2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pian di Conti Riserva  Azienda Agricola Talenti

The Talenti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Pian di Conte is a classic, stately wine with lots of dark fruit, dried blackberry, spice, tobacco and balsam herb. The wine registers 15% alcohol, which puts a lot of extra muscle mass on these otherwise elegant fruit tones, thus subtracting from some of the grace of the vintage. Production sees 6,600 bottles and some larger formats as well.

Riccardo Talenti and his team are introducing a fun and carefree new Rosato made with Sangiovese called Oops!. They also inaugurated a new blended red (made with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Petit Verdot) with a similarly playful personality.

Suckling 96, This is very traditional, with aromas of cedar, mushrooms, walnuts and dark cherries that follow through to a full-bodied yet tight and very tailored palate with intense tannins that are polished and very long. Please give this at least three or four years to open. Try after 2024.