The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Le Macchiarelle is aged in oak for 36 months. Only 2,400 bottles are made. The wine opens to a darkly saturated color and a velvety appearance. There are ripe tones of dried cherry and blackberry confit that are a direct reminder of the heat experienced during this growing season. This wine is thickly layered and succulent in terms of mouthfeel. The oak tannins are still a bit strong and require a few more years to integrate.