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Castel Giocondo: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Brunello di Montalcino wine estate of Castel Giocondo is one of the largest in the region, producing thousands of cases of top Castelgiocondo Brunello as well as a pure Merlot called Lamaione, among others. It is part of the impressive wine estate stable of the Frescobaldi family. About a year ago, I met with Lamberto Frescobaldi at the estate and visited its futuristic winery for a tasting of vintages ranging from 1997 to 2006. It was a small history lesson in how the top modern vintages of Brunello taste at the moment – with the exception of 2007.

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8 thoughts on “Castel Giocondo: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006”

  1. rlamba says:
    Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9:03 pm
    When you feature videos, particularly when you are tasting wines, i think a lot of subscribers will appreciate a full written transcript as well. Some of us are not as enamored of videos as you assume we may be, and also often on an ipad we may be in an environment where watching a video is not appropriate, but reading text is fine. Please keep this medium parity in mind before you switch to all video...which sometimes seems to be the direction in which you arr heading.
  2. James Suckling says:
    Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 1:12 am
    Thank you for the input.We are going to do that. I was always worried that if the notes are included then people won't watch the video. What do you think?
  3. PrimordialOne says:
    Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 9:59 pm
    James, thank you for continuing to post these insightful tasting videos. I was fortunate enough to meet Lamberto twice last year: once at your mind-blowing Brunello event in NYC and again at a tasting at Zachy's where I purchased more of his 2006's. He was even kind enough to sign one of my bottles. I now have a signed 2006 Castelgiocondo from the Master himself. I will eventually open that one sometime between years 10 & 15 when our children will be old enough to enjoy with my wife and I. I have great admiration and respect for Mr. Frescobaldi. He is a true gentleman and a pleasure to speak with sharing his knowledge and anecdotes of his wines. Last weekend, my wife and I enjoyed a bottle of his 2004 with a lunch of porcini mushroom ravioli. The '04 was really drinking well, pairing with the mushrooms and pasta beautifully. I look forward to opening my remaining bottle of 1999 soon. Cheers!
  4. Simba says:
    Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 8:22 am
    James, with all respect and you know that I follow your scores closely, but I have tasted for the last 3 days the Giocondo 2006 Brunello and I have to say that your points compared to mine is the first time ever off by more than 3 points (which in my eyes is diff in Taste and subjectivity...) But I personally think the 06 Brunello is the weakest of the 15+ 2006 Brunellos I have tasted to date and I score it at 89 points at Best, so that's 7+ Points, I would appreciate if you re-Taste it. I also picked up on the fact that it wasn't part of your HK Brunello tasting, which it should have been per the points. Also to finish off on the Price/Value you highlight in the video, this wine cost me 55 USD in Boston, if compare that to any of the Felsina reserva Chianti (Fontalloro or Rancia), this wine goes down terrible... Again not to attack, but the wine either showed terribly well right after bottling or I don't Know...looking forward for your thoughts... To be honest even more for your 2011 Bordeaux Report! ;-)
  5. James Suckling says:
    Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 9:48 pm
    No problem. Thanks for heads up. It sounds like you had a bad bottle. Did you decant it before you tasted it? I would suggest two to three hours of decanting.

    I have tasted the wine about three or four times and I have always liked it. I will try it again soon and let you know.
  6. Simba says:
    Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 12:31 am
    Thanks James. I couldn't find an error with the bottle, but who knows. Opened the bottle 3 weeks after I bought it, Kork was perfect, filled 1/3 of the bottle into a small decanter, left it there for 2 hours... My notes of Day 1: cherry, cigarbox, alcohol; acidity which is high and unbalanced, cherries again, a bit of chocolate, tannins are rough and not intigrated, again very recognizable alcohol, relatively short finish... 87 P. On Day 2 & 3 the wine improved, as the Sangiovese Fruit came thru more, but still 89 P at best...

    Overall not a bad wine, but in my eyes can't ever get outstanding. Its mithing depth, length, structure and complexity, while having to much feelable alcohol and acidity, also the rough tannins (which may improve). Again just my taste...

    Why did you not include it in HK?

    Again appreciate the note and let me know once you retasted it.
  7. James Suckling says:
    Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 12:34 am
    Brunello HK tasting was organized by Tatler

    Sounds like you should have decanted way in advance. Wine is closed.

    Do you have another bottle?
  8. Simba says:
    Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 6:33 am
    That could be it... Only bought one bottle as I wanted to Taste as many as possible, winners so far are in my eyes, Cerbaiona & Valdicava, fantastic wines. Great Value was Caparzo. Cheers