2011 Brunello di Montalcino

The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino shows an impressive level of richness and density that starts with a long succession of black fruit aromas, dried cherry, spice, leather and tobacco. There are evident hints of the warm vintage that become apparent thanks to the blackness of the fruit and the general softness of the aromas. The wine's texture is yielding and dense with extra layers of plump fruit and chewy richness. This the proverbial "restaurant Brunello" that will drink beautifully in the near and medium-term. It already tastes spectacular and is beautifully fleshed out at this young age.

The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of depth and impact. Succulent black cherry, roasted coffee beans, menthol and licorice hit the palate with notable density and pure power. The 2011 is a large, ripe, up-front wine, with good immediacy, although much of that tapers off through the mid-palate and finish. Readers should expect a brooding yet flamboyant wine that should be enjoyed over the next few years.

Tasted blind. Dark ruby with orange tinges. Savoury and a little stewed on the nose. Ripe and sweet on the palate and lacking energy. (WS)