2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows more wood than fruit, with a sweet and exotic display of pine, cedar, baker’s chocolate, hints of balsamic spice and medicinal cherry. It’s velvety-smooth and polished, coating the mouth in ripe blackberries offset by sour citrus and cooling herbal tones, as fine-grained tannins saturate. While heavily influenced by its élevage, there is an admirable balance here. That said, this style is not for everyone.