1995 BRUNELLO OFFLINE - Pumpkin in Philadelphia, PA (4/14/2007)

Tonight nineteen Brunello lovers gathered at Pumpkin restaurant in Philadelphia, PA to taste our way through several 1995 Brunello. In attendance were Daniel Fulton and friend, Mr. & Mrs Rhone Warrior, PurpleHaze, just a skosh, Futronic, Mr. & Mrs. tbird, wine+art, Gentleman Farmer, CraigS, KevinS, Mr. & Mrs. VT2IT, jcocktosten & Mona_Lisa_Vito, Longboarder and yours truly. The food was excellent (way too much!) and the companionship stellar!

Wines:
N.V. Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée
1999 Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis Grand Cru Moutonne
2005 Racemo Frascati Superiore L'Olllvella Estate Vineyards
1995 Tenuta Friggiali (Centolani) Brunello di Montalcino
1995 Tenuta La Fuga (Attanosio) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
1995 Fattoria dei Barbi (Colombini) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
1995 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino
1995 Piero Talenti Brunello di Montalcino Podere Pian di Conte
1995 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
1995 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero
1995 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Cerretalto
1995 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Rennina
2006 Cascina Vano Moscato d'Asti
1998 Altesino Vin Santo d'Altesi
2004 Castello Banfi Moscadello di Montalcino Florus
2003 Castello Banfi Moscadello di Montalcino Florus

Not tasted:
1996 Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne Palmes d'Or Rose
1990 Henriot Brut Champagne Millesime
2005 Domaine Barmes-Buecher Cremant D'Alsace

So without further adieu we’re off to the show…

Arrive

Champagne and Cremant to prime the palates.

• N.V. Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée - France, Champagne
  WIML91+,WA92,WS95
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. This was the “old label” bottle that we purchased earlier in the day at the PLCB. Fairly consistent with the previous bottle I had on 12/31/2006. Opened and served immediately. Color was light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nice mousse. Nose of yellow apples and citrus fruits.. Flavors of yellow apples and citrus fruits. Medium acidity with medium body. Drink anytime. (91 pts.)

White

A little white for the early courses.

• 1999 Maison Albert Bichot Chablis Grand Cru Moutonne Domaine Long-Depaquit - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
  WIMLNR,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Simple nose of minerals and yellow fruits. Steely on the palate (that’s an understatement) with perhaps a slightly creamy finish. Goofy. Light acidity and body. Drink now.


• 2005 l'Olivella Frascati Racemo - Italy, Latium, Frascati
  WIML89,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of acacia flowers abound. Flavors of peach up front dominate with maybe some yellow apples as well. Medium acidity, light to medium body. Interesting little wine I’ve never even heard of before. Drink now. (89 pts.)

Brunello

The main event. Why we all gathered for this evening.

• 1995 Tenuta Friggiali (Centolani) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML89?,WA91,WS91
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of anise, a touch of leather and some black berries. Flavors of red licorice, red cherries and red berries. Medium to high acidity, medium tannins and medium body. Drink or hold. (89 pts.)


• 1995 Tenuta La Fuga (Attanosio) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIMLNR,WA89,WS90
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Light garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose was slightly corky (Rhone Warrior and myself were one of the few at the table that thought so as best I recall). However, there was much debate as to whether it was TCA or perhaps 4-ethyl phenol Brettanomyces. Nose was definitely muted. Maybe some anise hiding behind there? Tried a sip anyway. Muted palate with perhaps some simple red berries. No rating for obvious reasons. NR (flawed)


• 1995 Fattoria dei Barbi (Colombini) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML91?,NOWA,WS92
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of melted black licorice and currants. Flavors of red cherries and berries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold. Easy wine to drink and one of the more pleasurable of the evening. (91 pts.)


• 1995 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML89?,WA91,WS90
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of leather, white pepper and red plums. Flavors of black berries, red cherries and just a hint of bitters on the finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold. (89 pts.)


• 1995 Piero Talenti Brunello di Montalcino Podere Pian di Conte - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML90?,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose giving way to some spice notes and melted red licorice. Ripe and chewy cherries on the palate with some red berry flavors as well. Crisp acidity, medium tannins and medium body. Can be drank now but I’d recommend another year or so in bottle to see if that initial tightness on the nose perks up a bit. One of the better wines of the evening. (90 pts.)


• 1995 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML92?,WA93,WS96
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. This was from the better of the two bottles provided (bottle one had a little too much funkiness to it). Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Just a bit of “funk” on the nose that blew away revealing some notes of saddle leather, spice, plums and other dark fruits. Big chewy black currants on the palate with some notes of anise and dark plums. Medium acidity and tannins, full bodied. Can be drank now but I’d recommend holding another year or so just to see how it develops with more bottle age. We’ll call this one my Brunello of the evening. (92 pts.)


• 1995 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML91?,NOWA,WS92
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of fennel, licorice and some dark stewed fruits. Flavors of black berries, anise and candied fruits. Medium acidity, light to medium tannins, light to medium bodied. Ready to drink. One of my favorite wines of the evening (although not very Brunello like in my opinion). (91 pts.)


• 1995 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Cerretalto - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIMLNR,NOWA,WS95
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. My first whiff of this wine and I exclaimed “Is this really Brunello? Smells more light Amarone.” Nose of dark dried fruits, anise and melted black licorice. Flavors of black licorice and black cherries. High acidity, firm tannins and full bodied. Rating withheld because I question the provenance of this bottle. It shouldn’t have been like this.


• 1995 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Rennina - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  WIML88?,WA94,WS90
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose giving up just a little black licorice that carried through to the palate as well. Medium acidity, tannins and body. I think I’d hold this another year or so to see if it perks up or just dies. (88 pts.)

Sweet

A few sweet wines to wrap up the evening.

• 2006 Cascina Vano Moscato d'Asti - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti
  WIML88?,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. Light yellow color in the glass, slightly cloudy with nice everessence. Aromas and flavors of orange foam. Light acidity and body. Drink now. Decent basic Moscato d’Asti for drinking on the porch during summer. (88 pts.)


• 1998 Altesino Vin Santo d'Altesi - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino
  WIML89-91,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. Amber color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Aromas of crushed almonds and sherry. Flavors of “molasses” dominate (don’t laugh) with some golden raisins and nuts. Light to medium acidity, light to medium body. Interesting wine. Drink now is my recommendation. (89 pts.)


• 2004 Castello Banfi Moscadello di Montalcino Florus - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Moscadello di Montalcino
  WIML88,NOWA,WS87
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. Straw to light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of orange peel and an odd diesel like component that wasn’t expected. Flavors of sweet candied pears and lychees. Medium acidity, light to medium body. Drink now. (88 pts.)


• 2003 Castello Banfi Moscadello di Montalcino Florus - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Moscadello di Montalcino
  WIML89,NOWA,WS88
  
  Tasted April 14, 2007 at an offline. No formal notes. Light gold color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Soft notes of tropical fruits, lychee, orange and crushed nuts. Flavors of orange, candied fruit and dried apricots. Medium acidity, medium body. Drink now. I prefer this wine slightly over the 2004 at the same tasting. (89 pts.)