1977 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
My host generously pulled out a few back vintages during my visit of the historic Argiano cellars this past summer. One of two older bottles we tasted is the 1977 Brunello di Montalcino. The fabric of this wine is thin and delicate, and its color shows hints of shiny amber, honey and chestnut husk. The wine's aromas have reverted to tertiary characteristics, and with aged Sangiovese you get earthy notes, with dried rose and balsam herb. The primary intensity has faded, but the wine offers a fascinating peek into the past thanks in large part to the fresh acidity that guarantees this wine its backbone and lifeline.
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Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Eric Guido, Vinous
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The 1977 Brunello di Montalcino shows a deep crimson color, tapering to orange at the rim. It’s rich and surprisingly extroverted on the nose, notes of plum sauce, autumnal spice and sweet tobacco lifting up from the glass. Here I’m finding silky, pliant textures ushering in a cooling wave of minerals and minty herbal tones. A hint of ginger spice cookie and an air of sous-bois form toward the close. This tapers off a bit short, yet perfumed and lovely all the same, as residual acids keep the mouth watering. There may not be many years left to enjoy the 1977, but fans of mature Sangiovese will love it.