2016 Biondi-Santi Rosso di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino hails from lower-elevation vineyards, around 250 meters, in the northern section of Montalcino. It’s a classic, layered and dramatic wine, showing bright cherry, sweet herbs, cooling mint, dried fall leaves, tobacco and savory spice, with a presence and depth that feels more like Brunello than Rosso in character. There’s sweetness and purity to the fruit here that keeps me coming back to the glass, yet I’m sure that the 2016 will benefit from a few years of cellaring, especially as its fine tannins build toward the close. The Rosso spends twelve months maturing in Slavonian oak, and it is released two years later than most.
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Mid to dark ruby. While this is austere, the first thing I noticed is that it is much more accessible than this wine used to be, when it often needed more than a decade to be approachable, even if this has hidden depths. Tobacco leaf and sour cherry, but still a little muted. Fabulous acidity and the tannins are surprisingly soft but clinging and supporting the concentrated sour-cherry fruit palate. Multi-faceted Sangiovese. Biondi Santi devotees (including me) may be alarmed by the fact that this is ready now, but it still has a future. (WS)
I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet earth and brambly forest berry. Background notes of licorice, camphor ash and balsam herb come into steady focus. I am delighted by the intensity and the immense focus of this wine. This Rosso di Montalcino stands with the best of Brunello and gives us good reason to have very high expectations for the 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino that will be released appellation-wide at the beginning of next year. This is a solid mid-weight Rosso with good structure and fine points of fresh acidity that move the wine with determination and grace smoothly over the palate.
This is a rich, flavorful Rosso with firm tannins and bright acidity. Medium body. Firm and beautiful. Hints of chocolate and spice. Drink or hold.