Although it’s not the riserva mentioned by O’Keefe (and Paul), I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the 2007 La Velona [Brunello di Montalcino] the last couple of nights. I’ve tried it out of 4 different stems just for fun/science; Georg/Maximilien would assign me a dozen penalty Ave Maria’s, since I even deigned to sample it out of their Chianti specific glasses, which is one of my favorites. This sangio leads off with a candied orange peel, nutmeg complex layered bouquet. Despite the orange bricking edges, it remains tasty 24 hours after opening, although all in, I feel like it was best in the first few hours. On the palate, it’s medium/full bodied and full of anise sprinkled rhubarb strawberry fruit go with 14.5% abv. Tannins are resolved, and acidity is balanced with the fruit; I liked it better by itself but its powerful enough to stand up to fall dinners – braised beef, mashed potatoes, green beans. The bouquet keeps drawing the taster back in, similar to a well evolved 2007 Le Chiuse BdM I had some years ago. Perhaps this fat, ripe vintage will not keep the way 2006 will…but I quite like it. This bottle was a K&L direct import (maybe an Italian local market one?) some years later after the normal release, so may not reflect what others experienced. Lovely wine and an A- in my ledger. Conventional cork, on the shorter side for something with the legs to run a decade+
I wasn’t planning on it…but I will now have to go read O’Keefe’s book on Brunello now; I liked her Piedmont focused one.