Château Castigno Secret du Dieux Saint Chinian 2011, Bolla Le Origini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009, Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2011, Gundlach Bundschu Vintage Reserve Red 2012.

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Château Castigno Secret du Dieux Saint Chinian 2011


Colour: Clear medium ruby

Nose: Lower intensity nose, dates, ripe red cherry, touch of plum sauce, liquorice.

Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, red cherry, touch of pine.

Finish: Medium+ finish, spice and dark fruits.

Score: 76/100


Drinking well now, could also use a few more years in the cellar.


Bolla Le Origini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009


Colour: Clear medium garnet

Nose: Surprisingly savoury nose, roasted red pepper, smoked meat, undertone of dried cherry, plum, and a touch of peppercorn.

Palate: Dry, medium-full bodied, medium+ acidity, medium tannins. Cherry, plum, integrated oak, Chinese five spice, hints of tobacco.

Finish: Long finish, soft plum.

Score:82/100


The roasted red pepper note caught me off-guard, surprisingly savoury and dry for Amarone, guessing more producer these days trying to go for a drier Amarone rather than an off-dry style.

 


Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2011


Colour: Clear medium garnet

Nose: Cured meat, white-out, cherry, dried strawberry, raspberry, plum, and a touch salt.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity, medium tannins. Plum, cured meat, liquorice, cherry candy, touch of dry flower.

Finish: Long finish, touch of oak and salt.

Score: 84/100


Still needs a few more years to get things together, got good complexity and structure to back it up. While the 2011 is approachable now, I’d say cellar for at least 3-5 more years and check back.


 

Gundlach Bundschu Vintage Reserve Red 2012


Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Strong liquorice, blackberry, blackcurrant, green leafy note, oil paint, hint of eucalyptus.

Palate: Full-bodied, medium+ acidity, high grippy tannins. Plums, black currant, black cherry, touch of green note again, mineral.

Finish: Long finish, plums and oak.

Score: 82/100


Prime example of really ripe crop, have decent complexity and structure for further development, the tannins needs to be soften up for another 5 or so years. Personally not my style.