Caparzo 2013 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1.5L

Caparzo is my go-to producer when I'm looking for classic Brunello with a more accessible and immediate personality to pair with pasta or grilled steak. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is made in traditional botte from Slavonian oak, where it rests for two years. Yet the bouquet is softer and more open than many other wines made in this fashion (that ultimately sees less oxygen during overall winemaking). Bright cherry and cassis is followed by deep layers of smoke, tar and grilled herb. The wine is elegant and graceful for either a medium or a long-term drinking window.

Score: 92 points -- Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate, 2018