Score: 89/100
This Rosso di Montalcino by Villa al Cortile is produced using grapes from the same vineyards as the Brunello di Montalcino by the same winery.
This is a 100% Sangiovese wine that went through 12 months of ageing in oak wine barrels.
Tasting Notes
This Tuscan red from Montalcino comes in a bright red color, of medium intensity yet looking quite dark, vibrant youthful red.
The nose is very fragrant, with at first plenty of smoky aromas jumping out of the glass, surrounded by unusual but enjoyable cured meat notes.
Swirl the wine, and sour cherry, licorice, and hints of prune tones come through. Black olive, black pepper, the aromatic profile all seems to be mainly in the savory spectrum, although touches of red berry jam show through. Overall, although smelling concentrated and fragrant, it feels tight and quite restrained on the nose, like a young wine still needing time to reveal its true personality.
The palate is more telling, providing a rich and oily feel, quite warm too a sensation, and letting a big burst of peppery spices, clove and nutmeg shine through.
Plenty of green apple, raspberry and watermelon bring a sense of fresh fruitiness, with hints of vegetal characters. Quite soft tannins, helped by the rounded body, although the finish is a bit grippy at this stage. Solid acidity. The finish reveals a tight juiciness, from granulous tannins so the wine ends the tasting experience on a mix of edgy tannins, cooked fruit flavors, and spicy savory notes.
Overall
A Rosso di Montalcino with a big heart and a big personality, still requiring a little time to be fully expressed. Dry and on the savory side, it mixes a wealth of various flavors, and offers many different feels all combining rather well, providing an unusual but punchy and enjoyable tasting experience.
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