Mint, freshly cut flowers, cinnamon and sage meld into a resonant core of fruit in Ciacci's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso. Here the flavors are ample, rich and built on pure volume. Readers who like bigger Brunellos will love the Pianrosso. Proprietor Paolo Bianchini has done a terrific job with Brunello that expresses the personality of Sangiovese in this site on the southern edge of Montalcino. Bianchini had the 2010 three and half years in cask.

Aromas of lilac, dark berry and sandalwood follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense and savory finish. Very intense and very long. Succulent. Amazing balance and depth to this red. It's so beautiful to taste now but it will be much better in five to ten years. A triumph.

Beautiful and delicate from the start, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso impresses for its depth and balance. The wine sees one more year of oak cask aging compared to the base Brunello and you can definitely sense the extra spice on the nose. Those delicate balsam notes of root beer, ginger and rosemary oil are still prominently on display. Rich spice, leather and tar are followed by dark fruit, prune, blackberry and cassis. The finish is graceful and silky, but its length remains impressive. This is a terrific effort that promises a steady evolution ahead. (Monica Larner)