Reviewed by William Kelley | 27th April 2018 | The Wine Advocate
Rating: 96+ Points
The fabulous 2015 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru is a stunning wine in the making, wafting from the glass with a deep and pure bouquet of red cherry, raspberry, summer fruit compote, orange rind and rose petal. On the palate, the wine is ample, multidimensional and layered, with incredible depth and inherent reserve at the core, excellent concentration, vibrant flavors, and a long, intense finish. Above all, however, this Musigny is defined by its depth and sense of completeness. This will demand and reward patience.
The philosophical François Millet recapitulated the history of the 2015 vintage, which he describes as “a sublime year” which remains resolutely “terroir driven” despite its ripeness and concentration. It was a trying season, he reminded me, with a dry summer alleviated by rain—but not too much rain—at the critical moment in August. “It was quite stressful, because at the beginning we didn’t know that it would have a happy ending,” he reflected. It was also a year of abundant structure, where “it was not necessary to push.” The ensuing range of wines is very fine, including a Bonnes Mares which ranks high among recent vintages, and a beautiful Musigny Vieilles Vignes which I suspect will evolve at a glacial pace.
Biond-Santi remains a beacon for traditionally made Rosso and Brunello. At 90 years of age, Franco Biondi-Santi insisted on leading my tasting of wines from cask and bottle. The years go by for all of us, but I haven’t seen any decrease in Biondi-Santi’s enthusiasm and passion. The Biondi-Santi wines are more approachable young than they used to be, but little else appears to have changed. Biondi-Santi harvests on the early side. The wines see long macerations on the skins – in steel for the straight Brunello (also known as the Annata) and oak for the Riserva – and are then aged in large oak casks.
2007 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino
94 pts
A Sangiovese Grosso Dry Red Table wine from Italy, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous. The estate’s preference for picking on the early side is one of the factors that help balance some of the fleshiness of the vintage. This is an especially silky, supple Brunello from Biondi-Santi. The overt personality of the year comes through, but not at the expense of the house’s style. Floral notes reappear to frame the elegant, expressive finish. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2037.
California’s First Exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard Established in 1968
“You Could Easily Make the Case That Diamond Creek is the Finest Producer of Cabernet Sauvignon in America” – Pierre DuMont, wine writer
Founded in 1968, Diamond Creek is California’s first exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard. Visionary pioneer Al Brounstein defied modern conventions and planted Bordeaux varietals on secluded Diamond Mountain. The three vineyards produce a small amount of long-lived wines that are elegant with great depth and richness, honored and cherished by connoisseurs the world over. Taste the differences imparted to the wine by the distinct soils and micro-climates of Diamond Creek Vineyards.
2012 DIAMOND CREEK “GRAVELLY MEADOW” CABERNET SAUVIGNON
James Suckling – “Aromas of dark fruits such as blackcurrants as well as chili spices. Maybe some tar. It’s full-bodied with wonderful depth and intensity. It starts slowly and grabs your attention. Voluptuous fruit style to this. Better in 2020.”
