93 Eric Guido - Vinous Media

The 2017 Kurni captivates with a seductive bouquet full of cloves and exotic spices that give way to dusty dried roses, sweet plum and cherry sauce. It’s undeniably elegant, casting velvety waves of ultra-ripe red and black currants across the palate, as a concentration of primary fruit penetrates deeply; yet, through it all, the experience remains almost impossibly vibrant. Cinnamon, mocha, bacon-wrapped figs and sweet tobacco resonate throughout the long and remarkably fresh finale, where a coating of fine-grained tannins leave an impression of utter refinement. The Kurni is a polarizing Montepulciano made from partially dried grapes followed by refinement in 200% new French barriques for anywhere from twenty-four to thirty months prior to bottling. Don’t come here looking for varietal purity, but do come here looking for an experience-wine full of unbridled pleasures.