The 2007 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino was double decanted into cleaned bottle. It aerated in a decanter for a couple of hours. A wonderfully hedonistic wine without being over-the-top. Tannins have melted into the beginning of a prime drinking window on this wine. The bouquet leaps forth ... savory sous bois notes mingling with alluring florals. Black cherry, cedar, tobacco leaf, spice, faint anise. The impression is of high quality, luscious Sangiovese fruit from the vineyard handled with loving care. A very, very nice wine.
The 2007 Isole e Olena Cepparello was slow-o'd for about eight hours in bottle. Always a favorite, this bottle is very tasty, but will improve over the next few years. Black fruit with more acidity than the Uccelliera. Unique espresso and spice component. Nose is a bit reticent at this stage. Provided an excellent counterpoint with more structure than the Uccelliera.
The 2010 Cayuse Callioux is a fascinating wine. My experience with Cayuse has been limited to just pop and pour, which is a disservice to such a great wine IMO. This one was a pop and pour as well, so it was pretty closed for the first hour. Once it started to open up, I realized what a tribute to the Northern Rhone that Christophe Baron has crafted. Inky blackberry and mineral. Tellicherry pepper, lavender, hint of goudron. I would love to taste one of these wines next to a Chapoutier Le Pavillon. Interestingly, I did not get much impression of the Viognier that is co-fermented with the Syrah for the Callioux cuvee. It seemed more Hermitage in nature than Cote-Rotie. The Cayuse paired perfectly with wagyu steak. The 14.8% abv is somewhat surprising for such a beautifully balanced wine. (I would have guessed in the 13% abv range).
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