2012 San Giuseppe Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Stella di Campalto is a woman of sass and moxie, and both those traits come forward in the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. With 5,700 bottles made, Stella only makes Brunello Riserva at this point because she prefers to hold her wines back longer at the winery before their commercial release. This vintage shows volume and mid-weight body with dark fruit flavors followed by spice, tar and licorice. Despite the heat of the vintage, Stella farms on a cool, breezy side of the appellation near Castelnuovo dell'Abate, and her wines always show bright acidity as a result. That freshness makes all the difference in a hot and dry vintage like 2012.