Brunello di Montalcino, Siro Pacenti 1999

The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino is Pacenti’s best to date, quite dark in its ruby-garnet tonality and with ample sensations of cloves, vanilla, and sandalwood, though better integrated with the plum and raspberry fruit than in the past. The intense and powerful palate, concentrated, solid, and dense, is sweet and richly fruity and the depth and energy of the flavors indicate a significant life span ahead, a good fifteen years. Only a rise in the level of the oak on the finish keeps the score from going higher.