On the Road with the Grape Guy
Brunello Day in Toronto
03 Apr 2023- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(November 2022) ... A few years ago I was doing this tasting in Montalcino, then Brunello broke with the rest of their Tuscan counterparts and decided to have their own event(s) – two as it turns out: one to showcase the Rosso wines and the other looks at their top tier wines, Brunello and Riserva.
Then someone came up with the next big idea: have these tastings simultaneously in the four biggest markets for Italian wines, thus Brunello Day was invented with tasting in Toronto, New York, London as well as back home in Montalcino – and all on the same day.
Over 100 wines were poured, in a very similar fashion to how they do it in Montalcino, with sommelier service and a list of wines to choose from.
The vintage in question was the 2018 – which has found some detractors in the wine world – but I have to admit, some of these wines showed a real elegance and plenty of fruit – not one usually says after a sub-par vintage. In fact, some of the fruit found in the 2018 rose above some that I found in much stronger vintages of the past.
I used my usual Good / Better / Best approach, which I use for young and unfinished wines at Anteprimas – and I must say that with eight-plus wines receiving “best” accolades in this report, it might just be one of the most enjoyable tasting of Brunello I have ever been to. So watch the 2018 Brunellos, they will surprise – and here are the ones I found most pleasing (some also have notes)
The Wines …
(The Riservas)
Col D'Orcia 2015 Brunello di Montalcino - Poggio al Vento … Best
Banfi 2017 Brunello di Montalcino - Poggio alle Mura Riserva … Best
Sesti 2017 Brunello di Montalcino – Phenomena
More of that red fruit, cherry bomb and red jolly rancher; elegant and supple … Best
Capanna 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
There’s a little VA getting in the way here - woodsy, smoky, earthy notes dominate; fruit is sidling up to the barn door ready to appear … Better
Capineto 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva … Better
Pinino 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva … Better
Caparzo 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva … Good
Tenuta Corte Pavone 2017 Brunello di Montalcino - Poggio Molino al Vento Vineyard … Good
(Annattas)
Banfi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino – Marrucheto 
So much fruit and elegance, just a stupendous drop (video I have) – lovely concentration and just a lot going on … Best
Fattoria dei Barbi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Del Fiore Vineyard
Just pure elegance in the glass … Best
Pian delle Vigne 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Nice fruit-forward nature, smoky but lively, with all the red currants, cranberry, and acidity making for a delicious drop … Best
San Polo 2018 Brunello di Montalcino – Podernovi
Yum - graceful, elegant and smooth - lots of dark fruit and smoke; lush and lovely … Best
Sesti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Red fruit kicks things off and does not let go: red currants, sour cherry, strawberry pith and raspberry … Best
Tassi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Colombaiolo Vineyard
Lots of rich red fruit - tasty and easy - there is a seam of oak and acidity that balances the wine; it has a yum factor that can’t be denied … Best
Tassi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino – Franoi
Touch more linear than the above, but still full-fruited and full-bodied, lots of deliciousness with all that lovely red fruit … Best
Val di Suga 2018 Brunello di Montalcino 
Pretty cherry blossom and other floral componenets, subtle smoke and mocha, good tannin structure, well-balanced; so pretty and elegant … Best
Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Smooth and supple - red berry fruit galore, red licorice, good acid punch on the finish … Better
Banfi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Poggio alle Mura
Lots and lots of red fruit plus red licorice and balancing acidity … Better
Carpineto 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
A real elegant style of black fruit, mocha, cherry, blackberry, cassis and cedar … Better
Col D'Orcia 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Nice earthy component with smoked-cherry, blackberry, cassis, forest floor and even some distinct pine notes … Better
Collemattoni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Plush and lush, pretty with violets and other floral notes plus dark fruit and spice … Better
Corte dei Venti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Pleasant and elegant - very pure with fruit and spice notes throughout … Better
Fattoria dei Barbi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
So lovely; red cherry and other bright fruits all baring up with good concentration … Better
La Fortuna 2018 Brunello di Montalcino 
Light, but with a juicy core that shows off a little black fruit, all with big acidity … Better
Pinino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Lively, jazzy but with a restraint on the acidity - juicy and elegant - drink now … Better
Poggio Antico 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Nice and elegant: cherry, strawberry, blackberry, cassis - hints of cedar and a touch of balsamic … Better
Talenti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Mocha, coffee, maple-wood-bark all can be found on the nose; good acidity with notes of sour cherry on the finish … Better
Tenuta Corte Pavone 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Campo Marzio … Better
Tenuta Fanti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Good concentration with darker berry fruit and mocha plushness … Better
Tenuta Poggio Il Castellare 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Licorice and mint, blackberry, smoke and black cherry … Better
Ucceliera 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
Some VA character on the nose, but there is no doubt that this is Brunello through and through - acid / tannin / harsh / but it will come around … Better
Val di Suga 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Del Lago Vineyard
Another good wine from Val di Suga: lots of sour cherry, mocha, licorice and earthy character … Better
Val di Suga 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Poggio al Granchio
Smooth and round, silky tannins, with a dark fruit core … Better
Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Montosoli Vineyard … Good
Banfi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Castello Banfi … Good
Capanna 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good 
Caparzo 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good
Caparzo 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - La Casa Vineyard … Good
Fattoi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good
La Fiorita 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Fiore di No … Good
Poggio di Sotto 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good
Ruffino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good
San Polo 2018 Brunello di Montalcino – Vignavecchia … Good
Talenti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Piero … Good
Tassi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good
Tenuta Corte Pavone 2018 Brunello di Montalcino … Good
Tenuta Corte Pavone 2018 Brunello di Montalcino - Fiore del Vento … Good
