2004 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The Col d'Orcia 2004 Brunello di Montalcino opens to an explosive bouquet of wildflower, heritage rose and dark fruit. However, that intensity does settle 10 to 15 minutes after being poured. The wine is very flirty and showy on first impression, and it grows more timid with time. Like the 2023 vintage, this was a difficult year that required more passages in the vineyard for canopy and fruit management. The wine offers immediate freshness and polymerized tannins. In terms of its analytical parameters, you could be mistaken for thinking it is younger than its real age.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is at its peak, with dusty florals, spiced citrus, nuances of autumnal spice and steeped cherries forming its bouquet. It possesses a lovely inner sweetness with soothing textures, displaying mineral-drenched red plums and a tinge of blood orange. While a bit short, the 2004 leaves a lasting impression, tapering off with hints of sous bois and a tantalizing bump of residual acidity.
Bright, dark red. Black cherry, menthol and truffley underbrush on the reduced, rather bound-up nose. Rich, broad, ripe and savory; in an elegant if rather primary style, with good vinosity and firm, building tannins giving the wine very good grip. I picked up a slight dryness on the back, but this unevolved wine needs at least a few years in the cellar. Not quite up to my expectations, though.
Mid crimson – looks quite youthful. Attractive heady scents of undergrowth. Seems lighter than the 14% stated on the label with a certain elegance and bite. Needs a bit of time and there is certainly acid and fine tannin here in abundance at the moment. (JR)