Terracotta, earth, iron filings, cedar, and leather make for an undergrowth-driven Brunello 2015, which doesn’t fall short in the fruit department either, where there are red plums and red cherries. The tannins are neatly stacked, one on top of the other, with tidy acidity drawing in vibrant fruit and keeping it taut throughout. Balanced and stylish. Drink from 2023.

The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino is a medium ruby hue, with aromas of licorice, dried red flowers, red cherry, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins, it is approachable with its more delicate nature and fresh acidity. It has no harsh edges and offers notes of ripe raspberry, blood orange, and tea leaf. This is a lovely wine to drink now or over the next 10 to 12 years.

Wild strawberries, roses, lavender and hints of flowery underbrush form a vividly fruity yet earthy bouquet as the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino opens in the glass. This is round, nearly juicy in character, with ripe red and black berries that cascade across a core of silty minerality. It leaves only a light coating of tannin while tapering off with a flourish of inner sweetness and floral tones, as nuances of licorice slowly fade. This may not be a classic Brunello from Altesino, but I can't argue with how incredibly delicious it is.