Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy · Italy
2010 Tenuta Le Potazzine Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Tenuta Le Potazzine's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a perfumed, elegant expression from one of Montalcino's landmark vintages - sitting at or just past its peak but still offering superb drinking.
- Varietal
- Sangiovese
- Vintage
- 2010
Drinking Window
In 2026: At PeakIn the heart of its drinking window (2020–2028).
Right now: In 2026, the 2010 Le Potazzine Brunello sits at the late end of its projected peak window, which runs 2020-2028. Wine Spectator gave the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino vintage a Classic 98, calling it a product of "perfect late summer weather" that yielded "fresh, elegant, balanced and structured" Sangiovese. At sixteen years from harvest, this wine has developed the tertiary complexity - licorice, tar, dried fruit, silky integrated tannins - that marks Brunello at its most evolved and pleasurable. Collectors should open now through 2028, after which the trajectory curves toward gradual decline. No need to delay: this is Brunello drinking at its most expressive.
Tasting Note
A luminous, translucent ruby-garnet in the glass, the color of mature Sangiovese. The nose is perfumed and lifted: pressed violet, dried rose petal, and orange zest lead before giving way to wild red cherry, fennel frond, and a delicate forest floor earthiness. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a silky, integrated texture that signals full maturity: the once-angular Brunello tannins have softened into a seamless, long structure. Baking spice and anise carry through the mid-palate; the finish is long and fragrant, with a mineral freshness that keeps the wine alive and inviting. Classic Le Potazzine elegance.
About Tenuta Le Potazzine
Tenuta Le Potazzine is a small, family-operated estate in the southern quadrant of Montalcino, the zone associated with fuller, more aromatic expressions of Brunello. Owner and winemaker Gigliola Giannetti tends fewer than five hectares of Sangiovese Grosso with an emphasis on traditional methods: long maceration periods, aging in large Slavonian oak casks, and minimal intervention. The estate produces only a few thousand cases annually, and the Brunello di Montalcino is its flagship bottling - a wine that consistently delivers Montalcino's fragrant southern character with excellent structural backbone.
Food Pairings
Wild boar with juniper and rosemary
The wine's silky, mature tannins and dried cherry fruit are a natural match for the gamey richness of wild boar; the wine's fragrant herbal notes echo the rosemary and juniper.
Bistecca with aged Parmigiano
Brunello's bright acidity and anise-tinged mid-palate lift the richness of a Florentine-style steak, while the wine's mature tannins integrate with the fat without astringency.
Porcini mushroom pasta in brown butter
The wine's forest floor earthiness and violet perfume harmonize with the umami depth of dried porcini, while its acidity cuts through brown butter's richness.
Service & Cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-65°F (17-18°C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, the 2010 Le Potazzine Brunello is mature and should be decanted 45-60 minutes. The wine's silky tannins and aromatic complexity need gentle aeration to fully express without the risk of the fruit fading from overexposure in the glass.
- Cellar Storage
- 55°F (13°C), 65-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
Frequently Asked
Is the 2010 Le Potazzine Brunello ready to drink in 2026?
Yes — this is an ideal time to open it. The wine is within its peak window of 2020-2028 and has developed the silky, tertiary complexity that makes mature Brunello so compelling.
How does the 2010 vintage rank for Brunello di Montalcino?
Wine Spectator rated the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino a Classic 98 — among the highest scores for the appellation in modern memory. The vintage is widely regarded alongside 2004 and 2015 as one of the defining recent Brunello years, producing wines of exceptional balance, freshness, and aging potential.
How long should I decant this Brunello?
Decant 45-60 minutes. A large, tulip-shaped glass works well.
What does Le Potazzine's style bring to this Brunello?
Le Potazzine's southern Montalcino terroir and traditional large-oak aging produces Brunello with a particularly fragrant, perfumed character — violet, orange zest, and dried flower notes feature more prominently than in the more structured northern producers.
Track this bottle
Track this Tenuta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG in Cellared.
See its drinking window, peak years, and what to pair it with alongside the rest of your cellar. Free to start on iOS.
Download on the App Store