2011 Rosso di Montalcino

The 2011 Rosso di Montalcino is the result of a severe selection that resulted in no Brunello being bottled in this vintage, a decision I imagine few producers are prepared to make. Tobacco, dried herbs and sweet red cherries all flesh out in this large-scaled, powerful Rosso. There is plenty of depth to fill out the wine’s broad frame. At the same time, the 2011 is clearly evolving fairly quickly and needs to be enjoyed sooner rather than later. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. Vincenzo Abbruzzese has a cellar full of exceptional wines that will thrill Valdicava fans. The 2012s are spectacular at this stage and, along with the 2010s, are the best wines in the cellar today. In lesser vintages, the estate bottles some Rosso, but in top years there is very little, if any, Rosso. That will be the case with 2011 and 2012 respectively, given the development of the 2011 in the cellar and the exceptional quality of 2012. Abbruzzese made the decision to bottle his entire 2011 production as Rosso, an unheard move, but one that frankly recognizes the quality of that vintage. Abbruzzese told me his wines tend to have a fairly stable and linear development during vinification and in aging. With the 2011s, however, he observed a slow start and a rapid improvement in the cellar, something that concerned him with regard to the potential ageworthiness of the year. As a result, Abbruzzese declassified all of his wine to Rosso in 2011, with the exception of one cask of Madonna del Piano fruit that may eventually be released as straight Brunello. Although Abbruzzese says he still has reservations about the year and wants to be absolutely convinced of the quality of the remaining 2011 before it is released, the distinct possibility remains this cask will also be declassified to Rosso. As for the 2008 Brunello, it is one of the best wines of the vintage. Here, too, Abbruzzese’s decision to blend in the Madonna del Piano lots (there will be no Riserva) contributes markedly to the wine’s quality. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907

The 2011 Rosso di Montalcino is the result of a severe selection that resulted in no Brunello being bottled in this vintage, a decision I imagine few producers are prepared to make. Tobacco, dried herbs and sweet red cherries all flesh out in this large-scaled, powerful Rosso. There is plenty of depth to fill out the wine’s broad frame. At the same time, the 2011 is clearly evolving fairly quickly and needs to be enjoyed sooner rather than later. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. Jun 2013, www.robertparker.com