1999 La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino
The nose shows black fruit, especially blackberry and blueberry, plus notes of menthol. On the palate, the wine has a ripe texture, but is fairly one deminsional with a rather abrupt finish. There are more notes for dark fruit, plus sottobosco, but this wine isn't very dynamic. It tastes more like a top Chianti than a Brunello. 89 points.

Daniel Fulton,

Thanks for the note. I have 3 on backorder @ $30. Buy or cancel? Based on your notes, it sounds worth a try. I've certainly paid more for "top" Chianti.

PH

I wasn't so enthused with it, as you can tell. I'd pass.

Thanks, Daniel.

PH

Daniel,

Thx for the TN. I was contemplating purchasing this one. I think I will pass.

Have you tried the Silvio Nardi '99 BdM yet?

If you were to try, I would allow ample decanting (maybe even overnight). When first opened, funk was everywhere with very little fruit. I almost thought it was bad. Recorked and put away overnight. Totally different wine. No funk, nice fruit, very pleasant drinking with a nice red sauce pasta dish.

Thx again.

I haven't tried the 1999 Nardi yet, Joe, but I think I remember futronic seeming to think it needs some age to come around, and you notes seems to be along the same lines. I should pick some up.

PurpleHaze,
The movie I told you about at dinner last week is called Fear and Trembling (Stupeur et Tremblements). I saw it again this week, and it's really one of the best films I've seen in the last year. Don't be mislead by the French title, it's 99% in Japanese. I'd be interested to hear your take on it. It's hilariously funny, provided you don't find it extraordinarly offensive. Here I go hijacking my own thread, but I didn't have your email.

Daniel,

Self hijacking is permitted, I believe. I'll track it down and shoot you my impressions for what they're worth. May take a few weeks, in any event..... for future reference:
purplehaze1956 at Yahoo dot com.

PH

PH,
It's still at the theater in Philly, so I'm sure it's out in DC too.

Maybe these La Gerla's just need age. I really don't know what to make of them. Maybe they're "shut down", but the more 1997 Brunello I drink, the more I really don't beleive that wines that "shut down" every wake up.

I still have not had a 99 BdM that was showing well IMO. I cannot imagine that there were that many bad wines from 99, so I'm pretty sure that the vintage as a whole is probably more traditional and just not approachable while young. I have heard a lot of conversations over here from the Italians that say they don't believe the vintage is as good as they originally thought it might be. We'll see in a few years. For now I'm drinking my 95's, which I believe are drinking well right now. Some appear to be on the downside, while others seem to be right at the start of the window. I've also seen bottle variation within the same producers.

On a different note, I'm starting to see the 2000's out and about. I'm very reluctant to buy any of these since I can buy the 97 for near the same price still. And since I shipped most my wine already, I'm reluctant to buy anything that I'm not ready to drink.

I personally like 1999 Brunellos a lot more than 1997, but that's my opinon. And the 1995's really are drinking well.

I've been shocked at the prices at the 2000's. Over here, they're about at the same levels as the 1999's. With the 2001's coming out next year, my guess is the 2000's will end up like the 1998's--good wines that will eventually end up deeply discounted. I'm not buying any for now.

Despite Daniel Fulton's recommendation, I bought the 3 of these I had on order. Gave one away, and opened my first last night. No formal notes, but the wine did change dramatically over 3 hours or so. I found the wine initially quite fruity, with almost no middle, but a pleasing aftertaste and 20 second finish. By the end of the night, the wine had come together more, and the finish had become more complex and longer (30 sec.) Little if any brunello "typicity" and agree with DF's comments comparing this to a Chianti. It was very good with a fresh tomato sauce and pasta.

PH

quote:

I still have not had a 99 BdM that was showing well IMO.

Louzarius, try the La Poderina or the Cassanova Di Neri. The CDN is pricey but the La Poderina can be found for mid range. They are terrific 99's IMO.

lou - keep the faith. There are a lot of tasty '99s, but they'll just be in a bit of a funk and disjointed right now. They'll be stellar in another 5 years, assuming you picked good producers.

I'm just comparing the 99's with similar wines from other vintages at release, and I have not had a good one yet. Where as the 95's, 97's, and the 98's had some very good ones at release. Even some 96's have shown more than I have tasted from any of the 99's at this point. Every single one of the 99's has been so tart that I have trouble even getting it past my tongue. I have a couple more that I picked up recently that I'm going to try. We'll see.

From magnum. Medium-dark garnet colour. Austere, with wood, cherry, sottobosco, leather, and balsamico notes on the nose. Medium-full bodied, quite tannic, a little puckering, with cherry, plum, and earth. Nice finish, a little tart, but will improve with time. 90 points (08/26/2005).

Futronic,

I have been on the fence on purchasing this wine for some time now - been holding off purchasing a few in magnum format....but no longer!!

Thanks everyone for your opinions.

Later days

No problem. I've placed an order for three bottles of this wine, but we'll see if I get it.