Dusky garnet with warm brown-black reflections and garnet rim. The bouquet is fairly intense, with clean balsamic accents and sea salt mingled with ample polished saddle leather and leaf tobacco, and some bright acidity, while the fruit has shifted towards prunes. Pleasant and has a tale to tell. On the palate it's fairly rich, with clean cherry prune fruit with deft black currant overtones that gains direction from clean spicy acidity, and is supported by smooth velvety tannins that flow into a warm spicy finish. Graceful, and has developed quite nicely; everyone at the table was nodding and smiling as they drank it. What with? A platter of mixed grilled meats, served with grilled vegetables. It was a very fine matchup.
The wine could have aged well for another few years, but it was quite ready now, and a pleasure to drink.
90-91
And here's what I said about it when I first tasted it in 2001:
Giacomo Montresor Fattoria Cavalcaselle Vigneto Campo Madonna Cabernet Sauvignon Del Veneto IGT 1998
No lot number
The wine is poured ink, an impenetrable pyrope with cherry rim. The bouquet is pleasing and harmonious, with stewed cherry and black currant fruit and fruit jam laced with freshly cut leather and balsam, all overlain by warmth. On the palate the wine is rich, full, and warm, with nice black currant fruit laced with hints of raspberry and blackberry, supported by warm slightly angular tannins that lead into a long tannic finish. Pleasing but young; it will go well with stews and braised meats now, whereas in a year or two it will smooth over and work nicely with fatter roasts or grilled meats too. Expect it to age well for 10-15 years.
2 stars.
Bottom line: It definitely profited from being put away and left alone.
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