2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dreamy, with a surprisingly vibrant and translucent red color in the glass, impressing further with a spicy mix of curry leaf, crushed rocks, dried strawberries and hints of blood orange. This finessed expression continues on the palate, silky and elegant with bright wild berry fruits and inner spices that soothe the soul. It finishes completely harmonious, long, lightly structured and packed full of inner rose and licorice tones. Any reader who can get their hands on one should not hesitate, as the 2012 is still maturing in bottle. The Riserva was produced from the higher-elevation vineyard of the Uccelliera estate, which seems to have helped in this warm and dry vintage.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and brooding Sangiovese that flaunts its depth, sophistication and balanced weight. The fruit is thick and powerful, and the wine's textural richness is polished and beautiful. The wine goes through alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel and then ages in both small and large oak vessels for three years. Only 7,000 bottles were made.
Deep ruby with bright bricky tinges. Deep, ripe nose with earthy dried-cherry notes. A touch of tar and then mouth-filling fruit supported by lashes of grainy tannins. Impressive depth and length. While this is firmly in the dried-fruit spectrum, it still is complex, although I wonder what its life span will be. (WS)