2015 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino Piero

Talenti's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Piero is one of the highlights of the vintage. The nose is remarkably fresh yet shows layered depths which continue to blossom in the glass, as dusty cherry turns to ripe strawberry, then spiced citrus with smoky minerals, hints of cardamom, and dried flowers. On the palate, silky textures give way to the purest ripe red fruits, given further energy by a mix of saline-minerals and vibrant acids, as slow-mounting tannins slowly saturate. The finish is long and structured, yet that doesn’t stop the 2015 Piero from flaunting its primary fruit, with hints of balsamic spice, as a twang of acid refreshes the senses, even as fine tannins tug at the palate. There’s so much going on here, yet it’s completely in balance, even at this early stage in its evolution. The 2015 Piero is seductive from start to finish; however, the best is yet to come.

Tasted blind. Deep ruby. Nutty cherry fruit nose. Quite a bit of oak, but the zesty, tangy cherry fruit shines through. Zesty acidity and crunchy tannins building up on the finish. The palate is much more lively and energetic than the nose and the oak is not needed at all – in my opinion. (WS)

This is quite a remarkable wine that prompts a vision of looking out over a vast orchard of glistening red cherries and red plums, weighing down gnarled, bark-scented trunks. Beneath the fragant canopy, luscious clay soils are interspersed with ferrous deposits and fresh grass stirs. Viscous layers of pure red fruit pour into the palate, soaking the mouth from top to bottom in profuse layers of spices and orange zest. The tannins have the muscle of a bodybuilder, but the acidity dances through the mouth like a ballerina. The finish is limitless.