Tonight we got to taste Brunello di Montalcino from a highly rated vintage. Brunello is
considered to be one of the richest and most prestigious wines produced in Italy, largely due to its exclusivity. And our guest speaker to guide us this evening was Divya Steinwall, wine consultant and founder of La Barrique.
Introduced towards the end of the nineteenth century at a time when Tuscans preferred young reds, winemaker Ferruccio Biondi-Santi planted his Tuscan vineyards with a clone of the Sangiovese variety producing the modern Brunello di Montalcino. Biondi-Santi subjected his wine to four years in oak casts followed by a period in the bottle where it developed its outstanding qualities over time. As time passes, the wine acquires greater fragrance, a more velvety flavor, increased harmony and an odor that is delicate and at the same time quite intense.
Many consider 2010 one of the best vintages ever for Brunello di Montalcino. Simply put, it was a historically 'perfect' vintage.
The 2010 season began with generous rainfall on spring break, spurring ideal conditions for vine growth and budding. Good times rolled with relatively stable and warm temperatures throughout growing season,providing consistency during the maturation process. Cooler nights and a notable lack of heat spikes prevented any risk for over-ripening, and preserving the high acidity and complexity of the Sangiovese grape. And lastly, the harvest window was wide and forgiving, giving winemakers the burden (or the gift) of choice to harvest at the ideal times of the day. The result is a wide range of wines across the region that are ripe and
structured at the same time, exuding aromatic depth while still over-delivering in freshness. In the words of Jancis Robinson:
“In Montalcino 2010 is truly an excellent vintage, because the great are fantastic, the good are great and the mediocre good"
Here are the scores from the night. Quite some variation between the Group and our Guest tonight!
And here is the original notice (with tasting notes) for this event: