2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

The 2015 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino Riserva lifts up with a vibrant and spicy display, showing bright cherry and strawberry with mentholated herbal tones, crushed stone and a hint of white pepper. It takes a more savory turn on the palate, as silky textures usher in tart red and black berries, laced with salty minerals. Nervous acids add further tension, while grippy tannins slowly saturate, leading to an intensely structured finish. The 2015 Riserva will need a good amount of time to soften, and I don’t believe its fruit component will be able to keep up.

With DNA carefully shaped by Tuscan sunshine and golden light, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a textbook expression of the vintage. The wine reveals soft and ripe fruit with dark cherry, candied apricot, cola, medicinal herb and aniseed. There is depth and complexity, followed by a powerful mid-palate and textured tannins. This Riserva represents a special selection of fruit from across the estate's 22 hectares of Brunello. The clay and limestone marl site is located at a breezy 280 to 310 meters above sea level. Production is very small, with just 1,700 bottles made.

Argiano’s Riserva comes from a selected vineyard planted to a single clone, which gives wines with greater structure. It is the only one of the estate’s three Brunellos still aged in small barrels, though the share of new oak has decreased to 50%. This is well integrated, polished and balanced, with lovely soft acidity. The nose is discreet, with warm earth, iron and tea, then opens to mint and tarragon. Sandy tannins cling to the palate, with plenty of grip to bolster the sweet fruit. It just needs a little more focus.