2016 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie
Buying options
Tasting notes
Simply put, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie is spellbinding. It’s wonderfully primary and intense. You could lose yourself in this vivid display of crushed ripe berries with sweet mint and zests of orange peel, dusted in confectioners’ and autumnal spice. It soothes with its velvety textures, coating all that it touches in masses of dark red fruit, liquid violet florals, notes of lavender and sage. Currently, the 2016 is youthfully dense yet so complex, almost salty and savory at times, while nearly enveloping its fine tannic structure right up until the end. This is a classic in the making and one of the most complete young Brunellos I’ve ever tasted. This bottle was revisited over the course of two days and only got better with each taste.
Critic scores
Average Score
Eric Guido, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
There it is: that Il Marroneto magic. To my palate, Alessandro Mori's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie best captures the soaring spirit and ambition of Brunello, made in its purest and most naked form. This vintage is a twin sibling to the 2010 that I awarded a perfect score. Whereas that wine surprised me, appearing with so much unexpected radiance and brilliance, this wine won me over in a more careful, less emotional and more contemplative manner. Having now tasted the 2010 vintage multiple times, I better know what to expect in terms of the near-term aging evolution of the 2016. I know that the laser-sharp purity of the fruit will soften, leading to more nuanced and finessed tones of underbrush, lilac, iron ore and candied orange peel over the next five years. This wine unfolds to show deep complexity up front with buoyant and jovial red fruit at its core. It vibrates with electric energy and charm.
About the producer
Il Marroneto is one of Montalcino’s most respected producers. Its Madonna delle Grazie is consistently one of the top-scoring Brunello di Montalcinos of any vintage.