An utterly magnificent wine, the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino graces the palate with wild flowers, violets, rose petals and dark stone fruits. Today, the 2008 is quite brooding and closed in on itself, but the pedigree is obvious in the wine's layered, deeply expressive personality. The 2008 needs time, but there is little question it is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. In 2008, Il Poggione decided against bottling their Riserva (even though that wine was magnificent from cask) so all of the best juice went into the straight bottling.

eRobertParker.com June, 2013 The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the best wines of the year. A relatively big, voluptuous wine for the year, the 2008 impresses for its inner perfume, silky tannins and terrific overall balance. Hints of leather, tobacco and dried herbs add complexity. The 2008 isn’t immediately showy, as so many recent vintages have been; instead, it is a wine built for the cellar. Still, with time in the glass, the wine’s exquisite perfume begins to emerge. In 2008, Il Poggione did not bottle a Riserva, all the juice went into the regular bottling. Brunello di Montalcino is highly vintage dependent in the market, especially in the United States. Most people won’t look at this wine because of the vintage. Let others make that mistake. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.

The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino takes its time to open gradually and in small increments. Unlike the 2010 that never fully blossoms, this wine does reveal more dimension and depth with dried fruit, cigar ash, crushed stone and black licorice. In fact, the aromas become tighter and more focused with time, and the wine delivers good momentum to the palate thanks to its silky tannins and varietal freshness. It takes its time but rewards you with a pretty show along the way.

(14.5% alcohol): Deep, full ruby. Spicy red cherry, sweet spices and underbrush on the deep nose. Then fleshy and chewy in the mouth, with ripe red and black cherry flavors lifted by quinine, ink and minerals. The tannins are polished, but this wine needs time in bottle to develop a little nuance and complexity. Forget about it in your cellar for another couple of years, then enjoy it for the next 20.