A tasting of 15 Brunello di Montalcino in the 2010 vintage. Decanted for sediment and back in the botlle 2-4 hous before tasted, the potentially greatest wines were tasted last. Good corks, all wines bought upon release and stored in cellars under my control.
General impression; lots of good wine, simpler bottlings drinking great, top wines in need of another 5-10 years.
Some quick impressions (I managed the tasting and the logistics):
Il Poggione: Nice acidity, slightly earthy and round. Won’t get any better, good.
Caparzo: Corked
Altesino: Floral, berries, smooth and fresh. Charming and elegant.
Campi di Fonterenza: Brambles, nice grip and silky friuit. Very pretty.
Poggio Antico: Juicy and easy to drink. Perhaps slightly short and a little rustic?
Castelgiocondo: Past it. Lacks nerve.
Mastrojanni: Elegant fruit, hints of juniper, some vegetal notes. Good length and fine balance, drinking well.
Uccelliera: Very fine and minty fruit with exellent concentration and length. Finely judged and balanced tannins.
Pian di Conte Riserva Talenti: Very concentrated, major wine. Excellent length and firm tannins, potential.
Pieve Santa Restituta: Crunchy fruit, minerally. Some mint as well, slightly tight finish. Pretty intense, potential.
Piave Sta Restituta Rennina: Tight and challenging, young with great intensity and focus. Come back in 10 years.
Pomona Villa Poggio Salvi: Nice fruit, surprisingly accessible,
Argiano Riserva: Young and tight with some oak notes. Pretty, red fruit. Very good, will get better.
Campogiovanni Il Quercione: Mint and cherries, fresh acidity. Good length and well handled tannins, slight oak. Needs time.
Biondi-Santi Il Greppo: Corked. The shortest cork of all the wines.
Picture shows some of the opened wines. The logistics made a better picture difficult.