Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva, 2005

Name: Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva
Brand: Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera
Price: 10299.88 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2005

justerini & brooks tasting note

In 2005 there will only be one bottling of Soldera Riserva, that which comes from the Intistieti vineyard. The wine is chiquer, more elegant and drinkable than you would ever imagine Brunello to be. As a 2005, it may be young, and although there is the sense that there time will reveal yet more facets to this hauntingly pure Brunello, it nonetheless offers immense pleasure now given some time to breathe. After a spicy, brooding distinctly Rhone like nose, the palate reveals a much fruitier gambit of bright, ripe but juicy, predominantly red fruit, flavours. An array of succulent wild strawberry, autumn raspberry, griotte and kirsch fruit, with a faint kick of wild thyme and oregano. The tannins do not seem too present or forced, the flavours are fresh, refined, and softly perfumed. A wine of weightless intensity and total seduction.

critic reviews

93/100Antonio Galloni,Vinous

The first flight closes with the 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, a wine from a challenging year marked by heavy rain. Nervy in feel, the 2005 remains somewhat compact. Early mature notes in the bouquet suggest that the 2005 is best enjoyed over the next 7-10 years. This is a rare vintage in which Soldera did not hit his customary level of excellence. From the Riserva-only period (post-2000), 2005 is the only vintage in which Soldera bottled and released his Pegasos, a wine that matured on the early side.

DRINKING WINDOW 2023 - 2031

date of review 06/2024

92/100Antonio Galloni,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva emerges from the glass with soft red cherries, licorice, tobacco and sweet herbs. It is a pretty wine with gorgeous inner perfume and fine overall balance, but I don't see much of the trademark Soldera structure. Take it from someone who has had the privilege of tasting virtually every wine that has ever been made here, the 2005 - while good - is miles away from Soldera's recent masterpieces. This is Lot C83. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. A visit to Case Basse is one of the great experiences in the world of wine. I spent several hours with Gianfranco Soldera in February going through every cask in the cellar. At their best, Soldera's wines have few peers anywhere in the world. I am less enamored about the cask-by-cask bottling, since the two vineyard sources (Case Basse and Intistieti) aren't clearly identified on the labels. Rather, today all of the Brunelli are simply issued as -Riserva.- Soldera claims his customers would be confused by having the vineyard names on the labels, but he is selling them short. At this level, consumers, collectors and connoisseurs want to know the details about wines. Think about Burgundy, where wine lovers want to know not just the name of the vineyards, but the exact positioning of each grower's rows/plots, etc. Over the course of a week in Montalcino I drank four bottles of Soldera's 1990 Riserva, a wine that remains epic if you get the right cask. At this level of rarity and price, consumers should not have that worry. And yes, the wines were markedly - and I do mean markedly - different. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

DRINKING WINDOW 2015 - 2025

date of review 04/2012