Capanna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2017

The 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is explosive with aromas of medicinal herbs, sweet balsamic, crushed berries, and menthol. Full-bodied, with ample structure and tannins that grip through the mid-palate, it offers notes of ripe cherry, leather, and a long-lasting herbal profile. This is a beautiful and ripe wine, although it is in check with itself. Drink 2025-2040.

The nose is a basket full of freshly picked dark berries, but with sanguine undertones of iron and mint, like the foreboding forest at the edge of the meadow. The palate begins with bright, red berries joining the fun, before the earthy savoriness is resurrected by chewy, chalky tannins.

Dried oranges, mushrooms, cherries, dried flowers and sandalwood on the nose. Full-bodied with firm and grippy tannins. Fresh, yet chewy. Should soften in a couple of years. Try after 2025.

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is packaged in a heavier glass bottle. The wine opens to a dark garnet appearance and shows dried, hot-vintage aromas of baked cherry, black plum and scorched earth. The alcohol is too high at 15% and takes away from the finer floral and violet aromas that are characteristic of Sangiovese. Instead, the effect here is subdued and flat with bitter oak tannins. Production is 14,272 bottles and 744 magnums.