This delivers intense balsamic notes of juniper, wild rosemary and sage, along with rose, cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Elegant and saturated with flavor, supported by a vibrant structure. Ends with energy and refined tannins. Best from 2022 through 2040. - BS

Plenty of dark cherry essence, blackberry pie, a touch of plum liqueur, baking spices, charcuterie, resin and dried herbs. The palate echoes the richness of the nose with no shortage of dried-fruit flavors, while also embracing tightly wound tannins and a streak of refreshing acidity. Drink in 2020.

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva remains dark and brooding, with a deep ruby color and a bouquet that mixes red currants and spiced herbal tea with black raspberries, smoke and worn leather. It coasts across the palate with an elegant wave of ripe red and black fruits, accentuated by exotic savory spices with a balsamic tinge toward the close. It’s lightly grippy yet incredibly long, full of zesty nuances of citrus, along with plum skins and earth tones that seem to linger on and on. Today, the 2012 Riserva is flat-out stunning and open for business, yet with the power and structure to last another decade. -- Eric Guido

Sporting a medium dark color, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the most robust and powerful wine among these new releases from Altesino. More than its Riserva status (that requires an extra year of aging compared to base Brunello), that richness is a result of the dry and hot 2012 growing season. You really feel the tightness, blackness and the alcohol of the fruit here. By the way, the alcohol is 15%, so it is indeed high for Sangiovese. There is a note of cherry sweetness on the close. Thankfully, there is also enough natural acidity to bring the wine back to center and balance. But the overall complexity is diminished in favor of muscle and brawn. - Monica Larner

From their 40th harvest, Altesino's Riserva is a selection of grapes from their holdings in Macina, Pianezzine and Castelnuovo dell'Abate, aged exclusively in Slavonian oak casks. This is a much deeper, darker expression compared to the 2013 releases, with flavours of black tea, sweet tobacco and plum, yet this is offset by a lift of pepper and tangy acidity. The mouthcoating tannins need some time to relax their grip. 6,000 bottles produced.

This riserva opens with exuberant cherry flavors and lively acidity elevated by scents of rose petals and cool herbs. Notes of dark chocolate and fresh tobacco emerge as the wine sits in the glass, building layers of complexity until a wall of tannins descends. Give this at least five years in the cellar before revisiting.

Forest floor, pipe tobacco, leather and eucalyptus aromas abound on this full-bodied red. The taut firmly structured palate offers dried black cherry, raspberry preserve, licorice and dried herb set against tightly packed fine-grained tannins. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol on the close. Drink from 2022. KERIN O’KEEFE