2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino shows no sign of its age through its color or bouquet. It opens slowly in the glass with a beautiful display of black cherries, cedar nuances, cinnamon and a dusting of confectioner’s sugar. It’s silky in texture with a pronounced inner sweetness, ushering in ripe red and hints of blue fruit enlivened by zesty acids. There’s only a slightest hint of tannin here. A framework of tension is found through lingering tart berries and savory spice that creates the perfect punctuation to this lovely wine. It’s amazing considering just how dense and powerful the 2001 was upon release. Today it is perfectly structurally mature, while remaining incredibly primary and fresh. I’d be interested in seeing where this wine is in another five years. I tasted this a full twenty-four hours after pulling the cork, and the 2001 was still as fresh as it was upon opening. Tasted from the importer’s reserve cellar.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Valdicava’s fully-saturated, almost black 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a massively endowed effort packed with opulent layers of jammy dark fruit, licorice, cassis and earth. It offers great length in a richly sumptuous, concentrated style. I must admit this wine’s virtually black color is hard to understand but it is difficult for me to fault the absolute quality of what is in the glass even if the style is quite atypical. Hard to resist today, it also clearly has the stuffing to drink well to age 20. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2021. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907
Although I did not have a chance to taste the estate's Rosso, in the past it has been among the very finest versions in the zone. Valdicava's fully-saturated, almost black 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a massively endowed effort packed with opulent layers of jammy dark fruit, licorice, cassis and earth. It offers great length in a richly sumptuous, concentrated style. I must admit this wine's virtually black color is hard to understand but it is difficult for me to fault the absolute quality of what is in the glass even if the style is quite atypical. Hard to resist today, it also clearly has the stuffing to drink well to age 20. Anticipated maturity
Saturated medium ruby; atypically dark for sangiovese. Aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate, gunflint and meat. Large-scaled, fat and sweet, offering a blast of blackberry flavor. This is almost too big for the mouth, but manages to avoid heaviness. Offers good vinosity, but still comes across as a bit youthfully musclebound today. Very impressive wine, but I never would have guessed it was Brunello.