90 1998 Barone Ricasoli Casalferro 4/17/10 ($35)
75% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot 13.5% alc
Color: Deep garnet with a little onion skin and a little clearing. Looks ready. (3.0) Bouquet: Pistachios, gout de vieux and old barrique (oak barrel) complement elegant stewed cherries. Shows lively acidity for its age. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with excellent acidity, smooth tannins and sufficient fruit. A little sharp and dry in the mouth. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but not as rich and attractive. Fruit is fading a bit. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor, but tannins become drier here. Elegant Madiera flavors linger. (2.5)
Overall: I first drank this at a restaurant in Florence in 2001. It was excellent right from the start, showing fine balance and rich fruit. I followed it over the years and found it to be at its best at 7-9 years old. It's still very enjoyable, showing a lot of character, but the fruit is starting to fade, making acidity, oak and gout de vieux (taste of age) most prominent. (15)
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