La Palazzetta (Flavio Fanti)
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
With some of the entry-level Brunelli like this one, it’s a tough call when to open them. In my experience many try to play in the big leagues by overextracting. This one’s always been on the tannic, somewhat astringent side, so you want to wait to allow the tannins to drop and for it to settle down, but you don’t want to wait so long that the fruit dries up. I think this is about as good as it’s going to get. The fruit is still there, and the astringency is abating a bit. Still tannic. Good acids. Should go well with a simple pasta with tomato and sausage sauce.
UPDATE: After 24 hours under a vacuum seal, it was so astringent as to be nearly undrinkable, to my taste.
With some of the entry-level Brunelli like this one, it’s a tough call when to open them. In my experience many try to play in the big leagues by overextracting. This one’s always been on the tannic, somewhat astringent side, so you want to wait to allow the tannins to drop and for it to settle down, but you don’t want to wait so long that the fruit dries up. I think this is about as good as it’s going to get. The fruit is still there, and the astringency is abating a bit. Still tannic. Good acids. Should go well with a simple pasta with tomato and sausage sauce.
UPDATE: After 24 hours under a vacuum seal, it was so astringent as to be nearly undrinkable, to my taste.
Truncated notes. Advancing faster than other 15s I’ve had, it seems ready to drink with loads of secondary and tertiary characteristics of leather, earth, and warm terra cotta roof tile. Tannins resolving, the palate still shows a bit of nice dark macerated cherry fruit, and nice buoyant acid. 
Truncated notes. Advancing faster than other 15s I’ve had, it seems ready to drink with loads of secondary and tertiary characteristics of leather, earth, and warm terra cotta roof tile. Tannins resolving, the palate still shows a bit of nice dark macerated cherry fruit, and nice buoyant acid. 
Nov 12th, 2023
Smells of carmalized almonds.
Dried cherry, persimmon, anise, medium bodied and well made. Perfect time for cork popping, this is ready to drink and drinking well.
Lingering dried dark fruits, slight acidity, and just a chino or two of tannin.
Smells of carmalized almonds.
Dried cherry, persimmon, anise, medium bodied and well made. Perfect time for cork popping, this is ready to drink and drinking well.
Lingering dried dark fruits, slight acidity, and just a chino or two of tannin.
Smells like roasted almond
Fresh fruit shows through here - red delicious apple, Pom, cherry preserve. Roof of your mouth tannins , slight acidity.
Light in body, light in weight.
Easy quaffer.
Smells like roasted almond
Fresh fruit shows through here - red delicious apple, Pom, cherry preserve. Roof of your mouth tannins , slight acidity.
Light in body, light in weight.
Easy quaffer.
Doesn’t quite measure up to other Brunellos at the price range. Bright fruit but leaves you wanting and waiting.
Doesn’t quite measure up to other Brunellos at the price range. Bright fruit but leaves you wanting and waiting.
Apr 10th, 2022
Color of burgundy, light and clear. Nose of ripe grapes, aldehyde, spice, cinnamon, mint, and indeed quite light. Taste follows the nose with addition of some sweetness, zest, very mellow tannins, a bit tea, and a tiny bit peppery. Aftertaste is medium short. Overall, clean, light and enough flavors. On par.
Color of burgundy, light and clear. Nose of ripe grapes, aldehyde, spice, cinnamon, mint, and indeed quite light. Taste follows the nose with addition of some sweetness, zest, very mellow tannins, a bit tea, and a tiny bit peppery. Aftertaste is medium short. Overall, clean, light and enough flavors. On par.
Nov 26th, 2021
