2016 Brunello di Montalcino

Last year, we wrote that it remained to be seen if 2016 turned out a better vintage than its predecessor. Well, now we have made all our tastings it is still quite difficult to separate this pair in terms of quality, they are both 5 star vintages in our opinion, but these two are remarkably different in style. The 2015s are marked by their richness and density, with the 2016s being quite the reverse. The latter's wines are cooler and fresher and are more reticent in their aromatics, but the components are all there: fantastic acidity and tannins, with most of the wines having longer cellar potential. The vintage has been greatly hyped, and we are pleased with all our selections. Having tasted from close to 30 producers, we have kept our choices this year to a tight bunch of our perennial favourites, plus a few more which also excited us this year. This is a year to go long on: if you are fan of Brunello this is really not a year to miss.