A serious, old-school Brunello Riserva from the southeastern corner of Montalcino, near Sant’Antimo.

Dark cherry, plum skin and dried herbs on the nose, with tobacco, leather and warm woody spice underneath. The palate is deep and structured, with savoury red and black fruit, firm, polished tannins, and a long, mineral finish. Powerful and elegant, this has a long life ahead of it, but has plenty of approachability out of the gate.

La Palazzetta is a family-run 18-hectare estate in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, on stony galestro and limestone soils at 365 m above sea level. Flavio Fanti, a committed traditionalist, oversees every aspect of the vineyards and cellar, working organically. His Brunellos rest in large Slovenian and French oak casks, after fastidious selection and hand harvesting of the grapes, the wine macerates for between 21-23 days in open top fermenters and is aged for four years in large botti.