Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Le Potazzine

The Le Potazzine 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is released a year after most other Riservas hit the market (most of this winery's peers are now selling the 2016 vintage). This pretty wine is open-knit and rich, showing nice textural support. It is redolent of dried cherry, blackberry, light spice, tar and smoke. This special selection of fruit shows elegant results in this hot and sunny vintage. - Monica Larner

Dusty, smoky and darkly floral, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is easily one of the most successful wines of the vintage. There are depths currently unseen in this youthful beauty, as nuances of cherry and shaved cedar evolve in the glass. This is soft and enveloping, both pinching at the palate with zesty acids and minerals and soothing it with an elegant display of ripe fruits. A fine layer of tannin lingers, just enough to help the 2015 evolve gracefully. I’m reeling at the balance and elegance on display here. Whether it’s the high elevations of their northwest vineyards or the pursuit of purity this family upholds, this bottle totally reaffirms in my mind that Le Potazzine created one of the most harmonious wines of the 2015 vintage. - Eric Guido

Luminous dark ruby. Camphor, licorice and potpourri complement dark berry and red cherry aromas and flavors. Less mineral but denser and more austere than the 2013, this focused, energetic Brunello boasts polished tannins and noteworthy suave mouthfeel on the long, complex finish. Super wine; Le Potazzine does not make a Brunello Riserva all that often, but when it does, you are virtually guaranteed to find something memorable in the bottle. Well done. - Ian d'Agata

Captivating scents of pressed violet, dark spice, perfumed berry, new leather and balsamic eucalyptus notes reveal the wine's elegance and pedigree even before the first sip. The full-bodied palate boasts remarkable finesse and a weightless intensity, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, black raspberry, tobacco and licorice. It's impeccably balanced, with firm polished tannins and fresh acidity. Hold for even more complexity. - Kerin O'Keefe

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Contained power on the nose with almost chocolatey cherry fruit. Lots of fruit and stuffing on the palate with bags of fine, coating tannins. Quite a mouthful, but impeccably balanced. - Walter Speller

The ladies of Le Potazzine have broken with the pack. They are betting on this Riserva from the warm 2011 vintage over everything else (including vintages held in higher esteem by appellation authorities). The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is indeed a sure bet if you are looking for a Brunello that will knock your socks off. This is a sharp, precise and extremely defined Sangiovese. This is an inspired wine (with a mere 3,200 bottles produced). The bouquet is slow and steady but also very effective as it comes into full focus. Red cherry, blackberry, cassis, balsam herb and spice all merge seamlessly on the nose. The mouthfeel is polished and long. You can count it in many long minutes. - Monica Larner