2001 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino

Had this wine at Florhof Hotel, Zurich, with fellow SNSF panelists, in the hotel's wine cellar. It is quite good and is mature, which is a treat since a mature Brunello tends to be hard to find in restaurants. The nose is an amalgam of cherry, black plum and blueberry, with vanilla, cedar and perhaps a touch of lavender and spice. On the palate it's medium body with a moderate finish. A nice color red ruby with much of the purple resolved (along with the tannins) and substantial translucency. There isn't the depth and reverberation of lasting waves of flavor that one might like in a great wine, but still this is a very pleasurable Brunello and for a Zurich restaurant, quite reasonable (98 SF). It went nicely with the succulent veal chop that was the main course. I'll give it 91 points and surmise it'll drink well for 2-3 more years. Banfi is one of the biggest producers in Montalcino, a place I visited, quite near to the great and beautiful Sesti vineyard.

Here's what Parker (actually, Galoni) said in 2006: A dark ruby, the estate’s 2001 Brunello di Montalcino offers notes of super-ripe dark fruit, flowers, spices, chocolate, sweet oak and underbrush with a round, supple personality, excellent concentration as well as length, and fine tannins. It will benefit from a few years of cellaring and drink well to at least age 15. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016. 89 points.