2016 Brunello di Montalcino

Lustrous mid ruby. Peppery but otherwise not very expressive on the nose. Sour cherry that turns a little tart on the finish. A little joyless. (WS)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino was aged for two years in French oak, 20% of which was in barriques. Its aromatics of ripe black cherry, baking spice, tobacco, cedar, and dusty earth are followed by a medium-bodied palate with dried cherry, black tea, and fresh tomato leaf, finishing with fine-grained, well-integrated tannins. Enjoy over the next 15 years.

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers clean and pristine fruit and otherwise delivers a textbook interpretation of the vintage. Given the large extension of vineyards farmed by this estate, which is located on the southern side of the appellation, and the deft technological approach employed in the winery, you can count on Castello Banfi to offer an authentic read of any of their wines about to hit the market or that have been aged at the back of your cellar. Indeed, the Banfi library of wines acts as an institutional memory of modern Brunello. This edition shows sharp and focused fruit with leather, potting soil and balsam herb. For a straight-up classic Brunello, this wine delivers the goods.