2010 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino

Quite deep, concentrated ruby. Impressive yet austere, savoury fruit nose with hints of graphite and oak. Compact and tightly knit, firm palate, a little sweet but with good potential. Drink 2015-2026. 16.5 points

An unforgiving, powerfully structured wine with fabulous grilled-meat, granite, dried-berry and flower-petal character. Full-bodied, chewy and intense. Great structure. Extremely long and intense. Sexy austerity. Gets the juices going. Best ever from here. Reminds me of the great Argianos of the 1970s. Better in 2017 or 2018. 98 points

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino jumps from the glass with notable energy and precision. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco, rose petal and mint are all beautifully delineated in the glass. Distinctly savory and mineral notes add complexity to the expressive, stone-inflected fruit in a chiseled, pulsating Brunello endowed with considerable energy. The tannins need time to soften, but Argiano`s 2010 is unquestionably a winner. 9 4 points

Aged for 24 months in oak, the gorgeous 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a brooding, dark wine with great aromatic purity. The fruit tones are rich and penetrating, spanning from plum, prune and cassis to spice cake, tar and black licorice. The wine`s concentration is luscious and opulent. The oak element imparts lasting aromas of spice, toast and caramel but the wine already shows a good degree of integration that should help it continue its bottle evolution. Hold this wine until 2017. 95 points