2010 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino Pian Di Conte Riserva DOCG 750 ml

8-Year-Old Beauty From Top Brunello Vintage

Harvested from Talenti’s five-acre Paretaio Vineyard, the 2010 Pian di Conte Brunello di Montalcino Riserva hails from what Decanter calls one of the top Brunello vintages in the last half-century. Most 2010 Brunello disappeared amid the well-deserved fanfare surrounding the initial release, so the 2010 Talenti Riserva is a gift for those who missed out, as well as the savvy collectors who left a little space in the cellar. James Suckling called the 2010 Talenti Riserva “dense,” “wonderful,” and “beautiful,” and his 95-point score put it on even ground with Biondi-Santi’s legendary Brunello, which goes for $160 a bottle. As for Talenti? Elsewhere up to $98, but just $79.99 on Wine Access. 35 cases up for grabs of a powerhouse from the century’s top Brunello vintage — you won’t find offers like this around much longer.

In the unusually cool 2010 vintage, which was awarded 98 points by Wine Spectator, the Talentis crafted what we believe to be the finest Pian di Conte Riserva of the decade. We aren’t alone in that assessment. James Suckling called the 2010 Talenti Riserva “dense,” “wonderful,” and “beautiful,” and his 95-point score put it on even ground with Biondi-Santi’s legendary Brunello.

In 1980, Pierluigi Talenti purchased a prime-time 80-acre spread just outside the tiny hamlet of Sant’Angelo in Colle, in a southern quadrant of Montalcino much warmer than his native Romagna. Less than half the property would soon be planted to a carefully selected clonal mix of tightly spaced Sangiovese Grosso. Over the years, it became clear that just five acres consistently outperformed the rest of the property. In exceptional vintages, the entire production off this Vigneto Paretaio is earmarked for one of the most sought-after Brunello di Montalcino Riservas — the famed Pian di Conte.

2010 Brunello di Montalcino, rightly thought of as one of the top vintages in memory, was snapped up quickly on release. Fortunately, the Brunello Riservas follow after the initial buzz has abated just a bit. The 2010 Talenti Pian di Conte Brunello di Montalcino Riserva brings back that incredible 2010 vintage, but neither our small allocation — nor chances to cellar this century’s top Brunello vintage — will be around for long.

Jonathan Cristaldi

Editor-in-Chief, Wine Access