2004 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
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Tasting notes
Black tea, smoke and autumnal spice combine with dusty rose and dried black cherries as the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva slowly blossoms in the glass. Cool-toned and racy in style, this is remarkably youthful and spry, with fresh wild berry fruits and hints of spiced orange that add a lovely inner tension. The 2004 leaves the palate classically dry, revealing a subtle coating of residual tannins that frame the experience beautifully as nuances of salted licorice fades under an air of sweet lavender. A gorgeous integration of oak here has granted this a genuinely classic profile.
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva captures the Uccelliera style at its best. A dramatic, baritone-inflected powerhouse, the 2004 offers notable depth and intensity. The flavors are dark, earthy and savory, with attractive smoke overtones and an overall personality that shows notable muscle. The new French oak is evident, but the Riserva has enough depth to handle it. With a little air, the Riserva is approachable now. I would prefer to drink it sooner rather than later.
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a deep, dark sensual wine imbued with generous layers of ripe dark fruit that emerge from its medium to full-bodied frame. This is gorgeous, expressive Brunello turns richer and weightier in the glass as the fruit begins to emerge, finally building to a harmonious crescendo of intense flavor. There is more than enough fruit here to support extended cellaring.
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a deep sensual wine imbued with generous layers of ripe dark fruit that emerge from its medium to full-bodied frame. This gorgeous, expressive Brunello turns richer and weightier in the glass as the fruit begins to emerge, finally building to a harmonious crescendo of intense flavor. There is more than enough fruit here to support extended cellaring. This is a magnificent effort from Andrea Cortonesi. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. I was blown away with the wines I tasted at Uccelliera this year. Proprietor Andrea Cortonesi showed me the entirety of his Brunellos in cask, which provided fascinating insights into the evolution of this small, family-run property. To be honest, I had never been a huge fan of Cortonesi’s Brunellos until the 2004 vintage, as I often found the wines excessively heavy. Not coincidentally, 2004 is the first year Cortonesi worked with lower temperatures in fermentation which resulted in wines of superb elegance and delineation. Uccelliera is now without question one of the handful of top producers in Montalcino. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including: de Grazia Imports; tel. (417) 732-4200; Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; (516) 677-9300, Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael CA; (415) 492-9411, Giuliana Imports, Boulder CO; (303) 547-6343, Robert Houde Wines, Bensenville IL; (630) 422-1119