Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Annata 2005

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Annata opens with a fabulous, expressive bouquet of freshly cut roses, spices and raspberries, all of which carry through to the palate, where the wine reveals impeccable class and elegance, with just enough fruit to balance its angular, lean structure. Still, the 2005 is surprisingly round and harmonious for a young vintage of Biondi-Santi, in fact, I had a hard time putting the glass down! Though medium in body, the wine offers gorgeous persistence and a long, exceptionally pure finish. I expect the 2005 Brunello to shut down in bottle, but readers who have an opportunity to taste the wine should not hesitate. Biondi-Santi did not produce a Riserva in 2005; instead the best of the fruit that is normally destined for the Riserva plus a selection of old vines near the heart of the estate were used for the 2005 Brunello. This is one of the unqualified successes of the vintage.