Biserno 2010 150cl

A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2010 Biserno really starts to show the potential of the Biserno site. Ten-year-old vines have held up nicely in this balanced vintage with cool nights and warm days. The bouquet is compelling and rich with bright spots of red cherry and chocolate that make for a joyful juxtaposition. Soft waves of spice and cinnamon are woven deep within Biserno’s thick texture. Soft tannins and thick consistency build momentum on the finish. The 2010 vintage should hold for ten years or more. I was able to spend an afternoon with Lodovico Antinori recently at his beautiful estate in Bibbona (just a stone’s throw from the Bolgheri municipality line). This is a magical place with softly rolling hills that stand at a slightly taller incline on this part of the Tuscan coast. Shining luminosity from the sky and reflected off the surface of the Mediterranean sea flood the landscape with golden sunshine. The property, planted to Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, is impeccably manicured. Michel Rolland is consultant in the winery. Lodovico has big plans for his estate, including an underground, gravity-flow winery. The architectural designs are set, but ground on the new project is not broken yet. His property has 47 hectares of vines that are ten years old. The young age of the plants is still a factor in hotter years (like 2011), where the wines tend to show overripe nuances.

Fresh and floral with blueberry, sliced nutmeg, currant and dark chocolate. Full body with firm, pretty fruit. Long, long finish. A little austere. Tight now - needs more time to soften. Closed from past tastings. Try in 2016.