Tasting Notes for Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1999

Red Wines	Sangiovese	Tuscany	Italy

My Rating (circle) :

Date Printed: 5/19/2013

Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1999

(search item no. 83563)
Wine Enthusiast rating: 96 points
PRICE ON 5/19/2013: $94.99

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2004 Wine Enthusiast rating: 93 points
2004 Wine & Spirits rating: 93 points
2004 The Wine Advocate rating: 92 points
2004 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
1997 Wine Spectator rating: 93 points

Winemaker's Notes:

Characterized by a deep ruby color with garnet hues. Bursts of cherry, ripe plum and hints of bay leaf are balanced with overtones of chocolate and coffee grounds a good tannic structure and an extremely long, silky finish.

"Intense aromas of cedar and ripe fruit, with raspberry and toasty oak. Full bodied, with sweet, silky tannins and a long, rich, wonderful, finish. Pretty and refined, with loads of plum."
James Suckling, Wine Spectator May 15, 2005. 92 points.

My Notes:

About Il Palazzone:

Il Palazzone, or "The Big Palace" is a small estate that has been producing wine for over ten years. While the estate is roughly 20 acres, the land authorized for the production of Brunello di Montalcino is a mere 10 acres. Obviously, a property of these dimensions creates a tightly controlled environment which is determined by its owner. A New Yorker and a wine lover, not necessarily in that order, the proud owner takes an enormous interest in the vineyard despite the time constrains imposed by his day job as a business man. No care is spared in the entire vinification process, which end result is approximately 20,000 bottles each year.

Located on the western side of Montalcino, the estate is quite high in terms of altitude - roughly 480 meters above sea level. This altitude ensures excellent ventilation which is salutary for grapes, as it reduces mold production to a bare minimum. The constant action of the wind combined with the characteristics of the soil on the western side of Montalcino reinforce the character of the elegant wines produced by the estate. The vines themselves are over twenty years old and have therefore grown long root systems making them more resilient during periods of draught. These deep roots are able to reach minerals and components that and not present in the top soils and enrich the taste and aromas of the wines.