2004 Soldera (Case Basse) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

A regal, towering wine, the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva epitomizes what makes Gianfranco Soldera's wines so magical. Intense, soaring aromatics, sweet fruit and the silkiest of tannins are some of many signatures. Bright red cherry, white pepper and blood orange develop in the glass, adding considerable nuance. Above all else, the 2004 is a wine of exceptional finesse and breeding.

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva remains one of my favorite Soldera wines. Silky, finessed and deeply expressive, the 2004 is also one of the most profound wines ever made here. The 2004 doesn't have the pure power or inner concentration of some of Soldera's epic vintages, but it boasts exceptional finesse and pedigree to burn. Readers lucky enough to own it can look forward to two decades or more of thrilling drinking. Readers should note there are three lots of the Riserva in 2004. This is Lot F77, which is made from Intistieti, the vineyard that has yielded virtually all of Soldera's most legendary bottles.

Soldera’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as beautiful as it has always been. Super-refined and finessed, the 2004 is one of the most aristocratic, nuanced wines Soldera has made over the last four decades. I imagine the 2004 will reward readers with several decades of exceptional drinking. It is of course quite young today, but all the elements are so balanced, the wine is pretty much impossible to resist.