2009 La Torre, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy.
Even with the justified hype about the 2010 Brunello wines, you shouldn’t overlook some great other vintages and individual efforts, I have found many 2008 and 2009 bottlings especially impressive, one of those is this 2009 La Torre Brunello di Montalcino, imported by Neal Rosenthal, it is expressive, earthy and generous on the palate. The La Torre is a traditional Brunello, not flashy or flamboyant, but in this warm vintage it shines with depth, density and shows ripe tannins, making it a wonderful option for youthful drinking, while you cellar your 2010 collection. On the nose the La Torre starts with a mix of earth, herb, walnut and red berries along with dried flowers, mineral and fig leading to a palate of flavors including a core of black cherry, plum, raspberry, red peach and currant as well as pepper, tobacco leaf/cigar wrapper, wild mushroom, iron ore, cedar and salted licorice. This beauty really opens up with air, filling the mouth with a lingering finish of strawberry, soy sauce and a hint of mint, and while earthy and rustic at first, it reveal layers of sweet fruit and refined tannin with a poised acidity that keeps these in check, this would be a savvy choice for short term aging and near term enjoyment, especially with cuisine to match it’s medium full body and old world Italian charm, drink from 2016 to 2022. This is a wine that made the most of it’s fine terroir and classic winemaking in a hot year, and delivers impressive form, this a sleeper to look for!
($60 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
