Quite reductive and earthy, but opens to show tidy cranberries and glazed red cherries. Hints of citrus and spice. Full-bodied and rich, but there’s savory edge to the plush, juicy tannins, and lots of weight and density.

The nose shows an alluring display of hauntingly dark florals giving way to crushed black cherry, plums, and tobacco, with hints of spiced citrus and undergrowth adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures flood the senses with ripe red and black fruits, carried by vibrant acids, as sweet spices and minerals slowly saturate, and fine tannin begins to mount toward the finale. The finish is long and structured, resonating on zesty wild berry fruits, spice, and minerals; yet its tannic heft keeps it all in check. The 2015 Pian delle Vigne is one of the few wines of the vintage that requires some time in the cellar, and with this balance of primary fruits, acids, and structure, it should emerge as something to behold.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne was tasted (after a double decant) among the other wines from the Chianti Classico appellation made by Marchesi Antinori. That's a change because I usually taste this wine in a peer group of fellow Brunelli. You'd be forgiven for forgetting how different Sangiovese from these two geographically close (but philosophically distant) wine regions ultimately tastes. This expression from the warm 2015 vintage is loosely knit and less fine-tuned. It offers a broad-brush interpretation of the grape, with textured blackberry, spice, tar and earthy aromas. There is a touch of heat or extra ripeness in this wine that tends to flatten out the more nuanced details of the grape. The wine feels a bit evolved even at this young tasting date. Some 172,000 bottles were released in January 2020.

A lean, savory version, whose cherry, iron, tobacco and underbrush flavors play into the dusty tannins, pushing the fruit to the background. The aromas are the best feature. This doesn't offer the fruit of the best in the vintage, but is solid. BS

Good deep red. Redcurrant, tobacco, mocha, and underbrush on the nose. Well balanced and vibrant, with a somewhat surprisingly but pleasant cool, crisp quality (given the warm vintage) to the flavors of red fruits, spices, leather and minerals. Rises nicely on the long back end, with smooth tannins.

This expression from the warm 2015 vintage is loosely knit and less fine-tuned. It offers a broad-brush interpretation of the grape, with textured blackberry, spice, tar and earthy aromas. There is a touch of heat or extra ripeness in this wine that tends to flatten out the more nuanced details of the grape. The wine feels a bit evolved even at this young tasting date. ML

Tasted blind. Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Quite stalky nose with hints of beef stock but rather closed on the fruit. Quite closed on the palate too, hinting at generous mellow fruit that is not showing a lot of definition. Seems older than it is. Lots of chewy tannins on the finish and could do it with a little more fruit. (WS)