The Altesino 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli has a rich and syrupy side that underlines the brightness of the fruit in this vintage. That core of dark fruit is framed by mineral notes of black slate and crushed river stone. There is a pretty mineral chalkiness on the palate that ties into the firm tannic structure of this full-bodied wine. The effect is elegant and sharply delineated. Aged in Slavonian oak casks, 12,000 bottles were made.

Altesino’s Montosoli bottling comes exclusively from the top of the hill, a steep, northwest-facing plot on schisty Galestro soil. While by no means austere, it is shrouded in dark tones. Brambly forest fruits, tobacco, nutmeg, truffles and balsamic herbs reveal themselves slowly. The palate is concentrated and vertical as firm, gravelly tannins take the driver’s seat with a satisfying bite, melding seamlessly into the long, savoury finish. An inner succulence is the ballast here.

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is hauntingly dark, mixing dried violets and roses with hints of lavender and rum-soaked blackberries. It is elegant, silken and pliant throughout, with mineral-inflected red berry fruit scents accentuated by perfumed inner blue and purple flower aromas. The 2020 tapers off with fantastic length and classical structure, with a tinge of licorice and a bump of residual acidity to maintain freshness. The 2020 steps lightly yet leaves a huge impact.