2020 Vintage Brunello di Montalcino Wine Tasting

"At least once a day you should do something purely for enjoyment, and wine is my way of relaxing." - Young Uck Kim, Wine Collector

We try to do things that are relaxing more than once a day here at the Wine Watch… but that's just us...

This is our annual Brunello event to showcase the newest releases from Italy's most famous wine region and the greatest expression of Sangiovese on the Earth.

These wines are by law released after 5 years and the new vintage 2020 is just starting to reach the US shores.  The Riservas are only made in excellent vintages and they are held back for 6 years before release and the 2019 vintage Brunello di Montalcino Riserva are just now hitting the shelves but unlike the 2018 vintage the 2019 vintage was excellent and there were not a lot of producers that made 2018 and 2017 riserva as both were challenging vintages.

Brunello di Montalcino is one of the greatest wines of Italy and some would argue that it is one of the greatest wines on the planet.  This is one of the only places that produces compelling examples of the Sangiovese grape in 100% varietal form.

This will be our first comprehensive tasting with the newly released 2020 vintage wines.  This new release is being met with stellar reviews by the press and we are buying everything that comes in from this highly anticipated vintage. 

Although Brunello di Montalcino is one of the latest releases of all the world’s cellar worthy wines, in great vintage like 2019 these wines will need another 10+ years in your cellar before they reach their peak years of drinking.  That is why god made vintages like 2020, these wines are already showing nicely, and you can drink them while you hold on to your 2019, 2016, 2015, and 2013 vintages- in great vintages like these you need at least 10 years in the cellar after release.  

Join us as you will be some of the first to taste the newest release of the world’s greatest Sangiovese on Earth and chef Toni Lampasone will be serving a special five course tasting menu to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $250 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

2020 Brunello di Montalcino Tasting

Friday, April 18th

7:30pm

Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Castiglione Del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Costanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Cupano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Fanti Brunello di Montalcino Vallocchio DOCG Tuscany

Fossacolle Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 

Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

MStro Janni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto DOCG Tuscany

Podere Scopetone Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Tenuta di Sesta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany

Val Di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Del Lago DOCG Tuscany

2019 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany Riserva 

2019 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG Tuscany

Menu

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Tomato Salad with Burrata and Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette

Veal Bolognese Bucatini Pasta with Fresh Shaved Reggiano Parmesan

Iberico Pork Loin with Creamy Goat Cheese Grits and Sangiovese Natural Sauce

Flourless Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Torte

The fee for this tasting is $250 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have any dietary restrictions and chefs Toni and Dani will be happy to accommodate you.

2020 Brunello di Montalcino – The Latest Release!!

The Two-Faced 2020 Vintage –  Vinous

“Tasting the 2020 vintage, I can’t help but be reminded of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It’s always challenging reporting on a vintage like this one because I want to be clear about my analysis without dooming all of the producers in the entire region.

People will say many things about the 2020s. Some will call them elegant. Most will say they’re energetic. They are undoubtedly aromatic and fruit-forward. Then there’s the damning phrase, “It’s a restaurant vintage.” The fact is, while restaurant vintages are certainly necessary, especially for those of us who like to drink young Brunello, that phrase also communicates to consumers that the wines simply won’t age well. I’ve witnessed time and time again that coining a year as a “restaurant vintage” means that retail sales and purchases from collectors and speculators drop off a cliff. That said, although all the things I listed above are true about the 2020s, there’s significantly more nuance in this case.

It is a vintage with remarkably high highs and, unfortunately, very low lows. What’s more, there’s a significant disparity between producers who did a fantastic job and those who made lackluster wines that, in some cases, are very difficult to swallow (literally). This brings me back to the 2020 Rossos and a report (The Rise of Rosso di Montalcino) I wrote in October of 2022, where I stated, “[The 2022 Rossos] are rich, textural and opulent reds that boast gobs of ripe red fruit and extract. Most 2020s are so beautiful today that it’s hard to envision them getting any better, which could pose a problem for the Brunello category.” As I continued to sample the 2020 Rossos over the last two years, it became apparent that their combination of high extract, high acidity and high alcohol made them very difficult to taste. On more than one occasion, I found myself unable to get through a single glass. This issue plagues many of the 2020 Brunellos at the lower end of the score spectrum. These are big, decadent wines that lack the balance to age. In many cases, the tannins are surprisingly silky to a fault, where the wines lack the grip and framing structure on the palate that even a restaurant vintage should offer.”  Vinous