2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva keeps coming back to the glass with an intense and mentholated mix of dried black cherries, cedar shavings, sage and fresh tobacco. It hovers across the palate silky and refined, gaining gravitas through a sour note of tart red berries and citrus nuances, as silty tannins form toward the close. This tapers off a bit short and only lightly tannic, leaving savory herbal tones. In 2012, the Riserva would have been aged entirely in tonneaux, partially new, and with high extraction being a goal within the winery at the time.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Castello Romitorio has cool vineyard sites and is one of the few estates that performs consistently in the warmest years. That's why the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just so darn good. This estate has tweaked its winemaking style over the years to produce increasingly elegant and streamlined wines. There is finesse here, but you also get bold cherry fruit, moist earth, cured tobacco and grilled herb. The mouthfeel is silky and smooth, with good acidity on the close. Only 2,900 bottles were made.
Concentrated, youthful ruby. Sweet cherry with a hint of candy floss. Broodingly rich but with plenty of acidity and with proper depth and structure. Powerful and stylish and very monolithic for the moment. (WS)
Bright red. Enticing aromas of red plum, Asian spices, candied violet and sandalwood. Then flavors similar to the aromas; polished tannins and a solid acid spine nicely extend the flavors on the long back end. The finish is very juicy and offers delicately spicy and herbal red berry nuances.