Podere Brizio 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG Tuscany Italy

94 pts Vinous – Good deep red-ruby. Red plum, graphite, mocha and potpourri on the fresh, piercing nose. Then dense, suave and deep, showing noteworthy intensity to the complex flavors of blackberry, tobacco leaf and mocha. Wonderfully silky and sweet, finishing with very fine-grained tannins and lingering red plum and tobacco leaf flavors. This clean, fresh wine features lovely balance and is much more polished and intense than the outstanding but lighter, higher-acid Podere Brizio 2013 Brunello. This might well be the best-ever young wine I have tasted from this producer.

93 pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and exuberant expression that delivers soothing warmth and bold intensity. The bouquet is redolent of black cherry, dried fruit, balsam herb and sweet tobacco. Those aromas build in power and coherency as the wine evolves and expands with oxygen. The finish is fresh but also very long and polished. Only 7,000 bottles were produced.