2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

In the bottle with the black label, the Le Potazzine 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is another beautiful creation from this high-elevation estate. With 43 months of aging in Slavonian oak, it reveals tart fruit aromas with red and purple fruit highlights. There are hints of grilled watermelon, cassis and tart plum. It also offers grilled herb and dark mineral. Production is limited to 3,500 precious bottles.

Lustrous mid ruby. Complex spice notes hovering over intensely perfumed fruit. Huge depth on the nose. Layers and layers of raspberry compote on the palate. Very long and full-on and tempered by gravelly tannins sticking to the fruit. Needs much more time. (WS)

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva tempts the imagination, like cracking open an ashen stone to find a bevy of exotic spices, dried herbs, lavender, wild blueberries and zests of blood orange. Silky and serene, it floods the palate with elegant textures and hints of ripe red and black fruit. It takes on graphite mineral tones toward the close as a bump of residual acidity maintains fantastic freshness. This stains the palate in residual concentration yet leaves the mouth watering for more. It is structured yet lively and fresh, with lingering notes of licorice, red plum, dark chocolate and currant.