Vasco Sassetti, Brunello di Montalcino

Visiting Vancouver and the Willamette Valley; 8/26/2021-8/30/2021 (Vancouver, WA and the Willamette Valley, OR) : From a well-cellared magnum that was decanted off of its substantial sediment and serially tasted over the ensuing two hours, this deep garnet wine became fully expressive within an hour. Laden with dried cherry and dark plum fruit, it adds accents of earth, anise, coriander, cocoa and savory herbs. Medium-to-full-bodied, vibrantly acidic and with well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%), it weaves in a complementary amount …

Opened up nicely in the glass. Might be useful to decant for 30 minutes or so.

very nice nose, absolutely no sediment, medium bodied. Drinking window was 2015-2019

Decanted ~1.5 hrs. Nose has mentholy stewed red fruits. Fruit has receded a bit on the palette but still some fruit. Tannins integrated somewhat but still present and high alcohol is a little out of balance. Oaky finish. Still, overall very enjoyable and went great with Osso Buco and heirloom tomato blue cheese salad. Prob could last longer but alas this is last bottle.

Medium translucent garnet red. Nose of strawberries and earth with some sweet floral notes. Taste is similar, somewhat sweet but balanced and with some cola/allspice just before the finish. Medium bodied. Silky mouthfeel. Overall, exceptionally balanced. Agree with Brendels review, no wow factor but a very pleasing and easy drinking wine. 90-91. 2nd day notes: Nose and flavors a little bolder and some notes of smoke and leather. Bumped up a point.

leather, blueberry, pepper, and earthiness. Silky, and a bit of a bite at the finish. Nice.

Lo tomamos en Bacci cumpleaños de mi suegro. No se me hizo excepcional. No el mejor año.

Light medium leather, black pepper, earthly and Violets on nose. Not very fruit forward on palate but even balanced and very silky, velvety not at all overpowering and surprisingly light body for a Brunello. Medium body. Delicate texture. Everything is exceptionally balanced. Maybe not much of a wow factor or deep flavor but a vey pleasing wine.

This wine has gotten better over the last year. There's not much on the nose, but we caught faint scents of dark berries. On the palate there were tastes of mocha and strawberries. Nice tannins. A little spice and root beer on the finish.

Tasted at Total Wine in Towson, MD on Thursday, June 9, 2016.

needs a 1 hr+ decant. i drank 1/2 glass right after opening and then decanted for an hr and after the decant it was much improved. 1-2 hours later it was even better so i suspect it still needs time.

After 2 hour decant: Bouquet of cherry, soil, fresh linen, parsley, dry oak, ripe flower stem. Not picking up much else and probably needs more time to breathe. Tastes a bit sour but fruit is coming out. Light brunello and lacks the characteristics of some of my favorites. For $38, I'd say it's good. But I think I'd rather pickup a good rosso do montalcino or vino nobile riserva for the same price. This will probably get better with time.

Tasted at Total Wine in Towson, MD on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Nice nose. Concentrated with wild cherry. Smooth with spice and dark currant. $44.99

Showing young. Old Cedar barrel, turned earth, hint of cherry...not overly aromatic. Not a fleshy full bodied style. Good structure, nice flavors. Not the value that the 07 was. Ready to go.