Lot 360
VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 (2) WA 94
VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 (2) WA 95+
VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA MADONNA DEL PIANO 2006 (2) WA 96
Lot 360 Details
VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 (2)
Tuscany.
u. 2 x bn.
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is simply beautiful. Now that the wine is in bottle it is even better than when I tasted it from barrel. Firm but silky tannins frame a core of ripe dark fruit as this powerful yet elegant Brunello opens up in the glass. Smoke, cured meats, earthiness and graphite develop in the glass, adding further complexity. Sweet roses and spices linger on the long, refined finish. This is a big, structured Brunello, and like all of Abbruzzese’s wines, it needs at least a few years of bottle age before it offers its finest drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. June 2009 WA 94
VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 (2)
Tuscany.
u. 2 x bn.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino flows with gorgeous layers of dark red fruit. This is one of the more muscular, virile wines of the vintage. Slow to reveal its character, the Valdicava Brunello will require significant patience, but I have seen the wine blossom beautifully, even in the smallest of vintages. A blast of iron, smoke, tar, licorice and new leather inform the deep, intense finish. This is a hugely promising, brilliant Brunello from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese, but it needs to be buried in the cellar for at least a few years. Readers who can’t wait should open the wine a few hours in advance, which will allow the fruit to emerge. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. May 2011 WA 95+
VALDICAVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA MADONNA DEL PIANO 2006 (2)
Tuscany.
u. 2 x bn.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a huge, towering wine. Waves of vibrant, intensely perfumed fruit hit the palate, backed up by the firm, broad tannins of the vintage. Violets, spices, new leather and licorice develop in the glass, yet the 2006 remains painfully young and stubborn. Clean mineral notes frame a blast of dark cherries, plums and camphor on the palate-staining finish. Readers will need to be especially patient, but the 2006 Madonna del Piano is stacking up to be one of the all-time greats from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese. I followed the wine over the course of two days, during which it continued to improve while seeming to gain freshness and structure. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. April 2012 WA 96