Olmaia (made with certified organic fruit) has emerged as its own brand. The wine underlines the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon in this part of Tuscany, an area almost exclusively dedicated to Sangiovese. The 2016 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia reminds us of the importance of diversity in a monoculture, which allows us to better understand the potential of a growing area. This wine reveals an inky dark appearance with thick color concentration. It is broad and full-bodied for sure, but it proceeds with nuanced grace over the senses. Black and purple fruits segue to earthy tobacco, cured leather and dark spice. These aromas are especially fine-tuned in this classic vintage.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the unsung grapes of Montalcino, and because this appellation is whole-heartedly focused on Sangiovese, we only get rare opportunities to taste the French grape. The Col d'Orcia 2015 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia is a beautiful wine and one that has enthusiastically embraced the deep warmth and golden sunlight of the vintage. You taste those hot-vintage characteristics in the fullness, richness and softness of the fruit on display here. This is no doubt the best vintage I have thus far tasted of Olmaia, and the wine has evidently found new confidence in this 2015 expression. Black fruit aromas cede to richer tones of spice and dark chocolate with very subtle hints of candied cherry or baked blackberry. This wine was bottled in March 2018 and will be released in April 2020. Some 13,600 bottles were made.

This wine opens to a dark and almost impenetrable appearance. The 2014 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia (with 13,500 bottles made) takes us to a whole other side of Montalcino that is not based on the Sangiovese grape. Instead, we are treated to a taste of the superstar variety Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the most celebrated growing sites in sunny Tuscany. This is a beautifully textured and fleshed out red that offers bold aromas of dark fruit, spice and bitter chocolate. The bouquet is impressive. However, the wine tastes less ripe and slightly bitter in this cool vintage. Some 13,500 bottles were made.