2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

This wine will be released in October or November 2016. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a masculine expression from the wild and rustic quadrant of the Montalcino appellation where Stella has her beautiful vineyards. The bouquet delivers sheer power and determination with dark fruit followed by smoke and crushed mineral. Slightly shut down at first, the wine opens to a silky and polished texture once it starts to gain momentum. The finish is smooth and long.

Stella di Campalto’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is one of the many wines of the night. The aromatics alone are striking, yet it is the wine’s total balance and harmony that are so incredibly inviting. It’s almost a shame to serve this wine so early in the tasting, but even later, after all the other big guns have been served, Campalto's 2010 is still stunning. Campalto’s decision to give her Brunello a year more in bottle prior to release has turned out to be wise choice, as the 2010 Riserva is far more harmonious than it has ever been in the past. This is a rock-star Brunello.

Following on the heals of the 2010 Rosso, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is fabulous. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, orange peel and white pepper are some of the notes that explode from the glass in a wine that captures all of the pedigree of the vintage. Layers of fruit build to a crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures in a voluptuous yet tightly-coiled Brunello that is going to need time to fully blossom. Still, the wine's pedigree is evident, even at this early stage. A real sense of power meets the classic Stella di Campalto style built on finesse in a complete wine that will thrill those lucky enough to own it for many years.