2011 Mastrojanni Brunello di Montelcino

Well this is truly an occasion as Cellar Saturday, that first Saturday of the month also happens to be Independence Day and more significantly, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  With this in mind, I have gone back to my roots on my mother's father's side and have gone totally Italian.  With the melting pot, we will celebrate with a 2011 Mastrojanni Brunello di Montelcino, a wine that should be hitting its stride and one that's been in my cellar for at least a decade (more likely since at least 2012!).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

A gentle swirl reveals aromas that will have you reminiscing of an old Italian grocery, with notes of mint, charred oak, dried spices and hints of anise.  The first sip is the heart of Tuscany, with a rush of strawberry, cherry and blackberry that smack you in the face as it to wake you from a nap before easing into some earthy tar and charred oak.  The tannins are well structured and perfectly integrated to lead you into a smooth, dry finish with a hint of tart cherry and oak at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful Brunello that is just hitting its stride.  This wine would pair well with a range of Italian dishes from the Tuscan classics of toast with fava beans to Bisteca Fiorentina!  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a more subdued Italian American classic of hot Italian sausage (after all, you can't spell sausage without USA!) sautéed with onions and peppers along with linguine tossed with garlic scapes, asparagus and broccoli rabe sautéed in garlic and olive oil and topped with shaved parmesan.  Cheers! 

2012 Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to see how it's developed along it's journey. Tonight I've taken a couple of cheats on my decade, first I've selected a Brunello, which by Italian law must be aged in barrel for six years, and then in bottle a further six months before release.  So, such a wine is already 65% of the way to a decade on release day!  Second, I recently bought some of this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, so I let them do a little of the aging for me!  The 2012 Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese Grosso (another requirement of Italian law), and Brunellos are usually just hitting their stride at the 10-year mark, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you might expect from the varietal.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of dried flowers, ripe cherry and plum, with hints of vanilla and anise.  Take a sip and you're immediately transported to the Tuscan countryside, with layers of dried herbs, ripe cherry and some earthy notes of tobacco and graphite, which ease into some black pepper spice and a hint of thyme midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight at first, but gradually open up for a velvety mouthfeel leading into a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant and easy drinking Brunello that is just hitting its stride. This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, such as Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, pappardelle with a traditional ragu, ribollita, or a simple platter of salami and cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Trader Joe's Cacio e Pepe ravioli with carpaccio truffle cream sauce, the spice of this wine is a perfect foil for the richness of the truffles.  Cheers!

2011 Tenuta Vitanza Beunello di Montalcino Riserva

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical first Saturday of the month when I raid the cellar and open a bottle that's been in development for at least a decade.  I am a lover of Sangiovese, and since Brunellos usually hit their stride at the 10-year mark, why not spend a Cellar Saturday on one of these?  So, I've opened a bottle of 2011 Tenuta Vitanza Beunello di Montalcino Riserva that I know has been in my cellar for at least five years, so let's see if it was worth the wait!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, with just the faintest hint of amber along the edges, just as you might expect from an adult Brunello.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of anise, prune, cedar and spicebox that bring be back to the aromas I smelled when walking into a small grocer in Florence.  Take a sip and you are greeted with a surprisingly vibrant bit of fruit, strawberry, red currant and raspberry that ease into earthy notes of tar and tobacco, with a hit of black pepper spice over the top.  The tannins are still quite vibrant, providing for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really pleasing example of a nice Brunello from a somewhat lackluster vintage.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian fare, from risotto to classic pasta, steak or veal.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a poor man's version of bistecca Fiorentina, a porterhouse grilled Pittsburgh rare on a bed of grilled leeks with a baked potato and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month, so it's time for me to raid the cellar and find something at least a decade in the making to enjoy.  Tonight I've gone with the 2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino, a classic Sangiovese wine that has been dubbed the king of Italian wines, and one which I view as needing at least a decade of maturity before coming into its own.  Normally Brunellos aren't even released for more than four years after harvest due to the regulations involved, so it's somewhat easier to let a nice Brunello age in the cellar, since it might only take five more years after purchase.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with great clarity and just a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, anise and leather, just as you might expect from a pure Sangiovese.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry intermingled with some earthy notes of tar, basalt and tobacco, that eases into some floral notes of dried rose petals midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice base for the long, dry finish with a nice acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really nice example of a Tuscan classic that is just coming into its own.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from pasta and risotto, to a nice thick Tuscan T-bone, aka bistecca Fiorentina.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Italian lasagna, as it's been chilly here today and having a wonderful, warm baked pasta seemed like the thing to do.  Cheers!

2006 Belpoggio Brunello di Montalcino

Well it's the first Saturday in May and that means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I reach back into the cellar to find some wine that's at least a decade from it's original vintage and tonight I have one that just came together with my dinner tonight.  I am a big fan of great Italian wines, and of course the granddad of them all is Brunello, that carefully crafted Sangiovese that works it's magic with almost any traditional Italian cuisine.  And since I maintain that a nice Brunello really doesn't start to sing until it's at least a decade old, I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Belpoggio Brunello di Montalcino.  Now I let this one decant for about 90 minutes, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with a tinge of amber along the edges.  The nose is classic Brunello, with aromas of anise, blackberry, spice box and some earthy notes.  The taste is remarkably fruit forward, with a rush of candied cherry, strawberry and a hint of thyme, but then it seems to be a bit tired midpalate, as it transitions to some earthy mineral notes of tar and peat.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, making for a long, soft dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's wonderfully developed, but the weakness midpalate was a drawback.  This wine would pair with any classic Italian dish, from Bistecca alla Fiorentina to classic pasta with hearty red sauces.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a dinner that started with a trip to Eataly in Chicago last Monday, where I picked up some fresh squid ink tagliatelle, which I am tossing with some mussels simmered in olive oil, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, oregano and basil.  The classic briny seafood mixture is just perfect with this earthy wine.  Cheers!

2008 Sommavite Brunello di Montalcino

Well, it's the first day of December and also the first Saturday of the new month which means it's Cellar Saturday!  Last month I totally forgot to open a wine more than a decade old on the first Saturday of the month, so for that I apologize.  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2008 Sommavite Brunello di Montalcino.  I am a huge proponent of letting the great Italian wines like Brunello and Barolo wait for at least a decade from the vintage before they are ready to drink, and this one is just about ready.  So let's see what this epitome of Sangiovese has to offer!

The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass, with hints of amber along the edges.  The nose is classic Brunello, with hints of cherry intermingled with leather, dried spices, coarse mineral notes and a light floral overtone.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward with a rush of cherry and red currant with light mint overtones that transitions nicely to some earthy notes of tar and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are velvety and nicely integrated for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of a good quality Brunello that's had some time to develop in the bottle.  This wine would be ideal with hearty Italian pasta, fall mushroom risotto, or a classic bistecca alla fiorentina.  Tonight I am heading in the latter direction, enjoying this wine with a prime New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare (half the bistecca anyway) along with some sauteed onions and peppers, grilled asparagus and a big old baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2013 Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino

Well, I've been out of it a little while and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!  Yes, I've been away for a few days, but now I'm home and feeling like I need a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from Costco's Kirkland Signature brand.  I'm fascinated by the variety of wine they decide to private label, and a couple weeks ago I bought a couple bottles that intrigued me, this first one being a 2013 Brunello di Montalcino.  Now granted I like a nice Brunello, but typically let them age a good decade before opening them, but since this one was relatively inexpensive, I've dispensed with the cellar aging.  So let's dig in!

The wine is a light ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is a classic combination of red fruit, strawberry, raspberry and tart cherry intermingled with some green grass, dried herbs and a bit of charcoal.  The taste is a rush of red berries, which transitions to some tart cherry notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat muted, but the finish is still rather expressive and dry, with some spicy notes at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as that's about what I would expect from a just released Brunello.  The wine would likely mature with a bit of age, but it was still a good value for under $30.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Italian dishes, from risotto to pasta and seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli topped with some creamy pumpkin and butternut squash sauce.  The red fruit and bright acidity of the wine are a nice complement to the richness of the ravioli.  Cheers!

2007 La Mannella Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of January and the first Saturday of 2018, so it must be time for me to raid the cellar and explore a wine that's just been sitting around being lazy for a number of years, not unlike their owner.  Tonight I've decided for a number of reasons to go full on Mediterranean, and I've opened up a bottle of 2007 La Mannella Brunello di Montalino, the undisputed king of Italian vino!  Now, I feel the same about Brunello as Barolo (though I'm much less likely to make exceptions with Barolo) that these wines really don't start coming into their own for a good decade after harvest, so it's far more likely that you'd see these on a Cellar Saturday than any other time.  So here goes nothing!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  And although I've let this wine have a good bit of air already, the aromas are just exploding from the glass, with notes of dried spices, olive and dried floral notes, all amid aromas of blackberry and tart cherry fruit.  Classic Brunello aromas all around.  The taste is at first a rush of black fruit flavors, currant, cherry and plum that transition to some flatter notes of dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are still quite robust, and you're treated to a reprise of sweet cherry on the long, voluptuous and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just starting to come into it's own, but it's still a classic example of what a good Brunello should be.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Italian and Mediterranean dishes, from the classic bistecca Fiorentina to hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with a wonderful grilled octopus with Tuscan herbs and grilled vegetables along with some linguine tossed with cherry tomatoes, lemon and capers.  This is the type of dinner that makes you feel like you're at a seaside restaurant in Sicily rather than a 10-degree ice castle in Indiana!  Cheers!

2006 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit, I've been a total slacker when it comes to Cellar Saturday, I totally missed in last month, and I totally forgot about it yesterday too!  So I'll make up for it today, as I have a delayed Cellar Saturday blamed entirely on Daylight Savings Time!  So instead of yesterday, tonight I've decided to raid the cellar for a bottle that's been at least a decade in the making, and tonight it's the 2006 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino!  I am a big fan of Brunello, and like a good Barolo, I remain convinced they need at least a decade to show their true potential, so tonight this one has a chance to shine.  Keep in mind, I've decanted this wine and let if breathe for about an hour, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a lovely bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is classic Brunello, with strong notes of smoke, leather, dried Italian herbs and some floral notes of lavender and rose.  The tastes is a rush of ripe fruit, strawberry, raspberry and cherry that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs, cardamom and peat midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, as the tannins are robust and support the long, smooth and very dry finish that treats to a reprise of red fruit at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's not the best Brunello I've had, but it's quite good, particularly 11 years on in its life.  This wine would pair well with bistecca alla fiorentina or a variety of Italian dishes, but tonight I've gone rogue and I'm enjoying this wine with some pan seared lake perch topped with pineapple jalapeno salsa, roasted baby potatoes and grilled baby bok choy.  The bright red fruit of this wine really compliment the lighter flavor of the fish.  Cheers!

2006 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Saturday!  And of course this being the first Saturday of a new month and new year, it's Cellar Saturday, when I get to dig out a bottle to enjoy from the cellar that's at least a vintage 10 years ago!  Tonight, I've decided to finally open a bottle of Brunello that I've had in my cellar for a number of years (after all, you know you can't really enjoy a Brunello until it's at least 10 years old!), the 2006 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino.  So after decanting, let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a beautiful purple garnet in the glass, with just the faintest hint of brown along the edges.  The nose is replete with aromas of leather, plum and violet, with just a hint of pepper spice.  The taste brings be back to late summer in Tuscany, with a bright rush of ripe plum and currant up front, that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs and just a hint of mint midpalate.  The finish is wonderful, with elegantly structured tannins that provide for a wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a wonderful Brunello that's just starting to come into its own (it will no doubt improve and evolve with additional years in the cellar).  This wine would be a perfect complement to a variety of classic Tuscan dishes, from pasta fagioli to tagliatelle al tartufo to a classic bistecca fiorentina, and of course I'm going the latter route tonight, enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap and broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic and olive oil.  Salut!

2009 Scopone Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Sunday!  Today was another afternoon of raking leaves, but since they will be picked up this week, I'm almost done!  Just a few more scattered areas to address and then it's over till next year!  Who knew shade was so expensive?  So to celebrate, tonight I've decided to open a nice bottle of wine, the 2009 Scopone Brunello di Montalcino.  I bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out and it's had some mixed professional reviews, so let's see what it has to offer.

The wine is a nice deep ruby red color in the glass, perhaps a little darker than I was expecting.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, oak and baking spice, with a hint of smoke.  The taste is interestng, as it starts out with a bit of cherry cola, mocha and dark chocolate, that transition to a bit of anise and dried herbs.  The tannins are big and in your face, and as Wine Enthusiast noted, it has "an excruciatingly dry finish" and I couldn't agree more, this is perhaps the driest wine I've ever tasted.  The saving grace is that the finish is rather short.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, it's nice but nothing spectacular and it definitely needs food as drinking this by itself might cause headaches!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a more traditional southern Italian dish of linguine with mussels, tomatoes and basil.  Thankfully the acidity of the San Marzano tomatoes really cuts through the tannins and dryness of the wine.  Cheers!

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!

2003 Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino

Here we are at the first Saturday of the month, and of course that means it's Cellar Saturday, that time when I raid the cellar and open a bottle that's been waiting way too long to be enjoyed!  Tonight I've decided to go straight to Tuscany for a nice bottle of the king of Italian wine, Brunello di Montalcino, in this case the 2003 Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino.  There's just something about a mature Brunello, brimming with Sangiovese, a wine that is great by itself or with a broad variety of dishes.

This wine exhibits the bright ruby color that is typical of Brunello.  The nose is classic Brunello, with rich earthy aromas of leather, coffee, smoke and limestone overlaid with just a hint of dried flowers.  The taste is just lovely, it brings be back to my last trip to Tuscany nearly 20 years ago, lovely black fruit notes right up front, plum, blackberry and black currant, that transitions effortlessly to some earthy notes of leather and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated, providing great structure for the long, dry finish that just has you begging for another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very nice example of the best that Tuscany has to offer when it comes to wine, and this one was a good value from Wines Till Sold Out for just $25!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a non-traditional pairing of grilled wild Coho salmon with a lemon dill cream sauce along with some oven roasted root vegetables, purple potatoes, orange and purple carrots and golden candy stripe beets.  A wonderful autumn dish that is really accented by the earthy flavors of this wine!

2000 Tenuta Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino

Well, it's the first "Cellar Saturday" of 2014 and tonight we are going back 14 years to a wonderful wine from Tuscany, the king of Italian wines, the 2000 Tenuta Greppone Mazzi Brunello do Montalcino! This particular wine hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I bought it from my new local wine merchant a month or two ago. And as an added bonus, today I bought a new aerator and decantor set that I got to try out on this wine!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass with a tinge of brown around the edges, as is typical of mature Brunello. The nose is a lovely combination of floral notes, lavender, and spice along with rich leather and black licorice so typical of a nice Brunello. The taste brings me right back to Florence, with great fruit flavors up front, blackberry, currant and cherry cola that transitions to some lovely mineral notes of dusty limestone and a sweetness that goes beyond the fruit. The tannins are elegant and well structured leading to a long, smooth dry finish. 

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's simply delicious and although it was $51 it wasn't much more that a newly released Brunello, but it's ready to drink today!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my own version of Bistecca Florentine, with a big cowboy cut ribeye grilled rare along with some asparagus, leeks and Brussels sprouts grilled in olive oil and a simple arugula salad. So yummy!