2005 Gaetano D'Aquino Brunello di Montalcino

It's the first Saturday of June and of course that means it's Cellar Saturday, that wonderful day when we open a wine that's been maturing in the cellar just for the enjoyment of it!  Tonight, I've opened a decade old wine, though it has only been in my cellar for a few weeks and honestly despite it's age, it's still pretty young for a Brunello!  Of course I am talking about the 2005 Gaetano D'Aquino Brunello di Montalcino, a bottle I recently picked up at Trader Joe's of all places!

The wine is a nice garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is classic Brunello, with aromas of leather, anise, oak, spice and a hint of vanilla.  The taste is warm at the outset, with mild flavors of blackberry and plum that give way to some tart cherry and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat mellow as the acidity provides some nice balance for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a nice bottle but certainly not a Brunello that will wow you.  Of course it was also a bargain at Trader Joe's for just $20, so what more could you ask for?  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a rather non-traditional dinner to go with Sangiovese based wine, I'm having some grilled root beer brats on pretzel buns with mustard and pickled red cabbage and some fresh grilled corn on the cob, an entire dinner that can be eaten with your hands!