Aromas of redcurrants and red flowers, followed by a touch of pie crust and sandalwood. Full-bodied with steely and sturdy tannins and vivid acidity. Dried-herb character at the end. Masculine and structured. Hold until 2027.

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino shows an open quality that is a little oxidative in character. This is a very accessible wine with a strong 15% alcohol content. It is best consumed in the near term. Like many other Brunellos from this vintage, I would not put my money on long cellar aging times. There is concentrated fruit, with dried cherry, blackcurrant and fresh acidity. The bouquet is also redolent of old spice, tar and leather. Exactly 34,864 bottles and 444 magnums were made.

The Capanna 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows fresh primary fruit initially, but the bouquet is otherwise footed in ethereal tones of balsam herb, cola, crushed flowers and autumnal leaf. The wine delivers purity and a nice level of complexity that flirts with both varietal and territory-specific characteristics. It registers 15% alcohol, but thankfully it's not too intrusive. That power and the wine's structure, with some mild tannic bitterness, plays against the delicate quality of fruit you get here. Production is 35,000 bottles.

I tasted the Capanna 2016 Brunello di Montalcino side by side with the estate's 2015 Riserva and found that these two wines illustrate the vintage differences with clarity. This wine, the so-called "classic Brunello" from the slightly cooler vintage, is immediately more direct and expressive in terms of its bouquet. Aromas of cherry, earthy spice and rosemary essence are lifted and buoyant. However, the mouthfeel is surely more compact and tannic compared to the softer 2015 Riserva. What this wine lacks in texture, it delivers in terms of length and finish. It ages in Slavonian oak for 36 months and production is 42,000 bottles.

Though backed by stiff tannins, the cherry and strawberry flavors at the core are pure and defined. Earth, iron and woodsy elements accent the fruit. Rights itself in the end, showing fine equilibrium. Best from 2023 through 2042. 3,250 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Brunello di Montalcino Select to Add