Tasting Notes
James Suckling 98
This is an incredible 2012 with fantastic depth, richness, focus and tension. Full body, polished and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Goes on for minutes. Better in 2020 but a joy to taste now. One of the wines of the vintage.
Robert Parker 93
This wine pours from the bottle with deep, dark intensity. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva le Lucére shows thick extraction and deep concentration of dark fruit, cherry marmalade and blackberry preserves. Black prune and dried fig also play supporting roles, with a strong showing by exotic spice and savory tobacco. This is a Big Brunello with two capital Bs. It ages in small oak barrel for 14 months and then does another 16 months of aging in botte grande. It shows thick textural richness in the mouth.
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035
Vinous 92
Deep ruby-red; I’m not sure Brunello needs to be this deep in color. Rich, ripe aromas and flavors of fresh blackberry, red cherry pie and blueberry nectar are complemented by a strong dollop of vanilla. The finish is long, creamy and suave but will leave the hairs in your nostrils singed by considerable alcohol-derived heat (the label reports 15.5% alcohol, and you won’t have any trouble believing it). Despite its excesses, this is an outstanding wine. Personally, I much prefer the non-riserva Brunello Le Lucére, but I can see how some people might prefer this bigger, darker wine.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2034
