BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino

The dual leadership

19 May, 2021

of Marcus Hofschuster in Tasting

With 2015 and 2016, Montalcino recorded two magnificent vintages in a row. 2016 could even go down in history as the greatest vintage of the last two, if not three decades. The differences are particularly clear at the top.

For the elegance attributed to the '16 is not recognisable in all wines. 2016 was also warm; the wines hardly have less alcohol than those from the hot year 2015. So it happens again and again that in a direct comparison, the '16 of all wines seems a bit ponderous, while its counterpart from the previous year manages its alcohol power much better thanks to greater concentration and firmer structure. The best 16s, however, develop a delicacy, complexity, freshness and, precisely, elegance that elevates them far above the already very good Annate from 2015. We can't remember a vintage that gave us anywhere near as many downright inspiring wines.

The fact that 2015 does not have to fear being seen as a loser in this BEST OF is again due to the partly great Riserve of the vintage. In the past, a Brunello Riserva was by no means always better than the Annata from the same winery. In 2015, however, this is the case across the board. The wines seem to have gained in polish and subtlety, not least due to the longer barrel ageing. Moreover, one can now assume that in most cases the best lots are indeed selected for the Riserva. Thus, the effect described above occurs here again: due to the more structure, concentration and complexity, the wines also cope much better with higher degrees of alcohol. Although the wines are almost more powerful, they seem more harmonious and refined. In some cases we were so surprised by the elegance of a Riserva that, had we not known better, we would never have guessed 2015. So, at least until the release of the 16s, the 15s Riserva are likely to be the best we have experienced since the turn of the millennium. As a Brunello lover, you should definitely have tasted some of them.

We tasted almost 200 wines for this BEST OF, all of them blind at least twice on different days in different order and never more than 20 wines a day to give them enough time. As always, we present only the best results here. Links to all tasted wines with detailed descriptions as well as their respective producers can be found at the end of the respective best list.

Shelby-Nick / Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2016

Salvioni - La Cerbaiola — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG More than 100.00 €

Talenti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Piero" More than 100.00 €

GIODO - Azienda Agricola Ferrini Carlo — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 110.00 €

Canalicchio di Sopra — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "La Casaccia" More than 100.00 €

Valdicava Az. Agr — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Uccelliera di Cortonesi Andrea — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

La Rasina — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Persante" Up to 75.00 €

Podere Le Ripi Srl — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Amore & Magia" Up to 100.00 €

Le Chiuse — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Altesino — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Montosoli®" Up to 100.00 €

Azienda Agricola Cerbaia — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

La Fiorita — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "No" More than 100.00 €

Val di Suga — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vigna Spuntali" Up to 75.00 €

La Rasina — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Mocali — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Le Raunate" Up to 50.00 €

Podere Salicutti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Piaggione"

Tenuta Il Poggione — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Tenuta Fanti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vallocchio" 45.00 €

Fuligni — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 93 WP excellent Up to 75.00 €

Fattoria dei Barbi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vigna del Fiore" Up to 75.00 €

Az. Agr. Le Gode di Ripaccioli Claudio — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vigna Montosoli" 93 WP excellent Up to 75.00 €

Poggio San Polo — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Podernovi" More than 100.00 €

Pieve Santa Restituta di Gaja — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Casato Prime Donne Donatella Cinelli Colombini — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Prime Donne" Up to 75.00 €

Val di Suga — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vigna del Lago" Up to 75.00 €

Caparzo — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vigna La Casa"

Az. Agr. Fattoi Ofelio & Figli — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Podere Salicutti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Sorgente"

Lisini — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Tenuta Fanti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 37.00 €

CastelGiocondo - Frescobaldi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Altesino — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Beatesca — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Franco Pacenti - Canalicchio — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Uccelliera di Cortonesi Andrea — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Voliero" Up to 75.00 €

Innocenti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Talenti — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Val di Suga — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Poggio al Granchio" Up to 75.00 €

Vasco Sassetti s.r.l. — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 25.00 €

Cortonesi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "La Mannella"

Castello Tricerchi Montalcino — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "A.D. 1441" Up to 100.00 €

Tenuta San Giorgio - ColleMassari — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Ugolforte"

Casa Raia — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 100.00 €

Fattoria dei Barbi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 35.00 €

Az. Agr. Le Gode di Ripaccioli Claudio — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 91 WP excellent Up to 50.00 €

Gianni Brunelli - Le Chiuse di Sotto — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

La Magia — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 40.00 €

Col d'Orcia — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Azienda Agricola Cava d'Onice — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Colombaio" Up to 75.00 €

Lambardi - Canalicchio di Sotto — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Mocali — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Tenuta Luce — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Luce"

Azienda Agricola Cava d'Onice — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Sensis" Up to 75.00 €

Canalicchio di Sopra — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Abbadia Ardenga — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vigna Piaggia 91 WP excellent

Tenuta Buon Tempo — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 25.00 €

Az. Agr. Tornesi - Tornesi Maurizio — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Benducce 570" Up to 75.00 €

La Fiorita — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Podere Le Ripi Srl — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Cielo d'Ulisse" Up to 50.00 €

Tenuta Pian delle Ginestre — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

La Collina dei Lecci / La Lecciaia — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Collina dei Lecci" Up to 35.00 €

Caparzo — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Val di Suga — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 35.00 €

SassodiSole — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Carpineto — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Cortonesi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "I Poggiarelli"

Martoccia di Brunelli Luca — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 35.00 €

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Vigna di Pianrosso" Up to 75.00 €

Villa Poggio Salvi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Poggio San Polo — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Mastrojanni S.S. — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Poggio Landi — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Podere Brizio S.S. — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 75.00 €

Villa al Cortile - Piccini — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 50.00 €

Abbadia Ardenga — Tuscany 2016 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 90 WP excellent

All wines

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2015 ^{(mainly Riserva)}

Valdicava Az. Agr — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Madonna del Piano"

Lisini — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG "Ugolaia" Up to 75.00 €

Tenuta Il Poggione — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Vigna Paganelli" Up to 75.00 €

Lisini — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 75.00 €

Azienda Agricola Cerbaia — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Vigna Cerbaia Up to 75.00 €

Podere Le Ripi Srl — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Lupi e sirene" Up to 100.00 €

Fuligni — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 94 WP excellent More than 100.00 €

La Fiorita — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 75.00 €

Az. Agr. Capanna di Cencioni — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Vasco Sassetti s.r.l. — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 50.00 €

Cortonesi — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "La Mannella"

Uccelliera di Cortonesi Andrea — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Baricci Colombaio di Montosoli s.s. — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Nello" More than 100.00 €

Villa Poggio Salvi — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Tenute del Cerro - La Poderina — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Poggio Abate" Up to 75.00 €

Talenti — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Pian di Conte"

Altesino — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Gianni Brunelli - Le Chiuse di Sotto — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva

Martoccia di Brunelli Luca — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 75.00 €

Tenuta Fanti — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Vigna Le Macchiarelle" 65.00 €

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Vigna di Pianrosso - Santa Caterina D'Oro" More than 100.00 €

Innocenti — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva More than 100.00 €

La Gerla — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Vigna gli Angeli" Up to 100.00 €

Fattoria dei Barbi — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 75.00 €

TIEZZI — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Vigna Soccorso" Up to 75.00 €

La Collina dei Lecci / La Lecciaia — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "La Lecciaia" Up to 50.00 €

Podere Casisano — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Colombaiolo" Up to 75.00 €

Mocali — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Vigna delle Raunate" 75.00 €

La Magia — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 65.00 €

Franco Pacenti - Canalicchio — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Podere Brizio S.S. — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Canalicchio di Sopra — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva

Villa al Cortile - Piccini — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 33.00 €

Tenuta Buon Tempo — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Oliveto p.56" 75.00 €

Palazzo dei F.lli Loia — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 90 WP excellent Up to 75.00 €

SassodiSole — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Tenuta Pian delle Ginestre — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 50.00 €

Tenuta di Sesta — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Duelecci Ovest" Up to 100.00 €

Villa al Cortile - Piccini — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 75.00 €

Pinino S.r.l. Soc. Agr. (Capston) — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Pinone®" Up to 75.00 €

Tenuta La Fuga - Folonari — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva "Le due Sorelle" 57.00 €

Caparzo — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva

Mocali — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 75.00 €

Azienda Agricola Cava d'Onice — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Corte dei Venti — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Poggio Landi — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Up to 100.00 €

Poggio Il Castellare — Tuscany 2015 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Up to 45.00 €

All wines

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	100 WP unique Wines that can only be made differently, but not better.
	95-99 WP great World-class wines whose depth, complexity, character and expressiveness give an unforgettable, sensual experience.
	90-94 WP excellent First class wines that are among the best of their kind. They are characterized by purity, harmony, depth and character.
	85-89 WP very good Remarkable wines with personality, expression, as well as a certain complexity and depth. They deserve every wine lover's attention.
	80-84 WP good Clean, harmonious, at best typical wines.
	75-79 WP passable
	70-74 WP schwach
	60-69 WP insufficient
	50-59 WP unacceptable

Welcome back!

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino

The dual leadership

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2016

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2015 ^{(mainly Riserva)}

Related Magazine Articles

EVENTS NEAR YOU

100 WP unique

95-99 WP great

90-94 WP excellent

85-89 WP very good

80-84 WP good

75-79 WP passable

70-74 WP schwach

60-69 WP insufficient

50-59 WP unacceptable

Welcome back!

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino

The dual leadership

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2016

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2015 (mainly Riserva)

Related Magazine Articles

EVENTS NEAR YOU

BEST OF Brunello di Montalcino Vintage 2015 ^{(mainly Riserva)}