Awards and Reviews Brunello di Montalcino

A warm and chewy 2017 with plum, walnut and berry character and hints of coffee. It’s full and tannic, but remains soft and attractive. A couple of years will soften this. Try after 2024.

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up from the glass to offer a dark yet perfumed display of dusty dried roses, giving way to nuances of cherry and lavender. This is a savory yet polished effort, with velvety waves washing across a medium-bodied frame, along with densely packed red and black fruits that evolve into purple-tinged inner florals, and exotic spices that last well through the finale. The tannins are sweet and rounded and, while structured, the expression remains remarkably fresh, leaving behind a lasting nuance of violet candies, This is a wonderfully pretty and delicate interpretation of the 2017 vintage.

Just west of the town of Montalcino, Scopetone’s vineyards reach almost 500 meters above sea level, overlooking the hallowed hill of Montosoli. The estate has been under the care of Loredana Tanganelli and Antonio Brandi since 2009 and the 2017 is a pretty and discreet wine that belies the vintage. Earth and forest berries are nuanced by touches of leather and tobacco. Pure, sweet fruit on palate suggests pomegranate and currants, allied to sturdy tannins and depth of flavour. A lightness of texture gives lovely drinkability. Transparent and sincere.
Drinking Window 2022 – 2028

La partenza leggermente aumicata dona intrigo e prepara alla degustazione. Le note di prugne rosse disidratate, canfora, ori di sambuco e gerani appassiti regalano carattere alla matrice distinta. Corpo medio, tannini soci poco estratti di natura sapida ed un nale di media tensione. Buona la materia, tanto spazio per crescere qui. Bevi ora.

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino dazzles with a display of sour cherries, sage and clove with hints of cedar, licorice and flowery undergrowth. The balance here in spot-on, as silky textures give way to ripe red berries offset by tactile minerals, sour citrus and brisk acids which add lift and cooling freshness. Its tannins mount steadily toward the close in a classically dry and structured expression under an air of inner florals. What a beautifully pure expression of Sangiovese. 2026-2038

Sweet berries and flowers with fruit-tea and leather undertones. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are polished and layered. Elegant and delicate. Drink after 2022

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino unfold slowly, showing a quit and tempered aromatic display. Aromas of dark fruit, plum and cherry build in intensity. As they come into clearer view, you also catch contours of smoke, tar and balsam herb. The wine shows a soft approach in terms of mouthfeel, but that too grows with time. The wine pick up considerably more volume and width with aeration. Serve it with some aged pecorino. Only 6.800 bottles were produced.

This is a rather light Brunello for a 2015 with rose petals, orange peel and lemons. Medium-bodied, fine and sleek with some attractive acidity.
Drink now.

Corpo medio-pieno, tannini di natura vellutata, precisi nell’estrazione e completamente polimerizzati ed un finale di qualità importante e persistenza medio-lunga. Tanta la qualità del frutto qui. Meglio dal 2020

tasted blind. Mid ruby with orange tinges. At first a little stalky and reductive on the nose. Stubbornly closed on the palate, but there is plenty of brooding fruit as well as refreshing acidity. Quite a bit of oak on the finish, but the fruit comes out on top. (WS) 14%
Drink 2022 – 2032

Luminous pale red. Classic Sangiovesearomas of red and dark berries, violet, blood orange and red licorice. Juicy and fresh, offering vibrant strwberry and candied violet flavors, with a jolt of liquid minerality on the back. Gains sweetness on the floral, long finish that features repeating blood orange notes . This doesn’t strike me as the most concentraded or memorable Brunello Scopetone Has ever mada (one of the best and yet most under the radar Brunello prodecers), but I do like this wine’s balance and precision. Maybe I just caught it in an awkward phase.Luminous pale red. Classic Sangiovese aromas of red and dark berries, violet, blood orange and red licorice. Juicy and fresh, offering vibrant strawberry and candied violet flavors, with a jolt of liquid minerality on the back. Gains sweetness on the floral, long finish that features repeating blood orange notes. This doesn’t strike me as the most concentrated or memorable Brunello Scopetone has ever made (one of the best and yet most under the radar Brunello producers), but I do like this wine’s balance and precision. Maybe I just caught it in an awkward phaseLuminous pale red. Classic Sangiovesearomas of red and dark berries, violet, blood orange and red licorice. Juicy and fresh, offering vibrant strwberry and candied violet flavors, with a jolt of liquid minerality on the back. Gains sweetness on the floral, long finish that features repeating blood orange notes . This doesn’t strike me as the most concentraded or memorable Brunello Scopetone Has ever mada (one of the best and yet most under the radar Brunello prodecers), but I do like this wine’s balance and precision. Maybe I just caught it in an awkward phase.

Scorched earth, black-skinned berry and tobacco aromas come together on this. The juicy medium-bodied palate offers fleshy black cherry, clove, cinnamon and white pepper alongside fine-grained, enveloping tannins.
Drink 2022–2031.

An interesting project of recovery carried out by a sucessful winery, first owned by Federigo Abbarchi and his wife Angela Corioni, and now managed by Loredana Tanganelli and Antonio Brandi. Organic principles followed in the vineyard which generate an intense and very balsamic fruit. Sapid, inense and vibrating sip with a long-lasting persistence

Bright red. Perfumed, penetrating aromas of sour red cherry, coffee, flint and wild herbs. Then at once savory and sweet, with a strong mineral overlay to the red fruit and spicy herb flavours. Finishes saline and vibrant. Another lovely Brunello from Scopetone, one of Montalcino’s most underrated producers.
2020-2029

Just mid ruby with bricky tinges. A little stalky and closed on the nose with a hint of Moroccan leather. Supple, generous fruit that is a little simple. Tangy twist on a moderately tannic finish.
(WS) Drink 2019-2022

Drink Date: 2020 – 2030 Issue Date: 28th Feb 2019 Source: Issue 241 End of February 2019 The 2014 Brunello di Montalcino lacks primary fruit, but the wine does deliver dried fruit aromas with cigar ash, licorice and campfire ash. It ages in Slavonian oak casks for 24 months, and although this would be considered little oak use by Brunello standards, you do clearly taste oak-driven smoke and spice. The wine is lean and compact on the close. Some 2,800 bottles were made.

2014 Brunello di Montalcino Scopetone DOCG La Melina – Scopetone Toskana, Toskana, Italien

Underbrush, blue flower, leather and a nutty aroma lead the way. On the svelte palate, relaxed tannins provide light support for red cherry and a hint of clove alongside bright acidity.
Drink through 2022.

Delicate and fine with cherry, light ceder and orange-peel aromas and flavors. Light body. Fresh finish.
Drink now

Aromas of sunbaked soil, leather, exotic spice, violet and menthol come together on this. The taut elegant palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, orange zest, chopped mint and star anise while fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity provide balance.
Drink 2021–2028.

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino from Podere Scopetone opens to evolved notes of dried cherry, cured meat and grilled herb. This mid-weight wine presnts a smooth and silki texture that covers the palate from start to finish. There is some primary fruit still on display that is reinforced by the wine’s bright acidity and the tonic freshness it imparts to the palate. This is a perfect pairing partener to grilled ceal or pork. This Brunello ages in Slavonian oakcasks for two yars.

Aromas of sunbaked soil, leather, exotic spice, violet and menthol come together on this. The taut elegant palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, orange zest, chopped mint and star anise while fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity provide balance.
Drink 2021-2028

Bright red. Very perfumed floral nose of red berries and minty herbs. High but harmonious acidity lifts and extends the strawberry, orange peel and mineral flavors on the long, vibrant back end. The wine ages roughly 24 months in 33-hL Slavonian oak casks. Scopetone’s Brunellos are alwayssome of the shrillest, most taut and pristine wines made in all of Montalcino, though at times they could use just a touch more flesh. That recognized, I love the floral perfume, very juicy strawberry flavors and
mineral edge that give this wine a unique personality among Montalcino’s greats.
Scopetone
This is one of my favorite estates in all of Montalcino, if for nothing other than their unique, extremely perfumed Brunello, an essence of combined minerals, citrus zest, violet, and strawberry juice. Certainly I cannot think, off the top of my head, of a more refined Brunello in all of Montalcino. Scopetone’s almost steely, floral personality really is a singular but memorable expression of Sangiovese. The winery was founded in 1978 by Federigo Abbarchi, a Milanese pilot, and the
estate has been blessed with amazingly talented viticultural and winemaking help right from the start. Attilio Pagli and Giulio Gambelli were at the helm at the beginning and made the estate’s first wines in the 1980s. Of course, owning great Sangiovese vines with which to make your wine is no small help either, and the location of Scopetone’s Scarnacuoia holding (at
about 400-500 meters just below the town of Montalcino and overlooking Montosoli) is one of Montalcino’s greatest
Sangiovese sites and, not unimportantly, historically famous for being the location of Ferruccio Biondi Santi’s first Sangiovese
planting in the 1870s. Today, Scopetone is owned by Loredana Tanganelli and her husband Antonio Brandi, who first partnered
with Federigo’s widow, Angela Abbarchi. (Federigo died suddenly in 2009.) The two are helped out by winemaker Maurizio Castelli, who in my opinion probably understands and knows Sangiovese better than anyone in Italy (and the outstanding top-class Brunellos he helps fashion at estates like Piancornello and Le Ragnaie are but cases in point), and viticulturist Luca Felicioni. The estate built a new cellar in 2015 and owns 4.5 hectares of vines that it farms organically – 1.5
hectares of Sangiovese for the production of Brunello and 3 hectares of Sangiovese in Montecucco (Tuscan Maremma) – and makes only three wines, all outstanding: a Brunello di Montalcino, a Rosso di Montalcino and a Toscana IGT (also 100% Sangiovese made from the vineyards in Montecucco).

Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Leafy, cool, red-fruit nose and a little stalky. Juicy and a little vibrant and just a tiny bit tart on the finisch, but there is real energy and without anything harsh. Super-elegant.
Drink 2018-2024

The orange peel aromas overlap the dark berry and gentle chocolate character. Medium body, tangy acidity and a light finish.
Drink now

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino from Podere Scopetone delivers a robust and fleshy opening. At its core, the wine shows blackberry and dried cherry with tobacco, barbecue spice and cured meat. It articulates a hearty but evenly balanced interpretation os Sangiovese, especially with regard to bouquet. Like many wines from this vintage, the mouthfeel is noticeably thinner and more compact in terms of length. Those qualities give it immediate and approachable drinking appeal. Only 4.500 bottles are made. Anticipated maturity 2017-2025

Grilled herb, forest floor, scorched earth, cured meat and menthol aromas lead the way. The ripe palate offers juicy wild cherry, fleshy black raspberry, cinnamon, pipe tobacco and a confectionary note alongside firm, enveloping tannins. It’s already accessible and will make fine near-to mid-term drinking.

A core of sweet plum fruit is offset by leafy eucalyptus and woodsy notes. The tannins are stiff today, but this should come around fairly quickly. Best from 2017 thought 2027

The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a brilliant ruby color that locks the ambient light within its luminous appareanche. The bouquet is redolent of slightly sweet aromas of ripe blackberry and cherry confit. Those characteristics remind you of the warm growing conditions of the vintages. The mouthfell is soft and velvety with pretty spots of ripe fruit tucked in at the back. The wine finds balance thanks to slightly aged aromas of licorice and spice.
Drink 2016-2026

Montalcino Pale ruby with orange rim. Developed nose of undergrowth and tobacco leaf. Quite lightweight palate lacking the concentration of a proper Brunello. (WS) 14.5% Drink 2015-2020
(WS) Drink 2015-2028

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is already quite forward, which makes this a solid choice for drinking over the next few years. Worn-in leather, tobacco smoke, cedar and dried cherries all open up in the glass. The tannins are formidable, but I suspect the fruit will fade before the fully soften, so the 2010 is probably best enjoyed sooner rather than later. A brief decant is recommended to help the wine find its center.

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino shows ethereal tones of licorice, dried cherry and pressed violets from the outset. These are quintessential Sangiovese aromas that ground this wine to an impressive sense of varietal pureness. Its ace card is elegance and this is especially well played in the 2010 vintage. Another quality of the wine is the beautifully delicate way it evolves in the glass to deliver slow moving tones of licorice, cola and grilled herb. This Brunello shows a medium build followed by very long persistence. You don’t get power or muscle here, instead you get elegance and finesse. It should be great to see how this wine evolves over the next 10¬15 years.
Drink 2017-2028

The color on this is surprisingly evolved, showing more brick than garnet, while the nose offers underbrush, tobacco, fennel and red berry. The palate is closed and rather lean, offering raw red cherry, liquorice, menthol and mineral alongside assertive but fine-grained tannins.

Floral, berry, currant, wild herb and spice aromas and flavours highlight this firm, elegant red. Shows fine length, with youthful tannins gracing the finish. Shows promise. Best from 2018 thought 230 (BS)

Appealing palish ruby with orange tinges. Really backward on the nose. Ripe supple strawberry fruit of elegant weight and nicely sculpted, powdery tannins. (WS)

A wine with hints of balsamic and hazelnut character. Medium to full body with silky tannins and a fresh, clean finish.
Drink or hold.

From the 11-hectare La Melina farm owned by Loredana Tanganelli, the 2009 Brunello di Montalcino presents a subdued nose with less obvious fruit intensity and subtle shadings of spice and leather. This is Brunello di Montalcino at 70%, maybe 60% horsepower and the summer heat wave seems to have dampened the grape’s more delicate nuances. That said, the wine gets the job done if you are looking for a near-term, approachable style. It sees two years of peace and rest in Slavonian oak cask.
Drink: 2015-2019.

The new owners of this revamped estate are guided by famed Sangiovese expert Maurizio Castelli whose experience shines through in this classically crafted Brunello. It opens with aromas of plum cake, clove, licorice and hints of toast and espresso. The palate offers fleshy black cherry layered with mocha, tobacco, black pepper and Mediterranean herbs alongside velvety tannins. Drink 2016–2021. de Grazia Imports LLC. — K.O. abv: 14%

Very floral nose – bright, juicy and precise. Some freshness on the palate with broad, ripe cherry fruit and balancing acidity. Finishes very clean and fresh with lovely ripe red cherry and sandalwood nuances.

Crushed flowers, dried cherries and worn-in leather waft from the glass in the 2009 Brunello di Montalcino. Like so many wines, the 2009 is quite forward, but at the same time, it’s great to see this estate back on track after a few year of underachieving efforts. This a solid effort from Podere Scopetone and newly arrived winemaker Maurizio Castelli.

Graphite and iron aromas add interest to the cherry, strawberry and spice flavors in this lively, elegant red. Tightens up on the finish, staying crisp and long. Best from 2016 through 2028. 366 cases made. –BS