After reading about the possibility of the 1997 Brunellos being in a dumb/sleeping phase I was a bit nervous to open this bottle tonight. Decanted for just over 3 hours before starting out, and writing this note 2 hours after beginning to drink.
Vibrant ruby red color, with wonderful symetrical legs showing around the inside of the glass each time I take another taste. A bit subdued on the nose still, with light floral and smoky notes. Bing cherry and slighty tart plum skin early resolving quickly to a rich decadent mid palate of cherries and a trace of tar. An incredibly long finish (40 seconds +) I will wait another year at least before trying this monster again, but it is DEFINITELY not sleeping. I am going to the decanter to get the last bits before Mrs. PH pours the rest. Delizioso!
Edited to add name of wine in subject field. PH
[This message was edited by PurpleHaze on May 21, 2004 at 04:00 PM.]
Posts: 9276 | Location: Maryland, USA (DC suburbs) | Registered: Nov 22, 2003
Doh! I guess the name of the wine in the subject field would have been a a little bit useful.... Oh, well. Rookie mistake. Unfortunately the system won't let me back in to fix it.
PH
Posts: 9276 | Location: Maryland, USA (DC suburbs) | Registered: Nov 22, 2003
I opened a bottle of this over the weekend at Haggis' house. I think WS gave this wine 95 points and deservedly so in my opinion. I double decanted this wine 8 hours before we tried it and left it in the corked bottle. It was tight upon opening. When I tried that evening I thought it had smoothed out considerably and was drinking fine. I recall someone saying that they thought it was still young but I thought it was just entering its drinking window. Clearly no signs of falling apart as Daniel Thomases has proclaimed for the 1997 BdM vintage. An elegant and stately old world wine. Rather Ciaccilike in its profile but not as deep. Notes of cherry and leather. Nice round finish. 94 points.
VM
Posts: 9625 | Location: Chicago | Registered: Oct 17, 2001
Opened and decanted for approx. 1 hour before drinking. Color is still vibrant ruby red. Definite floral nose with an undertone of tar. The tar blew off after the hour in the decanter. Tart plums were prominent on the palate. This wine has all the appearances of a young wine (acidity, fruit, smooth tannins are still strongly prevelant). The only slight thing that was disappointing was the finish. All the notes I have seen talk about the long finish. It was showing a 20-25 second finish during the first 2 hours. I am going to save half and try again tomorrow. 93 points but could improve if the finish comes around.
Posts: 729 | Location: Midlothian, VA | Registered: Aug 22, 2005
What a difference 24 hours makes. The nose tonight was intense with very strong roses and strawberries (almost Barolo-like). The wine had evolved into tart cherries and blueberries on the palate. The plum skin taste was all but gone. These flavors lingered on the finish for well over a minute. Now I wish I had saved the entire bottle for tonight. Definitely one of the best '97 BdM's I have tasted. 97 points. If you have this in your cellar, you can drink now but give it plenty of air. Your patience will be rewarded. This one has many more years before it peaks in the bottle.
Posts: 729 | Location: Midlothian, VA | Registered: Aug 22, 2005
Thanks for the upbeat TN and for your views as well Longboarder....I’ve been trying to continue resisting the urge the start digging into the ‘97’s and for the most part have remained vigilant, but notes like this make it awfully tough! As for the prognostications about ‘97’s falling apart and being best consumed early, there may a few that are best drunk early, but the majority remain quite distant from even beginning to show evolved nuance....when that happens I’ll be ready to go deep!
BTW, the ’99 Lisini is also a beauty.
rico thompson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mount Nebbiolo, Colorado
Posts: 180 | Location: Mount Nebbiolo, CO | Registered: Oct 13, 2003
Originally posted by Dom'n'Vin'sDad: I am a bit late to the party, but is this the "regular" Lisini, or the Ugolaia? Anybody have any notes for the Ugolaia?
I won't be touching the Ugolaia for at least another 5 years. I broke down about a year ago and popped one. Very tight and not showing much then.
Posts: 729 | Location: Midlothian, VA | Registered: Aug 22, 2005
Originally posted by rico thompson: but the majority remain quite distant from even beginning to show evolved nuance....
I think that another 5 years may do the trick; for some, maybe more. I was really surprised by a '98 Montosoli I opened recently that already had ambering around the edges.
Originally posted by rico thompson: but the majority remain quite distant from even beginning to show evolved nuance....
I still have not had a bad '97.
I agree Louzarius. There appears to be 2 distinct camps regarding '97 BdM's. 95% of what I have was purchased in Italy. If I remember correctly, you were living in Italy when the '97's were released. I am assuming that most of what is in your cellar was also purchased in country. With the recent discussions on the '01 Montosoli and bottle variation, I am wondering if this is a "time of bottling phenomenon". I wonder if other producers bottle at different times. I know Argiano only bottles when orders need to be filled. This is the only estate where I have asked that question. There are people on this board whose palates I respect and know brunelli that have very different opinions on the '97 vintage. Just a thought.
Posts: 729 | Location: Midlothian, VA | Registered: Aug 22, 2005
I agree that the '97 of many BdM could still age for a significant number of years. Even though they are irresistable right now.....
Thats where from some wineries the '98 or even the '00 come in for me. Most of them in my cellar are 'a point' at this moment. Helps me to keep my hands of the '97 and '99!
Albert Jochems - life is to short to drink bad wines -
Posts: 249 | Location: The Netherlands | Registered: Aug 19, 2006
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