Brunello is undoubtedly one of the wines that established Italy's fame as a great red wine country in the last third of the last century. Accordingly, the expectations we have for this wine are high. Its storability, for instance, is considered legendary.
In fact, however, many Brunellos are already approaching their drinking maturity when they come on the market in the fifth year after the harvest (Riserve need at least one year longer). Most of the wines reach their best time between 8 and 12 years and keep this level for quite a while. Those who are basically counting on eternal shelf life might experience a disappointment if they wait too long; only the best examples do not just hold out, but age for 15, 20 or even more years with profit.
