2012 - Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli, Altesino

Always a crowd pleaser, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is a beautifully crafted wine. It shows depth, intensity and loads of authenticity both in terms of grape variety and territory. Dark cherry and blackberry rise from the bouquet with spice, pipe tobacco and moist earth in tow. The wine is layered and nuanced. That Sangiovese authenticity comes through loud and clear on the palate. This is a mid-weight wine with polished but firm tannins and evident acidity. It shows a burst of freshness on the finish. Montosoli ages in large Slavonian oak casks for 36 months. It is fully equipped for a long aging future ahead.

The color of the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli shows no sign of decline, as a seductive blend of crushed black cherries and plums, tobacco, cocoa and hints of flowery underbrush form its bouquet. This is finessed and delicate in feel, casting ripe wild berry fruits and sultry minerals across a core of nervous acidity, as inner earth tones hint at the 2012’s maturity. The tannins are soft with smooth contours, and the palate is left with a fresh impression, as the Montosoli tapers off with a spiced herbal tea-like quality. This dark beauty is in a perfect place right now, and it’s balanced to hold its own over the next five to eight years

Montalcino Nord (Montosoli). Quite a dark ruby. Pungent minerally nose. Very sweet palate entry and then the freshness kicks in. Not the purest example. Splits the difference between ‘modern’ and ‘fresh’ styles. Very chewy finish. Angular for now. (JR)