2001 Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice
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This wine merits every one of these 100 points. The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano Occhio di Pernice (375 milliliters) is a singular work of art and a profound expression of Tuscany. I know Avignonesi owner Virginie Saverys would like to draw attention to the other wines in her portfolio, and she has every right to do so. But I just want to cry. When you have a wine as profound and perfect as this, everything else fades fast into the background. Virginie likes to say that Occhio di Pernice (made with red grapes) is the "male" and the Vin Santo di Montepulciano (made from white grapes) is the "female." This is a great observation. The bouquet here is smoky and savory, but brilliant and sophisticated at the same time. You get an infinite array of caramel, maple syrup, espresso bean, licorice and candied fruit aromas. There's so much dried fig as well. The concentration and thickness is out of this world. This wine is built like a tank and I'm not sure it will ever exit its drinking prime.
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Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano Occhio di Pernice, made from 100% Sangiovese, exudes depth, creaminess and viscosity, even if it is not as extreme as some previous editions. Dark and intense in all of its elements, the 2001 offers up a compelling, almost intoxicatingly rich, mélange of leather, chocolate, dried herbs, tobacco, smoke and dried figs. Avignonesi's Occhio di Pernice remains one of Italy's most distinctive sweet wines. As with the Vin Santo, the Occhio di Pernice dries out slightly on the close. (375ml)
The 2001 Via Santo di Montepulciano Occhio di Pernice exudes its typical unctuous, oily richness. A host of figs, mocha, chocolate, dark spice and leather notes are fused together. Seamless, deep and sepia-toned in its expression, the 2001 is certainly not lacking in personality. Here, too, my impression is that the Occhio di Pernice is lacking a bit of freshness.