G

91
September 2011

This wine received some very hyped up critic reviews when it was first released, but in general people were disappointed when they first tried it. I was one of those people. But I did find that it got better the next day and even the day after. Luckily I was able to get 2 bottles so I plugged the other away in my cellar and recently shared it with some friends. It has certainly improved since it's release, and I was quite impressed. If you've got some of these stashed away, give it another try and see if it's improved. It was an 89 when I first tried it, I think it's improved to a 91 now.

tasted September 2013
July 2014
September 2014

The 2007 Brancaia Tre is definitely a wine (not THE wine) to talk about. Getting 5 critic reviews before the February 5th release and most of them giving excellent or better reviews, resulted in a frenzy with the entire LCBO stock being depleted before one week was up. It took me some time and a help from a very good friend before I was able to secure 5 bottles, so naturally I was anxious to try it. It being a super Tuscan and me having others in my cellar, I had high expectations, which were quickly taken away upon opening and the discovery of a fake cork.

This wine is medium bodied with nice aromas of integrated blackberry, freshly picked coffee beans, cedar and coconut. Tannins are refined (decanting for 30 min is a must), high acidity is quite noticeable and the finish is medium. If real cork was used, aging would be of a benefit, but since plastic (FAKE) enclosure was used, aging for more than couple of years is not advisable. My impression (despite being disappointed and my high expectations taken): NICE, 89 pts - (no point mentioning whether I would recommend it or not since you can't buy any - at least not at this time, but I foresee that LCBO will re-release it sometime towards the end of the year). I will be returning the remaining 4 bottles as the complexity I expect from a Super Tuscan is simply just not there. Tasted Feb/11.

If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):

http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy

There is a lot of hype about this wine. Number 10 on Wine Spectator top 100 of 2009. It did not live up to the hype for me. Where is the wow factor? The nose is kind of subdued; dark fruit, leather, burnt toast and earthy. Medium to full body, concentrated flavours, with low acidity and grainy tannins. Rustic old world finish. Could not agreed more with Dan Trcka; first bought this wine in BC in December of 2009, this wine was previously release at the LCBO in May of 2010 than re-release in February of 2011. Had this wine three times all ready and it is just not coming around. And yes what is with the plastic cork.

Not much going on at all. Thin and sharp, weak in quality. Just nothing to get excited about. Opened with friends to impress them...what a let down. Was JS smoking cigars when he selected this for WS top 10? disappointed with this wine.