La Lecciaia Di Pacini Mauro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Manapetra

After a very brief decant, paired with stuffed shells. 10 years is a sweet spot for most Brunellos and this is no exception. Initially, earth, licorice, and dried cherries. Some of the earthiness/church basement dissipated with time. On the palate, medium + acidity, medium integrated tannins and dried fruits. Medium + finish. The only thing holding this one back from a higher score is that it is fairly one-dimentional. Great QPR though. On day 2, much better!

Muted nose for a few hours, then red fruit, damp earth, and some menthol. Nice ripe fruit on the palate and good balance. An enjoyable, though not terribly complex Brunello. At around $40-$45, a pretty good value in a region whose prices have gotten out of hand. It seems that I can find many versions of Barolo Classico in this price range that really sing, and to get that experience in a Brunello, you have to pay at least 50% …