Gerhard nosing the Grandi Annate
I purchased the 1997 Avignonesi Reserva Grandi Annate Vino Nobile de Montepulciano upon its release. It is still incredibly youthful with a dark cherry red colour and slightly garnet rim. The nose is initially restrained and requires aeration before releasing enticing waves of cherries, malady plums and balckberries with subtle floral nuances reminiscent of violets and rosehip. It is full-bodied and powerful with abundant, extremely fine-grained tannins that are still very firm. The finish is very long and along with the fruit and floral components come a hint of forest floor and pine. This wine still has at least another decade of enjoyment ahead of it.