Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Biondi Santi 2018

Really pretty aromas of red cherries, cedar, flowers and flint. This has medium to full body, juicy fruit, fine tannins and a long, long finish. The texture is very impressive with ultrafine, velvety tannins. Caresses the palate, building at the end. Linear and structured. Very Biondi-Santi in its nature with the direct drive in the finish. Drink after 2028.

The Biondi-Santi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva saw its fruit harvested after warm end-of-summer winds dried the fruit after rains. It resulted in fruit with extra pulp and thinner skins. This Riserva has a medium-plus body and delivers generous aromas of dark cherry, underbrush, potting soil and sweet spice. Its structure remains fine and the alcohol content is a very contained 13.3%. The wine is essentially elegant and fine with a slightly rounder or soft fruit profile that cedes to bright freshness and a long, polished finish.

Mid ruby. Open cherry-fruit nose with hints of tobacco leaf, but much more complex than it sounds. Really opens up with aeration. Much more embryonic on the palate with tight cherry and raspberry fruit and a layer of beautiful, finely sculpted tannins. Long, cool red-fruit-focused finish. Can be approached now, while the next day the wine was fully open and ready.