2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Castelgiocondo

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Ripe al Convento is a gorgeous wine built on texture and resonance, yet even with all of its depth, the 2010 retains a striking sense of transparency. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, lavender, mint and spices flesh out in a dramatic Brunello endowed with baritone intensity and pure power. The tannins need time to soften, but, even so, there is more than enough depth to provide balance. The Ripe al Convento is the wine that best reconciles the Frescobaldi family's search for textural richness with the inherent personality of their Montalcino sites. This is one of the most impressive Brunellos I have tasted from Castelgiocondo.