2016 Brunello di Montalcino Abbadia Ardenga

Ripe berries and plums with fresh flowers and cedar on the nose. Some tar and asphalt, too. Full-bodied with round, chewy tannins. Quite a full, rich red. Drink after 2024.

There’s a dark, mysterious richness and almost-savory character to the 2016 Abbadia Ardenga Brunello di Montalcino that I’m loving. Baked cherries and plums are given lift through a mix of white smoke, cardamom and mint leaf, forming a unique yet highly enjoyable display. It’s silky in texture, ushering in crushed red berries, blackberries and exotic spices. There’s a core of nervous acids and salty minerals, which further accentuates a sense of umami found within. While maintaining an energetic feel, the 2016 Abbadia Ardenga is still perfectly poised and youthfully structured, even as hints of licorice and cinnamon sugar linger. This won’t be for the Sangiovese purist, but it sure will make the more adventurous palates very happy.