2016 Brunello Di Montalcino New Release Tasting Part II

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This is our annual Brunello di Montalcino new release event to showcase the latest and greatest vintage from Italy's most famous wine region and the greatest expression of Sangiovese on the Earth.  But the last two vintages have been so good we have had to host two events to cover more of the wines from the incredible 2015 and 2016 vintages.

Brunello di Montalcino by law can’t be released until after 5 years and the newest vintage 2016 because of the pandemic was delayed so some of the top wines from this outstanding vintage are just now starting to reach the US shores.  The Riservas are only made in excellent vintages, and they are held back for 6 years before release so the 2015 vintage Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the current release and they also are just now hitting the shelves.  These two back to back KILLER vintages make this tasting even more exciting as you also get to taste some of the top Riserva’s from the 2015 vintage at this tasting!!

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.

Although Brunello di Montalcino is one of the latest releases of all the world’s cellar worthy wines, in great vintage like 2016 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 2014 and why I have included all the older vintage wines from Montalcino that we have in the store on this offering….you can drink them while you hold on to your 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2010 vintages- in great vintages like these you need at least 10 years in the cellar after release.   Check out the Rosso di Montalcino at the end of this offering also, the “Baby Brunello” are a snapshot into the future to see the most current vintages in Montalcino as the Rosso are only held back for a year before 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.

2016 Brunello di Montalcino Part II
Another Outstanding Vintage in Tuscany!
Saturday, June 19th
7:30pm

2016 Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $45.00       Your Price: $39.60            Quantity in Stock: 12

(93 Points) The Camigliano 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a more robust bouquet compared to its peers, with its dark and saturated fruit. One thing Camigliano has going for it is that it always delivers the characteristics of its environment. In this case, the vines are located in a warm, sun-drenched corner of Tuscany, and the warm ripeness of the fruit is a testament of place. You also get aromas of scorched earth, grilled porcino mushroom and a touch of burnt rubber or summer asphalt. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 Il Palazzone Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $87.00       Your Price: $76.56
(92 Points) Il Palazzone's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino unfolds to light and crisp fruit with lots of wild cherry, rose and blue flower. This is a silky and medium-bodied red with lots of lifted energy and zest. This is a very lively wine. That lighter approach gives this wine a more immediate and accessible approach, and it would pair well with pork or lamb chops. It represents a blend of fruit from three vineyard sites.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 Tenuta San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello
Price: $64.25       Sale $56.54
(94 Points) The 2016 Ugolforte Brunello has aromas of black raspberry, violets, and dusty earth. The palate is inviting with ripe cherry fruit, licorice, dried herbs, and fine-grained tannin's. This will certainly be a fun property to watch and there is an elegance to the 2016 that I feel is a wonderful introduction to the new ownership. Drink 2022-2035.  Jeb Dunnuck

2016 Capanna Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $70.25       Sale $61.82
(94 Points) I tasted the Capanna 2016 Brunello di Montalcino side by side with the estate's 2015 Riserva and found that these two wines illustrate the vintage differences with clarity. This wine, the so-called "classic Brunello" from the slightly cooler vintage, is immediately more direct and expressive in terms of its bouquet. Aromas of cherry, earthy spice and rosemary essence are lifted and buoyant. However, the mouthfeel is surely more compact and tannic compared to the softer 2015 Riserva. What this wine lacks in texture, it delivers in terms of length and finish. It ages in Slavonian oak for 36 months and production is 42,000 bottles.  Wine Advocate

2016 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $75.00       Your Price: $66.00
(95 points) Outer quote mark The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 56,000 bottles made) shows bold cherry, spice, crushed stone and balsam herb that come together in seamless fashion. This estate has honed a unique style that becomes a common theme traced to each new vintage. I'd describe it as delicate but also succulent with a rich and almost pulpy quality of fruit. The wine is fueled by the golden light that hits this part of Tuscany in those last hours of the day. Here is a wine that shows spirit of place. (ML) 95+ Inner quote mark (11/2020)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 Casanova Neri Brunello Montalcino
Price: $80.00       Sale $70.40
(94 points) Outer quote mark The Casanova di Neri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (or the so-called "white label" Brunello) takes a minute or two to open, and like all these new releases from the Neri family, you're best off opening your bottle five hours before serving them. This classic expression displays raspberry, tar, hazelnut, dried fig, asphalt and some crushed chalk. The wine is streamlined and compact in terms of mouthfeel, giving us an accessible Brunello from a benchmark Montalcino estate. (ML) Inner quote mark (11/2020)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Casaccia
Price: $246.00    Your Price: $216.48          Quantity in Stock: 24
(96 Points) This is a newish single-vineyard wine (it's the second vintage) created by Francesco Ripaccioli and the team at Canalicchio di Sopra at the conclusion of an ambitious estate-wide mapping project. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia draws its fruit from a two-hectare site planted in 1990 with clay soils and rich in mineral components. A precious 4,133 bottles were made. What I like most is the tightness of the fruit, which you chip away at slowly as the wine softens and yields in the glass. Each layer brings you forest fruit, sour cherry, almond, lilac and candied orange peel. On a second swirl, you might get black olive, bay leaf and scorched earth. There are subtle mineral notes, but what La Casaccia ultimately offers is that uniquely compact and extremely polished quality of fruit. (ML) (3/2021) -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2016 Poggio Di Sotto Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $280.00    Sale $246.40
(97 Points) Alluring aromas of macerated cherry, strawberry and rose give way to a core of red fruit framed by iron, earth and tobacco in this elegant red, which is silky, but also well-structured, balanced and intense in a stylish profile. Very complex and promising. Best from 2024 through 2047.  Wine Spectator

2015 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $285.00    Your Price: $250.80          Quantity in Stock: 3

(98 Points) This stunning red exudes bright cherry, blackberry, plum, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, all knit together almost seamlessly, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins. Shows a combination of power and grace, with a long fruit and savory aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2047. From Italy.  Wine Spectator

2015 Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino Madonna Del Piano Riserva
Price: $305.00    Your Price: $268.40          Quantity in Stock: 8
(96 Points) The Valdicava 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a lovely wine that finds nice balance between power and elegance. You get the character of the fruit with dried cherry, cassis and cranberry and delicate nuances of grilled herb, cola and blue flower. The bouquet also shows lots of balsam intensity with root beer and rosemary oil. These two sides of the wine reach equilibrium, and the only thing needed here is more cellar aging time. There is a point of youthful tannic astringency that needs to unwind and integrate. I would not recommend opening this 25,000-bottles release before the 10-year mark.  Issue Date, 30th Nov 2020, Source- End of November 2020, The Wine Advocate

Menu
Selection of cheese and Charcuterie
Tuna Tartar with grilled wild mushrooms, Sage Aioli and Parmesan Reggiano Crisps
Bacon Tagliatelle Carbonara
Rare Seared Dry Aged Ribeye with Grilled Broccolini
Tiramisu

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner 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 food allergies or issues with steak.