2016 Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
Lustrous mid ruby. Real concentration and depth on the nose and rich sweet-sour cherry fruit with matching muscular tannins on the palate. The generous fruit suggests this is ready now, but the tannins demand more time to settle. (WS)
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Notes of black cherry fruit, sassafras, dried thyme, and baked earth. Black cherry lozenge fills the midpalate, with persistent tannin and balanced acid. The 2016 Brunello has grounding and powerful structure, with more finesse and lift than the 2015, which will be a wine to cellar or drink over the next 15 years. 2023-2036 Palazzo is an adjacent property to Cerbaiona, southeast of the town of Montalcino, where they are practicing organic viticulture.
The darkly alluring and spicy 2016 Brunello di Montalcino lifts up with a display of white smoke giving way to black cherries, sage, a dusting of cinnamon, clove and hints of licorice. It’s medium in body and silky in texture, showing gorgeous inner sweetness, as balsamic-laced red berries and minerals cascade across the palate. The tannins are round yet persistent, balanced by vibrant acids which maintain freshness, finishing with excellent length and remnants of primary fruit. The 2016 Palazzo needs some cellaring to show its best, and it’s full of potential.