WTN: It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no

[Jenise]

2004 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
Long ago, over the phone, some boob at K&L talked me into buying this wine for a brunello tasting I was doing. He was so convincing I bought three extra for my own cellar. Well: third disappointment since 2014--it just never delivered. Acrid dill notes punch the plum notes in the face and tinny, citric acid-like acidity and harsh tannins rumble on the finish. It's drinkable but it is not, and has never been, an attractive wine. Thank god it's the last one.

[David M. Bueker]

Ill fortuna

(D)ill fortuna, indeed.

Sounds like they harvested the grapes too soon. That would account for the dill and citric acid notes. I once had a cabernet sauvignon that, between the rough tannins and unwelcome orange flavors, tasted just like St. Joseph's aspirin for children. I don't think I've ever encountered strong dill character in a wine, though. Overcooked asaparagus and brussels sprouts, yes, but not dill.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Dill usually suggests American oak. I've encountered it a time or two elsewhere, too, without being able to account for its presence. The weirdest thing is the citric acid--that unmistakable taste of preservatives all too common nowadays on pre-packaged produce; it's also used as fake acidity in wine-making isn't it?

Yes, citric acid is used as an acid booster in winemaking. Acidification is common practice in California, but I didn't know it was allowed in Italy. Perhaps we have a victim of global warming here. Excess heat causes a sudden drop in acidity and soaring sugar levels; grower panics and harvests physiologically immature grapes. Citric acid is added to prop up the acidity. The wine ends up with some vegetal character (the dill), rough immature tannins, and that tell-tale tinny citric acid.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Would pretty much explain everything wrong with this wine, wouldn't it.

[David M. Bueker]

I had to find this on YouTube after reading this thread...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIwrgAnx6Q8

[Jenise]

Fantastic, David, that's just fantastic. I had to play it twice!