From october 2012 up to now I have tasted exactly the same amount - 31 different bottles of Brunello, a different kind of pace to say the least!
It has been a very positive journey so far. There have more positive experiences than the opposite, but then I have focused on well known and serious producers from good to great vintages.
I said in that first post that I didn´t "get" Brunello. Do I now? Hopefully a bit better, although this journey isn´t over yet!
What have I "got" so far then?
* In comparison to the Sangiovese wines I have been used to taste, the Chianti´s and the Super Tuscans, the Brunellos have, in general, more power, more warmth and a more robust structure.
* Vintage wise, although to few tasted to make a certain statement, I think that the Consoorzio´s Vintage quality evaluation have been fairly correct.
* A few, very few, have had a problem with the warmth, making them appear heavy and clumpsy.
* But when Brunello combines that power with stunning fruit and a firm backbone, they are indeed world class wines.
* The best experiences have been the wines from Salvione (one more tasted but I haven´t got around to post that yet), the vintage 1995 which have been perfect maturity wise, and altoghether so many wines from so many producers that I have never encountered before!
The journey continues! Next up - three bottles from 1990...
Thank you for sharing this journey with us! For myself, being someone with less experience in Brunello, this is an amusing read. Keep it up, Joakim! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ulf! I will! :-)
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