2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano
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Tasting notes
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a savory and radiant beast, with a hauntingly dark bouquet that blends plum and cherry sauce with licorice, lavender and nuances of mocha. Its silken textures are seamless and polished, with an amazing combination of fresh acidity, weight and concentration that creates perfect harmony on the palate. Black raspberry mixes with a tinge of citrus and spice as the 2006 finishes long and staining, still gently tannic and with a pleasantly bitter tinge that calls the taster back to the glass for more. As this bottle evolved over the course of an hour, it lost momentum, became slightly muddled and even seemed to darken in color. I'd advise drinking sooner rather than later, and I'll thus remain conservative with my score.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Valdicava’s 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano was another wine that appealed to the audience. And how could it not? A rich, dark, powerful wine, the 2006 showed all of its depth and pure muscle in a stunning display of class. It was utterly magnificent.
Dark red. Aromas of plum, tobacco, smoke, leather and underbrush. Rather rustic on the palate, with plum, earth and leather flavors dominating. A distinctly old-school Brunello with tongue-drying tannins and a lightly roasted character. I wanted more freshness of fruit.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a huge, towering wine. Waves of vibrant, intensely perfumed fruit hit the palate, backed up by the firm, broad tannins of the vintage. Violets, spices, new leather and licorice develop in the glass, yet the 2006 remains painfully young and stubborn. Clean mineral notes frame a blast of dark cherries, plums and camphor on the palate-staining finish. Readers will need to be especially patient, but the 2006 Madonna del Piano is stacking up to be one of the all-time greats from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese. I followed the wine over the course of two days, during which it continued to improve while seeming to gain freshness and structure.