The Wine of the Week:
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Vigna Pianrosso
Brunello di Montlacino 1995
The wine is deep ruby, and has a powerful, elegant bouquet in which spice and the wild flowers of a Tuscan field in summer mingle with cedar and forest berry fruit, all underpinned by clean wood, which to a degree overshadows the nuances of the grapes at this point. Pleasing, however. On the palate it's opulent, with very intense stewed black cherry fruit supported by smooth round tannins that lead into a long clean finish with a warm tannic burr. The effect is rather like Marilyn Monroe in a glass, with the wood that's present in the nose nowhere near as apparent. An elegant statement of power, which will work well with stews, braised dishes, and rich roasts now. With time it could well become a meditation wine too; it should age well for 15 years or perhaps more. Well worth seeking out if you like opulent wines.
An exclusive, from the pages of the Kyle Phillips's Italian Wine Review.
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