Brunello di Montalcino Schiena d'Asino, Mastrojanni 2010

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino is a gorgeous wine and one that I highly recommend if you are a Brunello fanatic like me. The purity of the fruit is stunning and the wine underlines the qualities that make Sangiovese among the most noble of all Italian grapes. It offers crystalline intensity with forthcoming aromas of bright cherry, balsam herb, anise seed, pressed violets and spice. This ensemble is balanced and nuanced. It shows amazing depth and complexity. Fruit for the wine is sourced from a single vineyard that runs across the crest of a hill. The name Schiena d'Asino ("the donkey's back") evokes this unique geography. Mastrojanni last made a Riserva in 1998 and the wine (released six years after the harvest) has carried the name of its vineyard designation ever since.

A tightly wound, firmly structured red, this boasts cherry, strawberry, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavors. Stays fresh and focused, but shuts down a little on the lingering aftertaste. Demonstrates fine potential. Best from 2018 through 2032. 375 cases made.

Tasted blind. Deep ruby with orange tinges. Brooding with hints of shoe polish. Ripe, compact and a little introverted at the moment. Tightly built tannins and finely tuned balance. Not at all ready. Drink between 2020-2036