12/98. Bought in Rome, Jan-97 for $33.
A further step down the road of tasting Italian wines. This time the noble 100% Sangiovese, Brunello del Montalcino from the famous Banfi stable. The wine accompanied a hearty and extremely tasty Spaghetti Bolognese simple week-day dinner.
COLOR: Deep garnet-red, almost no clearing around the rim. No apparent sediment, but fat, leaving heavy 'legs' on the glass.
NOSE: Rich bouquet of black fruit, chocolate and spices, with enhancing wood elements. Very elegant and enticing nose that still holds something in reserve.
TASTE: A bit tannic at first, but mellowing into a delicious, smooth and mouthfilling wine. Multi-flavored (a touch sweet, a touch acidic, a touch tannic) with fine backbone. Real class here with good grip, 'rounded corners' and plenty of winyness. Absolutely magnificent with the spaghetti and I don't mean it as a patronizing remark!.
LENGTH: Medium long and lingering sweetish aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Robust elegant but yielding - a rare and desirable quality. Superbly balanced with alcohol, winyness, fruit, wood, acidity and tannins all in perfect proportions.
OVERALL: Superb-plus!!. A 'complete' wine that can be enjoyed now but may be kept for a few more years.
MARK: 18.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.

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Jacob "Yak" Shaya.