A big, dramatic wine, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino hits the palate with an exotic mélange of lavender, dried flowers, mint, sage, black cherries and plums, all supported by firm tannins and beams of underlying acidity. Constantly changing in the glass, the 2010 is going to provide superb drinking for many years, but readers will need to give this big, broad-shouldered Brunello a little time in bottle to fully come together. Le Potazzine is one of the very few estates that will not bottle a 2010 Riserva; all the best fruit is here. 94 points

Palish ruby. Fine fragrant strawberry nose. Supple and elegant and with wonderful succulence and style and fine, grainy tannins on the finish. 17.5 points

Savory and seductively spicy, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautifully expressive wine with loads of aromatic intensity that ranges from ethereal balsam herb to cured meat to dark berry fruit. Earthy tones and crushed minerals fill in the back, but the main part of the bouquet is dominated by rich fruit. The results are truly stunning with meaningful and long persistency on the palate. This Brunello is already at a good point in its evolution and is already very generous. You can probably start to enjoy it following three or four years of cellar aging. 94 points