2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a powerhouse, but it takes some time to truly come to life in the glass. It smolders up with a darkly alluring and earth-inspired mix of plum sauce, grilled sage, crushed rocks, cardamom and tobacco. This is velvety-smooth and rich on the palate, washing waves of mineral-inflected tart berries over a core of crisp saline-tinged acidity. The result is a sensation of vivacity, both intense yet full of tension, as the 2012 finishes with a tannic bite and notions of tart cherry that linger on and on. This is still on the road to maturity, and with a bright future in store for patient collectors.
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a balanced wine that ultimately has succeeded in absorbing the excessive heat of the vintage with expert precision. The bouquet shows dark fruit aromas with candied cherry and syrupy crème de cassis. Those ripe aromas never get too heavy because the wine also exhibits polished mineral definition that adds sharpness and focus. Only 3,000 bottles were produced.