Sunday 22 May 2016

1985 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, GastelGiocondo


1985 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, GastelGiocondo
It is always very satisfying when a mature Brunello deliver the goods. And this 85 CastelGiocondo did just that.
The nose is deep, compact yet lively with notes of cherries marinated in balsamico vinegar and rosemary, warm tiles, rose petals and chocolate biscuits. Very deep and fine. A fine velvety character that only can come from bottle age. Really good.
The taste is warm, mature and with a tight core of ripe cherry fruit and additional notes of root vegetables, sugared coffee, sweet liquorice and lots of warm Tuscan gravel. The finish is long and structured. Drinking great on this night but good bottles should drink well for the coming 6+ years. Almost as great as the 1979 Riserva (and that label was also more striking!).
93p   (tasted 2016/05)

CastelGiocondo is the second largest Brunello producer with its 152 hectares devoted to Brunello. Marchesi dé Frescobaldi bought the estate in 1989, so this bottle was made by the previous owners, a group of European investors that bought the estate in the 70´s, and their first vintage was the 1975.

Earlier vintages tasted:
1994 & 2006
1995
1997

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