2005 Sesta di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino

2005 Sesta di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino SKU #1059178

Price: $59.99

RP 93	WE 91	WS 91
ST 90

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Tasting Notes

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and powerful as masses of black cherries, plums, tar and licorice emerge from the glass. This is an especially dense, full-throttle Brunello in a vintage that yielded decidedly smaller-scaled wines. The intensity of the fruit carries all the way through to the finish without losing an ounce of vitality. This is impressive stuff! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Sesta di Sopra has produced one of the finest Brunellos in 2005. Sadly, there are only 4,500 bottles to go around, as the vineyard covers just one hectare." (04/10) 92 points Wine Spectator "Indian spices and sliced plums, with hints of ripe strawberries on the nose. Full body, with chewy tannins and a powerful palate. Very structured. Small and serious producer. Best after 2012." (06/10) 91 points Wine Enthusiast: "Here's a dense, dark Brunello with aromas of moist soil, forest floor, exotic spice and tones of black fruit, prune, plum and currant. These notes are well integrated and the mouthfeel is austere, solid and dense. Pair this wine with grilled red meat or pasta with meat sauce." (08/10) Anticipated arrival July 30, 2010

Staff Reviews

By: Jeremy Bohrer
10/5/2011
K&L Staff Member

For my money there is no better value Brunello in the store!! Sesta di Sopra continues to make awesome wines and because of our longstanding relationship with them you get them at amazing prices! Delicious!
By: John Majeski
7/31/2011
K&L Staff Member

Sesta di Sopra, a family-owned 44-hectare farm estate located south of the village of Montalcino, has only been making wines since 1999, but they have achieved ravishing results from their tiny two-hectare vineyards, much of the rest devoted to superb olive oil production. I don't know if its largely attributable to the spectacular terroir, the meticulous viticulture (I've read that they go through the vineyards with tweezers, removing inferior fruit) or the uncompromising winemaking skills from harvest to release, but the wines of Sesta di Sopra are special and quite beyond compare. That our discerning staff has been so full of praise is no wonder. The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is a tour de force, a true synergy of man and nature, suffused with massive aromatic layers of polished black fruits, licorice, tar and warm spice wrapped around a balanced beam of wonderful acidity and complex, structural tannins. If you purchase a bottle of this seriously sublime wine, please make it at least two, because I don't want you to have any regrets.
By: Jim Barr
7/28/2011
K&L Staff Member

For Brunello, it doesn’ get any better than this. Deep ruby in color, the powerful, distinctive nose is loaded with tons of blueberry, plumy and anise fruit notes with a mild, yet noticeable slate-like mineral background. On its broad, complex, deeply flavored palate, this Gem is well-structured, focused, round, yet needing a few more years to develop and evolve. This Gem is a great Brunello that needs to be aged four to ten years and will be added to our cellar library collection, according to Anderson. Decant and give it several hours of airing if you decide to have it near-term! (Jim Barr)
Drink from 2015 to 2020
By: Steve Greer
4/2/2011
K&L Staff Member

This is one of my favorite of our direct imports as well as most of the staff. This well structured Brunello shows off rich plum and anise on the nose and palate along with mineral and a slight earthiness both of which will develop with bottle age. The finish is beautiful with bright plum and spice with the bright acidity leaves the finish almost mouthwatering.
By: David Othenin-Girard
3/9/2011
K&L Staff Member

Ultra rich, warming and intense. This stupendous wine from Brunello's best kept secret is full throat in every sense of the word. Intense fruit and spice on the nose and palate are heart stopping. HUGE tannins coat the mouth and last. Somehow a racing acidity remains leaving you exhausted and wanting more. Would love to try this again in 2015, 2020, 2025, 2030. Reason enough to buy a case.
By: Jim Boyce
2/27/2011
K&L Staff Member

Once again, Sesta Di Sopra comes through with the best brunello deal we have. Lush dark red fruit, spice and earth balance beautifully with those silky smooth tanins. Drinking well now but will reward a few years of aging.
By: Kirk Walker
2/17/2011
K&L Staff Member

I know with the '06 ready to come in you are not thinking about '05 Brunello, but you should be thinking about this. This is a powerfully built wine that is just about to fully come into its own, never mind that it is super delicious right now! Red fruits, chewy tannins and just the right amount of spice and earth. This will keep you very happy while you are waiting for the '06's to come around.
By: Mike Parres
11/5/2010
K&L Staff Member

I love these user friendly Brunello's in 2005. Impressive nose, with loads of ripe fruit, this is full-bodied with great tannin structure, but won’t hurt your teeth. Love the fruit that is an impressive, rich and concentrated. The wine boasts excellent length, with sweet jammy black cherry, leather and a spicy nose with a little Tuscan dust and minerals on the finish. It is drinkable now, with a couple of hours in a decanter, or give this wine time to improve and continue to evolve for another 2-4 years. I am thinking a pork roast loin and I have no problem drinking a Brunello with the Turkey.
By: Illya Haase
10/28/2010
K&L Staff Member

I love this producer! Their wines are always on point. It just goes to show, if you take care of your land it will, in turn, produce magnificent, balanced and complex wine.
By: Christie Brunick
8/11/2010
K&L Staff Member

For under $50 you can't get a better Brunello than this! Full of robust fruit balanced out by its masculine dusty earth and structure. Definitely a wine to age, but if tempted can easily be enjoyed by a quick decant. Makes your mouth water for spicy tomato or meat based dishes and Parmesan Reggiano!
By: Kyle Kurani
8/10/2010
K&L Staff Member

Bracing acidity and silky tannins make up the frame work for this Brunello. Surprisingly approachable, the vibrant fruit carries flavors of earth and medium red fruit through the entire pallet. Intense and focused this wine will drink wonderfully for the next ten to fifteen years.
Drink from 2011 to 2023
By: Mike Barber
7/20/2010
K&L Staff Member

Another triumph from our best montalcino direct import producer. This is gorgeous wine, with lush, classic sangiovese flavors of dust, tomato, and acidity over layers of cedar and earth. Its robust mid palate is backed with firm tannin- ensuring that this is a brunello that will successfully age for a very long time.
Drink from 2013 to 2025