Pian delle Vigne (Antinori) Brunello di Montalcino 2016 750ml

This has an expressive nose offering aromas of ripe red berry, violet, star anise and coffee bean. Elegantly structured, the linear palate features mature black cherry, blood orange, ground clove and espresso alongside taut, fine-grained tannins that leave a firm finish. Give it several years to fully develop. Drink 2026–2036. (Cellar Selection)

This is a wine to watch, thanks to some exciting new changes to come. The Antinori family purchased new vineyards located at the highest point in the appellation at the romantically named Passo del Lume Spento (Pass of the Extinguished Lantern) where higher altitudes make for cooler growing conditions. This new acquisition complements the estate's current holdings in Pian delle Vigne (translated as the "flatlands of vines") located at much warmer lower elevations with heavier reddish soils. That means future vintages (wines to come after the 2018 Brunello that is already in bottle as I write this) may see a blend of fruit from the two sites, giving the winemaking team much more latitude to blend from both cool and warm parcels. Or the Passo del Lume Spento fruit could end up in its own single-vineyard bottling. It will be interesting to see how the estate uses its new fruit and its new winery. The Marchesi Antinori 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne takes us back to a classic profile for the estate in which you perceive an open and approachable bouquet. This is textbook Pian delle Vigne. The wine's foundations are rooted in ripeness with dried cherry and blackberry, and there are earthy notes with some powdery licorice and iron ore. Pian delle Vigne performs nicely in the celebrated 2016 vintage; however, this wine remains far more accessible than its peers, and I suggest a near to medium-term drinking window as a result. It was racked out of barrel and went into glass sooner in order to preserve the aromatic integrity of the vintage. Prioritizing glass over barrel aging is a trend we are seeing across the appellation. Some 190,000 bottles were made.

A mix of cherry and berry fruit and wild herbs mark this red, whose texture starts out smooth before tannins turn aggressive on the finish. There is a lingering aftertaste of cherry, iron, earth and tobacco. Best from 2024 through 2042. 4,200 cases imported.

Cherry, plum and cedar aromas follow through to a medium to full body with integrated, polished tannins that are fine and pretty. Not the biggest Brunello from this vintage, but shows interest and focus. Try after 2023.

The 2016 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino from Antinori is dark and rich, displaying notes of brown spice, mocha and tobacco, before giving way to musky black cherries and sage. Its cooling, creamy textures usher in a dense wave of ripe red and hints of black fruit, with salty minerals and fine-grained tannins providing grip. Licorice and violets resonate, along with inner earth tones throughout the long and structured finish. The Pian delle Vigne will require many years of cellaring to show its best, but it is well worth the wait.

Antinori’s expansive Pian delle Vigne estate is in the warm western sector of Camigliano. The gently inclined vineyards sit at modest elevations and are licked by salty sea breezes coming off the Mediterranean. The 2016 is one of the loveliest in recent memory. It demonstrates the ripeness and richness of the area, with vivacious red fruited Sangiovese purity. Accents of salted caramel, dried flowers and sweet spice lend plenty of charm. Drinking Window 2022 - 2032.

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.