Wine Reviews

Packaged with a blue wax capsule and a chunky glass bottle, the Tenute Silvio Nardi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara opens to an inky dark appearance. The very first thing I noticed is the high alcohol content of the wine, measured here at 15.5%, which proves a distraction. The fruit is rich and concentrated, and there is a lot of oak spice and toast at the back. The tannins are dry

The nose mixes sweetness with umami, as vanilla and dark berries play with soil and mushrooms. On the palate, the berries and soil continue their game, while a stony herbaceousness watches from the shadows before a comforting, warm finish of bitter, spicy chocolate.

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Manachiara is dusty and floral, with aromas of dried roses, ground cloves and black cherries. Silky and round, it quickly gains tension as tart wild berry fruits saturate and fine-grained tannins mount toward the close.

Holiday spice, lavender, crushed plums and worn leather can all be found as the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara comes to life in the glass. This is pure elegance on the palate, silky-smooth and soothing with ripe red and hints of blue fruit, as fine-grained tannins slowly creep in toward the close. It leaves a youthfully tart concentration while finishing structured and classically dry, as pretty inner florals and hints of licorice slowly fade.

Polished and perfumed nose of hazelnuts, chocolate strawberries, sage, cherries and Spanish cedar. Firm and structured, with a full body enveloping just-ripe fruit and chocolate. All balanced by bright acidity. Refined. This would score even higher with a longer finish, but fantastic nonetheless.