2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

The Sassetti Livio Pertimali 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva reveals thick textural fiber and determined power. A core of dark fruit and black cherry is framed by spice, toast, pressed rose and earthy garden soil. It moves over the palate with a creamy, full-bodied approach. With 5,000 bottles made, this Riserva ages in Slavonian oak casks for a generous 48 months. That prolonged aging could have dried out the tannins, but this wine skirts past that problem.

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Open-knit, attractive cherry fruit nose. Generous fruit on the palate with supple acidity and polished tannins. Plenty of juicy cherry fruit on the finish. (WS)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is brooding and powerful, wafting up with a darkly floral mix of sweet mint, smoke and animal musk before a core of black cherry emerges. The textures are like pure, elegant silk, slowly draped across the palate, delivering an array of opulent black and red fruits contrasted by zesty citrus tones and spice. The sheer density here is amazing, but even more impressive is that the 2016 stays in perfect balance from start to finish, tapering off long, structured and classically dry. The Pertimali Riserva is created through a selection in the vineyard, and it spends 48 months refining in oak casks. There will be no Riserva created in 2017 or 2018.