The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino, a dark, brilliant ruby/garnet, presents a nose of ample spices, plums, red currants, and tar, rosemary and thyme. Long, intense, and substantial, with plenty of grip and excellent depth, it needs bottle time to round off its tannins. Drink 2006-2015. A leader among the younger generation of producers, Pacenti is a proponent of small barrel aging of Montalcino’s wines. Siro Pacenti works with Professor Yves Glories of the Institut Oenologique of Bordeaux, one of the world’s leading experts on tannins. Importers: Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 547-7766, Classic Wine Imports, Boston, MA; tel. (617) 469-5799, and Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300

Very ripe and powerful style. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit and a chewy finish. An extracted style, but it will come around with bottle age. Impressive concentration for the vintage. Best after 2004. 1,830 cases made, 600 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Brunello di Montalcino Select to Add