After the very hot and dry 2017 vintage, 2018 was also characterized by intense heat. Another vintage for full-bodied wines, but one that produced somewhat fresher, more balanced wines than 2017. Plenty of roasted aromas and ripe fruit on the nose. Very warm and fleshy. Ripe, almost dried dark fruits like sour cherries and blueberries. Plus cedarwood, smoke, and sweet spices. A youthful, racy acidity that keeps the wine's power in check. Amazingly mellow tannins and a creamy, smooth palate. In contrast, the final third reveals dried sage, black pepper, elderberry leaf, and a striking, salty, drying minerality. A warm and powerful Gran Selezione, in which Giovanni d'Orsi still managed to bottle sufficient herbal freshness, punch, and minerality. Not dissimilar in structure to the 2017, but a touch fresher and cooler.