2016 SanCarlo Brunello di Montalcino

This is a 95-point masterpiece from the single greatest Brunello vintage of the modern era (2016)—the perfect bottle to open while you let your Biondi-Santi and Soldera sleep in the cellar. If you follow Italian wine, you know that 2016 is the "Goldilocks" year—a vintage of perfect balance, power, and structure that critics have universally declared the "Vintage of the Century." Most 2016s have long since disappeared into private collections, which makes this library release from SanCarlo a rare and valuable find.

SanCarlo is a tiny, artisanal estate located on the southwestern slopes of Montalcino near the hamlet of Tavernelle. This is a sweet spot for Sangiovese, where the warmth of the lower altitude meets the cooling influence of the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea. The Marcucci family, who have farmed these 3 hectares of vines since the 1960s, are traditionalists to the core. They share the same philosophy as the region's giants, avoiding the "international" style of heavy French oak in favor of large Slavonian casks that allow the pure, dusty cherry fruit of the vintage to shine.

At nearly a decade old, this 2016 is just entering its prime drinking window. It possesses the brooding structure of the vintage but has softened enough to reveal the savory, leather-and-earth complexity that makes Brunello one of the world's greatest wines.