Much‑anticipated 2021 Brunello tasting

On Wednesday evening, we were joined in the Waud Handford Cellar by over 30 guests to taste the much‑anticipated 2021 Brunello vintage.

It was also a big turnout from the Waud Handford team, as we were all keen to explore the vintage in depth, with 25 wines from 2021 on offer, alongside a few examples of Rosso di Montalcino and 2020 Riserva. To finish with we opened the 2015 Gianni Brunelli and 2016 Valdicava Riservas for comparison and to get a sense of how some of these wines might be drinking ten years on.

This depth and breadth of wine gave us a great opportunity to explore the nuances of each producer, the characteristics of the vintage, and the importance of the sub‑zones. We had examples from Altesino, including their top cuvée from the highly regarded Montosoli vineyard in the far northeast of the region, as well as wines from Argiano in the southwestern corner, where Sesti produce breathtaking wines in a unique microclimate created by protection from both the sea and the mountains. The majority of wines where from smaller estates including San Polino, Pietroso, Conti Costanti, Il Palazozone, Cupano and Sesti. But we didn't shy away from showing wines from larger estates including Gaja Pieve di Santa Restituta Antinori Pian delle vigne and Casanova di Neri. The quality was evident at all levels. 

The wines offered up much joy on the evening. The greatest differences were structurally with some feeling easy to enjoy now, with other needing to unfurl over the next few years. But all had beautiful aromas, with our notes reflecting, wild Mediterranean herbal elements, lavender and more floral notes.  In terms of flavours, Cherry, plum, dark spice and orange zest. The wines showed a great, finesse, vibrancy, richness and a complexity of flavours. With tannins varying from soft and elegant to grippy. The 2015 and 2016 wines we tasted gave an excellent foot note, to the age ability of this vintage. A most enjoyable evening with a fantastic range of wines.

Our full offer is available here until 31^st March: Brunello di Montalcino EP 2021 Offer

This is very nicely balanced, fresh, pure and expressive. Bright cherry and red currant flavours and some pomegranate notes, vibrant and ideal with tomato-based pasta dishes, beautiful cool crisp fresh acidity, a lovely lively and zippy wine with ample fruit and personality. The jumps out of the glass at the moment and begs the question why would you wait?   Drink now -2032

Originally made from fruit in the Torrenieri area in the northern part of the appellation, where clay-rich soils with high water retention create powerful wines with softer acidity. Traditionally, fruit from that vineyard was blended with grapes from the Rennina and Sugarille vineyards. However, this wine has recently seen the inclusion of fruit from two new plots, acquired in 2016 in Bolsignano and Villa a Tolli. These cooler sites bring acidity, freshness, and mineral tension. The nose has a lovely brightness to it offering summer pudding, raspberry, and wild strawberry notes with a lovely freshness. The palate brings the red fruit, with red cherries, a beautiful cordite mineral note, and fine grain tannins. This feels sublimely elegant and graceful. Giving Sugarille and rennina a run for the money Drink 2028 -2036

Showing intensity and richness tempered by elegant restraint, the Scopone 2021 Brunello is a fantastic wine, offering aromas of camphor, dark culinary spice, lavender and new leather. A great expression of the year that shows the richness of the vintage, the full-bodied palate features ripe Marasca cherry, spiced plum, licorice, black tea and bitter orange framed in taut, close-grained tannins. A tobacco note lingers on the close while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2031–2041

Helichrysum takes its name from the aromatic wild herb that grows spontaneously amongst the vines at San Polino. The grapes for this wine come from the highest vineyards on the site, and the vineyard is located closest to the winery and family home - which is very much at the heart of the San Polino operation. A deep and brooding nose, notes of sandalwood and bergamont, the palate, has lovely red cherry notes and fresh raspberry notes, this feels broader and rounder, with fine grain tannins, needing that much more time in bottle. Shy now but it’s concentrated and there’s plenty going on, stystically in touch with the beautiful 2016 at this early age.

The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta tempts the imagination with a darkly alluring bouquet of exotic spices, sweet lavender, mint and dried black cherries. It is cool-toned, racy and sleek, with ripe wild berry fruits and crunchy mineral tones giving way to violet inner florals toward the close. A sharp citrus twang enlivens the senses as tart raspberry meets a saturation of sweet tannins. This is a wonderfully harmonious vintage for Filo di Seta. 96 Points, Eric Guido Vinous. 2028 -2046

A rich powerful and opulent nose, with dark bramble and kirsch notes, and Christmas cake spices. The palate brings lively, fresh and vibrant notes of wild strawberry, fig leaf, and logan berry, with beautifully enveloping silky tannins, and lovely hints of balsamic on the finish. This is already tasting delightful. 2028 -2038