This appears to be a faulty bottle.

Argiano’s probably best known for their 2018 vintage being WS’s #1 rank wine in 2023 (I think). Obviously I hopped on the hype train and grabbed a couple of those, as well as a 2015 given my curiosity with the winemaker + the strong vintage in Brunello.

In the glass, this was a bright garnet with light body.

On the nose: fresh off the bottle, it was just pure black currant and fairly high alcohol. Tiny bit of leather at the background. Nose was very very very closed and thin. There was also a distinct savory note to it, sorta almost like jarred olives. There is something off about it, the way it smells almost flat and hollow.

With aggressive aeration in the glass, the wine shyly opened up. The blackcurrant remained prominent, but a sour cherry emerged. The most distinct transformation was the emergence of cedar wood, some oak, and stronger leather alongside the fruit. This leather note continued to emerge more and more strongly with time.

On the palate: mid+ acidity, touch of residual sugar, still considerably grippy tannins. The body was a touch thin, in line with how it looked in the glass. Wine was aromatic on the exhale, with the wood and leather being the dominant note.