Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020

Valdicava | Tuscany
Valdicava Vincenzo Abbruzzese | Loc. Valdicava | IT 53024 Montalcino

09652220 · 0,75 l · 128,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
Limitation of 6 articles per customer

While the world stood still in 2020, a quiet revolution took place in the vineyards of Montalcino. On the cool north-eastern slopes where Vincenzo Abbruzzese has been cultivating his Sangiovese vines for decades, nature wrote a chapter full of paradoxes: hot summer days with temperatures of up to 40 degrees, followed by night-time cooling, which gave the grapes the crystalline freshness that makes 2020 one of the most fascinating Brunello vintages in recent history. The vintage got off to a promising start with a mild winter that replenished the water reserves – a blessing in times of climate change. The spring was dry but even, until a rainy June with 154 millimetres allowed the foliage to grow lushly. Then came the summer: 64 days without a drop of rain, a drought that Vincenzo had never experienced before in his career. But where other winegrowers despaired, the master of Valdicava proved his expertise: meticulous foliage management protected the grapes from sunburn, while the deep roots of his old vines utilised the stored water from the rainy spring. The end of August brought redemption: cooler nights and scattered rain showers gave the vines new vigour. Vincenzo waited – a decision that sets his Brunello 2020 apart from many others. While other producers harvested before the September rains, he took advantage of the cooler temperatures for a final ripening that gave his wine the balance that makes 2020 a "drink-while-you-wait" vintage.

The result is a Brunello of captivating elegance: unlike the powerful 2019s or the monumental 2016s, the 2020 is charming and accessible without losing any of its depth or ageing potential. Intense aromas of ripe cherry and wild berries are combined with floral nuances and the characteristic minerality of the Montosoli vineyards. The palate reveals all the art of Vincenzo's winemaking: silky tannins, lively acidity and a harmony that promises both immediate enjoyment and decades of ageing. The 2020 Valdicava epitomises the new generation of great Brunelli: less heroic than its predecessors, but all the more seductive. A wine that proves that true greatness does not always mean power, but sometimes pure elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino seduces from the first swirl of the glass with a glorious blend of hauntingdark flowers, exotic spices and stone dust complicating the notes of dried black cherries. Its textures are pure silk, elegant and seamless, with ripe wild berries and mineral tones swirling under a hint of purple flowers. Youthfully structured yet incredibly long, the 2020 finishes with fine-grained tannins, primary concentration and notes of tart blackberry and clove." Vinous

For this vintage, the Abbruzzese family decided to forgo a separate bottling of Montosoli and instead blend it into this "classic" Brunello. A chocolaty cherry note at the start gives way to an abundance of tarragon, dill and rosemary. The acidity is steely and citrusy, the tannins are taut and structured. On the palate, it is tighter and more straightforward than the nose suggests. Here, a stony undertone meets smoky tea. Neither intrusive nor immature or unfocussed, it finds an elegant middle ground." Decanter

"Quite closed at first sniff, it opens up to reveal youthful aromas of small red fruits, heady fresh violets, almost vinous character and some earthy tones. The palate is firm with medium body and velvety tannins that are a little hard on the finish, but balanced by a refreshing acidity. It opens up nicely at the end. An intense and polished style that still needs some time to integrate better." James Suckling