Hurry, Operative! We’ll sell out of the exquisite Antinori 2012 Pian Delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino. This 94 point wine caused a sensation - nearly a fight - among our tasting panelists. A sensation, because the wine is so incredibly great, and a fight, because there isn’t enough wine for our Operatives and our panelists.

Priority goes to you, dear Operative! But hurry. The last time we featured a wine from the Antinori family, it sold out by 8:30 am.

Where looks are concerned, this wine is semi-translucent with a deep garnet hue with a brick rim characteristic of many Italian wines. This wine has a compact, dense nose of plum, lychee, wet gravel, red fruit and subtle notes of lime citrus. On the palate, the fruit flavors of early-season cherry complement dulcet earth tones of terracotta and rich soil. There’s a lovely barrel spice there as well, with a touch of tart apple to round it out. This is a classic Brunello with low tannin that focuses on acidity to drive the elegant flavor profile. The tannins supply a long, tapered finish which is more drying toward the end. Italian wines, with their low tannin, are made for food and this is no exception. It screams out asking for a big, heaping bowl of linguine with a spicy bolognese sauce.

630 Years of Winemaking Excellence:

The Antinori’s family’s winemaking history has been synonymous with the famed wine growing regions of Tuscany and Umbria since its inception more than six centuries ago when Giovanni di Piero Antinori entered the “Arte Fiorentina,” the Winemakers’ Guild of Florence, in 1385.

Today, the Antinori legacy is overseen by Piero Antinori and this three daughters, Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia. Together, they oversee one of the largest wine companies in Italy, and their innovations played a large part in the “Super-Tuscan” revolution of the 1970s. Antinori is a member of the Primum Familiae Vini. The company is the 10th oldest family-owned company in the world!

We’re very sorry that we could not get more of this wine and we sincerely hope that you are able to partake of our offer.

Cheers!!

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Here’s what the wine press has to say.

94 Points - Wine Spectator - “The sweet cherry and raspberry flavors set the pace for this supple, charming Brunello. Leather, tobacco, earth and iron accents add complexity as this cruises to a terrific finish. Feels more open, yet this should develop well. Best from 2020 through 2033.”

94 Points - James Suckling - “A soft and silky red with plum, chocolate and light coffee character. Medium to full body, well-integrated tannins and a fruity and fresh finish. Drink in 2018.”

93 Points - Decanter - “Warm, spicy, bramble fruit aromas lead to a full, firmly-structured yet juicy palate with powerful fruit flowing onto a long, nervy finish. Will improve further.”