Altesino Brunello Riserva DOCG

Brunello can only be described as “Riserva” if it has aged for six years in the cellar. Only produced during the best years, with a limited number of bottles, Brunello Riserva is destined for truly passionate lovers of wine. This garnet red wine has a clear aroma of humus and a broad, complex and ethereal aroma. It maintains such an austere and fascinating character on the palate, emphasizing its structure of great depth and power.

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva’s more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity. 93 pts -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate.

There is a more forward personality to the 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva, which pours a slightly darker hue. Aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, and violets emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers more ripe concentration, with black raspberry, tea leaf, cedar, and rosemary. It is elegant yet expressive of the warm vintage, with fine, ripe tannins and ripe fresh fruit through the mid-palate and a great balance between roundness and elegance. 95pts – Jeb Dunnuck