Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 750mL

At Le Chiuse the Riserva has always been made, since the time of Tancredi Biondi-Santi, my maternal great-grandfather, starting from the search for a wine that would last over time, almost eternal. My mother Simonetta, after inheriting Le Chiuse, with the help of my father Nicolò, began to combine the production of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino with that of the Riserva, starting in 1995. To obtain the Riserva they used the smallest bunches from the oldest vineyard, in order to obtain a wine with the character and personality that would last over time. I grew up in the wine environment tasting and having others taste Le Chiuse around the world; one of the most frequent comments regarding the Riserva was precisely the flaw of having opened it too early, at a time when the wine could not express its best. At the same time, I noticed how people struggled to give a specific identity to Brunello Riserva, distinguishing it from the “vintage” Brunello, if not for the difference in price. The most obvious choices, namely the provenance of the grapes from a single vineyard or the use of a particular winemaking style, would not have made sense in our case, as the vineyards registered for Brunello are all in the same "micro-area" which constitutes a sort of single vineyard, while as regards the winemaking style I could never have distorted our philosophy of making wine, viscerally connected to tradition, by resorting to a more modern approach. The only possible solution was therefore the simplest and most natural one: giving time to a wine that asked for time. This is why, based on the experiences of past Reserves, we decided to postpone the release of our Reserve from the sixth to the tenth year after the harvest, extending the refinement in the bottle from one to almost five years. To do this it was necessary to expand the cellar by going seven meters below ground level, giving the bottles the ideal environment for their refinement. This has allowed us to obtain a Riserva of greater balance and complexity without however affecting our idea of ​​wine and the expressiveness of our soil. The step that is usually found between the Rosso and the Brunello is now also found between the Brunello and the Brunello Riserva, giving life to three voices that are very distinct from each other but still belong to the same chorus. And this is how with the 2010 vintage our Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DIECIANNI was born.

Colour:

Intense and lively ruby red with garnet and cherry reflections. 

Bouquet: 

Distinct, of good finesse with hints of ripe berries, tobacco, leather in the foreground. The notes of medicinal herbs, spices and minerals complete its great complexity.

Taste:

Warm, savory, persuasive, soft with good body. The aromatic sensation of jam and spices lingers pleasantly in the mouth for a long time.

Food Pairing: 

It is recommended with roasted meats and game of all kinds, stews, stews and all dishes of high flavor or with aged cheeses.

99 Points - Wine Enthusiast, Kerin O'Keefe, July 20. "Released after 10 years aging in the estate's cellars, this drop-dead gorgeous, classy red shows its celebrated pedigree. Made from vineyards that once supplied grapes for the famous Biondi Santi Riservas, this stunning red opens with classic aromas of red berry, rose, dark spice and crushed herb, while the radiant, elegantly structured palate delivers juicy red cherry, orange zest, licorice and crushed mint before a mineral note graces the long finish. Taut, refined tannins and fresh acidity keep it impeccably balanced. Drink 2022–2060."

97 Points - Wine Spectator, October 2020.

97 Points - Robert Parker, February 2020.

95 Points - Falstaff, March 2020. "Rich, dark ruby. Closed on the nose for a long time, then opens with notes of hazelnuts, blackberries, plums and liquorice, exciting. On the palate very powerful, fills the mouth full, much grippy, dense tannin, salty, has much substance, hearty."

94 Points - Cellar Tracker