This is Mastrojanni's top-shelf wine with the black wax seal affixed to the front of the bottle. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino comes from a ridge of vines named in Italian after its shape, which resembles the sturdy backbone silhouette of a donkey or mule. The 2019 vintage delivers robust aromas with black and purple fruits. You also get spice and char from longer cellar aging. It closes with gritty flavors of espresso or Turkish coffee over a generous, full-bodied mouthfeel. Only 5,928 bottles were created.

Black cherries and figs are followed by damp soil with wild fennel breaking through that evolves into a corrected espresso on the nose. The palate is sweet and indulgent with ripe berries, vanilla and chocolate and finally returns to the coffee note with the savory warmth of hazelnut that meets an acidity-charged salinity on the finish.