2010 Brunello di Montalcino

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a great example of the Ciacci house style. Rich, layered and ample, the 2010 blossoms with notable depth and amplitude. This is a classic Brunello from Castelnuovo dell'Abate, where the wines are typically resonant and generous. Readers will find a gorgeous, highly expressive Brunello that will deliver considerable near and medium-term pleasure. Crushed flowers, tobacco and cherry pit add nuance on the soft, open finish. The 2010 spent two and a half years in barrel.

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino represents a return to the traditional values of Montalcino. The bouquet is buoyant and bright with lingering tones of smoke, ash, balsam herb, licorice and soy sauce. Those kinds of aromas make Brunello such a wonderful wine and thankfully you get them in abundance here. Dry mineral and brimstone also give the wine a sense of focus, sharpness and cleanliness that is very appealing. The close is long, fine and polished. I look forward to retasting this bottle five years from now.

Deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Refined balsamic nose and not immediately pushing the fruit button, meaty with a hint of stone. Very classic, with lift. Concentrated yet cool and pretty austere still. Tannic almost like a Barolo but plenty of fruit to back it up, that is not thick or heavy. Elegant palate weight but quite powerful in its tannic structure. But so tannic this needs lots of time. Rainy, grating tannins with a minerally notes. Opens up and becomes more multi-layered with aeration. (WS)