Tignanello Vertical 1986-2014
All Tig-tigs in this tasting aged better than I expected. Like other age-worthy wines, these 12 vintages in the glass change a lot over the 2-hour blind tasting of last week with HKWS. All younger vintages give good potentials.Tasting notes here are mere snapshots and nothing more.
All vintage gives classic Sangiovese fruit supported by the structure. The first wine starts tertiary with rubber tones. While mixed red fruit dominates in the first nose, ripe dark fruit with balsamic and cedary tones become prominent. Overall, the tone changes are adorable. The palate follows the nose, yet wood spice is too long. My 9th; Group's 7th. It is 1991.
Bretty, the second bottle gives vivid red fruit through with lots of fresh strawberries and dulcet mutton tones. The palate is long, sweetishly abundant in fruit. Tannin is still not yielding and feels stubborn, and the wine is harmonious and delicious. My second; Group's 4th. It is 1994. Second thought, this wine is not well-rated as it should and is worthy.
The 3rd bottle gives muted fruit. The palate reflects the same, and is angular, spicy, finish very short and is not a right bottle. My 7th; Group's 3rd. The stand-by bottle tastes much better, which explains why tasters change later on favourably for that; I keep my snapshot view though. It is 2004. A good one.
The 4th bottle gives Sangiovese fruit, with green tone, green peppercorns, meat tones and is bretty. Development is significant, turning almost rancio with sappy cedar. The palate is balanced, reflecting a straightforward rendition of Sangiovese. I obviously expect more, so this bottle becomes my 11th. Also, this is the 11th as well for Group. It is 1986.
The 5th bottle gives high tones, followed by ripe cherries. Simple. While the palate reflects terroir and varietal characters, it is tannic, lightish and not balanced enough. My last, i.e. the 12th; Group's Last as well. Regrettably, it is 1990.
The 6th bottle is a fresh and big wine. Bubblegummy to start, but gives real cassis and plums on nose. Very 'Sangiovese' on second nose. The palate reflects the changing nose, with great spice balanced well by big dark fruit. Very young, and it is 2014. My 5th; Group's 10th. Many potentials.
The 7th bottle is fragrant in a natural way. Rose, lavender. An elegant mix of red(cherries, raspberries) and dark fruit(cassis and blueberries). Four-square. The palate reflects the nose and is rounder, riper, younger. It is elegant and not woody at all. My 3rd; Group's 5th. It is 2011. If the price is right and if the purpose is for immediate enjoyment, I will look into this vintage.
The 8th bottle is my favourite one for the evening. Balanced and delineated nose of red and black fruit, as well as mutton tones. Very tasty, it gives excellent palate and is full and long. I keep on drinking and do not write about the 'excellence' part! My first; Group's 8th. It is 1996. It looks like this wine captures wide deviations. A definite Yes for me, if and only if the price is right.
The 9th bottle developed exceptionally well. As tasty as 1996, it gives an added dimension of a rubbery and mutton tone on the nose. The muted palate (short, too spicy, too alcoholic, too woody) also develops to a new dimension which should have qualified my First. My 6th; Group's First. It is 2001. Interesting for a nice get-to-gather for 2 or 3 persons.1996 is still my preference though.
The 10th bottle noses unbalanced to me and are woody and fishy to start with but then robust leather tones and sweet spices eventually. The palate is 'international' and is woody, tannic with great seasoning. Undeniably, this is a special Tig-tig and probably get the best standard deviation here, as some five Firsts and 1 Seconds accord. My 10th; Groups tied First. The bottle is 2010. C'st La Vie.
The 11th bottle is classic and elegant. Right proportioned elements in place. The palate reflects the same and feels slender, bony like a great fashion model. My 8th; Group's 9th. It is 2008.
The last bottle is a bigger one. Ripe, dark nose; bretty turning into Leathery and cedary. Quite complex. Big and elegant. New and traditional. A crazy wine which is both big and soft, fruity and earthy, leavy and balsamic. M 4th; Group's 6th. This bottle is 2013. Yes, for potentials.
A well-run tasting.
