Gorgeous sunny day in the Delaware Valley today, and I’ll be grilling up some pork and polenta later today, so I decided to go with some of my stock from Brunello. I posted a thread a couple weeks back on 2009 Chianti - this was a hot vintage in Chianti, and in general, the wines haven’t aged all that well. So today I decided to pair up 2009’s from two of my favorite producers with their wines from more classic vintages. And while it was true that the 2009 Salicutti Tre Vigne was the weakest wine of the quartet, the 2009 Stella was an eye-opening example of the winemaker transcending the limitations of the vintage. And to be honest, none of the four wines would be thrown out of bed for eating crackers, so a good start to the weekend!
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2004 Podere Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (6/13/2020)
Serious Brunello at peak here today. While palates differ, for “honest” Brunello I have always felt that 15 years after the vintage is a real sweet spot.
A brooding nose with red and black fruit and some balsamico as well. Still a tannic bite on the finish, so it’s possible that this wine could improve some more, but it’s lively today and drinking very well.
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2006 Azienda Agricola San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino Stella di Campalto - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (6/13/2020)
Very similar on the nose to the '04 Piaggone.
Oh my, gorgeous on the palate. Seemingly a larger scaled wine than the '09 I just tried, yet still precisely balanced and focused on the palate. Delicious really doesn’t do this wine justice - let me simply say that I am very glad I have more!
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2009 Azienda Agricola San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino Stella di Campalto - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (6/13/2020)
Wow, what a nose! This is a serious step up from the '09 Salicutti. Crystallized cherry fruit and menthol on the nose.
Focused on the palate, light- to medium-bodied, good acidity and persistence. One hell of a wine given the vintage. I believe this was the first year where Stella released her Brunello as a Riserva, and while I don’t think too highly of the vintage overall, this is one delicious wine.
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2009 Podere Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Tre Vigne - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (6/13/2020)
I had this a couple months ago, but this bottle seems to be showing better. Ripe red and black fruit on the nose.
Decent acidity for the vintage, and nicely balanced. I don’t see this improving much with additional time, but what it is today isn’t bad at all.
Posted from CellarTracker