BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

close—that revives and refreshes the palate. A Marc de
Grazia selection; various American importers. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $70
95
San Polo 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
San Polo delivers a stellar 2007 Brunello with
incredible density, concentration and personality. It
starts off soft, smooth and supple until those still-young
tannins appear on the close, giving the wine a firm backbone.
Black fruit, cherry, rum cake, plum, black pepper
and cured meat characterize the bouquet. In all, this is a
beautiful ensemble with layers of beauty and freshness.
Winebow. Cellar Selection. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $75
95
Tenimenti Angelini 2007 Val di Suga
(Brunello di Montalcino). This attractive
Brunello presents a wild, brambly side, with aromas
of wild mushroom, forest floor, small berry and crème
de cassis. It boasts a beautiful, deep color and plenty of
concentration, with endnotes of spice, leather and dried
tobacco leaf. The mouthfeel is solid, well defined and
superbly structured. Vin Divino. —M.L.
abv: NA Price: $61
94
Bonacchi 2007 Molino della Suga
(Brunello di Montalcino). A huge difference
from last vintage, this is soft, supple, dense and enduring,
with loads of fruit intensity and a plush, spicy richness.
Black fruit, rum cake, cherry liqueur and smoked
bacon on the close. Modern, bold and very bright.
Baum Wine Imports Inc. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $NA
94
Caprili 2007 Brunello di Montalcino. This
is an austere and sophisticated expression of
Sangiovese Grosso, with dried tobacco and spice backed
by prune and currant. The fruit is ripe and mature without
being overtly jammy, chewy or too sweet. In fact,
it presents a savory-sophisticated front with ample concentration
and a polished texture. Good aging potential.
Admiralty Beverage. Cellar Selection. —M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $55
94
Castello Banfi 2007 Poggio alle Mura
(Brunello di Montalcino). Named after one
of the most beautiful stone castles in Europe, Poggio
alle Mura is a dark and compelling wine that shows a
clean quality, a fresh mouthfeel and excellent length.
Beautiful fruit intensity with cherry, blackberry, spice,
leather and tobacco describe the bouquet. Good aging
potential. Banfi Vintners. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $82
94
Castello Romitorio 2007 Brunello di
Montalcino. This is a lovely Brunello with
black cherry, plum, smoke, bacon, leather and a drying
touch of crushed mineral on the nose. It is rich and concentrated,
with a slightly sweet-smelling bouquet. The
mouthfeel is compact, tight and polished—but there is
excellent length too. Vinifera Imports. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $65
94
Citille di Sopra 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
Inky-dark concentration segues to
bold berry notes and loads of dark, deep fruit: plum,
prune, blackberry and rum cake. There are also pretty
dustings of dry mineral and dried herb at the back. This
12 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
is a bold Brunello with power, determination, structure
and balance. It needs at least 10 years of cellar aging.
Siena Imports. Cellar Selection. —M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $60
94
Col d’Orcia 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
For full review see page 4.
abv: 14.5% Price: $63
94
Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2007 Brunello
di Montalcino. This Brunello opens with an
intense, dark garnet color and shows lush softness and
ripe blackberry fruit with perfumed notes of blue flower,
plum cake and sweet spice. The mouthfeel is characterized
by firm structure and yielding tannins. Banville
& Jones Wine Merchants. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $50
94
Fattoria Scopone 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
A pleasurable, opulent wine with rich
tones of cherry and sweet chocolate backed by dense
concentration and extraction. Plush, ripe, modern, soft
and dense; a real crowd-pleaser. Soft, thick texture with
loads of spice, dark fruit and staying power. Superior
Wines LLC. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $50
94
Fornacina 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
This Brunello offers bright aromas with lively
cherry, cola, humus, dark spice and pipe tobacco, as
well as savory tones of beef bresaola and even a touch of
white peppercorn. Impressive complexity. Elegant and
streamlined on the close. Villa Italia. Cellar Selection.
—M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $64
94
La Fortuna 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
La Fortuna Brunello shows a distinctive nose
with a vein of sweet spice that holds up the plump fruit.
You’ll find rum cake, cinnamon bun, Christmas spice
and chocolate-covered cherry. It’s soft, plush and rich
on the finish, with a lingering note of sweetness that
drives its cheerful personality. MHW, Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $49
94
La Magia 2007 Brunello di Montalcino. La
Magia Brunello is a brooding, masculine wine
filled with tobacco smoke and cigar box. At the back
are tones of dried fruit, blackberry preserves, crème de
cassis and prune. It shows wonderful intensity and elegance
with loads of personality. Spice, black pepper and
bitter chocolate also appear on the long, silky finish. It
promises to age well. BCI Wine and Beer. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $50
94
La Velona 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
A bold, plump and soft expression of Brunello,
with sweet berry fruit, chocolate fudge, cinnamon spice
and marzipan. The wine’s appearance is dark and well
extracted. Despite the grandeur of the nose, the mouthfeel
is compact, tight and firm. Tutto Vino. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA
94
Máté 2007 Brunello di Montalcino. The
ripe fruit element is perfectly contained and
just short of seeming overdone or jammy. It’s soft and
round, with loads of oak-driven spice, like cinnamon
and ground clove, and plump tones of red cherry, black-
berry and plum. What’s really nice is the freshness and
overall supple texture. Vinilandia USA. —M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $70
94
Molino di Sant’Antimo 2007 Brunello di
Montalcino. Well stitched together with a
broad, wide assembly of dark fruit, spice and cola-like
aromas. All the wine’s elements sing loud as a single
chorus; bold, plush, chewy. Ends with ripe fruit, rum
cake, pipe tobacco and dark espresso bean. Firm, great
length. Delectatio Wines. Editors’ Choice. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $40
94
Pietranera 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
Opens with dark concentration and ripe berry
fruit with layers of plum, blackberry, dark chocolate,
pipe tobacco, cherry liqueur, cola and underbrush. It
offers a wonderful 360-degree portrait of Sangiovese
Grosso. Tight structure, integration and loads of fruity
intensity. Drink after 2018. Soilair Selection. Cellar Selection.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $45
94
Pieve Santa Restituta 2007 Sugarille
(Brunello di Montalcino). Bold and elegant
at the same time. Packs a powerful punch in a silk glove.
Intense aromas of ripe fruit, spice, cherry liqueur, cola,
dried sage and cigar box. The mouthfeel is pristine and
structured, with a precise, tonic and streamlined impact.
Terlato Wines International. Cellar Selection.
—M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $190
94
Poggiarellino 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
A nice surprise. Great density and richness
with layers of dark fruit and spice. Thick concentration
and a bold, confident presentation. Plush texture,
length and density. Age 5–10 more years. Premier Wine
Co. —M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $50
94
Poggio Antico 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
A whiff of fresh flowers from a rose garden
or a lavender field makes for a nice first impression. Beyond
that is dark fruit, black cherry and crème de cassis.
Shadings of lead pencil, leather and tobacco fill in
the rear. This Brunello presents a soft, round mouthfeel
with cherry flavors capped by tight structure. The Sorting
Table. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $79
94
Poggio il Castellare 2007 Brunello di
Montalcino. Loads of balsam intensity with
eucalyptus, ground ginger, cola, dried fruit and crème
de cassis. This wine also adds a pretty floral note of red
rose petal or potpourri that really steals the show. Loads
of balance and complexity. Smooth, long finish, good
length. Drink after 2015. Margate Wine & Spirit Company.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $65
94
Tenuta di Sesta 2007 Brunello di Montalcino.
Tenuta di Sesta is run by a perfect father-mother-daughter-son
team and is located in one
of the least-traveled corners of Montalcino. The 2007
Brunello delivers sweet oak tones that drive the initial
bouquet and are soon followed by bright cherry, vanilla
bean, sweet mocha and rum cake. Pretty balsam notes