In past vintages, this wine had a big percentage of Cabernet Franc, but the Tolaini 2018 Picconero Tenuta Montebello is 100% Merlot, aged in French barrique for 24 months including six months on the fine lees. The wine is packaged in a heavy glass and 5,700 bottles were made. Within this estate portfolio, the Picconero offers a whole other layer of intensity and concentration. The wine is opulent for sure, but it is also complex with a pretty aromatic tug-of-war that pits fleshy dark fruit against mint and grilled rosemary. There is lavender, peach and even a touch of sweet blood orange in this full-bodied red. The alcohol is high at 15%, but the wine has the flesh to absorb that heat.

This is a beautiful wine from the folks at Tolaini, and one of the finest bottles made by this dynamic estate so far. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Picconero Tenuta Montebello shows depth and width, pushing its intensity and fruit-forward style in all directions. The wine is indeed expansive and rich with pressed blackberry, plum and dried rose. There are earthy tones as well and a touch of garden mint. This wine is a true achievement.

The 2015 Picconero Tenuta Montebello is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that pours out lots of dark fruit and plum. This is a very nice, juicy and balanced wine with good thickness, a great match for iron steak and blue cheese butter sauce. In general, I've found these wines from Tolini to be top notch, with succulent tones of ripe fruit and pretty intensity. This one is at the top of the pyramid, and I'm guessing 2016 in particular could be even better. They released about 9,000 bottles of this vintage.

The 2014 Picconero Tenuta Montebello (65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc) takes us back in time to a cool and mild vintage. With all the exuberant wines from the sunny 2015 and 2016 vintages on the market now, it's nice to taste the delicately nuanced and fine detailing that characterizes 2014. The bouquet opens to dark fruit, dried blackberry, spice, leather and tar. It shows determined structure and power in the mouth; however, the wine's overall length is a bit shorter in 2014. It should be interesting to see if it fleshes out in the future, as I expect it will do. Only 4,000 bottles were made.

A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, the 2011 Picconero Tenuta Montebello is a distinguished and important wine. I've been noticing how well Cabernet Franc performs at this Tuscan estate. You get a good sense of this here (and especially in this vintage). The wine opens to an inky black appearance as you would expect, with fragrant aromas of dried blackberry and candied cherry. Warmer aromas of allspice and sweet clove add more consistency and weight to the overall package. These various attributes find terrific harmony.