The Fanti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Le Macchiarelle shows additional fruit weight and concentration. This underlines the wine's identity as a Riserva (which sees an additional year of aging before its commercial release). Along with that textural richness, blackberry and dried plum, the wine offers layers of spice, smoke and tar (and a powerful 15% alcohol). Production is limited to 6,000 bottles.

The Macchiarelle vineyard is within the Vallocchio area adjacent to Sant’Antimo. It is a 2.5ha plot boasting vines over 40 years old. Aged in French oak tonneaux, the 2016 is all very reminiscent of autumn with wet leaves, chestnut and hazelnut skins. Intense cherry packs the palate, while burly, concentrated tannins buttress this muscular, compact Brunello. It finishes with piquant coffee notes. Give it a couple of years to shed its youthful vigour. 5,000 bottles produced.