BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

and firmness. The wine shows all the criteria for a long
cellar life, softening slowly as the wine evolves. Age 10–
20 more years. Orvino Imports & Distribution. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $49
93
Capanne Ricci 2006 Riserva (Brunello di
Montalcino). A plump and juicy Brunello with
bold, fresh fruit and loads of aromatic intensity. Cherry,
plum and blackberry are backed by evolved tones of
leather, spice and cola. Shows delicate details of wild
berry and almond paste on the close. Smooth and velvety.
Montcalm Wine Importers. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $60
93
Caprili 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
A lovely riserva, with bold, opulent
notes of cherry and plum. Leather, tobacco, rum cake,
cola and dried sage add complexity.Admiralty Beverage.
—M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $75
93
Fattoria La Lecciaia 2006 Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). Opens with a dry,
dusty firmness that comes through both on the nose and
in the mouth. This is fresh and tightly woven with very
fine aromas of cassis, spice, crushed stone and milled
white pepper. Very firm and tight; age 10 years. Monsieur
Touton Selection Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $52
93
Fattoria La Lecciaia 2006 Vigna Manapetra
Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
This riserva opens with a textured, granular mouthfeel
that is packed tight with leather, tobacco, dried berry
and cola flavors. The close is fresh and menthol-driven.
Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $58
93
Fuligni 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
Sweet spice and dark fruit aromas offer
all the telltale signs of a top-notch riserva. The wine
is bright with etched acidity and strong tannins. Let it
age 10 years or more. Defined, compact mouthfeel.
Empson (USA) Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $153
93
Il Poggiolo E. Cosimi 2006 Beato Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). Pleasurable and
modern, with a dense opulence that makes a wine like
this attractive on so many levels. It delivers deep layers
of ripe fruit, blackberry, vanilla bean, espresso and black
pepper. Enotec Imports, Inc. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $90
93
La Mannella 2006 Riserva (Brunello
di Montalcino). Tight, linear and compact.
Clean, crisp and precise. Small berry aromas of cassis,
wild berry and cherry are framed by firm, dusty tannins
and a touch of toasted oak. Casa Torelli . —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $75
93
Lazzeretti 2006 Riserva (Brunello di
Montalcino). Sophisticated, with tertiary aromas
of crushed mineral, asphalt, cola, dried mint, wild
berry and cassis. On the palate, it’s tight, compact and
linear, with a long, polished finish. Pacific Wine Distributors.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA
20 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
93
Le Chiuse 2006 Riserva (Brunello di
Montalcino). This beautiful Brunello opens
with lavish tones of dark fruit, exotic spice, espresso
bean and crushed black pepper. The mouthfeel is interesting
because it starts off bold and rich, but ends
with the focused or chiseled sharpness that is typical of
Sangiovese Grosso. Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $95
93
Lisini 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
Shows a pretty, polished nose with dusty
mineral notes backed by elegant tones of dried berry,
spice and leather. Nice complexity and balance. Loads
of tobacco-like sensations on the close. Empson (USA)
Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $118
93
Mocali 2006 Vigna delle Raunate Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). This riserva is
loaded with fruit. It’s a dark, inky wine that oozes black
cherry, exotic spice, leather and moist pipe tobacco.
After the tightness and firmness of the mouthfeel, the
wine offers a playful endnote of blackberry jam. Michael
Skurnik Wines. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $50
93
Molino di Sant’Antimo 2006 Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). Linear, focused
and bright, with rich, fleshy fruit in the form of cherry,
blackberry and spiced plum cake. This is a fleshy pretty
wine with an elegant mouthfeel. Delectatio Wines.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $55
93
Piccini 2006 Villa al Cortile Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). Black cherry and
coffee notes come to the fore and are followed by softer
layers of spice, clove and cardamom. Pressed roses too.
Firm and linear in the mouth with a tight tannic bite on
the close. Drink after 2018. Aveniù Brands, Inc. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $60
93
Pinino 2006 Pinone Riserva (Brunello di
Montalcino). This wine offers loads of coffee
and soft intensity, with ripe fruit, blackberry, rum cake
and exotic spice. That extra roundness works well with
this wine’s high acidity and tannic structure. USA Wine
Imports. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $47
93
Poggio Antico 2006 Riserva (Brunello di
Montalcino). Sharply defined aromas of spice,
chiseled mineral, dried tobacco and cassis open the
bouquet of this dark, concentrated wine. There’s a floral
note of spicy potpourri and cinnamon stick, tight tannins
and bright acidity.The Sorting Table. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $140
93
San Felice 2006 Campogiovanni Il Quercione
Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
Dark, brooding, thick, masculine, this wine shows loads
of big Brunello personality. It offers thick concentration,
a velvety and plush mouthfeel, followed by dark
flavors of blackberry, prune, spice, leather, cedar and
pipe tobacco. Premium Brands. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $135
93
Terralsole 2006 Riserva (Brunello di
Montalcino). Pressed rose, slightly dusty mineral
shadings, spice and black fruit make up the bouquet
of this elegant, harmonious wine. This expression
is astringent and firm, with bright acidity and a solid tannic
backbone. Let it soften with more cellar aging. Terralsole.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $80
92
Altesino 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
This Brunello Riserva is defined by a
layer of coffee and espresso that peels back nicely to reveal
dark fruit, cassis, leather and tobacco. It’s smooth,
ripe, fresh and structured. Winebow. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $80
92
Brunelli Martoccia 2006 Riserva (Brunello
di Montalcino). This Brunello offers interesting
complexity in its cola and balsam notes. The wine
has a big, bright intensity, with crisp acidity and a lean,
compact mouthfeel that’s rather austere and stern. Ultimately
the wine is more generous on the nose than
in the mouth and finishes with lasting freshness. Small
Vineyards LLC. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $80
92
Cantina di Montalcino 2006 Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). A traditional style
of riserva, this wine shows aromas of spice, candied berry,
smoked bacon, cinnamon, white pepper and dried
sage. There’s also a floral element of red rose or lavender.
It is light and crisp, with a firm finish. Wine Wave.
—M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $115
92
Fattoria dei Barbi 2006 Riserva (Brunello
di Montalcino). This brunello offers a pretty
bouquet, showing elegance and restraint at the same
time. There are layers of small berry fruit, spice and
leather, with dusty, dry tannins. The wine’s overall astringency
should soften with time.Pasternak Wine Imports.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $90
92
Innocenti 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
The wine gives an impression of being
supple and soft, at least on the nose, but you can feel the
firm structure in the mouth. The quality of the tannins
is dusty, firm and unyielding at this early stage. Drink in
5–10 years. Mission Wine Company. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $NA
92
La Collina dei Lecci 2006 Riserva
(Brunello di Montalcino). This wine presents
a dark wall of inky concentration with aromas of
ripe fruit and raw cherry. There are earthy tones in the
background that are characteristic of Sangiovese, with
floral and menthol nuances as well. The tannins are firm
and polished. Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $52
92
La Fiorita 2006 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino).
A Brunello on the bold and ripe side,
with smoked bacon, blackberry, sweet spice, rum cake
and black licorice. It shows impressive staying power.