1988 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
A wild, dark profile emerges from the 1988 Brunello di Montalcino. It offers up scents of wild cherry, tobacco, incense, game, blood orange and licorice. Haunting in its beauty, the 1988 is simply remarkable. I have had the 1988 a few times, but not recently. My impression is that it is now nearing maturity.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
At nearly thirty years of age, the 1988 Brunello di Montalcino remains bright, vibrant and full of life. Sweet red cherry and plum flavors are pushed forward, with deeper earthy, floral and spice notes that develop in the glass. An intriguing interplay of nuance and energy separates the 1988 from most wines in this range. It remains one of my favorite Soldera wines from the 1980s. This bottle is a bit softer than others have been, but the wine is still complete, super-expressive and inviting.
Vertical, fresh and nuanced, the 1988 Brunello di Montalcino exudes class. Soaring aromatics, a persistent spine of tannin and a total sense of delineation are the signatures. A host of mentholated, spiced notes resonate on the super-expressive finish. This first flight ends on a real high note
Absolutely stunning, the 1988 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine that demands undivided attention. Huge tannins provide the backdrop as this dark, brooding Brunello struts its stuff. The flavors are dark and intense throughout, with tons of energy that gives the wine its focus and sense of direction. It’s hard to move on after the 1988, a wine that captures the essence of Sangiovese from Montalcino in this great vintage.
About the producer
Soldera is one of the most highly rated, fiercely collected wines of Italy. The winery is based in the Brunello di Montalcino, however the estate is no longer labelled as a Brunello, following a fall out with the consortium. Made from 100% Sangiovese, the wine is currently bottled as a Toscana IGT.