Mission Codename Message in a bottle
Make room for one more 2016 Brunello!
Not just any 2016.
97 points! Two 96 ratings, too. Described as “stunning”. And of course, BEST PRICE on earth!
By now you know about the 2016s. The highest rated Brunello vintage (99 points!) of all time by Wine Spectator. Much loved for “wines of finesse and elegance, balance and harmony, with mostly red fruit flavors.”
These days though? The deals are numbered, going from a steady flow to a trickle…and we have just a handful of cases to spare on this one.
And how does this fair? Well, there are only TEN others rated higher. But those are in the $100-$400 range. No kidding. So, at the original $75, this played the BIG League easily. At $59, it’s a crushing value. Let’s save you time, you’re not gonna find a better price out there.
Drop what you were doing, grab what you can, and thank us later.
Did we mention San Filippo hit #3 in the Wine Spectator Top-100 in 2020? Headlining “Florentine real-estate broker Roberto Giannelli purchased San Filippo in 2003, knowing nothing about winemaking. Many sleepless nights and calls to vintner friends ensued, along with investment in the vineyards and cellar. Within a decade, the winery began producing excellent Brunello. On a plateau southeast of the town of Montalcino, San Filippo’s 25 acres of vineyards are 1,155 to 1,320 feet in elevation.”
Since then, these wines have been getting harder, and harder to find at reasonable prices. A bargain like this? A true unicorn - don’t think we can top this best buy. It’s no coincidence that Biondi Santi (yes, that iconic $200+ upon release legend) is their next door neighbor. The consulting enologist here Paolo Caciorgna, of Altesino and La Sirena. He also makes Il Palagio, the Super-Tuscan estate owned by Sting!
Bad news last, of 700 imported cases, we have only what they’d let go of at this ridiculous price. In other words… it will go fast!
So gone, when gone.
97 Points – Wine Spectator
“Plenty of balsamic aromas preview this red, settling into a core of macerated cherry and plum fruit, framed by juniper, thyme, Scotch broom, tar, and iodine. Racy and harmonious, with a solid layer of tannins underneath. 700 cases imported. Best from 2024 through 2047.”
96 Points – James Suckling
“A serene and intensely structured Brunello with cherry, cedar, walnut, and dry-earth aromas with some burnt-lemon undertones. Full-bodied, yet with very fine tannins that are extremely polished and beautiful. Goes on for minutes. A gorgeous young wine. Try after 2023.”
96 Points – Luca Gardini
“Another stunning Brunello from Montalcino’s northern area. Fruity and spicy on the nose: violet petals with sour cherry, a touch of vanilla at the end. Juicy and crunchy mouth. Iodized tannins and beautiful persistence.”
What the Winery Says
2016 Brunello di Montalcino
- Winemaker
- Roberto Giannelli
- Varietal
- 100% Sangiovese Grosso
- Vintage
- 2016
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Appellation
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Soils
- Eocene clay, calcareous, shale, fossil fragments
- Exposure
- North-northeast
- Elevation
- 270-310 meters above sea level
- Density
- 4,650-4,800 vines/hectare
- Aging
- 24 months
- Barrels
- Slovanian oak casks & French barriques