Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2016

A mix of cherry and berry fruit and wild herbs mark this red, whose texture starts out smooth before tannins turn aggressive on the finish. There is a lingering aftertaste of cherry, iron, earth and tobacco. Best from 2024 through 2042. 4,200 cases imported. — BS

Underbrush and baked plum aromas mingle with whiffs of new leather and camphor. It's medium in weight and well structured, delivering dried black cherry, licorice and tobacco set against taut, fine-grained tannins.

Cherry, plum and cedar aromas follow through to a medium to full body with integrated, polished tannins that are fine and pretty. Not the biggest Brunello from this vintage, but shows interest and focus. Try after 2023.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne was tasted (after a double decant) among the other wines from the Chianti Classico appellation made by Marchesi Antinori. That's a change because I usually taste this wine in a peer group of fellow Brunelli. You'd be forgiven for forgetting how different Sangiovese from these two geographically close (but philosophically distant) wine regions ultimately tastes. This expression from the warm 2015 vintage is loosely knit and less fine-tuned. It offers a broad-brush interpretation of the grape, with textured blackberry, spice, tar and earthy aromas. There is a touch of heat or extra ripeness in this wine that tends to flatten out the more nuanced details of the grape.