2012 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
Rain in early September rescued a very dry summer. Shaded ruby with a rust rim. Very powerful, fully evolved, even quite old, nose. Very fresh acidity and slight dustiness. Evolved into very marked acidity on the palate so that this didn't taste like the warmest vintage. Medium length but extremely clean and pure. This vintage is slightly weakening and even beginning to dry out. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is starting to show its maturity as earth tones and hints of dark chocolate give way to plum sauce and grilled herbs. It's silky smooth, nearly fleshy in feel, with cool-toned acidity to balance ripe red and black fruits that drench the palate in primary concentration. The 2012 maintains energy yet shows a bit of heat toward the close, finishing long and gently tannic with a sour citrus tinge that leaves the mouth watering. I would err on the side of caution and drink my bottles sooner than later. That said, there's a lot of pleasure to be found here.
Pale to mid ruby. Autumn leaves on the nose. Rich and perfumed but not obviously alcoholic. Chewy end still. Amazing depth of flavour from relatively young vines – 10 years. Long. (JR)
Low-key but well-balanced nose. Edgy and very vibrant. Very obviously Sangiovese. Still quite youthful. Quite a lot of tannin but zesty, clean, ripe tannin rather than dried-fruit quality. Youthful but promising. (JR)