2001 Casisano-Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino

[hotwine]

Looks like I misspelled this in the heading for the '99.... should be Casisano-Colombaio.

Popped a regular bottling of '01 in 750 ml tonight, to try before adding to the single case. With pasta - meat sauce contains lean ground beef and Italian sausage. Decanted three hours before dinner, which helped but wasn't long enough. Superb nose, very refined, of crushed red berries and a touch of spice. Color is very deep red and opaque. Silky smooth on the palate, with more red fruit, a whiff of cigar ash, drying tannins, lip-smacking red fruit on the finish. 13.5% alc/vol and about $30 at Costco. WS92.

[hotwine]

Two bottles decanted for four hours before Christmas dinner of ham (one baked, one smoked), green beans. scalloped spuds, crescent rolls. Fabulous!