Cerbaiona, Brunello di Montalcino

At open, no VA with delicious notes of dark fruits. After 4h decanting, bit of VA appearing but wine became more elegant. You can feel the alcohol but acidity is there to balance it. Big wine that has so many years ahead of it.

2012 vintage

Beautiful wine, ethereal from start delicate fruit and aromas. No signs on VA on my side, very delicate and precise a grand Cerbaiona. Good density and length. Just entering its drinking window!

2012 vintage

Saturday night at KengLee. Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour. legs. Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of red licorice, high-toned red cherries, red plums, some natural carbonic notes wafting around. Youthful. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine elegant medium+ tannins that make their presence more obvious with more aiur, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of high-toned red licorice, pomegranate, red cherries, red plums. Long finish. Youthful vibrant Brunello that is still …

2017 vintage

11th of 12, decanted 30 minutes, near perfect cork and level, fully mature but not OTT appearance, graceful and complex aromatics including hint of dried rose petal, super length, persistence, lift, balance and concentration if without energy of yore, sense of not being too big or forced in what initially presented as a big ripe (but not mediocre) vintage, plateau, 10+ years. VF (18.5).

1997 vintage

Italian dinner at WB. Drank in Grassl Cru. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of fragrant spice, balsamic mint, red cherries, fresh earth, dusty stones minerality. Developing. On the palate, dry, just nice high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), structured high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of ripe red cherries, juicy red plum, spice, balsamic, earth, emerging fresh leather, underlying meat. Long finish. Excellent quality. Showed well. Still can …

2004 vintage

A vertical of Cerbaionas (81, 98, 99, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10). In terms of how the wines showed today, from the one showed best to least.. 08, 06, 04, 98, 81, 10, 09, 07 and 99.

2004 vintage

Decanted and drunk over several hours This is still pretty backward and brooding for the first couple hours in a decanter. Dark strawberry fruit, heme, and some meaty savory notes. After about 3 hours in a decanter, while still darker fruited, starts to hint at some red fruits, cedar, bitters, and spice. Still structured and vertical, but with some floral hints that remind me of why I love Cerbaiona. Finishes firm with a tannic backbone and ferrous meaty notes note …

2004 vintage

Very expressive nose, lots of red berries. More silky than I expect from Brunello, I anticipated a beast for some reason, but I'd put this in the finesse category. Rich fruit, nicely balanced, tannins are resolved or maybe were never that prominent. Finished with a typical firm backbone. Overall - an enjoyable wine of balance and pedigree.

2017 vintage

Reacted well with spaghetti carbonara but was past its prime.

2004 vintage

Consistent with prior notes. In a great spot right now.

2012 vintage

92-93…have had this many times. But this time it felt a bit linear and one dimensional. Still an elegant wine with plenty of power, but I had the 2011 in the last week and much preferred it over this. Maybe let the next batch sit for 5 more years and see what happens.

2012 vintage

We always split ways when it comes to Brunelli and easily one of the areas we are far less familiar with. This modernist or semi modernist expression of Brunello worked very well and is now drinking ever so effortlessly albeit still energetic and bright. Nice soft earthy side of, juicy fruit. Had this been blind would we have picked it for Brunello? Probably not albeit this would be a function of our ignorance rather to anything else. Very solid 92 …

2012 vintage

75cl. PnP. prefer Cerbaiona's 2007 & 2011 vintages.

2012 vintage

Had this with a 2012 Monprivato. Both showing so well. Pop n pour but would recommend opening for 20-60 minute period before drinking. This is a lovely and very elegant Brunello.

2012 vintage

Decanted 90 minutes before service. In the glass, dark maroon/red. On the nose, black cherries, currants, coffee grounds, and a hint of orange pith. On the palate, still a little brooding, with cherries, currants, damp wood, and complex minerality trying to poke through a veil - the (lovely) raw materials are there, and it feels as though it's emerging from a closed period, but it's not quite there yet. Give it at least a couple more years before trying again. …

2012 vintage

Showing tertiary characteristics already but slightly muted overall. This bottle is missing the freshness and sour cherry brightness I look for in Brunello. Fine tannins with medium finish.

2012 vintage

My goodness I love these wines. So complex, brooding in style, and very much a Barolo lovers Brunello. Dark fruit, cocoa, somewhat vertical in style. This was a slight step back in complexity compared to the 2016, but not by much.

2017 vintage

SangioFest, Volume III "It's my favourite spot" (Chicago, IL) : Man, I love the way Cerbaiona handles its rusticity and volatility. Despite my general dislike of volatility, it always serves as an accent to the wines, adding a bit of spice to the otherwise refined quality of the wines. On this bottle, there's an intense meaty quality to the palate, with plenty of the archetypal dusty, brick oven notes as well. For the mediocre vintage, this was an absolutely triumph …

1997 vintage

Beautiful. Red cherry notes, very Brunello nose. Decanted and drank over three hours, the last sip was the best and it could open up even more. Paired best with mushroom pasta. 93 points.

2012 vintage

At Humble Spirit. Double decanted for sediment then drunk over a long dinner. A fantastic nose. hugely floral. Roses, cherry more than strawberry fruit and spice. Ripe and expansive on the palate. Fantastic balance. Beguiling. At peak, and while I suspect it will hold, I can't think of a reason to wait. Super.

1997 vintage

Ruby colored, with a very elegant nose scented by lilac and creosote. But needs time to open up on the palate, which is light and has a lovely structure, but is also currently a little tannic and closed. I would hold for a few years, but it should be a lovely wine at peak.

2017 vintage

Very slightly oxidized. Cerbaiona is really a crapshoot. Was a disappointment but not a undrinkable wine.

2004 vintage

Birthday dinner with good wine friends : Perfect appearance on the cork without seepage but unfortunately it was still flawed. Drinkable but obvious signs of oxidation and plummy notes. I was really willing this to show well as Cerbaionas can be magical, but unfortunately my hit rate hasn’t been great.

2004 vintage

Brunello 2004 Horisontal (My House) : Airy and juicy cherry fruit with a weightless feel despite being very intense and so much flavor. It is difficult to imagine how a wine can be so intense while still maintaining this level of elegance and refinement. This is a benchmark wine that could easily get the perfect score on any given day. Absolutely stunning!

2004 vintage

3 hour slow ox. Wonderful brunello that had all the typical characteristics except a lack of cherry/ sour cherry that I enjoy. Nonetheless, so good, tannis completely integrated. Went down a little too easily. Drink now. Wonderful juice.

2012 vintage

Still so much power and fruit. Double wow.

1997 vintage

Sangiovese study, Volume II (Chicago, IL) : I am pretty sure this was the bottle that started my Cerbaiona obsession. It was my favourite in the flight, with a dark-fruited, perfumed nose showing just a slight bit of volatility and an intense smoky quality as well. On the palate, this is more resolved than the 2006 (which I also very much liked), so I found it more enjoyable to drink right now.

2004 vintage

deep dark burgundy red, little clarity, brownish burgundy hue Nose: blackberries, blueberries, licorice, tar, flint, moist earth, dirt, violets, minerals, cola, oak Pal: blackberries, plum, blueberries, licorice, tar, earth, dirt, minerals, cola, tannins, oak Feel: full, minerals, acidic Finish: long T9

2012 vintage

This has deepened and sweetened with time in the bottle: red and black fruits, a little prunes, sweet tobacco and vanilla, licorice, mint and thyme, a hint of violet liqueur... full and textured, dense and structured but not heavy, nor overly tannic, though it does turn firm and dry on the finish. I would not save this too long, but it should be worth following 5 or so years.

2017 vintage

Looking forward to re try this beauty, paired with dry aged rib eyes, medium red, expressive nose, cherries, mushrooms, soft tannins, sweet finish & finesse, will get better

2012 vintage

Classic pizza wine.

2004 vintage

Drank out of Magnum. Showing really well!

2012 vintage

Bottle variation perhaps but this was not as good as the bottle I had a week ago from the same case. Weirdly more tannic and backward. Good nonetheless.

2012 vintage

Great Brunello. Went great with our Rigatoni.

2012 vintage

Montalcino tour; 7/20/2022-8/3/2022 (Montalcino, Italy) : Birthday celebration in Montalcino called for the best and our benefactor of the evening over-delivered. A magnum of Montalcino’s finest from the early 90’s, impossible to find these days… Cork broke upon opening but wine intact. Significant sediment. Slow ox added to the adventure…. Delicate and totally refined, an elegant wine for an elegant party. Exquisite really. I remember it kept changing throughout the night, never staying the same but never diminishing. Fruit still …

1990 vintage

gorgeous airy nose: roses, red cherry, strawberry, lemon thyme, licorice... firm and bright on the palate, fresh and fruity inner perfume, but this is quite tightly wound through the finish, long and penetrating, obviously special, needs a few years to flesh out, probably a faster maturing vintage for this wine, but should still be worth following 5+

2017 vintage

Sangiovese study (Chicago, IL) : This was the first bottle of Brunello I had, many years ago, that made me sit up and take notice of sangiovese. From what I remember, this wine has matured in a good way, showing a slight bit of smokiness, as well as more leathery characteristics. The fruit is a typical Cerbaiona mix of more black than red, and with pleasant sweetness. The best of the flight for drinking now, even if this doesn't seem …

2004 vintage

10/09/04/99. There was definitely notions of the 2010 here with a more seamless and ready presentation. I don't think it will reach the heights of 2010 but damn good.

2004 vintage

Balsamic, petrol, cherries, must, dark wood mulch and a unique deep note of soil. Still vibrant, and it’s really a matter of preference for your craving of grip or an exchange for more bouquet with proper cellaring and time. Very nice and long. Drink or Hold

2012 vintage

M&PD Tasting: Italy (Mount Baker, Seattle, WA) : No notes, just recording for posterity. Oh wow, my last and probably best bottle of Cerbaiona. 1997 was spotty in general, but Cerbaiona hit it out of the park.

1997 vintage

An absolutely stunning wine. Maybe the most structured and lighfooted brunello? With an aromatic intensity, yet with a balance and coolness which is not typical for most of heat driven counterparts in the region. Spices, basil, forest floor. Fantastic freshness and menthol, brilliant length on peaches and peppers. A true testament of Diego Molinari, who left quiet some benchmarks with his liquid legacy.

2004 vintage

This took 30-45m to start to show well, it was a bit funky and weird at first actually -- I thought it might have been an off bottle -- but then it started to really come through and it was juicy and delicious by an hour in! Really great stuff.

1997 vintage

Fantastic ...High, High expectations was met! Full body, fruity & velvet...close to the top...

2004 vintage

Renotcka in town from Dallas Dark, ruddy red, brown brick rim Stewed plums, charcuterie, wet wool, dusty. wet tobacco, and mossy forest bark Full bodied. LONG finish. Tastes like the nose. Asian black tea infused with raspberries. Meaty notes carry through. This wine is over the top good. MAGNUMS ARE BETTER!!!!!!

1997 vintage

A lovely Brunello with a rustic edge and a long, persistent and clean finish. I think this is still climbing uphill, so I suspect from the tannin package and the abundant fruit that this is about 4 to 7 years away from its better days. HOLD

2012 vintage

Also needs alot of air...

2012 vintage

5 years since last bottle, and it was well worth it 4 hour slo-o and the wine responded with elegance, finesse, complexity and a 30+ second finish. A Brunello with soul.

2004 vintage

Dinner at NVNA. Tasted blind. Drank in Zalto Universal. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, dark red cherries, balsamic. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (15% this shows), integrating high tannins, full body. Medium+ intensity, with flavours of ripe dark red cherries, leather, earth, balsamic, spice. Long finish. Very good quality. Lots of finesse. Not as elegant as other Cerbaionas I remember. May be due to …

2012 vintage

From a magnum, lovely texture with seductive red fruits. Still pretty young from the colour and the nose but tannin isn't too obstructive. May not be your deepest or most complex Brunello but love the texture and style. Good potential ahead but no harm to enjoy now. 16+/20

2012 vintage

10th of 12, opened an hour, perfect cork and level, further step up from last May, now fully mature and brown rimmed, but lovely rich and nuanced fruit (many details of which are well expressed in previous note here), beguiling bouquet for Italy, still scope for further development. VF (18.5).

1997 vintage

Are you sure?

Cerbaiona, Brunello di Montalcino

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews