Biserno 2011 75cl

Both lush and densely textured, this red boasts black currant, blackberry, licorice, tobacco and iron aromas and flavors. For all the power on display, this retains a certain gracefulness, with vibrant acidity driving the long aftertaste. Needs time. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2016 through 2024. 4,165 cases made.

No question that the 2011 Biserno is an impeccably executed wine. The deft hand of the winemaker is on full display thanks to integrated oak notes and fleshly extraction. But its also clear that the fruit on hand is very ripe, as 2011 showed heat spikes toward the end of the growing season. Mature fruit tones of blackberry and dried currant are backed by forest floor, licorice, tilled earth and grilled herb. The mouthfeel is also a bit heavier and flatter compared to the excellent 2009 and 2010 vintages. This wine still needs time to evolve and flesh out.<br/><br/>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.