Mission Codename Hardtosayno di Montalcino
BRUNELLO! 2016! These deals are getting harder to find…
Lots of things were epic in 2016. The “baby or bread roll” challenge. Which led to the “bagel or puppy” challenge. Both seriously life-changing… I kid!
What WAS life-changing was 2016 in Brunello di Montalcino. Wine Enthusiast said “2016 is a Brunello lover’s dream, full of vibrant, structured wines with elegance, energy, and longevity.” And James Suckling advised that “if you ever wanted a Brunello di Montalcino for your cellar to age for decades, then buy the 2016 vintage.”
And the gushing continued! Wine Spectator called it a “Textbook growing season” and Vinous said the 2016s are… wait for it… “Well-muscled black stallions in their prime.” Oh my, it’s getting hot in here!
Scopone’s 2016 is a perfect example of a perfect vintage! Solid points all around and racking in not one but two 94-point scores from Decanter and WineCritic.com.
It’s no wonder too! Scapone is one of Italy’s finest. With legendary winemaker Settimio Dinetti behind the wines, they have married historical lineage and a progressive modern look at winemaking since the early 1990s. Year after year they score big, and this wine was no exception. Superlatives like “exceptional,” “muscular,” and “vivid” all have been thrown around regarding this showstopper.
The best part?! You guessed it! The price! Under $50 for this caliber is crazy!
100% Sangiovese Grosso of course, this beauty is deep, ripe, and opulent. Aromas of bright red and black fruits on the nose mingle with figs, tea leaves, and cloves. The well-structured mouthfeel is flooded with layers of leather, vanilla, blackberry bramble, and spiced apple cider. It drinks beautifully now and will age gracefully for a decade plus!
We suggest buying a case so you can watch it improve over time. But do it quickly! We only got so much, and our spy cellars are getting filled as we speak!
94 Points – Decanter World Wine Awards
“Very ripe red fruit and roses with a touch of savory earthiness and leather notes. Huge tannins with crunchy acidity.”
94 Points – WineCritic.com
“Muscular and rich in dark energy giving fullness and a delicate concentration of black prunes, blackberries, black tea leaves, wild myrtle, juniper berries, and cloves. The burnt citrus in the background brings back memories of winter afternoons in front of the fire with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, cedar chippings, and mandarin rind. Full-bodied, velvety fine-grained tannins and a savory well-distended finale of medium progression. Exceptional, it confirms the greatness of an extraordinary vintage at Montalcino. Better from 2021.”
What the Winery Says
2016 Brunello di Montalcino
- Winemaker
- Theresia Genazzani
- Varietal
- 100% Sangiovese
- Vintage
- 2016
- Alcohol
- 14.0%
- Appellation
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Toscana
- Aging
- 30 months in oak + : 8 months in bottle
- Barrels
- 225L medium toast French barriques & 65hL neutral Slovenian foudres.