Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola DOCG 2016 Salvioni

The Salvioni 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola has some punch and lift to it with aromas of wild rose, cola and forest berry. The wine's personality, and its strict adherence to a classic Sangiovese tradition, is consistent with the house style. What sets the 2016 apart is the depth of the fruit and the pronounced length of the finish, which is driven by structural power, acidic freshness and dryness on the tannins. The wine reveals a deep ruby color with a slightly darker hue and more richness in this vintage, and that extra heft will serve the wine well as it completes its aging trajectory.

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino slowly comes to life, opening with a smoky, brooding and dark bouquet. It first unleashes its florals with crushed roses and hints of geranium, then deepens to reveal black cherry and raspberry, and finally a chorus of tobacco and wild herbs. You could lose yourself in the glass. The 2016 is incredibly silky and textural, displaying a youthful density that tempts the imagination while casting a savory display of mineral-tinged dark fruits, more black than red, with hints of dried orange and exotic spice. A saturation of fine tannin awaits on the finish, previously masked by the Salvioni’s primary power, as a mix of sage and hints of licorice slowly fade. There is so much potential here; but today, the 2016 is in dire need of cellaring. I tasted the 2016 multiple times over the course of two days and it didn’t budge.