Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2017 (Antinori)

Drink now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant before serving. The Antinoris are one of Tuscany’s most famous winemaking families with a noble history stretching back 26 generations to 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member of the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. In 1995 the family bought the 460 acre Pian Delle Vigne estate which sits 6 kilometres southwest of Montalcino. The estate’s philosophy centres around ageing their Brunello wines in large casks. These help showcase the character of the Sangiovese grapes and the property’s unique terroir. The vineyards mostly have a south-western exposure and are planted at 130 metres above sea level which helps to fully ripen the grapes while preserving aromatics and freshness. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks and the young wine is then aged for two years in a variety of large oak casks which range from 30 to 80 hectolitres. After bottling the wine spends more time ageing in the cellar before it's finally deemed ready for release. The result is a complex and refined Brunello that’s bursting with ripe red plums and cherries along with hints of Mediterranean herbs, cedar, and spiced notes. Cellar for a few more years or serve now with hearty red meat or game dishes.