Pian delle Vigne (Antinori) Brunello di Montalcino 2015 750ml

Quite reductive and earthy, but opens to show tidy cranberries and glazed red cherries. Hints of citrus and spice. Full-bodied and rich, but there’s savory edge to the plush, juicy tannins, and lots of weight and density. Drink from 2024.

The nose shows an alluring display of hauntingly dark florals giving way to crushed black cherry, plums, and tobacco, with hints of spiced citrus and undergrowth adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures flood the senses with ripe red and black fruits, carried by vibrant acids, as sweet spices and minerals slowly saturate, and fine tannin begins to mount toward the finale. The finish is long and structured, resonating on zesty wild berry fruits, spice, and minerals; yet its tannic heft keeps it all in check. The 2015 Pian delle Vigne is one of the few wines of the vintage that requires some time in the cellar, and with this balance of primary fruits, acids, and structure, it should emerge as something to behold.

Underbrush and baked plum aromas mingle with whiffs of new leather and camphor. It's medium in weight and well structured, delivering dried black cherry, licorice and tobacco set against taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2022–2028.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne was tasted (after a double decant) among the other wines from the Chianti Classico appellation made by Marchesi Antinori. That's a change because I usually taste this wine in a peer group of fellow Brunelli. You'd be forgiven for forgetting how different Sangiovese from these two geographically close (but philosophically distant) wine regions ultimately tastes. This expression from the warm 2015 vintage is loosely knit and less fine-tuned. It offers a broad-brush interpretation of the grape, with textured blackberry, spice, tar and earthy aromas. There is a touch of heat or extra ripeness in this wine that tends to flatten out the more nuanced details of the grape. The wine feels a bit evolved even at this young tasting date. Some 172,000 bottles were released in January 2020.

A lean, savory version, whose cherry, iron, tobacco and underbrush flavors play into the dusty tannins, pushing the fruit to the background. The aromas are the best feature. This doesn't offer the fruit of the best in the vintage, but is solid. Best from 2022 through 2033.

Quite meaty and smoky nose with cherry and anise notes. Great attack on the palate with lots of ripe plums and dry cherries. Structured, elegant and well poised on the palate. Drinking Window 2021 - 2026.

Deep ruby red; complex on the nose. Full-structured and velvety, with rich perfumes and hints of flowers, vanilla and chocolate. Well structured and balance with a lengthy finish.100 % Sangiovese (locally called Brunello). Ruby red colour with garnet hues. Complex generous nose with mature aromas of cherries, red berries, tobacco and hints of coffee and cocoa powder. Multilayered structure with nicely balanced soft tannins, elegant fruit leading to a very lingering finish. The Pian delle Vigne Estate is located six kilometers south of Montalcino, above the Val d'Orcia valley, and it was named for the characteristic 19th century train station situated in the property, which is still in use. There are 27 hectares of 20 years-old vines and 33 hectares planted recently which will begin their production between 2000 and 2001. The vineyards which produced the Brunello vintage 1995 are at an elevation of 130 metres sea leavel, with south east exposure. The soil is stony calcareous composition, with tufaceous areas, tending to be quite poor. Brunello di Montalcino is produced exclusively with Sangiovese. The production law is very detailed stating the following criteria: - Area of Production: Community of Montalcino - Variety: Sangiovese - Maximum yield: 80 qtl per hectare - Yield of grapes in wine: 68% - Wood ageing: at least 2 years in oak - Bottle ageing: at least 4 months (6 months for the riserva) - Minimum alcohol: 12,5% vol. - Release date: as of January 1st following the 5th year since the harvest.