Marroneto, Brunello Montalcino

Marroneto, Brunello MontalcinoBeautifully ripe and intense, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino never feels overdone or too heavy. In fact, it treads with the lightest of footprints imparting delicate tones of rose petal, forest berry, white cherry, balsam herb and sweet almond as it flutters over the senses. The main message here is elegance and this wine is profoundly eloquent on the subject. The mouthfeel is tight silky and enduring. Delicate mineral notes give focus and definition

though as usual

with well-structured confident tannins and a deep swirl of black pepper

all wrapped in a classy and very pure finish of exceptional length

Similar in style to a lighter-weight 2010

all wrapped in a nicely complex and persistent finish

Although it is tightly coiled

Initially sleek

All three Châteauneuf cuvées from Christophe Sabon are exemplary

have big shoes to fill

Otherwise the dense

but this is a super-impressive wine in every way

This is lighter in style but the purity of expression is really lovely