TERRALSOLE, BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, RISERVA

TUSCANY, ITALY 2007

I love perfectly aged Brunello. The exhuberent, bright red cherry fruit and mouth-gripping tannins of Brunello in its youth soften to reveal seductive notes of dried fig, candied cherry, hazelnut and sun-baked leather. Essentially with time, Brunello becomes more ravishing than ever. However, finding a pristinely cellared Brunello that is more than a decade old is not an easy feat. The investment it takes for the winery to hold bottles for longer than a few years without selling them is an undertaking in itself. So seeking out and actually finding these gems from an outstanding vintage (for a relatively reasonable price) is nearly impossible. But that’s just what we did. After tasting Terralsole’s Riserva 2007, we knew we had to buy up as much as we could get. And after all of the waiting – for the wines to ship and arrive in our warehouse – pulling the cork on this stunning 2007 Terralsole Brunello Riserva was, without a doubt, absolutely worth it. Critics have, time and time again, sang the praises of the outstanding 2007 vintage, and the Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is confirmation that 2007 is a showstopper that just keeps on giving.
 

Having come from an Italian wine background, I’ve tasted my fair share of wines from every region of the boot. Yet, there are a handful of wines that I continue to savor far after they’re gone, and many of those land directly in Montalcino - the wines of the legendary Biondi Santi, the elegant Poggio di Sotto and the classically styled Canalicchio di Sopra pull at my heart strings. Brunello di Montalcino is one of the longest lived wines in the world, and though some can be massive and overly-extracted, I savor the wines with personality: inherently nuanced with energy and nerve. These wines are the benchmark by which all other Brunellos are measured, and Terralsole has just edged its way onto center stage. This cool, yet powerful Brunello is drop-dead gorgeous – vibrant and perfumed with radiant fruit and a classic structure. It is already showing well, with a remarkable potential for additional long-term cellaring.
 

For winemakers like Mario Bollag, it isn’t about empire; it’s about passion. With an eye and palate toward traditional, elegant Brunello, his love for the wines of Brunello di Montalcino brought him to become a winemaker 30+ years ago. As the original founder of Il Palazzone, he eventually sold to Time Warner CEO Dick Parsons to break ground on his ultimate dream, Terralsole. His 12-acre farm sits high on the southeastern slope of Montalcino right behind Biondi Santi, the estate synonymous with Brunello. His vines are planted in two distinctly different areas – in the Pian Bossolino Vineyard which lies 410 meters above sea level, and produces intense wines with an ample bouquet. The vines planted on the lower lying Sesta area lends to rounder more structured wines. It’s the blend of these two areas that produces their powerful, yet refined Brunellos. Having exchanged his barrique for 600L Tonneaux made exclusively from the tightly grained Allier oak, the wine combines the seductive perfumes of pure Sangiovese, with a supple core of sweet fruit and a firm grip that will improve over the next decade. Terralsole is a new name for me, but it hearkens back to the standard guard, reminiscent of those Brunellos that first stole my heart.
 

With up to to 20% off, I know I'll be stocking up and happily opening these wines over the next 10-15 years. For the stunning 2007 vintage, and a Riserva which is only produced in the best vintages, this is an offer for a price that can't be beat!