Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese

Brought to dinner at Au Courant. This bottle of the 2006 Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino has been stored in my cellar since release. The wine pours a deep, turbid garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine exhibits powerful aromas of desiccated cherries and blackberries, leather, cocoa, and dry organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium acid. I would place the alcohol at high. The finish is long and savory. I’ve got to say, compared to my last bottle from 2016, this has evolved a lot more than I expected. The 15% ABV is less hidden and this is now a vinous wine. While I have no fear of these dropping off a cliff, I’m not expecting any positive evolution at this point. It should be noted that this bottle threw an enormous amount of sediment so I highly recommend decanting that off prior to service. Drink now and over the few years.

I was a little cautious opening this because 2011’s heat and 15% abv, but this is quite good. Seems fully mature, with a a complex nose showing tilled earth, old barrels, spice, fragrant leather, cinnamon, and macerated dark cherry. Broad and sultry on the palate, with ripe and savory and earthy flavors buoyed on soft but ample remaining tannin. Really nice.

So rich and complex. Amazing wine. Dark fruit, sangio acid, wild herbs, animale, Smokey, meaty, chocolaty. Will buy more immediately. Great value as well. Not far from the Canalicchio Di Sopra for a much better price.

Cherries, cedar, toasted oak. Big tannins but balanced by nice acidity.

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Beautiful nose of sweet plums, cooked blueberries, oak, vanilla, licorice, leather, spices, smoke, tobacco leaf, graphite, vinaigrette, herbs, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, peppermint, light coffee, light vegetables, cinnamon, vinaigrette and black pepper.

Long finish with round, fine tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Brunello. Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing great complexity and a great mouthfeel with a very spicy mid palate.

I really loved the nose on this Brunello, I kept smelling on it for a long time.

Needed an hour to open up, and was better every 20 minutes after that. After 3 hours, huge tannins come in with dark coffee and bitter notes.


This 12 year old big boy has at least 5 years in it, and this is a great vintage too.

I paired it with Italian antipasto.

15% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$45.

We should build a pipeline from Italy to the U.S. and pump this over. It's an awesome wine, if you didn't catch what I was saying.

Love love love this wine. Has aged beautifully, showing cigar box, dried cherries and hints of dark chocolate. Acidity remains fresh while the tannins provide an elegant structure.

Drinking well now. Nice backbone and tannin. Dried bing cherry up front and an acidic fresh raspberry finish. Lingers on the palate.

In an outstanding place right now.

Cellared since release. Tannins are still pretty massive. Emphasis on dark sour cherries with some cocoa, baking spices at this stage. Needs time, still.