2012 Le Pergole Torte Riserva

The 2012 Le Pergole Torte is brilliant. In fact, this is one of the best showings of the 2012 that I can recall. The flavors are bright, focused and pulsing with energy. Because of its mid-weight structure and not overly complex personality, the 2012 looks like it will start drinking well sooner rather than later. Even today, the 2012 is extremely beautiful. This is a terrific showing for the 2012.

Another gorgeous wine that won't take forever to come around, the 2012 Pergole Torte is surprisingly expressive and radiant today. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, tobacco and licorice flesh out in an effortless, open-knit Pergole Torte that impresses with its immediacy and sensuality. The 2012 will drink well early by the Montevertine standards. Just the last few months in bottle alone have made a meaningful difference.

Born in a difficult year that saw yields reduced by as much as one-third because of uneven ripening, the 2012 Le Pergole Torte is showing very subtle signs of its difficult infancy. The wine was a little more shut down when I revisited it on the occasion of this retrospective. The bouquet holds back a little but seemingly wants to give more of itself. With a little patience, you can coax out stubborn aromas of red currants, dried cherry, spice and cigar box. The mouthfeel is thinly veiled and delicate in nature. Fruit for this vintage came in with high alcohol and high pH. Mar 2018, www.robertparker.com