Wine writing for the masses is not easy. Not saying he is perfect, but Asimov does a nice job. He covers a lot of ground and does it for a very large audience. And does it very well.
Thanks for the link, Gary - we probably drink more Sangiovese than any other grape in our house (with nebbiolo running a very close second), but as much as I drink them, I hadn’t heard of any other zonas besides Classico, Rufina and Colli Senese. It looks like I might have to do a little wine hunting.
One comment I would make - while Frescobaldi’s Nippozzana may be released as a riserva, it’s certainly priced like a regular Classico in our neck of the woods.
Bob, did you buy the 2009 Selvapiana Bucerchiale? If so, what do you think of it? The wine is an old favorite in earlier vintages, but I have run out. I have sourced some here if I want it…
He mentions Faltognano who are located in Vinci (as in Leonard di…) in the Montalbano zona. They are probably the oldest cantina under one family in Toscana (pushing 950 years), have evolved their own site specific clones and make numerous fabulous wines including a Montalbano Riserva and two VDTs.
Disclaimer, we have been friends with them for well over a decade and sell all of their wines.
Bill, I liked (and own) the 2009 Bucerchiale - it’s not really ready for prime time drinking yet, but I think it’s got a lot of potential, and around here can be had for $30 a bottle plus or minus, so not a bad price given what it will eventually deliver.
I’ve had two bottles of that. Way too acid for my tastes. Will it settle down? No idea, no experience with this wine.
The 2009 Buccerchiale is very nice. Probably needs 2 years to start drinking well.
I was once polishing glasses at a tasting featuring Piero Antinori, and I asked him whether any appellation other than Classico made interesting wine, and he mentioned Rufina and Buccerchiale specifically. Haven’t had it lately.
I’d be amazed. I aerated the hell out of the second bottle, and it only helped a little. So I guess there is bottle variation…or taste variation! Whatever.
Had a 1988 & 1990 Buccerchiale recently, both where drinking well - '88 was at the end, but '90 still had life.
Drinking windows are always a little bit of a guess. To me the wine was tight, but not to some great extreme. The 2007, very different vintage, is pretty open and drinking well. I received a case of 1978 Riserva and 1996 Buccerchiale late release from the winery. Put the 78 on the list and hope to have the 1996 on after my next update.
The Tuscan answer to all of that would be more wild boar sausage and a side of grilled eggplant drizzled with olive oil…problem solved!
I have been reading what I can find on Brunello di Montalcino and found this article to be very good.
That be true.
Drink early and often,no problem. ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Placed an order today for 2007 Poggio Antico Altero Brunello Di Montalcino
The 04 Bucerchiale was drinking well yesterday, very open and generous.
The 2009 Selvapiana Bucherchiale is still quite tannic, needs either quite a bit of air, or better yet, some years in the bottle. Very successful Chianti at about $30, with a powerful dark cherry mid-palate and almost surprisingly level of tannins. The 2010 Selvapiana Rufino is more rustic, without the same refined tannins and depth that we see in the Bucherchiale, but a great drink for $17.
Is that a chianti too?
Opened a 2009 Bucherchiale a couple of weekends ago and let it breath for about six hours. It softened up quite a bit but you can tell it is still a bit closed and could benefit with at least 3 to 5 more years of cellaring. Still, very nice with a lot of upside.
Mike, I agree. Went long on Bucherchiale and have had it several times. It’s amazing. Has been ever since I tasted it at VinItaly last year.