Talenti 2017 Brunello "Piero" 750ml

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Piero is mysteriously dark and heady, the display of smoke and ashen stone evolving to show crushed blackberries, savory herbs and hints of camphor. The textures are velvety and dense, and a wave of mineral-tinged red and black fruits drenches the palate in primary depths of concentration. Beneath it all, a coating of fine-grained tannins settles in, slowly working to encase the senses with youthful tension and poise. Even still, a lasting mix of cherries, black tea and menthol carries on for what seems like a full minute. While I don’t expect this to mature as gracefully as past renditions of the single-vineyard Piero, it’s a total success for the vintage.

Score: 94 points -- Eric Guido, Vinous, 2021