WTN: 2005 Brunello and a Marietta comment

I was planning on opening a Marietta red tonight due to Tom Hills long posting but more about that later. 2005 Brunello di Montalcino la Collina dei Lecci found in my off-site cellar recently and with no knowledge of having bought it. Consumed tonight with venison chili and a pleasant surprise. Color more like an aged Pinot Noir but the nose and flavors were very appealing with sour cherry and nice notes of leather and terragon. Probably near peak but still had structure from tannins. Certainly not a WOW wine but pleasant and not a great QPR at $30. I was actually looking for a 2007 Marietta Cabernet when I saw this and remembered wanting to open it for the new focus. My at-home cellar is two bottles deep and that makes it difficult to find a particular bottle in a hurry which is why I did not open that Marietta wine. I have been a big fan of Marietta wines as Tom would say "from the very beginning" almost, as my first Marietta Old Vine Red was #4. I'll post on that Marietta Cab. when I find it soon!

[David M. Bueker]

$30 seems like a pretty good deal for a Brunello that you (appeared to) enjoyed quite a bit.

What QPR benchmark are you comparing it to?

Wine-Searcher has many Brunellos of recent vintages priced lower and probably from more well-known producers. Considering that I bought this wine 10 years ago, it seemed to me to not be very good QPR especially given that no one questioned has heard of this producer.