2020
Bruni Laire (Red) 2020 - 90Lightly brickish at the edges. A hint of reduction on the nose. Beautifully silky and rich on the palate. Concentrated and silky with real weight. Slightly fruity at first, with black cherries and a hint of black plums, this progresses quite quickly to starkly mineral, linear tannins that stand out cliff-like from an otherwise soft and silky - but very concentrated - mid-palate. Tannins are well-extracted but not excessive, softeed by the alcohol and that concentrated weight. The structure is really just gorgeous - so it's a shame that it's not so pleasant on the nose and that maybe the fruit is a little one-dimensional, squeezed into a tiny corner rather than being allowed to express itself. Maybe come back in a year or two, or decant for half a day?
Tasted September 20242019
Bruni Laire (Red) 2019 - 91Spice on the nose. Big black spicy jammy fruit with very firm mineral tannins and typical Sangiovese high acidity. Tannins are supple and fresh and very firm with a slight leathery note and black chocolate and violets. Much more accessible and drinker-friendly than Brunello. Lovely elegance, fruity, approachable - for the price, it's a great alternative to Brunello that's actually going be a much better fit for most people.
Tasted November 2022