Deep red. Crunchy fruit on nose . Very seductive. Intense palate fruit and structure balanced but very young. Definitely drinkable but a lot more to come.
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Thought I’d try this having read previous tasting notes. It’s fabulous and much more “open for business” than I was anticipating. I have been drinking lots of Barolo recently so it may be that my tannin tolerance is high but I found this an absolute pleasure to drink. Yes it’s a BIG wine and is dense and brooding but I found the tannin acceptable and particularly with food (Gorgonzola and sourdough toast was all I could muster!) it was really lovely. Nose is typically Tuscan but really deep dark red fruits and I think a slight touch of lavender (or am I mad!?!). Mouth feel is luxurious with deep dark but well integrated fruits. Tannin is there but I felt it was quite mellow - only criticism is that it lacks a bit of acidic freshness. Finish is long and satisfying. Agree this will probably need a tad more time to hit its true heights but it’s the best Brunello I’ve had since….well probably ever!!!!
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I felt guilty opening this so young, but we're out of town for my better half's birthday and I was relieved to find such a great bottle at the wine store down the street, so... Opened in the morning, poured two hours before tasting. Young, bold, clean violet with just a hint of garnet. Very Tuscan nose of plum, leather, barnyard, pine. Balanced, controlled palate of barely-cooked stone fruit, more black than red, wildflowers, and a slight brackishness that isn't unpleasant. The rustic tannins are as prominent as you'd expect at this phase, with a long finish. Lovely, finesse-driven 14% Brunello despite the very warm year. Special circumstances aside, I wouldn't touch this until at least 2025, and it should easily last another 7 years or longer afterward. Outstanding already, with a very promising future.
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You pop the cork and your neighbor down the street knows its a brunello. Everything a bdm should be. Tart cherry and asphalt and forest floor. Deeper and darker representing the hot but high quality 2015 vintage. Unfortunately it's still too young and has a bit of tannic and mouth puckering characteristics. I see this being a long aged bottle and the quality of others riservas.
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Much more restrained than many Brunellos, despite the hot vintage - this was very elegant, tempering the often OTT Sangiovese and giving it an elegance not often found in Tuscany. Sappy red fruits giving way to fine tannins and acidity. At the start of its long life with plenty more to come
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Medium garnet color. Medium plus body. Youthful. Flavors restrained and somewhat one dimensional at this time. Alcohol is present. The wine does need more time. 2 additional years might be good and it wil be very nice.
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This soulful Brunello, even though still very young, is everything I long for from the appellation and sangiovese. Deep but not opaque ruby, beautiful expressive nose of ripe but sour cherry shot with berries, earth, leather and a graphite mineral spine. Maybe a little tobacco on the edges. Soft and harmonious on the palate but still a sense of coiled energy on the firm finish reflecting its youth. Balanced cherry with cocoa and minerals on the palate. Easy to drink in a sense now but it's an iceberg with much more below the surface waiting to emerge.
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Subdued translucent garnet nearly to the rim. Dusty sour cherry on the nose with bosky wood notes underpinned by subtle baking spice and a bit of alcoholic heat.
In the mouth it feels closed right now, with a kind of coiled spring effect. Fruit is taut and constrained by grippy though well-integrated and not harsh tannins, with attractive leathery overtones.
Net impression is this is still quite young with substantial life ahead once things start to soften and the fruit can come forward. Maybe even something of a dumb stage now. One of the younger '15's I've tasted. Certainly recommend a sustained decant if drinking now and based on balance could evolve into a real beauty. Try again 2-3 years.
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Garnet color. Medium body. Fragrant nose. Flavors of dark cherry, blueberry, cola, and leather. Bursting with both fruit and tannins. Quite pleasurable now, but has another 10 years ahead of it.
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Classic nose of tart red cherries, mushroom, herbs. Medium weight but good concentration, fruit has nice layering, fine velvety tannins, lots acid. Nice match for our Xmas roast beast. This is objectively quite good in a restrained, balanced style that should appeal to me but while I enjoyed it I found myself unmoved by it, which is usually the case with me and sangiovese.
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I've wanted to try this producer for a long time. Delighted I finally have! From the price point it appears this great address still mostly flies under the radar. There is outstanding; transparency, purity, concentration and verb reminding me of Cerbaiona ( Molinari) selling at 4X this producer. Aged 24 – 30 mos in Slavonian oak casks of 25/30 hl. The only thing holding my score back a smidge is the need for further resolution of the tannins. Finding this a bit stern on opening I immediately decanted for 75 minutes prior to dinner. I also decided to use my Burg glasses which really opened this up aromatically. The color is at best, med dark ruby red. There are terrific aromas of wild berry, herbs, lavender and underbrush. The palate offers a vineyard fresh array of; fresh picked dark & red berries, mineral, licorice, hint of herbs, earth and underbrush. If this producer isn't organic it sure taste like it. The tannins could use another year or two to relax but even so, there is a good sense of elegance. Happy to have 2 more and won't touch my 2nd btl for at least 3 years. I'll have my antenna up for the 2016s and back vintages. A cool example of a classic producer tempering a ripe vintage. Alc 14% but feels & taste more like 13%. So tempted to raise my score to 93.
As expected, this is rather primary now, with a somewhat subdued nose of bright bing cherry, blueberry and minerals. Medium-bodied, chewy, suave, caressing the palate with cranberry fruit. A bit like a young Cotes de Beaune. This filled out and gained complexity on day 2. A lot of potential here.
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A bit darker than typical. Aromas lean to the riper, darker spectrum. Some leather, truffle, earth, dust. There's some red/purple floral, a touch of vanilla, and a spot of candied red fruits. The palate is lovely, with a nicely lifted medium body, fresh, balanced; very fine tannins, good finish. Should age well. Drink 2024-2038. recommended
From the vinya almo vineyard (sorry about that spelling). This is the vineyard just to the south of the winery / house. This faces due south where as la quercha (again sorry about the spelling) is directly to the west.
Black fruit strong minerality on the nose. Lots of flowers and powerful in that way. Erin notes strong dark fruit on the nose. Fermentation here was in the steel tanks. And that or rather powerful in the palate. Grippier and more powerful than la quercha.
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From cask, from the la quercha vineyard only right now, so not a blend of the two vineyards. Tasted with wine maker / owner. All vinification in stainless steel. And then about 30% of the wines finished in cask (hmm, not sure that is correct, maybe just 30% in steel right now). Ripe black fruit, that fantastic '15 vintage she notes and that is true. Pure blue fruit on the palate. Sensational purity and depth.
4/25/2024 - sburtt wrote: 88 Points
not my cup of tea
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12/1/2023 - redders Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red. Crunchy fruit on nose . Very seductive. Intense palate fruit and structure balanced but very young. Definitely drinkable but a lot more to come.
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10/14/2022 - Nati Winos wrote:
Took a while to open up. Not our favorite Brunello but ok with pizza.
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9/18/2022 - franinnyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good. Can drink now or hold. Just ordered a case. Great value.
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9/2/2022 - darrenhe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Thought I’d try this having read previous tasting notes. It’s fabulous and much more “open for business” than I was anticipating. I have been drinking lots of Barolo recently so it may be that my tannin tolerance is high but I found this an absolute pleasure to drink. Yes it’s a BIG wine and is dense and brooding but I found the tannin acceptable and particularly with food (Gorgonzola and sourdough toast was all I could muster!) it was really lovely. Nose is typically Tuscan but really deep dark red fruits and I think a slight touch of lavender (or am I mad!?!). Mouth feel is luxurious with deep dark but well integrated fruits. Tannin is there but I felt it was quite mellow - only criticism is that it lacks a bit of acidic freshness. Finish is long and satisfying. Agree this will probably need a tad more time to hit its true heights but it’s the best Brunello I’ve had since….well probably ever!!!!
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8/12/2022 - JaneZ wrote:
Drink 2021-2034
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8/4/2022 - finlero Likes this wine: 92 Points
I felt guilty opening this so young, but we're out of town for my better half's birthday and I was relieved to find such a great bottle at the wine store down the street, so... Opened in the morning, poured two hours before tasting. Young, bold, clean violet with just a hint of garnet. Very Tuscan nose of plum, leather, barnyard, pine. Balanced, controlled palate of barely-cooked stone fruit, more black than red, wildflowers, and a slight brackishness that isn't unpleasant. The rustic tannins are as prominent as you'd expect at this phase, with a long finish. Lovely, finesse-driven 14% Brunello despite the very warm year. Special circumstances aside, I wouldn't touch this until at least 2025, and it should easily last another 7 years or longer afterward. Outstanding already, with a very promising future.
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3/29/2022 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
You pop the cork and your neighbor down the street knows its a brunello. Everything a bdm should be. Tart cherry and asphalt and forest floor. Deeper and darker representing the hot but high quality 2015 vintage. Unfortunately it's still too young and has a bit of tannic and mouth puckering characteristics. I see this being a long aged bottle and the quality of others riservas.
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3/25/2022 - winebunch wrote: 92 Points
Drunk with Kevin at 67 with an amazing burger.
Much more restrained than many Brunellos, despite the hot vintage - this was very elegant, tempering the often OTT Sangiovese and giving it an elegance not often found in Tuscany. Sappy red fruits giving way to fine tannins and acidity. At the start of its long life with plenty more to come
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2/12/2022 - JazzManWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium garnet color. Medium plus body. Youthful. Flavors restrained and somewhat one dimensional at this time. Alcohol is present. The wine does need more time. 2 additional years might be good and it wil be very nice.
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2/6/2022 - bevetroppo Likes this wine: 93 Points
This soulful Brunello, even though still very young, is everything I long for from the appellation and sangiovese. Deep but not opaque ruby, beautiful expressive nose of ripe but sour cherry shot with berries, earth, leather and a graphite mineral spine. Maybe a little tobacco on the edges. Soft and harmonious on the palate but still a sense of coiled energy on the firm finish reflecting its youth. Balanced cherry with cocoa and minerals on the palate. Easy to drink in a sense now but it's an iceberg with much more below the surface waiting to emerge.
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1/5/2022 - Decarlor wrote: 92 Points
I was expecting much more for a wine that got 100RP in 2016. Unfortunately 2015 is nice but not comparable to 2016.
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7/29/2021 - bevetroppo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Subdued translucent garnet nearly to the rim. Dusty sour cherry on the nose with bosky wood notes underpinned by subtle baking spice and a bit of alcoholic heat.
In the mouth it feels closed right now, with a kind of coiled spring effect. Fruit is taut and constrained by grippy though well-integrated and not harsh tannins, with attractive leathery overtones.
Net impression is this is still quite young with substantial life ahead once things start to soften and the fruit can come forward. Maybe even something of a dumb stage now. One of the younger '15's I've tasted. Certainly recommend a sustained decant if drinking now and based on balance could evolve into a real beauty. Try again 2-3 years.
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5/30/2021 - Lzatlin Likes this wine:
Thumbs up.
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2/13/2021 - djarcara Likes this wine: 91 Points
Garnet color. Medium body. Fragrant nose. Flavors of dark cherry, blueberry, cola, and leather. Bursting with both fruit and tannins. Quite pleasurable now, but has another 10 years ahead of it.
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12/25/2020 - coremill wrote: 90 Points
Classic nose of tart red cherries, mushroom, herbs. Medium weight but good concentration, fruit has nice layering, fine velvety tannins, lots acid. Nice match for our Xmas roast beast. This is objectively quite good in a restrained, balanced style that should appeal to me but while I enjoyed it I found myself unmoved by it, which is usually the case with me and sangiovese.
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11/16/2020 - Jack Cranley Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous flower-driven nose, good fruit, a kiss of bret. Nice integrated structure. Quite drinkable.
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11/7/2020 - chablis28 wrote: 92 Points
I've wanted to try this producer for a long time. Delighted I finally have! From the price point it appears this great address still mostly flies under the radar. There is outstanding; transparency, purity, concentration and verb reminding me of Cerbaiona ( Molinari) selling at 4X this producer. Aged 24 – 30 mos in Slavonian oak casks of 25/30 hl. The only thing holding my score back a smidge is the need for further resolution of the tannins. Finding this a bit stern on opening I immediately decanted for 75 minutes prior to dinner. I also decided to use my Burg glasses which really opened this up aromatically. The color is at best, med dark ruby red. There are terrific aromas of wild berry, herbs, lavender and underbrush. The palate offers a vineyard fresh array of; fresh picked dark & red berries, mineral, licorice, hint of herbs, earth and underbrush. If this producer isn't organic it sure taste like it. The tannins could use another year or two to relax but even so, there is a good sense of elegance. Happy to have 2 more and won't touch my 2nd btl for at least 3 years. I'll have my antenna up for the 2016s and back vintages. A cool example of a classic producer tempering a ripe vintage. Alc 14% but feels & taste more like 13%. So tempted to raise my score to 93.
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8/2/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 91 Points
As expected, this is rather primary now, with a somewhat subdued nose of bright bing cherry, blueberry and minerals. Medium-bodied, chewy, suave, caressing the palate with cranberry fruit. A bit like a young Cotes de Beaune. This filled out and gained complexity on day 2. A lot of potential here.
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2/21/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
2015 Brunello di Montalcino, new releases (Montalcino centro): Benvenuto Brunello 2020, Montalcino
A bit darker than typical. Aromas lean to the riper, darker spectrum. Some leather, truffle, earth, dust. There's some red/purple floral, a touch of vanilla, and a spot of candied red fruits. The palate is lovely, with a nicely lifted medium body, fresh, balanced; very fine tannins, good finish. Should age well. Drink 2024-2038. recommended
Full 2015 Brunello report here https://wp.me/p7fulH-27j
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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4/20/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From the vinya almo vineyard (sorry about that spelling). This is the vineyard just to the south of the winery / house. This faces due south where as la quercha (again sorry about the spelling) is directly to the west.
Black fruit strong minerality on the nose. Lots of flowers and powerful in that way. Erin notes strong dark fruit on the nose. Fermentation here was in the steel tanks. And that or rather powerful in the palate. Grippier and more powerful than la quercha.
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4/20/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
From cask, from the la quercha vineyard only right now, so not a blend of the two vineyards. Tasted with wine maker / owner. All vinification in stainless steel. And then about 30% of the wines finished in cask (hmm, not sure that is correct, maybe just 30% in steel right now). Ripe black fruit, that fantastic '15 vintage she notes and that is true. Pure blue fruit on the palate. Sensational purity and depth.
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