The Sesta di Sopra 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows medium concentration and an elegant, vinous appearance. The wine is beautifully generous and rich but not in an overbearing manner. In fact, it remains lithe and graceful throughout, and it carefully produces measured aromas of cherries, wildflowers, lavender and red brick or clay. I am especially taken by the silky elegance awarded by this classic Riserva, but sadly, only 590 bottles exist, likely making this special wine hard to find.

This red is dense and monolithic, with gripping tannins surrounding the core of blackberry and dark plum fruit. Mediterranean scrub, tar and iron notes add detail as this finishes long and tense. Best from 2025 through 2040. 80 cases made, 40 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Brunello di Montalcino Select to Add

Here's a precious wine with a mere 900 bottles in existence. The Sesta di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva opens to a tight and dense bouquet that takes a little extra effort to unpack. At this very young stage in the wine's life, you get dark cherry and wild plum, with subtle spice, earth, cola and medicinal herb. This estate farms schistous soils (galestro), and that mineral imprint of pencil shaving, brimstone and gravel is unmistakable. The wine will be more accessible at the 10-year mark for sure.

A tightly wound, austere style, with strawberry and cherry fruit, accented by notes of tobacco, tea and iron, wrapped in a cloak of dusty tannins. The finish is incredibly long, giving a lasting impression of sweet fruit. Be patient. Best from 2019 through 2035. 61 cases made, 15 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Brunello di Montalcino Select to Add

Sesta di Sopra is another winery in Montalcino that delivers a powerful and well balanced wine in this important vintage. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is an impressive effort and a wine that sports a masculine and muscular personality. The nose is redolent of dark fruit, wild berry, died cherry, leather and tobacco. All those components come together in seamless fashion. The wine shows medium density in terms of mouthfeel but very long persistence. This is a wine of immense inner class and elegance.