Brunello 2016 A to L

Total skin maceration of 18 days. Aged for 36 months in Slavonian oak casks, 12 months in stainless-steel tanks and 12 months in bottle.
Mid ruby. Cranberry and raspberry nose that seems a little light, with hints of fruit cake. Sweet and slightly artificial cherry palate with bitter tannins. (WS)

Single-vineyard wine. Total skin maceration of 18 days. Aged for 30 months in Slavonian oak casks, 12 months in stainless-steel tanks and 12 months in bottle.
Mid ruby. Chalky cherry fruit with hints of green bell pepper. Cherry fruit palate with slightly green tannins. Clumsy. (WS)

Numbered bottles, this 0140 of 4,000.
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Broad, savoury cherry nose with hints of meat. Supple fruit, but without a lot of tension or complexity. Good length but a little simple. Ready now. (WS)

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Cherry fruit with hints of cedar. Supple and not unlike the Aisna, if more tannic. Not enormously complex and ready now. (WS)

Mid to deep ruby. Deep, open cherry fruit that is a little rich and with sweet-savoury spice notes. Supple, rich tangy fruit with bags of grainy tannins giving it shape. Ready now. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Balsamic cherry nose with hints of sweet spice. Supple sweet-sour cherry fruit with hints of gingerbread and soft chewy tannins. Already quite accessible. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Concentrated cherry nose with an earthy, minerally note and a hint of gingerbread. With aeration more and more minerally. Tangy gentle fruit with the merest suggestion of oak. Gorgeous chewy tannins. Very suave, supple and elegant. (WS)

Skin maceration with submerged cap for three weeks. Aged for 30 months in French oak casks followed by 12 months in bottle.
Lustrous ruby. Scented marasca cherry fruit with a hint of gingerbread and oak. Very late harvested fruit in order to achieve ripeness? Sour-cherry palate that ends a little tart and without leaving an enormous impression. Powdery tannins have the last word. (WS)

Short alcoholic fermentation of 8–10 days with temperatures never exceeding 27 ˚C, followed by 25 days of skin maceration. Aged for 30 months in 25-hl and 40-hl Slavonian oak casks, followed by 18 months in bottle.
Mid ruby. Deep savoury cherry nose with hints of pine. Racy cherry fruit on the palate with fine coating tannins. Long, vibrant and concentrated. Gorgeous length and freshness. (WS)

Three days of cold soak prior to alcoholic fermentation of eight days, followed by three weeks of skin maceration. Aged for 30 months in French oak tonneaux of 500 litres and 25-hl Slavonian oak casks, followed by 18 months in bottle.
Mid to deep ruby. Deeper and more brooding than the regular Brunello. Quite closed on the palate but this is real class in the making. Racy cherry palate with gorgeous coating tannins with amazing depth and spread. (WS)

Mid ruby. A little reductive and nondescript at first but with aeration increasingly complex on the nose. Sappy, juicy, rich cherry fruit, but not heavy. Just a tiny bit sweet on the finish, but not heavy or over-concentrated. Long finish with coating tannins. Seems this wine is going through a very welcome stylistic change with a greater focus on origin and less on winemaking. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Cool, perfumed, concentrated cherry nose with just a hint of fruit cake in the background. Pure, tangy and strikingly perfumed sweet cherry and cranberry fruit palate with finely grained tannins. Can be approached now. (WS)

Numbered bottles, this is number 2,299 of 5,940.
Mid ruby. Firmer and more closed on the nose than the standard offering. A hint of cinnamon bark and iron. Tangy supple, generous cherry fruit that is not heavy, yet is mouth-filling and with fine coating tannins. Can be approached now. (WS)

Mid to deep ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Rich cherry nose with hints of fruit cake and cinnamon bark. Tangy yet full, quite sweet cherry palate with gripping but not harsh tannins. Looks like this was harvested really ripe. A crowd-pleaser and ready now. (WS)

Pre-fermentation cold soak at 16 ˚C. Alcoholic fermentation including skin maceration took 17 days. MLF in small to medium-sized barrels and aged for two years in large oak cask.
Lustrous ruby. Virtually numb and closed on the nose. Monolithic and very closed on the palate too, with brooding fruit and bags of grainy tannins. Embryonic and in need of more bottle age. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Quite subdued and closed on the nose, but with a clear minerally undertow. A lush, pure, succulent cherry palate with fantastic gripping coating tannins that fit the concentrated fruit. The whole is finely stitched together. (WS)

Concentrated ruby. Lifted balsamic cherry with minerally hints. Gentle, mouth-filling cherry fruit with a sappy finish and crunchy tannins. Likeable and approachable. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Sweet spice nose with hints of fruit cake, but more animating than it sounds. Ripe sweet-sour fruit that closes up on the finish. Sweet spicy notes on the finish, like the fruit was harvested really late. Ready now. (WS)

Mid to deep ruby. Ripe cherry fruit nose with a hint of fruit cake. Generous, tangy fruit palate but has little in terms of complexity and ageing capacity. Ready now. (WS)

Fermentation in stainless steel with a total skin maceration of 18 days. Aged for 36 months in 30-hl Slavonian oak casks, followed by nine months in bottle.
Mid ruby with a broad rim with orange tinges. Ripe, concentrated cherry with a suggestion of gingerbread and hints of cinnamon. A little bit stalky. Sour-cherry fruit on the palate framed by grainy tannins. Ends on a very tangy note, while the palate could do with more fruit. Slightly tart. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Slightly underwhelming cherry nose with touches of fruit cake and tobacco leaf. Sour-cherry and fruit-cake palate that is a little dull and lacking in real depth and persistence of fruit. The rustic tannins have the last word. (WS)

Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Subdued deep cherry nose with hints of fruit cake. Tangy sweet cherry fruit that is a little bit light-weight. (WS)

Just mid ruby. A little vegetal and lacking in freshness as well as fruit. Underachieving doesn't even begin to describe it. (WS)

Just mid ruby. A little numb and reductive on the nose and without a whole lot of fruit. Sour-cherry fruit of astonishing brevity for what is supposed to be one of Italy's premium wines. (WS)

Two weeks of skin maceration. Aged in French oak barrels for 38 months, followed by at least six in bottle.
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Oak and sour cherry on the nose and sour cherry on the palate with powdery tannins. Quite austere and while it has length it could do with more fruit intensity. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Sweet, brooding red-fruit nose with a peppery tingle, notes of cherry stones and the beginning of tar. Juicy, almost mouth-watering, red-fruit and sweet-cherry palate with gorgeous chewy tannins. Still a little closed and compact on the finish. (WS)

Concentrated mid ruby. Sweetly candied dark fruit with a savoury undertow but more complex than this sounds. Tangy cherry palate that lacks a little in depth and fullness, but the finish is fresh and long and with long powdery tannins. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Balsamic and herbal more than fruity. Sweet-sour cherry palate that is distinctly medium-bodied, notwithstanding its 14.5% alcohol. Fresh and lively but not very long and lacking in gravitas. (WS)

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Rich cherry-jam nose with a peppery tingle and a suggestion of fruit cake. Sappy, mellow cherry fruit with soft, stalky, bitter tannins. Lacks a little tension. Completely ready now. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. A deep fruit nose that is almost a little rich with subdued, savoury, spicy notes. Rich fruit palate with the perfect dose of acidity to balance it out and with coating tannins. Quite a mouthful of fruit, but well balanced. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Perfumed, savoury-sweet cherry nose. Perfumed sweet-sour cherry with grainy tannins and a full tangy cherry fruit finish. Complex yet light on its feet. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Leafy cherry hints but otherwise quite closed on the nose, yet with a clear sense of purity. Dense, yet elegant and with tangy acidity shooting through the mouth-filling fruit. Firm noble tannins add depth and contour. Real cru pedigree. (WS)

A blend of the Montosoli (60%) and Canalicchio (40%) crus.
Lustrous mid ruby. Closed, with minerally hints. Fantastic focus, concentration and balance and totally poised. Very pure, with long tannins. Enormous concentration yet not heavy. Very young but already irresistible. (WS)

Deep ruby with orange tinges. Broad cherry and cherry-liqueur nose with notes of tobacco leaf and already developed. Supple cherry fruit that lacks a little in youthful vigour. Ready now and with little further potential. (WS)

Fermentation in temperature-controlled Slavonian oak casks with a total skin-contact time of 25 days and followed by MLF in the same casks. Aged in large Slavonian oak casks of 20 and 30 hl for 27 months. Numbered bottle. This is number 4,243 of 42,024 in total.
Healthy mid ruby. Leafy and subdued but with a classy cherry nose. Captivating tangy supple cherry and raspberry palate with gorgeous, fine chewy tannins. Fantastic balance, concentration and focus. Still very young. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Earthy cherry nose, which is still a little closed. Hints of garden herbs and liquorice, but not really singing. Sappy cherry and raspberry fruit and with lots of coating tannins. A tiny bit skinny but well behaved. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Similar to the straight offering, but this shows a little more depth and concentration. Lifted, generous cherry nose with fruit-cake hints and a suggestion of cardamom. Juicy cherry fruit with plenty of depth and lots of grainy tannins and a touch of cinnamon. Already approachable. (WS)

Concentrated ruby. Appealing cherry nose with touches of oak and fresh, succulent cherry fruit on the palate with delicious grip of grainy tannins. Great balance. A wine with loads of appeal. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Complex, savoury-sweet cherry nose with minerally notes and hints of Moroccan leather, raw meat and a peppery tingle. Succulent and pure, with a full spread on the palate. Great depth without being heavy. Gorgeous crunchy tannins. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Exotic complex red-fruit nose with Middle Eastern spice hints. Polished sour-cherry fruit with bags of chewy, gripping tannins. Very suave, elegant and confident and almost a little mouth-watering. (WS)

Lustrous, deep ruby. An amplified version of the straight Brunello. Fine peppery cherry and raspberry fruit. Really gentle and at the same time showing proper depth. Sweet cherry fruit palate tempered by fresh succulent acidity and lots of gorgeous polished, chewy tannins. Fresh and sensationally well balanced. (WS)

Aged for 24 months in oval Stockinger casks of Slavonian oak.
Mid ruby. A savoury, minerally, brooding nose that is still a little closed. Concentrated, rather ripe fruit but lifted by energetic acidity and gorgeous grainy tactile tannins. The estate shows huge potential but is slow to reach it. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Cherry-pie nose and quite rich. With aeration exotic spices lift from the glass and the fruit becomes more focused. Hints of oak. Fully concentrated fruit palate with lots of tangy acidity, but still a little embryonic on the palate. Succulent cherry fruit with sandy tannins on the finish. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Sweetly perfumed red fruit and cherry nose with stony hints. Generous fruit on the palate but still not entirely open. Elegant and juicy with fine firm tannins. Long and focused – not ready yet. (WS)

Mid ruby. Tingling cherry fruit on the nose with notes of rum and vanilla. There is purity of fruit underneath the creaminess and rum-baba notes on the palate, but right now the hefty dose of oak prevents it coming through. Chewy tannins on the finish and long creamy notes. (WS)

Fermentation in temperature-controlled tronconic French oak casks and stainless-steel tanks. Aged in 40% French oak casks of 60–90 hl and 60% in French oak barriques of 350 litres for two years.
Concentrated ruby. Balsamic cherry and camphor nose that is more savoury than fruity. Tight cherry palate packed with powdery tannins. Lots of tight, tangy fruit on the finish but it has sufficient stuffing to age, just needs time to open up more. (WS)

Sangiovese from three plots in the Marrucheto vineyard (10 ha) planted in 2009. Fermentation in tronconic oak casks and stainless-steel tanks and aged for 30 months in French oak casks of 60 and 90 hl.
Lustrous ruby. Subdued but perfumed and concentrated nose. The merest hint of oak with stony, minerally notes and dried fruit. Lots of juicy, almost racy cherry fruit and gorgeous chewy tannins. Still too young but showing lots of potential. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Peppery but otherwise not very expressive on the nose. Sour cherry that turns a little tart on the finish. A little joyless. (WS)

From a vineyard at 290 m above sea level with a west-north-west exposure. Total skin maceration time of 30 days and aged in Slavonian oak casks of 15 and 20 hl for 30 months, followed by at least eight months in bottle.
Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Attractive, full, perfumed nose of cherry and strawberry fruit with a peppery tingle and what looks like a hint of oak. Generous ripe red and cherry fruit with a shot of acidity and chewy tannins. Lots of juice and grip on the finish. (WS)

A selection of the best grapes from a vineyard at 290 m above sea level with a west-north-west exposure. Total skin maceration time of 30 days and aged in Slavonian oak casks of 15 and 20 hl for 36 months, followed by at least eight months in bottle.
Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Similar to the straight Brunello but with more depth. Great depth of fruit on the palate too with succulent acidity and richly tannic on the finish. Embryonic. (WS)

Mid ruby. Fragrant cherry and raspberry nose with a suggestion of oriental spice and cinnamon bark. Sweetly concentrated and then tangy cherry fruit that is almost a little tart on the finish, but remains focused and long. Bags of grainy tannins on the finish giving grip to the fruit. Still a little embryonic. (WS)

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Cool cherry and stones on the nose with a minty hint. Lush tangy cherry fruit with gripping but polished tannins. Very long, focused and juicy. (WS)

Total skin maceration of 28 days. Aged for 36 months in small French and Slavonian oak barrels and 12 months in bottle.
Lustrous ruby with orange tinges. Youthful and focused cherry fruit nose and fresh and sappy cherry fruit and long coating tannins on the palate. Almost a little vibrant finish. Elegant and long. (WS)

Concentrated ruby. Deep, multi-layered and concentrated. Focused and pure cranberry and cherry fruit palate. Fresh, elegant and with great length. (WS)

Aged for 36 months in 7.5-, 26- and 42-hl French and Slavonian oak casks.
Concentrated mid ruby. Lifted sweet-sour cherry fruit with cherry-liqueur notes and a minty hint. Rich cherry with fruit-cake notes on the palate but with a bit of acidity to keep it going. Attractive chewy tannins, but closes up on the finish – an indication that more might come. (WS)

Aged for 36 months in 15- and 20-hl Slavonian oak casks.
Mid ruby. Deep, concentrated sweet cherry nose with fruit-cake notes but more complex than it sounds. An impression of rich fruit on the palate, but this is still firmly closed. Plenty of acidity and a generous dose of powdery tannins, but it has balance. (WS)

Fermented in stainless steel with total skin contact of 22 days. Aged for 36 months in Allier oak casks of 50 and 100 hl, followed by 12 months in bottle.
Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Light nose of iron and sour cherry. Sour cherry fruit palate that is not the most generous and lacks in stuffing. (WS)

Total skin maceration of about 22 days. Aged for three years in 30- and 50-hl Slavonian oak casks followed by 12 months in bottle.
Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Sweetly candied cherry fruit on the nose and concentrated sour-cherry fruit with crunchy tannins on the palate. Not enormously complex but satisfying, supple and long. (WS)

Hand-numbered bottle, bottle number 04554.
Lustrous ruby. Beautiful, pure cherry nose with notes of wet stones. Pure, tangy and concentrated palate. Finely balanced with bags of ripe and grainy tannins. Stunningly elegant palate weight for the considerable fruit concentration. (WS)

From a single 11.7-ha vineyard at between 240 and 360 m above sea level. Fermentation in stainless-steel and glass-lined concrete tanks. Aged for 36 months in 7.5- to 62-hl Slavonian oak casks, followed by eight months in bottle.
Mid ruby. Quite concentrated and rich but with more tension than the very accessible straight Brunello. Purer fruit too. Succulent and edgy at the same time. Polished, long and already approachable. (WS)

Fermentation in stainless-steel and glass-lined concrete tanks. Aged for over 24 months in 20- to 75-hl Slavonian oak casks, followed by eight months in bottle.
Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Quite mellow on the nose with hints of tobacco leaf. Supple rich and easy-going with good acidity but the fruit is quite rich and already developing. Could be a little edgier. (WS)

Fermented in small tronconic unlined concrete tanks. After the alcoholic fermentation the wine stayed for another 20 days on the skins. Aged in large oak casks and 500- and 700-litre French oak tonneaux.
Concentrated ruby. A rich nose with plenty of depth and hints of fruit cake. Full, supple and generous fruit with bags of slightly rustic tannins. Seems ready except for the tannins, which need more time to settle. (WS)

Fermented in small tronconic unlined concrete tanks with mechanised punching down. After the alcoholic fermentation the wine stayed for another 20 days on the skins. Aged in large oak casks and 500- and 700-litre French oak tonneaux.
Deep ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Ripe cherry with touches of fruit cake and apple peel. It is not unattractive but skirts premature oxidation. Big tannins and rich soft fruit. (WS)

Concentrated ruby. Perfumed, concentrated cherry with sweet gingerbread hints. Soft and generous palate that is immediately accessible. Slightly dull and sweet on the finish. Was the fruit harvested really late? (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Savoury and a little subdued and reductive at the beginning. Wet-earth notes and sour cherry with hints of cassis. Tightly-wound, succulent cherry fruit palate that is stubbornly closed, with long, sandy tannins. The fruit is a little on the skinny side, but this is still embryonic. Long aromatic finish. Grows on you. (WS)

Deep ruby. Cherry and fruit cake with a hint of Moroccan leather and notes of oak. Certainly a more modernist approach than most. Succulent, rich cherry and hints of cinnamon bark, fruit cake and plenty of powdery tannins. Acidity plays up a little on the finish. Very fresh finish that closes up fast. Remarkable contrast between the open rich and developed nose and the fresh tangy fruit. (WS)

Deep ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Less modernist and more transparent than the straight Brunello. Seductive concentrated cherry fruit with minerally earthy notes and just a pinch of spice and fruit cake. This has lots of acidity but the cherry and raspberry fruit manages to come out on top. Bags of coating tannins. Might be a little austere for some and it still conveys the sense of a work in progress, but this shows lots of potential. (WS)

Lustrous ruby with orange tinges. Gingerbread, fruit cake, sour cherry and cinnamon. Upfront, sweet-sour cherry sweetened by oak notes and with lots of grainy tannins. Not entirely harmonious. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Quite closed on the nose and not conveying a lot. Brooding cherry with a hint of pine. Open-knit cherry fruit palate with grainy tannins. Long and supple, with quite a bit of tannic grip on the finish, but can be approached already. (WS)

Fermented in stainless steel with total skin contact of 15 to 20 days. Aged for at least 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks.
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Balsamic brooding nose and closed on the fruit. Supple fruit palate that is a little nondescript but perhaps it is just closed? Either way, it is not particularly challenging overall. Lots of acidity on the finish. (WS)

Deep ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Earthy and minerally/salty but still quite closed on the fruit. Concentrated, ripe and deep fruit palate with sappy acidity. On the finish the rich fruit is tempered by the firm but fine tannins. Embryonic. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Deep nose with hints of gingerbread. Sweet palate with fruit-cake notes and lots of contrasting acidity. Not unattractive, if far from complex. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Complex brooding richness on the nose. Fantastic balance between the intense fruit and succulent acidity. Super-fine tannins layering the fruit. Very long, focused, intense and energetic on the finish. Monumental. (WS)

Lustrous deep ruby. Tight nose of minerally, perfumed cherry fruit with a hint of tar. Lots of juice and energetic tangy fruit lined with chewy tannins. More open on the palate than the nose. Elegant. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Savoury and composed cherry nose with hints of oatmeal. With aeration showing more and more depth. On the palate there is the sensation of lush fruit, but the whole is still very closed. The fruit on the finish is filled out with finely chiselled long tannins. Elegant palate weight. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Firm, mineral and savoury nose with a hint of Moroccan leather. Subdued but supple and almost lush palate with tangy nerve and bags of finely grained tannins on the finish. A slow burner with potential. (WS)

Healthy mid to deep ruby. Concentrated cherry with integrated notes of sweet spice from oak. Supple and quite pure, tangy cherry fruit with gorgeous chewy tannins. Already hugely attractive and accessible, but can age. (WS)

Youthful mid ruby. Slightly dull, dark-cherry fruit with a hint of gingerbread and rhubarb. As if the grapes were late harvested but a little unripe at the same time. Tangy cherry fruit with powdery tannins. Not enormously complex and manages just to veer off from being a little tart on the finish. (WS)

Lustrous and youthful mid ruby. Vigorous and pure cherry nose. Focused and concentrated cherry fruit with supple acidity. Notwithstanding its concentration this is quite composed. Gripping, firm tannins on a long finish with lots of juice. Not ready yet. (WS)

Mid to deep ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Brooding deep cherry nose with top notes of spice and just a hint of oak. Embryonic on the palate with powerful tannins that are still a little unsettled right now, but this just needs time. A surprising sensation of elegance and medium-bodied weight on the finish combined with depth of fruit with a minty touch. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Gorgeous minerally nose with concentrated cherry fruit. The palate is a fantastic interplay between sweet, juicy fruit, energetic, fine acidic nerve and polished but firm tannins. Sensationally balanced and utterly compelling. (WS)

Fermentation in stainless steel with a total of 25 days on the skins. MLF takes place in 30-hl Alliers oak casks. Aged for 36 months in 30-hl Slavonian oak casks followed by 12 months in bottle.
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep sweet cherry nose with savoury spice hints. On the palate the fruit is not very expressive although there is plenty of acidity. Slightly numb finish. Perhaps this is just closed? (WS)

Aged for 24 months in oak barrels, of which 50% was barrique and 50% large 30-hl oak casks.
Mid ruby. Intriguing, savoury-sweet spice nose that still is a little closed on the fruit. Very slowly and with lots of aeration cherry fruit emerges. Fragrant, tangy and almost a little tart on the palate, while the finish shows a better balance between the fruit, the plentiful acidity and the coating tannins. The fruit concentration is just enough to counteract the acidity. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby with broad, orange-tinged rim. Deep cherry fruit nose with a suggestion of sweet spice. Juicy cherry fruit that has a medium-bodied feel to it. Long, sappy and with supporting tannins. Ready now. Could do with a little more depth of fruit. (WS)

Fermentation in stainless steel with a total skin maceration time of 20 days. Aged for three years in large Slavonian and French oak casks of 40 and 45 hl.
Healthy concentrated ruby. Intense, deep and a little peppery on the nose but still very closed. Same intensity on the palate with concentrated cherry and raspberry fruit. Very long, tangy and tense. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Deep marasca cherry and cherry-liqueur nose with touches of sweet spice. Intense and concentrated sweet-sour cherry fruit with supple acidity. Quite rich and sweet yet balanced, if a tiny bit hot on the finish. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Sweetly concentrated nose with notes of cherry liqueur and a hint of oak. Intense and very sweet and youthful with enormous fruit power and firm tannins. Rich and boisterous and not to be approached for quite some time. Slightly hot finish. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. Concentrated cherry fruit nose laced with vanilla. Sweet oak and plenty of juicy cherry fruit on the palate. Sangiovese's tangy fruit admirably stands up to the considerable new oak. Modernist and quite oak-driven but not without appeal. The chewy tannins give the wine an edge but without dominating the whole. (WS)

Lustrous ruby. A little muted on the nose with only subdued oak notes coming out and with hints of gingerbread. Was this later harvested than the straight Brunello? Supple and rich cherry fruit with gingerbread hints and supple acidity and powdery tannins, but lacks inherent complexity, as if that has been sacrificed to over-ripeness. (WS)

Concentrated ruby. Sweet and a little grubby/stalky and reductive on the nose. Sweet and a little closed on the palate with lots of grainy tannins. I wonder if this needs more time and whether that would make a significant difference. Lacks purity of fruit. (WS)

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Herbal and quite closed with notes of beef stock. With aeration minerally, earthy notes and brooding cherry with a peppery tingle. Sweet, perfumed marasca cherry and cherry liqueur on the palate with rustic but ripe tannins. Quite a bit of power, not least enhanced by the alcohol. (WS)

Numbered bottle, this is 0205 of 1,600.
Mid to deep ruby. Deep and a little rich and concentrated on the nose, but with lots of appeal. Rich, yet not overly sweet cherry fruit and plentiful acidity leading the finish. Ends a little vibrant and with bags of grainy tannins. Quite powerful yet a masterly balanced whole. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. A sense of density on the nose but otherwise quite closed. Cherry and fresh mint notes on the palate. Finely concentrated and sweet and ripe and with attractive grip of chewy tannins. Quite approachable already. (WS)

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Sweet and at the same time a little numb on the nose. Quite a bit of brooding power. Rich, ripe cherry fruit that isn't immediately reminiscent of Sangiovese or Brunello. Quickly closes up on the finish. (WS)

Healthy mid ruby. Closed, brooding with cherry and cranberry with minerally notes. Iron with a suggestion of orange skin and oak. Embryonic, poised cherry and raspberry palate but with real concentration and with a long vein of acidity running through it. Very long and transparent, with finely-chiselled, long tannins and amazing depth. (WS)

Mid ruby. Rich yet a little muted on the nose with hints of bacon. Concentrated sour-cherry palate that then becomes a little creamy and tangy followed by lots of grainy tannins. Lacks a bit in purity and balance. (WS)

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Savoury, minerally cherry fruit with a suggestion of stalks and notes of new oak. Still very closed and embryonic on the nose. Super-elegant sour-cherry fruit that ends much less tart than at the first taste. Just a touch of creaminess and lots of freshness and finely grained tannins. Rather the opposite of the powerful Brunello style that once was the rule in this region. A little mouth-watering on the finish, which leans quite heavily on the sweet but super-charming oak frame. (WS)

Numbered bottle, this is number 399 of 3,213 in total.
Deep ruby. Leafy and much less opulent than the straight Brunello of the same vintage. Rich, deep, with nicely integrated acidity and loads of chewy tannins. Really youthful and not ready by far. (WS)

Mid to deep ruby. Quite sweet but embryonic. Rich cherry fruit with a hint of pine. Opulent soft fruit palate with gripping tannins on the finish. Accessible if a little simple. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Grubby nose with hints of damp cellar. Two samples tasted. (WS)

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. A bit grubby and muddy on the nose. Sour-cherry palate that is not entirely clean and is rather tart. (WS)

Just mid ruby. Lots of concentrated, savoury cherry fruit on the nose and with touches of exotic spice and Moroccan leather. Truly supple and mouth-filling and juicy. Proper tannic bite on a succulent finish. (WS)

Mid ruby. Already a little evolved on the nose and with notes of tobacco leaf. Sour-cherry palate and seemingly medium weight. A little simple for the category and seems to be ageing fast. (WS)

Spontaneous fermentation and racked off after two weeks into 30- and 54-hl French oak barrels where it ages for 38 months followed by six in bottle.
Mid ruby. Subtle yet rich cherry and cherry-liqueur nose. Lots of juicy cherry fruit and coating tannins. Lots of stuffing and length with succulent fruit. A credible crowd-pleaser with good potential. (WS)

From a south- and south-west-facing vineyard at 550 m above sea level. Spontaneous fermentation and racked off after two weeks into 30- and 54-hl French oak barrels where it ages for 38 months followed by six in bottle.
Just mid ruby. Sweet and monolithic on the nose. Riper and a little denser on the palate than the straight Brunello, but in spite of the plentiful tangy fruit this shows less anima, less tension and less complexity and seems to be developing faster. (WS)

Mid ruby. Balsamic, closed nose. A sensation of richness cut through by acidity but otherwise rather numb on the palate, at least for the moment. (WS)

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Rather stalky on the nose, but perhaps this is just reductive? Needs lots of aeration to show shy cherry fruit. Tangy, almost tart cherry fruit that doesn't entirely manage to fill out the considerable, rustic tannic load. (WS)

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Much better focus than the straight Brunello and much less stalky and just a tiny note of bell pepper. Lots of sour cherry filled out by sweet strawberry notes and powdery tannins build up on the finish while it ends a little sour. (WS)

Lustrous mid ruby. Pure deep sweet, youthful cherry nose with a hint of black tea leaves and a suggestion of oak. Succulent cherry fruit palate that closes up swiftly. Tangy finish with gorgeous coating tannins. Super-elegant palate weight at 14.5% alcohol, yet plenty of concentration. Needs more time, though. (WS)

Alcoholic fermentation with a total skin maceration of four weeks. Aged for at least 24 months in large Slavonian oak casks.
Deep, lustrous ruby. Taut nose with rich cherry fruit underneath and a complex oak note. Full, yet sleek on the palate with lots of grainy tannins kept beautifully in check by the generous succulent cherry fruit. Ends full, concentrated and a little vibrant. The enormous alcohol of this wine simply goes unnoticed, until you look at the label. (WS)

Concentrated ruby. A little stalky and possibly reductive on the nose. Supple cherry fruit palate that is not that expressive, and with the acidity dominating the finish a little. (WS)