For both of these wines, I had been waiting an entire year to finally taste them. Even tho, they both are not ...

For both of these wines, I had been waiting an entire year to finally taste them. Even tho, they both are not coming from my cellar. In 2004, I wasn’t even old enough to drink, and my family were ayran drinkers, not wine people. A 2004 Brunello is also not something you just pick up in a wine shop… This bottle of Pian dell’Orino 2004 Brunello came directly from the producer’s private cellar, a gift from the family on my very last day of work in Montalcino. One of Jan’s earliest Brunellos, and with the vintage, all the more special. The other bottle, the 2017 Les Noëls de Montbenault from Richard Leroy, we reserved for in advance, was a real disappointment. It started off promising, but quickly fell apart, overwhelmed by unbearable VA, turning into pure acetone… And then came 2020 Chenin from the same plot. It began ethereal, evolved slowly, and revealed unexpected layers: red fruit, a dark floral note, flowers of late summer, hay, even a hint of exotic fruit, all wrapped in delicate sweet almond. By the third day, its perfume was breathtaking. I never expected such body and aromatic complexity from a Chenin. The Brunello opened beautifully. From the first sip to the last on the second day, it stood strong, as Pian wines so often do. Seductive, layered fruit, firm tannins, touches of blood, baked bread, and graphite. Sometimes it felt like a great Nebbiolo. Not a single sign of age. Ageless, timeless, like all great wines, far beyond trends. And if you don’t feel it… well, go see a doctor. Terrific wine. #rarewine #unicornwine #winediaries #brunello #richardleroy