2004 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
Time has not been kind to the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino. Leather, mushrooms, smoke, cedar, licorice, dried cherry iron - all signs of a fully mature wine - are front and center. Although there is plenty of depth and richness to the fruit, the 2004 has not aged well, especially in its aromatics. There is little finesse or elegance at all to speak of. Both bottles I tasted, one at the winery and one from my cellar, were disappointing. Granted, this is the estate's entry-level bottling, but I expected more in a vintage with this pedigree.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Dark, bright red. Dark berries, mocha, brown spices and smoky oak on the nose. Supple and fairly dense, with a youthfully medicinal cast to the black cherry and licorice flavors. In a distinctly brooding style and in need of patience-and perhaps a bit more lift. Finishes with serious building tannins that dust the front teeth.
Bright, deep, blackish ruby. Complex, tarry nose, and very intense, chewy, very ripe fruit. Dusty finish. Heat on the end. (JR)
Neri's 2004 Brunellos are immensely successful. I look forward with great anticipation to the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto, which should be released some time next year. The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is a big, fruit-driven wine. Made in a concentrated, opulent style, this Brunello offers tons of fruit and a round, soft personality. There isn't too much nuance in the wine today, but that should develop in bottle. The long, polished finish invites a second taste. For now, this remains one of the more overtly fruit-forward wines of the vintage. The entry-level Brunello spends roughly 40 months in large, neutral oak.
About the producer
Casanova di Neri pioneered the concept of single-vineyard Brunello di Montalcino and today is one of the region’s most consistent producers.