This is the BdM Vigna de Pianrosso. This is all that WS and RP have said: upper 90s, unreal concentration, excellent tannins, great flavors, long life ahead. Still available here in Japan, so maybe available there. About $65.00.

GMT

I had this with a wonderful dinner in Vienna in July. The wine is everything the reviews say. And I would buy all I could get at that price.

Ciao

Thanks, Eno! I plan to do so ASAP!

GMT and Eno, I got a 6-pack of it, but haven't tried one yet. So far my experience with 1997 Tuscans gives me the impression that these wines are developping quite fast and a lot of them are already in their drinking phase. Any suggestions on this Ciacci's drinking phase?

Marc: That seemed to be the case with this one.
Amazing wine, and it should go on and on.

I found 7 here in Chicago for $45/bottle and have 5 left after passing along 2 to other board members. After tasting 7 1997 Brunello's last weekend (but not Ciacci) I would not think of touching any for at least 5 years minimum.

VM

GMT,

The wine was drinking suprisingly well so young but I do not think this necessarily conflicts with it's ability to age. It could well be that there is an early drinking window that could slam shut at any time. I got a six-pack that I plan on putting in remote storage with the rest of my '97 BdMs but plan on looking for another test bottle just to confirm my first impressions.

Ciao

I can't seem to find this for less than $90. Is it worth a bottle at that price? Seems pretty steep. Maybe I am not looking hard enough, anybody in the Bay Area seen it for less?

I think that at $90.00 plus, I would have to really think about it, but compared with a lot of 98 Calif. cabs at the same price, heck, yes! But if others are finding it for almost half that price, check around.