2016 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
Aged for 24 months in oak barrels, of which 50% was barrique and 50% large 30-hl oak casks. Mid ruby. Intriguing, savoury-sweet spice nose that still is a little closed on the fruit. Very slowly and with lots of aeration cherry fruit emerges. Fragrant, tangy and almost a little tart on the palate, while the finish shows a better balance between the fruit, the plentiful acidity and the coating tannins. The fruit concentration is just enough to counteract the acidity. (WS)
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Brunello has aromatics of clove, orange zest, ripe cherry fruit and sweet floral aromatics. Subtle elegance characterizes the palate of the wine, with notes of black tea and cherry pit. Drink 2022-2036 Tenuta Fanti’s Brunello is sourced from 10 hectares of vineyards within the Castelnuova dell’Abate area, where the Fanti family and estate practices organic viticulture.
The Fanti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino comes roaring out with terrific intensity and balance. This vintage certainly marks a landmark for the Fanti family as I don't remember a new release as confident and impactful as this. The wine is round and smooth, with layers of dark fruit, cherry and spice. These various aromas blend nicely, showing the right contrasts where necessary. This is a classic expression of the vintage with some of the extra texture and power (a shorter aging is done in a combination of barrique and botte, with the rest in bottle) that defines this estate located in the Castelnuovo dell'Abata area. Production is 45,000 bottles.
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is sweetly spiced, hauntingly floral and seductive from the first tilt of the glass. A dusting of confectioners’ sugar gives way to bright cherries, candied orange, mint leaf and lavender to form an extroverted yet delectable display. It’s seamless and silky in the mouth, with a subtle twang of citrus and vibrant acids that energize the expression, ushering in ripe red hints of herbal-tinged black berries. Rounded tannins come forward through the close under an air of licorice and violets. The 2016 is already so easy to like for its primary intensity, yet it should really be cellared for three to five years for maximum effect. It’s a great value for age-worthy Brunello that overdelivers.