Brunello di Montalcino “40°vendemmia” DOCG 2021 · MAGNUM

Az. Agr. Talenti | Tuscany
Az. Agr. Talenti di Talenti Riccardo | Pod. Pian di Conte 222 | IT 53024 Montalcino

29752521 · 1,5 l · 64,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

Forty vintages. You have to let that melt in your mouth: When Pierluigi Talenti left the mountains of his native Romagna in the early 1950s and came to the hills of Montalcino, he not only found work at Sant'Angelo in Colle, but also his life's work. For over four decades, he shaped one of the appellation's most famous addresses as cellar master of Il Poggione – and is still considered one of the founding fathers of modern Brunello. He selected his own Sangiovese clones, set new quality standards and became a role model for an entire generation. In 1980, at the end of this era, he bought the Podere Pian di Conte – an old estate with a round tower overlooking the Orcia Valley – and began to press his own Brunello. Pierluigi died in 1999. Since then, grandson Riccardo has run the estate with the same tenacity, advised by Carlo Ferrini and supported by the knowledge that there is something special in these soils of sandy loam, clay and galestro.

The 2021 vintage – the fortieth harvest of the house – emphasises this heritage in an almost symbolic way. April frosts reduced the harvest by almost a third, while a dry summer with no September rain gave the winegrowers unusual freedom in choosing the harvest. Critics speak of a "classic" vintage with old-fashioned charm, reminiscent of the great Brunelli of the late 1990s. 100 per cent Sangiovese, matured for at least 24 months in French tonneaux and Slavonian oak. Deep ruby red with garnet reflections. Ripe sour cherry, dark plum and rose petals open the nose, followed by tobacco, liquorice, tar and a hint of mint. The palate is dense and supple at the same time, with fine, tightly woven tannins, lively acidity and a finish that tastes of iron and Mediterranean herbs – long, polished, with calm authority. A Brunello that rewards patience and tells the story of a man who co-invented Montalcino's wine culture. SUPERIORE.DE

"40 years old and not a bit tired: tones of red berries and flowers, then also fine spice; polished in the mouth, the acidity vif and in harmony with the supple and yet storable tannins, elegant and long." Vinum

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino, which has a special seal on the label to mark its 40th vintage, shows a dark fruity profile with blackberries and pitted plums. The wine has a heavier focus in terms of richness and concentration, which translates into an open mouthfeel that favours breadth and weight over vertical lift." Wine Advocate

"Spicy and complex, with aromas of sour cherries, dried strawberries, tobacco leaf and crushed stones. The palate is medium to full-bodied with compact tannins and excellent tension. Very polished, straightforward and focussed, long and juicy on the finish." James Suckling

"The Brunello di Montalcino 2021 is darkly perfumed and unfolds nuances of dried roses, sage, cedar shavings and balsamic-tinged black cherries. It is wonderfully balanced with a silky depth of ripe red and blue fruits, underlined by a cooling acidity and a slightly spicy note towards the end. The sweetest tannins imaginable frame the finish, which is structured and long, but still perfumed and pleasantly tapering. There is a beautiful harmony here that keeps me coming back to the glass, even if the 2021 needs a long cellaring period." Vinous