Delivers fabulous aromas of crushed raspberries cherries and strawberries with flowers and a hint of vanilla bean. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Dense and very long. A serious powerful and complex red but needs some bottle age. This is the producer's best wine ever. Best after 2012. 2150 cases made. -JS

A young Brunello that's turned in on itself this yields little more than the black mineral earthiness of sangiovese tannin. Air brings up scents of porcini sour cherry iron and thyme. For all the power of its profound structure the wine is still mouthwatering. A candidate for long-term aging this will likely be at its best ten to 12 years from the vintage.

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is big brawny wine loaded with ripe dark fruit new leather spices and earthiness. The wine blossoms onto the palate in a rich expansive style as masses of perfumed fruit come to life. This is an especially dense concentrated wine and the tannins need some time to melt away but readers who can be patient will be rewarded with a splendid Brunello. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.This small estate farms approximately seven hectares of vineyards in Sant'Angelo in Scalo and Castelnuovo dell'Abate.

17/20 Very dark brownish ruby with a fading rim. Heady, powerful, very ripe and sun-baked. Big, meaty, very sweet. Full-on sweetness with almost painful acid on the finish and some dusty tannins. Certainly makes a statement! Almost as though there were some Merlot in there. Could give lots of pleasure to those in search of a blockbuster. Not too hot on the finish despite the alcohol level. A bit like an elixir, it's so concentrated, but not heavy or hot.