CRITIC REVIEWS
Eric Guido
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.
Monica Larner
The Castiglion del Bosco 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a fruit-forward expression with soft cherry, blackberry, tilled earth and a touch of sweet spice. This wine is made in an especially accessible style that prizes ripe fruit and oak aging (in both barrique and botte). Fruit comes from a 52-hectare vineyard with galestro schist and clay. The tannins are more evident here compared to the 2015 vintage; however, this wine is almost ready to go with beef tagliata topped with porcini mushrooms. Production is 130,000 bottles.
JancisRobinson.com
From the Capanna vineyard, at 350-450 m, facing the Tyrrhenian coast and exposed to a cooling breeze. The soil is the traditional galestro formed of layers of sandstone and clay, which is rich in limestone. The grapes are hand-picked and whole bunches are pressed. Fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak casks and barriques for 24 months before bottling, with a further 12 months in bottle before release. Transparent crimson. Chestnut aromas and definite Sangiovese tang on the nose. Very lively with real energy and this desperately needs food but it certainly tastes Tuscan as opposed to Bordelais! Very dry finish.