2009 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura Riserva

Dark and impenetrable, the 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio alle Mura offers heavy notes of savory spice, teriyaki, tar, darkened fruit and Spanish cedar that contribute to the wine's overwhelming sense of density and richness. The fruit sees a beautiful level of ripeness that is neither heavy nor too sharp. The lavish oak tones add an enormous sense of grip, extraction and power. In fact, the alcohol reads 14.5% and you feel it. Yet, the mouthfeel is surprisingly more elegant than you might expect with a firm tannic skeleton fitted to a fleshy frame of dark berry fruit and blackcurrant. The balanced acidity also heightens the wine's sense of liveliness. This dark Brunello is ready to drink in the mid-term.