Mixed Case Brunello di Montalcino, Biondi Santi Mixed Vintage

***2016 - 97+ points***
From a benchmark vintage, the Biondi-Santi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a gorgeous appearance with medium concentration highlighted by shiny hues of garnet and dark ruby. The first thing you notice is the compact dark fruit and rather robust textural fiber and power presented here. You almost bite into this wine, and you taste some fine grain linked to the young tannins. That, with the fresh acidity that is the hallmark signature of this estate, guarantees long cellar aging, and I would put my money on this vintage for long-long-term longevity. The fruit is compact and supple with dried cherry, blue flower, iron ore and candied orange peel. There is tobacco, balsam herb and gardening soil in a supporting role, and the wine is beautifully fleshed out but also rich in this balanced growing season. It surely needs more time to come together with pinpoint precision, but the wine's elegance is a certainty. 2025-2050

***2011 - 93 points***
Franco Biondi Santi passed away in 2013, but his son Jacopo Biondi Santi was already making wine at Il Greppo when the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino was produced. The winemaking approach has not been changed despite the father to son transition. This wine shows extra richness and texture with focused fruit aromas that are graceful but also powerful. There are hints of ripe fruit with dried cherry and prune buried deep within the bouquet. In the mouth, this Brunello shows good structure and acidity with a slightly denser feel compared to past vintages. 2017-2030

***2009 - 93 points***
The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine laced with ethereal balsam tones, licorice, cola, dark fruit and forest floor. The acidity is evident but well-integrated within the thick textural richness of the wine. It closes slowly and quietly with a surprising flurry of delicate floral notes that pop up at the end. This well-built wine will hold for many years. Drink: 2017-2030.