2013 - Brunello di Montalcino, Le Potazzine (Gorelli)

Balsamic spice, shaved cedar and hints of flowery undergrowth accent scents of sweet cherry and clove, as the aromatically stunning 2013 Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. This is deeply textural—saline and sleek, yet silky throughout. Mineral-laced raspberry tones and cooling acidity maintain an energetic feel. The 2013 is still lightly structured and youthfully intense, yet it’s inviting all the same, leaving the palate perfectly reset for another sip as hints of steeped plum slowly fade. This will go down as one of the great vintages of Le Potazzine's Brunello di Montalcino.

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino walks a very fine line between elegance and finesse. Those may seem like two analogous terms, but this wine teaches you that they are not. The bouquet offers tonic and buoyant tones of wild berry, blueberry, dried herb and licorice. Each is elegant in its own right, but together they form a nuanced and finessed whole. Le Potazzine does very nicely in the hot vintages, but it delivers unexpected surprises (like this wine) in the cooler ones. Only 13,000 bottles will be sold.

Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Finely perfumed, but overall still a little subdued. Minerally notes of iron and tamarind. Lots of juice yet gossamer-fine on the palate. Still so youthful. Great precision on the finish. (WS)