Ripe, savory and richly flavorful with plenty of sun-dried tomatoes, tapenade, ripe cherries and walnuts. Full-bodied with round, ripe tannins. Salty freshness at the end. Long and delicious. Excellent energy for the vintage. Drink or hold.

Bright and juicy, this is packed with cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral aromas and flavors. Linear in shape and tightly wound, yet very pure, with a long, detailed aftertaste that pulls all the elements together. Best from 2021 through 2040. – BS

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is finessed in the glass, perfumed with nuances of violet and rose, as hints of fresh plum and dried sage evolve over time. This floods the palate with textures like pure silk, washing masses of savory red berries and spices across a balanced core of saline-tinged acidity. A tart twang of sour cherry and hints of citrus electrify the finale, as smooth tannins add a gentle grip, and hints of licorice slowly taper off. The 2012 is a gentle giant with the balance to mature beautifully for years to come; but that said, there’s no shame in checking in on it now; just make sure to let it breathe to unlock its charming bouquet. -- Eric Guido

Enticing scents of iris, violet, perfumed berry and cake spice mingle with whiffs of balsamic and menthol. Full in body, but boasting a weightless elegance, the palate delivers juicy wild cherry, raspberry preserve, cinnamon and licorice. Taut, polished tannins provide structure and finesse while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2022–2032.

From the moment you put your nose into the bouquet, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva gives off heat, ripe fruit and power. Brunello from this warm vintage tends to be bold, muscular and emphatic, and this wine definitely supports that claim. Black cherry, prune and plum at the core are surrounded by soft oak spice and cinnamon. The Fuligni winemaking team has done its best to tame the fruit (and allow for the more delicate aromas to emerge), but this wine moves toward the bigger side of the Brunello spectrum nonetheless. - Monica Larner