2007 Brunello di Montalcino V. V.

Good bright, dark red. Pure but restrained nose shows good mineral lift to the aromas of plum, cherry, chocolate and spices; distinctly darker in its fruit character than the classico . Densely built but weightless and sappy, with a distinctly saline minerality energizing the fine-grained fruit and chocolate flavors. At once nicely delineated and seamless, showing superb fruit intensity and lift. Finishes dense and long, with building tannins and a palate-staining cherry character.

Interesting solidity and some undergrowth. Quite frisky. Real bite. Dry finish. Long. (JR)

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V., a play on the French Vieilles Vignes, is fabulous. It shows the freshness and brightness of this high-altitude site, one of the highest in all of Montalcino. Freshly cut flowers, black cherries and spices are some of the many notes that flow from the glass in this beautifully delineated Brunello. Expressive aromatics are woven throughout, adding harmony and finesse. The Ragnaie V.V. is an example of how well some of the central, higher-altitude plots performed in 2007. It is one of the most refined and elegant wines of the vintage.