Brunello Di Montalcino, Fattoria La Lecciaia 2003

This is how The Wine Spectator describes this bottle : "Raspberry, flowers and citrus fruits on the nose follow through to a full body, with lots of fruit. Almost jammy, but fresh and dense. Generous. Best after 2010. 9,000 cases made. 91 points".

Our bottle seemed to have none of the noble bouquet characteristics listed above, which means that either, for real, every bottle is different, or The Wine Spectator was drinking their stuff well after 2010:)

Brunello is a highly fetishized Toscan clone of Sangiovese isolated in the late 19 century by Clemente Santi. Indeed it is hard to find a Brunello that sucks, it is also hard to find a good one under $50.
2003 was not a stellar year for Brunellos, and that's why I found this bottle for $32 (BQE Liquors, Brooklyn).

Dark ruby color with amber tinge, full, oily body. Prune and a touch of banana on the nose.
Taste ways it was all prune, fig, some fennel, and a slightly dissappointing oak finish. I guess my expectations were a little too high, still an awesome treat. And definitely don't drink it with baked bronzino and spicy mussels.