2015 Tenuta di Sesta Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Due Lecci Ovest

The Tenuta di Sesta 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Duelecci Ovest is only made in the best years. The wine represents a special selection of fruit that can either come from the "ovest" (west) or the "est" (east) side of the Duelecci site, depending on the weather. The soils are very rocky on the east side, making that parcel better in the cool vintages. They are thinner on the west side, and the grapes here perform better in the warm vintages. There's little doubt, I think, that the sunny 2015 vintage would draw its fruit from the sunset side. This is an immediately attractive and generous expression that doles out dark fruit followed by spice, earth, candied orange and wilted blue flower. To the palate, it delivers a broad and powerful performance, although you don't get the same etched or super focused characteristics that we saw in 2016. That slightly softer approach makes this a great choice for your favorite steak dinner. A mere 4,000 bottles were made.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Duelecci Ovest from Tenuta di Sesta is gorgeous from start to finish, boasting a rich and dark alluring display of crushed cherries and brown spice, hinting at balsamic, notes of sage, licorice and flowery undergrowth. It’s silky and supple in the mouth, yet packed full of energizing acidity enlivening its tart red hints of blackberry fruit. It turns grippy and youthfully structured toward the close, yet not overwhelmingly so. Sweet herbs, tobacco and hints of dark chocolate linger over a coating of rounded tannins, making for a wonderfully balanced finale. This will require a short stay in the cellar to fully even out.