Some Fine Brunello´s

Our monthly tasting group got together yesterday and Håkan opened these fine bottles.
Tasted double blind.

1997 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso, Ciacci Piccolomino d´Aragona
A deep, mature, soft nose with notes of mushrooms, tobacco, old leather and dried flowers. A fine dried up warmth.
The taste is round, mature and dry with notes of dried raspberries, moist earth asphalt and leather. Long and fine. A good warmth. Maybe a tad too mature for its age, but drinking very good.
89p   (tasted 2018/10)

1997 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina, Gaja
Just lovely. Rich, deep, pure, with sweet/sour cherries, expensive tobacco, rosemary and forest floor. A lovely warmth. Really fine.
The taste is velvety and ample with notes of cherry compote, Finnish licorice, smoke and dried herbs. Very, very long. Perfectly mature. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2018/10)

1997 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia, Lisini
A round, open, mature nose with notes of violets, asphalt, herbs and leather. Deep and fine. Forest floor and some veal meat aromas. A very fine maturity.
The taste is medium bodied and structured with notes of dried cherries, smoke, iron and cranberries. A long, warm finish. Mature but will hold for 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2018/10)

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Cupano
A new acquaintance and a very nice one at that. The nose is high, intense and earthy in a Langhe kind of way, with notes of pine, rosehips, red cherries, mushrooms and tobacco. Very pure and fine.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of sage, cherry pips, rosemary and forest floor. Salivating. Balanced. Very fine. 4+ years.
94p   (tasted 2018/10)

2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova, Casanova di Neri
Another stunner, the Casanova di Neri delivers a beautiful wine with a deep, exquisite with notes of sweet licorice, bonfire, fir wood, ripe cherries and Christmas spices. Very complex and fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with lots of potential and very fine notes of hard cherry candy, licorice, iron and herbs. Long and structured. 8+ years.
94p   (tasted 2018/10)

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Biondi-Santi
Another disappointment from Biondi-Santi, I can´t remember a bottle that has been worth their heavy tariff. Double blind, it was hands down the least favourite wine in the line up by all.
The nose is cool and linear with notes of fresh mushrooms, freeze dried coffee, dried herbs and old leather. Ascetic.
The taste is seedy and dry with fine tannins, I will give it that, but the fruit is low keyed and playing in the background. A hint of bitterness in the end. Wait 20 years?!?
85p   (tasted 2018/10)

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Salvioni
Aaah, my favourite producer of Brunello. But this needs time. The nose is deep, warm and structured with notes of rosehips, licorice, rosemary, gravel and a hint of ginger bread. Very deep but a bit restrained today, Opened up more and more as the evening went on.
The taste is refined and balanced with lots of ripe cherries, hard cherry candy, smoke, iron and new leather. Very, very long. Silky tannins that dominate the finish. 8+ years.
93p   (tasted 2018/10)