest on the finish, dry tobacco spice, drinking beautiful still could last longer but has probably seen better days. Finish 45+   This wine received three votes for first place making it one of the most popular wines on the table this evening.  Finish 40+       Most Excellent

You always get extra at Wine Watch and this was an extra special as this wine was out of magnum and our last one!!

1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia (Magnum)

This wine showed beautifully right after opening with currant and cassis berry fruit, milk chocolate, minty notes and more drinking silky smooth on the tongue with a long finish, wonderful balanced and fresh, this wine is singing out of magnum.  Finish 45+            Excellent +