This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Gaja
Rennina Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is captivating as balsam herbs, wilted violets, and stone dust smolder up, slowly giving way to a core of crushed blackberry. This is pure class, silky and elegant yet racy. Brisk acidity and masses of mineral-tinged dark red fruits saturate the palate, which is lifted by a orange hint toward the close as salty minerals penetrate. Like liquid stone, the 2016 remains youthfully structured, with a wall of fine tannins that grips the senses and a coating of primary concentration that promises balance for a long life. This is an absolutely stunning vintage for Rennina. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Caprili
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly in the glass, inward and darkly floral. The nose hints at black currants, underbrush, exotic spices and crushed ashen stone, as if the soils of this Tavernelle estate have been imparted into its bouquet. This soothes with textures of pure silk, stepping lightly, as a wave of ripe red and black fruits easily flow across the palate, guided by saline-tinged acidity. Orange notes add contrast. The 2016 finishes staining and long, placing its minerality front and center. A saturation of fine tannins frames the experience as traces of licorice slowly fade. It's like liquid earth, yet juicy. Wow. A fantastic performance. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Fattoria Poggio di Sotto
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
It's such a pleasure to taste the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Poggio di Sotto; this is easily one of the wines of the vintage. Its bouquet is pure class, balsamic, exotic and spicy. A blend of dried orange and cloves gives way to sweet lavender and black cherries. Elegant and silky, yet with cooling acidity and depths of tart red berry fruits, the 2016 impresses further with a salty savoriness and a sense of sheer energy. It leaves a coating of dusty tannins and dark florals to resonate, displaying a youthful concentration slowly easing as traces of licorice fade through the incredibly long finish. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Il Marroneto
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
Dark and pleasantly herbal-tinged, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up with a woodsy blend of dusty black cherries, cedar shavings and flowery underbrush lifted by hints of mint. This soothes with textures of pure silk, verging on fleshy at times yet held together by stimulating acidity. A wave of ripe orange-tinged red fruits cascade across the palate. Its tannins are sweet and round, still quite grippy as the 2016 finishes long and staining. A licorice tinge slowly fades. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Conti Costanti
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
Cedar and mint hints complement depths of musky red currant and dried cherries as the darkly alluring 2016 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up from the glass. This is a model of purity, with textures of pure silk. It's vibrant, verging on nervous acidity, mixing ripe strawberry with a tart cranberry crunch as orange traces add further depth toward the close. Still structured yet not aggressively so, the 2016 finishes long and staining. A gentle tug of fine tannins adds youthful poise as the cheeks pucker for another sip. This is already showing beautifully, yet patience is recommended. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Pertimali (Livio Sassetti)
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is rich and darkly alluring with a pleasantly rustic touch, as a burst of crushed black cherries and autumnal spice is lifted by suggestions of mint and white smoke. This opens with a lovely inner sweetness, showing remarkable purity and enveloping, plush textures as ripe red and blue fruits swirl throughout, guided by vibrant acidity. A tactile mineral tinge lingers along with gently grippy tannins as the 2016 tapers off with a sour sensation that keeps the mouth watering as a savory herbal thrust slowly fades. This bottle isn’t showing the purity of previous experiences, yet remains a killer Brunello. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
E. Fuligni (Cottimelli)
Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is youthfully coy in the glass, slowly opening with a delicate blend of smoked meats, cedar dust, crushed rocks and dried strawberries. It’s soft and enveloping with silky textures, a sweet and sour interplay of mineral-tinged berries and balsamic spice hints. Fine tannins mount toward the close. This finishes youthfully tense and grippy with a bump of residual acidity to balance its saturation of primary components. The 2016 is in an odd and slightly dormant place in its evolution. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Castiglion del Bosco
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
Sweet spices, roses and dusty stone give way to rubbed sage and rosemary as the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino slowly evolves in the glass. This is pure elegance, silky-smooth and supple with a mineral tinge that adds a lovely depth to its black cherry fruit as brisk acidity adds a lovely tension. Saline minerals cascade throughout as a tinge of orange mingles with gritty tannins, and liquid stone notes linger through the long and staining finale. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Altesino
Montosoli Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2016
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is quite mineral in the glass. Ashen stones, savory grilled herbs and smoked meats give way to woodland berries. This is dark and radiant, showing the classic racy fruit of the year, yet unbelievably soft and plaint, taking on a saline edginess toward the close. It finishes youthfully coy with dusty tannins, leaving just a touch of lingering licorice. The Montosoli is understated today, yet with a feminine beauty and inner sweetness that I find attractive. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
Delectable Wine
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Darkly floral and with a mentholated lift, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino slowly blossoms in the glass with a blend of stone dust, dried cherries, pine shavings and sweet smoke. This is softer and more supple than expected, yet quickly builds with a mineral tension combined with tart wild berry fruits as the slightest trace of tangerine and cedar adds contrast toward the close. The 2016 leaves an enlivening orange tinge through the finish, along with gritty tannins and a slightly chewy sensation, tapering off dramatically long and youthfully tense. The potential here is very high, yet cellaring is still recommended. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago