Handford Wine - 2020 Brunello Vintage Tasting
Handford Wine
Tasted Tuesday, March 25, 2025 by Riaan with 244 views
Flight 1 - 2020 Brunello (18 Notes)
2020 is being compared to 2015 and merchants have been including some 2015s in their tastings. In this case there was only one 2015 wine which, similar to what I've seen in another recent 2020 BdM tasting, did not perform well.
Flight 2 - 2019 Riserva (4 Notes)
The tasting included one 2016 Riserva, which compares well to the new 2019 releases.
Flight 3 - Rosso di Montalcino (5 Notes)
Range of Rosso vintages included in the tasting.
2020 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino 97 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Not quite as good as the 2019, but my clear favourite in the lineup. Another bottle I kept returning to…always a good sign.
Fresh. Elegant. Delicate. Camphor. Spice. I want some of this to drink right now. No need to bother with any further ageing. I’m sure it will keep improving, but no need to wait. Drink this now whilst waiting for the 2019s to rest.
96+
WOTN 🥇 (Gold)
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2020 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 96 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
In a word, captivating! Florals. Earth. Minerals. Spice. Truffle. So elegant. Just beautiful.
WOTN 🥈 (Silver)
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2020 San Polino Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum 96 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Balanced. Accessible. Lovely spice and power. Wild flowers. Fruit also on the ripe end, but showing much better balance. Lovely freshness handles the darker and riper elements really well.
WOTN 🥉 (Bronze)
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2020 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 95 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
The Ciacci and Pianrosso make quite a pair. Different, but both excellent. This must be one of the best value Brunellos out there.
Classic, balanced, joyful. I’ll happily sip away at this any day. Slightly heavier than the Pianrosso.
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2020 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino 95 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
The 2019 was spectacular. This is very good, but just a touch odd. Nice fruit, good balance. Not overly ripe. Creamy. However, it has an odd herbal character. No bad, just odd. Will probably blow off, or moderate with age, but based on this bottle, I’ll proceed with just a bit of caution on the 2020.
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2020 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 94 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
The Ciacci and Pianrosso make quite a pair. Different, but both excellent. This must be one of the best value Brunellos out there.
Classic, balanced, joyful. I’ll happily sip away at this any day. Slightly heavier than the Pianrosso.
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2020 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Tight. Big structure with lots of power and intensity. Spicy. Oak not as obvious as in previous vintages.
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2020 MastroJanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 93 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Herb. Fruit. Balance. Amongst best scoring wines on show. Enjoyed it once again.
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2020 San Polino Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Rounder and rupee than the 2023 Rosso. Fruit forward. Spicy. Accessible. Easy drinking. Not as well balanced as their 2023 Rosso.
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2020 MastroJanni Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Only wine in the whole tasting I didn’t write any notes on at all (only my score). Also, this the second 2020 BdM tasting, and both times I only wrote a score. So strange, clearly a decent wine as I scored it 92 both times, but found it hard to come up with any thoughts. Maybe the 2020 just doesn’t speak to me for some reason. Last tasting it was the 1st wine I tasted, this time it was the last - maybe that had something to do with it 🤣. Anyways, nice wine as always from MJ.
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2020 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
In the 2019 BdMs I preferred the Giovanni to the Tenuta Nuova. In 2020 it’s the other way round. Showing as a very oaky wine. Big and fruit forward. Florals and herb. Quite expressive, but just very oaky. I’m sure this will develop into a lovely wine with age but it’s just not my preferred style.
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2020 Sesti (Castello di Argiano) Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Showing heat and ripe fruit and on darker side of spectrum. Bit of garrigue. Soft fruit.
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2020 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Some weight here - defo heavier than best Brunos in the lineup, but much better balance than in the past. As discovered at the 67PM tasting apparently they’ve been dialling back the oak recently. Yeah!
Scored it 92 at 67PM tasting, 91+ this time (so rounding up).
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2020 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Fruit forward. Ripe but balanced.
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2020 San Giorgio Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Good easy drinker. Balanced and nice, but maybe a tad less complexity here than in others in the lineup.
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2020 Podere Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Oaky. Showing heat and alcohol. Dark fruit. Ripe but not jammy. Spice. Garrigue.
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2020 Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
Sweet candied fruit. Herb. Dry tannin.
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2015 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 78 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Handford 2020 Brunello Tasting
The only 2015 on show and it is shockingly bad…similar to what I saw with 2015s at the 67PM Bruno tasting.
Dark. Meaty. Very developed. Well past its peak. I’m not necessarily a great fan of the Poggio Antico Riserva cuvee to start with, but for me, there is absolutely no joy left here.
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